# I got an email from a known scam artist, so decided to string him along...
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-an-email-from-a-known-scam-artist-so-decided-to-string-him-along/191920
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [July 30, 2003, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-an-email-from-a-known-scam-artist-so-decided-to-string-him-along/191920 "2003-07-30T15:34:07Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Beastal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beastal)
#### Post date: [July 30, 2003, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-an-email-from-a-known-scam-artist-so-decided-to-string-him-along/191920/1 "2003-07-30T15:34:07Z")
Hi all,
On July 25th, amongst my usual assortment of spam I received an email from a Mrs Marie Sainovic. It reads as follows:
> [@](#):
>
> Dear Sir/Madam
>
> I need your help
>
> I am the wife of Nicola Sainovic one of the people indicated at the
> Hague War Crime Tribune in Hague. The indictment is politically
> motivated. It was the package the western world has provided Yugoslavia.
>
> Slobodan and my husband had kept some funds, American currencies; in
> cash to enable them take care of rebel problems. However, now the
> country they protected has turned against them. We need to transfer the
> money out to safety.
>
> The funds are in excess of $100 Million Dollars. They can be paid in
> shipped under diplomatic immunity. They will then have to be paid into
> offshore accounts. They are not in Yugoslavia.
>
> Can you help? Are you capable of handling funds? Are you trustworthy? I
> have been asked to offer you 30%, Will that be ok?
>
> Please reply me using these e-mail below only because it’s my personel
>
> marie\*\*\*\*\*\*\*@\*\*\*\*\*\*.com
>
> I am grateful.
>
> MARIE SAINOVIC
Knowing it was bogus, I decided to respond to it. My response was brief, saying that I was interested, but wanted more information.
In the meantime I did a search on the email, and I turn up this:
[http://members.shaw.ca/mentors/](http://members.shaw.ca/mentors/)
A website dedicated to recording known scam emails. It appears as though “Marie” has struck before. Needless to say, 3 days later, this email arrives from Marie, from her “private” address.
> [@](#):
>
> Dear _John_,
>
> Your e-mail has given me to a large extent, the most desired confidence
> in your person. I have no doubt in your ability to work things out with
> me to achieve success. I must inform you that this request demands the
> highest sense of responsibility and seriousness because the life of my
> family and I depends solely on the success of this aspiration of ours.
>
> The request is not only meant to enrich every one of us, but to bring us
> in good relationship built on trust and confidence. This is unpriced and
> charitable till the last day of our lives.
>
> One precondition though, you must assure me of, is your readiness and
> capability to travel from your country to The Netherlands in Europe to
> personally receive the money concerned from the Security Company under
> which the money was shipped. This is to avoid the bureaucratic
> procedures associated with bank to bank transfer of money from one
> country to another. If you however prefer this later procedure, we could
> work on it, but will definitely take sometime and money. More also, we
> would rather prefer you to personally handle the transfer exercise to
> avoid unnecessary publicity that could further jeopardize our lives.
>
> As soon as I receive confirmation from you that you are ready to travel
> to Europe, I will send to you more information.
>
> Subsequently, we shall arrange a meeting between you and I to put other
> things in place towards saving and investing the money on successful
> movement to your country.
>
> There are other vital issues and aspects of the proposal we shall talk
> about as we progress. Meanwhile, I thank you and pray God to guard us
> through.
>
> Expecting to receive from you soonest.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Marie
Not a problem, Marie, who seems to all of a sudden know my first name. Not surprising, as it would have appeared in the email I sent to her.
Interesting that Marie comments that I have given her “to a large extent, the most desired confidence in your person. I have no doubt in your ability to work things out with me to achieve success”, considering the brief email that prompted this comment.
So again I respond, this time asking for more details, as well as asking how she got my email. I also informed her that I have a valid passport, and am willing to travel anywhere. For $30 million, who wouldn’t? I get this in reply:
> [@](#):
>
> Dear _John_,
>
> Many thanks for your swift response which has been received.
>
> Firstly, let me show my appreciation for your kind gesture to take this
> transaction upon yourself in assisting us. Also you readiness to travel
> to The Netherlands to pick up this money. It is overwhelming.
>
> Secondly, how your contact was obtained was in a miraculous way because,
> I consulted a family lawyer of ours whom we have full trust in and told
> him we needed a trusted and God fearing person to disclose some private
> matter with. He now went to check some of his directories and gave me 3
> contacts in which I did send this proposal to but right now, its only
> you that have just responded.
>
> Now that you have choosen to assist us conclude this transaction with
> us, I will disregard any further response I might received from the
> other, that is if there might be any response from you. But you have to
> assure me that you will never disappoint the trust we are going to
> repose in you throughout this transaction.
>
> Like I did explain in my above message, its only 3 people that were
> contacted and you are the only response I have received so far. I do not
> intend to go further with any response since we can come to compromise
> and finalise this transaction together.
