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Jeff Corey · 24th May 2007, 04:51 PM

I just received a warning from the Seattle Skeptics that a Death Threat Spam has been sent to people listed in the back of the Skeptical Inquirer as contacts for local skeptic groups. It says that the sender has a contract to kill you, but you can buy him off for $20,000.
I'ma skeered!

Carnivore · 24th May 2007, 05:35 PM

Well that wont do his professional reputation much good. You get hired to whack someone and you blab it straight to the mark and offer not to?

No one is going to hire him again soon.

grayman · 24th May 2007, 05:46 PM

Seriously, shouldn't this be reported to someone official-like?

JoeTheJuggler · 24th May 2007, 05:51 PM

I can't imagine the spammers make any money by selectively targeting smarter-than-average people.

I'll bet they'd do much better getting e-mail addresses out of a New Ager magazine.

PastBrowneFan · 24th May 2007, 06:08 PM

Great.....now I'll probably get a death threat spam from one Ms. SB.......

Jeff Corey · 24th May 2007, 06:15 PM

Originally Posted by grayman

Seriously, shouldn't this be reported to someone official-like?

Probably, but I didn't personally get it, it was referred as a warning from another skeptics group. But, I don't think anyone is going to take this seriously.

Subject: BE MORE CAREFUL
From: COLD BLOOD
"A am very sorry for you , it is a pity that this is how your life is going self if you will like to. As you can see there is no need for introducing my self because I don't have any business with you. My work as I am talking to you is just to kill you and I have to do it as I have already been paid for that."

And later " So I will like to know if you will like to live or die as someone has paid us to kill you. Get back to me now if you are ready to pay $20,000."

Still later, 'WARNING; DO NOT CONTACT THE POLICE OR TELL ANYONE, FOR I DO THAT I WILL KNOW AND WILL EXTEND IT TO YOUR FAMILY.'

Does anyone else here get an echo of Boris and Natasha?

"MOOSE AND SQUIRREL MUST DIE!"

Elizabeth I · 24th May 2007, 07:05 PM

It sounds more like a blonde joke:

This blond is short of cash, so she decides to try her hand at kidnapping. She goes to the local park, pulls a kid behind a tree, and pins a note him. The note reads, "Put ten thousand dollars in a paper sack behind the tree in the park tomorrow morning, or you'll never see your child again. Signed, The Blonde." Then she tells the kid, "Take this note to your mother," and goes home.

The next morning she goes back to the park and looks behind the tree. Sure enough, there sits a paper sack. The sack has $10,000 dollars in it, and a note. The note reads, "I can't believe you would do this to another blonde!"

grayman · 24th May 2007, 07:20 PM

Time for a blond derail.

Zep · 24th May 2007, 07:48 PM

Hey, if they do contact you again, ask them who to make the $20,000 cheque out to.

Jeff Corey · 24th May 2007, 07:53 PM

Hey, you guys, what are you doing derailing a serious thread with your politically incorrect hairist jokes? Some of my best friend is blonde.

Fnord · 24th May 2007, 08:19 PM

Something seemed familiar about this. Here's a link:

"Scam contract killer email blackmails recipients with death threat"

The article includes:

"This is surely one of the sickest phishes yet seen - the intention of this email is quite clearly to frighten the recipient into coughing up a substantial amount of money or, at the very least, their bank account details," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos. "Innocent, vulnerable people could be scared into believing that the contents of the email are truthful, while the not-so-innocent are arguably even more likely to be hoodwinked. It may be hugely unnerving to receive such threats, but the only way to stop the distribution of these messages is for users to stop responding." (Excerpt used without permission.)

Another one from the Times U.K.

"Don't be fooled if you receive an e-mail from a professional hitman who says that he is willing to spare your life for a price - he's actually just a spammer hoping to get lucky." (Excerpt used without permission.)

And finally, there is an article over at the Snopes Website:

"Fear not: It's all a scam. There is no such plot in place, no hitman who needs to be paid off. Numerous folks have received the same e-mail, so anyone who has had it land in his inbox need not fret he is being hunted by a hired killer. It's a con, nothing more. The only thing at risk are the target's bank account." (Excerpt used without permission.)

