Cheers, The Billing Team

If you have any questions about this invoice, (some not toll free prefixed number) Toll-Free for help.

Just got an email from "the billing team" at a software company that I thought might not even exist anymore. I knew that I had NEVER purchased any of their products so it didn't take much examination to believe it was a dumb scam.

 

The first check I make is looking at the real "from" email address. I do this be clicking on the "from" email line. It is actually not hard to have your message show whatever you want on that "from" line. I played around with changing mine to Elvis.

 

Here's a selection from the spam email:

If you have any questions about this invoice, (Toll-Free) for help.
you have 24 hours to refund this charge from the transaction date without being charged.
It may take a few days for this transaction to appear in your account.
Please don't reply to this email.
Cheers,

The Billing Team 

Upon investigating the phone number I found the area code was for Hawaii (808). I'm guessing 808 looks like a toll free number. Of course many mobile plans today have unlimited free calling to any North American number so why bother?

 

Surf and Scam

 

At first I thought this scammer is living nicely in Hawaii. I later found I could even buy an Hawaiian area code number online (I didn't). The service is for businesses to appear local.

I didn't call "The Billing Team" number. I did forward the scam email to my internet provider Comcast.

          

next

          

The One-who-reads-fiction recently got David Sedaris's "Happy-Go-Lucky" book. I was flipping through it. It has an odd opening quote by Sigmond C. Monster. I googled it and found this interview of Sedaris on the daily beast. David tells a story about being at a book signing in London and asking the audience an odd request. 

I was talking about that onstage in London. And I said, "You know, when I sign your book, I’d love to know what you called a girl’s vagina in your house growing up." And every person had a different… not every person but, like, so many people had a different word, that was just a family word. I remember a neighbor of ours, growing up, said to her daughter: Suzie, get your hands away from your Suzie. I never heard anybody else call it a Suzie.

I laughed. Now I might never be able to meet a Suzie again without thinking of this.

Here's a song I discovered on youtube. It's different. It has no connection to anything else in the post. Enjoy.

I'm just Lisleman burning out his fuse up here alone

a strange request

There are a variety of request types. From HTTP programming language (GET request) to a freedom of information request. Often you are requested to take some action or offer you time. For example, I'm requesting you to continue reading my post.

At one point in my career my involvement with RFP's (request for proposal) filled many boring hours. Fortunately I was paid well for those hours. What is more interesting are those strange requests you may gotten from strangers. A little searching will produce sites that list strange requests from hotel guests. You might enjoy reading them, so give it try. But NOT now. I want to share a strange request I got the other day at a place where one should be leery of any requests.

I'm not asking for much

The place - a public restroom in a nice comedy club

The show had just finished. As I turned the corner of the room, I was pleasantly surprised the row of urinals were completely vacant. Like many guys do, I picked one on the end.

Oh before I forget, I just remembered one of the funny things I heard at the show. It was called a reflection which reminded of "Deep Thoughts" by Jack Handey on SNL years ago. (he has a web site and books filled with them). Here's one from the show that night (my recollected wording):

Today we need thousands, possibly more that a million followers to feel important. Long ago a guy with just 12 followers became known as the Son of God.

Ok, back to that strange request. So most of my experiences using urinals are quiet staring at the wall necessities. Not so this time. Shortly are taking my position, a group of five young guys loudly filled out the row. I suspect from their boisterous exchange while relieving themselves that their liquor bill was much higher than mine.

Just as I was finishing up drying my hands, one of them made the strange request. Could I take a picture of them in front of the urinals. After a little hesitation I agreed. I raised the smartphone given to me and noticed I couldn't get all of them in the shot. One of them offer the one left out of the shot some space at his urinal. Very odd. I took a few shots and asked them if they do this often. They laughed. I left.

There something odd about picture taking in this generation that never happened in my generation.

So that was my strange request story. But if you have just a bit more time here's another story about a scammer request. This scammer requested money from the wrong old guy. His target of a lottery scam, William Webster, was a bad choice. Mr. Webster is a former FBI Director. Here's a clip from the FBI's youtube channel (who knew?):

true or false

I bought a ticket to the world
But now I've come back again
Why do I find it hard to write the next line?

Bigly

Could it be the news, the chaos, fakebook postings, a snotty brat in an old man’s body?

Would the world be better if there were no partial truths or half-truths, just true or false?

In our complex emotional world only the very basic simple components of a story can be determined to be true or false. Taking the time to view the big picture with the confusing amount of details leads to reasons, causes, motives and other difficult concepts. The bigger the picture, the more open to argument and interpretation it becomes. Don’t bother me with details he says.

