Miscellaneous SCAMs...and how to avoid them!

Lies, Fakery, Greed and Tomfoolery

A collection of mailed SCAMs

Quotations from a (+X+ Red Flag rated) SCAM letter sent by: “UBI Payment Services”

Please remember, the quotations above and below are from the SCAM letter of “UBI Payment Services” _not_ by mailscamalert.com.

“Guaranteed Delivery Statement

Image of UBI approval seal

“Dear First_Name Last_Name,

Red Flag # 1  &   Red Flag # 2  &   Red Flag # 3  “This is a very important statement. You are guaranteed to receive $5,000.00 if you return the release form as instructed and fulfill the contest requirements.

Red Flag # 4 “The Accounting Department has retained the services of a reputable courier to deliver the check for $5,000.00. This is a contest with additional tiebreakers to determine the winner. This contest of skill is not a lottery, game of chance or gambling.

Red Flag # 5 “Please do not delay in responding. There is no purchase, payment or contribution necessary to enter or win.

Red Flag # 6 “First_Name Last_Name, this document is to serve as your official certification that you are a rightful owner of the $5,000.00 Payment Number UBI5. This is an official document confirming your status regarding the guaranteed payment whose distribution is now pending.

“Respectfully,

Supposed signature of Joe Ryan

“Joe Ryan

“Accounting Department

Please remember, the quotations above are from the SCAM letter of “UBI Payment Services” _not_ by mailscamalert.com.

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Detach and return release form in envelope provided

image of 'Release Form'

Red Flag # 7  PUZZLE

“Circle the correct answer

“20 + 5 = 25   21   23


checkbox I wish to claim the $5,000.00 check.

checkbox I, First_Name Last_Name, confirm and authorize you to deliver the $5,000.00 check at [an address] Please sign below to accept official contest rules listed over.”

Please remember, the quotations above are from the SCAM letter of “UBI Payment Services” _not_ by mailscamalert.com.

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“This contest of skill is open to legal U.S. and Canadian residents (except residents of Florida) and residents of other countries....”

“...Void in Florida and where prohibited by law. This contest will not be mailed into Texas...”

“...You must be 18 years or older to participate.

“The Sponsors employees or members of their immediate family, agents or any other person who is connected with the creation or administration of this contest are not eligible to win. The $5,000.00 Grand Prize in this contest is subject to all federal state, and local regulations.

Please remember, the quotations above and below are from the SCAM letter of “UBI Payment Services” _not_ by mailscamalert.com.

“By entering this contest, the contestants will be deemed to have read and understood these rules and to be bound by them and by any other requirements set out in any related promotional material...”

“...All contestants must be 18 years of age or older to participate in this contest...”

“...This contest may consist of a number of varying presentations sponsored by Windsor-Morgan & Parker. Only those contestants notified by mail will be eligible.”

“No purchase, payment or contribution is necessary to enter or win. This contest of skill is not a lottery, game of chance, sweepstakes or gambling. There is no luck or chance involved. There is a substantial degree of skill necessary to win the $5,000.00 Grand Prize. All contestants must submit the correct final tiebreaker puzzle to win. Additional tiebreakers may be necessary to decide a winner if contestants have tied scores. The additional tiebreakers commence 60 days prior to the deadline date. The Sponsor is not responsible for entries which are lost, stolen or delayed by mail. Multiple entries per contestant are accepted.

Red Flag # 8 “The final tiebreaker must be received by December 30, 2012 deadline date. The $5,000.00 Prize will be paid within 30 days from the deadline date. The winner will be notified at the address given in the contact details. The winner will be required to send a copy of their passport or identification to the Sponsor to confirm their age and identity. Acceptance of the $5,000.00 Prize by the winner gives the Sponsor the right to use the winners[sic] name for promotional purposes, both immediately after their win and in the future, unless prohibited by law. No contestant can win ore than $5,000.00.”

“Participation to[sic] this Contest of Skill constitutes automatic acceptance of all conditions set out in these rules.

Red Flag # 9 “Sponsored by Windsor-Morgan & Parker, PO Box 5084, Robina Town Centre QLD 3024, Australia.

Red Flag # 10 “Privacy Policy: Occasionally, we make our lists available to carefully screened companies whose products or services might be of interest to you. If you do not wish us to release your name, or continue receiving our own mailings, please write to the address above.”

Please remember, the quotations above are from the SCAM letter of “UBI Payment Services” _not_ by mailscamalert.com.

