Spam, Junk Mail, Email Scams, Phishing, etc issues

[Wend]

Thanks again.
I was wondering if they could be stopped at the source - after first dodgy sms / email sent. Can we contact telcos with their number/s, Gmail / yahoo Etc with their email addresses?
These nasties rake in $$$$$s from their scams, and elderly and other vulnerable communities have no way of having their dollars returned Or any justice from these invisible criminals.

[PhilT]

There are two related topics, one about email and the other caller ID spoofing. I have moved your topic accordingly.

@Wend

Can we contact telcos with their number/s, Gmail / yahoo Etc with their email addresses?

No, because ‘we’ do not know their real number from what ‘we’ see in the text or email. Some of them are very sophisticated at hiding their real whereabouts. Like whack-a-mole, if they are blocked it will only take them a minute to resurrect themselves at a different point-of-presence.

Regarding the numbers you see on caller id, this topic may be insightful.

Caller ID Spoofing

Is it possible to fake the caller ID on a landline phone? I have learned to be very wary of those who phone unexpectedly and conceal their ID as ‘Private number’ but I have recently got some calls that are very suspicious that seem to have odd numbers. One showed the caller and the number as “2004” which isn’t likely to be a valid phone number in many places. Others showed long numbers that could have been valid here but the caller was a recording or a scammer. So technophiles can it be done…

[grahroll]

Emails can be blocked, you need to ensure that you have an email client that supports Junk filtering (most do these days) and if possible filtering rules. This filtering allows sorting on where the emails go to on receipt, you to choose what words, phrases, country of origin to sort on eg I don’t expect emails from Senegal (.sn) so I pass them to junk instead of the bin just in case a friend has moved there. Some Email Clients also allow using 3rd party filtering eg Thunderbird by Mozilla allows you to use SpamCop.

SMS is much harder, it is a direct message to your number and really this has no filtering rules beyond you knowing what to keep an eye out for. If it is random phone numbers ie not in your list or not expected (expected could be eg Appointment reminders), poor spelling, doesn’t address you properly, offers you a prize you hadn’t applied for, and so on it should be treated with caution. Number 1 rule is do not respond, number 2 is similar ie follow Rule 1

[Wend]

Thanks Grahroll
These good suggestions are dependent on receiver taking appropriate action.

I’d like to see filtering by telcos? So if number / email is reported / shown to be dodgy - then all other sms / calls / emails Could be blocked and not reach any more potential victims.

Is this possible? What other way do we have stop these criminals?

[PhilT]

@Wend

So if number / email is reported / shown to be dodgy - then all other sms / calls / emails Could be blocked and not reach any more potential victims.

Lets assume one of the spam SMS types got your mobile number and spoofed it into the caller id field that recipients see… and everyone reported it as a spammer. The telco turn your number off.

Same when they spoof your email address and google, yahoo, outlook, or your ISP suimmarily freezes your email account.

The spammers are already off to their next fake caller id and ‘stolen’ return email address.

How does that go for you? Does it make why that is not a good idea more clear?

A good deal of technology to stop falsifying points of origin have to be developed and proven before that could possibly work. Assume it is all done and they can actually and correclt stop the spam account. How long would it be before the telcos have a huge pile of numbers stopped and locked they cannot use again for some predetermined time? What if they run out of available numbers because so many are ‘locked up’ for a period? That is perhaps less than more likely, but another thing to consider. The world has run out of IPv4 address on the internet and the solution of IPv6 has been s.l.o.w.l.y getting deployed to solve it, but not without issues.

[grahroll]

As @PhilT stated the problem is that for the suggestion to block these numbers is that innocent users will be blocked because their number has been spoofed. Not a good outcome and it might take a long time for the “bad listing” to be fixed.

One issue that may help a little which I have discussed before is to make Australian numbers only available to “real” Australians ie people and Businesses with real Australian credentials. Germany among others already do this for their numbers, it isn’t perfect but it does reduce the incidence. Currently VOIP services and that means any VOIP service here or overseas are allowed to provide Australian numbers to non-Australians. They purchase these numbers from the Australian Communications authority for very small amounts for each number (they usually buy in batches of 1,000 or more). Then a VOIP user can churn through the numbers for very little cost to change them as often as they like. The VOIP service gets paid so they are happy as they make money, the user is happy as they can use as many numbers as they are willing to pay for, the Australian Govt are happy as they made some income and the Australian user is unhappy because they get phoned by different numbers all the time. This isn’t the only reason they end up having so many numbers to use for these scams but it certainly doesn’t help.

