Scams That Lay In Your Inbox

ROVworld Admin Joined: Dec 12, 2003 Location: Portugal

This is one carried over from the old forum

By Jane Mack (TMFJane)
http://www.fool.co.uk

I'm not quite sure why, but I seem to have been receiving rather more scam e-mails than usual recently. They're a bloody nuisance and it doesn't help when friends innocently forward them to me thinking there must be something in whatever deal is being offered. The one I opened this morning came from a friend who's not yet totally familiar with using a computer and was entitled "PLEEEEEASE READ!!!!!! It was on the news!".

Apparently, if I forward the e-mail to everyone I know I'll make around $250 for every person who forwards it to someone else ## something to do with a beta test being carried out by Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT), AOL Time Warner (NYSE: AOL) and Intel (Nasdaq: INTC).

Utter nonsense!

For a start, if you punch a few keywords into Google's excellent search engine, you'll come up with any number of sites explaining that it's a hoax although I usually check Symantec's hoax and virus pages first. Sure enough, a variation on this morning's email is on the list.

But I also keep an eye on the Fool's Financial Scams discussion board as people can either ask whether an e-mail they've received is true or else can post details of e-mails that they know to be a scam or a hoax.

I remember years ago watching a programme on television about a Southampton couple who'd been conned out of their life savings after they responded to a fax purporting to be from a former Nigerian government minister wanting their help in smuggling millions of pounds out of his country. He'd promised them a sizeable share of the money if they assisted him. Why on earth they believed him I have no idea, but they lost £30,000 because of it.

These days e-mail is the favoured form of request from these infamous African scammers --otherwise known as the 419 scam ## and one of our Fools has decided he wants to have a little fun winding one of them up. He's received a typical e-mail, which starts off in the usual fashion:

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL & URGENT.

I am Williams V. Barthos, a Native of Cape Town in South Africa and I am an Executive Accountant with the South Africa Department of Mining & Natural Resources. First and foremost, I apologized using this medium to reach you for a transaction/business of this magnitude, but this is due to confidentiality and prompt access reposed on this medium.

Be informed that a member of the South Africa Export Promotion Council (SAEPC) who was at the Government delegation to your country during a trade exhibition gave your enviable credentials/particulars to me. I have decided to seek a confidential co-operation with you in the execution of the deal described hereunder for the benefit of all parties and hope you will keep it as a top secret because of the nature of this transaction.

Actually, this one is unusually well written ## they're mostly badly spelt, grammatically incorrect and full of capital letters. So far, our Fool has e-mailed on several occasions and each time the scammer has responded. His latest effort reads:

Dear Dr Williams,

I am so happy that you have contacted me quickly. I really think that this means that Meg, my wife is right about you!

You have mentioned the sum of $27.1 - I converted this to sterling and realised that I will be able to afford several cans of Guiness with that! Are you proposing to give me all the money? You mention 'Subsequent Power of Attorney, Business name Registration Certificate, Tax clearance Certificate etc.' is all this really necessary? Can't you just post it to me? When it is my nephews birthday, we just send him a few pounds in an envelope - can't you do likewise?

However, if you feel it is really necessary, please email me the documents.

You asked me to fax you back a form that you attached. Unfortunately the attachment is missing and so I am unable to do this. Could you re-send it please?

Also you mention that you intend coming to my place within 48 hours of the transfer of funds. I am afraid that my flat is rather small with no room for guests, so I spoke to my Aunt Fanny to see if she could put you up. Fanny wants you to stay with her, she is getting quite excited.

Finally, you have asked me again to ring you. Did you not understand my disabilities from my last email? I had my ears blown off by the IRA in Dublin when I was 18 years old. Therefore I am deaf. In addition, I was struck dumd with shock. I am afraid that all our dealings will have to be written, although Fanny can speak sign language with me, so when you visit you can deal with my Aunt Fanny.

I look forward to the conclusion of our business.

Regards

Tarma Curedrive
CEO ToBeSure Security Ltd
London

At any rate, it's always worth checking the Financial Scams board every now and then just to keep up with current hoaxes and scams, not to mention posting any you receive yourself so the rest of us know about them. After all, forewarned is forearmed.

Besides, one should always remember that if it looks too good to be true ## then it probably is!

More on this at: http://www.fool.co.uk/community/2002/community020926.htm