OT: Are People Really Dumb Enough? [Archive]

Atrocities

April 25th, 2003, 04:20 AM

Are people realy dumb enough to fall for a scam as stupid and transparent as this?

Dear friend,

I am Mr richard.a worker in charge of auditing and accounting section of Banque
Togolaise Pour Le Commerce Et L'Industrie Lome-Togo in West
Africa with due respect and regard. I have decided to contact you on a
business transaction that will be very beneficial to both of us at the end of
the transaction.We had a foreign client Mr John Schelpert who deposited a huge
sum of money (US$8.5million) with our Company.Eventually, this client was among
the victims of EGYPT AIR BOEING 767 FLIGHT NO.990 that crashed on the 31-10-1999
in U.S.A but, since then we have not had any body coming for the claims as the
next of kin. A sitaution I have monitored closely with my position inthe
Company.Now, having monitored this deposit and managed it over the years before
hisdeath, and hence nobody has showed up as the next of kin for the past one
year plus, I have removed the file to my private volt. I now solicit for your
assistance to present you as the next of kin as every other arrangement has
being concluded by me and I am only waiting for a foreigner to enable me move
the fund to his account.
This does not have any risk attached to it as all the internal
documentations will be handled by me. I therefore request you to confirm
yourinterest by a return message and I will furnish you with details.
Your interest will be negotiable before we commence the operation.
I look forward to hearing from you.

Regards

MR RICHARD UROMI. The dumb arses who sent this must realy have a low opinion of us to think that any one would ever fall for this. My God how dumb do you have to be to be taken by something as stupid as this?

The idiots mailed if from HOTMAIL so abuse@hotmail.com just recieved this once in a life time oppurtunity. I wonder if the guys at Microsoft will fall for it?

PvK

April 25th, 2003, 04:24 AM

This is one of (or maybe the?) leading industries of one or more African nations - churning out scam emails to gullible westerners. No joke. Yes, people are that stupid.

PvK

Atrocities

April 25th, 2003, 04:34 AM

You've got to be ****ting me, people are that stupid? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif

For Gods sake, how is that possible?

Cyrien

April 25th, 2003, 04:40 AM

Yep. I once did a bit of research on it and there are people who have gone through with it and handed over large sums of money and then left to meet the person and ended up dead.

Scams like this one are actually quite common and can potentially draw in quite abit of money for the perpetrators.

So... yes. People are that stupid.

I myself recieved such an E-mail a few years back before it was really known as a big scam and even then I thought... How stupid do these guys think I am? (It was the princess of African nation one I believe)

Gryphin

April 25th, 2003, 04:51 AM

Do a search at Google
+hoax +scam +Nigerian

rdouglass

April 25th, 2003, 06:14 AM

I read somewhere recently that Interpol estimated that on any given day there are 4 people somewhere in the world waiting in a hotel lobby for a guy from Nigeria... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif

Kamog

April 25th, 2003, 06:28 AM

Yes, sadly, some people do lose a lot of money on this sort of scam. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif

Karibu

April 25th, 2003, 08:07 AM

You would be surprised how often police warn about these "Nigerian letters" or "Nigerian mails" in TV in Finland. For some reason, some people either do not watch TV, discuss their intentions with anyone, or simply think that it must be their chance of life...

yes, as civiliced we think of ourselves, there is always some idiots amogn us http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif

General Woundwort

April 25th, 2003, 10:45 AM

From my favorite source on these matters, snopes.com (http://www.snopes.com)...

Nigerian Scam (http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/scams/nigeria.htm)

Baron Munchausen

April 25th, 2003, 05:18 PM

I recall seeing a news story a few month ago about some secretary who used her access to the business accounts, yes, boss's money, to answer one of these scams. Guess she thought she'd be patted on the back for making them some money? Sent more than 2 million dollars off into the ether. Oops...

Gryphin

April 25th, 2003, 05:34 PM

A story of a tech journalist yanking their chain.
What happens when you do reply:
http://www.silicon.com/news/500019/1/2928.html

Loser

April 25th, 2003, 05:40 PM

Originally posted by rdouglass:
I read somewhere recently that Interpol estimated that on any given day there are 4 people somewhere in the world waiting in a hotel lobby for a guy from Nigeria... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif If there were any chance you could find where that quote came from... well... it would be real keen.

