Apparently, Kathryn just sent me $3,182.00 USD via PayPal. So did Flor. And Andromeda, Betty, and Mea. Not to mention Augustina, Linda, and Shawna. And Dave, of course!
Here’s what one of the emails looks like:
Subject: Kathryn just sent you $3,182.00 USD with Paypal. Paypal recommends to withdraw it now.
Kathryn just sent you $3,182.00 USD with Paypal.
Click here to continue
Best of luck!
Kathryn
Supposedly, I just need to click the links in these emails to withdraw my money, a course of action the message claims is recommended by PayPal
Suprise, surprise! Nobody REALLY Sent me Any Money
Alas, I was shocked and saddened to learn that, in fact, none of these people actually sent me so much as a dollar, let alone $3,182. The emails have no connection to PayPal whatsoever and the links don’t open the PayPal website.
Links Open a Dodgy Get Rich Quick System
In the examples that I’ve analysed, the links all open a decidedly dodgy website that promises to make you a millionaire in short order if you sign up to their “system” for the special today-only fee of around $50 (down from the normal price of just under a $1000).
The sign-up form asks for your personal details as well as your credit card numbers.
Of course, the projected income claims on the site are unrealistic, to say the least. In contradiction to the nonsensical claims hyped up in the “must watch’ introductory video, fine-print on the site’s income disclosure page states that the company won’t guarantee that you will make any money at all.
Companies Who Use Such Spam Tactics Should Not be Trusted
To get people to their dodgy website, the company uses a widespread scam campaign that falsely claims that you have already been sent $3,182. And, it implies a non-existent connection to PayPal. So, they start out with deliberate and willful lies and then have the audacity to ask for your money and personal information. Would you trust your credit card details with a company that uses such tactics? I certainly wouldn’t.
Don’t Click Links In These Emails
If you receive one of these emails, do not click any links it contains. And keep in mind that similar messages have been used to trick people into divulging their personal information on phishing websites or downloading malware.
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
