This from the er, Royal Bank of Scotland this morning.

Dear Royal Bank of Scotland customer,

The Royal Bank of Scotland Customer Service requests you to complete Digital Banking Customer Confirmation Form (CCF).

This procedure is obligatory for all customers of the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Please select the hyperlink and visit the address listed to access Digital Banking Customer Confirmation Form (CCF).

http://sessionid-0426665.rbs.co.uk/customerdirectory/direct/ccf.aspx

Again, thank you for choosing the Royal Bank of Scotland for your business needs. We look forward to working with you.

***** Please do not respond to this email *****

This mail is generated by an automated service.

Who falls for this stuff?

Needless to say, I do not bank with RBS.

Yesterday (21st) was the official publication day for the last of the Harry Potter books. Early in the morning, in a village in Deepest Provence, I found that the local newsagent had acquired six copies of the English edition — for which she was charging full whack, plus. As I handed over the loot (I am, after all, a doting parent), I reflected on the wonders of capitalism: some entrepreneur reckoned that there were enough crazy Anglos around Provence at this time of the year to make it worth ordering and shipping a few copies. Later on in the day I checked back — and all the books had gone.