I would almost pay petty amounts of money to hear a major U.S. news anchor say exactly that.

As for people being dumb, I suppose there have always been con men. The internet, and mass mailing, just gives them a new way to find a ripe mark. "Three Card Monte", "Selling the Brooklyn Bridge", "Florida Real Estate", and now this. Just a long procession.

But a mass mailed scam as fantastic as this is pretty low...

dreamplace

April 25th, 2003, 05:44 PM

My boss got this same mail about 3 months ago. It's letter format with a hand writing signature in a envelope with beautiful South Africa stamps.

Then my boss show it to us and say "who will that stupid enough ....?!" he post it on message board and make everyone LOL.

rdouglass

April 25th, 2003, 07:13 PM

Originally posted by Loser:
If there were any chance you could find where that quote came from... well... it would be real keen....Well I miss quoted it a little - I was quoting from memory. But here is the actual paragraph:

If it weren't so serious, it would be comical. The National Criminal Intelligence Service estimates that up to five Americans are waiting in London hotel lobbies every day to meet people connected with Nigerian e-mail scams. Codenamed 419, the con trick is one of the most pervasive in the rising tide of spam - the buzz word for unwanted e-mail - that is clogging inboxes the world over.
And here is the URL:

http://www.derekwyattmp.co.uk/national_campaigns/spam/media_26-01-03_st.html

Kinda' scary there are so many people without a lot 'on the ball'. We should be telling them something like: "Don't go upstairs without a flashlight!" http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Fyron

April 25th, 2003, 07:42 PM

OT: Are People Really Dumb Enough? Yes. Definitely yes. I don't even know what your post asks, but the answer to this question is pretty much always yes. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Loser

April 25th, 2003, 07:54 PM

Originally posted by rdouglass:
But here is the actual paragraph:Whoo-hoo!

Thanks, that's great!

Cyrien

April 25th, 2003, 08:32 PM

Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:
<blockquote>quote:<hr /> OT: Are People Really Dumb Enough? Yes. Definitely yes. I don't even know what your post asks, but the answer to this question is pretty much always yes. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif <hr /></blockquote>LOL!
I was just talking to a friend through AIM about this topic and told him that as soon as I saw the heading I thought: Yes. The actual thing being questioned is irrelevant. The answer is always Yes.

mottlee

April 26th, 2003, 01:28 AM

Geee... I thought I was special to have gotten this Email http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif I am however NOT that dumb! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif and proceded to hit the DELETE key http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

SO TAKE THAT!

Zarix

April 26th, 2003, 01:53 AM

I got those Nigerian scams almost weekly a year ago. If I remember right they all were different but had the same kind of situation. I would have a really good collection if I hadn't deleted them all.

Atrocities

April 26th, 2003, 05:27 AM

But who would deal with an international bank that uses Yahoo! mail addresses?

At this point it really hits me how foolish the people are who have been duped by these scammers.
Indeed how foolish. Shaking head

A sucker is born every day.

Me Loonn

April 26th, 2003, 03:28 PM

Originally posted by Atrocities:

A sucker is born every day.Actually:

Men are born ignorant, not stupid; they are made stupid by education.
- Bertrand Russell

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

[ April 26, 2003, 14:29: Message edited by: Me Loonn ]

geoschmo

April 26th, 2003, 04:09 PM

If I hang out in a London hotel wearing Nigerian style clothing will some stranger come up and hand me their life savings? Hmmmmm. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Thermodyne

April 26th, 2003, 04:50 PM

You guys have it some what wrong. It�s greed that makes this work. And it is the greedy victims who should shoulder the blame. These greedy bastards run off the meet some Nigerian
because the think they can make some money with little effort on their part. Well, most of them get the return that they deserve. Most of them are too lazy to make a few inquiries into the
bonifidies of their new business partners. Personally, I think that they need their signs tattooedto their foreheads.

[ April 26, 2003, 15:51: Message edited by: Thermodyne ]

Taera

April 26th, 2003, 10:30 PM

thermo, im glad you have such high opinions on humanity but the answer is, as they said, ALWAYS YES. Greed, agreed, but i also want to get that money, do i run out to the hotel?

