Scam Alert: Coca Cola Update of Winning 1,000,000.00 GBP From William Gore

Beware! It's a Cyber World - THE COCA COLA COMPANY OFFICIAL PRIZE NOTIFICATION: 

Almost two weeks back I shared here a fake winning notification pretending to be from 'Coca Cola Company'. 

Today I received a reminder-like mail again congratulating and asking to provide the personal details to claim agent Mr William Gore; but comparing both the emails it is much easier to detect it as a internet fraud because the contact mail address of Mr William Gore is different in both of the mails.

 

The contents of the mail are given below and I'm sure thousands of internet users would have received that email winning notification; pretending to be exclusively for me.   

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From: Coca-Cola Update
To: info@cocacola.com
Sent: Tue, March 1, 2011 2:54:12 AM
Subject: Congratulation!!!
Your Email Id has won 1,000,000.00 GBP in the Coca-Cola Online Promo 2011.
contact our fiduciary agent for claims with the contact below.

**Full Names
**Residential Address
**Occupation
**Age
**Phone
**Country

Agent Name: Mr. william Gore :
E-mail: claims.deptcocacola@hotmail.co.uk 

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 To read more about such internet frauds click here.

Interesting Facts and Baseless Claims About July 2011 - - False Money Bags Story Related to Chinese Feng Shui

Beware! Its a Cyber Worl - - Summary:

Widely circulating email message states that July 2011 has 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays and 5 Sundays and that this combination of days only happens once in 823 years.

It's just a hoax even though it is completely right that July 2011 has 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays and 5 Sundays. But, such a combination happens far more often than every 823 years. The last occurrence was in July 2005 while the next occurrence will take place in July 2016. The message is just a reshaped version of very similar- and equally erroneous - messages about August and October 2010. 

Let's check out the contents of the message:

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Subject: July 2011: INTERESTING!

This year, July has 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays and 5 Sundays. This happens once every 823 years. This is called money bags. So, forward this to your friends and money will arrive within 4 days. Based on Chinese Feng Shui the one who does not forward ..... will be without money. I'm not taking any chances!

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Beware! Its a Cyber World - - Explanation:

This silly piece of nonsense circulates via email and social networking websites and is now in its third incarnation. The message imparts the "interesting" fact that July 2011 will have 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays and 5 Sundays. It claims that such a combination of days only occurs once every 823 years. It also claims that those who forward the message to their friends will receive money within four days.

It is perfectly true that July 2011 will have 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays and 5 Sundays. However, the claim that such an occurrence for July only happens once every 823 years is nonsense. In fact such combination occur in the month of July every few years. As the following calendar shows, the next time a July has 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays and 5 Sundays will be in the year 2016:

And the same combination of days occurred in July 2005:

And, in any case, there is nothing even remotely unusual about months that have such "interesting" combination of days. In fact, any month that has 31 days will have three consecutive days that occur five times in the month. Such combination are commonplace and occur each and every year.

The message is a revamped version of similar - and equally nonsensical - chain letters about August 2010 and October 2010.

Scam Alert - PAYMENT NOTIFICATION from Federal Reserve Bank of America

Beware! It's a Cyber World: PAYMENT NOTIFICATION from Federal Reserve Bank of America

Dear readers, 

I got the following message today pretending to be from Federal Reserve Bank of America, informing me for the payment of US $ 7.3 million is approved and ready to be transferred. They have provided lots of complicated details just to convince me that it is a legitimate notification.

 

You can find many of such mails and notifications here "Compensation Scams" and "Winning Notification"

Beware of following payment/winning notifications  that can hit your inbox also or might be already there in your spam box. This is clearly an effort to steal your private information. Once one would respond to Mr Nelson Alan, as recommended, they will get you trapped to cheat you for processing fee or courier charges etc.

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From: Federal Reserve Bank of America (grsadermi2@frb.com)
Sent: Mon, February 28, 2011 2:03:52 PM
Subject: PAYMENT NOTIFICATION

Attention: Our Honorable Beneficiary

Payment Release Instruction From Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Acting on our capacity as the international correspondent bank to the International Monetary Fund Organization, this is to officially notify you that we have received a confirmation advice from the International Monetary Funds External Auditors Committee, World Bank, United Nations Organization and the Federal Reserve Bank of America respectively via International Payment Voucher Number: IMF/FRBWDC/BOA-93WB82UN567-G requesting our bank to direct the FCMB BANK USA N.A, a subsidiary of the Federal Reserve Bank of America to disburse your due wining/inheritance and contract payment valued at Seven Million Three Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (US7.3M) in your favor via their branch in New York.

In consideration of the above, you have been issued with this Exclusive Reference Identification Number (IMF/FRB-NY/9USXX10751/09), Vide Transaction No.: WHA/EUR/202 and Transfer Allocation No.: FRB/X44/701LN/NYC/US, Password: 339331, Pin Code: 78569, Certificate of Merit No: 104, Release Code No: 0876; Immediate FCMB Telex Confirmation No: -222568; Secret Code: XXTN014. Having received these vital payment numbers, you are instantly qualified to receive and confirm your payment within the next 72hrs. as necessary clearance has been granted from the International Monetary Funds External Auditors to release the funds to you with immediate effect.