A topic that has covered Caller ID Spoofing that may also offer some insight into the issue:

Caller ID Spoofing

Is it possible to fake the caller ID on a landline phone? I have learned to be very wary of those who phone unexpectedly and conceal their ID as ‘Private number’ but I have recently got some calls that are very suspicious that seem to have odd numbers. One showed the caller and the number as “2004” which isn’t likely to be a valid phone number in many places. Others showed long numbers that could have been valid here but the caller was a recording or a scammer. So technophiles can it be done…

[PhilT]

As counterpoint, a timely reminder to check incoming marketing ‘spam’ from companies you do business with. It could be important.

Natalie thought her health fund's email was spam, now she can't afford the...

[phb]

@PhilT

It could be important.

I was surprised by this ‘news story’. How could one think that getting something substantially cheaper from the same provider, offers the same level of service and coverage. It appears that the decision to accept a basic health insurance coverage (which may be one of the one’s Choice have previously indicated aren’t worth the paper they are written on) has come back to bite the individual who took the risk. Now the risk has eventuated, are we meant to feel sorry for the risk taker?

I expect that the premium savings over time would more than pay for a colonoscopy. Maybe risk takers could bank the savings just in case the risks come into fruition like what which happened to Natalie.

It is also worth checking one’s junk mail box as important emails can be collected by the filter by time to time.

[PhilT]

@phb

How could one think that getting something substantially cheaper from the same provider, offers the same level of service and coverage.

Strange things happen when one is not paying attention.

@phb

Now the risk has eventuated, are we meant to feel sorry for the risk taker?

I was not aware we were being asked to.

@phb

It is also worth checking one’s junk mail box as important emails can be collected by the filter by time to time.

The experience and article is a case reinforcing one needs to pay attention, not just dismiss every incoming as if it is SPAM. In her case an email subject in ‘big bold letters at the top of the email saying: “IMPORTANT CHANGES TO YOUR COVER”’ was summarily dismissed. Not too clever…but may be educational.

[mudpuppy]

I was interested to read about the Senior Discount scam.
I applied for a Seniors Card in the turmoil of 2020, and within a week or two, received promo material in my inbox from Senior Advantage. Coincidence? Due to our creeping retirement age, I haven’t actually got there yet, and I don’t have a loyalty card with any supermarket, so where else could they get my details from?

It went to spam.

Which brings up the issue of spam emails. The number that get through my gmail filters has increased drastically this year, specifically since Google installed the block on Australian news - now at least one a week. And bingo, another in my inbox today - from an unintelligible email address asking about my Dyson vacuum cleaner, which I don’t have.
15 years ago, Viagra was all the rage, now it’s more general conning. In those days, it was up to the addressee to create the filter to block individual spammers - I still have them in Settings. Google now claims it ‘learns’ from what we determine is spam when we click on the icon. Perhaps Google has ‘unlearnt’, to punish us for our audacity.

[phb]

@mudpuppy

Coincidence?

No, many of the free email providers offered by data havesting companies (Google, Facebook, Apple etc) as well as browsers and social media platforms scan user behaviours and information to tailor make advertising (including spam and in browser advertising). This is most likely what has happened in your case.

[Fred123]

@mudpuppy

15 years ago, Viagra was all the rage

Along with other prescription drugs such as oxycontin.

Thankfully they are long gone.

[mudpuppy]

That has been increasing - last year I changed to searches without tracking - incognito on Google or using DuckDuckGo. Once I forgot, went back to normal and was targeted with advertising for whatever the product was.

[passerbye123]

How about sms soam i receive people calling and its rubbish messages. Never remember receiving anything like this before. I just add them to the spam folder and report them. Ot happens regularly

[Cath1]

I have been receiving at least 1 text message per day for at least a couple of weeks from Rockmans. I contacted them and asked them to remove my phone number and email address from their system as I don’t recall ever handing over that info to them. They said it could take up to 5 days, it has now been 6 and I got 2 messages today and now the emails have started too. So annoying!!