Nope Thermo, you understimate the human race. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[ April 26, 2003, 21:32: Message edited by: Taera ]

Me Loonn

April 27th, 2003, 03:32 AM

Originally posted by Taera:
Nope Thermo, you understimate the human race. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif There is no such thing as an underestimate of average intelligence.
- Henry Adams

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Thermodyne

April 27th, 2003, 03:38 AM

Originally posted by Taera:
thermo, im glad you have such high opinions on humanity but the answer is, as they said, ALWAYS YES. Greed, agreed, but i also want to get that money, do i run out to the hotel?

Nope Thermo, you understimate the human race. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif My friend, you must be young or unexposed. In my life�s experience, which included some time in the third world and a few moments behind the old iron curtain, I have found that the human ability to be stupid is exceeded only by it�s ability to believe as fact that which is unsupported by
evidence.

BBegemott

April 27th, 2003, 08:21 AM

Are People Really Dumb Enough? The question is what do you trust more: your luck or statistics. A lot of people trust their luck much more. That is why casinos and sport betting companies are for.

Taera

April 27th, 2003, 09:56 AM

thermodyne, i am young. and i know how powerful is the greed drive. but i have my, if limited, experience to judge by. i am not a foolish youngling.

Taera

April 27th, 2003, 09:58 AM

ack i wont be getting into this discussion too deep... it all depends where and how you lived and your view on the world. im not that bad inclined towards humanity, i just... enough.

Aloofi

April 29th, 2003, 02:46 PM

Originally posted by Taera:
i am not a foolish youngling.http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Baron Grazic

May 2nd, 2003, 07:43 AM

A similar scam went around Australia at the start of the year. The few people who fell for it, mostly High-Profile Solicitors, CEOs & Professionals, were taken on a free holiday to Spain, including flights and hotels, and were taken to the Bank were the assassinated Nigerian President laundered his US$16 Billion dollars.
Unfortunately this bank was now in receivership and the Son of the Nigerian President needed money and legal assistance to re-open the bank before he could get the money...
The Australian Police claimed they caught the people causing this scam, but their Crime Figures are a scam in its own right...

Gryphin

July 3rd, 2003, 02:22 PM

This was sent out by our securty team this morning. It includes where to send the notices you do get:
......If you receive an offer from someone claiming to need your help getting money out of Nigeria - or any other country, for that matter � send it to the appropriate U.S. officials. If the offer comes via email, forward it to the Federal Trade Commission at uce@ftc.gov <mailto:uce@ftc.gov>.
If it arrives via fax, fax it to the U.S. Secret Service at 202-435-5031.
If you're tempted to respond to an offer, the FTC suggests you stop and ask yourself two important questions: Why would a perfect stranger pick you -also a perfect stranger - to share a fortune with, and why would you share your personal or business information, including your bank account numbers, with someone you don't know?
For further information on this and other scams, visit www.ftc.gov/spam (http://www.ftc.gov/spam)
<http://www.ftc.gov/spam>. ....

mottlee

July 3rd, 2003, 02:34 PM

Originally posted by Gryphin:
This was sent out by our securty team this morning. It includes where to send the notices you do get:
<blockquote>quote:<hr /> ......If you receive an offer from someone claiming to need your help getting money out of Nigeria - or any other country, for that matter � send it to the appropriate U.S. officials. If the offer comes via email, forward it to the Federal Trade Commission at uce@ftc.gov <mailto:uce@ftc.gov>.
If it arrives via fax, fax it to the U.S. Secret Service at 202-435-5031.
If you're tempted to respond to an offer, the FTC suggests you stop and ask yourself two important questions: Why would a perfect stranger pick you -also a perfect stranger - to share a fortune with, and why would you share your personal or business information, including your bank account numbers, with someone you don't know?
For further information on this and other scams, visit www.ftc.gov/spam (http://www.ftc.gov/spam)
<http://www.ftc.gov/spam>. ....
<hr /></blockquote>Geee I cleaned out my Deleted mail...had at least 3

Atrocities

July 3rd, 2003, 02:52 PM

I think the only way to really stop these people from taking advantage of our dumb is to find out who they are and go over there and give them an educational beating. You know what I am talking about, you take a good old wooden bat and break it over their heads. You do that a few times to make an example and the rest will think twice.

Or we can do it like the bleading heart liberals would like us too, we contact them and send them a nice little message saying that we will pass a law that says they cannot send any more Messages.