Red Flag  # 1 Have you ever seen a ‘contest’ that sends you a letter inviting you to enter? I never have, all contests I’ve ever heard of require you to make take some type of action first. The announcement of a contest is made publicly by an add or extra printing on a label, but never mailed to people out of the blue. One reason is that most contests are tied to a specific product; mailing to any purchased mailing list would be a very inefficient way to contact potential or even current customers. (return to # 1 Red Flag above)

Red Flag  # 2 If you are relying on this ‘guarantee’ to get your $5,000, I hope you have extreme amounts of patience! I have yet to hear of any ‘guarantee’, for any SCAM on this site, to be honored. These ‘guarantees’ are for only the fees paid, usually much less than $50, and they are still never paid. Yet we are to trust this totally unknown company to send us 100 times that amount because of their ‘guarantee’? Please, don’t waste a stamp based on that ‘guarantee’! (return to # 2 Red Flag above)

Red Flag  # 3 “If” is an extremely important word. In this case, the ‘guarantee’ will be invalid and completely useless because of what follows that word! You must “fulfill the contest requirements”! However, there is no mention of what those requirements might be. First, you must “return the release form as instructed”! Perhaps then you will also be sent those ‘requirements’? Maybe, but don’t count on it. Be aware, however, that simply by replying, you have also given away the information that you are willing to be influenced by the promise of a rather small amount of money.

At least there are rules for the contest printed on the back of the letter. However, the ink used is so light that they are almost impossible to read. Certainly my scanner was not able to reproduce them, even with its contrast set to maximum. I’m interested to see what ’skill‘ is needed since it is claimed that this is not a “lottery, game of chance or gambling.” (return to # 3 Red Flag above)

Red Flag  # 4 As you will see, the ‘puzzle’ you must ‘solve’ is simple enough for most second graders. It is obvious, then, that there will be a need for ‘tiebreakers’. We are still not told what these ‘tiebreakers’ might be or what kind of ‘skills’ might be useful, however. We’ll just have to wait and hope those details will be part of the “contest requirements” we must fulfill. The reason for the disclaimer about this not being a lottery is quite simple but very important. It is illegal, for a citizen of the United States, to enter a lottery held in a foreign country. If you ever receive a letter asking you to enter a foreign lottery, you should immediately contact your local Postmaster. (return to # 4 Red Flag above)

Red Flag  # 5 This is the standard SCAMmer “Act-immediately-before-you-think” scheme. You are encouraged to reply quickly by the mention that you don’t need to spend any money at all. This is unique among the SCAMs on this site. It is the only one that does not require money with your first reply. Of course, we both know that the requirement to send these SCAMmers money will appear, sooner or later. That’s simply the nature of all SCAMs. Here is a link to a Better Business Bureau page that describes what this company has been doing since 2008. (return to # 5 Red Flag above)

Red Flag  # 6 More ‘proof’ that you are ‘officially certified’ to receive $5,000? Of course! Just remember that this ‘certification’ is just as real as the ‘guarantees’. (return to # 6 Red Flag above)

Red Flag  # 7 Finally, we are presented with our first to solve. All you need is a pen or pencil, the answer is even printed for you, all you need do is circle the answer! Nothing is said about any ‘honor system’, so I suppose you are free to use a calculator if you want. If you don’t have a calculator, perhaps you can find a second grader. OK, I’ll give you a hint, but don’t expect any more help from me: the answer is not 21 or 23. That’s as much as I can help you; you are on your own for the next ‘skills’ test. Just remember I warned you not to reply to this SCAM! (return to # 7 Red Flag above)

Red Flag  # 8 The deadline is, unfortunately, a bit difficult for my aunt; she died well over two years earlier than that deadline. Perhaps I could reply in her place? I’m just concerned that I might not have the needed math skills... (return to # 8 Red Flag above)

Red Flag  # 9 Since you are using the Internet, why not do a little searching for “Windsor-Morgan & Parker”. You should not be surprised to find that name mentioned in numerous SCAM, Fraud, and ‘Ripped Off’ sites. I think it’s also important to note the various addresses for this company. The BBB link above mentions “UBI” as a company with a New Jersey address. The letter and the reply envelope have an Australian address for “Windsor-Morgan & Parker”, but the letter was mailed from Budapest, Hungary. Looks like these folks don’t want to be located easily. (return to # 9 Red Flag above)

Red Flag  # 10 Re-read this closing sentence on the back of the SCAM letter. “...we make our lists available to carefully screened companies whose products or services might be of interest to you.” What this means is that if you reply to this SCAM, you will be getting more letters with more SCAMs. That is the one thing that is definitely ‘guaranteed’! Just don’t send any reply! Save your stamp! Please! (return to # 10 Red Flag above)

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