Thread: SCAMS & SCAMMERS

You've probably all received at least one email with a similar sob-story and tall tale of abundant wealth and no one to leave it to except 'YOU. Not sure what morons think anyone would believe it but some must because they continue to be sent.

What do "they" do with the information? Identity theft?

Here's my latest letter below.

My dog has photo ID as he was also my Service Dog, maybe I'll send them a copy of that.
Sue
- - - - -
Dear Friend,

I am Ibn Mohammed Mohammed, I am 67years old. I am a citizen of Saudi
Arabia, but I am resident in Cayman Island. I was born an orphan and
almighty Allah blessed me abundantly with riches, but I am not a happy man.
I have no wife and I have no children. As at now I am seriously sick. I am
presently in hospital suffering from lung cancer and I had partial stroke
which has affected my speech. I can no longer talk and I am also deaf. Half
of my body is paralyzed. The doctors say I have about 2 months to live. I
send you this mail with the help of my private nurse, assisting me.

I have little time so I have committed it to spreading my wealth towards
better health care for mankind. In the hospital where I am, I have given
the management US$15million to upgrade and build a new cancer research
facility. I don’t know you, but due to my condition I am contacting you with
the hope that you will carryout my wish for the sake of humanity.

I have two boxes of gold and cash deposited with a security deposit company
the cash is 5 million United State Dollars .I want you to sell the Gold, add
the 5 million to it and use it to build an orphanage in your country. You
will name it Mohammed orphanage home. You must follow my wish for it will
gladden the heart of almighty Allah.

If you are ready to do this and carryout my wish, then send me

[1] Full Names
[2] Your phone/fax number
[3] Your residential address.
[4] A scanned copy of your Identification

With the help of my nurse I will be in contact with you.

I await your reply.

Ibn Mohammed
[email protected]

Email him letting him know you are VERY interested.... then after he writes you back reply with a nasty virus

There are also people who get taken for this every day. One woman for $144,000! Seriously.
These along with western union overpayment scams and fake escrow services (like tnt) are prevalent. My advice:
1) Never send personal information to someone you don't know who contacted you over the internet randomly.
2) Never send money for goods via western union.

The scheme is called 419 scamming. Here is an FAQ. While some of those letters are amusing to read, there are real criminals behind them who defraud people of millions of dollars each year, and do not mind killing their victims should they actually travel to Nigeria. In a nutshell: Not funny.

On a semi-related note, your spam filter must be quite outdated if you still receive them. You may want to talk to your email provider about it.

Here's a couple from last year, targeting martial arts schools. On the surface, these look like innocent queries for rates. The first one sets off the radar with the bad English, but the second is much better. Same kind of deal: Let me pay you for lessons, then the trip gets cancelled and they need a refund.

As for filters, I had one like the original post in my spam box at Yahoo this morning.

Hello,

I am Mr Rhodes Cremas.I contact you on Dojo training.Well my Daughter (Jullie) is coming to stay with her friend in North America for 2 months and i want you to help me teaching her perfectly.

So Note: my Daughter Jullie is just a beginner, so please kindly teach her well. Also kindly let me know your charges cost per lesson,inorder for me to arrange for her payment before her travel.

Please Advise back on
1. The cost of an hour lesson.
2. And payment method ( Let me know if you will accept your payment by check)

I will be glad to read from you soonest.
Best regards,
Mr Rhodes Cremas

And another:

Hello,
I am Scott Benson, an Enginner from UK. My son (James) 15 yrs old, is coming to your area for 2 months holiday and I want him to use the opportunity to learn more in your lesson, so that will keep his time instead of being idle. I will like to have the cost for the 2 months lesson now. I have a business associate in USA that is ready to take care of the whole expenses needed in the trip. So kindly get back to me now with the quote for the 2 months lesson (2 lessons a week and 1hr per lesson). I will be waiting to have the quote along with the below information form you so that I will forward it to the payer immediately.

Complete Name:
Complete Address:
Cell Phone Number:

Regards.
Scott Benson

Aah, 419 baiting.

Great fun.