Another week, another scam email. Here is the latest professional nomination variant hitting my inbox:
Dear ,
You were recently chosen as a potential candidate to represent your professional community in the 2010/2011 Edition of Distinguished Professionals Online.
We are please to inform you that your candidacy was formally approved March 15th, 2010. Congratulations.
The Publishing Committee selected you as a potential candidate based not only upon your current standing, but focusing as well on criteria from executive and professional directories, associations, and trade journals. Given your background, the Director believes your profile makes a fitting addition to our publication and our online network.
There is no fee nor obligation to be listed. As we are working off of secondary sources, we must receive verification from you that your profile is accurate. After receiving verification, we will validate your online listing within 7 business days.
Once finalized, your listing will share prominent registry space with thousands of fellow accomplished individuals across the globe, each representing accomplishment within their own geographical area.
To verify your profile and accept the candidacy, please visit here. Our registration deadline for this year’s candidates is April 25th, 2010. To ensure you are included, we must receive your verification on or before this date. On behalf of our Committee I salute your achievement and welcome you to our association.
Sincerely,
Robert Patterson
Vice President, Research Division
Distinguished Professionals Online
26 Bond Street
Westbury, NY 11542, USAConfidentiality Notice: This e-mail communication and any attachments may contain confidential and privileged information for the use of the designated recipients named above. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you have received this communication in error and that any review, disclosure, dissemination, distribution or copying of it or its contents is prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please delete the communication and unsubscribe from the mailing using the options available in this email.
To remove yourself from future mailings, please visit here to use our automated removal system. You will be removed from our mailing database within seven (7) days.
They went to a lot of trouble on this one as it was the first scam email I received with HTML formatting. Unfortunately for them, all the fancy HTML meant they forgot to put my name on it! I would definitely have felt special otherwise.
Some domain info on “newyorksamplesuite.com” for you:
Domain Name: newyorksamplesuite.com
Registrar: Name.com LLC
Protected Domain Services Customer ID: NCR-1248866
Expiration Date: 2011-01-07 20:57:24
Creation Date: 2010-01-07 20:57:24
Name Servers:
ns1.newyorksamplesuite.com
ns2.newyorksamplesuite.com
REGISTRANT CONTACT INFO
Protected Domain Services - Customer ID: NCR-1248866
125 Rampart Way
Suite 300
Denver
CO
80230
US
Phone: +1.7202492374
Email Address: newyorksamplesuite.com@protecteddomainservices.com
You might notice that all of these domains are registered by protecteddomainservices.com. Perhaps protecteddomainservices should take the responsibility for their content as well?
Thanks! I just got this one in my spam and was loathe to open it. I’m glad I didn’t!
Such an impressive answer! You’ve beaten us all with that!
Poliarinis ir vel ta N8 knietejo ikist… nors tu ka :)zaidimai ir android bent kol kas nelabai suderinami dalykai.Nors pasak „Mochi Media“ nuo siu metu turetu sparciai padauget falsh zaidimu butent android’ui.
I just got it too.. glad i did some research before I clicked…
If time is money you’ve made me a wealthier woman.
1. Distinctive building, building A or L.2. Small campus that we don’t have to walk too far to get the class.3. Convenient bus system to go everywhere.4. Most of the students are fashion and have individual viewpoints so that we can learn the differences and respect them.5. Exhibition and movies provided in the campus.6. The equipment is good.7. Many restaurants are near our school.8. Teachers are all nice and kind.9. Tissue paper provided in the toilet.10. We have the best design so that I can appreciate their goods.
I did too. Thanks for posting!
Hi there, just got this in my e-mail as well. Of course, the FIRST thing I did was look up it’s validity on the Internet and that’s how I found your post. Very grateful that you confirmed my suspicions.
Yup me too. Thanks for the warning mate.
I appreciate your post, which I discovered after checking the reputation of this company. What a MESS!!!!!!
Don’t these people have anything else to do. I find myself checking everything today. Too many scams… TC
If everyone who receives this scam letter forwards it to the abuse department of the sender’s server and the recipient’s server the site should be closed. Another idea is to reply to their email form with a bunch of screibble, you own version of a “spam”, then they at least will have to look at all the rubbish that they have collected.
