# Hey, Aussie Dopers! Can you pick up my new car for me? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 21, 2005, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-aussie-dopers-can-you-pick-up-my-new-car-for-me/336660 "2005-12-21T18:44:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-aussie-dopers-can-you-pick-up-my-new-car-for-me/336660/1 "2005-12-21T18:44:49Z")
According to an e-mail I got, I won a new Honda! Yippee! > [@](#): > > 960 NORTH ROAD > BENTLEIGH EAST 3165 > MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA > P: +61-3-861-000-41 > F: +61-3-861-000-41 > OPENING HOURS > MONDAY - FRIDAY 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM > SATURDAY 9:00 AM - 1:00PM > Dear [ivylass@xxxx.com](mailto:ivylass@xxxx.com) , > We are pleased to inform you about the release of the winner from HONDA CAR INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION PROGRAM in our store as the biggest of Authorized Parts Honda Dealer in Melbourne, Australia. The announcement of the grand prize winner is announced on the 17th December 2005 on Melbourne News Paper. You were entered as dependent clients with; Reference Serial Number: FH794450 and Batch number AT-040SB06-03. > We tried to contact you by phone to this number 1-718-xxx-1658, but not currently active. It was days, we wait your contact. If no respond of this notification we will cancel your winning. The canceled will be published on news paper on 23 December 2005 included new grand prize winner. Your email address, [ivylass@xxxx.com](mailto:ivylass@xxxx.com) , is registered in our order database with order number FH794450 and attached to the ticket number: 2752246896 that drew the lucky winning number. If you feel as international customer please respond this email or contact the number above. **If you are in Australia regional please come to the address above with print of this email.** > All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from order numbers of people who had been ordered from our online store or directly come to our store and branch offices since 25 January 2005. Due to mixed up of some names and addresses, we ask that you keep this award personal, till your claims has been processed and your car remitted to you. > > This is part of our security measures to avoid double claiming or unwarranted taking advantage of the situation by other participants or impersonators. You are contact our accredited agent for your claim. > Name: Mr Eric R Coffey > E-mail: honda.claimservice@aussiemail.com.au > ASTORIA HONDA CLAIMING SECURITY AGENCY > P: +61-3-861-000-41 > F: +61-3-861-000-41 > He is your agent, and responsible for the processing and transfer of your winnings to you. YOUR SECURITY FILE NUMBER IS W-91237-H67/B4 (keep personal). Remember, your winning must be claimed not later than (28nd December, 2005). > You are required to forward the following details to help facilitate the processing of your claims and certificate which will facilitate the release of your winnings. > > 1. Full Names: … > 2. Residential Address: … > 3. Phone Number: … > 4. ID Card Number: … > 5. Occupation: … > 6. Sex: … > 7. Date of Birth : … > 8. Nationality: … > 9. Present Country: … > > A scanned identification of your self sent via email or fax. You have to forward these information as soon as possible to enable us to attend your file. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have further question or need advices. Once again respond this email to honda.claimservice@aussiemail.com.au (ASTORIA HONDA CLAIMING SECURITY AGENCY) include and Congratulations!. > Best Regard, > > Mr Vincent Cicio > ASTORIA HONDA CENTRE COORDINATOR. (bolding mine) It’s a bit inconvenient for me to travel to Australia right now. Can one of you print this out and toddle off to Melbourne for me? We’ll figure out shipping later. ---
**Author:** ![Atticus\_Finch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Atticus\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atticus_Finch)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-aussie-dopers-can-you-pick-up-my-new-car-for-me/336660/2 "2005-12-21T19:16:11Z")
Hello MISS IVYLASS! I am ATTICUS FINCH, son of former Australian Prime Minister PIG IRON BOB MENZIES. Due to coup type upheaval in my country, and recent madness of evil former leader MARK MANBOOBS LATHAM I have large stash of AUSTRALIAN CURRENCY DOLLARS in SECURE BANK ACCOUNT due to former AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT FUNDS. I HAVE OVER 5 million in AUSTRALIAN CURRENCY OF DOLLARS AND CENTS. VERIFIcation number of verification is 502894HH. With THIS MONEY I can purchse or RECEIVE for you HONDA motor vehicle of I CAN ARRANGE RECEIPT OF HONDA for YOU receipt number H3948 IF you place $5,000 USD in shipping costs into my account at EARLIEST CONVENIENCE. Please respond to phone numbrer 10293-23920 as soon as possible. Regard of happiness and sincerity, MR former son of Prime MINISTER, ATTICUS FINCH ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-aussie-dopers-can-you-pick-up-my-new-car-for-me/336660/3 "2005-12-21T19:18:54Z")
I’m sorry, **Atticus**. I’m not falling for it. You don’t have nearly enough typos or poor language construction in your post. I’m afraid I can’t trust you with my personal info. ---
