# Cool. The UN has decided has decided I'm poor, and is sending me $2 million by courier.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-the-un-has-decided-has-decided-im-poor-and-is-sending-me-2-million-by-courier/815471
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [June 5, 2018, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-the-un-has-decided-has-decided-im-poor-and-is-sending-me-2-million-by-courier/815471 "2018-06-05T16:30:56Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)
#### Post date: [June 5, 2018, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-the-un-has-decided-has-decided-im-poor-and-is-sending-me-2-million-by-courier/815471/1 "2018-06-05T16:30:56Z")
This showed up in my spam mailbox.
> [@](#):
>
> Greetings;
>
> In respect to the delivery of your funds,am glad to inform you about the most recent success in getting the funds ready for delivery to your residence under the cooperation of a new and reputable delivery agency known as One World Couriers
>
> Please note,that your initial effort to get this funds successfully delivered to your residence was applauded and you deserve a huge accolades for that .At this point we will need your trust and maximum cooperation to finalize every delivery arrangement in order to get this funds to your doorstep within the next 48hrs. Kindly contact Mr Terry Sterling of One World Couriers at ([oneworldcourierservice@yahoo.com](mailto:oneworldcourierservice@yahoo.com))
>
> Presently he (Mr Terry Sterling) is the courier and broker officially assigned to enable you get this funds successfully delivered to your door. It will be wise to let you know that the funds to be delivered to you is 2,000,000;00 (Two Million United States Dollars ),and was officially Awarded to you by the United Nation (UN) through a Poverty Alleviation Program Benefits.This funds has been investigated and cleared for delivery to your residence both by the United States Treasury Department, Homeland Security,The International Monitory Funds (IMF) and the FBI Scam Alert Unit.
>
> Therefore,you are completely assured that this is neither a scam nor any act of Money Laundering as all legal evidence and paper works are enclosed and sealed in the Briefcase and would be reviwed with you once the courier arrive your residence.
>
> Wishing you a successful delivery ahead.
>
> Regards
> Wesley Butler
> United Nation Poverty Alleviation Program
Apparently my money is coming out of Nairobi, since that is where One World Courier (a real company) is located, and it’s been oked by the US Treasury Department, Homeland Security, the IMF and the FBI.
See you all later, I’ll be hanging out on the beach for a while.
---
### Author:  [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)
#### Post date: [June 5, 2018, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-the-un-has-decided-has-decided-im-poor-and-is-sending-me-2-million-by-courier/815471/2 "2018-06-05T16:52:48Z")
Some people have ALL of the good luck.
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### Author:  [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)
#### Post date: [June 5, 2018, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-the-un-has-decided-has-decided-im-poor-and-is-sending-me-2-million-by-courier/815471/3 "2018-06-05T17:01:25Z")
Lucky son of a gun.
---
### Author:  [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)
#### Post date: [June 5, 2018, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-the-un-has-decided-has-decided-im-poor-and-is-sending-me-2-million-by-courier/815471/4 "2018-06-05T17:06:20Z")
Maybe in gratitude you could slip One World Couriers 20 bucks so they can buy a domain name and don’t have to use a [yahoo.com](http://yahoo.com) email address.
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### Author:  [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)
#### Post date: [June 5, 2018, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-the-un-has-decided-has-decided-im-poor-and-is-sending-me-2-million-by-courier/815471/5 "2018-06-05T17:20:26Z")
I noted with some amusement that messages like these in my spam box have an icon of a fish hook to alert the recipient that it is a phishing notice.
One of them closes with:
> [@](#):
>
> I wait to hear from you urgently if you are still alive and I will appreciate if we can keep this deal confidential.
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### Author:  [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)
#### Post date: [June 5, 2018, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-the-un-has-decided-has-decided-im-poor-and-is-sending-me-2-million-by-courier/815471/6 "2018-06-05T17:26:31Z")
"I wait to hear from you urgently if you are still alive and I will appreciate if we can keep this deal confidential. "
Dead men tell no tales. :dubious:
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### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [June 5, 2018, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-the-un-has-decided-has-decided-im-poor-and-is-sending-me-2-million-by-courier/815471/7 "2018-06-05T17:31:59Z")
Wow, I wish I was poor enough to qualify for this Two Million United States Dollars gift.
Hey, I know. If I gave away the money I have now, I’d be poor. Write back to them and ask them if this is okay. And ask if should send the money to them, so they can verify I gave it away.
---
### Author:  [@ToughLife](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToughLife)
#### Post date: [June 5, 2018, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-the-un-has-decided-has-decided-im-poor-and-is-sending-me-2-million-by-courier/815471/8 "2018-06-05T17:38:07Z")
> [@](#):
>
> you are completely assured that this is neither a scam
what if they are dishonest ? I think it’s possible.
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### Author:  [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)
#### Post date: [June 5, 2018, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-the-un-has-decided-has-decided-im-poor-and-is-sending-me-2-million-by-courier/815471/9 "2018-06-05T17:58:26Z")
new and reputable
How’s that work?