Thanks for exposing them
John Tunstill
If everyone who receives this scam letter forwards it to the abuse department of the sender’s server and the recipient’s server the site should be closed. Another idea is to reply to their email form with a bunch of screibble, you own version of a “spam”, then they at least will have to look at all the rubbish that they have collected.
Thanks for exposing them
John Tunstill
I thought this was a scam, and I was right. I always make sure that emails are what they say they are… Usually, if there is no phone number or 1-800 number I consider it as spam!
My question is what is the scam, other than to get your information?
As I understand it, they try and sell you upgraded listings or travel to supposed events, things like that. I plan to (fake) run through the process to see what actually happens.
Thanks!!!!! I just got this one…
Just got my email. Since I have never had to or even thought of consulting Extinguished Professionals Online to check up on anyone else I figured this was an unnecessary intervention too. It’s just an appeal to gullible peoples’ vanity.
Just got the email. Thought it was a scam. Googled it and voilà.
They did get my first name right.
I received a letter in the mail as well. So, it’s not just email.
My husband’s favorite response to spam scams like these is to reply and then simply write “DEAR (whoever is signed), PLEASE EAT SHIT!!!” in the msg body 🙂
Well — I don’t know about the rest of you , but I am a distinguished professional and deserve to be listed on this site. I’m signing up!
Haven’t you heard of LinkedIn? If you really want to be listed somewhere, go there. DPO does not even have a website. Quite a networking facilitator! Don’t be so trusting and naive. They are flattering you to get private information about you which they will probably use against you. This is called phishing. Wake up buddy!
Haven’t you heard of irony? Or in-character comments posts? If you really aren’t familiar with these concepts, go look at the comments in any of the Youtube videos from “The Onion”. Quite a collection of lulz! Don’t be so serious and grumpy. Hahn is using laughter to get the point across. This is also called sarcasm. Wake up buddy!
Shouldn’t they already have all of you information if you have been approved for this recognition they so gloriously talk about.
When does this scamming bullshit ever end!
My application link came to my work email, which makes me wonder if it was sold by AmeriCorps Alumni network or Pearson Assessments corp. Both of whom I recently registered with. I imagine AmeriCorps would be tempted to sell contact info for the $$. But the Pearson sight required validation of credentials in order to purchase psychological assessments. Anybody else affiliated with either of these?
I am also associated with Pearson Publishing.
Sounds far too similar to Cambridge Who’s who and their various other iterations that adorn the negative blog pages. One wonders how many name changes they can endure before the legal authorities step in? Is it a scam? Is the Pope a Catholic?
Thanks for the warning …
Also got the email from these guys, but instead of my name it said Dear (my personal phone number listed). It’s funny how I was nominated to be a distinguished professional based off my phone number alone.
Anyways my number is listed on my “contact us” page of my work site so a bot might have gotten it and sent out the spam.
I filled out the info form with fake info and a spare email I use to see what spam I will get.
Gosh! I feel almost snubbed! I only got my notice today. I figured it was some sort of scam. Guess I was right.
I got the same letter. Just a different date and … a different domain name: photographydigitaldunes.com . I checked the who is database and this is what I got:
Domain Name: photographydigitaldunes.com
Registrar: Name.com LLC
Protected Domain Services Customer ID: NCR-1248858
Expiration Date: 2011-01-07 20:57:17
Creation Date: 2010-01-07 20:57:17
Name Servers:
ns1.photographydigitaldunes.com
REGISTRANT CONTACT INFO
Protected Domain Services – Customer ID: NCR-1248858
125 Rampart Way
Suite 300
Denver
CO
80230
US
Phone: +1.7202492374
Email Address: photographydigitaldunes.com@protecteddomainservices.com
It sounds familiar!! The guy/girl was busy and created two domains in less than 7 seconds he he
Thanks for posting… i thought it was spam- and check it!
I think we should start our own Club for Distinguished Professionals right? What do you say…Facebook Page?
