Last week, I posted a link to an interesting article about a man who lost $150k to a Nigerian Email Scam artist. And low and behold yesterday, as soon as I logged into my Facebook account I got a very strange Facebook chat message from a friend of mine named Doug.
Doug had just got married this past New Year’s Eve and so the message seemed a little believable, at least at first. I put the pieces together fairly quickly though and as soon as the guy hit me up for money I knew it was probably a Facebook scam attempt. The reason being that the last person Doug would have asked for money was me…because he knows I have none. After figuring out this was a hoax I decided to rickroll the scammer.
The scary thing is that whoever is running this facebook scam is somewhat sophisticated. They even went so far as creating another fake email and fake phone number to make it seem legitimate.
I have since emailed Doug and he is trying to get control back of his Facebook account. Facebook is great because it really is people you know and have approved so I am sure these scam attempts are paying out somehow and some unsuspecting people are actually wiring the money.
Let this be a caution to anyone who has a weak or easy to guess password on their Facebook account — change it now.
8:47am Doug
Hi Anthony
8:48am Anthony
Yo! congrats man on the wedding. Sorry I couldn’t make it.
Steph had a little 30th birthday party for me.
8:50am Doug
thanks man..am in London with her
8:50am Anthony
Right now?
8:50am Doug
yea
8:50am Anthony
nuts
8:51am Doug
am standed here
8:51am Anthony
how come?
8:52am Doug
i was robbed here..
infact she’s in the hospital right now..
8:52am Anthony
WTF!!
OMG man I’m sorry to hear that
are her injuries serious
8:53am Doug
i really need your assistace ..
i need your help Anthony..
i need your help Anthony..
8:55am Anthony
what can i do?
8:55am Doug
are you there ??
8:56am Anthony
yah
8:56am Doug
i dont know whats wrong with this computer
can you please loanme some money ??
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Scribble on Walls…some geeks made awesome affordable wall decals that kick ass. Scribble on Walls decals range in price, size and awesomeness. |
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Underwater HD Video Camera MaskCapture those underwater memories in HD at 30 fps for just a little over 200 bones. |
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Fuck the Economy MugRight now you may not feel like the “World’s Greatest” anything and you’d really rather not have to look at anything “whimsical” while you drink your morning coffee and read about the economic state we’re in. |
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Playstation 3 WarBeast GuitarYou might have chops when it comes to playing the plastic 5-button, but you’ll never look as cool as the guys playing a 6-string. |
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Whiskey StonesWhisky stones are magical little cubes that you stick in the freezer and drop in your drink when needed and they obviously don’t melt and ruin it. |
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Mix Tape Portable DJ MixerA new twist on a old favorite, the Mix Tape Portable DJ Mixer looks just like an old cassette tape but is a feature rich DJ Mixer. |
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Gus Modern Timber TableRemember your old plywood end table? Now you can recreate that memory without compromising class and style. |
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Roller CoastersLol. Get it? Simple and fun, these Roller Coasters will serve as a good test to see just how dumb that blonde you plan on taking home later tonight really |
Did you watch the season premiere of Lost last night?
It’s a great show, but as the Tyler Durden of the wine industry, Gary Vaynerchuk , reminds us, watching it could be the exact reason why you’re not getting the most out of your life. “Everybody has time. Stop fucking watching Lost!”
There is a lot to like about Gary Vee. He’s passionate (no doubt) and his riff here on personal branding is such a great motivator.
And for the record, I didn’t watch Lost last night — although I did DVR it.
I saw something interesting the other day at the gym.
I saw an average-sized guy in his mid 20’s who was obviously trying to build up some muscle. He looked like he had some padding (weight) on him, but he didn’t look too out of shape. The thing that caught my eye is what I saw him doing.
He was using the cables to do cable crossover flyes. I watched as his arms wildly flapped up and down in an uneven way. His upper body lurched forward and downward with each rep as he strained to move the weight at all costs. I watched him move on to other exercises and perform them with a similar style.
Who knows, maybe he really didn’t know how to lift weights. But then again, like a lot of other people out there, maybe he was just too embarrassed to lift the proper amount of weight for his strength level.
