/dev/zero

I just received a message via MSN from “Colby” containing only the words “PARTY PARTY PARTY” and a URL.
They immediately closed the conversation window and when I tried to ask who the hell they were, was told that that user had signed off.
Out of curiosity, I visited the URL (since it didn’t contain any session / cgi ID stuff to uniquely identify the visitor)
The first thing it asks for is my MSN login and password.
No, not a prayer you’re getting me to put that in on your form.
Under that it gives the standard “by logging into this site you agree to the terms and conditions”. Pretty standard stuff, only it’s not in fine print and they print the terms and conditions themselves immediately below that, also not in fine print.
And the terms?
“By filling out this form, you authorize TST Management, Inc to spread the word
about this 100% real and upcomming Messenger Community Site.
You will receive your share of the credit in helping us spread the word. This is a harmless
Community site which is offering users a platform to meet each other for free.”

Yeah. I’ll sign up for your bullshit spamming service. Uh-huh.

Someone needs to do more research before they try to pull their next phone scam.

1. The “INS” (presumably he was referring to the Immigration and Naturalization Service of the Department of Justice) hasn’t existed in over 4 years. The enforcement portion of the former INS was transferred to the new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) branch of the Department of Homeland Security.
2. Government agencies do not call people at one o’clock in the morning to ask about reports of illegal aliens. The “We just received this information and we’re a 24-hour agency” response when questioned about why they are calling me at that hour doesn’t cut it.
3. Government agents identify themselves by more than just the name of their agency. This caller never offered his own name.
4. Government agents will give the full name of their agency, not the initials (”Hi, this is Agent Jones of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.” not “This is the INS calling.”
5. Government agents will confirm more than just your first name when they call you. All he confirmed was that I was “Andrew”. He never asked for or offered my last name.
6. Law enforcement agencies don’t call to give you a heads up that they suspect illegal activities in your home, giving you a chance to get rid of the evidence.
7. When asked questions like “Who are you really?” and “Why are you calling at 1AM?” and so on, government agents have immediate answers, they don’t stumble for an answer as if they weren’t expecting anyone to actually question them.