Microsoft Helping Nigeria Fight Scammers

encodics writes "News.com is carrying a story today about how Nigeria is asking Microsoft for help in fighting scammers." From the article: "Microsoft will provide technical expertise, training and other security resources to Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which is tasked with fighting cybercrime in the country. Nigeria was initially slow to respond to the problem of '419' e-mail scammers operating in the country, who were duping unsuspecting Internet users out of thousands of pounds by promising a share of the secret multimillion-pound fortune of a deposed African dictator. "

Comments

//High-Fives Coastin and Humba !!

[kulakovich]

Damn I was too slow. I thought I had it all.

ok, blast me now for off topic so I can go home.

kulakovich

huh?

[Anonymous Coward]

I work for the Microsoft.

So I am really getting a kick out of most of these replies.

Some of you guys are very good at making it sound like you know what you are talking about.

But trust me.... You don't.

I think you just want to make yourself sound smart, when in reality you dont know what you are talking about.

This is how bad info gets passed around.

If you dont know about the topic....Dont make yourself sound like you do.

Cuz some /.'ers belive anything they hear.

Interesting and funny read

[Failover]

I came across this on a forum dedicated to exposing 419 scams a few months back, and though it's not one of those emails promising riches (it's an eBay scam), it's still relevant. It's extremely funny, but it also shows the lengths to which they will go to get your money, including threats. http://www.thescambaiter.com/forum/showthread.php? t=109

Re:How many have fallen for these scams?

[Rinnt]

Anyone remember how a diplomat was murdered over these scams?

They asked Microsoft first....

[WoodstockJeff]

... because most of the ones we've received in the past few months are sent by MSN/HOTMAIL users. While many actually used MSN.COM or HOTMAIL.COM accounts, Microsoft has a few hundred "vanity domains", for which there is no accountability whatsoever - attempts to report the spam get bounced, because there is no "abuse@" for these domains, and abuse@hotmail.com will only accept reports of hotmail.com accounts, just as abuse@msn.com will only accept them for msn.com accounts.

It's a nifty little scheme - use one of the vanity domains, and you can send spam for months. The mail is delivered through HOTMAIL.COM servers, so blocking by IP doesn't work. Unless, of course, you are willing to take the colateral damage of blocking all HOTMAIL and MSN customers.

Which, it turns out, might not be much real damage at all...

Re:They asked Microsoft first....

[bani]

but wait! it gets even better.

microsoft is running a SPAMFILTER on their abuse@hotmail.com account!

that's right. if your complaint isn't bounced with:

Unfortunately, we cannot take action on the mail you sent us because it does not reference a Hotmail account.

then your complaints get bounced with:

----- The following addresses had permanent fatal errors -----
abuse@css.one.microsoft.com
    (reason: 550 5.7.1 <Your e-mail was rejected by an anti-spam content filter on gateway
(131.107.3.125).Reason...uage, graphics, or spam-like characteristics. Removing these may let the e-mail
through the filter.>)

i think this is a great example of what's wrong with microsoft in general.

It's not just Nigeria... But it's always Microsoft

[glowworm]

Here are a few sample letters from my harvesting mailbox (All original live letters untouched and unedited):

"Dear Sir/Madam

I am an Industrialist and exporter based in China. I established a company named--CHANGZHOU WENDI MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD in the year 1994. The company principally produces and exports raw materials such as Calcite, Barytes, Manganese Dioxide, Mica, China Clay and Ferrous (Iron) Oxide.
My company's Export market is fast expanding. Owing to our determined efforts to increase the market in Europe, America and Australia, there is the need for us to scout for an Agent/Representative in these continents. Primarily, the Representative if appointed will liaise with our customers for prompt payment.
If you are interested in becoming an Agent/Representative to our fast growing company, kindly send to your proposal/conditions to the CEO's private email address:- wendimanufacturers@yahoo.com.cn
It is imperative to state that your phone/fax number and contact address should be included in your proposal, please.

Yours faithfully,
Changzhou Wendi"

from: changzhouwendimanufacturing2@msn.com

"Dear Acquaintance,

Please permit me to introduce myself, I am John Gray, head of Mortgage department, Royal Bank of Scotland, Liverpool Commercial Banking Centre, 1st Floor 1 Exchange Flags Liverpool L2 3XN, England.

Am introducing you into a project which would need funds to execute and I have made a feasibility study on how much we need to carryout this project, I found out that it will cost about $35,000.00 U.S Dollars. Please do not panic as I have made arrangements for an investor in the United States to help us out,do kindly write back if you are still interested in my brief
explanations which is as follows;

Only recently I discovered that one account belonging to Ms. Fiona Watts now DECEASED has remained dormant for the past two years, after intensive investigations, I found out that Late Ms. Fiona Watts died in a ghastly auto accident in June, 2002.

At this point I am contacting you concerning a business acquaintance that will necessitates you to act as a new beneficiary cum next of kin to the said dormant account as I hope to give you more technical details on how i think we should transfer the funds into your nominated
offshore/residence account. Please I need you to help me with your personal details such as Full names, home/office address, phone and fax numbers respectively, you can also reach me on +44 703 194 4854 or mail back @ JohnGray1@HotPOP.com should you be interested.

PLEASE, YOU MAY ALSO IGNORE THIS LETTER AND RESPECT MY TRUST IN YOU BY NOT EXPOSING THIS TRANSACTION, SHOULD YOU NOT BE INTERESTED.

Sincerely,
John Gray."

from: jgrayofrbs_bank@hotmail.co.uk

"From the Desk of the Head Co-Ordinator
Global Sweepstakes Lottery International
1 Craven Park
Harlesden
London
NW10
United Kingdom
Tel: +447040110537
Fax: +447092865468
Ref: GSL/988/05

Dear Sir/Madam,
WINNING NOTIFICATION.

Over the years the prestigious Global Sweepstakes lottery has set out and
sucessfully organised Sweepstakes on a daily,weekly,and annual basis. We
have equally maintained a standard unrivaled in the industry as it concerns
the pay out of winnings to sucessful participants.
In line with the commemorating event marking our 10th year anniversary we
rolled out over &pound;2,000.000.00(Two million British Pounds) for our 10th year
Anniversary Draws. Participants for the draws were randomly selected and
drawn from a wide range of web hosts which enjoy our patronage. The
selection was made through a computer draw system attaching personalised
email addresses to ticket numbers.
Your email address as indicated was drawn and attached to Ticket Number
003895337498 with serial numbers GSL/9080118308/03 and drew th