Email Fraud Alert received from: Andria
I recently received an email with this subject line: H.M. Queen Elizabeth’s 90th Birthday Coins – Strictly Limited and I am concerned that it could be an attempt at defrauding me. Let me know in the comments section what you think, please.
The full contents of the suspected fraudulent (phishing / scamming) e-mail appear below:
Dear ANNE
This year, H.M. Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her 90th birthday. To commemorate this milestone, a new 90th birthday portrait of Her Majesty has been issued on the new Queen’s 90th Birthday coin.
The new effigy, by British and Commonwealth coin designer Raphael Maklouf, is his official 90th birthday portrait of the Queen. Maklouf, whose designs first appeared on British coinage in 1985, was determined only the most fitting coin was issued to mark the 90th birthday.
Layered in pure Silver and struck to a Brilliant Uncirculated finish, the reverse of this limited edition coin features the words ‘nine decades gloriously accomplished’ surround a motif symbolizing the shield of the Royal Coat of Arms.
Claim your H.M. Queen Elizabeth II 90th Birthday Coin for 90p
This limited edition coin is available exclusively from The London Mint Office. Due to the strict limitation, only one coin per household is allowed – claim yours today to avoid disappointment.
Yours sincerely,
Raphael Maklouf
FRBS FRSA NDD
British & Commonwealth Coin Designer
Raphael Maklouf
PS: Due to the limited mintage, there is a limitation of only one coin per household; click here to claim yours now.
The London Mint Office Limited
Official Distributor
26-28 Hammersmith Grove, Hammersmith, London, W6 7BA
Registered in England and Wales | Company number: 03470348.
The above email was sent by “The London Mint Office” from this email address: info@myprivatebargain.co.uk
I, Andria, have the following thoughts/comments on this suspected fraudulent email message from “The London Mint Office”:
The reasons why I think that this is a scam are:
1. This mail was sent from myprivatebargain.co.uk and the domain for the London Mint Office is: londonmintoffice.org
2. There are only two 90th Birthday medals for sale on London Mint Office and the cheapest is £9.95
3. Clicking on the link in the email takes one to: qeii90.co.uk and the notice that the coin is 90p but the postage is £2.50
4. Delving into the whois record for qeii90.co.uk the owner is recorded as ‘Samlerhuset Group BV’
5. Samlerhuset is the sole owner of the Mint of Norway, which is that country´s second-longest established manufacturer, founded in 1686. The Mint of Norway produces all legal tender coinage for Norway and for several other nations as well as the Nobel Peace Prize medal in gold. (I find it hard to believe that such a business would be involved in spam, let alone a scam)
6. The web site is on a server probably based in Warsaw, Poland and a number of other suspicious web sites are also hosted there.