Fighting Nigerian Email Scams

[suncrafter]

Have you ever gotten one of those Nigerian scams in your email? You know - where they say you won millions in a lottery (or whatever)? Well the webmaster on this site http://www.419hell.com/ answers those scam emails and does everything he can think of to mess with the scammer's head and waste their time.


Here is a fake photo ID that one of the scammers sent him...
(I think I could eat a photo with some paper and poop a more convincing ID!)
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee204/suncrafter/AndersonTubmanAlistair_Darling_Mpja.jpg

[Rolfe]

I quite like hearing about the creative ways people have found to mess with the Nigerian scamsters heads. So long as they're doing it for their own amusement.

As far as people who fall for the actual scam is concerned, my main thought is, hell mend them. It's so well known and so well publicised and so bloody obviously A. phony and B. far far far too good to be true, that anybody who falls for it deserves what they get.

And I don't often say that.

Rolfe.

[El Greco]

Just today I received a letter informing me I have won (for the 10th time I think, imagine my luck) the famous Euro Lottery. This time I won 615810 euros, which is less than my previous winnings (over 1 million each time, IIRC). Sadly, I already have no more rooms to stack the money in and I don't trust the banks with the current crisis. So until I move to a bigger house I think I'll pass on that money. Besides, I'm pretty sure I'll win again soon.

[Professor Yaffle]

This is a good scambaiter page too. I have spend far too much time reading the exchanges there.

http://www.419eater.com/

[Mojo]

This is my favourite one:

http://www.scambuster419.co.uk/

[Legend]

I don't know what all the fuss is about.

As soon as I get my money for being a Nigerian Prince, I'm using the money to get my penis enlarged.

Why was it awkward writing that?

Alex.

[Rolfe]

This is my favourite one:

http://www.scambuster419.co.uk/


Mojo, that is a real treasure. Comedy platinum. Thank you so much. It's right up there with dihydrogen monoxide.

Rolfe.

[Mojo]

Here is a fake photo ID that one of the scammers sent him...
(I think I could eat a photo with some paper and poop a more convincing ID!)
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee204/suncrafter/AndersonTubmanAlistair_Darling_Mpja.jpg


"Valid to - 30 SEP 2011"?

I'll pop off down the bookie's and have a flutter on Labour to win the next general election while the odds are good.

[elgarak]

Considering that I get only about one Nigeria and one lottery scam every half year, but get drowned in v1@gra and free pr0n spam, I wonder if this guy is on the right target. (Nothing against free pr0n, but I don't need my inbox full of it. I already know where to find it, trojan-free, thank you very much.)

[Rolfe]

"Valid to - 30 SEP 2011"?

I'll pop off down the bookie's and have a flutter on Labour to win the next general election while the odds are good.


They seem to know he's Scottish (I think he is anyway....) and originally made the card out as for a member of the "Scottish Executive" - which is what the previous Labour administration in Scotland used to call themselves pre-2007, before the incoming SNP administration decided that a government might as well call itself a government.

Then I imagine they realised they were wrong and he's actually a member of the Westminster parliament, and have just changed "Scottish Executive" to "British Executive". Leaving the original still visible. Possibly so that you can pick whichever version you think is correct.... :D

Roolfe.

[suncrafter]

Check out the "testimonials page".... http://www.419hell.com/Nigerian_Scam_Baiting/419_Scams_Testimonials.html
...Nigerian scammers say the cutest things when they realise they have been baited.

[666]

Then I imagine they realised they were wrong and he's actually a member of the Westminster parliament, and have just changed "Scottish Executive" to "British Executive". Leaving the original still visible. Possibly so that you can pick whichever version you think is correct.... :D
... but have neglected to change the background Saltire :SCOTLAND: to a Union Flag :UK:.

[In My Spare Time]

I very much enjoy thescambaiter.com. Any completed bait by the site owner, theFailure, is a joy. He gets the scammers to pay for shipments of junk, thinking that they'll be getting laptops. He also uses about 10 different characters with disctinct voices and personalities to talk to them on the phone.

