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Apple iPhone 2012 Promo - is it a scam?

hi,

i received an sms telling me that i won money in the Apple iPhone 2012 Promo. it said i must reply to


i replied via email and a Mr Wesley Benjamin from the Verification Department replied asking for personal details, eg country, marital status, Identity Document Number, etc.


Mr Wesley Benjamin replied from the following email address:


i then went through a series of back and forth correspondence via email, with the latest being that the parcel has arrived in my country from the UK and i must pay Customs Duty in order to finalise the collection of the parcel


A Mr Steven Anderson from the Heathrow Couriers (UK) Ltd then sent me an invoice for Customs Duty with the understanding that he will send the banking details within 48hrs.


Sorry for the long description, but i urgently need feedback as to whether this is a scam or not.


thank you


<Edited by host>

Posted on Feb 12, 2012 2:41 AM

Reply
Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Feb 12, 2012 12:50 PM

I am sorry but my first thought is yes!

Also seeing that you are supposedly responding to "Apple" it would seem odd that Apple is using a gmail account

gmail is a Google product, and on many levels Google and Apple are competitors

41 replies

Jan 22, 2013 5:41 PM in response to mktpppr

This is an e-mail I received..is it a scam as well..I have entered I-phone giveaways..on FB...


iApple Claims Department Iphone5



From: iApple Claims Department Iphone5 (marketing@apple.com) User uploaded file
Sent: Wednesday, 23 January 2013 1:10:47 p.m.
To:



User uploaded file


Apple Corporate Head office.
Apple Campus, 1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino, California, U.S.

I-5/9023118308/03
Batch: Iphone 5/124/01/Y369
Dear Winner,

This is to bring to your notice that you have been approved by I-Apple USA to receive the pay out sum of $300,000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand United State Dollars)+ 1piece of the NEW! Iphone 5 for this Year Launch of Apple Iphone5 smart Phone.

Your e-mail address was attached to draw number: 223300577345 133 with Serial number 5219/02 drew; and a bonus number of (15) which subsequently won you in the 2nd category.You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of $300,000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand United State Dollars) in cash credited to file I-5/9023118308/03.

Contact Claims co-ordinator via email(iphone5.appleclaimsdept@verizon.net) with Full name: Contact Address: MOBILE: Occupation: sex: and Age: along with Private contact email:


Bonnie Schnabel
Claims Co-ordinator.
Iphone5 USA Promotional Team Information desk

Apr 9, 2013 11:23 PM in response to francesfromwellington

francesfromwellington wrote:


This is an e-mail I received..is it a scam as well..I have entered I-phone giveaways..on FB...


iApple Claims Department Iphone5


Dear Winner,

This is to bring to your notice that you have been approved by I-Apple USA to receive the pay out sum of $300,000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand United State Dollars)+ 1piece of the NEW! Iphone 5 for this Year Launch of Apple Iphone5 smart Phone.

Your e-mail address was attached to draw number: 223300577345 133 with Serial number 5219/02 drew; and a bonus number of (15) which subsequently won you in the 2nd category.You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of $300,000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand United State Dollars) in cash credited to file I-5/9023118308/03.

Contact Claims co-ordinator via email(iphone5.appleclaimsdept@verizon.net) with Full name: Contact Address: MOBILE: Occupation: sex: and Age: along with Private contact email:


Bonnie Schnabel
Claims Co-ordinator.
Iphone5 USA Promotional Team Information desk


Seriously? "This is to bring to your notice". What kind of English is that - not American English, I can guarantee you. And since these people are claiming to be Apple Corporate Office/USA Promotional Team Information, then they are claiming to be American English speakers.... How about co-ordinator? NOT. Coordinator is not a hyphenated word - not in any English spoken anywhere.... And then there is the "I-Apple" and "Iphone5". Apple NEVER uses a capital "I" when referring to any i-Apple anything, and have you EVER seen an iPhone5 spelled as Iphone5? Use your eyes, use your brain, use your attention. This entire message screams scam!


YOU entering iPhone giveaways is a different thing than you being solicited by someone. Never respond to a solicitation by anyone claiming to be Apple, Microsoft, the Pope, or anyone or anything else....you don't win free stuff by magic - you don't have a million dollars in unclaimed money waiting for you - you did not win a fee vacation in Florida. If you get a solicitation telling you you have won something - get rid of it immediately. No good will come of any response on your part....


GB


Sorry - just realized that the second post I replied to (here) was 3 months old. Just got kind of worked up about people falling for this unbelievable chicanery, and felt it was my public duty to at least point out the easy ways to spot it....


So, for my lateness....😊. For the message....😮

Jun 10, 2013 4:37 PM in response to mrmrmero

Just let me say this and I hope folks can THINK.......... if many folks get this lotto win message on their mobile even as I have........do you think Apple are going to give away 10's of millions of dollars/pounds? That there are 100's of winners ?

Also you are asked for your email amd number etc. if is was from Apple they'd know certain details without asking. I use Vodafone and got the message when I went online and thought WHAT ******* IS TRYING TO WANK ME NOW ? so I deleted it. Come on folks no offenece meant but think with your brain not with your bank balance for iif you do and give away info then your bank balance may become zero...thanks 🙂

Apple iPhone 2012 Promo - is it a scam?

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