In view of this directive received from the International Monetary Funds (IMF), we have on our own part verified your payment file as directed to us, and your name is next on the list of outstanding fund beneficiaries to receive their payment at this First quarter of year 2011. With that being done, you are required to urgently contact the FCMB USA N.A. in New York through their International Funds Release Supervisor:

Contact Person: Nelson Alan.
(Head, Funds Release Supervisor)
Email: nelsonalan0@w.cn

And reconfirm your international payment voucher number and your reference identification number respectively before that office with a view to the final remittance approval and subsequent crediting of your bank account to the tune of funds as stated herein.

1) Full Name:
2) Full Address;
3) Your contact telephone and fax number
4) Your Age and Profession;
5) Copy of any valid form of your Identification;
6) Your Bank name;
7) Your Bank Address;
8) Account name and Number;
9) ABA/Routing Number;
10) Swift or Sort Code/IBAN;

Thank you for your anticipated co-operation.
TREAT AS URGENT.


FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF NEW YORK
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Too good to be true, isn't it...??  

Please keep on sharing your comments and similar fraud mails and scams; so that our efforts can save the internet users from any kind of cyber victimization.

JOB OPPORTUNITY/VACANCY IN BRUNEL HOTEL, London - - Employment Scam With Lucrative Offer to Cheat For Processing Fee and Immigration Charges

Beware! Its a Cuber World: JOB OPPORTUNITY/VACANCY IN BRUNEL HOTEL

The mail I received yesterday is kind of "Employment Scam". I shared before same kind of scam offer pretending to be from CALTEX OIL COMPANY.

This is just a mail to trap the prospective victim. Once the recipient will respond cyber criminals will tighten the trap and will ask for online interview. 

There would be no reason that recipient will not be a successful candidate. In the next step they will send the appointment letter with the terms & conditions that will be enough to make you crazy.

Then these cyber cowboys will ask you to send immigration charges and processing fee. Once you send the money you will never find them on any contacts they would have provided you.

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From: BRUNEL HOTEL LONDON (achiever_achiever2001@yahoo.com)
Sent: Sat, February 26, 2011 9:26:59 PM
Subject: JOB OPPORTUNITY/VACANCY IN BRUNEL HOTEL

From Mr Eddie Lay, Job vacancy in  Brunel Hotel London, Please Brunel Hotel London Needs Men And Women Who Can Work And Live here In Brunel Hotel London the hotel  We Will Pay For Your one way  flight ticket, your feeding and accommodation also exercise in your visa processing with the Embassy/immigration, You must contact the Bureau of Immigration for your work permit and resident  permit so if you are interested  to work in the hotel with us please write us back as soon as possible on our hotel email below, manager_brunelhotel@yahoo.co.uk  Website: www.brunelhotellondon.co.uk Contact Person Mr Eddie Lay Tel ; +447024034362 From Mr Eddie Lay manager_brunelhotel@yahoo.co.uk

=====================================  Beware! Its a Cyber World - - Conclusion:  This is an internet scam! DON'T send these scammers money for any reason. It's important to note that any real people and / or legitimate organizations whose actual names or other details appear in these scam e-mails have absolutely no connection with this scam! Scammers never use their real names. They frequently take on the identity of real people to help make themselves and their scam appear legitimate. For More such scams >>>>> Employment Scams

Scam Alert - Congrats!!! From Microsoft London UK

Beware! Its a Cuber World: Congrats!!!From Microsoft London Uk

Today I received the following mail and I'm sure thousands of internet users would have received that email winning notification; pretending to be exclusively for me.   

Unknown person notifying me for winning GBP. 1,000,000 cash award from Microsoft London UK Microsoft Corporation and asking for my personal details, as usual in such cases, to be provided to Dr James Owen further processing. Further processing will end up on the demand of processing fee.

It's a scam, so don't get trapped and never send your personal information.

===================================================
From: Congrats!!!From Microsoft London Uk.
Sent: Wed, February 23, 2011 4:37:51 PM
Subject: Congrats!!!From Microsoft London Uk.

