Peter’s Soapbox

Scam of the Day: Stimulus Payment, Python, Pants, and Bombing.

This one just came in via my mom. I consider myself fortunate enough to have a mom who can recognize a good scam when she sees one.

And, on that note, is anyone else reeling from astounding spike in spam over the last couple of weeks? I mean everywhere, from email to IM to Skype, to blogs and other web forms. Everything from these scams to the traditional 419 to a “python in my pants.”

Side note:

Dear Spammer, please take note: I used to handle boa constrictors and have no desire to have a python in my pants.

Thanks,

Peter

Thought of the day: can we route the military to do something useful, like bombing spammers? Thanks.

------- Forwarded message follows -------
Return-Path: <stimulus.payment@irs.gov>
Received: from smx74.sover.net (smx74.sover.net [209.198.112.154])
	by spot.sover.net (8.14.2/8.14.2) with ESMTP id
n05JZW0F066421
	for <XXXXXXXX@mailhub0.sover.net>; Mon, 5 Jan 2009 14:35:32 -
0500 (EST)
	(envelope-from stimulus.payment@irs.gov)
Received: from post.nvozrast.ru (post.nvozrast.ru [212.44.139.147])
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n05JZVbQ008350
	for <XXXXXXXX@sover.net>; Mon, 5 Jan 2009 14:35:32 -0500 (EST)
	(envelope-from stimulus.payment@irs.gov)
Message-Id: <200901051935.n05JZVbQ008350@smx74.sover.net>
Received: from User ([87.198.234.70])
	(authenticated user test@nvozrast.ru)
	by post.nvozrast.ru;
	Mon, 5 Jan 2009 22:34:35 +0300
From: "Internal Revenue Service"<stimulus.payment@irs.gov>
Subject: Stimulus Payment form it's ready for you to submit
Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 19:32:47 -0000
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: multipart/mixed;
	boundary="----=_NextPart_000_00D3_01C2A9A6.2E79EE60"
X-Priority: 3
X-MSMail-Priority: Normal
X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2600.0000
X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2600.0000
X-Bayes-Prob: 0.0001 (Score 0)
X-Spam-Score: 2.60 (**) [Tag at 5.00]
FORGED_MUA_OUTLOOK,L_T_COMBINED,MSGID_FROM_MTA_HEADER,
MSGID_FROM_MTA_ID,UNDISC_RECIPS
X-Spam-Milter-Status: No, hits=2.60 required=5.00 l=75 f=1 st=1
tests=FORGED_MUA_OUTLOOK,L_T_COMBINED,MSGID_FROM_MTA_HE
ADER,MSGID_FROM_MTA_ID,UNDISC_RECIPS
X-CanItPRO-Stream: sovernet:XXXXXXXX@sover.net (inherits from sovernet:default)
X-Canit-Stats-ID: Bayes signature not available
X-Scanned-By: CanIt (www . roaringpenguin . com) on 209.198.112.38
Status:
X-Antivirus: AVG for E-mail 8.0.200 [270.10.2/1876]
X-Antispam: NO; Spamcatcher 5.1.0. Score 2
X-PMFLAGS: 570949760 0 1 PV1H9GJ5.CNM                       

After the last annual calculations of your fiscal activity we have determined that
you are eligible to receive a Stimulus Payment.
Please submit the Stimulus Payment Online Form in order to process it.

A Stimulus Payment can be delayed for a variety of reasons.
For example submitting invalid records or applying after the deadline.

To submit your Stimulus Payment form, please download the document attached to
your email.

Note: If filing or preparation fees were deducted from your 2007 Refund or you
received a refund anticipation loan, you will be receiving a check instead of a
direct deposit.

Regards,
Internal Revenue Service