You’ve heard these words, “the whole truth and nothing but the truth”. What a different world it would be if we all had the integrity to admit making mistakes instead of resorting to deceptive behavior.

Here’s an 80’s tune called “True”. Takes me back to a better time.

we all hustle to survive

Holy plunging neckline, “American Hustle” is a good movie. (does a neckline transform to something else when reaches far far from the neck? I mean I stopped looking at her neck instantly.)

We took in “American Hustle” at the matinee this weekend. It should win best picture (the only other nominee I’ve seen was “Gravity”). Now that’s just this fool’s opinion. Movies like other art is very subjective. The movie has been released for more than a month so there has been plenty of talk and buzz about it. I don’t care to see movies on their opening weekend. I dislike crowds.

The plot is based on the real ABSCAM story from the late 1970’s. There was a real con man who the FBI used in a large sting operation. So often truth is stranger than fiction. Of course they added a good amount of fiction to the story too. The twists and moving shifts in the character’s relationships kept me wondering who was scamming who. Who was going down and who would end up on top at the end. I guess in the end we all scam each other and ourselves at some level.

The creators pieced together perfect background music for the various scenes.  Ok the story takes place in the late 70’s, so the soundtrack appeals more to those that were adults (older teens) during that disco era. One of the best matches was the scene with Jennifer Lawrence whose character had just ratted on her cheating con-man husband singing “Live and Let Die” as she aggressively cleans. The scene focuses on her anger in a funny way. (my wife doesn’t sing while cleaning but if she ever started belting out this song, I would be hitting the road)

I found a site called what-song that not only lists the songs but a short description of the scene it was used it. From their list I discovered that the “White Rabbit” cover was done in Arabic by Mayssa Karaa. It was such a fit that I didn’t even notice it was being sung in a different language. The scene involved the mob meeting with the fake Sheik.


Finally, this movie refreshed street wisdom I tend to forget: 

Hustlers are found in both genders.

 

can you believe

I believe there are people trying to take money from me without giving me anything of value. In short there are scammers who have my number (and address).

honest injun I mean Native American

Beware

Since the beginning of man (just after Eden closed?) there have been more people wanting to take your money than give you money. I’ve heard they will take your soul if you let them (learned that in song long ago).

I’ve gotten accustomed to spam and scam via email. This time it showed up in the snail mail. At least our postal service made a few cents. Slightly off the topic but scam-by-mail could add revenue to our needy postal service.

A simple letter asked us to call a toll-free number to claim our award. It was mailed from Arizona. Maybe it is too hot in Arizona to think straight. I estimate this stupid letter probably cost them about $1 in total. Now if they send say 1000 letters (they send many as you see) that’s $1000. Didn’t all the scammers learn that email is the way to go?

This award losing letter has an unimpressive logo header with the name of United Airways. First off there is no United Airways in the United States. Checking that was what lead me to discover that this is long running scam. If you google “United Airways letter” you’ll quickly find many sites reporting this scam.

One of the best write-ups with copies of the various letters and details is a post on the blog Memoirs of a Single Dad. Another example of the benefits of blogging. He originally posted about this last year in December and has updated the information a few times since. This post and its many comments brought me to the conclusion that they have mailed out many letters so I hope they are having cash flow problems.

Our letter was signed (appears to be handwritten) by Vice President Lea Kale. If you check the mentioned post you’ll find this is new name. I believe they are going through Vice President quickly in their attempt to find one with enough vice.

I do appreciate their contribution to our postal service and suggest that they cool off with a jump in one of the lovely Arizona lakes. Oh, and thanks for the blog post idea too.

You’ve got a friend but remember a friend doesn’t rip you off.

When people can be so cold
They'll hurt you,
yes, and desert you
And take your soul if you let them
Oh, but don't you let them.

another circus 

too good - lisleman’s lab

Regular readers might recall the Lisleman’s research lab. (if you are irregular you probably need a different type of lab - sorry) Occasionally (when I have that extra cup of coffee) I crank up my research lab. I still no funding but it’s fun. Thanks goodness I still have plenty of give-away pens to write with. 

My latest finding to report: 

If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. 

Not true that is. 

This common idiom is true most often. Shocking that words spoken generations ago apply to the internet world of today.

Technology changes quickly, people don’t. There are more people wanting your money than giving you money. I believe money and not goodwill is behind this example of “too good to be true”. 

