# Cool. The UN has decided has decided I'm poor, and is sending me $2 million by courier. **URL:** \ **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:** 2
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2018, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-the-un-has-decided-has-decided-im-poor-and-is-sending-me-2-million-by-courier/815471/21 "2018-06-05T23:19:43Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > …what happens if you play along? I seem to recall a Doper doing that a number of years ago. Wish I could find the thread. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2018, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-the-un-has-decided-has-decided-im-poor-and-is-sending-me-2-million-by-courier/815471/22 "2018-06-06T00:10:29Z")
Google “scam baiting” for more stories than you’ll be able to read. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2018, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-the-un-has-decided-has-decided-im-poor-and-is-sending-me-2-million-by-courier/815471/23 "2018-06-06T01:33:22Z")
I vaguely remember someone dicking with a scamer and getting their PC trashed. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2018, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-the-un-has-decided-has-decided-im-poor-and-is-sending-me-2-million-by-courier/815471/24 "2018-06-06T02:00:56Z")
Lucky you, I was just informed that the IRS is issuing a warrant for my name for attempting to defraud them unless I call a special number. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2018, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-the-un-has-decided-has-decided-im-poor-and-is-sending-me-2-million-by-courier/815471/25 "2018-06-06T03:36:58Z")
> [@outlierrn](#): > > Lucky you, I was just informed that the IRS is issuing a warrant for my name for attempting to defraud them unless I call a special number. I keep getting letters from the IRS telling me I supposedly need to pay my taxes. But I’m not falling for it; I paid my taxes years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2018, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-the-un-has-decided-has-decided-im-poor-and-is-sending-me-2-million-by-courier/815471/26 "2018-06-06T05:38:44Z")
> [@Desert\_Nomad](#): > > 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. Thrifty shopping tip: A hammer and chisel from Home Depot are much cheaper and will get the briefcase open quickly. Always keep a set on hand. ---
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2018, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-the-un-has-decided-has-decided-im-poor-and-is-sending-me-2-million-by-courier/815471/27 "2018-06-06T06:20:04Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > 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. Now I’m kind of tempted to write them back, all worried that I have to much money to quality for a Poverty Alleviation Program. Maybe ask for ideas on how poor I need to be. To bad I like that email address, and I don’t want to get it stuffed full of more spam. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2018, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-the-un-has-decided-has-decided-im-poor-and-is-sending-me-2-million-by-courier/815471/28 "2018-06-06T06:49:54Z")
> [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](#): > > Now I’m kind of tempted to write them back, all worried that I have to much money to quality for a Poverty Alleviation Program. Maybe ask for ideas on how poor I need to be. > > To bad I like that email address, and I don’t want to get it stuffed full of more spam. Write back from some other address. In all probability, they sent out thousands of copies of that letter and aren’t going to check to make sure the correct person responded. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2018, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-the-un-has-decided-has-decided-im-poor-and-is-sending-me-2-million-by-courier/815471/29 "2018-06-06T07:50:41Z")
It’s interesting that this particular act of Poverty Alleviation is being carried out by the United Nation (singular). So this is not the UN as we know it, which is an association of 193 sovereign states. This is a single United Nation, presumably one that is united under God, indivisible, with liberty, justice and large sums of money for all. But the letter doesn’t tell you which United Nation this is. It’s a question you should maybe ask the helpful Wesley Butler. Maybe it’s Nairobi, but that may just be where the Reputable Courier lives. I’m thinking Nigeria. A lot of wealth seems to come from there on short notice, announced via Yahoo email accounts. Also, while the UN has mysteriously condensed into a single mystery nation, it seems that the IMF has multiplied, and has now become the “The International Monitory Funds” (plural). And, while it’s good to know that this organization – whose funds are now apparently breeding like rabbits – has OK’d the transaction, one wonders what exactly a “monitory fund” is. You should ask Mr. Butler. In his capacity as a high official of the United Nation, he might also appreciate the tip that virtually any version of Microsoft Word includes a spell checker. Depending on which particular United Nation he inhabits, you might want to reassure him that a spell checker checks spelling, and is unrelated to witchcraft. Congratulations on your new wealth. ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2018, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-the-un-has-decided-has-decided-im-poor-and-is-sending-me-2-million-by-courier/815471/30 "2018-06-06T12:48:27Z")
I have an spammer reply email. I don’t use it very often but every now and then just for fun I’ll try to get into a conversation with them. I have a whole back story for the email address. You see Mac Rawness is an American penguin researcher working in Antarctica. So this results in some funny (for me) exchanges like “Now, my bank is the 1st Bank of Antarctica. Are you going to be able to deposit money there, because I’ve had issues in the past with getting deposits in from out of the country?” For the ones pretending to be in the import/export business and so wealthy, after a few emails I’ll send them something like “This deals sounds great. I’m glad you’ll be able to work with my bank. While we’re talking, as I mentioned I’m a penguin researcher. We have a sick little guy down here named Pengo. He is so cute, I’ve attached a photo of him. He’s really sick and we’re not sure if he’s going to make it. I know as a successful businessman, you have access to a lot of wealth. I was wondering if you’d be willing to make a donation to a recovery fund for Pengo?” Ahh good times. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2018, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-the-un-has-decided-has-decided-im-poor-and-is-sending-me-2-million-by-courier/815471/31 "2018-06-06T13:02:03Z")