What I think is laughable is the ‘Professional’ piece of it ~~ think all of us are in the same profession? What do they define as ‘professional’? Doctor? Lawyer? Indian Chief? E-Bay Seller? At least the Cambridge’s Who’s Who notification led with the profession!
If it looks like a duck, …you know the rest. Way too much junk out there.
I got one today, 4 yesterday and about 18 all week so far. Gmail spams them as soon as they come in, and I like to look at them. The content never changes, but the rubbish is all the same.
funny! I just got another one as I finished the above post, I looked in my spam box and there it was…
Dear Tim,
You were recently chosen as a potential candidate to represent your professional community in the 2010/2011 Edition of Distinguished Professionals Online.
We are please to inform you that your candidacy was formally approved March 15th, 2010. Congratulations.
The Publishing Committee selected you as a potential candidate based not only upon your current standing, but focusing as well on criteria from executive and professional directories, associations, and trade journals. Given your background, the Director believes your profile makes a fitting addition to our publication and our online network.
There is no fee nor obligation to be listed. As we are working off of secondary sources, we must receive verification from you that your profile is accurate. After receiving verification, we will validate your online listing within 7 business days.
Once finalized, your listing will share prominent registry space with thousands of fellow accomplished individuals across the globe, each representing accomplishment within their own geographical area.
To verify your profile and accept the candidacy, please visit here. Our registration deadline for this year’s candidates is May 25th, 2010. To ensure you are included, we must receive your verification on or before this date. On behalf of our Committee I salute your achievement and welcome you to our association.
Sincerely,
Robert Patterson
Vice President, Research Division
Distinguished Professionals Online
26 Bond Street
Westbury, NY 11542, USA
Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail communication and any attachments may contain confidential and privileged information for the use of the designated recipients named above. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you have received this communication in error and that any review, disclosure, dissemination, distribution or copying of it or its contents is prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please delete the communication and unsubscribe from the mailing using the options available in this email.
To remove yourself from future mailings, please visit here to use our automated removal system. You will be removed from our mailing database within seven (7) days.
Thanks
Funny stuff.
They have sent them to all the emails I have at http://www.timmathews.com http://www.mojowebmarketing.com http://www.illdev.com and even http://www.thesportsmansedge.com
I wonder if these people are just trying to get your information?
This week they went so far as to call me and tell me I responded to their invite. I DID NOT and when I told the salesperson I didn’t respond, she went on to tell me I DID respond or … maybe someone in my office responded! I told her I didn’t appreciate her tactics lying to make a sale – to which she responded OK then – and hung up! YEAH!!
Thanks everyone for posting about this. I received mine today. This sounds like a phishing version of “Who’s Who”.
just got it, fun to see everyone else’s reactions. Now, if it’s online, where is the directory?? Why doesn’t it have its actual publication site listed, so we can view the august group to which we have been invited to be added? And, if we survive the rigorous vetting process, why do we need to put in all our information from scratch??
YES! Let’s start a Facebook group!! Add to the corrollary “Any club that wants me as a member is probably a scam….” the new ending “but might be a valid Facebook page!”
I got mine today, this time my first name is added after the word Dear. The main question is: if I was already nominated to be part of the distinguished group, why do they need very basic info such as my first, middle and last name, and occupation? if such info is not available to them, what is the criteria based on which they selected me or others?
Just got mine today as well, and thanks to all of you for posting. Like you I also double check this stuff out before doing anything.
Pass this site along. http://www.mytrashmail.com/anti_spam.aspx
Just received my own personal invitation – but I was suspicious so I looked up on the internet . . .thanks everyone for your postings . . .and most importantly – You are a distinguished professional in my book – to take the time to make others aware of this scam. Have a wonderful day – blessings, yrc
I got it at my school email and looked it up on internet and came across this site. Figured it was a scam and don’t know how they got my school email…reminds me of all the junk I get from overseas advising me I’m beneficiary of millions of dollars, or the FBI is sending me info, etc. etc. etc. HOW do these foreign places get my email address..is nothing sacred or private anymore. I’m a professional but I don’t need their book to tell me so. Thanks for the info to us.
