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Latest Information - Internet Scams - Email Hoaxes - True Stories

Refugee Monthly Allowance From Australian Government Hoax

Protest email claims that refugees receive a substantially higher monthly payment from the Australian government than do Australian pensioners.

Published: 8th May 2008

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Nareepol Tree

Message claims that attached photographs show the "Nareepol Tree" in Thailand - an amazing tree that grows fruit in the shape of women.

Published: 1st May 2008

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Self Parking Garage

Email claims that attached photographs depict a new and very efficient type of "self parking garage" located in Munich, Germany

Published: 1st May 2008

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Pearl Harbor Box Brownie Photographs

Email claims that a series of old photographs depicting the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 were found in a Kodak Box Brownie camera stored in a foot locker.

Published: 29th April 2008

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Simon Ashton Email Hacker Hoax

Message warns that simply accepting an email from a sender called Simon Ashton (simon_25_@hotmail.co.uk) will allow him to hack your email account as well as the accounts of others on your email contact list.

Published: 25th April 2008

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Already Gone To Hospital Malware Email

Threatening email claims that the sender will find you and cripple you and states that another person involved has already gone to hospital.

Published: 24th April 2004

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Mini Lobster Contamination Warning

Message warns people not to eat "mini lobsters" because they feed on sewerage, are full of worms and poisonous metals and can cause lung infections in humans.

Published: 24th April 2008

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Elephant Painting Portrait Video

Video shows an elephant apparently painting a recognizable portrait of an elephant holding a flower.

Published: 22nd April 2008

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Economic Stimulus Refund Phishing Scam

Email purporting to be from the IRS claims that qualified recipients can receive the 2008 Economic Stimulus Refund by clicking a link in the message and filling in an online form.

Published: 19th April 2008

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Protests Against Starving Dog Art Exhibition

Protest messages provide information about a Central American art exhibition by Guillermo "Habacuc" Vargas in which a dog was allegedly starved to death as part of the exhibit. The messages urge recipients to sign a petition to stop repeats of the exhibit.

Published: 17th April 2008

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Indian Two Faced Baby

Message claims that attached photographs show a baby girl born with two faces who is being worshiped by Indian villagers as a reincarnation of an Indian deity.

Published: 17th April 2008

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United States District Court Subpoena Malware Email

Email purporting to be a subpoena from the United States District Court informs recipients that they must appear and testify before a Grand Jury.

Published: 16th April 2008

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Seventeen Pound Russian Baby Photographs

Message claims that attached photographs show a 17 pound, 1 ounce (7.75 kg) baby born in Russia.

Published: 15th April 2008

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Snake Caught in Spider's Web Photographs

Message claims that attached photographs show a snake caught in the web of a venomous spider.

Published: 8th April 2008

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Person On The Bridge Hoax Email

Email that includes a photograph of a wooden foot bridge on a forest walking track claims that a person will appear on the bridge if the email is forwarded to at least five other people.

Published: 7th April 2008

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Visa Personal Password Phishing Scam

Unsolicited email, purporting to be from Visa, instructs recipients to secure their credit cards by clicking a link and creating a personal password.

Published: 3rd April 2008

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Mia Heyns Make-A-Wish Foundation Hoax

Message claims that, every time the message is sent on, the Make-A-Wish Foundation will donate money to help pay the medical bills of a seriously ill teenager named Mia Heyns.

Published: 2nd April 2008

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Siamese Pike Photograph

Email that includes a photograph of what appears to be a Siamese pike suggests that the freak fish is a result of chemicals in the water.

Published: 2nd April 2008

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Mail Server Report Life is Beautiful Virus Hoax

Warning message claims that an email with the title "Mail Server Report" contains a virus that will display a message saying "It is too late now, your life is no longer beautiful" before destroying everything on the infected computer.

Published: 1st April 2008

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Bump Car MS-13 Gang Initiation Warning

Rapidly circulating rumors warn that, as part of a gang initiation, gang members are deliberately bumping cars and then shooting the drivers when they get out.