Snopes and the FBI have some more information on This Webpage, and even give some advice as to what to do, and what not to do, about any more emails from "hitmen".

Bottom line: There is nothing to fear. It's "only" a phishing attempt, or an attempt to extort money; not an actual death threat. Alert the FBI or simply block the sender and delete the email. Just do not reply to it.

Jeff Corey · 24th May 2007, 09:20 PM

Actually I knew that.Right off. From the gitgo or beginning, because,
ETA sorry. Bad link.Try U tube -> Spam.

CFLarsen · 24th May 2007, 10:48 PM

Originally Posted by JoeTheJuggler

I can't imagine the spammers make any money by selectively targeting smarter-than-average people.

How do you know that skeptics are smarter-than-average people?

Cuddles · 25th May 2007, 03:21 AM

Originally Posted by Jeff Corey

Hey, you guys, what are you doing derailing a serious thread with your politically incorrect hairist jokes? Some of my best friend is blonde.

brodski · 25th May 2007, 03:26 AM

Originally Posted by CFLarsen

How do you know that skeptics are smarter-than-average people?

Because we all live in Jellystone park?

Jeff Corey · 25th May 2007, 04:38 AM

Or Lake Wobegon.

Temporal Renegade · 25th May 2007, 04:44 AM

Originally Posted by grayman

Time for a blond derail.

I played this for my wife; she's blonde, and she loves blonde jokes.

Go figure.

Ducky · 25th May 2007, 05:13 AM

I was recently informed via email that:

"I am pleased to inform you that we have been paid to assassinate you by your co-worker in your office."

Uhh. Fowlsound Productions is run out of my apartment (my second bedroom is a studio.)

Well, I asked my wife and she didn't pay to have me killed. Her exact words were "If I wanted you dead I'd do it myself." It must be the cat.

That damn cat....

Professor Yaffle · 25th May 2007, 05:20 AM

Any mention of hitmen makes me think of Max and Paddy in Phoenix Nights "Put me tape on"...

Orangutan · 25th May 2007, 07:48 AM

I think they have done a few of these over at 419eater.com, if you want them baited back go and see if some of them will take it and run with it. They don't even need your email addy, just the return adress and the text of the email. the phishers certainly can't remember who they phised.

Soapy Sam · 25th May 2007, 08:08 AM

At this point I wish to say that I can be bought off for as little as $1000, which is a substantial saving on $20,000.

In fact, if you send me $1000 and put my name at the top of a list which you should email to 9 other people...

kmortis · 25th May 2007, 08:36 AM

Originally Posted by fowlsound

I was recently informed via email that:

"I am pleased to inform you that we have been paid to assassinate you by your co-worker in your office."

Uhh. Fowlsound Productions is run out of my apartment (my second bedroom is a studio.)

Well, I asked my wife and she didn't pay to have me killed. Her exact words were "If I wanted you dead I'd do it myself." It must be the cat.

That damn cat....

Well, that's what you get from accepting Puss's kittens.

Temporal Renegade · 25th May 2007, 04:45 PM

Originally Posted by fowlsound

I was recently informed via email that:

"I am pleased to inform you that we have been paid to assassinate you by your co-worker in your office."

Uhh. Fowlsound Productions is run out of my apartment (my second bedroom is a studio.)

Well, I asked my wife and she didn't pay to have me killed. Her exact words were "If I wanted you dead I'd do it myself." It must be the cat.

That damn cat....

"I am pleased to inform you..."????

Talk about enjoying your work.

brodski · 25th May 2007, 06:03 PM

Originally Posted by Professor Yaffle

Any mention of hitmen makes me think of Max and Paddy in Phoenix Nights "Put me tape on"...

That's not a gun, it's a a broom handled Mauser!

Dr Adequate · 26th May 2007, 03:46 AM

I've been not killing you all for years. You will receive my bill shortly.