Thanks for such sites as this. It sounds very flattering, but once you look at the registration form – as someone else already mentioned, shouldn’t they already have that information if I have been “nominated”?
Thanks again.
I’ve got mine too. Actually there is a web site with directory http://www.cambridgewhoswho.com where you can find interesting stories, but, if you look closer to details: http://www.cambridgewhoswho.com/MainSite/Candidates/CandidateFAQ.aspx you can find:
Q: I received a letter from Cambridge Who’s Who among Executives, Professionals and Entrepreneurs. Does this mean that I am a member?
A: No. Receiving a letter simply means that the Cambridge Who’s Who Marketing and Research Department has identified you as a candidate for the Cambridge Who’s Who Registry. You are invited to complete a phone interview with one of the Cambridge Who’s Who Account Directors, who will determine if you are qualified for membership.
I received this one and glad you posted your comments. I also got the same scenario with “Who’s Who of Montclair” a couple of years ago.
Here is what I received today:
Recently you were selected as an inductee into the Distinguished Professionals Online Registry Among Executives. This selection was based on our research committees efforts to identify top professionals around the globe.
Click Here
Unfortunately, we did not receive your vital networking information. In the workplace it isn’t what you know, it’s who you know…and who knows you. Social and business networking is the modern standard in developing relationships throughout the world. The potential for recognition and building networks within a community of 400,000 working professionals in numerous fields on a global scale is unlimited.
Consider this: if you make just one contact using the connections and visibility that Who’s Who provides, it will benefit you for a lifetime. As we are trying to build a comprehensive network of business professionals, there is no cost for your inclusion. Please click the link below to fill out your basic listing. Our community needs you as much as you need it.
It is professional, accomplished individuals like yourself that allows us to offer the visibility and advertising potential that we do. Again, we do require additional information to complete the selection process and kindly ask that you access this form on our website by clicking here.
Our registration deadline for this year’s candidates is August 31st, 2010. To ensure you are included, we must receive your verification on or before this date. On behalf of our Committee, I salute your achievement and welcome you to our association.
Sincerely,
Robert Patterson
Vice President, Research Division
Distinguished Professionals Online
26 Bond Street
Westbury, NY 11542, USA
Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail communication and any attachments may contain confidential and privileged information for the use of the designated recipients named above. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you have received this communication in error and that any review, disclosure, dissemination, distribution or copying of it or its contents is prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please delete the communication and unsubscribe from the mailing using the options available in this email.
Thanks for alerting me on this scam.
I just got the same spam. What a horrible waste of time and energy.
Just received one this morning. Noticed immediately the “organization” was from my home town. Interesting however is they have teh wrong (VERY wrong) zip code as part of the auto signature.
Hmmmmm….perhaps I shouldn’t respond.
Yeah, I just got a reminder email telling me I “forgot” to verify my info and that they extended the registration deadline. Those knuckleheads don’t give up easily.
“Knucklehead” is a word that really isn’t used enough these days. Really fits Bob Patterson though.
Got a email from the same Patterson
Just got another “reminder” that I forgot to register…. had concerns the first time I got my invitation and am glad I researched a little harder. THANKS
I can see by the recent traffic spike that these guys are at it again. I’m glad I could help some of you avoid this scam.
These ba$tards have been totally persistent with me, emails and phone calls. I don’t know where they got my number from. However after running through the schpiel about blah blah blah they told me I was legible to join their ‘platinum’ package – for $950 p.a. I told her where she can put that – and she had the balls to hang up on ME!?!
Bunch of crazy assed scammers with too much time and information.
I got the same email, thought it maybe a spam, scam they love the ego thing. Thanks for your posting on line.
Hi, I just got this in my e-mail. The FIRST thing I did was look up it’s validity on the Internet and that’s how I found your post. Thanks Man !! 🙂
I am a true distinguished professional, but I decided to take a look online to verify this publication anyway. Thanks for taking a sledge hammer and slamming my self confidence into the ground and disproving . You should have let me believe that I was being published somewhere in the online community as being the distinguished professional that I am.
Your kidding right? Shattered? Really?
