Pseudo-Spam

The following is a perfectly genuine email chasing payment for services supplied by a major US Internet company (whose name I have elided), so why does it read exactly like a Nigerian 419 scam email?

Dear xxx customer,

We would like to make sure that our invoice number xxx due on 13-JUL-07 has been well received.

We thank you in advance to confirm that the payment has been made on due date. Should you have any
queries, do not hesitate to contact us.

Way of payment and all details for it are shown on the invoice; you may pay with the following credit
cards: VISA, Eurocard / Mastercard, American Express, or issue a bank transfer to our Bank account at
your convenience. Important! Please make sure invoice number is quoted at time of payment.

The attachment is in Portable Document Format (PDF). You need Acrobat Reader from Adobe to read this
document. If you do not have Adobe Reader, please visit the Adobe website to download a free copy from
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

Your promptness is appreciated and we thank you in advance for your timely collaboration.

Pseudo-Spam

The following is a perfectly genuine email chasing payment for services supplied by a major US Internet company (whose name I have elided), so why does it read exactly like a Nigerian 419 scam email?

Dear xxx customer,

We would like to make sure that our invoice number xxx due on 13-JUL-07 has been well received.

We thank you in advance to confirm that the payment has been made on due date. Should you have any
queries, do not hesitate to contact us.

Way of payment and all details for it are shown on the invoice; you may pay with the following credit
cards: VISA, Eurocard / Mastercard, American Express, or issue a bank transfer to our Bank account at
your convenience. Important! Please make sure invoice number is quoted at time of payment.

The attachment is in Portable Document Format (PDF). You need Acrobat Reader from Adobe to read this
document. If you do not have Adobe Reader, please visit the Adobe website to download a free copy from
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

Your promptness is appreciated and we thank you in advance for your timely collaboration.

Species Update

Amphibians: 2 Common Toad (I went out after dark, for a change, and there were dozens of the blighters).

( Do not click through on the cut tag if you have frog fear. )

Species Update

Amphibians: 2 Common Toad (I went out after dark, for a change, and there were dozens of the blighters).

( Do not click through on the cut tag if you have frog fear. )