first lines got sloughed off somewhere!

John Gledhill wrote:

Apart from anything else, the assumption in the scam mail that no two
people will/can have the same name and/or the same address or phone
number is palpably wrong. I know of at least two cases where this
happens with parent/child families sharing a forename... (continues as
below)


>  (both called John in one case, both called Sylvia in another).
> It's similarly fallacious as the assumption by credit reference agencies
> that if you have the same address as a bad debtor then you must, by
> inference, be related to them and also be a poor credit risk.
> Hmmmph. Stange logic some people have.
> john
> 
> .............
> 
> "Charles A. Prescott" wrote:
> >
> > Given the illicit and under-handed, but not necessarily illegal, acts this spam
> > suggests will be taken, and the overblown promises it makes, any references to law
> > should be assumed to be there for emotive purposes. The Federal Privacy Act applies
> > only to US government files, and is generally regarded as not particularly effective as
> > a privacy-promotion device.
> >
> > [log in to unmask] wrote:
> >
> > > I hope you find the following e-mail I received recently of interest in the context
> > > of the use (abuse?) of data protection laws.
> > >
> > > It purports to be a way for US citizens to use the US FEDERAL PRIVACY ACT 1974 to
> > > obtain an unblemished credit record.
> > >
> > > Please note this is an unsolicited ('spam') e-mail.  I have removed the details of
> > > the sender.
> > >
> > > Is the US ahead of us on this one?
> > >
> > > QUOTED MESSAGE BEGINS:-
> > >
> > > > Dear Friend,
> > > >
> > > > Give yourself the ADVANTAGE of a new, legal, unblemished credit file in less
> > > > than 30 days, allowing you to enter this New Millennium with EXCELLENT CREDIT!!
> > > >
> > > > Over the past 8 years I have perfected a system called the Proven Credit
> > > > Advantage Program. It's a guaranteed way for legally getting an excellent
> > > > credit rating almost instantly. Here's how.
> > > >
> > > > You will simply go through my easy 5 step program to quickly get a new, legal,
> > > > unblemished credit file and establish Excellent Credit.
> > > >
> > > > Step 1 -
> > > > Because no two people in the United States have the same Social Security
> > > > Number, Banks and Creditors access your credit file almost entirely by your SS#.
> > > >
> > > > You will not want to change your Social Security Number because it is extremely
> > > > difficult to do so and you need it for your Employment, Taxes and Social
> > > > Security Benefits. The FEDERAL PRIVACY ACT OF 1974 clearly states that only
> > > > the Government and your employer can force you to use your SS#. Because of this
> > > > law you are allowed to legally use another 9 digit number to use in place of
> > > > your Social Security # on credit applications.
> > > >
> > > > The first day you become my client, you will receive your own number through
> > > > the Employer Identification Number Program. You will need us for this because 95%
> > > > of all Employer Identification Numbers, although 9 digits, do not look anything
> > > > like Social Security Numbers and cannot be used on credit applications.
> > > > We will legally get you an Employer Identification Number that fits in the same
> > > > range of Social Numbers in use today. Because the Federal Laws do not require
> > > > you to give your SS# to anyone besides your Employer and the Government, you
> > > > can now legally use this number in place of your SS# on credit applications.
> > > > Remember, your new number will only be used for new credit.
> > > >
> > > > Step 2 -
> > > > No two people with the same name have the same mailing address, so you will need
> > > > to obtain a new mailing address for use on your new credit file. A friend,
> > > > relative or mailbox address in your area will be perfect.
> > > >
> > > > Step 3 -
> > > > No two people with the same name have the same telephone numbers, so you will
> > > > also need a new telephone number for use on your new credit file. A friend,
> > > > relative, voice mail or pager will again work perfectly.
> > > >
> > > > Step 4 -
> > > > With your new Social Security number, new address and new telephone number we
> > > > will open your new credit file. It will now be totally impossible for any
> > > > creditor to know anything about your past credit history.
> > > >
> > > > Step 5-
> > > > To guarantee that you will quickly qualify for credit again, we will assist you
> > > > in instantly adding positive information to your new credit file. This is an
> > > > unknown way of adding real accounts to your new credit file to give you an
> > > > Excellent Credit Rating in less than 30 days. As you know, the more positive
> > > > information on your credit file, the more money banks will lend you.
> > > >
> > > > Many of our clients have credit lines over $100,000 because of our Proven Credit
> > > > Advantage Program!
> > > >
> > > > When we are finished you will have a copy of your new, legal, unblemished credit
> > > > file proving that you now have excellent credit again. This will take less than
> > > > 30 days. You will now be able to easily qualify for credit!
> > > >
> > > > To order your Proven Credit Advantage Program simply send me your name, complete
> > > > mailing address including zip code and telephone number (optional) along with a
> > > > check or money order payable to American Financial Services Inc. for $39.00.
> > > >
> > > > Send to:
> > > >
> > > > xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
> > > > xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
> > > > xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
> > > > xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
> > > > xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
> > > >
> > > > All necessary paperwork along with a telephone number to contact us for
> > > > assistance will be priority mailed to you within 48 hours.
> > > >
> > > > RISK FREE DOUBLE YOUR MONEY BACK GUARANTEE
> > > >
> > > > My Proven Credit Advantage Program unconditionally guarantees you will qualify
> > > > for personal loans, business loans, credit cards, auto loans, home loans and any
> > > > other credit you apply for!
> > > >
> > > > If you are not able to qualify for credit after using my program, simply
> > > > return your Proven Credit Advantage Program along with your denial letter and
> > > > your $39.00 investment will be refunded DOUBLE! That's a $78.00 refund if this
> > > > doesn't work like I say!
> > > >
> > > > I make this guarantee to you because the Proven Credit Advantage Program has
> > > > already helped thousands of people just like you. I KNOW it works - all you need
> > > > to do is order! I truly look forward to making you another SATISFIED CLIENT!!
> > >
> > > --
> > >
> > > From:
> > >
> > > Clifford G. Miller
> >
> > --
> > Charles A. Prescott
> > Vice President, International Business Development
> > and Government Affairs
> > Direct Marketing Association
> > 1120 Avenue of the Americas
> > New York, NY 10036
> > U.S.A.
> >
> > Tel. (1) 212-790-1552
> > Fax. (1) 212-790-1499
> > e-mail: [log in to unmask]
> > website: www.the-dma.org
> 
> --
> 
> **************************************************************
> *   From Dr John M Gledhill
> *   personal email: [log in to unmask]
> *   Academic Registrar, Coventry University,
> *   Priory St. Coventry CV1 5FB, UK
> *   phone 024 76 838336,     fax 024 76 838311
> *   (local calls 838336 until 22.4.2000, then 7688 8336)
> *   for general University email use:  [log in to unmask]
> **************************************************************

-- 


**************************************************************
*   From Dr John M Gledhill
*   personal email: [log in to unmask]
*   Academic Registrar, Coventry University,
*   Priory St. Coventry CV1 5FB, UK
*   phone 024 76 838336,     fax 024 76 838311
*   (local calls 838336 until 22.4.2000, then 7688 8336)
*   for general University email use:  [log in to unmask]
**************************************************************


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