[dtugg]

I very much enjoy thescambaiter.com. Any completed bait by the site owner, theFailure, is a joy. He gets the scammers to pay for shipments of junk, thinking that they'll be getting laptops. He also uses about 10 different characters with disctinct voices and personalities to talk to them on the phone.

I've read that site. He is the man. He got one guy to pay for nine (I think) different shipments of useless junk costing several thousand dollars. He even got one guy to take a picture of a laptop tied to and dangling from his penis.

[Kilgore Trout]

I did this as a hobby for awhile recently. If possible, it would be a good idea to Photoshop or Paint "FAKE" across the ID in the original post. It seems a longshot, but it wouldn't be good for that fake ID, fake as it is, to find it's way into scammers' kits. All IDs posted to 419eater must have this done, and while surely the JREF forum is a long ways from that, it's still on the net somewhere. Yes, the logical and/or sane see that and laugh, but some poor old woman that just got a computer for Christmas might not.

Anyway, all that aside, it is fun. The idea is just to take up their time, but getting a call (to a free anonymous service) or a picture or something is icing. My best was (in a very heavy Nigerian accent) "'Allo, Phil Upgood. This is Edmont Soon of Ma-lay-shah..." I also had one going, thinking the delays in selling them my house was because of my very incontinent son (that enjoyed his condition and the stench was unbearable). I digress.

It's very easy to get into, and doesn't take a lot of time. And if you're busy for awhile, fine, let them stew. Not all have to be those big scores, just wasting some scammers time and net cafe money is worthewhile.

Oh and a big tip... That bank account they want to start isn't for money -- just to find someone gullible enough to give them that information. They have a mentoring program at 419eater if anyone wants to give it a try, as well.

And this I found very interesting when I was into it.. This dates far before the Internet. Scams like this were very popular by snail mail back to the 1800s or so.

[Madalch]

... but have neglected to change the background Saltire :SCOTLAND: to a Union Flag :UK:.

More obviously, they have the Royal Arms of Canada instead of those of the UK. Note the three maple leaves in the base of the shield.

[In My Spare Time]

I've read that site. He is the man. He got one guy to pay for nine (I think) different shipments of useless junk costing several thousand dollars. He even got one guy to take a picture of a laptop tied to and dangling from his penis.

If anyone has several hours to kill, here's the thread where the 9 shipments occurred:
NSFW due to length, audio and language. Also, crudely drawn images.
http://thescambaiter.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1132&page=1&pp=25

[Soapy Sam]

I don't know what all the fuss is about.

As soon as I get my money for being a Nigerian Prince, I'm using the money to get my penis enlarged.

Why was it awkward writing that?

Alex.

Potty training. When I got into caving , there came a day when I was underground long enough I had to pee. We were wading waist deep in an icy river at the time. I mentioned I had to stop and go (!) and one of the party- a lady- replied that she had peed herself a few minutes back and what was my problem?
My problem was decades of training in NOT wetting myself, even in a patched multipiece wetsuit while walking along a river in the dark.
Mental effort is required to actually break your conditioning.

What you just wrote was a bit like urinating in public. It's easier second time around.

[TX50]

yes. Funny how chicks always seem to enjoy pissing in their wetsuits. I
prefer a drysuit meself (emphasis on dry).

The funniest scambait I saw was when someone got two Nigerians to
reenact the entire Monty Python dead parrot sketch, film it and send it to
him.

[Rolfe]

And yet - I saw a headline on the Edinburgh Evening News (I think) about an elderly lady who had been conned out of over £100,000 by one of these gangs.

Now I have to say my sympathy level here is a bit limited. The initial approach by these gangs trades on the greed of the victim - most of them seem to be fairly obvious invitations to commit fraud by false representation of the victim as a relative of someone who has died intestate, leaving a large estate. From what I saw of the article, the Edinburgh one was probably of that nature.

Now if an elderly lady has £100,000, I don't think she should be conned out of it. But if an elderly lady has £100,000 she's not exactly on the bread-line, and agreeing to be a party to a fraud so that she can claim money to which she is not entitled doesn't make her entirely blame-free.

