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"Nigerian" Spammer Arrested
Roger_Wilco writes "According to The Globe and Mail, a "Nigerian" spammer has been
charged with with first-degree attempted larceny. Hopefully we'll get a few less of that spam now."
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TheSpamLetters.com. The guy who runs the site spends time writing back people who send him spam and has some great ones related to Nigerian Spam. He keeps a running documentation of the give and take. It's a really good read if you need a laugh.
Really funny is this one where the alleged Nigerian is requesting contact info and the guy sends him the phone numbers for the Secret Service division that handles the Nigerian Scam. Priceless. He never heard back from the alleged Nigerian after that.
Only 1,000,000 more to go!
Shame, really. I was looking forward to a long, hard talk about things with him...
Carousel is a lie!
That guy owes me $US45,000,000!
aw, sheesh... now how am I gonna pay my SCO licence?
I am a leaf on the wind
Check out EbolaMonkeyMan for a glimpse into the mind of scammers and the level of intelligence required to believe and reply to them.
Cure cancer.. and stuff! www.team45.info
150 Opening BINARY mode data connection for slashdot.sig (129323052 bytes).
-T
this 'nigerian spam' idea has appeared in other forms as well.
i'm trying to sell my car and posted it on a few free car sales websites. so far, i've received 4 of emails exactly like this:
"We have a client who is interested in purchasing
your ( 2000 vw gti vr6 glx ) for the price of $( 14,500 ).Please forward me your final asking price "
of course, i then reply with the price confirmation, but then i get this:
"Hello,
Thanks a lot for your mail and the information, also for all your efforts towards making this transaction a success, i really love it and wish to buy as soon as possible. Anyway, this is how we are going to seal this transaction there is an associate of mine in the US who is owing me $19,800 i am going to instruct him to send you a cashier's check for that amount,and when it clears your bank you can now send my balance by Westernunion. Although i know that the value of the check is more than the price of the 2000 VW GTI VR6 GLX, but i am willing to trust you with my balance So if this offer is acceptable to you,let me have your contact information so that i can instruct my associate to send you a check,that is your name,address and phone number Please get back to me as soon as soon as you get this mail so that i can know your decision regards this transaction. I am banking on my balance so that i will be able to settle my shippers here in there local office because it is cheaper and faster.My regards to the family
Banks"
so this scam basically falls upon the same principle. obviously we all know where this is going, but i decide to play along anyway and sent him a bogus PO box to send the check to.
the next email was this:
"Thanks so much for the mail and the rightful information. Anyway, i just want you to know that what is required is your physical address and phone number, so as to deliver the payment to you in person. So, do well to let me have your Full name, physical address and phone number, in order to get the payment to you as soon as possible. And what do you mean by "terrifc deal"?. Waiting to hear back from you soon. Thank you and God bless.
Regards
Banks"
my question: why does he need my physical address and phone number? it's obvious at this point he will let me know about some snag and that i need to send him some money for whatever reason.
on a side note, i am selling my Volkswagen GTI VR6 GLX if anyone is interested.
so, people selling their autos online, be wary of this scam.
i am dr zanzibar of the country canada. i would like to introduce you TO A limited time opportunity to become arrested quick. please send five hundred thousand (500,000) of these e-mails to various people around the world so that they will give you money. you will promise to give them many millions of dollars (>$1,000,000) this plan works real good.
PLEASE IF YOU ARE INTERESTED REPLY BACK TO MY ACCOUNT WITH YOUR PHONE NUMBER AND BANK PIN NUMBER. DO NOT WORRY I ALREADY HAVE YOUR BANK CARD AND AM WAITING TO COMPLETE THE DEAL. I RESPECT YOU AND REALLY LIKE YOU. I HOPE YOU WILL JOIN THIS AMAZING OPPORTUNITY.
DR. ZANZIBAR, CONCERNED AND ECCENTRIC PERSON.
Condemnant quod non intellegunt.
You'd think the spammers would be more suspicious of someone that seemed so eager to give them her money. With the rate of reply to these things so low, the spammers might figure that the people who do actually bite are actually trying to shut them down. Ah well...we can dream, can't we?
"By and large, language is a tool for concealing the truth." - George Carlin
The original story was about an Australian busted for the 419 scam. This one is about a Canadian man being nabbed for it.
This is cool. Bethel is a small town (~17K) located in Western CT. Our last big bust (5 yrs ago), was when they shut down the local "health club" after it was noticed that the business hours seemed to peak after 10PM, and all of the exercise equip. was dusty. We don't make the paper often, which is why I like it here.
No mention of how this guy compares to the Australian who was arrested about a week back. I bet he's small potatoes as well.