**Author:** ![Caught\_Work](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/919ad9/32.png) [@Caught\_Work](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caught_Work)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-aussie-dopers-can-you-pick-up-my-new-car-for-me/336660/4 "2005-12-21T23:33:21Z")
Astoria Honda is located at: 961 North Rd, East Bentleigh, Melbourne Victoria [http://www.astoriahonda.com.au/home.php](http://www.astoriahonda.com.au/home.php) So they’re close, but on the wrong side of the road. The phone number is valid. When you call it you get: “Please leave your name and contact details after the tone.” I didn’t leave a message. So they’re doing kind of OK with the phone number. Bentleigh is about 20 minutes away from where I am at the moment. If you could give “ME” the personal details requested in the email (as well as many, many pictures) I could take a trip down there and see what WE’VE won 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-aussie-dopers-can-you-pick-up-my-new-car-for-me/336660/5 "2005-12-22T12:59:29Z")
Tell you what, **Caught**. If you’re willing to drive to the dealership and show them the e-mail for me, and if they actually give you a brand new Honda, you are welcome to it with my blessings. I’ll bet they’ll be happy to see some phisher is using their name in vain, and may be able to take steps to catch them. ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-aussie-dopers-can-you-pick-up-my-new-car-for-me/336660/6 "2005-12-22T15:01:37Z")
Hmm. I drive past this place every day. Astoria Honda is real - my wife used to drive a Prelude, and these folks administered the last rites. Nonetheless, this is almost certainly bollocks. If **Caught** can’t make it, I’ll see what I can do. Email is in profile. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-aussie-dopers-can-you-pick-up-my-new-car-for-me/336660/7 "2005-12-22T17:39:34Z")
Check your e-mail, **hawthorne.** I’d love to know what happens. P.S. I love the internet. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-aussie-dopers-can-you-pick-up-my-new-car-for-me/336660/8 "2005-12-22T21:10:07Z")
> [@](#): > > It was days, we wait your contact. If no respond of this notification we will cancel your winning. You must to respond of it soon, **hawthorne** , or your winning is be canceled! Canceled!! ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-aussie-dopers-can-you-pick-up-my-new-car-for-me/336660/9 "2005-12-22T21:34:50Z")
It would be interesting to see the reaction if you sent the spammer a staged picture of yourself outside the Honda dealership holding the keys to a new car, with the message: “Thanks for the alert! We live down the road and we’ve already picked the car up!” ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-aussie-dopers-can-you-pick-up-my-new-car-for-me/336660/10 "2005-12-22T21:46:51Z")
> [@](#): > > YOUR SECURITY FILE NUMBER IS W-91237-H67/B4 (keep personal). Aw, dude, you’re screwed. You’ve violated the spirit of the agreement. Too bad, it’s probably a pretty nice car… ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-aussie-dopers-can-you-pick-up-my-new-car-for-me/336660/11 "2005-12-23T12:35:07Z")
You will be _shocked_ to learn that I’m not driving a new Honda. I did score a bottle of wine, though. I printed off the email and popped down this afternoon. I noted a couple of things before setting off: Melbourne phone numbers do not have the format given in the email. Maybe it’s a local mobile number, but it’s clearly not Astoria’s land line. Second, right-clicking the photos in the email suggested they are hosted at [http://israfish.com/](http://israfish.com/) which, fabulously, claims to be the **First Israeli Carp Fishing Association**. Most of the site is in Russian. Who knows whether those people have anything to do with the scam. After this, I decided against walking in and saying brightly, “So, where’s my free car?” I walked in and was approached by a woman. I told her that I’d brought a print-out of an email that involved their business in what I assumed was someone else’s scam. I was glad I had taken the approach I had, because she seemed pretty grateful. She knew what I was talking about and immediately fetched a guy from a nearby office to talk to me about it. He also knew about the existence of some scam, saying that there had been four or five other cases he was aware of. It wasn’t clear whether anyone had previously been in to see them. I gave him the printed email and told him I’d be prepared to be contacted if they decided to talk to the police - maybe some email headers could be found if desired. He seemed annoyed about the whole thing, but somewhat bemused about how the scam might work. I suggested it was probably either a “give us your details” thing or a “we just need a small, up-front handling fee” or both. I tried to be a bit encouraging about contacting the appropriate authorities, but it’s up to them. I didn’t mention man-boobs at all. I left fairly quickly - it was a hot day, wife and baby were in the car, and we hadn’t done any Christmas shopping - but as I went, the woman who’d first come up to me gave me a bottle of red wine as a little thank-you. A small, but rather nice gesture. I think we done good. Perhaps the red should be consumed at the next Melbourne Dopefest, with thanks to **ivylass**. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-aussie-dopers-can-you-pick-up-my-new-car-for-me/336660/12 "2005-12-23T12:39:19Z")
Wonderful! Enjoy the wine, and Merry Christmas! We’ve struck a blow against the phishers! As my daughter would say, “Wootness to the internet!” ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-aussie-dopers-can-you-pick-up-my-new-car-for-me/336660/13 "2005-12-23T12:43:37Z")
> [@hawthorne](#): > > I didn’t mention man-boobs at all. You see, that’s where you went wrong. How are the authorities ever going to take this seriously _now_? They’re out there catching REAL crooks. Mention man boobs however, and they’ll drop everything.