Mercutio · 26th May 2007, 04:14 AM

Oh, you slay me, Dr. A.

so... I don't have to pay, right?

24th May 2007, 04:51 PM	#1
Jeff Corey New York Skeptic Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 13,797	Death Threat Spam, Spam, Eggs, Bacon and Spam I just received a warning from the Seattle Skeptics that a Death Threat Spam has been sent to people listed in the back of the Skeptical Inquirer as contacts for local skeptic groups. It says that the sender has a contract to kill you, but you can buy him off for $20,000. I'ma skeered!

24th May 2007, 05:35 PM	#2
Carnivore Salad Dodger Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Manchester UK Posts: 1,396	Well that wont do his professional reputation much good. You get hired to whack someone and you blab it straight to the mark and offer not to? No one is going to hire him again soon.
	__________________ "It's backwards thinking like this that made me leave Manchester. You Guinness swilling, Marmite blaspheming animal." - Malfie Henpox

24th May 2007, 05:46 PM	#3
grayman Happy-go-lucky Heretic Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Casa del Whacko Posts: 6,142	Seriously, shouldn't this be reported to someone official-like?
	__________________ Stupidity is a condition. Ignorance is a choice. - Wiley All great truths begin as blasphemies. - George Bernard Shaw God is evil. As soon as you accept that, it all makes sense. - Sledge

24th May 2007, 05:51 PM	#4
JoeTheJuggler Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: St. Louis Posts: 27,168	I can't imagine the spammers make any money by selectively targeting smarter-than-average people. I'll bet they'd do much better getting e-mail addresses out of a New Ager magazine.
	__________________ "That is a very graphic analogy which aids understanding wonderfully while being, strictly speaking, wrong in every possible way." —Ponder Stibbons

24th May 2007, 06:15 PM	#6
Jeff Corey New York Skeptic Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 13,797	Originally Posted by grayman Seriously, shouldn't this be reported to someone official-like? Probably, but I didn't personally get it, it was referred as a warning from another skeptics group. But, I don't think anyone is going to take this seriously. Subject: BE MORE CAREFUL From: COLD BLOOD "A am very sorry for you , it is a pity that this is how your life is going self if you will like to. As you can see there is no need for introducing my self because I don't have any business with you. My work as I am talking to you is just to kill you and I have to do it as I have already been paid for that." And later " So I will like to know if you will like to live or die as someone has paid us to kill you. Get back to me now if you are ready to pay $20,000." Still later, 'WARNING; DO NOT CONTACT THE POLICE OR TELL ANYONE, FOR I DO THAT I WILL KNOW AND WILL EXTEND IT TO YOUR FAMILY.' Does anyone else here get an echo of Boris and Natasha? "MOOSE AND SQUIRREL MUST DIE!"
	Last edited by Jeff Corey; 24th May 2007 at 06:22 PM.

24th May 2007, 06:08 PM	#5
PastBrowneFan Critical Thinker Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 373	Great.....now I'll probably get a death threat spam from one Ms. SB.......

24th May 2007, 07:05 PM	#7
Elizabeth I Olympic Equestrian Wannabe Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Defending the Alamo Posts: 9,358	It sounds more like a blonde joke: This blond is short of cash, so she decides to try her hand at kidnapping. She goes to the local park, pulls a kid behind a tree, and pins a note him. The note reads, "Put ten thousand dollars in a paper sack behind the tree in the park tomorrow morning, or you'll never see your child again. Signed, The Blonde." Then she tells the kid, "Take this note to your mother," and goes home. The next morning she goes back to the park and looks behind the tree. Sure enough, there sits a paper sack. The sack has $10,000 dollars in it, and a note. The note reads, "I can't believe you would do this to another blonde!"
	__________________ • There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man. - Winston Churchill • Never wrestle with a pig - you just get dirty and the pig enjoys it. • My blog: Pardon me, may I ask...