> [@BeepKillBeep](#): > > I was wondering if you’d be willing to make a donation to a recovery fund for Pengo?" Please sir I very much would. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2018, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-the-un-has-decided-has-decided-im-poor-and-is-sending-me-2-million-by-courier/815471/32 "2018-06-06T13:18:46Z")
My favorite is when it’s a promised amount of $25,000,000 which comes on an debit card with a $5,000/day withdraw limit. Only fourteen years of daily visits to the ATM before you get your money! ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2018, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-the-un-has-decided-has-decided-im-poor-and-is-sending-me-2-million-by-courier/815471/33 "2018-06-06T13:36:52Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > 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? > [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > I seem to recall a Doper doing that a number of years ago. Wish I could find the thread. Doper **Choie** [witnessed a neighbor being scammed out of at least $50,000](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=10610742) and then asking a friend for some more $1000’s. All the while there was $5 million in an airport locker waiting for him to complete this expensive paperwork. :rolleyes: [Here’s another thread about such scams.](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=530335) ---
**Author:** ![Marine\_One](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marine_one/32/3461_2.png) [@Marine\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marine_One)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2018, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-the-un-has-decided-has-decided-im-poor-and-is-sending-me-2-million-by-courier/815471/34 "2018-06-06T14:44:32Z")
“One World Couriers” would be a great band name. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2018, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-the-un-has-decided-has-decided-im-poor-and-is-sending-me-2-million-by-courier/815471/35 "2018-06-06T20:30:25Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > I seem to recall a Doper doing that a number of years ago. Wish I could find the thread. [Fun and games with Mr Austin Wemba](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=242804) A Straight Dope Classic, started by **Mangetout** ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2018, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-the-un-has-decided-has-decided-im-poor-and-is-sending-me-2-million-by-courier/815471/36 "2018-06-06T20:39:26Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > Google “scam baiting” for more stories than you’ll be able to read. …as an example of more than you’ll be able to read, you can start with > **[Scam o Rama: The Lads from Lagos](http://www.scamorama.com/)** > > funny scam letters I used to follow them, but the joke wears thin after a while. That said, in the early days some reduced me to tears. The typical MO was to refer the email (cc original scammer, of course) to eg a financial advisor, who would write back encouragingly, cc-ing someone else, possibly an enthusiastic lawyer (and cc the original scammer) and so on. And the scammers would join the correspondence in hopes of… If I remember correctly, one chain of correspondence included Princess Margaret (possibly not the real one), with whom the scammer corresponded most respectfully and courteously. The fact that the real Princess died during the correspondence didn’t put him off writing at all. Hey ho. j ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2018, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-the-un-has-decided-has-decided-im-poor-and-is-sending-me-2-million-by-courier/815471/37 "2018-06-06T22:37:24Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > 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. Oh yeah? Well, I got a similar email last week, and my money is already on its way, and all I had to pay was a $500 customs fee. So who’s stupid now? ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2018, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-the-un-has-decided-has-decided-im-poor-and-is-sending-me-2-million-by-courier/815471/38 "2018-06-06T23:18:14Z")
Perhaps an appropriate response would be to reject the offer as insulting, in view of the fact that several of your friends are soon to receive amounts exceeding $20 million from dead benefactors in Nigeria, the Guinness Lottery, etc. “Though I may be poor, I still have _some_ pride - and frankly, I wouldn’t get out of bed for your paltry $2 million.” ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2018, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-the-un-has-decided-has-decided-im-poor-and-is-sending-me-2-million-by-courier/815471/39 "2018-06-07T01:37:23Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > "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: Great, now I have this image of an updated Farside cartoon with the 2 morgue attendants ‘this guy’s got a certificate for 2 million dollar in his pocket’ ‘lucky stiff’ ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2018, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-the-un-has-decided-has-decided-im-poor-and-is-sending-me-2-million-by-courier/815471/40 "2018-06-07T03:27:37Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > My favorite is when it’s a promised amount of $25,000,000 which comes on an debit card with a $5,000/day withdraw limit. Only fourteen years of daily visits to the ATM before you get your money! It’s not uncommon for the daily cash limit to be $500, so it may take 140 years. You’d better hope it’s a sturdy debit card from a good reliable bank. Fortunately, it’s probably from the new and reputable One World Bank, which is also managed by Mr. Terry Sterling, who is eminently qualified due to his experience couriering suitcases of money for the United Nation and the the International Monitory Funds. Now a proud part of the new and reputable courier empire of the same name, One World Bank was formerly the National Suitcase Bank of Basutoland, which blazed the way for modern Internet banking by not only being one of the first virtual banks with no physical branches, but also the first with no actual money. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-the-un-has-decided-has-decided-im-poor-and-is-sending-me-2-million-by-courier/815471.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-the-un-has-decided-has-decided-im-poor-and-is-sending-me-2-million-by-courier/815471.md?page=3)