Which of these two choice do you think they will listen to?

Yup, time to buy a bat!

Atrocities

July 3rd, 2003, 02:56 PM

And while I was typing my Last message I recieved this:

DR.CHUDI ODILI,
EXPOCONSULT(NIG)LTD.,
GRA,PORT-HARCOURT,NIGERIA.
EMAIL:chudiodili@yahoo.co.uk

THE MANAGER,
We are a local contracting firm with the NIGER DELTA DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION(N.D.D.C.)here in Nigeria and We have undertaken a lot of projects to final stages.
For the fact that our reputation is untainted,we have as a matter of fact ,
over the years,been able to make some good connections in high places.
Due to the facts stated above,we have in our possession an immediate business proposal that involves US$29,200,000 which we will like to invest under your custody.
Please, do not hesitate to send me an email, so as to discuss with you
the details of the transaction/the terms and conditions of sharing
regarding the business.
We are forced to transact this business with you due to the fact that my clients(beneficiaries)are top government officials and they are forbidden by the federal laws to operate foriegn accounts.
Your urgent response will be highly appreciated and will swiftly bring
us to the commencement of the transaction. We hope to conclude this
transaction within 10-12 working days.
Do not forget to contact me on the receipt of this email. And please you
have to maintain absolute confidentiality as regards this pending
transaction. I urgently await your response.
Best Regards,
Dr.CHUDI ODILI, What do you all say we all get fake email addresses and have some fun with Mr. Chudi Odili?

I can pretend to be a widowed old lady with a billion dollars and no common sense. I will send them fake checks and such. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

You really have to wonder with all of the press that has been given to these scams why the dumb f***s that send them haven't cought on? I mean are thay that dumb that they would dare think that there are any people in the US who have not heard about these scams? What kind of dumb, back water, dirt floor, bare foot, buck toothed, mono-brow, bug eating, sheep loving, Nigerian dumb ****s are these people? There has got to be someone over there with brains.

Or do we really still have ultra dumb people here that are so blinded by greed that they refuse to see that this is a scam? I think a little of both so I have ammended my previous post to include thinning the heard here at home as well.

IF YOU ARE DUMB ENOUGH TO FALL FOR THIS SCAM, OR ANY SCAM LIKE IT, YOU ARE A FOOL AND YOU DESERVED IT! DO NOT BREED!

[ July 03, 2003, 14:06: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

Suicide Junkie

July 3rd, 2003, 03:01 PM

Atrocities:
While a clue-by-four over the head helps, their typing fingers are also an effective target and have a much reduced incidence of side effects such as amnesia.

There is also always the good old fashioned kneecap bustin' to send the message, and quite a number of hired goons specialize in such services.

Atrocities

July 3rd, 2003, 03:04 PM

You are so right SJ. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif Then again there is always the silenced 22 to the back of the head. But that would be taking things to the extreme.

Oh the satisfaction one would get from the lushous sound of a bat hitting a scam artists head. Ohhhhhhhh yaaaa baby.

[ July 03, 2003, 14:05: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

Gryphin

July 3rd, 2003, 03:35 PM

While I�m not one to encourage violence lets see:
First run a reverse sting. A few people have been able to get small sums from them.
Then hack their computers and get the money back.
Then using the clue by 4
Start with the knee caps
Proceed to the fingers one at a time for that nice snapping sound and the ensuing scream
Next the reproductive systems so they don�t generate any more of their kind
Then the back of the head for that soft satisfying crunching sound.
Then send in an international team of special forces to do clean up.

Peace

Erax

July 3rd, 2003, 05:29 PM

Why all the anger all of a sudden ? What have these guys ever done to you, other than provide a few laughs ?

Rest assured that they are making a profit from their operation, otherwise they would have moved on to something else long ago.

I also got one of these emails from Hong Kong, BTW.

tbontob

July 3rd, 2003, 07:42 PM

Originally posted by Erax:
Why all the anger all of a sudden ? What have these guys ever done to you, other than provide a few laughs ?

Rest assured that they are making a profit from their operation, otherwise they would have moved on to something else long ago.

I also got one of these emails from Hong Kong, BTW.Unfortunately true. Some people are falling for this and are keeping them in business.

But hey, many of us fall for the lotteries. Most only pay out 50% or less of what they take in.

