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Trying to Rip us off through here

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by aaron a baker

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Dear Friends;
I am posting an "African" letter asking for money from me. They sent me this message through my membership at Tech Republic.
Obviously, it's not from here, but I thought you might find it interesting to see just how low some people will go in order to get money.
It's also been sent to every Major Organized Crime Unit throughout the world.
I do this because I suspect that I won't be the only one that get's these.
I hope it doesn't become a habit.
See what you think.
Warmest Regards
Aaron

As Received;

One of your fellow TechRepublic members has sent you a private message:

From: dr_erice001@yahoo.com
Subject: ereice
Message:
UNION BANK OF africa PLC

The Desk of Mr DRerice Mike
The Manager of Union Bank (africa) Plc
Dopemu branch

Dear Sir/Madam,
Business Proposal

I am. dr erice mike the Manager of Union Bank (africa) Plc dopemu branch. I want to inquire from you if you can handle this transaction for mutual benefits/life opportunity for you and me. [20% for you, 80% for me].
The transaction is about assisting me as my foreign counterpart to enable us present you as the Beneficiary[next of kin] to the usd$35million dollars left by our late deceased foreign customer who died in a plane crash with his family since January 2002.
The Fund is currently in a suspense account awaiting claim, since the time the bank made a public notice that they are ready to release this fund to any of his relative abroad i have embarked on an intensive search using the services of a private investigator and found none whatsoever which prompted me to solicite your assistance in this venture i want to assure you that this is 100% risk free and legal as all neccessary documents to back up your claim will be put in place in due time,once we have succesfully concluded this transaction you and i will be very wealthy men, also i willl be donating a bulk of my share to charitable causes so i implore you to help. I will give you more details about the transaction when I receive your affirmative response via my email address stated above.
Looking forward to hearing from you.

share to charitable causes so i implore you to help. I will give you more details about the transaction when I receive your affirmative response via my email address stated above.
Looking forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully
Mr DRerice mike email dr_erice0202@yahoo.com

33 replies

by road-dog

that the least developed continent (with the notable exception of Antarctica) inundate the planet with scams like this?

If they put some of this effort toward... maybe growing food, Sally Struthers would be unemployed.

It never fails to amuse me that rubes still fall for this scam.

I'm sure that the Nigerian counterpart of the FBI is working hard to wipe out this wretched hive of scum and villainy. hat tip to General Kenobi.

by dr dij

I hear that 1/3 or so of the Nigerian economy comes from victims, so the ones doing this scamming are definitely not starving.

All the crime agencies probably have copies so not much point forwarding it. After a bunch of them, the effort involved will make it not even feel good.

by illilli

Hmmm, so you think this came from Africa, now why is that? Is it because it said so? You see how easily we are duped on multiple levels? The only clue you have to origin is .... none. It was a Yahoo! e-mail account. You know nothing more.

When you get spoofed, you have to turn your brain completely off, step back and carefully analyze what you are looking at. Otherwise, you might be doubly mislead.

by road-dog

Well known the world over.

Just suppose that this particular email did not originate in Africa. So what? It is still the same scheme.

If somebody is trying to scam you, the specifics as to where the keyboard it was typed on geographically are irrelevant. The law enforcement agencies handling the case will be interested, but unless I have a personal interest in taking a baseball bat to the offending scammer and his computer, I don't see the point.

The origin of the email being yahoo.com means nothing; yahoo is globally accessible. It could be Nigeria, might not be.

You are picking fly $hit out of pepper.

by neil higgins

using a disposable email address,saying that you represent the overseas branch of the World charity fund,and that $35 million would benefit needy children around the world.Thank you for your generosity,expect to see our representatives arrive in your office within a week.We will also bring along CNN,Fox News,and the BBC,who think your understanding of the poor is first class,and would like to cover your life story.

by aaron a baker

You have to be a special kind of scum to try these types of tactics. They're really hoping that they'll get some idiot who will see stars before his eyes the minute that he reads this garbage. In my communiqu?s with the authorities, I've been told that there are actually people stupid enough to do this. No wonder the Nigerians keep trying. It's like fishing. Only they're fishing for us.
Oh well, Life in Nigeria??

by tony hopkinson

Don't know what makes me more sad, that someone can try a scam like this or that or that they are occasionally successful.

by aaron a baker

Mine came at me through "Tech Republic" is this how you got your's or was it ordinary mail?
Thanks
Regards
Aaron :)

by hal 9000

I just forward them onto Beth from TR who then makes arguments to pull that Peers account.

Could be part of the reason that I haven't got any lately so I'm feeling left out. :p

Col ]:)

by tony hopkinson

Through the gash hotmail account I use for TR.
Not the first time.
People trying to sell me stuff, convert me to christianity, call me names along with the odd thank you and occasionally a private conflab with a fellow memeber.
I can only remember about three as obnoxious as this though so I can live with it.

by bschaettle

Gosh, you got a solicitation from a stranger in Africa to commit financial fraud. Imagine that!