Just got my “Final Notice” from Patterson. Does this mean they’ll stop bothering me after this? Probably not…I’m fully expecting to get a “Really, really, really Final” notice in a couple of weeks!
If my experience is any guide, you will receive many “Final Notices”. Likely they will not stop. The thing I like is each time my candidacy has been approved again, it is a new date from the previous email. Also the deadline keeps moving on into the future. The deadline in the current email is Feb 20, 2011. I recall a month or so ago receiveing one that was still pushing for candidates for the 2010 edition, and the deadline had been “extended” into January. What a hoot!
Got to love a spam filter that recognizes this for what this is. Would have never seen it but for my compulsive desire to delete all spam from the folder on a regular basis.
Reminds me of many hard copy Who’s Who scams from past years…..
Add me to the list of “lucky” recipients. Who knew all you had to do to be considered a “Distinguished Professional” was to have a valid e-mail address???!
I guess I am as lucky as the rest of you. I am also like the rest of you , in that I never give my information to just anyone without checking. I also do not need to be reconized for what I have done. All you had to do was to goggle the name. Snopes is also a good site for checking scams.
Be careful !
~TurbO
This one is better then then old-fashioned one that I used to get which was some variation of a “Who’s Who” Free to send the information, then $600 for the “Directory” that would sit on the desks of everyone dumb enough to buy one. I’m sure enough vain people fall for this though; otherwise, why would they continue. Now, I’ve gotta run. An attorney from London representing a dying man has contacted me and wants to put $2.5mllion in my checking account…and all I have to do is…
I too am crushed to think that I am not special. Still it is fun to print it out to show my wife that I AM a distinguished professional, for which she used the paper to start a fire. Like Rodney Dangerfield – I get no respect! As I retire I may wish to develop my own line so I am taking notes on how to do it – so be prepared to be selected as a REALLY REALLY Distinguished Professional.
Pure scam, Like Whos who, First thing I did was googled it!
Well done! Scams are for dreamers. Distinguished Professionals don’t need to be involved in this form of directory. Now, I wonder if this site is sponsored by Distinguished Professionals who will get us through the back door?
Count me as a Disgusted Professional. I got the same line from Who’s Who and after finally hanging up on them after one of their many blind phone calls and many “this is your final notice”, they finally left me alone. The only thing you’d get out of any of this is a certificate in B.S.
I think I am chosen on a weekly basis! Thank god they haven’t called. Too annoying! Thanks for blogging all your posts. It confirms my gut feeling.
Final notice? I never even got an initial notice!
As a distinguished amateur, I immediately spotted this as a scam! Doh.
Wanda K.
I myself received this e-mail as well, I am glad I did not open it. I am glad there are others that has caught this
Hi everybody,
I am on the same situation.I received the ” Nomination of Candidacy..” for twice,but ignored for some reason.Two days ago I have received another invitation and, filing guilty and also kind of suspicious, I did some research thinking to sign it after all.At this point I am Glad that I did not completed/signed the form before…! Discovering you complaining here, was testing my suspicions and proving that this is fishing/scam!
Thank you all!
Anica I.
I received one at work as well. I made the mistake of thinking it was something real without doing my normal fishing expedition first. After I put in my basic information I realized I was caught. I was called 2 days later by a Robert at Strathmore’s Who’s Who. I recognized the “Who’s Who” from when I was in HS many years ago. My suspicions were confirmed… a big book of names. I told him no thank you. 2 days or so later I got a call from Madison’s who’s who. I told them no thank you! I already told them at Strathmore’s I don’t want any. She said “I’m with Madison”. I said I don’t care who you’re with…I’m not interested!. I then filed two complaints with the BBB hoping they will get any information on me removed from whatever List they got me off of.
What a pain in the a$$!
They are at it again. Looked suspicious to me, googled it and hey preso its a scam. Thanks for keeping these warnings out there.
I received the same message. Here is my reply Back..
