software package...sounds too good to be true!

ledzepp98 · May 28, 2001

i got the following e-mail about a "liquidation software package" that sounds too good to be true. the website only takes you to a purchase page and it seems a little fishy... i was wondering if anyone else got this e-mail or actually bought this package, i'm a bit scared to. anyway, here's what i was sent:

----------------------------------------------------------------

Incredible Software Bundle - AVAILABLE NOW!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We have recently received an overshipment and are actively liquidating our excess inventory. Check out all of the great software titles included in this incredible software bundle:

Adobe Photoshop 6.0 with Image Ready 3.0

Taking the world-standard image-editing solution to exhilarating new heights, Adobe Photoshop 6.0 offers innovative artistic tools and new Web features -- and now gives you the power of Adobe Image Ready 3.0 for advanced image processing for the Web. The first integrated toolset for taking your images from creation to launch in print and on the Web, Photoshop 6.0 maximizes your productivity while helping you achieve the finest quality output in both media. PLUS...

Microsoft Office 2000 PREMIUM, including

WORD ACCESS
EXCEL OUTLOOK
POWERPOINT FRONTPAGE
PUBLISHER PHOTODRAW

ALSO included in this amazing software offer

ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR 9.0

ADOBE PAGEMAKER 6.52

ADOBE PREMIERE 6.0

ADOBE GO LIVE 5.0

ADOBE INDESIGN 1.5

ADOBE AFTER EFFECTS 5.0

ADOBE FRAME MAKER 6.0

(All titles are FULL version for
Windows PC -- not Demos or Upgrades!)
This amazing graphics suite is available for only $49.95 (Same day Express shipping included.) We accept Visa and Mastercard through our safe and secure order page for your protection. Upon completion of your order, you will be instantly provided with tracking information regarding your order!

To order the Adobe software suite with Microsoft Office 2000 Premium, simply click on the order button below:

If you cannot view the image above, please copy and paste
this link into your browser:

http://www.fosdirect.com/order.html

If you have any questions or comments, please send an e-mail to: support@fosdirect.com

Act now, this offer is valid only while supplies last. Limit one order per customer.
Thanks for your time and enjoy!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you believe you have received this in error, or would like to be removed from our mailing list, please reply to this email with "remove" as the subject. Thank you.

pillage2001 · May 28, 2001

Pirated copies?

shetakzoi · May 28, 2001

must be
50 bucks for all that is insane

ledzepp98 · May 28, 2001

i know, it sounds too rediculous to be real...i was hoping someone else got this e-mail and acted on it so they can say what they got...

KimChii · May 28, 2001

Yeah, I would think so.

Probably a scam to get credit card #'s.

Those poor AOLers...

Fermilevel · May 28, 2001

HA HA! "Secure server" my @ss. The page says "secure" but there is no lock on my browser.

"Trust-e"? If so, where's the hyperlink?

You might as well post your credit card info here in the forum and hope someone sends you software.

tazmania99 · May 28, 2001

Despite the deal is probably true, you'll never know what they do with you credit card after they are liquidated.

T2T III · May 28, 2001

This was discussed in the following thread:

Click ME!!

chefsresource · May 28, 2001

Definitely fake. A sham site, selling bootleg copies of software, if even that.

ledzepp98 · May 28, 2001

thanks for the link...apparently the people here are too smart to fall for such spam...

turtletaper · May 28, 2001

Checked the source info and it had an AOL email address under it.

// No rightclick script v.2.5
// (c) 1998 barts1000
// barts1000@aol.com
// Don't delete this header!

No cookies on my end, that's good

CashSavingDeals · May 28, 2001

Sounds like either a Scam to get your CC# or they are selling pirate copies of these programs. I get this kind of Junk e-amil everyday.
Hey, want to buy a University Diploma, haha, I get that one all the time.

MrCoyote · May 28, 2001

That message you got is SPAM. Don't fall for it.

