419 Scam Blow-by-Blow

timbos writes "Check out this six-page dissection of a 419 scam at The Register. In particular, the fake banking site that the fraudsters set up is interesting..."

Comments

Article quote:

[shackma2]

"how could they be so stupid?", and "surely everyone is aware of these scams by now"

Thats about how I feel. Also its important to realize that scams like this exist everywhere, not just the internet.

Re:Article quote:

[fishwallop]

No bank communication I've ever seen has had such poor grammar and spelling. Furthermore, reputable institutions tend to prefer traditional mail to e-mail.

Consider a few sentences from a letter from one "Clive Bannister, head of international operations including private banking at HSBC Republic", which should have triggered suspicion:

"Cash movement across boarders has become especially strict since the incidents of 9/11"

"Four days later, information started to trickle in, apparently Moser was dead. A person who suited his description was declared dead of a heart attack in Canne, South of France"

And then this, which I think in English means "hey, wanna join my scam?":

"What I wish to relate to you will smack of unethical practice but I want you to understand something. It is only an outsider to the banking world who finds the internal politics of the banking world aberrational. The world of private banking especially is fraught with huge rewards for those who occupy certain offices and oversee certain portfolios."

Re:Article quote:

[GoMissedAtTheMAP]

It is hard to have much sympathy for someone who was so unethical as to think that this was OK if it was for real. It was spelled out for him that the money was not rightfull his, but here are the 'deceased's' personal details so that you can assist me with stealing the money. There were multiple thieves involved here, and hard times or not, the karma train took his $1000.

Greed

[Mr_Silver]

At the end of the day, all these scams center around one thing - that is, that the person is greedy enough to be prepared to bend a few rules to get hold of a seemingly preposterious amount of money.

Every time I see a TV programme where someone who was interviewed who had been ripped off, I have to keep remembering that all semblence of common sense and decency went out of their minds in the pursuit of wealth.

For example, who really thinks that there is nothing wrong with going about pretending to be a dead persons uncle to claim money that isn't rightfully yours?

Here's a HUGE FUCKING HINT

[Ayanami Rei]

Relatives of really rich or powerful people DO NOT email random people to move money out of the country.

There are plenty of other, easier, and safer ways to do that, especially for rich people.

There's nothing reasonable about it.