Posted by BrendaTX on 1/5/05 10:31am
Msg #15492

TexNotary's Incoming Scam of The Day

Hi all.

It used to be that I had autoresponders delivering certain links to those who used them. Well, sorry, but someone who reads the notary forums, or things of a notary nature, got me into a loop that worked liked this:

They sent my autoresponder email address to another autoresponder. The two began to email each other back and forth.

Then, I got a a destructive file (abuse_list.zip) within an email which said:

*I found your email on a list on an email abuse list. *

And, it came from the autoresponder I mention above. Of course, I did not open it.

Just thought I'd let you guys know in case the whacko who is doing this targets you, as well.

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This is not the first time something bizarre has happened to me since I started my newsletter.

In fact, over the weekend, I had one "new notary" write me several times from an AOL account trying to pin me down on information which was obviously sent to get me to make claims about my business that were untrue.

(FYI AOL cloaks the real IP address an email originates through by proxy servers, or some such thing.)

Most pointedly, they wanted to know exactly what I make, and how much they could make.

They asked me "WHAT do YOU want me to do next" "YOU ARE going to teach US how to do this, aren't you?" And, they began to do the questions in a very accurate and to the point Q&A dialogue.

**Finally**, the light came on and I realized what was going on. I responded that I was not endorsing that every notary needed to become a signing agent, and that I WAS NOT a teacher of any kind and that I don't even have a college degree. And, further, that it may not be feasible for ANY other notary but me to become a notary signing agent. I DON'T KNOW.

This person (who indicated they had a daughter ripe for getting into the business, as well) had so many questions that I finally said: Send your phone number and a good time to call you so we can discuss this because you have so many questions I think I can answer them better that way. This person did not send me another email or respond.

SO, if I am misjudging this person and you are reading this, send me your phone number. I can at least help you without feeling creepy by continuing to email you and continue to REPEAT that I don't know all the answers.

Our exchange started out with a statement about how to get business without a laser printer. I replied you should consider using a Kinko's. If you'll send me your phone number, I'll gladly call you, but I don't believe at this point that you are in "Smallville," State Withheld as you stated. I have been wrong LOTS of times before and the offer stands--send me your phone number. I'll even publish a follow up that I was off base on this one.

I won't respond to you if you are emailing me or posting under an AOL IP, however. That's the same as receiving emails from you from your IP address that cloaks your location.

I think this person was hoping to find out if I have a product I want to sell them, or to endorse another's product to, and that I'd be eager to take on her and her daughter as innocent victims that I can "sell" something to. The syntax of the dialogue was very familiar to some/one of the anonymous posters that "expose" the so-called problems of one California notary's publication.

Anyhow, the moral of the story is-- Honesty is the best policy. It's hard to "expose" a notary "publisher" for being honest.

Reply by BrendaTX on 1/5/05 10:36am
Msg #15493

BTW - In case I left the wrong impression, there's nothing wrong with having an AOL email!!! I have one myself.

Reply by Fay, CA on 1/5/05 1:18pm
Msg #15505

Brenda,

Your message is/was alarming! Many times I have people call me asking how to become a notary public and I have always told them how. Unless I am reading your message wrong, I don't believe I was doing anything illegal. I am not a teacher, our local college has prepared a notary public/loan signing agent course, and that is what I tell them: to get in touch with their local college. Of course, your situtation may be entirely different.

Reply by Fay, CA on 1/5/05 1:18pm
Msg #15506

Brenda,

Your message is/was alarming! Many times I have people call me asking how to become a notary public and I have always told them how. Unless I am reading your message wrong, I don't believe I was doing anything illegal. I am not a teacher, our local college has prepared a notary public/loan signing agent course, and that is what I tell them: to get in touch with their local college. Of course, your situtation may be entirely different.

Reply by BrendaTX on 1/5/05 2:04pm
Msg #15510

Hi Fay...we are coming from two different ball courts on this one.

Notaries learn how to become and be notaries through state law. You can get the materials straight out of the lawbooks.

Learning about being a signing agent is a horse of a different color. Training materials resulting from others' experiences have become a commodity.

Reply by Shane_IN on 1/6/05 12:08am
Msg #15578

Just a quick note about AOL cloaking your true IP. Your True IP will Always be included in the Header of the message. A lot of people that use AOL are actually dial up users, and those users won't have a set IP, they will get a different IP address each time they connect to different dial up servers. Either way, the IP that they connected with will be logged, so if you really wanted them, you could ask the AOL customer service which user connected with that IP and they'd be able to tell you.

Reply by BrendaTX on 1/6/05 1:36pm
Msg #15618

Right Shane...and I definitely have the IPs and headers, etc. I'd probably have to do a sworn affidavit and hunt a notary, however, and that could be a real PITA .