My spam checker recently collected an email that appeared to be from a distant relative. I decided to research the email’s claim (without funding - did I mention that?). The claim referenced a stay-at-home-mom, named Amy Livingston. Surprisingly it stated Amy was from my home town. Oh and Amy was making much more money than a SAHM’s fruit roll-up and juice box budget would ever need. 

Without too much searching (hey I’ll sell you the keywords and tips I used) I discovered a few SAHM’s with the SAME name living around the country. Doppelgangers I guess. Here’s three actual samples copied from different internet sites:

How A single Mom from Livonia unlocked a gold mine and is turning huge profits from home. Julie investigates a single Mom who makes over $13900+/Month. She reveals her secrets to us. By Erica Jones Published: April 25, 2012 9:47 A.M. EST Amy Livingston of Livonia , MI never thought that she would consider it, until curiosity got the best of her and she filled out a simple online form. Before she knew it, she discovered her secret to beating the recession, and being able to provide for her family while at home with her three children.

==--==

Amy Livingston of Lisle , IL never thought that she would consider it, until curiosity got the best of her and she filled out a simple online form. Before she knew it, she discovered her secret to beating the recession, and being able to provide for her family while at home with her three children. I read Amy's blog last month and decided to feature her story in our weekly consumer report.

==--==

Amy Livingston of Vienna , 09 never thought that she would consider it, until curiosity got the best of her and she filled out a simple online form. Before she knew it, she discovered her secret to beating the recession, and being able to provide for her family while at home with her three children. I read Amy's blog last month and decided to feature her story in our weekly consumer report. In our phone interview she told me her amazing story.

What are the chances of all these Ms. Livingston’s making this amount of money being curious about the SAME mysterious thing in these different places? And each one has three children.  I believe the odds are like winning the lottery which by the way I don’t play. 

In conclusion, don’t fall for this offer UNLESS your name is Amy Livingston. That is a very popular name for SAHM’s making big bucks. 

Oh one more interesting find - these cloned Amy Livingston’s stories appear to be keeping a certain reporter (pictured below) employed. I don’t think they are paying the reporter very well since she always has the same outfit on - poor over worked kid (of course she does reuse her sentences). Her same picture appears in most all the reports. Why would a Europe Union flag be in the corner of her TV headshot?

FTC FCC friday fragments

Don’t you just love abbreviations? They create a quasi secret code within your group or industry. My first bombardment of initialism was in the USAF. Within the blog gang I hang with, FF means Friday Fragments. 

If you like FF posts then be sure to visit Mrs. 4444 blog. She has a whole catalog of FF links to share.

(sent from my brain)

The other day I sensed I was just drifting in space. Where am I going?  Should I choose a path, road, trail or track?  Then I remembered a astrophysics lesson. We actually are drifting in space.

Way back (eons ago in internet time) one blog gang member often created a post based on comments she made. Unknown Mami called it, “I Comment Therefore I Am”. I love comments and can occasionally drop a good one off on a blog.

Last week’s FF post Tami who is “Not Just a Hockey Mom” posted that her husband surprised her with some shoes. I offered the following comment: 

Just a hypothetical question -- If at some future date your husband were to angry you (very unlikely I know, guys are typically perfect) would you remember he was buyer of those shoes and therefore never throw them at him? 

I have given my wife slippers as a gift and but only consider soft type shoes like flip-flops. One needs to protect oneself.

I had a birthday years ago. Alright like you I have them every year. You know how often because of schedules you don’t celebrate your birthday on your birthday? I had a great idea (on my blog all my ideas are great) today. I’m going to suggest celebrating my 60th birthday when I’m 65. Oh, my birthday was a months ago and 60 is not here yet.

Remember the post title? Yeah FF posts bounce around a bit and before you know it you are drifting in space (oh I covered drifting at the beginning). 

I hate telemarketers. If anyone out there loves telemarketers please let me know. I think your brain should be studied. 

I got this message yesterday from Prize Direct (708-279-7721). Jack wants to talk to me about my entry for a $25000 contest and please call him back at 1-866-430-3177. 

Oh right, sure I’m going to do that right away. I called the FCC (they run the Do Not Call list). The FCC representative asked many questions and then said it sounds like a scam and I should call the FTC because they could warn people and possibly prosecute. The FTC took my complaint and the phone numbers. They also ask many questions. Who knows if my report will lead to prosecuting a scammer but afterwards I felt better than when I just cuss into the phone. (I included the phone number in the chance that you receive the same call)

I downloaded this cover of George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”. This song made #7 on the Rolling Stone list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time.  I found this cover by Santana and featuring India Arie on youtube. The clip interprets the song with an interesting story.



(proofreading provided by C. F. Eyecare)