The ones they should be going after are the ones in Nigeria -- the scam is the third largest source of foreign currency for that country.
"They redundantly repeated themselves over and over again incessantly without end ad infinitum" -- ibid.
The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more spammers will slip through your fingers.
This was the guy who was going to give me millions. I should have known he wasn't a genuine Nigerian when I read his email:
HON. RAYMOND ETIEBET(DR).
ATTN: Bobdotorg,
DEAR SIR
REQUEST FOR URGENT BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP EH
FIRST, I MUST SOLICIT YOUR CONFIDENCE IN THIS TRANSACTION. THIS IS VIRTURE OF IT'S NATURE AS BEING UTTERLY CONFIDENTIAL AND TOP SECRET EH.
WE ARE TOP OFFICIALS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA CONTRACT REVIEW PANEL WHO ARE INTERESTED IN IMPORTATION OF GOODS INTO OUR COUNTRY AND INVESTING IN EUROPE WITH FUNDS WHICH ARE PRESENTLY TRAPPED IN NIGERIA EH.
IN ORDER TO COMMENCE THIS BUSINESS WE SOLICIT YOUR ASSISTANTANCE, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE TO ENABLE US RECIEVE THE SAID TRAPPED FUNDS ABROAD, FOR THE SUBSEQUENT PURCHASE AND INVENTORY OF THE GOODS TO BE IMPORTED AND THE INVESTMENT IN EUROPE EH.
THE SOURCE OF THIS FUND IS AS FOLLOWS: DURING THE PREVIOUS MILITARY REGIMES IN OUR COUNTRY, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS SET UP COMPANIES AND AWARDED THEMSELVES CONTRACTS WHICH WERE GROSSLY OVER-INVOICED IN VARIOUS MINISTRIES. THE NEW CIVILIAN GOVERNMENT NOW SETUP A CONTRACT REVIEW PANEL WHICH I AND MY COLLEAGUES ARE MEMBERS AND WE HAVE IDENTIFIED A LOT OF INFLATED SUM, DUE TO OUR POSITION AS CIVIL SERVANTS AND MEMBERS OF THIS PANEL, WE CANNOT AQUIRE THIS MONEY IN OUR NAMES EH. I HAVE THEREFORE, BEEN DELEGATED AS A MATTER OF TRUST BY MY COLLEAGUES OF THE PANEL TO LOOK FOR AN OVERSEA PATNER INTO WHOSE ACCOUNT THE SUM OF US$31,000 000,00 (THIRTY-ONE MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS) WILL BE PAID BY TELEGRAPHIC TRANSFER. HENCE WE ARE WRITTING YOU THIS LETER EH.
WE HAVE AGREED TO SHARE THE MONEY THUS:
1. 70% FOR US (THE OFFICIALS) EH
2. 20% FOR THE FOREIGN PATNER(YOU) EH
3. 10% TO BE USED IN SETTLING TAXATION AND LOCAL AND FOREIGN EXPENSES EH.
IT IS THIS 70% THAT WE WISH TO COMMENCE THE IMPORTATION BUSINESS AND THE INVESTMENT IN EUROPE. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS TRANSACTION IS 100% SAFE AND WE HOPE THAT THE FUNDS CAN ARRIVE YOUR ACCOUNT IN LATEST TEN(10) BANKING DAYS FROM THE DATE OF RECIEPT OF THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION EH. A SUITABLE COMPANY NAME AND BANK ACCOUNT(COMPANY OR PERSONEL) INTO WHICH THE FUNDS CAN BE PAID EH.
THE ABOVE INFORMATION WILL ENABLE US WRITE LETTERS OF CLAIM AND JOB DESCRIPTION RESPECTIVELY EH. THIS WAY WE WILL USE YOUR COMPANY'S NAME TO APPLY FOR PAYMENTS AND RE-AWARD THE CONTRACT TO YOUR COMPANY NAME EH.
WE ARE LOOKING FOWARD TO DOING BUSINESS WITH YOU AND SOLICIT YOUR CONFIDENTIALITY IN THIS TRANSACTION EH.
PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE RECIEPT OF THIS LETTER USING THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS EH. I WILL BRING YOU INTO THE COMPLETE PICTURE OF THIS PENDING PROJECT WHEN I HAVE HEARD FROM YOU EH.
YOURS FATHFULLY EH,
HON. RAYMOND ETIEBET(DR).