FROM: THE DESK OF THE E-MAIL PROMOTIONS MANAGER INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT, MICROSOFT CORPORATION WORD LOTTERY UNITED KINGDOM. 61-70 Southampton Row, Blooms bury London United Kingdom WC1B 4AR. REFERENCE NO: MSW-L/200-26937 BATCH NO: 2011 JANUARY L#22 WINNER NO: 5 ELECTRONIC MAIL AWARD WINNING NOTIFICATION AWARD PRESENTATION CENTER: UNITED KINGDOM                            WINNING NOTIFICATION ! Dear Sir/ Madam, We the MICROSOFT COOPERATION MANAGEMENT WORLDWIDE are pleased to inform you that you're among our winners of  MS-WORD LOTTO LOTTERY conducted in the UNITED KINGDOM (LONDON) BEING THE HOST OF THE EVENT FOR THIS PRESENT MONTH MEGA JACKPOT LOTTO WINNING PROGRAMS HELD ON  7th  JANUARY OF,2011.HOWEVER THE RESULTS WERE RELEASED ON THE 8th OF JANUARY ,2011. Your Personal E-mail address or Company email is attached to WINNER NO: 5 JANUARY-2011-12 MSW, with serial number S/N-00168 drew the lucky numbers 887-13-865-37-10-83, and consequently won=2 0in the first lottery category. You have therefore been approved for lump sums pay of GBP £1,000,000.00  (One Million Pounds Sterling Only) in cash Credited to file REF NO:MSW-L/200-26937 this is from total prize money of GBP £27,500,000.00 POUNDS, shared among the Twenty-five (25) lucky international winners in first and second category. All participants were selected from Worldwide Websites especially Yahoo mail,msn mail,aol mail, icq mail through our Microsoft computer ballot system drawn from 21,000 Names, 3,000 names from each continent (Canada, Asia, Australia, United state, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Oceania , as part of International "E-MAIL" Promotions Program, Which is conducted annually for our prominent MS -WORD users all over the world, and to encourage the use of Internet and Computers worldwide. Your fund has been insured with your REF NO: MSW-L/200-26937 and will be ready for transfer/delivery. It will be delivered to you by one of our Paymaster Staff in charge of UNITED KINGDOM (LONDON) Zone ( DR JAMES OWEN). Your E-mail address should be used in all correspondence with your claims officer, please Note that, you are to contact your claims officer via email and phone as we are promoting the use of E-mail. Also you have the right to call him to confirm your winnings and government tax payment that is all, as he will provide you with the necessary details on how to claim Your prize. ``` You are to keep your REF NUMBERS and BATCH NUMBER from the public, until you have been processed and your prize money delivered to you. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and the act of scamming people of their ref number and prizes. We hope with a part of your prize, you will participate in our end of the year High stakes of US$3billion International Lottery. To claim your winning prize, you must first contact our claims department by email for Processing and remittance of your prize money to you. THE  PAYMASTER OFFICER CONTACT EMAIL IS: (PLEASE REPLY WITH THIS EMAIL BELOW) PAYMASTER/CLAIM AGENT: NAME:Dr James Owen TEL:+447035978550 EMAIL: drjamesowen1957@live.com YOU HAVE TO CONTACT YOUR PAYMASTER WITH THE MICROSOFT WINNER'S APPLICATION/VERIFICATION FORM OF PAYMENT PROCESSING   WINNER'S PERSONAL DATA 1.First Name.......... 2.Middle Name........ 3.Last Name............ 4.Gender............ 5.Month Of Birth... Day.. Year... 6.Marital Status............ 7.Nationality............ 8.Religion............... 9.Occupation/Company`s Name.: 10.Mobile phone No............. 11.House Phone No............... 12.Email Address.: .eg. username@dormainname.com WINNING INFORMATION. 13.Ref Number........... 14.Batch Number........... 15.Winner Number...........````````` 16.Amount Won.............. 17.Bank Name............ 18.Bank Address................ 19.Bank Account No............ Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than the 30TH OF MARCH 2011. All funds not Claimed on or before the fixed date will be returned as Unclaimed and will be seen as forfeited by you hence will be donated  to charity organization around the world. NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in all correspondences wit h your claims officer. Do not reply any other mails like this on net, as they are a lot of scam artist out there pretending to be us. You may see mails like this do not reply. Do contact your claims officer DR JAMES OWEN at once,you will be asked to provide some details to enable the office proceed with your winning certificate and file keeping. Congratulations, once more from the entire Management and Staff of Microsoft Cooperation to all our  lucky winners this year. Thank you for being part of this promotional lottery program. Our special thanks and gratitude to Bill Gates of Microsoft and all his Associates for alleviating poverty round the World. Sincerely, LOTTERY SPONSORS: CHIEF SPONSORS; MICROSOFT CORPORATION UK,             MICROSOFT CORPORATION AFRICA, MICROSOFT CORPORATION USA,            MICROSOFT CORPORATION ASIA

=================================================================

Christchurch Earthquake Charity Support Job - A Latest Money Laundering Scam

Beware! Its a Cyber World - - Summary:

Intensively penetrating email message offers the recipient a job as charity support worker in which he or she would be required to receive and process donations to help victims of the Christchurch earthquake and keep a percentage of the donations as payment for the work.

In fact, the email is a scam intended to trap recipients into involuntarily "laundering" the proceeds of criminal activities by accepting stolen funds and sending money back to the criminals via a money wire service. The scam email uses the name and logo of a genuine charity support organization without its permission.

Let's have a look to the contents of the mail:

======================================================

Subject: CHRISTCHURCH EARTHQUAKE CHARITY SUPPORT JOB. (READ CAREFULLY)

Dear Friend,

I am James McCoy from [Name of charity removed], London, UK branch and i am contacting you to offer you a job to help our charity and also donate to New Zealand's present earthquake disaster in Christchurch.

We have so many good hearted charity supporter in New Zealand whom are willing to support the charity but they cannot make payment internationally due to some international bank charges that may apply,so we want to employ you to receive the generous gift giving to the charity and you will be our New Zealand manager of the charity as we do have a branch in Australia as well and it's working fine.

We have New Zealand generous donators whom are willing to donate to thid list below:

Cancer Research UK
World Vision Sponsor a Child
British Red Cross
The National Trust
Christchurch Earthquake

You will be paid 10% of each donation received for the charity by our New Zealand donators which will serve as your payment for your support and we will surely reward you more at the end of every month.

Please do contact me back if you are willing to take the job then i will instruct you further on what to do.

