# How can anyone fall for this spam? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 21, 2024, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-fall-for-this-spam/1009020 "2024-10-21T14:37:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2024, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-fall-for-this-spam/1009020/1 "2024-10-21T14:37:46Z")
Got this in my spam box the other day > [@](#): > > Attention: > > I am Mrs. Bianca Patrick; I am a US citizen, 47 years Old. I > reside here in Missouri. My residential address is as follows, 4 > bath, 1280 sq. ft. townhouse located at 4 S Mount Olivet Ln, > Baltimore, MD 21229 United States, am thinking of relocating > since I am now rich. I am one of those that took part in the > compensation in West Africa many years ago and they refused to > pay me, I had paid over $94,250 while trying to get my payment > all to no avail. > > So I decided to travel to Washington D.C with all my compensation > documents, And I was directed by the Federal Bureau of > Investigation Director to contact Mr. Peter Collins, who is a > representative of the INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF) and a > member of the Compensation Award Committee, currently in > Washington D.C (USA) and I contacted him and he explained > everything to me. He said whoever is contacting us through emails > are fake. > > He took me to the paying bank for the claim of my compensation > payment. Right now I am the happiest woman on earth because I > have received my compensation funds of $5.8 Million US Dollars. > Moreover, Mr. Peter Collins showed me the full information of > those that are yet to receive their payments and I saw your email > as one of the beneficiaries on the list he showed me, that is why > I decided to email you to stop dealing with those people, they > are not with your fund, they are only making money out of you. I > will advise you to contact Mr. Peter Collins. Kindly send your > personal details to him to prove your identification. > > Full Name: > Home Address: > Occupation: > Phone Number: > Age: > Gender: > Country: > > You have to contact him directly on this information below. > Compensation Award Office. > Name: Mr. Peter Collins > Email: (email redacted) @ [aliyun.com](http://aliyun.com) > > You really have to stop dealing with those people that are > contacting you and telling you that your fund is with them, it is > not in anyway with them, they are only taking advantage of you > and they will dry you up until you have nothing. The only money I > paid after I met Mr. Peter Collins was just $795 USD for the > paper works, take note of that. > > Once again stop contacting those people, I will advise you to > contact Mr. Peter Collins so that he can help you to deliver your > fund instead of dealing with those liars that will be turning you > around asking for different kind of money to complete your > transaction. > > Thank you and be blessed. > > Mrs. Bianca Patrick > 4 bath, 1280 sq. ft. townhouse located > at 4 S Mount Olivet Ln, Baltimore, MD 21229 How do we disect this… First of all, do you live in Missouri or Maryland? Second, does anyone in the US put their apartment specifications in with their address? Plus, a 4 bath townhouse? Third, the IMF has a committee giving money to individuals? I thought the IMF was countries only. Fourth, why would the head of this committee be using an email address from Alibaba rather than from the IMF? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2024, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-fall-for-this-spam/1009020/2 "2024-10-21T14:40:10Z")
If you’re asking questions like that you’re not their target audience. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2024, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-fall-for-this-spam/1009020/3 "2024-10-21T14:40:19Z")
I’ve heard, but have no idea if it’s true, that these scams are purposely obvious scams, for the reasons you listed. The idea being that it weeds out people like you so the people that respond have _already_ fallen for it. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2024, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-fall-for-this-spam/1009020/4 "2024-10-21T14:40:42Z")
The human brain short-circuits at the mention of free Millions of United State Dollars. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2024, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-fall-for-this-spam/1009020/5 "2024-10-21T14:44:53Z")
> [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](#): > > > I decided to email you to stop dealing with those people, they > > are not with your fund, they are only making money out of you. It seems to me that this right here tells you who they expect to fall for this: People who have _already fallen_ for _some other_ “found money” scam. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2024, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-fall-for-this-spam/1009020/6 "2024-10-21T14:51:49Z")
I contacted Mr Collins and now am secure in the knowledge that my millions are on their way! Please buy my home, as I no longer need to live in such a shabby accomidations! ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2024, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-fall-for-this-spam/1009020/7 "2024-10-21T14:52:22Z")
People fall for this by the tens of thousands. Some of them are doctors, lawyers, other educated people. As running\_coach says, > [@running\_coach](#): > > The human brain short-circuits at the mention of free Millions of United State Dollars. I’ve mentioned this before, but I have an uncle who has gotten into - and I may be low in my guess here - at LEAST ten pyramid scams, and fallen for plenty of get-rich-quick scams. I don’t have direct evidence he ever fell for the sort of Spanish prisoner/Nigerian email scam the OP shows an example of, but I’m confident he has. Over and over. Not once, ever, did he manage to use his vast personal experience to decide “maybe this is bullshit.” Even when told it was bullshit, he would deny it and fall for the scam. Uncle John just had some sort of switch in his brain that was broken. He doesn’t seem abjectly stupid or anything, but there is something in his brain that just doesn’t trigger a skepticism warning when this sort of scam comes around. I don’t know if people are born with this or it’s conditioning. I mean, he was my father’s brother and my Dad, who was reasonably bright but not Einstein, would not have fallen for a scam like this in ten billion years. But my uncle simply cannot learn. It’s like he cannot develop an immune response. (He also skipped my father’s funeral for no particular reason, ad didn’t even send my Mom flowers or a note, despite my father being his older brother who never once refused to help him, gave him money, etc. I consider this an unforgivable insult to my mother and I will no longer speak to him. You don’t want to be his friend.) That’s who the scammers are targeting. They know full well than 9999 out of 10000 people won’t give this a second thought. Doesn’t matter. They make LOTS from the 1 person who does, and thanks to the internet, the cost of acquisition is low. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2024, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-fall-for-this-spam/1009020/8 "2024-10-21T14:55:59Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > accomidations [They knew!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUiWXNt7lqc) ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2024, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-fall-for-this-spam/1009020/9 "2024-10-21T15:32:44Z")
