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US Institute of Trade & Commerce

  • 1.  US Institute of Trade & Commerce

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-09-2019 01:34
    ​​Did anyone else get a post from this outfit?

    Beatrice Reiter - US Institute of Trade & Commerce <breiter@usitcl.co>
    Blees Piano recognized by US Institute of Trade & Commerce

    On behalf of the US Institute of Trade & Commerce, I wanted to let you know that Blees Piano has been recognized for an unique distinction. Our panel of industry executives and consultants oversees a survey commissioned by the USITC on various categories and determines which companies meet and exceed the industry benchmarks that have been set forth. Further details on this selection can be viewed on our website including the press release that was produced for this occasion (which is not distributed till mutual review is complete). To review the details and the accompanying press release please go to www.us-itc.org and enter the Reference digits UXKMBW on the top right corner of the homepage. Or the link below will take you to the appropriate page directly. https://us-itc.org/award/benefit/b_id/UXKMBW

    I don't want to open any links, but it looks like they want me to buy a fancy plaque.
     


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    Willem "Wim" Blees, RPT
    Mililani, HI 96789
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: US Institute of Trade & Commerce

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-09-2019 08:09
    Wim, 

    I would not touch this with a ten foot pole. Don't fall for it. I could ruin your computer.

    If it seems too good to be true...it probably is.

    Pwg

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    Peter Grey
    Stratham NH
    603-686-2395
    pianodoctor57@gmail.com
    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: US Institute of Trade & Commerce

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-09-2019 08:40
    First red flag is the .co URL. 

    You can google the name from your browser to see what comes up. Check and compare URL address. 

    But I agree. Sounds phishy 

    "PTG - Expand your horizon - Share the vision:
    Providing Quality Service for the World's Pianos

    Good, Better, Best. Never let it rest, 'til the good is better and the better is best."

    To schedule an appointment online click here http://bit.ly/2ErRaav

    George W.R.(Bill) Davis, RPT, SERVP
    The Piano Place GA
    2315 Rocky Mountain Rd NE
    Marietta GA 30066
    (770) 778-6881

    Sent from my iPhone





  • 4.  RE: US Institute of Trade & Commerce

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-09-2019 10:13
    A quick click on the delete button, and it's gone

    Thanks

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    Willem "Wim" Blees, RPT
    Mililani, HI 96789
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  • 5.  RE: US Institute of Trade & Commerce

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-09-2019 17:05
    👍

    Pwg

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    Peter Grey
    Stratham NH
    603-686-2395
    pianodoctor57@gmail.com
    ------------------------------



  • 6.  RE: US Institute of Trade & Commerce

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-10-2019 07:27
    To answer your original question----looks like no one else has gotten this. Lucky you!

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    Cindy Strehlow
    Urbana, IL
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  • 7.  RE: US Institute of Trade & Commerce

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-10-2019 08:53
    I guess that makes me "special". Ha ha.

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    Willem "Wim" Blees, RPT
    Mililani, HI 96789
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  • 8.  RE: US Institute of Trade & Commerce

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-09-2019 17:21
    In 99.999999999999% of the time these things are both bogus and dangerous. All the rest of the times they are legitimate. Take your choice. Personally, I think my chances of winning the PowerBall lottery are better. And I haven't bought a ticket.

    ------------------------------
    [Delwin D] Fandrich] [RPT]
    [Piano Design & Manufacturing Consultant]
    [Fandrich Piano Co., Inc.]
    [Olympia] [WA]
    [360-515-0119]
    ------------------------------



  • 9.  RE: US Institute of Trade & Commerce

    Member
    Posted 04-10-2019 06:34
    This is interesting. Never open any attachment unless you're certain it's not a scam-- trust everyone already knows that. However, I'm quite sure there's no harm in clicking on a link, as you're not downloading anything. So, I clicked on the link in Willem's post, above: www.us-itc.org. This took me to an official-looking page. Then I looked up the USITC, which is apparently a real organization, and I clicked on the link for that and got the same exact web page. Well, almost: the url of the real USITC is usitc.org, and the link from Willem's post is us-itc.org (comparing url's, as Mr. Davis suggested.)

    What's going on? I don't know. But the odd email address from Beatrice (breiter@usitcl.co) which doesn't match what one would expect from a real USITC (sample email address can be seen here: http://usitc.org/ContactUs; they end in usitc.org) coupled with the odd url might mean (well, probably does mean) that this is a duplicate website meant to lure one in and then, eventually, get some juicy info from the award recipient, who'll most likely not get rewarded as expected.

    Pretty darn tricky.

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    Don Dalton
    Chester VT
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  • 10.  RE: US Institute of Trade & Commerce

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-10-2019 08:13
    I'm pretty sure the intent is to secretly plant a piece of malware on your computer (trojan horse, etc.) This occurs the instant you click on the link. Since nothing bad suddenly happens we think it's okay, when in fact the dirty deed was done in the blink of an eye behind the scenes. 

    Fun fun fun!

    Pwg

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    Peter Grey
    Stratham NH
    603-686-2395
    pianodoctor57@gmail.com
    ------------------------------



  • 11.  RE: US Institute of Trade & Commerce

    Member
    Posted 04-10-2019 10:11
    I'll modify my previous answer: you might be vulnerable to attack if you click on a link. So Peter Grey could be right. But as I run a Linux system with good protection that's updated almost daily and everything is backed up, I'm not worried. But, don't do what I did.










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    Don Dalton
    Chester VT
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  • 12.  RE: US Institute of Trade & Commerce

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-10-2019 19:22

    Way to go Wim,  I knew your hard work would pay off, that and $326 plus $45 shipping & handling, $80 more if you live in Hawaii, will get you that veneer covered pressboard with gold-ish looking letters saying that you've made it!

    Here is what the Spamalot site has to say about USTCI . . 

    The United States Trade & Commerce Institute (USTCI) scams companies into purchasing expensive trophies and related packages for awards they have supposedly earned, though the selection appears to be completely random and is often incorrect. Some companies receive the notices for excellence in a year that they were not even in business, or for doing types of work that are not applicable, or for being based in a country in which they do not even do business. This organization has been scamming small businesses for several years, and has gone by numerous DBAs, as bad press has forced them to shut down and rename. The USTCI, for example, recently changed its name from the Small Business Institute for Excellence in Commerce after people began to complain.

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    Jim Fariss, RPT
    Black Forest Piano
    Black Forest, Colorado
    (719) 425-8845
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  • 13.  RE: US Institute of Trade & Commerce

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-10-2019 23:34

    You kind of shot me out of the saddle, there, Jim . Here I thought I was the only piano tuner in the whole country who was picked to get this prestigious award, and now it looks like my name was pulled out of a hat. In other words, It could have been you to receive this Gold Looking plaque. 

    Now I'm bummed. Argh. 




    LOL

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    Willem "Wim" Blees, RPT
    Mililani, HI 96789
    ------------------------------