Dear Benjamin,
Thank you for choosing me as a potential candidate to represent 2015 Worldwide Branding Registry of Distinguished Professionals and Executives. However, I would like to invite you to join my World P*rn Star Committee 2015. It is a great committee that helps you connect with Great P*rn Stars of this day and age and helps you obtain sensual delight through oil massages, swimsuit wears, eye-glasses, stockings, blow and rim jobs, milfs, animations, grandmothers and much more! Please register for pornhub.com. Stop wasting time on sending spam emails and use your time for sensual pleasures!
Regards,
……
Vеry good article! We will be linking to this particսlarly great
content on our website. Keep up thе good writing.
I relish, result in I found exactly what I was taking a look for.
You have ended my four day long hunt! God Bless you man.
Have a nice day. Bye
Oh my goodness! Amazing article dude! Thank you so much, However I am having troubles with your RSS.
I don’t understand why I cannot subscribe to it. Is there anybody getting identical RSS issues?
Anyone that knows the solution can you kindly respond?
Thanx!!
Hi there! I coyld have sworn I’ve visited this site before but after loloking at many of the articles I realized it’s
new to me. Anyways, I’m certtainly pleased Istumbled upon it and I’ll be
bookmarking it and checking back frequently!
~Didn't Obama win the Nobel prize, for being a man of "peace"? He seems to be more militarily active than Bush, yet Bush was reviled for it. Not that i'm a fan of Bush, but Obama is no peace maker. He is a warrior in sheeps clothing.
This was a GREAT episode. There is a lot of interesting Sony NGP talk with Jeff on. This is the kind of episode that really shows the benefit of Whiskey Media having different focused sites under their umbrella that can collaborate when needed.
Usually I do not learn article on blogs, but I wish
to say that this write-up very pressured me to check out and do it!
Your writing taste has been surprised me.
Thanks, very great post.
A empresa verifica que é verdade e descobre que você está violando os termos de uso deles.
Bis heute sind es 35 Shirts wobei das meiste in den letzten three Wochen gelaufen ist.
Was die Formen betrifft, gibt es sowohl Shirts mit Rundhals als auch Ausführungen mit V-Ausschnitt.
Thank you, I’ve recently been searching for info approximately
this topic for a long time and yours is the greatest I have discovered till now.
But, what concerning the bottom line? Are you sure about the
source?
This post offers clear idea in favor of the new viewers of blogging, that truly
how to do running a blog.
Hi, yup this post is truly pleasant and I have learned lot of things from it regarding blogging.
thanks.
Esse processo demora 2 dias úteis e você receberá um e-mail da BM&FBOVESPA informando que a compra dos títulos foi
finalizada e que você poderá conferí-los na sua corretora ou no portal do Tesouro Direto. http://latincraft.ga/foro/index.php?action=profile;u=14393
An impressive share! I’ve just forwarded this onto a co-worker who had been conducting a little research on this.
And he actually ordered me dinner simply because I stumbled upon it for him…
lol. So let me reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending time to discuss this topic here on your site.
This is a great tip particularly to those new to the blogosphere.
Short but very accurate info… Thank you for sharing this one.
A must read post!
Great blog right here! Additionally your site rather a lot up very fast!
What web host are you the use of? Can I get your affiliate link for your host?
I desire my website loaded up as fast as yours lol
An outstanding share! I have just forwarded this onto a friend who was conducting
a little homework on this. And he in fact ordered me
lunch because I discovered it for him… lol. So let me reword this….
Thank YOU for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for
spending some time to talk about this matter here on your web page.
I do not know if it’s just me or if everyone else encountering problems with your blog.
It appears like some of the written text on your posts are running
off the screen. Can somebody else please comment and let me know if this is happening to them too?
This may be a problem with my web browser because I’ve had this happen before.
Thank you
Aw, this was an extremely good post. Finding the time and actual effort to produce a good article but what
can I say I hesitate a whole lot and never seem to get anything done.
I was more than happy to discover this website.
I need to to thank you for ones time due to this wonderful read!!
I definitely savored every part of it and I
have you book marked to check out new information in your site.
excellent issues altogether, you just won a new reader.
What might you suggest in regards to your put up that you just made some days ago?
Any positive?
Taklit, toplum ruhunun firengisidir. Sezai Karakoç
Bir çift göze aşık ve diğer bütün gözlere körüm..