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### Author:  [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)
#### Post date: [June 5, 2018, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-the-un-has-decided-has-decided-im-poor-and-is-sending-me-2-million-by-courier/815471/10 "2018-06-05T17:59:32Z")
> [@ToughLife](#):
>
> what if they are dishonest ? I think it’s possible.
Maybe if they had said “…you are assured this is neither a scam nor any act of Money Laundering…”, but they specifically said “…you are **completely** assured this is neither a scam nor any act of Money Laundering…”. Under International United Nations Business Law (capitalized to show legitimacy), using the word “completely” in a sentence requires the entire sentence be true.
Or:
United Nations Poverty Alleviation Program. UNPAP. You’ve been PAP smeared in reverse, my fellow citizen. And apparently, it **Tastes of Chocolate**.
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### Author:  [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)
#### Post date: [June 5, 2018, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-the-un-has-decided-has-decided-im-poor-and-is-sending-me-2-million-by-courier/815471/11 "2018-06-05T18:12:52Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#):
>
> Write back to them and ask them if this is okay. And ask if should send the money to them, so they can verify I gave it away.
Good idea, they will believe that you are too poor to have a PC or smart phone!
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### Author:  [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)
#### Post date: [June 5, 2018, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-the-un-has-decided-has-decided-im-poor-and-is-sending-me-2-million-by-courier/815471/12 "2018-06-05T18:41:17Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#):
>
> Hey, I know. If I gave away the money I have now, I’d be poor.
I want to help! I will PM my Pay Pal info to you.
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### Author:  [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)
#### Post date: [June 5, 2018, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-the-un-has-decided-has-decided-im-poor-and-is-sending-me-2-million-by-courier/815471/13 "2018-06-05T19:01:12Z")
Could you spare a measly twenty? With all the millions you will be getting, you’ll never miss it. And speaking of money laundering, it would help with my laundry. My shorts are getting kinda funky.
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### Author:  [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)
#### Post date: [June 5, 2018, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-the-un-has-decided-has-decided-im-poor-and-is-sending-me-2-million-by-courier/815471/14 "2018-06-05T20:56:41Z")
Why is Briefcase capitalized?
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### Author:  [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)
#### Post date: [June 5, 2018, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-the-un-has-decided-has-decided-im-poor-and-is-sending-me-2-million-by-courier/815471/15 "2018-06-05T21:03:38Z")
You looking for a new life partner? I am willing to divorce and come to your house. As long as the house is near the beach and you have servants. Let me know when the money comes.
ETA chocolate is my life.
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### Author:  [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)
#### Post date: [June 5, 2018, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-the-un-has-decided-has-decided-im-poor-and-is-sending-me-2-million-by-courier/815471/16 "2018-06-05T21:18:23Z")
Out of curiosity, since I’ve never followed up on such scammers before, what happens if you play along? Do they require you to wire money to a certain account, and what does the email address send you as a reply when you message them as instructed?
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### Author:  [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)
#### Post date: [June 5, 2018, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-the-un-has-decided-has-decided-im-poor-and-is-sending-me-2-million-by-courier/815471/17 "2018-06-05T21:32:43Z")
> [@G0sp3l](#):
>
> Why is Briefcase capitalized?
Just to note: The various errors in these 419 spams are there deliberately. I don’t know how they work, but they just do. Suckers seem to believe ones with errors more than the ones without.
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### Author:  [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)
#### Post date: [June 5, 2018, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-the-un-has-decided-has-decided-im-poor-and-is-sending-me-2-million-by-courier/815471/18 "2018-06-05T21:44:04Z")
I’ve heard the errors are to make sure the people who respond are _really_ dumb, because a victim that wises up in the middle is a big waste of time.
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### Author:  [@Desert\_Nomad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desert_Nomad)
#### Post date: [June 5, 2018, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-the-un-has-decided-has-decided-im-poor-and-is-sending-me-2-million-by-courier/815471/19 "2018-06-05T21:52:11Z")
What you don’t yet know is that the key to the Briefcase is held by a security company and it’ll cost you $5,000 to get the key released.
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### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [June 5, 2018, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-the-un-has-decided-has-decided-im-poor-and-is-sending-me-2-million-by-courier/815471/20 "2018-06-05T23:16:28Z")
> [@ftg](#):
>
> Just to note: The various errors in these 419 spams are there deliberately. I don’t know how they work, but they just do. Suckers seem to believe ones with errors more than the ones without.
As Malleus noted, it’s not that the suckers find error-filled emails more convincing than well written ones. It’s that the scammers want to target the people who are such suckers that they’ll believe something even when it’s filled with errors.
Because at some point, they’re going to be asking those people to send large sums of money to an unverified overseas address. That’s the kind of thing that might awaken the suspicions even of people who are pretty stupid. So you need to separate the incredibly stupid people from the pretty stupid people.
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