Aaron, these scams have been around for years and years, and they're not going away. Just hit the delete button and move on.

Actually, if you wanted some great entertainment you could have strung them along for a while with some email correspondence. Some potential victims have made this into sort of a competitive sport, to see how long they can con the cons. You can read a fairly hilarious string of email correspondence between a "mark" and a Nigerian scammer at this URL:

http://www.spamscamscam.com/read_letters.php#1

by aaron a baker

All I did here was drop a letter that I got for you perusal and for your thoughts. Nothing More.
So I would say that I'm already resting. It seems to disturb you, are you Nigerian?
Why should you care what is put into a thread?.
I thought it might be of interest as it came at me through "TechRepublic", go back and re-read.
So now I'll give it a break and go for my hard earned rest.

Thank You for your input now you can rest too, :)
Aaron

by aaron a baker

Sorry about the slow reply Col. You're right. maybe Beth has moved you up on her expungee's list. Say it isn't so,OUR Beth,Nah in time you'll be forgiven as I'm sure Beth has a tender heart under that "Business "Exterior. There beats a real Beth. Don't get mad now Beth and always remember , "WE JUST LOVE YA" :)
Anyway, it's good hear from you again Col, I'm always on the look out for your articles, but man you're all over the place, I thought I was the only one, I'm glad to see that I'm in good company.
All the best to you my friend, and remember Beth, "just kidding" :)
Aaron :)

by beth blakely

;-) Just kidding!

Yes, my "business exterior" can be a bit scary, I know. Don't be afraid. I'm just an everyday gal... WITH THE RIGHT ACCESS TO REMOVE YOUR PRIVILEGES! *insert evil laugh here*

I kid! I kid! Please feel free to fwd any scams or junk mail you receive through peer messaging.

Thanks!

by aaron a baker

Well then I can only say, I hope my friend Col ]:) and I:8} , passed "So far".
Well be good, I promise.
Regards
Aaron

by aaron a baker

You're right of course, these things are circulating all over the place. But since it managed to get to Me by going through my TR account. But have no problem with it as it's already gone in my CP however, I find it interesting that they would come here of all places. This "In my opinion" is where some of the finest minds in the world come to discuss play, interchange of ideas, and this idiot comes here. :)
That's the part that got me laughing so I thought I'd share. No big Deal.
Anyway, my best to all
Regards
Aaron :)

by Member 25348569

Anyone losing money on this particular scam would have to be normally stupid and greedy and, unlike some others, more usually dishonest.

I have very little sympathy with the victims of the Nigerian Scam anyway but I'd have none at all for anyone who got bit on this one.

The Nigerians have a new scam in the UK in that they mail people to tell them they have won a huge sum in the Spanish State Lottery and if they just pay an up-front Winners Tax of 10%, they will get their prize. People, as usual, are falling for it.

Hey guys, [b]If it looks to good to be true, then it probably isn't[/b].

Just my 2p worth.

Oh,I seem to be a little short of funds at the moment so if any of you peers could spare me a few cents, please contact my Bank Manager, Mr DRerice Mike.

by hal 9000

I'm getting in early this week as I'm in a really great mood and I'm waiting until 12.01 AM 9-12-05 just to get in early. :p

That's all of 9 minutes away. :^O

Col ]:)

by Member 25348569

but it's only Thursday bloody lunchtime, here! There must be part of West Coast US that are still Monday! (some bits of it are still in 1780 but that's another story altogether).

I'll check it out

:^O

by montgomery gator

New Zealand is even further east and closer to the International Date Line, so you would be just about guaranteed to start the Friday Yuk officially on Friday before anyone else. :-)

by beth blakely

I do get those accounts pulled. It ticks me off when our system gets abused. :-) (Do I sound tough?)

by aaron a baker

I don't know if Tough is the word to use. It might be to some however.
But when one considers that there must be some sort of order and distinct way of doing things, the word Tough then changes and becomes "Professional". A Professional Standard is set and must be followed or we all become rabble. It's as simple as that.
At Tech Republic, one of things that attracted me was the level of professionalism I encountered. After a few reads, I decided to sign up and have been here ever since. A huge part of the reason that I'm still a "Proud Member" is that the level of integrity and professionalism has never gone down. If anything, it has evolved to become one of the finest places to come for information, help whatever. If this is due to the diligence shown by people such as yourself who would monitor the activities and see to it that things are done appropriately then I congratulate you on a job well done. That's not being tough, that's having a standard and abiding by it. I prefer to call it Professionalism and class, something I admire a great deal.
And so you see Beth, it's all in the perspective, if I'm in trouble because I didn't act accordingly then it's my own fault, you're not being tough, you're implementing the rules. It should also be noted that when you do so, you do this in "Our Names" and you protect "Our" Standard as we too live and abide by the standard set forth and personally I like it. We're all Pros here and if you can reflect that, then I as a member,can only be grateful.
So although there may be some who consider you "Tough" I for one would prefer the term Professional Decorum, to describe You.
I for one, THANK YOU for making sure that "This Place" Is always one that the rest of us can be proud to come home to.
So Thank you Beth, for a job well done, you "Tough Professional Ethics keeper you. ;-) :)
I mean it, you and others like you keep our Professional Flame alive and our Integrity Intact and for that we are truly grateful.
Warmest Regards
Aaron

by hal 9000

I've found you to be all nice and easy to get along with never tough. But as I notice that I'm not on your list of contacts I can't be doing things right. :(