I hope to hear from you soon,

Regards,
James McCoy
Donation Support Officer

[Name of charity removed] 

=========================================================

Beware! Its a Cyber World - - Explanation:

This email, which purports to be from a well known charity donor acquisition portal based in the UK, offers the recipient a job as the organization's New Zealand charity support manager. The email claims that the recipient's tasks would entail receiving donations to help those affected by the earthquake that devastated the New Zealand city of Christchurch in February, 2011 along with donations for other worthy causes. According to the email, a New Zealand based manager is necessary so that those willing to donate can avoid international bank charges when making contributions. As payment, the "manager" would supposedly be paid 10% of each donation received. The email includes the name, logo and other graphics associated with the charity donor portal.

However, the email is not from the named charity donor organization and the supposed job is part of a nefarious scheme designed to trick people into laundering the proceeds of crime. A person who accepted the bogus "job" would be asked to process "donations" in the form of bank transfers or cheques via his or her own bank account. The "worker" would be instructed to keep 10% of each "donation" and then send the remainder back to the "charity organization" via an electronic funds transfer service such as Western Union.

In fact, rather than receiving donations, the worker would actually be accepting and processing money stolen by criminals via other fraudulent activities. The purpose of this scheme is to convert the proceeds of other crimes into cash payments that cannot be easily traced back to the criminals responsible. For example, if a criminal uses a phishing scam to gain access to online bank accounts, he is not likely to risk detection by simply transferring funds from the compromised accounts to his own bank. This would leave an electronic trail that could be too easily followed by police. One way that he can overcome this problem is by roping in an unwitting accomplice who can "launder" his ill gotten gains. Job offer scams such as this one are designed to supply such accomplices.

By using such a scheme, the criminal will receive most of the proceeds of his theft in the form of untraceable cash. Meanwhile, the electronic trail will lead police directly to the hapless "worker" who has been tricked into using his or her own bank account. Once the fraudulent activities are discovered, the victim is likely to be left substantially out of pocket and facing the possibility of criminal charges.

It should be noted the scam email was not sent by the charity donor acquisition organization named in the message. The organization itself is perfectly legitimate and the name, logo and graphics were used by the criminals operating the scam without the organization's knowledge or permission.

Such laundering scams are very common and take many forms. People should be very cautious of any unsolicited job offer that involves receiving and processing funds via their own bank accounts and deducting a portion of each transaction as payment. No legitimate organization is ever likely to conduct its business in such a manner.

Moreover, scammers are always very quick to exploit major disasters such as the Christchurch earthquake. Other scam attempts that use the earthquake as a cover story are likely to be distributed in the coming days and weeks. Be wary of unsolicited emails asking for donations for earthquake victims. Those wishing to donate to earthquake victims should ensure that they do so via legitimate charitable or government appeals. Advance fee scammers are also likely to exploit the earthquake as they have for many other natural disasters in the past.

Lottery Scam: Microsoft Sweepstakes Promotion 2011 - - Your Batch No: 074/05/ZY369 Your Reference No: UK/9420X/05

Beware! Its a Cyber World: Microsoft Sweepstakes Promotion 2011

Today I received the following mail and I'm sure thousands of internet users would have received that email winning notification; pretending to be exclusively for me.   

Unknown person notifying me for winning GBP. 550,000 cash award and Toshiba laptop from Microsoft Corporation and asking for my personal details, as usual in such cases, to be provided to Mr Patrick Parker further processing. Further processing will end up on the demand of processing fee.

It's a scam, so don't get trapped and never send your personal information.

=====================================================

From: Microsoft Corporations (info@msp.co.uk)
Sent: Mon, February 21, 2011 2:34:21 PM
Subject: Microsoft Award
Microsoft Sweepstakes Promotion,
100 Victoria St, London SW1E 5JL
United Kingdom
Customer Service.

You have been awarded the sum of 550,000 GBP and a Toshiba laptop in the
on going Microsoft Sweepstakes Promotion 2011. For claims send the above
reference number and batch number for verification and release of winning
prize. Mr Patrick Parker

Your Batch No: 074/05/ZY369
Your Reference No: UK/9420X/05

(Foreign Transfer Manager)
Mr Patrick Parker
Tel: +44 702-407-1307
    +44 704-577-9151   
Email : mspdept1@live.co.uk

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Please keep on sharing your comments and similar fraud mails and scams; so that our efforts can save the internet users from any kind of cyber victimization.  

Phishing Scam Alert - - "Billing update must be performed" Notice From AOL

Beware! It's a Cyber World - - Summary:

An Email pretending to be from AOL states that the recipient must follow a link to update account information or limitations will be placed on his or her AOL service.

In fact, the email is a phishing scam, as the message is not from AOL.  The scam is devised to trap recipients into providing personal and financial details to Internet criminals. The link in the email points to a bogus website that asks users to submit information via an online form.

Take a look below for the contents of the mail:

======================================================

Subject: Billing Update Must be Performed

Billing update must be performed

Dear AOL Member,

Our records indicate that your account hasn't been updated as a part of our regular account maintenance. Our new SSL servers check each account for activity and your information has been randomly chosen for verification. AOL Member Services strives to serve their customers with better and secure banking service.

Notification: Failure to update your account information may result in account limitation at shopping on our portal.

Update your information

To re-secure your account, just confirm your personal information.

Sincerely,
AOL Member Services

Please note that this email address cannot accept replies.

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Beware! Its a Cyber World - - Explanation:

This email, which claims to be from Internet service provider AOL, informs the recipient that he or she must update AOL account details or risk a subsequent limitation of services. The message claims that the account has been randomly chosen for verification by AOL's "new SSL servers". It warns that the account has not been updated as part of AOL's regular account maintenance procedure and urges the recipient to click the "update your information" link in order to "re-secure" the account.

