Those Whacky Nigerians Are At It Again

[Killer Bees]

I have a yahoo mail account for many years now and haven't had a problem with spam at all.

In the last week or so, I've been bombarded with various Nigerian scammers doing their thing asking for my details and providing phone numbers for me to "call them back urgently".

Seriously, don't these guys realise that nobody falls for that crapola any more? And how the Goddess did they get my email address anyway? I don't sign up to anything on the net with my email address.

Also, I've been getting email and postage mail from various lunatics around the world (Netherlands for eg) who send me official looking documents telling me I've been put into a Reader's Digest type lottery draw that I should respond to immediately.

WTF? :eek: I don't even have a landline phone number, so they couldn't get my name out of the phone book. And my mobile (cell) phone is a prepaid, so it isn't listed anywhere either.

Has this happened to anybody else?

[MadMike]

Actually, a few people do still fall for these, or they wouldn't keep doing it.

On the other side of the coin, I've heard about people who scam these same scammers, and waste their time by stringing them along for as long as they can. One guy on another board I visit occasionally posted a picture of his collection of fake checks various scammers sent him. Apparently they think his name is "Dale Gribble." ;)

[lordlundar]

On the other side of the coin, I've heard about people who scam these same scammers, and waste their time by stringing them along for as long as they can.

Yup! I even have a book made by one of the more famous (or is that infamous?) counter spam aficionados. Hey Raps, can I provide an Amazon.com link to the book?:D

[Plaidman]

Indeed I string them along for fun. Its amazing how fast they seem to write back my email when they find out I'm a stinking rich already, but want more money.

[Eireann]

www419eater.com. I LOVE what the people on this site are doing! The scams are many and varied, and they're very very very good at scamming, so the scambaiters work hard to keep these guys occupied with the money they think they're going to get.

[powerboy]

I always tell them that I am going to contact a lawyer, to make sure that it is legal;). Always a wonder, when they do not respond back:D

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

Happens all the time on ebay as well. The Nigerian crook will buy your item and send you an official-looking e-mail claiming you've been paid when you really haven't. They target people selling high-end electronics, cell phones and such.

Another time when I was selling something on ebay, I got an e-mail from some Russian telling me they wanted to buy my item as a gift for a relative having a birthday or anniversary, and he wanted me to enclose some grand sum of money (like $900) via Western Union as part of the gift, so that the relative wouldn't know the present came from the crook. Yeah, how stupid do you think I am? :rolleyes:

[Caveat Emptor]

Another time when I was selling something on ebay, I got an e-mail from some Russian telling me they wanted to buy my item as a gift for a relative having a birthday or anniversary, and he wanted me to enclose some grand sum of money (like $900) via Western Union as part of the gift, so that the relative wouldn't know the present came from the crook. Yeah, how stupid do you think I am? :rolleyes:


This Russian has that Russian beat hands down:

http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSL243962920070824

[Rapscallion]

Yup! I even have a book made by one of the more famous (or is that infamous?) counter spam aficionados. Hey Raps, can I provide an Amazon.com link to the book?:D

Fine by me. I used to peruse www.ladsfromlagos.com (http://www.ladsfromlagos.com) every so often. Same sort of idea.

Rapscallion

[Severen13]

I get about a dozen of those e-mails *every single day*. I just hit DELETE and go on with my life.


:D

[FuzzyKitten99]

A couple months ago, I put an ad on Craigs'list for some daycare openings that I had. you would not believe the emails from the Nigerians. All of them were the same style. They were either artists, writers, or actors/film directors, all from the UK, who were supposedly going to be in "my area" for 6-8 weeks and wanted me to take care of their "precious child who means the world" to them. They even offered to pay me nearly 3x the amount that I charge for daycare. Knowing these had to be scams, I just provided the same info I would to any other person inquiring about care-my rates and the area I was in (not giving my address tho). They would reply back (their emails were VERY broken english as well, I had a hard time understanding it), telling them I would need their name, their kids' name, and their address so that I could mail them the information. I told them I would need their child's immunization forms and a health certificate from their doctor, since they are not US citizens. Every time it got to me asking for their address, they stopped replying.