If you look at the fact that on average we will only win 50 cents of each dollar we put in, some of us may think twice about buying another ticket.

But the big win is alluring and the fact that most lottery players get only a couple percent return on their investment does not stop them from playing.

Similiarly, the big win is the allure in this scam. The fact that a persons chance of winning is virtually zero is not much different from the lottery where the odds are more than a million to one.

It is arguable that the difference is only one of degree. Or the fact that one is legal and the other isn't.

But it still comes down to the fact that in both cases, the huge majority of "players" do not come out winners in the long run.

Erax

July 3rd, 2003, 08:10 PM

I personally have very little sympathy for someone who falls for such a scam. Supposing they were true - every single one of them - they would still be illegal. All of the scam letters make it clear that this is some sort of 'dirty money' that they want to share with you.

My Hong Kong letter was milder - it referred to a person who died in a plane crash, leaving a huge bank account and no heirs. But it's still illegal, they wanted me to pose as a relative of the deceased to get at the money.

Making the deal illegal - and making sure the target knows it's illegal, from day one - is important because the target will be less likely to talk about it, and therefore less likely to find out it's a scam.

Which brings us back to my first point. Anyone who falls for this is knowingly entering an illegal transaction, and deserves to learn an expensive lesson.

Mathias_Ice

July 3rd, 2003, 09:35 PM

Originally posted by Atrocities:
And while I was typing my Last message I recieved this:

You really have to wonder with all of the press that has been given to these scams why the dumb f***s that send them haven't cought on? I mean are thay that dumb that they would dare think that there are any people in the US who have not heard about these scams? What kind of dumb, back water, dirt floor, bare foot, buck toothed, mono-brow, bug eating, sheep loving, Nigerian dumb ****s are these people? There has got to be someone over there with brains.

Or do we really still have ultra dumb people here that are so blinded by greed that they refuse to see that this is a scam? I think a little of both so I have ammended my previous post to include thinning the heard here at home as well.

IF YOU ARE DUMB ENOUGH TO FALL FOR THIS SCAM, OR ANY SCAM LIKE IT, YOU ARE A FOOL AND YOU DESERVED IT! DO NOT BREED!I was reading a while back on a web site that was about "what to do if you get this email" that the people who run this scam actually end up getting prominent positions in that country's government.

tesco samoa

July 3rd, 2003, 09:56 PM

I am currently involved in 4 such ventures as the one listed here.

As I am well known and wanted by most western governments I need to keep this under the raps.

Do you know Dr. Konagagi of South Africa. He is willing to offer his assistance. What I need to do is get your bank info so I may pass it on to Dr. Konagagi. In return I will give you information about a bank in South Africa. I can help both of you out. In return I ask for a small fee of 25%. This is secured personally by myself and the organization that I am currently a member of. Natually of course you may not ask what this organization is.

But I do suggest that you are promt in all actions that are required. As we will surely do the same for you and your family.

Take Care.

PvK

July 3rd, 2003, 10:07 PM

Originally posted by Atrocities:
...

You really have to wonder with all of the press that has been given to these scams why the dumb f***s that send them haven't cought on? I mean are thay that dumb that they would dare think that there are any people in the US who have not heard about these scams? What kind of dumb, back water, dirt floor, bare foot, buck toothed, mono-brow, bug eating, sheep loving, Nigerian dumb ****s are these people? There has got to be someone over there with brains.

Or do we really still have ultra dumb people here that are so blinded by greed that they refuse to see that this is a scam? I think a little of both so I have ammended my previous post to include thinning the heard here at home as well.

...Oh yes indeed, there are ultra dumb (or simply gullible and inexperienced) people all over. The Nigerians have found an industry that is very profitable from their situation, compared to their other industries. Part of this is due to the extreme currency exchange rates and other economic imbalances. Faced between manual farming a desert for one dollar a day, or sending spam for five dollars a day, some choose this dark life of crime, while the ring-leaders might make as much as a McDonalds manager, any signifigant earnings probably going off to pay off the local warlord/governor (just making up the details, but the real details I've seen from so-called "third world" ecominies have been just as amazing).