However, the email is not from AOL. In fact, the message is a phishing scam designed to steal personal and financial information from AOL customers. Those who fall for the ruse and click the "Update" button will be taken to a fraudulent website designed to closely resemble a genuine AOL page. As shown in the screenshot below, the fake site asks users to provide a significant amount of private information, including credit card numbers and social security numbers:

All information on the bogus website will be sent to criminals who can subsequently use it to commit credit card fraud and identity theft. To further the illusion, secondary links on the fake site actually open genuine AOL web pages. Moreover, when a victim has finished filling in the information on the bogus form and clicked the "Submit" button, he or she will be automatically redirected to the genuine AOL website.

The phishing email itself is also designed to resemble a genuine AOL message.

AOL customers are regularly targeted by phishing scammers. AOL will not send out unsolicited emails warning customers that their account will be limited or suspended if they do not follow a link and provide personal information. In fact, any message that claims that you must update information for a bank, government department or online service by following a link or opening an attachment should be treated with suspicion.

Baseless Health Warning Hoax: Poisonous Raw/Leftover Onions

Beware! Its a Cyber World - - Summary:

Widely spreading health warning through email messages state that raw or leftover onions are poisonous because they are magnets for bacteria and are therefore not secure to eat.

In fact, the claims in the message are bogus. The claim that onions are "magnets" for bacteria has no validity in science. Accurately handled and stored raw or left-over onions are no more naturally dangerous to eat than other types of food.

Let's have a look to the contents of the mail before heading towards detailed explanation:

============================================================

Subject: LEFTOVER ONIONS ARE POISONOUS!

LEFTOVER ONIONS ARE POISONOUS! I have used an onion which has been left in the fridge. Sometimes I don't use a whole one at one time, so I save the other half for later. Now with this info, I have changed my mind. I will buy smaller onions in the future. I had the wonderful privilege of touring Mullins Food Products, makers of mayonnaise. Mullins is huge, and is owned by 11 brothers and sisters in the Mullins family. My friend, Jeanne, is the CEO.

Questions about food poisoning came up, and I wanted to share what I learned from a chemist.

The guy who gave us our tour is named Ed. He's one of the brothers. Ed is a chemistry expert and is involved in developing most of the sauce formula. He's even developed sauce formula for McDonald's.

Keep in mind that Ed is a food chemistry whiz. During the tour, someone asked if we really needed to worry about mayonnaise. People are always worried that mayonnaise will spoil. Ed's answer will surprise you. Ed said that all commercially-made mayo is completely safe.

"It doesn't even have to be refrigerated. No harm in refrigerating it, but it's not really necessary." He explained that the pH in mayonnaise is set at a point that bacteria could not survive in that environment. He then talked about the quintessential picnic, with the bowl of potato salad sitting on the table and how everyone blames the mayonnaise when someone gets sick. Ed says that when food poisoning is reported, the first thing the officials look for is when the 'victim' last ate ONIONS and where those onions came from (in the potato salad?). Ed says it's not the mayonnaise (as long as it's not homemade mayo) that spoils in the outdoors. It's probably the onions, and if not the onions, it's the POTATOES.

He explained, onions are a huge magnet for bacteria, especially uncooked onions. You should never plan to keep a portion of a sliced onion. He says it's not even safe if you put it in a zip-lock bag and put it in your refrigerator.

It's already contaminated enough just by being cut open and out for a bit, that it can be a danger to you (and doubly watch out for those onions you put in your hot dogs at the baseball park!)

Ed says if you take the leftover onion and cook it like crazy you'll probably be okay, but if you slice that leftover onion and put it on your sandwich, you're asking for trouble. Both the onions and the moist potato in a potato salad will attract and grow bacteria faster than any commercial mayonnaise will even begin to break down.

So, how's that for news? Take it for what you will. I (the author) am going to be very careful about my onions from now on. For some reason, I see a lot of credibility coming from a chemist and a company that produces millions of pounds of mayonnaise every year.

Please remember it is dangerous to cut onions and try to use it to cook the next day. It becomes highly poisonous for even a single night and creates toxic bacteria which may cause adverse stomach infections because of excess bile secretions and even food poisoning. 

===========================================================

Beware! Its a Cyber World - - Explanation:

According to this widely circulated health warning, people should not eat raw or left-over onion because onions are "poisonous". The message claims that, according to a food chemist, onions are regularly identified by authorities as the cause of food poisoning. The message warns recipients that onions are actually magnets for bacteria and can therefore attract and grow bacteria faster than other types of food.

However, the claims in the message have no medical or scientific basis and have been dismissed as untrue by medical experts. Dr Joe Schwarcz of McGill University's Office for Science and Society explains:

The fact is that onions are not especially prone to bacterial contamination. In fact, quite the opposite. Onions feature a variety of sulphur compounds that have antibacterial activity. Furthermore, cutting an onion triggers the release of enzymes that initiate a chemical reaction producing propenesulfenic acid, which in turn decomposes to yield sulphuric acid. It is the sulphuric acid that makes you cry by irritating the eyes! But sulphuric acid also inhibits the growth of bacteria. Also, a cut onion's surface dries out quickly, reducing the moisture that is needed for bacteria to multiply.

Schwarcz also notes in his article:

Lastly the terminology that onions are "bacterial magnets" makes no sense. No food attracts bacteria, although of course some are more likely to support bacterial multiplication once infected.

