Parker,
I got one from a small credit union. Everything looked extremely legit and they fed the line that there were unauthorized bills coming from a porn site in Europe and they knew they were not mine. Would I please verify my information. I had no active account with them so it was easy, but I could see real easily how they might get my mother or an elderly person. Someone had spent some real time researching the credit union and putting together the website. I decided to play with them and enter some false information. Whatever program they had kept catching and it and coming back that I had misentered something and needed to correct it. I clicked on the IP address and it was local and had a fake name that sounded like it could be related. The whole thing was pretty sophisticated, but then again, if they could get just 3 or 4 people to respond they might run away with $10,000 or more and just move on. Every once in a while they might hit the Jackpot. I worked with a guy who had $20,000+ stolen out of his checking account before anyone caught it. At the time he had over $40,000 sitting in the account. Pretty smart guy who made a real stupid mistake. I think he was covered for all of it but the thieves really made out.
If you have the link ,fishpolelease, maybe you could post it here ffor everyone to see.

Dear PUDCU Cardholder,

We detected irregular activity on your debit/credit card on 01/21/2008.
For your security, your online banking profile has been locked due to inactivity or because
of too many failed login attempts.

Snohomish County PUD Credit Union is serious about safeguarding your personal information online.

Unlocking your profile will take approximately one minute to complete .

To reactivate your debit/credit card :

Immediately call 1-(800) 537-0601 Monday-Friday during office hours.



© 2008 Snohomish County PUD Credit Union



I don't know how to copy the corporate logo (which matched the credit unions logo exactly) which was at the header of the e-mail text.

My first reaction was "crap, someone opened an account in my name and is going buck wild on a spending spree". I called the # to try to contact an operator and see if there was actually an account in my name with them. The automated system only asked for credit #, pin, SS#. I then called the 800 # provided on the credit unions real web site. They told me that their CEO sent out a memo concerning the fishing attempt and to basically be prepared for a bad day. There was no link and the "from" address was accounts@pudcu.com, highlighting it to see the original IP did nothing for me, the original e-mail was sent from an SBC.YAHOO server, so I'm not sure if that's their e-mail server, or mine as my account was moved to SBC a few years ago.

Sorry parker, not gonna get rid of me that easy. The credit union has assured me that there are no accounts under my name at their bank, so I can hopefully go return the bow saw to Home Depot for some money back.

Simply put:

NO legit institution will EVER email you for personal information, changes to accounts, etc.

Never.

Ever.

Never.

If you received it via a computer, it's fake. It's a scam. <PERIOD>

When it comes to your financial well-being, only interact with another human being "IN PERSON" and "AT THE FACILITY'.

Seriously, it all boils down to simple common sense.

Right, Sol?

Screw you guys.

I just wont the Nigerian Lottery! Twice! Not only that, but the Prince of DoobooDaBaRain (small country in Africa) is entrusting to me 25 million dollars! All I gotta do is cash in the $25,000 check he sent me (it *looks* legit to me!) and in return, all I gotta do is send him back $15,000 in US Cash. Suckers! Once he gets his money (he really wants it gold or US Dollars), he's gonna wire the millions to my account!

His email even said that it was LEGIT on Snopes! No need for me to check that out myself!

I'm outta here!

Calling in Rich! I can now buy that bad-ass sled, drift boat, big truck, and a big house with a HUGE 4-car garage! I don't have to work any more and I can start fishing EVERY day now!

Life is great!

Wooo! Hooo!

I am still in for caning or killing or whatever.....I need to take some of my lifes frustrations out on someone.

OK, how's about hanging the ID thieves from trees at public fishing access sites and boat launches to see if it discourages tweekers from car prowling there? Maybe accomplish two things with each hanging. How's that for efficiency from your gov't public servant?