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OT- URGENT, Your membership has expired (scam)
https://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=30576		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  PCook [ Mon Dec 20, 2010 5:23 am ]
Post subject:  OT- URGENT, Your membership has expired (scam)
I was sorting through the mail received during several weeks on the road, and came across another scam being circulated by the "We'll do anything to get your money" crowd. This one is the urgent expired membership scam.

You get this very official looking envelope from an immaculately named organization that sounds like a research institute or a consortium to deal with all the world's problems, notifying you that your membership has expired and this is the last chance to renew. And oh yes, they want you to renew for this year and for next year too. Of course, you have never been a member of the group.

Most amusing of all is the "last chance" renewal notice that is included with the package. If you do not rush to get your renewal sent in to this group which you have never been a member of, you will never get a chance to renew your non-membership ever again!

With there being a mailed version of this, there is sure to be in internet version as well. I can see where they might be able to sneak this one past a few elderly folks once in a while who have trouble reading their mail, but this kind of promotion, along with the endless deluge of offers for limited time special deals, useless warranty extensions, and other stuff you don't need, are turning the entire US public into a group that is inclined to throw any new appeal into the waste basket rather than responding to it. Preservation unfortunately has to live and function amid the skepticism and hostility that these scam artists create.

PC
Author:  Bobharbison [ Mon Dec 20, 2010 12:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: OT- URGENT, Your membership has expired (scam)
Another popular flavor of this scam:

YOUR DOMAIN LISTING HAS EXPIRED!

Then in small print, you find out they're talking about your listing in some paid directory service, and in print so small it looks like the reporting marks on an N scale boxcar, they state "This is not a bill, it's an offer for a listing in Sir Scamalot's (non-existent) Web Directory, Yellow Pages, and Business Listings"

Before paying any bill related to your website, read it very carefully, and also verify who your site is registered with. If you're on GoDaddy or NetworkSolutions, and the e-mail/letter is from Billy-Bob's Domain Registrar and BBQ, use it to light your next fire.
Author:  JimBoylan [ Tue Dec 21, 2010 2:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: OT- URGENT, Your membership has expired (scam)
Still another variation is that "The Federal Government requires you to pay significant fines and penalties if you do not renew your Railroad Radio License every 10 years. Send Big Dollars now (including large service and handling charges) to our off shore bank account and hope that we will pay the renewal fee when it is due". Some of that money might be to pay the commercial artist who drew up the official looking letter. Tyburn Railroad is on at least 2 of those cheat lists, even though we haven't replied to any of them.
Author:  robertmacdowell [ Tue Dec 21, 2010 4:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: OT- URGENT, Your membership has expired (scam)
Bobharbison wrote:
YOUR DOMAIN LISTING HAS EXPIRED! Then in small print..."This is not a bill, it's an offer for a listing in Sir Scamalot's (non-existent) Web Directory, Yellow Pages, and Business Listings"

Yet another reason to keep your domain name registered at least 5 years in advance. This costs $10/year.

Usually the impediment is "my domain is registered by my web hoster as part of the package, they won't advance register it and it seems hard and undesirable to untangle that and register it separately." Seriously - I know that and I do not recommend this lightly.
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