And an article on The Chemist's Kitchen website about the onion's supposed ability to attract bacteria agrees with Dr Schwarcz's findings, noting:

Nothing is a bacteria magnet. Firstly, bacteria have minimal mobility. They usually travel in water droplets, if at all. Sneezes, for example. Moulds can release spores which get blown around but bacteria usually grows in moist environments and are slimy, making getting airborne difficult. Secondly, if there was such a thing as a 'bacteria magnet' it would be enormously useful in the medical field for drawing bacteria away from the ill and infirmed. Not such use has been made of onions.

In truth, onions do not possess any special property that enables them to somehow magically collect bacteria from the air around them. Moreover, the claim in the message that "when food poisoning is reported, the first thing the officials look for is when the 'victim' last ate onions" is not supported by any credible evidence whatsoever. The author of the Chemist's Kitchen article mentioned above states that, "In the 20 odd years I worked in a food laboratory, onions were never mentioned as even a suspect in a food poisoning case".

Moreover, onions do not appear in any lists of foods identified as being most likely to cause food poisoning. Onions are not featured in the list of Common Sources of Foodborne Illness featured on the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse website. A New York Times report that discusses the Ten Common Food Poisoning Risks does not mention onion. A report about food poisoning on the NSW Food Authority website lists common food poisoning pathogens and the types of food associated with them. Onion is not on the list. The World Health Organization has also published much information about Bacterial Food Poisoning, none of which singles out onion as a high risk food. In fact, although I checked a great many credible sources of information about food poisoning during my research for this article, I could find none that specified onion as being a common cause of food poisoning. Thus, supposed chemistry expert "Ed's" claim that "when food poisoning is reported, the first thing the officials look for is when the 'victim' last ate onions" is untrue.

Of course, if onions are handled or stored in unhygienic conditions - for example if they were touched with dirty hands or sliced on a contaminated cutting board, then they may pass on dangerous bacteria that could make a person sick. However, this is true of virtually any type of food and, as Dr Joe Schwarcz has pointed out, onions are probably less likely to encourage the growth of bacteria than many other types of food.

Thus, the claims in the message have no factual basis and passing on this pointless piece of misinformation will not help anyone.

Reality of The Mobile Phone Tips Forwarded Through Email Messages - - Claimed to be Very Effective in Emergeny Situation

Beware! Its a Cyber World - - Summary:

Widely circulating email message describes four mobile phone tips or tricks that are claimed to be useful in emergency situations.

The fact is that the message has a combination of accurate and inaccurate information; therefore overall value of the message is questionable. Please go through the explanation below for more details, but first let's have a look to the contents of the message.

============================================================
Subject: FOUR THINGS YOU PROBABLY NEVER KNEW YOUR MOBILE PHONE COULD DO

Very, very useful info.

4 THINGS YOU PROBABLY NEVER KNEW YOUR MOBILE PHONE COULD DO

There are a few things that can be done in times of grave emergencies. Your mobile phone can actually be a life saver or an emergency tool for survival. Check out the things that you can do with it:

FIRST Emergency

The Emergency Number worldwide for Mobile is 112. If you find yourself out of the coverage area of your mobile; network and there is an emergency, dial 112 and the mobile will search any existing network to establish the emergency number for you, and interestingly this number 112 can be dialed even if the keypad is locked. Try it out.

SECOND Have you locked your keys in the car?

Does your car have remote keyless entry? This may come in handy someday. Good reason to own a cell phone: If you lock your keys in the car and the spare keys are at home, call someone at home on their mobile phone from your cell phone.

Hold your cell phone about a foot from your car door and have the person at your home press the unlock button, holding it near the mobile phone on their end. Your car will unlock. Saves someone from having to drive your keys to you. Distance is no object. You could be hundreds of miles away, and if you can reach someone who has the other 'remote' for your car, you can unlock the doors (or the trunk).

Editor's Note: It works fine! We tried it out and it unlocked our car over a mobile phone!'

THIRD Hidden Battery Power

Imagine your mobile battery is very low. To activate, press the keys *3370# Your mobile will restart with this reserve and the instrument will show a 50% increase in battery. This reserve will get charged when you charge your mobile next time.

FOURTH How to disable a STOLEN mobile phone?

To check your Mobile phone's serial number, key in the following digits on your phone: * # 0 6 #

A 15 digit code will appear on the screen. This number is unique to your handset. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe. When your phone get stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code. They will then be able to block your handset so even if the thief changes the SIM card, your phone will be totally useless. You probably won't get your phone back, but at least you know that whoever stole it can't use/sell it either. If everybody does this, there would be no point in people stealing mobile phones.

This is the kind of information people don't mind receiving, so pass it on to your family and friends.
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Beware! Its a Cyber World - - Explanation:

This message describes four things you can do on your mobile phone that could be useful in an emergency situation. However, the message contains a mixture of truthful and inaccurate information and therefore its overall value is questionable. Each tip is discussed in turn below:

Tip 1: 112 is the international emergency number for mobile phones

It is true that, in many parts of the world, dialling '112' from a mobile phone will connect the caller to local emergency services. The number '112' is the international emergency telephone number for GSM mobile phone networks.  

Australian government webpage dealing with emergency calls notes:

If you have a GSM digital mobile phone you can connect to the emergency call service by dialling Triple Zero as with other phones. However, because GSM is an international standard, GSM mobile phone users can also be connect to emergency services by dialling the international emergency call number '112'.