24th May 2007, 07:20 PM	#8
grayman Happy-go-lucky Heretic Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Casa del Whacko Posts: 6,142	Time for a blond derail.
	__________________ Stupidity is a condition. Ignorance is a choice. - Wiley All great truths begin as blasphemies. - George Bernard Shaw God is evil. As soon as you accept that, it all makes sense. - Sledge

24th May 2007, 07:48 PM	#9
Zep Banned Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 26,985	Hey, if they do contact you again, ask them who to make the $20,000 cheque out to.
Zep Banned Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 26,985

24th May 2007, 07:53 PM	#10
Jeff Corey New York Skeptic Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 13,797	Hey, you guys, what are you doing derailing a serious thread with your politically incorrect hairist jokes? Some of my best friend is blonde.
	Last edited by Jeff Corey; 24th May 2007 at 07:55 PM.

24th May 2007, 08:19 PM	#11
Fnord Metasyntactic Variable Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 6,633	Something seemed familiar about this. Here's a link: "Scam contract killer email blackmails recipients with death threat" The article includes: "This is surely one of the sickest phishes yet seen - the intention of this email is quite clearly to frighten the recipient into coughing up a substantial amount of money or, at the very least, their bank account details," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos. "Innocent, vulnerable people could be scared into believing that the contents of the email are truthful, while the not-so-innocent are arguably even more likely to be hoodwinked. It may be hugely unnerving to receive such threats, but the only way to stop the distribution of these messages is for users to stop responding." (Excerpt used without permission.) Another one from the Times U.K. "Don't be fooled if you receive an e-mail from a professional hitman who says that he is willing to spare your life for a price - he's actually just a spammer hoping to get lucky." (Excerpt used without permission.) And finally, there is an article over at the Snopes Website: "Fear not: It's all a scam. There is no such plot in place, no hitman who needs to be paid off. Numerous folks have received the same e-mail, so anyone who has had it land in his inbox need not fret he is being hunted by a hired killer. It's a con, nothing more. The only thing at risk are the target's bank account." (Excerpt used without permission.) Snopes and the FBI have some more information on This Webpage, and even give some advice as to what to do, and what not to do, about any more emails from "hitmen". Bottom line: There is nothing to fear. It's "only" a phishing attempt, or an attempt to extort money; not an actual death threat. Alert the FBI or simply block the sender and delete the email. Just do not reply to it.
	__________________ Belief is the subjective acceptance of a (valid or invalid) concept, opinion, or theory; Faith is the unreasoned belief in improvable things; *and Knowledge* is the reasoned belief in provable things. Belief itself proves nothing.**

24th May 2007, 09:20 PM	#12
Jeff Corey New York Skeptic Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 13,797	Actually I knew that.Right off. From the gitgo or beginning, because, ETA sorry. Bad link.Try U tube -> Spam.
	Last edited by Jeff Corey; 24th May 2007 at 09:30 PM. Reason: bad link

24th May 2007, 10:48 PM	#13
CFLarsen Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 42,804	Originally Posted by JoeTheJuggler I can't imagine the spammers make any money by selectively targeting smarter-than-average people. How do you know that skeptics are smarter-than-average people?
	__________________ SkepticReport.com

25th May 2007, 03:21 AM	#14
Cuddles Decoy Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: A magical land full of pink fluffy sheeps and bunnies Posts: 16,676	Originally Posted by Jeff Corey Hey, you guys, what are you doing derailing a serious thread with your politically incorrect hairist jokes? Some of my best friend is blonde.
	__________________ I am not a little teapot.

25th May 2007, 03:26 AM	#15
brodski Tea-Time toad Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 15,159	Originally Posted by CFLarsen How do you know that skeptics are smarter-than-average people? Because we all live in Jellystone park?
brodski Tea-Time toad Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 15,159

25th May 2007, 04:38 AM	#16
Jeff Corey New York Skeptic Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 13,797	Or Lake Wobegon.

