We've all seen the spam, long lost and very rich relatives dying, the Prince of Arabia asking for your help to escape royal guards, etc. etc. One popped up in my Gmail account a few days ago and rather then deleting it straight away, I decided to have a little fun and reply to it as if I were the most gullible person alive, observe.
Spam #1:
Quote: "I am contacting you believing you to be an honest and trustworthyperson.I
believe you will not betray the confidence I am willing to reponse in you.
My name is dories udigwe, the only daugther of late Mr.Hassan udigwewho
was the chairman / President/Ceo,Cacao-Café & Agro-Alimentaire industriePlc.(SCAFECAO)"Bouake"
and ex-owner of Polyclinic LA-MADONNE, of the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire.
You can find the story on this website:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2269238.stmOn
19th of September 2002,a group of so called rebels took over the city of
Bouake to over-throw the Government of Mr. Laurent Gbagbo the President
of Cote d'Ivoire.
On the next day morning at about 4:18am some fractions of the same group
of rebels break into our house and killed our security guard and pass-through
the gate entrance to the main building and took my fatheraway to an un-known
destination. After about four hours later we found him (my father) at the
road side, by then he had been totally beaten and was bleeding to death
lying in the pool of his own blood. From there, we rushed him to near by
hospital and hours later he sent for my mother. So he told her that he can
not make it from the doctors diagnosis, he also told her that it was because
he (my father) was not from the northern part of the country that he has
been treated this way and also being a political activist.
And again he said he is suspecting some of his business partners forconspiracy
and this sort of brutality. He also told my mother that he deposited a
huge amount of money about US$ 6.5 million dollars(six million five hundred
thousand us dollars only)in a Finance house in europe) and also told her
where he kept the whole documents concerning this deposit that is made for
investment purpose in the western world. That same day, he (my father) gave
up the ghost. Then with the help of the French soldiers, we escaped to
Senegal, where we are now.
I am now contacting you believing you are honest and trustworthy to help
us to receive the money in your account for investment, I and my mother
has decided in compensating you 20% of the total amount for your assistance
. Please do take your time to go through the mail and get back to me so
that I will simply introduce you to the Finance house where the fund are
being kept now for onward transfer.
Please send us your details to ories200@tiscali.it
I am waiting for your response.
Thanks and God bless.
Dories Udigwe.
"
Reply #1:
Quote: "Hi,
I'm sorry to hear such tragic news about your father, however, I am
also intrigued into finding out how I could possibly help you in
extracting the deposited money. I believe I am an honest man and could
definately help you in any way you may need.
-Dave
"
Spam #2:
Quote: "Goodday Dave,
Thanks you very much for your concern towards me and my mother,Let me give
you a view into the full picture of what we intend to do. As I have stated
in my initial mail to you, my father has in possession the sum of USD6,500,000.00(Six
Million Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars only)
which were carefully stored in steel boxes and kept away from the prying
eyes of all. These boxes are already in the vault of Diplomatic Officials
in Europe.
You should understand that My mother want you to go to Europe personally
and collect the money and also there is some out standing charges that
will have to be paid to the Diplomatic Vault offices for a long time accumulative
storage, for the release of the consignment to you. This is where your involvement
is most imperative. Your undiluted commitment to the success of this transaction
cannot be over emphasized.
As I told you I would send to you the Certificate of Deposit. You must not
tell anyone about your knowledge and involvement in this transaction we
are to maintain a high level of confidentiality owing to the magnitude of
the funds. As I told you previously, Mr.Hassan udigwe my dad is now late.
It is very important to state here also that what we need is a true partner
that will live up to the meaning of the word "Partner", a partner that will
be able to stand up to responsibilities. At this juncture, it is most important
to let you know that confidentiality should be our watchword and trust our
guide, you must not tell anyone of this transaction because of its sensitivity
and the caliber of the people involved. We are going to observe all legalities
in the course of this transaction.
My Mother send her regards,we will be waiting for your response,have anice
day and god bless you
Best Regards
"
Reply #2:
Quote: "Hello Dories,
So far everything sounds quite possible for me. I understand why you'd
want to keep everything confidential and am willing to do so, at this
current time I have not told anyone and I will continue to keep it
confidential. I am willing to be a 'Partner' and believe I am exactly
the person you are looking for, I am sure I won't fail and I hope I
can help you out as best I can.
I am eagerly awaiting more deatils.
-Dave
"
Spam #3:
Quote: "Goodday Dave, How is your day coming?my mum said I should ask you if you
can travel and when will it be .Please I will need the following informatin.
[1]YOUR NAMES,
[2]YOUR PHONE AND FAX NUMBER,
[3]YOUR RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS,
Best Regards
Dories"
As far as I can tell, this person's father has supposedly died and left 6.5 million dollars in a safety deposit box which they would like me to retrieve, in return, I'd receive 20% of the cash (1.3 million). Now, apparently I'm going to have to fly over there and retrieve it by hand, no doubt these cheap skates are going to ask me to deposit a large sum of money (probably in the thousands) to be able to take the money out, and because there's not going to be any money, I walk away having lost quite a bit.
Obviously this is all rubbish so I've just been playing along, coaxing them in, unfortunately this last email is asking me for some contact details (I wonder why? o_O), I don't want to give some Australian phone numbers or addresses because that might scare them off, so could a kind American tell me a valid format for those details (phone number, fax number, etc.)? This is the first con I've seen where someone has actually had to travel somewhere so I'd like to see where they go with it. Thanks.
"Computers are useless they can only give you answers." 