SubscribeThu 6 Mar 2008
Yesterday, I received yet another inquiry from a certain wealthy individual seeking help with “a large sum of money”, $28.5 million to be exact. I’m not sure who they think they’re tricking with these emails, but I certainly don’t plan on being one of them. Normally I wouldn’t think too much of the email, but I was astounded by the lack of guile in the email.
Normally these emails are from some individual in Africa, Asia or Eastern Europe. The story of hardship and bureaucracy sound on the fringe of plausible. The email yesterday was from gentleman in the Netherlands. The Dutch have not been know for their oppressive and imperialistic ways in centuries. Sure, there is currently some ethnic strife between what has been of the more liberal European populations of the past century and recent Muslim immigrants. These conflict however are pale in comparison to the tales of corruption that are rampant in other parts of the world. I would not expect a Dutch citizen to require the help of an individual like myself to get at money that is legally his.
Regardless of the exact tale. It’s not important since it’s not true anyways. What really shocked me was the moniker this is supposed millionaire went under, Joe Smith. I mean can you get any more fake than that?
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March 6th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
These scams and the phishing stuff drive me crazy! I know they get some takers, though, or they wouldn’t keep doing it.
March 6th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
I almost want to become one of them because I feel like I could do it better.
March 7th, 2008 at 3:22 am
that’s hilarious (LOL)
March 16th, 2008 at 5:16 am
Yes, that pesky Mrs.[sic] John Peters has been trying to hit me up for money too. Unfortunately I was not able to help her out with money shortage due to the untimely death of her husband in a car crash
-Raymond
March 22nd, 2008 at 1:34 pm
I think older people are particularly susceptible to these things. They lived in a world that was less brazenly dishonest. Someone didn’t lie to you and tell you that you had won millions of dollars. Why would they do that? It doesn’t make any sense. Those of us who have grown up in the online world have figured out how to judge an email or a website just by whether it is nicely designed or full of text that was originally written by someone who uses English as their first language. Oh, and whether the domain name sounds legitimate.