PvK

Gryphin

July 3rd, 2003, 10:46 PM

Erax,
I don't' know why I'm angry but since anger is an emotion I'm not really surprised.
I'm guessing it has to do with:
From what I hear they don't just get some of the persons money. They clean them out. This hurts a lot of inocent people like their familys. More than one retierment account has been emptied.
Some of the people dumb enough to fall for this are also too dumb to understand the illeagle aspect of it.
A few have been caught. I expect most are un touchable.
I sence a level of injustice that brings out
Gryphin Rampant
So, yes, I'm angry. Is it "Rational"? Your call.

Erax

July 3rd, 2003, 11:12 PM

Gryphin, no one has to be rational all the time. But if you want to do something about it then warn people. Not people like us, we're likely to know about it already, but people who look like they might fall for it.

My boss, for example. He took me aside one day and showed me one of those emails, with a really worried expression. I told him how the scam worked and suggested we warn the rest of our staff.

Warning the people around you will materially hurt those guys over there. Now that would be satisfying to me (if I wanted to hurt them).

Gryphin

July 3rd, 2003, 11:16 PM

Erax that is an excellent idea.
Oh, and something I have done. That same post went out to my "Humor" list but as a serious note.
So, most likely it will be read by the 36 people on my list and well, it snowballs out from there. Wonder if I will get it back some day. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

[ July 03, 2003, 22:17: Message edited by: Gryphin ]

Erax

July 3rd, 2003, 11:20 PM

Be sure to do it offline too. People who spend a lot of time Online are usually wise to this sort of thing already.

David E. Gervais

July 7th, 2003, 12:26 AM

No matter how dumb you are, you can rest assured there is always someone dumber.

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif

Atrocities

July 7th, 2003, 03:16 AM

Originally posted by PvK:
<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Atrocities:
...

You really have to wonder with all of the press that has been given to these scams why the dumb f***s that send them haven't cought on? I mean are thay that dumb that they would dare think that there are any people in the US who have not heard about these scams? What kind of dumb, back water, dirt floor, bare foot, buck toothed, mono-brow, bug eating, sheep loving, Nigerian dumb ****s are these people? There has got to be someone over there with brains.

Or do we really still have ultra dumb people here that are so blinded by greed that they refuse to see that this is a scam? I think a little of both so I have ammended my previous post to include thinning the heard here at home as well.

...Oh yes indeed, there are ultra dumb (or simply gullible and inexperienced) people all over. The Nigerians have found an industry that is very profitable from their situation, compared to their other industries. Part of this is due to the extreme currency exchange rates and other economic imbalances. Faced between manual farming a desert for one dollar a day, or sending spam for five dollars a day, some choose this dark life of crime, while the ring-leaders might make as much as a McDonalds manager, any signifigant earnings probably going off to pay off the local warlord/governor (just making up the details, but the real details I've seen from so-called "third world" ecominies have been just as amazing).

PvK<hr /></blockquote>Times are tough all over the world, and my life is no exception, yet I don't send scam emails for a living and I live on the equivalent $1.00 a day income that those bastards live on. If you break down the economic cost of living where every you live you have poeple like me living on nothing. Povirty is no excuse to rob people.

Atrocities

July 7th, 2003, 03:20 AM

Originally posted by Mathias_Ice:
<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Atrocities:
And while I was typing my Last message I recieved this:

You really have to wonder with all of the press that has been given to these scams why the dumb f***s that send them haven't cought on? I mean are thay that dumb that they would dare think that there are any people in the US who have not heard about these scams? What kind of dumb, back water, dirt floor, bare foot, buck toothed, mono-brow, bug eating, sheep loving, Nigerian dumb ****s are these people? There has got to be someone over there with brains.

Or do we really still have ultra dumb people here that are so blinded by greed that they refuse to see that this is a scam? I think a little of both so I have ammended my previous post to include thinning the heard here at home as well.

IF YOU ARE DUMB ENOUGH TO FALL FOR THIS SCAM, OR ANY SCAM LIKE IT, YOU ARE A FOOL AND YOU DESERVED IT! DO NOT BREED!I was reading a while back on a web site that was about "what to do if you get this email" that the people who run this scam actually end up getting prominent positions in that country's government.<hr /></blockquote>A government run by a bunch of lying thieves! The irony of truth. You know the universe has a very sick sense of humor. The people who take from others are always the ones who are rewarded. Nice guys do finish Last becuase they are easy marks.