When dialling '112' on GSM mobile phones, access is provided regardless of the presence or validity of the SIM card within the phone, or whether the keypad is locked. The '112' number cannot be dialled from the fixed network.

'112' can be dialled anywhere in the world with GSM coverage and callers will be automatically transferred to that country's particular emergency number. A caller is able to connect to the emergency services answering point if GSM mobile coverage is available from any carrier's network at the location of the call. For further details regarding '112', consumers should talk to their mobile service providers.

The same enhanced capabilities available with '112' are also becoming available progressively on some new GSM handsets and SIM cards. For more information contact your mobile phone carrier.

However, because '112' is primarily integrated with the GSM network, it may not work if the phone is connected to another type of network. Another Australian Government website incudes the following information about the 112 emergency number:

112 is an international standard emergency number which can only be dialled on a digital mobile phone. It is accepted as a secondary international emergency number in some parts of the world, including Australia, and can be dialled in areas of GSM network coverage with the call automatically translated to that country’s emergency number. It does not require reception from an individual carrier, a simcard or pin number to make the call.

Dialling 112 from a fixed line telephone in Australia will not connect you to the emergency call service as it is only available from digital mobile phones.

Therefore, while it is certainly useful to know about '112', mobile phone users should be aware that this emergency number may not work in every part of the world or for every mobile network.

Moreover, some circulating messages about '112' claim that the number will work even if there is no mobile phone signal or will automatically divert to a satellite phone system. However, this information is false. While ‘112’ will attempt to connect to any available network, it certainly will not work if no signal at all is available.

Finally, it should also be noted that, in the European Union, '112' is the emergency number for all Member States and will work from both mobile and fixed phones.

The message also includes the ill-conceived suggestion that recipients should actually try out the 112 number. As at least one commentator has pointed out, testing 112 - or any other emergency number - just to see if it works is simply irresponsible. Tying up emergency call workers with such useless calls could result in delays in response times for real emergencies. In emergency situations even seconds can make a difference. Emergency call services already have to contend with enough time-wasting prank calls as it is without having to field calls from recipients of this message who have heeded its advice to try the 112 number for themselves.

Tip 2: You can unlock your remote keyless entry enabled car from a long distance via a mobile phone call.

This tip has generated vast amounts of, sometimes heated, debate. A lot of people swear that the trick works while a great many others claim that it does not and is technically impossible. I suspect that at least some of the people who claim that the technique works have conducted their experiments without realizing that they are actually still within unlocking range of their vehicles. The range of the entry systems may be significantly greater than experimenters realize. Thus, people may actually believe that they have unlocked their vehicle via their mobile phone when they have in fact done so in the normal way via their remote device.

That said, a great many posters claim to have used the technique from many kilometres distance. In truth, logic and common sense compellingly suggest that the trick is not technically possible. Keyless entry systems work on radio waves, not sound, so it is very difficult to believe that the unlock signal could be transmitted via a mobile phone call, especially since mobile phones and keyless entry systems work at entirely different frequencies.

However, the volume of conflicting reports on the issue means that, at this point, it would be premature to state categorically that the trick will never work under any circumstances. Some have postulated that the technique might be possible with certain keyless entry systems and/or phone services or combinations thereof and this may indeed be the case. This scenario would explain why the technique might work for the few but not the many. Coupled with false conclusions made from invalid experiments, these exceptions might explain why so many people so vehemently claim that the trick actually works in spite of the evidence against it.

What I can say conclusively is that I have personally testing the technique with several keyless entry/mobile phone combinations without any success whatsoever. And, even if the technique does sometimes work, it seems clear that in the great majority of cases, it does not, so this tip is actually rather pointless.

Tip 3: Press the keys *3370# to activate hidden battery power on your mobile phone.

This "tip" is totally bogus. You cannot activate hidden or reserve battery power by keying in *3370# or any other code sequence. The code '*3370#' can be used on some Nokia models to activate Enhanced Full Rate Codec (EFR). Ironically, since this code activates the best sound quality on the phone, the change will actually reduce the length of time that the battery will last before recharging is required – in practical terms the complete opposite of what the tip suggests.

Entering the code has no effect at all on brands of phone other than Nokia.

Tip 4: Press the keys * # 0 6 # to check your mobile phone serial number.

This does work on many kinds of mobile phones. Entering * # 0 6 # displays the phone's unique International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI). The IMEI is also usually printed underneath the battery.

If a phone is reported lost or stolen, the IMEI can be used to disable the phone, thereby making it impossible for thieves to use it. The GSM Association manages a system known as the IMEI Database (IMEI DB) that also supports a "black list". An article about the IMEI DB on the GSM World website notes:

The black list is a list of IMEIs that are associated with GSM or 3G devices that should be denied service on mobile networks because they have been reported as lost, stolen, faulty or otherwise unsuitable for use. Previously know as the Central Equipment Identify Register (CEIR), the IMEI DB acts as a central system for network operators to share their individual black lists so that devices denied service (blacklisted) by one network will not work on other networks even if the SIM card in the device is changed.

Therefore, it would be wise to record your IMEI just in case you need to report the phone as lost or stolen at some point in the future. But, even if you do not have your IMEI, it is important that you report a lost or stolen phone to your service provider as soon as possible and request that they deactivate your mobile phone account so that a thief cannot make calls billed to your account.

