# A new 419 scammer, a new reply tactic **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 13, 2007, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-419-scammer-a-new-reply-tactic/395728 "2007-03-13T09:53:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-419-scammer-a-new-reply-tactic/395728/81 "2007-03-23T17:35:44Z")
[QUOTE=Contrapuntal] Is the number legit? [/QUOTE] Yes, I just called it! ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-419-scammer-a-new-reply-tactic/395728/82 "2007-03-23T17:49:12Z")
[QUOTE=jjimm] Yes, I just called it! [/QUOTE] So, it’s over then, if the scammer calls. What a sweet ride! \*\*Mangetout \*\*has been brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-419-scammer-a-new-reply-tactic/395728/83 "2007-03-23T19:03:57Z")
[QUOTE=Largo62] Any chance he really has a confederate in London that you can set up to meet with the authorities? [/QUOTE] It sounds like he does have a local buddy, although that might all be bullshit intended solely to get me to divulge my voice number. It’s pretty clear that he’s trying to maintain the high ground and control the setup the meeting - I think it would probably be quite difficult to engineer a rendevous with the police unless I was working closely with them on this (and they don’t seem interested in doing that). I’ve not had a reply to my last email - it may be that the ‘room 419’ reference was enough to tip him the nod. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-419-scammer-a-new-reply-tactic/395728/84 "2007-03-23T20:03:04Z")
Forgive my ignorance, but is it about Room 419? ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-419-scammer-a-new-reply-tactic/395728/85 "2007-03-23T20:10:43Z")
[QUOTE=Maus Magill] Forgive my ignorance, but is it about Room 419? [/QUOTE] These types of scams are called 419 Scams. Hence the thread title. [Link.](http://www.419eater.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Hakuna\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hakuna\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hakuna_Matata)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-419-scammer-a-new-reply-tactic/395728/86 "2007-03-23T20:11:11Z")
[QUOTE=Maus Magill] Forgive my ignorance, but is it about Room 419? [/QUOTE] It is a reference to the advanced fee fraud, the Nigerian Letter fraud which is designated as a 419 fraud > **[Advance-fee scam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advance_fee_fraud)** > > An advance-fee scam is a form of fraud and is a common scam. The scam works by promising the victim a large sum of money in return for a small upfront payment, which the fraudster claims will be used to obtain the large sum. If a victim makes the payment, the fraudster either invents a series of further fees for the victim to pay or simply disappears. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) states that "An advance fee scheme occurs when the victim pays money to someone in anticipation of rece... ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-419-scammer-a-new-reply-tactic/395728/87 "2007-03-23T20:35:59Z")
[QUOTE=Contrapuntal] These types of scams are called 419 Scams. Hence the thread title. [Link.](http://www.419eater.com/) [/QUOTE] Duh… I knew that, it’s in the thread title, and yet my brane… It’s Friday afternoon. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-419-scammer-a-new-reply-tactic/395728/88 "2007-03-23T21:13:05Z")
Well, long shot here, but Ecks has written: > [@](#): > > Hello Patrick > > I have waited in my room all evening, but your associate did not manage to call me. I’m going down to the restaurant now, but I will leave instructions at the front desk to page me if a call comes in. > > Bye for now > Wilton Ecks ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-419-scammer-a-new-reply-tactic/395728/89 "2007-03-23T23:58:36Z")
Bwaha! this is good: > [@](#): > > I must say that you are joking with this whole thing and that you are not a > seriouse minded person. First of all you said that you are in room 419 and > we did call the hotel that you said that you are in and they said they is no > roon 419 but room 194 and we told them your name and they said there is no > body like you in that hotel. Please stop playing with me ok i am not a > little child to be playing with. > > Have a great day. > > Patrick So it ends: > [@](#): > > Hello ‘Patrick’ > > Yes, I realise you’re not a little child to be playing with, and I’m crying about it right now - but they’re tears of laughter. > In fact, I realised from the start you’re not a Lawyer based in London, but an advance fee scammer operating out of Nigeria. > > By the way, your ‘Passport’ was a fucking masterpiece! We all had a good laugh at that. > > Bye for now, you silly old mugu. > Mr W Ecks (say it out loud) ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyMule](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc348/32.png) [@MonkeyMule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMule)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-419-scammer-a-new-reply-tactic/395728/90 "2007-03-24T01:21:05Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] Bwaha! this is good: So it ends: [/QUOTE] Damn it man! I wanted this to drag out for months. Well kudos on you for sticking it to them. Morons. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-419-scammer-a-new-reply-tactic/395728/91 "2007-03-24T01:49:09Z")
There’s a tiny chance he may still think Mange and Dastardly are in earnest. Tomorrow I’ll send him an email from Ecks saying not to tell M&D what a bastard I’ve been, then on Monday, Dastardly can send one of his chirpy emails. ---
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-419-scammer-a-new-reply-tactic/395728/92 "2007-03-24T03:20:13Z")