Rolfe.

[Mojo]

I'm very impressed - my email has flagged the "reply to thread" notification of Rolfe's response to this thread as spam (it doesn't usually flag notifications from JREF).

Now if it could only have done the same for the actual scam emails I was receiving several times a day a few months ago...

[geni]

Now if an elderly lady has £100,000, I don't think she should be conned out of it. But if an elderly lady has £100,000 she's not exactly on the bread-line, and agreeing to be a party to a fraud so that she can claim money to which she is not entitled doesn't make her entirely blame-free.

Problem is thats the argument that was used by the goverment of nigeria to explain failing to to put significant effort into dealing with the problem.

[Rolfe]

Problem is thats the argument that was used by the goverment of nigeria to explain failing to to put significant effort into dealing with the problem.


Well, yeah. But I said it limited my sympathy. To the level of exasperation, and feeling a bit less sorry for her than I do for the poor old dears who get caught in the "fix your roof" scams.

No way does it justify what these scumbags are doing.

Rolfe.

[Skeptic Guy]

And yet - I saw a headline on the Edinburgh Evening News (I think) about an elderly lady who had been conned out of over £100,000 by one of these gangs.

Now I have to say my sympathy level here is a bit limited. The initial approach by these gangs trades on the greed of the victim - most of them seem to be fairly obvious invitations to commit fraud by false representation of the victim as a relative of someone who has died intestate, leaving a large estate. From what I saw of the article, the Edinburgh one was probably of that nature.

Now if an elderly lady has £100,000, I don't think she should be conned out of it. But if an elderly lady has £100,000 she's not exactly on the bread-line, and agreeing to be a party to a fraud so that she can claim money to which she is not entitled doesn't make her entirely blame-free.

Rolfe.

But if the elderly lady with 100,000 pounds (I don't have the nifty pound symbol on my keyboard) has dementia setting in or if her mind is just feeble because of age, I can't blame her at all.

[Beady]

Problem is thats the argument that was used by the goverment of nigeria to explain failing to to put significant effort into dealing with the problem.

The proponent of the argument neither validates nor invalidates the argument, itself.

But if the elderly lady with 100,000 pounds (I don't have the nifty pound symbol on my keyboard) has dementia setting in or if her mind is just feeble because of age, I can't blame her at all.

You can't base your argument on suppositions.

[Skeptic Guy]

True, I didn't read the article so I don't know the particulars, and I agree that if you're trying to cash in on an illegal act, whether its 'real' or not, you're not exactly blameless.

[Rolfe]

I'm afraid I don't know the specifics either. Maybe I should have bought the paper instead of just skimming the front page while I was paying for my bananas.

Rolfe.

[sophia8]

I'm afraid I don't know the specifics either. Maybe I should have bought the paper instead of just skimming the front page while I was paying for my bananas.

Rolfe.If that's the same case I read about, then the hundred grand wasn't all in a lump, but came out of her savings and pension piecemeal over the course of a year or more, to the extent where she was going short of food and cutting back on heating. In that particular case, it was obviously an addictive mental illness; just like a gambling addict, she was utterly convinced that she would be getting a huge fortune right after the next payment. Her neighbours and daughter couldn't persuade her to stop sending these crooks money every week and even getting in the local copper to tell her they were crooks didn't stop her. She just took to hiding the scammers' letters and sneaking out to post money orders on the sly.

[Rolfe]

Sounds as if it was the same case. I just noticed the headline because of this thread, and skimmed the front page. I shouldn't have been so uncharitable. Dotty old ladies need protection from this just as much as from the "fix your roof" fraud.

Rolfe.

[HawaiiBigSis]

I got an offer today that said that the person had "deposited" huge sums of cash with "FED EX DEPOSIT CORPORATION" in a box labeled "African Fabric" so as to not alert the authorities that it was, in fact, huge sums of cash.

They're getting smarter!

