YOUR LIFE IS IN DANGER...

"Your life is in danger, consider yourself dead now..." This was the subject heading of the email that was delivered to Seniorsaloud email inbox last night. The contents were alarming (see below in blue) and would have given the recipient a sleepless night had it been a genuine letter.

Seniorsaloud has posted several scam letters on this blog before (see links below) as well as samples of phishing. Despite all the warnings about online scams, there will always be some folks who will end up losing their hard-earned savings to these unscrupulous con men and women who comb the net looking for gullible victims.

How you can tell it's a scam. Source: University of Rochester

Older women are easy prey. Why? Find out at
NBC News

Retirees, in particular, cannot afford to be swindled of their life savings. So take heed. NEVER respond to any email that asks you for money or for your personal data. No 'friend' would ever ask for money to be sent to them, and no bank or organization would ask you to divulge your account number or password online. Look out especially for emails that contain plenty of spelling and grammar errors - a sure giveaway that the emails are fakes.

The majority of scams target our feelings of sympathy (asking for money to help someone in distress), greed (notifying us that we have just won or inherited $1 million), and implicit trust in those in authority (requesting for our personal particulars). The latest type of scams, however, is aimed at causing fear in us. Please read the scam email below so you'll know what to do if you ever receive a similar email - IGNORE IT.

You have been betrayed!!! It's a pity that this how your life is going to come to an end as your death had already been paid for by someone who is very close to you from all investigations.

I have ordered 3 (three) of my men to monitor every move of you and make sure you are not out of sight till the date of your assassination.

According to the report I gets, you seem to be innocent about what you have been accuse but I have no business with that, so that's why am contacting you to know if truly you are innocent and how much you value your life.

Get back to me if you sure want to live on, ignore this mail only if you feel it's a joke or just a threat. Don't forget your days on earth are numbered, so you have the chance to live if only you will comply with me.

WARNING: Tell no one about this mail to you because he or she might just be the person who wants you dead, and if that happens, I will be aware and am going to make sure you DIE instantly.

I will give you every detail of where to be and how to take any actions be it legal or illegal, that's only when I read from you. You need to stay calm and act unaware of this situation and follow instructions because any move you make that is suspicious; you will DIE as your days are numbered.

The New Zealand government's Consumer Affairs Division has just published (June 2013) A Guide for Seniors to help them get online savvy. It contains excellent advice on how to protect themselves and their families against online scams. You can download it for free.

Please read these related posts too, and be informed.

BE VIGILANT AGAINST SPEAR PHISHING

LONELY AND DESPERATE? EASY PREY TO CYBER ROMEOS

LONELY AND DESPERATE? YOU ARE EASY PREY FOR CYBER ROMEOS

Here we go again. Some women (and men) never seem to learn. No matter how many times they have been warned about it, they still turn a blind eye and a deaf ear. I am referring to the recent spate of articles in the media about online scams targeting these gullible souls.

What sort of women make easy victims of these unscrupulous Romeos who hide their identity behind the anonymity that the internet offers? The first word that comes to mind - LONELY. But then again I know of women who are lonely but they know better than to be suckers for scams. What they are not is DESPERATE.

Cover story in The Star 4 Dec

When a woman is desperate, she makes herself vulnerable to anyone who shows even a tiny speck of interest in her. She laps up all the flattery that is showered on her. She is so desperate for attention and love that she throws caution to the wind and grabs at what she believes could be her last chance for happiness.

Why this desperate? Because she knows the clock is ticking against her. Because she has left behind too many broken relationships and desperately want this one to work. Because she has such low self-esteem that she wants to believe any compliment paid to her. There must be scores of reasons why such women willingly part with their life savings, their jewelry, their property to men they barely know.

When a woman is this desperate, she goes online to look for friends. Facebook makes it so easy to connect with people. I get messages daily from guys wanting to know me better. I have not replied to a single one of them. I am not that desperate, nor will I ever be. I have too much going on in my life to fret over my single-hood.

To all those who are lonely for companionship, find an outlet for your loneliness. Volunteer for community service, join a social network group that you can trust, sign up for a course where you meet like-minded people of your age.

In Singapore, the large number of single women became such a matter of concern to the government that in 1984, it set up the Social Network Unit under the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports to promote opportunities for singles to meet and hopefully find a life partner. In 2006 the unit was renamed Social Network Development (SDN). The matchmaking and dating services were outsourced to the private sector.

Love Gifts vouchers offered by dating agencies accredited by the Social Development Network (SDN).

All dating agencies in Singapore must be accredited by the SDN Trust Accreditation.  How successful is SDN in meeting its objectives? Statistics are not available, but one thing is certain - you won't find unsavory Romeos and Valentinos lurking behind pseudonyms to prey on women with lonely hearts. Not when Big Brother is keeping a watchful eye on everyone and everything that is going on.

Perhaps Seniorsaloud should start organizing social networking events to foster new friendships among our community members. I know there are singles out there as well as widows and widowers looking not so much for (re)marriage, but for companionship.

Drop me a line at seniorsaloud@gmail.com if you would be interested in attending a networking luncheon for the 50plus. If we have enough response, we might just organize one to celebrate the coming festive season.