If I’m to believe this message, Google’s social network Google+ has sent me an email that must be read. The email, which purportedly comes from “The Google+ Support”, conveniently makes the word “email” clickable so that I can easily access my must-read message.
The email also includes unsubscribe and notification setting links.
However, despite appearances, the email is not from Google+ and it does not link to any must-read message.
Instead, all links in the fraudulent email open a scam website that tries to get you to buy dodgy health-related products. The site uses stolen images of high-profile celebrities along with fake celebrity endorsements to convince you to purchase its useless products.
This type of spam campaign is increasingly common. Alas, even after clicking a link that opens a website that has no connection to the supposed notification, at least a few recipients apparently hang around to buy the scam site’s suspect products.
Here’s what the spam email looks like:
Importance Notice
After considerable thought and with an ache in my heart, I have decided that the time has come to close down the Hoax-Slayer website.These days, the site does not generate enough revenue to cover expenses, and I do not have the financial resources to sustain it going forward.
Moreover, I now work long hours in a full-time and physically taxing job, so maintaining and managing the website and publishing new material has become difficult for me.
And finally, after 18 years of writing about scams and hoaxes, I feel that it is time for me to take my fingers off the keyboard and focus on other projects and pastimes.
When I first started Hoax-Slayer, I never dreamed that I would still be working on the project all these years later or that it would become such an important part of my life. It's been a fantastic and engaging experience and one that I will always treasure.
I hope that my work over the years has helped to make the Internet a little safer and thwarted the activities of at least a few scammers and malicious pranksters.
A Big Thank You
I would also like to thank all of those wonderful people who have supported the project by sharing information from the site, contributing examples of scams and hoaxes, offering suggestions, donating funds, or helping behind the scenes.I would especially like to thank David White for his tireless contribution to the Hoax-Slayer Facebook Page over many years. David's support has been invaluable, and I can not thank him enough.
Closing Date
Hoax-Slayer will still be around for a few weeks while I wind things down. The site will go offline on May 31, 2021. While I will not be publishing any new posts, you can still access existing material on the site until the date of closure.Thank you, one and all!
Brett Christensen,
Hoax-Slayer