Wiz · May 28, 2001

Please don't anyone give those guys the time of day - part of my work is getting secure server
certificates for companies and it really pisses me off to see someone trying to pull one over on unsuspecting visitors that way. Nice big yellow lock in the top of their page next to the visa & mc logos.
Then they run a little javascript so if you right click the page you get something that is only intended to trick you again into thinking it is secure, "SSL error: Secure server - function disabled" which isn't any SSL function but just a simple script to keep people from right clicking, you could just as easily put the text "No right clicks" in there.
Their form goes to:
https://transact.thawte.com@12100538128/gateway/transact.dll
for processing - it wants the merchant name etc which I will try to play with a little later (it is right there in plain text in their form).
SO you see the @ sign after thawte.com - that is how you redirect the user to a dotless IP addess. There is way too much funny business going on here.
It is possible they might be legitimately trying to get your money for 'something' but they are definitely going about it all wrong. They ask for your credit details on an unencrypted page and then transfer you to authorize.net for the payment.

jaybittle · May 28, 2001

I wonder what the FOS stands for in FOSDIRECT.. hmm.. maybe they are "full of $#!+", eh ?

don't order from them..

fyi from www.register.com :

Organization:
FOS Direct
Shawn Koons
502 W. Harland
Boston, MA 02117
US
Phone: 617-425-6632
Email: koons@flashmail.com

Registrar Name....: Register.com
Registrar Whois...: whois.register.com
Registrar Homepage: http://www.register.com

Domain Name: fosdirect.com

Created on..............: Tue, Feb 20, 2001
Expires on..............: Wed, Feb 20, 2002
Record last updated on..: Sun, May 27, 2001

Administrative Contact:
FOS Direct
Shawn Koons
502 W. Harland
Boston, MA 02117
US
Phone: 617-425-6632
Email: support@fosdirect.com

Technical Contact, Zone Contact:
Register.Com
Domain Registrar
575 8th Avenue - 11th Floor
New York, NY 10018
US
Phone: 212-798-9200
Fax..: 212-629-9305
Email: domain-registrar@register.com

Domain servers in listed order:

NS1.FOSDIRECT.COM 199.173.197.121
NS2.FOSDIRECT.COM 199.173.197.128

cheers,
--jb

Wiz · May 28, 2001

turtletaper, that's just the address of the guy who made the javascript included for copyright adherance.

I stripped out pertinent details and made my own form, the amount is hard coded into the form.
I am wondering if I changed the amount from 49.95 to -9999.99 and put my cc number in if I would get a credit...
No I'm not fool enough to try it, it would immediately trace back to me. But it is tempting when you see people using such stupid methods to try to teach them a lesson.

apoppin · May 28, 2001

This is a repost.

Microsoft Office 2000 PREMIUM FOR $49,95

It IS too "good" to be true.

If you are going to give your cc#s to a stranger, give them to me.

jagr10 · May 28, 2001

Yup it's a scam!

First, reputable companies don't spam!

Second, that bundle should cost over $2000

Third, there is no website, just an order form.

Fermilevel · May 28, 2001

Damn Wiz--that would be brutal. One step better--and I'm NOT suggesting that anyone should do this. What would happen if someone used a bogus credit card number, made a massive credit to it using the -9999.99 as mentioned above, then applied the credit to Paypal? Wow, that would get ugly FAST!

apoppin · May 28, 2001

I believe the only purpose of this scam is to get your credit card number.

I seriously doubt anyone could pull off any credit card CREDIT scam since the order page links are not legitimate.

(Just post your cc#s here for all to see - you might get more mercy.)

Hgabriel · May 28, 2001

Yep, Microsoft would not permit any retailer to charge $49.95 for a licensed copy of Office 2000. Microsoft products have price floors on them so that retailers cannot low ball the market.

Tarobap · May 28, 2001

SCAM SCAM SCAM . . . I have a friend at MS and he can't even buy this stuff that cheap . . . And he makes the stuff!

Jakle · May 28, 2001

Although they managed to diable right-clicking and viewing the real
SSL info and put up that phony - "var message="SSL Error: Secure Server -- function disabled."; // Message for the alert box" message,
with IE 5 you can go to file properties and pull the info up -
"Connection: Not Encrypted"
so even if they are legit (which I doubt) you are sending your info
in an unsecure manner. So anyone with a pkt sniffer on an internet
switch can view it.

regards,
Jakle

software package...sounds too good to be true!

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