PvK

July 7th, 2003, 07:43 AM

Originally posted by Atrocities:
Times are tough all over the world, and my life is no exception, yet I don't send scam emails for a living and I live on the equivalent $1.00 a day income that those bastards live on. If you break down the economic cost of living where every you live you have poeple like me living on nothing. Povirty is no excuse to rob people.Mhmm. I didn't say it made it right. However, I suppose I think starvation is a slightly less despicable reason to turn to crime than insatiable greed, powermongering, "to get away with it", meanness, boredom, heartlessness, or other reasons some people hurt others.

PvK

P.S. Which is not to say that the organizers of these scams aren't in the latter "much more despicable" Category - I imagine they are.

P.P.S. There's a funny cartoon sequence about these scams on www.userfriendly.org, (http://www.userfriendly.org,) btw. Messing with unknown victims isn't always a good idea. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

[ July 07, 2003, 06:45: Message edited by: PvK ]

Atrocities

July 8th, 2003, 01:18 AM

Originally posted by PvK:
<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Atrocities:
Times are tough all over the world, and my life is no exception, yet I don't send scam emails for a living and I live on the equivalent $1.00 a day income that those bastards live on. If you break down the economic cost of living where every you live you have poeple like me living on nothing. Povirty is no excuse to rob people.Mhmm. I didn't say it made it right. However, I suppose I think starvation is a slightly less despicable reason to turn to crime than insatiable greed, powermongering, "to get away with it", meanness, boredom, heartlessness, or other reasons some people hurt others.

PvK

P.S. Which is not to say that the organizers of these scams aren't in the latter "much more despicable" Category - I imagine they are.

P.P.S. There's a funny cartoon sequence about these scams on www.userfriendly.org, (http://www.userfriendly.org,) btw. Messing with unknown victims isn't always a good idea. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif <hr /></blockquote>I wonder what would happend if Tony Saprano fell for this scam. Oh that would be a funny episode. "Pack up the bats boys, were going to Africa."

Nocturnal

July 24th, 2003, 02:30 PM

Someone said Nigeria? Barely related official statement from the President (http://www.whitehouse.org/news/2003/072003.asp) that has something to do with Nigeria.

Hee.

Okay so it's not the best of those articles but it has that twist of irony that I relish so much.

[ July 24, 2003, 13:33: Message edited by: Nocturnal ]

TerranC

July 24th, 2003, 05:45 PM

LOL! I thought that thing was for real until I saw the White house seal.

Gryphin

July 25th, 2003, 01:19 AM

A new twist on an old game:
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,111690,tk,dn072303X,00.asp

Article about teasing scamers.
Caution: Popups

[ July 24, 2003, 12:19: Message edited by: Gryphin ]

Wardad

April 4th, 2004, 08:20 PM

UPDATE:

Scientist nabbed for SARS scam: Cops: Suspect bilked pals
By Jennifer Rosinski
Wednesday, March 31, 2004

Boston cops in the midst of interviewing victims of a scam involving SARS research in China lucked into an arrest yesterday when one witness pointed out the alleged culprit bickering with another mark in the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute cafeteria, police said.

The former Dana-Farber researcher and Harvard University professor allegedly bilked 35 students, co-workers, friends and Internet pals out of $600,000 he claimed would help launch a SARS research institute in China.

"These are co-workers who trusted him and believed in him and took him for his word," said Boston police Detective Steve Blair of the major case unit.

Weldong Xu, 38, began the scam in July - at the height of the SARS scare - convincing mostly Asian acquaintances to lend him money for the research center, police said.

One friend took a second mortgage out on his home to give Xu the money. Xu was busted arguing with another man who had given him $5,000, police said.

Xu admitted to detectives he took the money and handed over a notebook that contained information about the donors.

Dana-Farber officials alerted police to the possible theft recently after Xu, a cancer and AIDS researcher since 1999, was terminated for an unrelated reason.

Dana-Farber and Harvard officials, who police said knew nothing of the scam, could not be reached for comment.

Xu claims he used the money to invest in a questionable Nigerian business offer he received via e-mail that promised a $50 million profit.

"The scammer's been scammed," Blair said.

"He wouldn't acknowledge he'd been scammed. I tried to tell him he'd been scammed, but he never caught on."

[ April 04, 2004, 20:39: Message edited by: Wardad ]