>
> Now that I have received your readiness to conclude this transaction
> with us, I will want you to give me your full information, Name,
> Address, Telephone, Fax, International ID etc. Upon receipt of this
> information, necessary arrangement will be made to notify the security
> company of your coming to pick up the consignment.
>
> Let me quickly receive these information from you so that we can proceed
> and conclude soonest.
>
> Thanks as I await your response.
>
> God bless.
>
> Marie
As a result, I send back a bogus name, bogus address, and a bogus phone number prefixed with the Australian calling code (61) but when rung, will give you a dead line. Marie’s response was as follows:
> [@](#):
>
> Dear _John_,
>
> Many thanks for your personal information which has been received
> clearly.
>
> Right now, necessary information will be given to you as soon as I
> submit this personal information to the Security Company in charge.
>
> Meanwhile, I will urge to to start your preparation towards going to The
> Netherlands soonest.
>
> Once again, I would like to show my appreciation for your efforts,
> understanding and the confidence you have in this transaction.
>
> Hoping to get in touch with you soonest.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Marie
Hmmm. “The game’s up”, I thought. They obviously checked my details and discovered they were bogus, and realised they wouldn’t be swindling any money out of me. So they’ve given me a ‘cut him loose’ email, and that would be the last of it. That was, until, this arrived:
> [@](#):
>
> Dear _John_,
>
> How are you doing? Hope you are doing well in health and business.
>
> I have contacted the Security Company in charge and have submitted your
> information to them so that they will be able to recognise you when you
> are coming to pick up the money.
>
> Right now, they have given me contact of the official in charge in The
> Netherlands. His name is Mr. M\*\*\*\*\*\* W\*\*\*\*\*\*\* and the telephone number
> is +31 641 \*\*\* \*\*\*.
>
> You are advised to start communication with the gentleman immediately.
> You need to introduce yourself and let him know that you are ready to
> come and pick up the money immediately.
>
> Please note, in as much as I am reposing confidence in you, I would
> expect that you deal with us in all sincerity. We have not prayed for
> anybody to cash on our present predicament to cause more harm to us than
> we already have. You would benefit no doubt but I humbly ask that you
> should not be over ambitious. We have quite a lot to share together in
> our lives. As soon as you succeed in claiming the money, I will make out
> time to meet you in your country to discuss other matter.
>
> Kindly get back to me as soon as you have established communication with
> them in The Netherlands so as to brief me on the latest development.
>
> Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
>
> God bless.
>
> Marie
Now this is interesting. A phone number, prefixed with +31. A quick bit of research reveals this is a Dutch number. So, what do I do now? With a phone number, the authorities could perhaps trace any call made to it and catch the crooks responsible for this particular internet swindle. What should I do from here? To date, I have not replied to “Marie’s” last email.
---
### Author:  [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)
#### Post date: [July 30, 2003, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-an-email-from-a-known-scam-artist-so-decided-to-string-him-along/191920/2 "2003-07-30T15:47:40Z")
Be warned that these people can be dangerous; it might be fun to mess with them, but you should take every precaution to remain untraceable.
---
### Author:  [@wet\_marble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wet_marble)
#### Post date: [July 30, 2003, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-an-email-from-a-known-scam-artist-so-decided-to-string-him-along/191920/3 "2003-07-30T16:21:04Z")
I think you should post the scammer’s email address. I generally use them when signing up for websites and forums so I can be assured that I won’t receive any spam.
---
### Author:  [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)
#### Post date: [July 30, 2003, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-an-email-from-a-known-scam-artist-so-decided-to-string-him-along/191920/4 "2003-07-30T16:41:55Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Mangetout \*
> \*\*Be warned that these people can be dangerous; it might be fun to mess with them, but you should take every precaution to remain untraceable. \*\*
Agreed. Your next step should be to call the cops. The Nigerian scam is well-enough known by now that the operators are probably pretty spohisticated in dealing with jokers, so you are simply not equipped to track this down on your own, not to mention the fact that these folks actually kill people.
–Cliffy
---
### Author:  [@biqu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/biqu)
#### Post date: [July 30, 2003, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-an-email-from-a-known-scam-artist-so-decided-to-string-him-along/191920/5 "2003-07-30T17:20:34Z")
Here’s another [story](http://www.haxial.com/spls-soapbox/nigerian-fraud/) where an e-mail con-artist gets conned by his would-be victim. You could read it to get ideas, or just for laughs.
---
### Author:  [@Shrinking\_Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shrinking_Violet)
#### Post date: [July 30, 2003, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-an-email-from-a-known-scam-artist-so-decided-to-string-him-along/191920/6 "2003-07-30T17:22:09Z")
You should take a look at [this site](http://www.scamorama.com/) which records the fun to be had in stringing these people along. It’s hilarious.