Scam Alert: Cash Grant From UNESCO - - Winning Notification From Isabelle Le Fournis to Contact Dr Mariana Patru

Beware! Its a Cyber World - - Summary: Cash Grant From UNESCO

Today I received the following mail and I'm sure thousands of internet users would have received that email winning notification; pretending to be exclusively for me.   

 

Ms. Isabelle Le Fournis notifying me for winning GBP. 500,000.00 cash grant from UNESCO and asking for my personal details, as usual in such cases, to be provided to Dr Mariana Patru further processing. Further processing will end up on the demand of processing fee.

It's a scam, so don't get trapped and never send your personal information.

===========================================================
From: UNESCO©
Sent: Fri, February 18, 2011 3:18:34 AM
Subject: CASH GRANT


--
United Nations Joint Programme.
Division for the Promotion of basic Education
Sector UNESCO 7, place de Fontenoy,
F-75352 Paris 07 SP,France.
Fax: +33 1 45 68 56 26/27
www.unesco.org


Qualification numbers (154/4456/011).

It is obvious that this notification will come to you as a surprise,
Please find time to read it carefully as we congratulate you following our
official publication of results
of an exclusive list of 47,000,000 e-mail addresses of individual
and corporate bodies picked by an advanced automated random computer ballot
search from the internet
as part of our international information technology enhancement programme.
No tickets were sold and Applications were also made by national
governments or international
non-governmental organizations,maintaining formal consultative relations
with UNESCO in your country.
This was held on Thursday 17th of February 2011 here in Paris France.
A Draft of 500,000,00(Five Hundred Thousand Great British Pounds) will be
issued in your name. For Validation Purpose ,
Please Forward The Following Information as Listed Below to our Information
and Payment bureau Officer in United Kingdom.

Required Info

Full Names:.
Residential address:.
Tel(Mobile):.
Nationality/Country:.
Age/Sex:.Occupation/Position:
SEND DETAILS FOR VALIDATION TO:

Dr Mariana Patru on: unescopayoutcentre@live.co.uk

or call Tel: +447 045726 869


Best Regards,
Isabelle Le Fournis,
(Press Relations Section UNESCO)
==================================================================

I've gone through investigations and confirmed that this is a scam. You can check it out HERE.

Scam Alert: Chevron Texaco Lottery Award!!!! - - Winning Notification of £1,000,000.00 From Mrs.Lisa Holewa

Beware! Its a Cyber World - - Summary: Chevron Texaco Lottery Award!!!!

Today I received the following mail and I'm sure thousands of internet users would have received that email winning notification; pretending to be exclusively for me.   

Mrs. Lisa Holewa congratulating me for winning big cash amount from Chevron Texaco Lottery and asking for my personal details, as usual in such cases, to be provided further processing. Further processing will end up on the demand of processing fee.

It's a scam, so don't get trapped and never send your personal information.

=========================================== 
From: Virginia Dize (VDize@n4a.org)
Sent: Wed, February 16, 2011 8:46:51 AM
Subject: Chevron Texaco Lottery Award!!!!

 

 

 

Dear Email Owner,
On behalf of the Chevron Texaco, we wish to notify you as a
winner of £1,000,000.00 in this year Lottery Game held in London.
for verification and release of your £1,000,000.00. Fill Your
[1] Full Names:.....|2] Contact address:...[3] Direct Telephone No:....
|4| Occupation :....|5] Age :..[6] Marital Status:...... for claims
Name: Mrs.Lisa Holewa
Contact Email::mrslisaholewa02@hotmail.com
Note:All response should be sent to::mrslisaholewa02@hotmail.com

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THE COCA COLA COMPANY OFFICIAL PRIZE NOTIFICATION - - Once More Scam Under Lottery Winning Notification

Beware! It's a Cyber World - THE COCA COLA COMPANY OFFICIAL PRIZE NOTIFICATION:

Today I received the following mail and I'm sure thousands of internet users would have received that email winning notification; pretending to be exclusively for me.   

Mrs. Anita Cotton congratulating me for winning big cash amount from Coca Cola Compay and asking for my personal details, as usual in such cases, to be provided to Mr. William Gore for further processing. Further processing will end up on the demand of processing fee.

It's a scam, so don't get trapped and never send your personal information.

=============================================================

rom: Coca'Cola
Sent: Wed, February 16, 2011 5:48:51 PM
Subject: Dear: e-Mail Winner
Dear: e-Mail Winner,

THE COCA COLA COMPANY OFFICIAL PRIZE NOTIFICATION We are pleased to inform you of the result of the just concluded annual final draws held February,2011 in London Uk by Coca-Cola in conjunction with the British American Tobacco Worldwide Promotion, your email was among the Lucky winners who won Ј1,000,000.00 each on the COCA'COLA COMPANY PROMOTION.

Please contact our fiduciary agent for claims with the contact below Agent.

MR. WILLIAM GORE
Email: ccpdpt2011@msn.com
Telephone: +4470-1760-2347

1.Full Name:
2.Full Address:
3.Status:
4.Occupation:
5.Age
6.Phone Number:
7.Country:

Congratulation!!

Sincerely,
Anita Cotton

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 When I tried to go through the domain from which the mail is sent; I found nothing but just Scams and fraud reports all the way. Just check out following link: 

Consumer Fraud Reporting