I’m pissed off. How dare Mr. Peter Collins show my information to other people. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2024, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-fall-for-this-spam/1009020/10 "2024-10-21T15:37:36Z")
Sadly, there are people who are gullible or who are in the beginnings of dementia. They have bot servers that send out these emails in droves. All they need is one successful hit out of tens of thousands, and they can make a lot of money. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2024, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-fall-for-this-spam/1009020/11 "2024-10-21T15:39:30Z")
> [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](#): > > Second, does anyone in the US put their apartment specifications in with their address? Plus, a 4 bath townhouse? - Check out the [StreetView](https://www.google.com/maps/@39.2858079,-76.6681595,3a,75y,244.28h,94.2t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1saenrA1Mcn9UmjZYGWlSXWg!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D-4.201324419302665%26panoid%3DaenrA1Mcn9UmjZYGWlSXWg%26yaw%3D244.2763639093688!7i16384!8i8192?coh=205410&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTAxNi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D). Old BBQ grills and window screens stacked against the front walls. “No Tresspassing” sign on a front door. Definitely not the swell side of town. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2024, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-fall-for-this-spam/1009020/12 "2024-10-21T15:49:10Z")
> [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](#): > > Plus, a 4 bath townhouse? It only has one bath. [https://www.redfin.com/MD/Baltimore/4-N-Mount-Olivet-Ln-21229/home/10992924](https://www.redfin.com/MD/Baltimore/4-N-Mount-Olivet-Ln-21229/home/10992924) > **[4 S Mount Olivet Ln, Baltimore, MD 21229 | Zillow](https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/4-S-Mount-Olivet-Ln-Baltimore-MD-21229/36531494_zpid/)** > > 4 S Mount Olivet Ln, Baltimore MD, is a Townhouse home that contains 1280 sq ft and was built in 1940.It contains 1 bathroom. > > The Zestimate for this Townhouse is $90,600, which has increased by $3,297 in the last 30 days.The Rent Zestimate for this... It’s amusing that this is a real residence, and the email has enough details you can look it up and tell that the claim is BS about how nice it is. It does seem like a weird flex if you’re trying to entice people into chasing riches. “I can afford a townhouse in Maryland!” [![](https://ssl.cdn-redfin.com/photo/235/bigphoto/558/MDBA2126558_26_2.jpg) ](https://ssl.cdn-redfin.com/photo/235/bigphoto/558/MDBA2126558_26_2.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2024, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-fall-for-this-spam/1009020/13 "2024-10-21T15:50:40Z")
Why include the details about the number of bathrooms or the square footage? is that normally done in Nigeria or whatever country the scammer comes from? ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2024, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-fall-for-this-spam/1009020/14 "2024-10-21T15:56:29Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Why include the details about the number of bathrooms or the square footage? I think it’s just the normal obvious tell that a person is lying when they overshare to a bizarre degree. “Hi there.” “Hello! My name is Gregory Smith and I was born in Nebraska of the United States and no other country and went to a regular American high school and love to watch the sport of baseball!” “Um… Okay… Have a good day…?” ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2024, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-fall-for-this-spam/1009020/15 "2024-10-21T16:04:34Z")
This here is a reminder that, despite popular belief, half of the American public is below average in intelligence. The other half is just greedy. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2024, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-fall-for-this-spam/1009020/16 "2024-10-21T16:10:46Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > It does seem like a weird flex if you’re trying to entice people into chasing riches. “I can afford a townhouse in Maryland!” At least they picked an address that actually exists. I recently spotted AI spam on Facebook supposedly from the 100 block of O Street in Sacramento, where the lowest real number is 1500. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2024, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-fall-for-this-spam/1009020/17 "2024-10-21T16:11:49Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > This here is a reminder that, despite popular belief, half of the American public is below average in intelligence. [![](https://i.redd.it/v8lcap8h7x681.jpg) ](https://i.redd.it/v8lcap8h7x681.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2024, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-fall-for-this-spam/1009020/18 "2024-10-21T16:27:59Z")
You totally win the thread w that cite!! ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2024, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-fall-for-this-spam/1009020/19 "2024-10-21T17:52:20Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > I recently spotted AI spam on Facebook supposedly from the 100 block of O Street in Sacramento, where the lowest real number is 1500. Upon checking Google Maps again, O Street in Sacramento does drop into the triple digits; I was looking at 1500 Second Street. However, 100 O would be on the West Side Freeway overpass. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2024, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-fall-for-this-spam/1009020/20 "2024-10-21T18:06:49Z")
“Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.” - George Carlin [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-fall-for-this-spam/1009020.md?page=2)