Published: 29th MArch 2008

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Heineken Beer Company Promotion Scam

Email purporting to be from the Heineken Bottling Company claims that the recipient has been awarded a large cash prize in a company promotion.

Published: 26th March 2008

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Swimming in the Devil's Pool at Victoria Falls

Circulating photographs show adults and children swimming in a rock pool at the very edge of a high waterfall.

Published: 24th March 2008

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Heathrow Boeing 777 Crash - RF Interference Rumour

Email forward suggests that an accident involving a Boeing 777 at London's Heathrow airport in January 2008 may have been caused by a RF transmitter signal emitted by Prime Minister Gordon Brown's motorcade.

Published: 19th March 2008

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Global Marine Drilling Iceberg Photo Hoax

Email claims that an attached image is a photograph of an iceberg taken by a Global Marine Drilling Rig Manager in Newfoundland.

Published: 18th March 2008

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Interpol Funds Recovery Scam

Email claims that an agent from international police organization, Interpol, is attempting to recover and return funds stolen from the recipient during previous scam attempts.

Published: 18th March 2008

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Redneck Mansion Photograph

Circulating photograph of an unusual structure made from a collection of stacked caravans (trailers) is falsely labelled as a "redneck mansion".

Published: 16th March 2008

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Our Lady of Guadalupe Chain Email

Email warns that bad luck will befall those who do not send an attached "miraculous and sacred" image to at least 20 people within 13 days.

Published: 14th March 2008

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F-15 Crash Sequence Images

Email forward contains a series of images that depict the mid air break up of a US Air Force F15 jet and the ejection of the pilot.

Published: 8th March 2008

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Point to Point Speed Camera Warning Email

Email warns that point to point speed camera systems have been installed on the M5 and M7 motorways in NSW, Australia.

Published: 8th March 2008

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Cancer Info From Johns Hopkins Hoax Email

Emailed collection of cancer related tips and information claims to originate from world-renowned medical research facility, Johns Hopkins.

Published: 3rd March 2008

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PayPal New Security Message Phishing Scam

Email, purporting to be from PayPal, claims that you have a new security message waiting and are required to click a link to login to your account and read the message

Published: 2nd March 2008

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359lb Louisiana Grouper

Email claims that attached photographs show a huge 359lb grouper caught by J.J. Tabor of Thibodaux, Louisiana.

Published: 28th February 2008

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Postcard Image Virus Hoax

Warning message claims that an email with an attachment entitled "POSTCARD" will destroy the hard drive of the infected computer and has been classified as the most destructive virus ever.

Published: 26th February 2008

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Ahmad Khaled Abu Rumman Make-A-Wish Foundation Hoax

Message claims that, every time the email is forwarded, the Make-A-Wish Foundation will donate 7 Grosh to help pay the medical bills of a seriously ill young man named Ahmad Khaled Abu Rumman.

Published: 25th February 2008

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Barack Obama Endorsed by the Ku Klux Klan Hoax

Emailed "News report" claims that the Ku Klux Klan has endorsed Barack Obama for the US presidency.

Published: 22nd February 2008

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Pay Up or I'll Kill You Scam Email

Email claims that a paid assassin will kill you unless you pay a fee to cancel the contract.

Published: 21st February 2008

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Christian the Lion Email

Email, with an attached photograph and video, tells the story of a lion that still remembered the two young men who raised it to maturity a year after it was released in an African wildlife sanctuary.

Published: 18th February 2008

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Bacteria on Restaurant Lemon Slices Warning

Message claims that a study found potentially harmful bacteria on lemons slices used in restaurants.

Published: 17th February 2008

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Telstra Free Directory Assistance Protest Email

Email claims that Australian telecommunications giant, Telstra, is replacing a previously free directory assistance number with a fee-based service and is deliberately hiding an alternative free number from consumers.

