Trying too hard (scam emails, part 3!)

[Tama]

Remember when I made two posts asking "are you scam emailers even trying?

I'm both regretting and highly amused by the answer. I found this gem in my junk folder today...

It mentions cash trunks filled with money that I need to get delivered to my house, and not to tell the mailman so he won't steal it. Oh, and to meet someone at the airport for these trunks. The guy I am supposed to meet is supposedly a diplomat...but he spoiled it by using an aol email!

This is all standard scammyness until we reach the last paragraph.

Most importantly you are advised to send your full data to him,which include your Full Name,Current Residential Address, Direct Cell Number,and A copy of any identity card to verify that you are the right receiver to avoid mistakes.

You are advised not to waste his time at the airport, so that he would not be stranded in any way because he will return if he finds out that you are not doing anything to get him over to your house.

But I get the last laugh. Apparently the idiot from Nigeria has ALREADY ARRIVED!

Even if he is a fake the idea of a scammer piddling around waiting is funny as hell.

[hinakiba777]

I do love when they give you the "you must provide the information before this date" line, only to send the e-mail after the date in question. E-mail sent on October 5; "And you must send all this information by September 28th"


But yeah, that is not even trying in the slightest. Like, was that written by a five year old. Because I feel that a six year old would be more duplicitous than this e-mail. "Send a copy of any ID card"? REALLY?! Just wow.

[Tama]

I guess it was just the asking to be brought to your house that kinda put me on edge. Really? They have the balls to ask that?

[MoonCat]

I doubt anybody is really at the airport. Maybe they want your address so they can rob your house while you're at the airport looking for a non-existent "diplomat"?

You could always give them the street address of the local police station.

[Tama]

I was thinking something like murder AND robbery, but robbery seems to me, to be more likely now you point it out.

Still, the idea that someone would be there, and waiting...and waiting...they gave me a laugh this time at least!

[Chromatix]

Robbery is theft by assault of the person. Burglary is what you're thinking of - breaking and entering.

[crazylegs]

Robbery is theft by assault of the person. Burglary is what you're thinking of - breaking and entering.

Not quite.

Robbery is theft with the threat or use of force so "Give me your watch or I'll stab you" is robbery, even if there's no knife in view, or even present.

Burglary is entering a building, or a section of building as a trespasser to to commit theft, criminal damage or rape. You don't need to 'break' your way in to commit the offence.

[Chromatix]

At least according to English law, "assault" encompasses the threat of force, whereas the actual *use* of force is termed "battery". Hence a common charge is "assault and battery". More serious charges in the same vein include "assault occasioning actual bodily harm", aka ABH, and "assault occasioning grievous bodily harm", aka GBH.

An American-focused legal dictionary seems to agree with this definition too: "At Common Law, an intentional act by one person that creates an apprehension in another of an imminent harmful or offensive contact."

I quickly found a formal definition of burglary as well: "The criminal offence of breaking and entering a building illegally for the purpose of committing a crime." The addition of the last seven words is all that distinguishes "burglary" from "breaking and entering".

[Pixilated]

*snip*

You could always give them the street address of the local police station.

That's quite evil. Well done!

[crazylegs]

At least according to English law, "assault" encompasses the threat of force, whereas the actual *use* of force is termed "battery". Hence a common charge is "assault and battery". More serious charges in the same vein include "assault occasioning actual bodily harm", aka ABH, and "assault occasioning grievous bodily harm", aka GBH.

An American-focused legal dictionary seems to agree with this definition too: "At Common Law, an intentional act by one person that creates an apprehension in another of an imminent harmful or offensive contact."

I quickly found a formal definition of burglary as well: "The criminal offence of breaking and entering a building illegally for the purpose of committing a crime." The addition of the last seven words is all that distinguishes "burglary" from "breaking and entering".

The Theft Act disagrees: Robbery, burglary.

[NorthernZel]

Not to hijack the thread, but there are a lot of "whoops-we-charged-you-double-please-click-here-to-get-a-refund" mails going around lately. Some of them seem pretty credible, so make sure to warn your family and friends about this.

[Chromatix]

The Theft Act disagrees: Robbery, burglary.

I'm sorry, but carefully reading those links suggests that the law (as written in legalese) substantially agrees with my definitions (as written in relatively plain English).