FAX:234-1-7596980 TEL:234-1-4701056 EH
__ Someday, but not this morning, I'll finally learn to use the preview button.
That he is not even Nigerian -- he is a Canadian. The last guy they arrested was Australian I think. Not that there are no Nigerians sending these emails -- it's just that they are not being caught because of the poor state of law enforcement in the country at the moment. But the fact is that this is becoming more than just a "Nigerian" scam, it has become a very international scam.
(Full disclosure: I am a Nigerian, and it brings me grief to no end that the first thing people think of when my country is mentioned is 419 scams).
Am I a hipster-doofus?
On another interesting note, Jonathan Land (who runs thespamletters.com) is a onetime member of Negativland. The name is just a coincedence.
If you could be anything you want, I'll bet you'd be disappointed.
the nigerian spams are my favorite! in the days of penis/breast enlarging, at least the nigerian spams had a modicum of effort put into them and an interesting story.....
better safe than sorry...
www.scamshield.com
www.scambusters.org
6E8C 8721 B3D9 5269 5A9B 1122 00C3 C03D 99A7 1CFC
I'd love to see an email and browser plugin that allowed the user to open a dialog, paste a received spam/extortion message, and send it to a database at the FTC, FCC, FBI, or whichever government department will handle it. Like spamzilla. How about company that held the database, and sent collated reports to the appropriate government agency?
--
make install -not war
i helped him out and i made a bundle! with the money, i bought a great house with a fantastic mortgage. then i married a beautiful russian bride, and i pleasure her with my surgically enlarged, viagra driven member.
IMO, this is the saddest one, because it sounds more legit, and there is practically nothing unsuspecting people can do about to thwart it.
http://home.rica.net/alphae/419coal/
My Linux Command of the Day site : LCOD
Now even Nigerians are outsourcing their functions? Will Wonders Never Cease!
Those were the only truly *funny* spams to read.
Kind of like listening to the Iraqi Information Minister
Boy do I miss him!
-- TT
TT
Seems messed up to me. Shouldn't the bank be able to discover it is a fraud BEFORE clearing the money into your account?
At very least it seems to me there should be a maximum number of days the bank can hold your responsible for, after which the transaction is deemed void or legit.
Of course the laws are probably written in favor of the banking industry...
To see this particular nigerian money laundering scheme?
I first saw one of these via SNAIL mail back in 1991!!! Since I was fresh out of school, studing lasers, there were many jokes around the office of our small company about us designing a 'Nigerian Defense Initative', with Ground Based Lasers on the corners of the building...
You could imagine my disgust when I started getting the same damn letter via email 10 years later... I guess there are some gullible idiots out there who keep the thing alive... but wow!
This is slightly off topic, but
I checked out the site, and while funny, the letters where he gets no replies don't compare to the book "Letters from a Nut" by Ted Nancy. You can find it at Amazon (or other online seller's I'm sure), including some page previews with the letters he writes and the responses he gets.
I know it's not spam, but Ted Nancy's letters are *far* more clever than the spam responses this guy is writing. Funny, yes. But without the dialogue with the spammer, they really lose a lot. Check out the above book. *Very* funny stuff.
jeff
This scam hurts the worst of all. This is how it usually goes down. He would really send you a cashiers check for the amount he said. You would deposit it and wait a couple days. Then you'd call the bank, and they'd tell you everything is great. You'd send him the car, and the difference. Then after a few weeks the bank would call you and tell you, 'sorry, that cashier's check was a fraud, we're debiting the amount from your accounts, please bring in X dollars.' And you, my friend, would be completely out of luck. Owing the full amount to the bank, and the scammer would have your car, and the extra money you sent him/her/it.
I've heard about this one before too when a friend of mine got a similar offer when selling a motorcycle. (Fortunately he was advised of the scam before the bike+money was sent). My question is (to anyone who might know): how can a bank state that the check has "cleared" when it actually a fake. What is the proper state of confirmation for a check such that you are guaranteed that the transaction has been completed? This seems like a problem with our banking procedures. A customer should be able to receive a proper 'transaction complete' acknowledgement from a bank to indicate that his/her liability has ended. After that, if anything goes wrong, it's not the customers problem.
What has *science* done?!? -- Dr. Weird (ATHF)
>Spam filters do not work because there is no way
>to look at text and tell whether it is spam or
>not.
Seeded Bayesian strategies work pretty damned well. The problem is, most consumers are forced to download the mail before letting their spam filter check it.
I don't really care that the spams are in my inbox folder. I mean, I do, but the damage was done when I was forced to download the crap before checking it. That is the bigger annoyance.
If Cox cable would let me, I would just run my own inbound MX. I'd have a whitelist for inbound SMTP, and that would be that.
-fb Everything not expressly forbidden is now mandatory.
