Recent Scam Attempt via PMs to Members

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Skiprr
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Recent Scam Attempt via PMs to Members

#1

Post by Skiprr »

Approximately four hours ago, a new user, "tonyumeria", registered on the Forum and began to send Private Messages to members with an attempted scam. We banned and deleted the account within an hour. If you received this PM, there is no longer a reason to report it; simply delete it. And our thanks to those members who reported it quickly so that we could take immediate action.

There is zero evidence of a data breach. We have analyzed the timing of the reported PMs and the originating IP address; all evidence points to someone who registered an account, and then began to use the PM link on existing posts to manually send the attempted scam message.

For obvious reasons, our Forum is under a magnifying glass here at the start of 2016. Your moderating crew is small, and we rely on our valued members to stay vigilant. If you see something that is obvious spam/scam, or that clearly violates Forum rules, please report it. We got your six.
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jed
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Re: Recent Scam Attempt via PMs to Members

#2

Post by jed »

Thanks to Charles and all the Mods. You all do a great job! :tiphat:
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ELB
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Re: Recent Scam Attempt via PMs to Members

#3

Post by ELB »

Oh dang. I thought I was rich. :)
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OldCurlyWolf
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Re: Recent Scam Attempt via PMs to Members

#4

Post by OldCurlyWolf »

Thanks
I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, and I won't be laid a hand on.
I don't do those things to other people and I require the same of them.

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VoiceofReason
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Re: Recent Scam Attempt via PMs to Members

#5

Post by VoiceofReason »

Just curious. What was the nature of the scam?
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DevilDawg
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Re: Recent Scam Attempt via PMs to Members

#6

Post by DevilDawg »

I didn't win the Nigerian Powerball?
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TVGuy
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Re: Recent Scam Attempt via PMs to Members

#7

Post by TVGuy »

Thanks, Skiprr!
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TVGuy
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Re: Recent Scam Attempt via PMs to Members

#8

Post by TVGuy »

VoiceofReason wrote:Just curious. What was the nature of the scam?
Frankly, it was so poorly written it was hard to tell.
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ScottDLS
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Re: Recent Scam Attempt via PMs to Members

#9

Post by ScottDLS »

I am a Nigerian Prince. Please PM me your bank details, tax id number, and e-banking passwords. I will send $1 million USD to your account for safekeeping, then you may keep $100,000 after I come to visit.

By Royal Decree,

His Royal Highness ScottDLS "rlol" "rlol" "rlol"
4/13/1996 Completed CHL Class, 4/16/1996 Fingerprints, Affidavits, and Application Mailed, 10/4/1996 Received CHL, renewed 1998, 2002, 2006, 2011, 2016...). "ATF... Uhhh...heh...heh....Alcohol, tobacco, and GUNS!! Cool!!!!"

Richbirdhunter
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Re: Recent Scam Attempt via PMs to Members

#10

Post by Richbirdhunter »

ELB wrote:Oh dang. I thought I was rich. :)
Now that you mention it I am a prince from Nairobi and if you could deposit $25,000USD into my bank account I will reward you with millions
Disclaimer: Anything I state can not be applied to 100% of all situations. Sometimes it's ok to speak in general terms.
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VoiceofReason
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Re: Recent Scam Attempt via PMs to Members

#11

Post by VoiceofReason »

Thanks. I needed that chuckle.
God Bless America, and please hurry.
When I was young I knew all the answers. When I got older I started to realize I just hadn’t quite understood the questions.-Me
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Skiprr
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Re: Recent Scam Attempt via PMs to Members

#12

Post by Skiprr »

ScottDLS wrote:I am a Nigerian Prince. Please PM me your bank details, tax id number, and e-banking passwords. I will send $1 million USD to your account for safekeeping, then you may keep $100,000 after I come to visit.

By Royal Decree,

His Royal Highness ScottDLS "rlol" "rlol" "rlol"
Your Highness, my bank password is Yg540s09...

Seriously, this is the first instance we've seen of PM-only spam. The scammer registered, verified via a link sent by email, then set about looking at posts and using the PM link on those posts to send his ridiculous message. There seems to be nothing automated about it.

Those who received the message were understandably worried that a breach of the database may have occurred. It did not.

This was one idiot manually targeting our Forum.
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ScottDLS
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Re: Recent Scam Attempt via PMs to Members

#13

Post by ScottDLS »

Interesting. I had seen some posting spam before, but not PM's. I'm noticing a slight uptick in spam in my personal e-mail recently, that's making it past my filter. :???:
4/13/1996 Completed CHL Class, 4/16/1996 Fingerprints, Affidavits, and Application Mailed, 10/4/1996 Received CHL, renewed 1998, 2002, 2006, 2011, 2016...). "ATF... Uhhh...heh...heh....Alcohol, tobacco, and GUNS!! Cool!!!!"
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jrs_diesel
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Re: Recent Scam Attempt via PMs to Members

#14

Post by jrs_diesel »

As a moderator on a diesel truck website, well done! :tiphat: :cheers2: :thumbs2:
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Skiprr
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Re: Recent Scam Attempt via PMs to Members

#15

Post by Skiprr »

jrs_diesel wrote:As a moderator on a diesel truck website, well done!
Thanks.

We rely on our 17,000+ valued members to alert us to nefarious activity on the board.
Join the NRA or upgrade your membership today. Support the Texas Firearms Coalition and subscribe to the Podcast.
I’ve contacted my State Rep, Gary Elkins, about co-sponsoring HB560. Have you contacted your Rep?
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