25th May 2007, 04:44 AM	#17
Temporal Renegade Last of the Time Lords Join Date: May 2003 Location: University of Southern North Dakota at Hoople Posts: 1,893	Originally Posted by grayman Time for a blond derail. I played this for my wife; she's blonde, and she loves blonde jokes. Go figure.
	__________________ "Attention please..... a child has been lost in the Tunnel of Goats......" .......FATHER TED

25th May 2007, 05:13 AM	#18
Ducky Titanium Puprhero Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Mayor of your front lawn. Posts: 12,296	I was recently informed via email that: "I am pleased to inform you that we have been paid to assassinate you by your co-worker in your office." Uhh. Fowlsound Productions is run out of my apartment (my second bedroom is a studio.) Well, I asked my wife and she didn't pay to have me killed. Her exact words were "If I wanted you dead I'd do it myself." It must be the cat. That damn cat....

25th May 2007, 05:20 AM	#19
Professor Yaffle Butterbeans and Breadcrumbs Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Emily's shop Posts: 15,449	Any mention of hitmen makes me think of Max and Paddy in Phoenix Nights "Put me tape on"...
	__________________ I think you'll find it's a little bit more complicated than that. My blog "Well I think I've made it abundantly clear in this thread I have no idea what I'm talking about..." - truethat

25th May 2007, 07:48 AM	#20
Orangutan Graduate Poster Tagger Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Florida. Posts: 1,175	I think they have done a few of these over at 419eater.com, if you want them baited back go and see if some of them will take it and run with it. They don't even need your email addy, just the return adress and the text of the email. the phishers certainly can't remember who they phised.

25th May 2007, 08:08 AM	#21
Soapy Sam NLH Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 25,916	At this point I wish to say that I can be bought off for as little as $1000, which is a substantial saving on $20,000. In fact, if you send me $1000 and put my name at the top of a list which you should email to 9 other people...
Soapy Sam NLH Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 25,916

25th May 2007, 08:36 AM	#22
kmortis Biomechanoid Director of IDIOCY (Region 13) Moderator Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: New Texas Posts: 24,802	Originally Posted by fowlsound I was recently informed via email that: "I am pleased to inform you that we have been paid to assassinate you by your co-worker in your office." Uhh. Fowlsound Productions is run out of my apartment (my second bedroom is a studio.) Well, I asked my wife and she didn't pay to have me killed. Her exact words were "If I wanted you dead I'd do it myself." It must be the cat. That damn cat.... Well, that's what you get from accepting Puss's kittens.
	__________________ -Aberhaten did it - "Which gives us an answer to our question. What’s the worst thing that can happen in a pressure cooker?" Randall Munroe -Director of Independent Determining Inquisitor Of Crazy Yapping - Aberhaten's Apothegm™ - An Internet law that states that optimism is indistinguishable from sarcasm

25th May 2007, 04:45 PM	#23
Temporal Renegade Last of the Time Lords Join Date: May 2003 Location: University of Southern North Dakota at Hoople Posts: 1,893	Originally Posted by fowlsound I was recently informed via email that: "I am pleased to inform you that we have been paid to assassinate you by your co-worker in your office." Uhh. Fowlsound Productions is run out of my apartment (my second bedroom is a studio.) Well, I asked my wife and she didn't pay to have me killed. Her exact words were "If I wanted you dead I'd do it myself." It must be the cat. That damn cat.... "I am pleased to inform you..."???? Talk about enjoying your work.
	__________________ "Attention please..... a child has been lost in the Tunnel of Goats......" .......FATHER TED

25th May 2007, 06:03 PM	#24
brodski Tea-Time toad Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 15,159	Originally Posted by Professor Yaffle Any mention of hitmen makes me think of Max and Paddy in Phoenix Nights "Put me tape on"... That's not a gun, it's a a broom handled Mauser!
brodski Tea-Time toad Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 15,159

26th May 2007, 03:46 AM	#25
Dr Adequate Banned Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Waiting Long Enough By The River Posts: 17,897	I've been not killing you all for years. You will receive my bill shortly.

26th May 2007, 04:14 AM	#26
Mercutio Shakespeare's Sock Puppet Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Live Free Or Die Posts: 16,325	Oh, you slay me, Dr. A. so... I don't have to pay, right?
	__________________ "But to see her was to love her Love but her, and love forever."