My work bud finally had enough of this Nigerian scam that he decided he would a have a little fun with the situation. His deed of daring do is a damn hilarious read!
Quod scripsi, scripsi.
Click (here) and enter your email here if you want to sell me methods to increase the size of my sexual organs.
Click (here) and enter your email if you want to sell me spam stopping software.
Click (here) and enter your email if you want to use me to transfer ridiculously large sums of cash for a profitable percentage.
Click (here) and enter your email if you want me to join your dating service
Click (here) and enter your email if you want me to refinance using your service.
EULA has small print that says: Note, all buttons forward your email address to the previous clicker. Too bad, I can't require emailers to give me their correct forwarding address.
excitingthingstodo.blogspot.com
Although the site can be funny, I must say those who replied and never got any answer back from the spammer are those that truly wasted time. A spammer often sends huge masses of mail where each mail just take a second or so to send, and usually don't supply a valid reply address. Then these guys sit down, taking their time to write a 3 pages long reply that no one except those visiting TheSpamLetters.com will read.
Beware: In C++, your friends can see your privates!
IMHO, it's the best one ever; without selling any punches, it ends in bloodshed :-)...
here.
Basically, you get the check, you think it's cleared, release car and money, find out too late that the check was fake.
I have blog like everyone else
Nice that they actually are getting these people. They have no morals whatsoever.
I have an IMAP folder labeled "crooks", into which all scammer correspondence go. So far I've collected about 150 of them in there.
I actually try to answer each and every one of them; I usually send them a template mail which is designed to arouse their interest. At the same time, I send a complaint to the host of the mailservice they used. Sometimes, the scammer gets back, with a new e-mail address and asks me to use the new one instead because the old one is "no longer confidential" or some similar braindead excuse. My typical response to that is to tell them that "I just sent you all the information you requested, to the E-mail address you used before. Didn't I get it right?"
Everything to irritate them, and waste their time. Why?
If enough people were doing it, they would be forced to another way of earning a living. Perhaps even looking for an honest job. One can hope.
Some scam artists insist on using FedEx, or other courier services, so that they can avoid prosecution under the postal fraud statutes.
Mea navis aericumbens anguillis abundat
One, perhaps little known, fact that I find interesting is that some of these scammers, after collecting their harvest of fresh E-mail addresses from a message board, posts on the board with certain keywords to indicate to other scammers that these addresses now are "claimed" or "taken".
:), and a lot of "claimed" message boards
will appear.
The posts usually come with a sender, subject or body containing combination of the words "Mugu" and "Guymen". "Mugu" seems to mean "Big fool" in Nigerian.
Try a Google search for the words (ignore Google's suggested replacement words
Quite weird.
I work for a financial company, but this opinion is mine.
When doing ACH transfers (ie, when you cash a check at one bank, but the funds come from another), there's a 6 month window where a transaction can be reversed (ie, similar to a credit card chargeback). Most banks will settle within 10 days, but there's really no way of knowing that an ACH will not reverse, until that window has closed. It's usually the backwoods banks run by "Nan and Boyd" that take forever to settle ACH.
S
The thing that really jumped out at me was the "attempted" larceny.
I can see it now. The next step of escalation on the part of the spammers will be that they'll make sure that they really are in touch with the family of some rich Nigerian dead dude. That way, when the authorities come to bust him, he'll have plausible deniability; "What? I really am working with the the widow of the late Mr. Djboutu.... just call her, she'll tell you!".
I've done it, people I work with are doing it now.
That 419 guy lived in Canada, where most handguns are illegal. I'd love to see him show up at my house with his sharpened stick, I'd have to debate which piece of my arsenal to use, and he may get a chance to poke me one. Of course many states, including Utah, have Conceal Carry laws, so you never know who's packin'..
ps, people who go to Nigeria to "collect" are utter and complete idiots. Of course that should have been apparent when they got ripped off. Blinded by greed..
My Linux Command of the Day site : LCOD
From snopes:
The scam works because the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) requires banks to make money from cashier's, certified, or teller's checks available in one to five days. Consequently, funds from checks that might not be good are often released into payees' accounts long before the checks have been honored by their issuing banks. High quality forgeries can be bounced back and forth between banks for weeks before anyone catches on to their being worthless, by which time victims have long since wired the "overpayments" to the con artists who have just taken them for a ride.
"They've canceled the show but we're still here. What does that make us?" "Big Damn Junkies, Sir!" "Ain't we just"
It only hurts those who are so selfish that they put their greed before commonsense.
As such anyone conned by the Nigerian scam deserves to be ripped off & the govt should turn a blind eye to then being scammed.