[Dreamstalker]

Also, I've been getting email and postage mail from various lunatics around the world (Netherlands for eg) who send me official looking documents telling me I've been put into a Reader's Digest type lottery draw that I should respond to immediately.
I believe the postal mail could be reported to the postmaster as that type of thing is illegal (IIRC).

[Primer]

I believe the postal mail could be reported to the postmaster as that type of thing is illegal (IIRC).
It can also be forwarded to your state's Attorney General.

[Byronthebanker]

There are people that fall for these scams every day. .. and part of my job is to recognize the signs people are acting on the instructions from these e-mails (setting up special accounts, depositing foreign checks, asking questions about setting up appointments with wealth managers when their average balance for the year is $500, inquiring about how to wire funds, etc) and then break the news that all this money isn't coming, and that the check they are handing me isn't real . ..

It's has actually turned into some sad situations - how would you like to tell me you aren't rich anymore like you want to believe????

How long is the longest post limit? cause I could fill it up with stories.

Just to summarize and save me a lot of work, please spread the word:

1) You cannot win a foreign lottery if you didn't play the foreign lottery.

2) You don't act as a mystery shopper at Western Union by sending money back to the home office through Western Union.

3) Nobody just overpays you for something you are selling then only asks for part of the money back, and you can keep some for your trouble

4) Chances are, the Sultan of a country would not really need your help to smuggle out extra money created by an accounting mistake, and you can invoice them for your services and then after pre-paying the taxes, they will give the money to you . . .

Oh and BTW, American Express doesn't make $500 denomination travelers checks - but that is a totally different topic . .

[Killer Bees]

Another day, another 4 scammer emails.

I replied to them saying I know they are trying to scam me and that I have provided their details to our federal police internet crimes unit, and that they can expect contact from them very shortly.

Hahahahah! Losers.

I don't expect that they will believe me, but it made me feel good to tell them I was onto their scheme.

[lordlundar]

Fine by me. I used to peruse www.ladsfromlagos.com (http://www.ladsfromlagos.com) every so often. Same sort of idea.

Rapscallion

Yay! thanks Raps!

Here's the link, It's one hell of a funny read. (http://www.amazon.com/Good-Spam-Ugly-Steve-Graham/dp/0806528249/ref=sr_1_1/002-3966720-5688860?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1188276298&sr=8-1)

[iradney]

If I were to believe half of my spam, i've won about $10 000 worth of vouchers for various shops...HA!

[Rapscallion]

How long is the longest post limit? cause I could fill it up with stories.


Fifteen thousand characters.

Rapscallion

[NightAngel]

I have a yahoo mail account for many years now and haven't had a problem with spam at all.

Okay, I've had the same Yahoo! account for 10 years and have had very little to no problem with spam either. Until recently (last 2-3 weeks maybe?) when my mailbox was so completely and utterly bombarded that I actually gave up.

My guess is that since we both have JUST had this problem start that it's something with Yahoo!.

Now I have Gmail and really, I wonder why I didn't switch before. It's so much better!

[Banrion]

Okay, I've had the same Yahoo! account for 10 years and have had very little to no problem with spam either. Until recently (last 2-3 weeks maybe?) when my mailbox was so completely and utterly bombarded that I actually gave up.

My guess is that since we both have JUST had this problem start that it's something with Yahoo!.

Now I have Gmail and really, I wonder why I didn't switch before. It's so much better!

OOH do you have a .geo extension too? I still have my yahoo account that I set up in 1994, under geocities. I get approx 2500 spam a day, but that is mostly my own fault from when I was young and naive. At this point, I really only use that account for internet shopping, all my personal e-mail goes through gmail. Which is even better since I learned how to set up gmail in Thunderbird.

