Phishing for Anti-Trumpers
The reaction against Trump in some circles is total. The liberals really think Trump is going to make a difference.
Phishers have tapped into this. I received this several times. So did a friend, who reminded me.
Canada Immigration and Resettlement Bureau
1148 Hornby Street
Vancouver, BC
V6Z 2C3
Dear Nominee,
You have been selected by Canada 2017 Resettlement Provincial Nomination Programs, you are among the list of persons that have been nominated for 2017 PNP to Canada with benefits from Canada Government, you and your family will be granted Permanent Resident with benefits if you can meet the basic requirements.
Your nomination code is (PNP-CAN0012013711)
Every year certain numbers of people are selected via e-mail through our electronic ballot system by Canadian Government as part of support to some Countries.
Please confirm receipt of this notification, by responding immediately, so that we can forward the relevant requirements.
Note: If you receive this notice repeatedly, it is to ensure it delivers safely into your mailbox without failure delivery due to network problem.
For further details, please contact us via:
Miss Julia Anderson
Program Coordinator
Phone: +1(415) 691-8265
Fax: +1(888) 647-3750
Email: confirmation@cic-imm.com
===================================================================
===================================================================
IMPORTANT LEGAL NOTICE: The information contained in this communication is confidential, may be client privileged, may constitute inside information, and is intended only for the use of the addressee. It is the property of CANADA IMMIGRATION & RESETTLEMENT BUREAU and the sender. Unauthorized use, disclosure or copying of this communication or any part thereof is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by return e-mail and destroy this communication and all copies thereof, including all attachments.
Naturally, when you contact them, you will be required to supply basic information about yourself. This is to be expected. Because of the nature of the scam, the recipient knows that he will be asked to supply details. After all, this is all about immigration.
If you think it's a mistake, they offer a solution:
If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by return e-mail and destroy this communication and all copies thereof, including all attachments.
If you do this, they will have your email. They will know you read it. They will know you think it's real. They got you to press a hot button. Also, you care. You responded. They will follow through.
I knew it was fake as soon as I saw it. Canada does not need to recruit immigrants from America. It has plenty of applicants.
This reminds me about how creative phishers can be. They spot a widespread hot button, and they mass mail. This is direct-mail marketing that works. They collect private information.
It is easy to fall for these scams. They seem real. If there seems to be a reason for supplying information, you lower your suspicion.
I got a fake Netflix letter recently. My account needed updating: my credit card number. The letter looked real.
Your instinctive reaction had better be this every time: "Guilty until proven innocent."
First, always look at the return address. Is the email from the company's URL? This one was not from Netflix.com.
Second, if you think it may be real, send a copy to someone in customer service at the real company. Ask if this is real or phishing. They want to be warned about phishing that uses their name. They take this seriously. Someone will reply. You can then provide the information to them if someone says it's real in an email. Keep the email in your files. I think it's best to provide this on an official online form. Print out the form for your records.