When I receive an email like the one below, I rarely even notice it. Instead, it typically goes directly to my spam folder, where it is eventually permanently deleted without any notice from me. Occasionally, however, I seek out these emails and provide them here on BellaOnline for readers like you.

Apparently, it cannot be stated often or fervently enough: avoid phishing emails at all costs! The increasing number of monthly victims of this scam prove that to be true. Remember, "phishing" is an attempt to extract personal information from you in order to commit fraud against you. Where other methods fail, foreign promise emails often succeed. They are (still) so wildly successful in part because they don't offer something for nothing. Instead, they offer something for next to nothing. For instance, the email below promises me that I will receive the first payment of my 1.5 million dollar total payment after I send a bit of contact information to confirm my lump sum.

Here is the email as I received it, in it's entirety:

Atten Beneficially,

This is your first Payment of $4,500 usd register today, So kindly reconfirm as, Your Receiver Name, Your Address, and your telhopen number, your text Question and Answer your Age to the office For your approval payment of $1.5Million sign to release immediately to you, Contact Western union Office immediately.

Name: Mr.Kevin Anthony.
TEL: +229 9************
E-mail (w*************mail.com)

Your western union, maximum amount receiving each day From tomorrow is $4,500 daily until the funds complete Transferred. Once we receive info. the transfer will commence.

Best Regards


Henry Uba

Despite grammatical errors, erroneous name spellings or vague and general pleas, spam like this actually works. That's why the spammers still use methods like this one. Don't be an unwitting victim - if you receive this email (or one similar), delete it!

My caution remains: The wording may vary, the names may changes, but the attempts are the same. You should never reply to these e-mails! Don’t send any information to them, because even the slightest bit of info will allow them to target you further.