[Molinaro]

But if the elderly lady with 100,000 pounds (I don't have the nifty pound symbol on my keyboard) has dementia setting in or if her mind is just feeble because of age, I can't blame her at all.

FYI: Hold down your ALT key, then type 156 on your numeric keypad, then release the ALT key.

You can type any ASCII char that way, even if you can't find it on your keyboard, or the key is broken on your keyboard. Just google up an ASCII chart to find out what number to type out. And it has to be the numbers on your numeric keypad and not those above the alphabet.


I actualy got my 1st ever Nigerian scam email just yesterday.

[Skeptic Guy]

FYI: Hold down your ALT key, then type 156 on your numeric keypad, then release the ALT key.

You can type any ASCII char that way, even if you can't find it on your keyboard, or the key is broken on your keyboard. Just google up an ASCII chart to find out what number to type out. And it has to be the numbers on your numeric keypad and not those above the alphabet.


I actualy got my 1st ever Nigerian scam email just yesterday.


Not working on my keyboard but no matter. Thanks for the tip, though

[Zamos]

I wasn't sure if I should post this email scam here or in the humor forum. Just received it today.
Here's the text.



Federal Bureau of Investigation
FBI Seattle Division
1110 Third Avenue
Seattle, Washington 98101-2904

Payment Code: R5780906K
Reg No: 132521093
Date: February 20, 2009

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has discovered through our intelligence Monitoring Network that you are eligible to receive the sum of $7,500,00.00 USD regarding to an over-due Inheritance/Award payment which was fully endorsed to be paid in your favor.

Therefore, the FBI Seattle Division in conjunction with the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Has screened through our various Monitoring Networks and has been confirmed and notified that the transaction you have with the Financial Institution is Legal and you have the Lawful Right to claim your due fund. We advise you to go ahead with the transaction as we are monitoring all their services and networks. Be advised that any letter or claims notification received from anybody or company should be forwarded to us with immediate effect.

Meanwhile, you are advised to follow the procedure of the Financial Institution. They have their own legal procedure which we have examined and confirmed legal. Follow their instructions while you keep us updated for more details. You are advised to contact the necessary office for more details of transfer as we are monitoring every move now.

Please, be advised and be aware that your funds had been insured and the necessary charges would be taken care of by you, as confirmed by the Monitoring network. For your own good you are advised to confirm any transaction or lottery promo you have either involved yourself with in the past to enable us trace this scammers. Only the Financial Institution has been confirmed Legal any other are still under investigation, and so many others are scam, most especially from Nigeria and Africa.

Please contact the Head of Operations Dr. Ferren Rodriguez, Spring Bank Plc.

Dr. Ferren Rodriguez (Head of Operations)
International Remittance Department
Email: ferrenrodriguez@gmail.com

If you need to contact me at any stage please do not hesitate to call (206) 350-6981.

Sincerely,

Fox Mulder (Special Agent-in-Charge Badge Number: JTT047101111)

So, can someone tell me how a character in a TV show can help me find "my long lost money".:D

[Mojo]

So, can someone tell me how a character in a TV show can help me find "my long lost money".:D


Ah, but it's well-known* that The X Files is based on fact.







*Although not actually true.

[suncrafter]

FYI: Hold down your ALT key, then type 156 on your numeric keypad, then release the ALT key.

You can type any ASCII char that way, even if you can't find it on your keyboard, or the key is broken on your keyboard. Just google up an ASCII chart to find out what number to type out. And it has to be the numbers on your numeric keypad and not those above the alphabet....

Cool tip!

[Wowbagger]

One of the shows at TAM will be a dramatic* retelling of a Nigerian scam story.

(* and, by "dramatic", I mean humorous.)

[Molinaro]

Not working on my keyboard but no matter. Thanks for the tip, though

Windows? PC? Typing 3 digits for all ASCII codes? ie: for A type 065.

[negativ]

This American Life did a segment on an epic scambait perpetrated by 419eaters.

http://www.thisamericanlife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?sched=1260

It is not to be missed.

relevant (probably NSFW) thread here:

http://forum.419eater.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=133890