If his goal was to avoid looking silly in the gym, he certainly didn’t achieve it. Honestly, I thought he looked a lot more like a monkey trying to figure out how to fly than someone who’s serious about getting in shape.
Was I impressed by the big weights he was lifting?
Do you get bombarded with junk email?
Most of the time our spam filters grab them, but everyone once in a while a few are able to go undetected and sneak through. The spam emails I really despise are the ones that state that I just inherited or won an insane amount of money from a long lost relative. Supposedly all I need to do is transfer some money first and then I can get my lump sum.
Sound familiar?
While many laugh and think who the heck is going to fall for this one, it happens more often that you think.
Read the unbelievable story of how John Rempel lost $150,000 in a Nigerian scam.
Article by Ploomy contributor Allison Dieppa.
Las Vegas has always been a popular bachelor party spot for guys who want to drink a lot, eat a lot, and see a lot of women show off their goodies. And for the fellas who want to spare no expense, for whom the sky is the limit, Las Vegas can really show you a good time. Here’s our assessment of the perfect bachelor party for Las Vegas high rollers.
First, one of the essential decisions when it comes to a bachelor party is choosing a Las Vegas hotel at which to stay. Some of you might be thinking, that’s easy – the cheapest hotel on the Strip. After all, it’s not as if you’ll be spending much time there, right?
Breaking the Rules: How 61 Year Old Farmer Cliff Young Became a Legend and Won the World’s Toughest Race
January 13, 2009 | Anthony Doctolero | 6 CommentsEach year, Australia hosts arguably one of the world’s toughest endurance races called the Westfield Sydney to Melbourne Ultra Marathon. For many people, completing a single marathon already feels like a huge accomplishment, but an ultra marathon takes it to a completely different level. The race is run between two of Australia’s largest shopping malls, one in Sydney and the other in Melbourne, takes a staggering 5 days to complete and traverses an astonishing 875 kilometers (544 miles).
Because of the advanced training required with a race like this, a majority of the competitors were younger and had experience competing at an elite level. Many of them were professional athletes with good equipment and even sponsored by well known shoe companies.
In 1983, an unknown 61-year-old potato-farmer named Cliff Young showed up on race day. He was everything the other runners were not. He was older, wore overalls and ran in boots. Much to the surprise of everyone in attendance, Cliff hadn’t come there to watch that day, he came to race.
A couple weeks ago, our very own Ploomy Girls Elle and Kat did a couple of quick interviews at some bars in Manhattan during the holidays.
In the first video, you’ll hear what some women think are the “Top 5 Things that Make a Guy Attractive” and also “How to Know When the Relationship is Over.”
In the second vid, watch as this guy explains what a “douchebag” is and how guys are only interested in one thing known as the prize.
And in the final video, once you get passed the bartender’s accent, you realize he just wants what all guys want…
Santa was a little late this year for me, but the big guy did come through. I recently got a copy of Activision’s newest World War II shooter, Call of Duty: World at War.
Although the game will be very familiar to fans of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (uses the same game engine), this version is anything but just a reskinning of its predecessor. There are new enemies, weapons, maps, modes, challenges and more.
Students of history know that the battles on the Pacific and European fronts were some of the most brutal in warfare history and Call of Duty: World at War reflects that. It’s a bit more grittier and altogether more chaotic. Having the likes of Kiefer Sutherland and Gary Oldman who lent their voices to the title yelling orders at you was great in a weird as well.
Things we liked about Call of Duty: World at War
- The ability to play the campaign in either single-player, two-player (split screen) or four-player (online co-op) mode was a very welcomed addition.
- Vehicle mode – Maybe it reminded us of playing Ikari Warriors back in the day, but there is something about being in a “tank” that will never get old.
- The flamethrower (aka blowtorch) was a nice weapons upgrade that we had heard a lot about. It is indeed the signature weapon in this installment. It took a few uses to get the hang of it, but after that it was easily the weapon of choice. There are also molotov cocktails which were typical, but cool nonetheless.