What am I doing wrong so I can correct the problem. :^O

If I can get it right and get my account pulled that will save me several hours per day answering questions and give me more time with [b]She Who Must Be Obeyed?[/b] No I'll be good as I couldn't stand the accusing stares and constant stream of complaints because I bent her car recently perhaps after the 20th when I get it back {finger crossed} my life will be a bit easier but I don't think that I'm ever going to live this one down. :(

Col ]:)

by aaron a baker

Can I be one too... Huh?
Col, Sorry to hear about her car, and your life since, hope it get's better. I use the Medusa Approach, I won't look at her other than With a mirror when she's mad.
Aaron :8}

by hal 9000

Do you know what those who live in New Zealand do with their sheep? :)

+10 hours on GMT is enough for me and I'm not into [b]Velcro Gloves[/b] to hold onto the sheep so they don't get away and painting the legs red on the ones that kick. :p

I could probably find a island in the Pacific closer to the IDN but with all the Global Warming that is going on I'd most likely be underwater in no time at all. I understand that the Poms have changed the wording of the Christmas carol White Christmas to Grey & Sludgy Christmas because they no longer see any snow unless there is a blizzard blowing outside. :^O

Col ]:)

by montgomery gator

I think you are right about the Poms and snow (at least the ones in the south of England). I was in London in the winter of 1990-1991, and it snowed one time when I was there, an 8" blizzard. The whole city shut down and the people were acting like they did not know what the stuff was or what to do with it. Apparently it had not snowed like that in London for years. Since I grew up in Florida, I was ignorant about snow for many years, but learned about it from 4 years in Syracuse, New York, (before my London sojurn) which gets about 100" of snow a year.

In what parts of OZ does it snow? Tazmania?

BTW: I heard stories about Kiwis and sheep, also. I had also heard that Aussies were the same way. :-)

In the USA, we tell that story about people from Montana, where the Men are Men and the sheep are nervous. :-)

by hal 9000

It's just all the Kiwis that come over here to make a life for themselves that give that impression. The NZ National Anthem has something about God Loving New Zealand because he gave them Boiling Mud and they where also given Australia because you can't live in Boiling Mud. :^O

As far as snow goes there are naturally the Sky resorts in the Great Dividing Range roughly west of Sydney south that get snow. I've only made one trip there as a promotional gig for a company that I was working for at the time and they tried to get me to onto skies but I saw a line up of Ambulances at the bottom of the slope and declined after I worked out what they where there for and why skiing gear is so tough it to stop blood stains being left on the snow and putting others off. After all if you break a leg or tear off an arm the blood is kept in the ski cloths and saves any stains on the nice white snow. I spent my time there drinking and generally having a good time away from the cold and snow in the nice warm pubs. :p

Actually about 10 years or so ago we almost had a strike by the shearers as the Kiwis where coming in with their "Wide Combs" to sheer sheep apparently they could get more done in a day so once they had finished their quota they got stuck into the sheep and this made the Aussie Shearers disgusted as they where far more interested in drinking rather than chasing sheep around in a closed pen. :)

Col ]:)

by hal 9000

When she gets between the keyboard & monitor and starts complaining. :)

But what makes it even worse is that after 14 months or so of searching I found a set of Headlight Protectors and fitted them last week and guess what been destroyed? While I do love Classic Mercedes I just wish it wasn't quite so hard to get some of the parts and much more importantly I wish I wasn't driving her car at the time. She insisted that I take it out to find a problem that she thought she had with some form of oil leak. Well it's now got a massive oil leak as the oil cooler on the radiator has got a great big hole in it. :D

But it was really funny when after warning the various people not to walk in the lubricant that was all over the road I was totally ignored and I watched them constantly fall over as the PM Lubricant is very slippery and they'll never get it off their shoes. :^O

The worst thing is that she is now sulking and refusing to drive any other car until she gets hers back. God only knows what she'll do when I take it away to be painted properly in a couple of weeks. It's being stripped back to bare metal and then any rust removed and then properly painted which includes removing the glass and the entire interior so she'll be without it for a few weeks I'm just wondering if she'll sulk them. :p

Col ]:)

by hal 9000

Who is in great need of some discipline. How about limiting my ability to answer questions to 2 a day? :p

That will keep [b]She Who Must Be Obeyed[/b] very happy and just might make my life a bit easier at the moment. :)

Col ]:)

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