[MystyGlyttyr]

I have my spam filters set to "kill", not stun. :D

Usually when one slips through, though, I attach a "Do Not Want" picture from LolCats and send it right back. It doesn't achieve anything, but it amuses me greatly.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

Usually when one slips through, though, I attach a "Do Not Want" picture from LolCats and send it right back. It doesn't achieve anything, but it amuses me greatly.

Actually, you probably are achieving something--getting more spam sent to your inbox.

This sounds an awful lot clicking the button at the bottom of the message saying "Click here to remove your address from our mailing list". It just confirms their message got to a valid address and that there was somebody checking it. So your name and address gets put on a list and sold to every spammer under the sun.

I just delete any spam I get. I have my spam filter set to the second highest level, and some spam still gets through.

[MystyGlyttyr]

This sounds an awful lot clicking the button at the bottom of the message saying "Click here to remove your address from our mailing list". It just confirms their message got to a valid address and that there was somebody checking it. So your name and address gets put on a list and sold to every spammer under the sun.

That's fine, that just means I get to waste the time of even more of them. Do not challenge someone who has no friends, no life, and nothing better to do :D

Besides, I honestly don't get that much spam anymore. Maybe they're starting to figure it out?

[Gawdzillers]

I have my spam filters set to "kill", not stun. :D

Usually when one slips through, though, I attach a "Do Not Want" picture from LolCats and send it right back. It doesn't achieve anything, but it amuses me greatly.

I'd say where Lolcats stole those from, but I'd be breaking Rules 1 and 2.

[FuzzyKitten99]

I love this one that I just got... It is likely a response to my Craig's list ad for daycare, but it is pretty funny. I can understand SOME spelling and grammar errors, but the level that this one reaches with grammar and incorrect word usage is ridiculous.

Here is the true text, completely unedited:

"Kindly get back to me with the answer to this Question..

[1] How long have you been in this Baby sister profession
[2]Can you please share with me your past Experienced
[3]Kindly provide personal and professional references with respect to
your previous job and the people you worked for.
[4] Would you consider staying here with the kids?
[5]Advise how you want to get paid in terms of weekly or monthly.

I'm pleased with either terms.We are looking for a bright, articulate, energetic woman to take care of our 7 year old son. You must speak English, Love Children, be Organized and Responsible. Responsibilities include taking him to and from school and after school activities, arranging play dates, preparing lunch and dinner, and keeping the flat tidy. I expect the hours be ideal for you and time schedules. We will also make better arrangement for a cleaner that will be coming in weekly. We are looking to hire immediately and we will be available to meet you within few weeks after we have finalized your pay.
Please send photos and CV and you have one at hand please. I am looking to pay for your room and board just in case you don't consider living in,depending on your experience and credentials though.

Thank you. "

[Palsgraf]

Hey! I hadn't received one of those letters for months, but then just two days ago ..... Here's my response:

Dear Barrister Peter George,

Only $6 million? I bet you can do better than that! I want $9 million! And a new car!! And a whack-a-mole game. And a tank - a REAL tank, that I can drive up and down the street, and take to work and park in front so I can yell at my boss "What do you mean I'm late??!!" Yeh! I need a new pair of shoes, too (I've got a little hole in the side of my right shoe). And how about sending someone to finish the siding on my house?! Someone who also knows how to fix our doorbell. Oh, and the first season of The Venture Brothers on DVD. I'll get back to you with the rest of my demands.

Best Regards,

[Palsgraf]

P.S. Should you fail to completely satisfy each of my demands, I will forward your e-mail to the Nigerian Bar Professional Conduct Committee and recommend that you be executed slowly.

Have a nice day.



One of my friends that I forwarded this response to warned:

"Let me know how it works out. And don't take a Sherman tank, they
were under-armored and under-powered for WWII."



I'll let you all know if the scammer tries to stick me with a Sherman.