- Zombie mode. If you remember only one thing from this review, just remember that Zombie mode rules. You have to beat the game once on any level to unlock, but trust us, it’s worth it. The first couple rounds you’ll think the zombies are dumb and slow (because they are), but as you progress the Zombies get faster, have more entry points and become that much harder to kill. If you’ve ever had nightmares of being chased or attacked by zombies, you will find it pure entertainment purchasing new weapons and defending yourself against these zombies.
- If you are familiar with Halo’s “Skulls,” you’ll appreciate the Deathcards which are tucked away in the campaign which unlock certain modes and cheats.
If you’re going to be watching the College Football National Title game tonight, no doubt you’ll be seeing the “yellow line” first down marker many times. We’ve had this luxury for many years now and that’s because it’s something that has been part of televised football games for quite some time.
The yellow line has greatly enhanced the experience for fans watching from home because it gives you an approximation of where the first down marker is. Although it may appear to be almost seamless to viewers at home, the process to get the yellow line first down marker on your telelvision screen is really part of a series of complex technologies all working in concert.
Take a look at this behind-the-scenes video of the yellow line.
Thanks to JD for sending in the link!
Whether you voted for President-elect Barack Obama or not, no one can deny he has a gift for delivering magical speeches. Better than Clinton…maybe. Better than JFK or King Jr…probably not, but Obama has seemed to captivate with his messages of hope and change at a time when our nation needs it most.
This is why it was interesting to learn that the man behind Obama’s speeches is a 27-year old guy from Massachusetts named Jon Favreau (not the actor). Get this, he usually writes his speeches at a local Starbucks and even emails himself notes with his BlackBerry.
After Obama’s inaguration on January 20th, Favreau will join Obama in the White House as the youngest ever selected chief speechwriter.
Favreau’s journey to being Obama’s speechwriter proves yet again that success can come at any age. “Yes, we can.”
Read the entire Washington Post article on Jon Favreau.
View some of Obama’s Speeches after the jump.
Back in 2000, my good friend Cindy (name has been changed) had one too many cranberry vodkas at the bar and got extremely sick. She was so bad that I had to throw her over my shoulder and take her to the hospital. The nurse said she would be fine and just had too much to drink. She said my friend was just very dehydrated and all she needed was a large bottle of Gatorade (no joke).
Well, that same iconic sports drink Gatorade is rebranding itself.
For anyone who has ever played sports, you know that Gatorade has been the “Thirst Aid” quencher for that deep down body thirst for many many years.
This is why we were interested when early last month, we got an email from Gatorade letting us know about their new rebranding efforts.
No less than a week later, a large box of Gatorade was at our office. Anxious to see the new product, I pulled out a bottle and sampled. The flavors tasted exactly the same (good because that would have been a mistake to change that). Although the new versions have enhanced nutrients (Gatorade Rebrand Product Chart with Nutrition Enhancements), the biggest difference was the packaging.
The new Gatorade rebrand is all about the “G.” What is a “G?” Here’s what their new marketing materials say:
Gatorade® Thirst Quencher will put the letter G front and center along with the brand’s iconic bolt. For Gatorade, G represents the heart, hustle, and soul of athleticism and will become a badge of pride for anyone who sweats, no matter where they’re active.
“Just like any good athlete, Gatorade is taking it to the next level,” said Sarah Robb O’Hagan, chief marketing officer for Gatorade. “Whether you’re in it for the win, for the thrill or for better health, if your body is moving, Gatorade sees you as an athlete, and we’re inviting you into the brand.
During the Rose Bowl a few days ago (where USC trounced on a Florida school Penn State), a new Gatorade commercial featuring Lil Wayne (voice over) aired during the break. It didn’t show the new packaging or even a Gatorade drink for that matter, but what it did show was the new attitude and direction of this iconic sports drink.
The new Gatorade rebranding effort makes sense especially with the likes of Vitamin Water eating away at their market share. Where Vitamin Water has 50 Cent in their stable of celebrity endorsers (50 Cent Vitamin Water Commercial), Gatorade counters with Lil Wayne.
If any of you Gatorade brand managers read this, we’d just like to say nice move with using Lil Wayne (although Kanye would have been nice too, but maybe he wasn’t street enough for you).
New Gatorade Commercial – What is G? (voice over by Lil Wayne)
You can check out more Gatorade Commercials after the jump.