[phb]

Hi @Cath1, welcome to the community.

Have you looked at adding your mobile number to the Do Not Call Register?

https://www.donotcall.gov.au/

If the emails and texts are genuine and from Rockmans, they should have unsubscribe options…it is required by Australian law. It is possible that someone has used your credentials for some reason at Rockmans or accidentally typed their phone number with yours.

If they are spam/scam emails and texts which aren’t from Rockmans, then any contact with them will draw more spam as you have effectively confirmed your mobile no./email are active,

[grahroll]

Send them an email quoting the following part of the privacy law

Chapter 7: APP 7 Direct marketing

7.21 If the individual has ‘opted out’, the organisation must not use or disclose their personal information for the purpose of direct marketing, in accordance with the individual’s request (APP 7.2(d))

The Spam Act also has effect

6 When withdrawal of consent takes effect

• (1) For the purposes of this Act, if:

  • (a) one or more electronic messages have been sent to the relevant electronic account‑holder’s electronic address; and

  • (b) the relevant electronic account‑holder has consented to the sending of those commercial electronic messages to that electronic address; and

  • (c) an individual or organisation authorised the sending of those commercial electronic messages to that electronic address; and

  • (d) the relevant electronic account‑holder, or a user of the relevant account, sends the individual or organisation:

    • (i) a message to the effect that the account‑holder does not want to receive any further commercial electronic messages at that electronic address from or authorised by that individual or organisation; or

    • (ii) a message to similar effect;

the withdrawal of consent takes effect at the end of the period of 5 business days beginning on:

(e) if the message referred to in paragraph (d) is an electronic message—the day on which the message was sent; or

(f) if the message referred to in paragraph (d) was sent by post—the day on which service of the message was effected (see section 29 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 ); or

(g) in any other case—the day on which the message was delivered.

• (2) For the purposes of subclause (1), a business day is a day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or a public holiday in:

  • (a) if the message referred to in paragraph (1)(d) is an electronic message—the place to which the message was sent; or

  • (b) if the message referred to in paragraph (1)(d) was sent by post—the place to which the message was sent; or

  • (c) in any other case—the place where the message was delivered.

Then make a Complaint to ACMA at Spam complaint form | ACMA

and the OAIC at Lodge a privacy complaint with us | OAIC

[Cath1]

Thank you

[zackarii]

I get these ad nauseam. Because Rockmans is part of the Mosaic brand, they gladly send you SMS & email from W Lane, Rivers, Millers, Liz Jordan, Noni B etc, even if you have never shopped there.
I was picked up when I got a Loyalty card - you know - moment of weakness - 50% off if you have a card in today’s sale … at Noni B over a year ago. They hammer me around Mother’s Day, Christmas & New Year, with daily texts & emails. Telstra now mark some of these texts as Spam but still they come… I just ignore them.

[zackarii]

While we’re on email scams … I have been besieged by them. Our doctor signed up to Health Engine (but we didn’t) and then these & others started. All from various gmail accounts. All very similar. Supposedly from Netflix, Harvey Norman, Kogan, Apple, Dyson etc… Most have “Answer & Win! $90” and the address “2212 S Chickasaw Trl. Orlando, FL 32825”

Get Started or Unsubscribe takes you to: (put dot in to avoid people clicking)
beastoffers dot co dot uk
usesmartoffers dot com
offersapple dot com
offerscreative dot com
newsapple dot co dot uk
heightly dot org
leadslabs dot co dot uk
applehub dot nl
trysmart dot co dot uk

Hope this helps people searching for these scams.
I also get other scams. From various “official” TPG addresses eg no-reply@tpg.com.au telling me my account is “to be hold”. This has been going on for over a month. TPG just apologies and say their Security team is working on it. The messages are all the same, (bad spelling, grammar, website included) so I can’t see why they can’t filter their email and send them to spam.
Other scams, only a few & short lived, eg. Norton Your Computer Is At Risk, Earn £1,347.29 in the next 3 minutes etc.

Scamwatch - I have reported each new website as they start, but not every incidence. Up to 24 reports in two weeks. Really skewing the statistics for my age, gender & location.

Is there a site that lists these scams? I get calls from friends who are not sure, if I could send them somewhere to look at the scams doing the rounds that would help. Thanks