So I got this message in my inbox today:
The link goes to some page entirely in Russian, with a hammer and sickle logo in the corner. It doesn’t appear to be selling anything, but then again, I don’t speak Russian.
Can someone (just out of curiosity and because I’m putting off some homework) give me at least an idea of what the spam message says?
Babelfish translates it thusly:
For those, to whom is significant the fate of Russia and socialism. On the site of the Russian party of socialist revival is created the new heading OF THE “LETTERS OF THE READERS”. To the letters of comrades read Aleksandr vol’ny’s answers here:
It would appear to be spam for some Russian Socialist site. I haven’t gone to the site as I don’t know Russian, but this is a start.
Vlad/Igor Edvardovitch
That’s a pretty accurate translation, though the last line is probably better stated as “Read Alexandr Volny’s answers to comrades’ letters here.”
“Gorbachev sings tractors! Turnip! Buttocks!”
Ahh, it’s the old ‘hello, you have won the Russian National Lottery’ scam 
Greetings, comrade! Since fall of glorious USSR, much gold is in bank vault under name of former finance minister killed by KGB …
I’m just waiting till after the next US election:
"To Mr. Sunspace,
Greetings!
We represent the estAte of Mr. Ricjard “Dick” CHENEY, recently deposed as Vice-President of our republic in America. He is Currently residing outside the country, but does Not have Access to certain funds that are being sought by the New regime.
You have been selected as a Trustworthy intermediary. We propose to trAnsfer the sum of USD 300,000,000.00 (Three Hundred Million United States Dollers) to Our overseas accounts…"
Babelfish did a good job.
I am confused as to why would somebody get this spam though. Odd.
I subscribe to a couple of socialist/communist-leaning mailing lists. Someone probably grabbed my address from there.
(Yes, I know. I’m young and in college; isn’t that what I’m supposed to do?)