Ain’t it fun to scam the scammers!!! This has been one of the most entertainintg threads in a while. It’s on a par with **Cervaise** ’s telemarketer thread. More power to ye, m’boy! I have certainly enjoyed this while it lasted. I hope I see the next one. ---
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-419-scammer-a-new-reply-tactic/395728/93 "2007-03-24T03:34:43Z")
By the way, that thread I referenced in my last post is [here!](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=51270&highlight=telemarketer) This will be no revelation to most Dopers, as this is one of the all-time greats. I just think **Mangetout** ’s recent scammer thread is right up there. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-419-scammer-a-new-reply-tactic/395728/94 "2007-03-24T05:26:02Z")
Incidentally, out of idle curiousity, I noticed that that badly-faked passport had some numbers at the bottom which appeared to be original (i.e., not the same pathetically bad photoshop job as the replaced name). By any chance, do those numbers happen to be uniquely identifying? It might be interesting to know whose passport was used for the original. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-419-scammer-a-new-reply-tactic/395728/95 "2007-03-24T22:10:00Z")
[QUOTE=Chronos] Incidentally, out of idle curiousity, I noticed that that badly-faked passport had some numbers at the bottom which appeared to be original (i.e., not the same pathetically bad photoshop job as the replaced name). By any chance, do those numbers happen to be uniquely identifying? It might be interesting to know whose passport was used for the original. [/QUOTE] Dunno - it looks like it might have been a rehash of someone else’s fake - I found something quite similar on this page: [http://419.bittenus.com/passports/uk.htm](http://419.bittenus.com/passports/uk.htm) Third from the bottom in the left column. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2007, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-419-scammer-a-new-reply-tactic/395728/96 "2007-03-25T09:55:26Z")
When my wife and I were last messing with a scammer, we sent a badly photoshopped British passport we’d found on the web - there are lots of them available through Google images. (And we substituted a nun’s face for the original. And changed “United Kingdom” to “Craggy Island”. We also had him reserve rooms in a Lagos hotel for Father Ted, Father Dougal and Bishop Len Brennan.) ---
**Author:** ![scareyfaerie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scareyfaerie/32/3135_2.png) [@scareyfaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scareyfaerie)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2007, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-419-scammer-a-new-reply-tactic/395728/97 "2007-03-25T10:21:14Z")
I’m really sorry this one has reached it’s conclusion, it’s been immensely entertaining. Usually I can’t be bothered to keep up with 419 threads but this one has kept me giggling for days. Thanks, **Mangetout**! ---
**Author:** ![DiggitCamara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df788c/32.png) [@DiggitCamara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiggitCamara)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2007, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-419-scammer-a-new-reply-tactic/395728/98 "2007-03-25T20:41:14Z")
Loved the “Bunte Republik Deutschland” 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![DiggitCamara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df788c/32.png) [@DiggitCamara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiggitCamara)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2007, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-419-scammer-a-new-reply-tactic/395728/99 "2007-03-25T20:45:41Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] Dunno - it looks like it might have been a rehash of someone else’s fake - I found something quite similar on this page: [http://419.bittenus.com/passports/uk.htm](http://419.bittenus.com/passports/uk.htm) Third from the bottom in the left column. [/QUOTE] …(pssst… fourth from the bottom)… ---
**Author:** ![MelCthefirst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@MelCthefirst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MelCthefirst)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2007, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-419-scammer-a-new-reply-tactic/395728/100 "2007-03-25T23:35:44Z")
For the second time in a few months I’ve had a scammer suggesting that I may be a relative of a P.Cooke who recently died and left me a whole lot of money. I’ve been toying with him. Firstly asking how many people he’d sent his letter took considering my family name is one of the most common names in the Western world. He said P. Cooke originated from NZ. I told him, it is still a very common name in NZ and I’m not an NZ Cooke!. I got bored with trying to make him prove I’m related (and to be honest I have played with scammers before), so for fun and to try a very different approach, I told him I knew he was a Nigerian scammer and asked him if he wanted to see a picture of my breasts! The next message from him was: “YES YOU CAN DO SO I AM INTERESTED TO SEE IT” - he he, so I told him to send a picture of his private parts first - but I got this message instead: “Let us be a friends, i like somebody like you. How many years are you. Have you married? What do you do for a living.” Not sure what to do next, maybe reveal that I’m actually a man??! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-419-scammer-a-new-reply-tactic/395728.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-419-scammer-a-new-reply-tactic/395728.md?page=6)