Published: 14th February 2008

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Brian Keith Page Alert Email

Email claims that violent sex offender Brian Keith Page has been released from prison and is "out on the streets" and looking for work in Beaumont, Texas.

Published: 13th February 2008

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Cell Phone Gun Warning

Email warns that guns disguised as cell phones have been discovered and that the devices may pose a security threat at high risk locations such as airports.

Published: 11th February 2008

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Fake Microsoft Critical Update

Email claiming to be from Microsoft instructs recipients to click a link to install an "urgent" critical update for Windows computers.

Published: 8th February 2008

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Water Bottle Car Fire Warning

Message warns that a water bottle left inside a car on a sunny day could ignite the upholstery and start a fire.

Published: 7th February 2008

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Chinese Olympic Committee Lottery Scam

Email claims that the recipient has won a large sum of money in a lottery promotion organized by the Chinese Olympic Committee for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Published: 6th February 2008

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Website Advertising Enquiry Scam

Email sent to website owners claims to be an enquiry about buying links on the targeted website.

Published: 5th February 2008

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Shark's Love for Man Hoax

Slideshow presentation claims that a friendly and thankful Great White Shark constantly follows a fisherman who once saves its life and the two have formed a "mutual affection".

Published: 30th January 2008

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K-9 Congressional Medal of Honor Hoax

Message claims that an attached photograph depicts Brutus, a military K9 that won the Congressional Medal of Honor for saving soldiers in Iraq

Published: 29th January 2008

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Scam Victims Reimbursements Programme Scam

Email purporting to be from the Nigerian Government Reimbursement Committee claims that the recipient has been listed as a victim of a 419 scam and is therefore eligible for a reimbursement of $150,000.

Published: 26th January 2008

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Donate to Autism Research by Watching a Video

Email claims that money will be donated to help Autism research every time a video about Autism is viewed on fundraising website, whatkindofworlddoyouwant.com.

Published: 26th January 2008

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Oscar Mayer Does Not Support The War Hoax

Email claims that Oscar Mayer refused to donate hotdogs to US Marines stationed in Iraq because the company does not support the war.

Published: 23rd January 2008

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Kevin Carter Pulitzer Prize Photograph

Email with a disturbing image of a starving child being shadowed by a vulture claims that the photograph won a Pulitzer Prize for Photojournalist, Kevin Carter.

Published: 22nd January 2008

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Starbucks Lack of Support For Iraq Troops Rumor

Message claims that Starbucks refused to donate coffee to Marines stationed in Iraq because the company does not support the war.

Published: 21st January 2008

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Mobile Phone Tips – Things You Never Knew Your Mobile Phone Could Do

Message outlines four mobile phone tips that it claims can be useful in emergency situations.

Published: 17th January 2008

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Cell Phone Charging Danger Warning Email

Email forward warns that answering a cell phone while it is being charged can electrocute the user.

Updated: 15th January 2008

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Charging a Mobile Phone with Peepal Leaves

Message claims that it is possible to charge a mobile phone battery by touching the stems of peepal tree leaves to the terminals.

Published: 11th January 2008

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Storm Photographs

Message that includes a series of spectacular storm photographs claims that they depict the beginning of Hurricane Katrina.

Published: 10th January 2008

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An Overview of Phishing

Phishing continues to be one of the most significant security threats facing Internet users. During 2007, scammers distributed millions of phishing scam emails that targeted many different entities. Phishing attacks are sure to continue in 2008 and scammers will use such attacks to steal money and identities from many new victims around the world.

Published: 9th January 2008

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General Cosgrove Radio Interview Hoax

Message claims that Australia's General Peter Cosgrove made a remark about a female interviewer being "equipped to be a prostitute" during an interview on ABC radio

Published: 3rd January 2008

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Photobucket MySpace Comment Virus Warning

Message claims that a virus that circulates via MySpace comments can delete content in the user's PhotoBucket account and post nude images to his or her friends list.

Published: 3rd January 2008

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