Sending a request for information is a standard way that hackers check whether the email addresses on a spam list they bought are valid.

If they get a mail reject message then they know the email address is fake.

If they get no reply then the address is real but the owner isn’t stupid enough to reply to a spam message and if the reply is helpful then they know the address is valid and the owner is a good case to be scammed.

More enterprising scammers try to get information from business by sending out messages claiming to want product catalogues, price lists, updates on latest products, guarantee information etc.

The latest set of such Request for Quote emails goes further.

They look professional at first glance, have company names, addresses and contact details, use colour and different fonts to create an impact and have good grammar unlike so many scam messages.

Some even have confidentiality notices at the bottom.

“We would appreciate if you send us a quotation for the attached items and also indicate the manufacturer name and country of origin, delivery time and terms of payment”.

The messages are fake of course as genuine businesses do not send in requests for quotation without first having made contact and provided all necessary details and verified that you are a genuine supplier of the relevant goods or services.

The messages are elaborate but the scam is simple and the messages should be deleted.

If you have any experiences with phishing scams do let me know, by email.