Julie
---
### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [July 30, 2003, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-an-email-from-a-known-scam-artist-so-decided-to-string-him-along/191920/7 "2003-07-30T18:23:42Z")
**Mangetout** is right on the mark with this advice. Scam artists are not babes in the woods. If this is a Nigerian scam operation, they are not to be messed with. They are masters at the game. Trust me.
---
### Author:  [@ProjectOmega](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ProjectOmega)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2003, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-an-email-from-a-known-scam-artist-so-decided-to-string-him-along/191920/8 "2003-07-31T06:20:57Z")
What’s this about people being killed with these scams? I must have missed something, because the Nigerian scam thing was all the rage awhile back, and I just figured it as regular internet pop-culture stuff. Why would they get to the point of murder being involved?
---
### Author:  [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2003, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-an-email-from-a-known-scam-artist-so-decided-to-string-him-along/191920/9 "2003-07-31T07:35:19Z")
I believe that a number of people have simply gone missing (presumed murdered) when the scam got them to the point where they had to fly out to Lagos or Amsterdam to ‘sign the papers’ or some such. I’ll see if I can find a cite.
Of course that doesn’t mean that they would come after you for messing with them on a few emails…
---
### Author:  [@Achilles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achilles)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2003, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-an-email-from-a-known-scam-artist-so-decided-to-string-him-along/191920/10 "2003-07-31T07:48:50Z")
If you fly to Amsterdam, you’ll be kidnapped. That’s the long and short of it.
As regards what’s to do with these people? Just put their email address all over the internet to spam them to eternity…
---
### Author:  [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2003, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-an-email-from-a-known-scam-artist-so-decided-to-string-him-along/191920/11 "2003-07-31T08:09:07Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Achilles \*
> **If you fly to Amsterdam, you’ll be kidnapped. That’s the long and short of it.**
Cite?
---
### Author:  [@Bill\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_H)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2003, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-an-email-from-a-known-scam-artist-so-decided-to-string-him-along/191920/12 "2003-07-31T08:27:38Z")
Personally, I think:
a) the law enforcement agencies aren’t going to give a darn about any report you make, especially as no money has actually been lost by you and there are multiple countries and police agencies involved. (by the way, this is backed up by some experience by me; many years ago when the Nigerian thing was heating up, I received several different contacts and turned them to the FBI, who made it clear they couldn’t care less about my receiving one email from some strangers in other countries)
b) you are not in any sort of danger of some Nasty Norweigien flying here to kick your butt. (please) and
c) what you’re doing seems kinda fun.
---
### Author:  [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2003, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-an-email-from-a-known-scam-artist-so-decided-to-string-him-along/191920/13 "2003-07-31T12:46:07Z")
Ahhhh yes. Croatia, the new Nigeria.
---
### Author:  [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2003, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-an-email-from-a-known-scam-artist-so-decided-to-string-him-along/191920/14 "2003-07-31T13:28:15Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Walloon \*
> \*\*Cite? \*\*
Could you clarify whether you doubt that kidnap is a _distinct possibility_, or **Achilles** assertion that it is _inevitable_?
---
### Author:  [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2003, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-an-email-from-a-known-scam-artist-so-decided-to-string-him-along/191920/15 "2003-07-31T13:32:25Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Walloon \*
> \*\*Cite? \*\*
> [@](#):
>
> In June of 1995, an American was murdered in Lagos, Nigeria, while pursuing a 4-1-9 scam, and numerous other foreign nationals have been reported as missing.
[http://www.secretservice.gov/alert419.shtml](http://www.secretservice.gov/alert419.shtml)
---
### Author:  [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2003, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-an-email-from-a-known-scam-artist-so-decided-to-string-him-along/191920/16 "2003-07-31T13:32:30Z")
Croatia? Where’d you get Croatia from?
---
### Author:  [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2003, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-an-email-from-a-known-scam-artist-so-decided-to-string-him-along/191920/17 "2003-07-31T13:42:33Z")
Here’s another cite - granted these aren’t Amsterdam cites, but the Nigerian advance fraud letters often invite their victims there as well (see [scamorama.com](http://scamorama.com)).
> [@](#):
>
> Since 1992, 17 people have been killed in Nigeria attempting to recover their funds.
[http://www.aic.gov.au/media/990709.html](http://www.aic.gov.au/media/990709.html)
Flying to a foreign country is a whole lot different from screwing with people over email, however.
---
### Author:  [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2003, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-an-email-from-a-known-scam-artist-so-decided-to-string-him-along/191920/18 "2003-07-31T14:38:06Z")
Yugoslavia.
Croats and Slavs, very similar…methinks. I can say that, I`m Croatian myself.
---
### Author:  [@The\_Ryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Ryan)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2003, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-an-email-from-a-known-scam-artist-so-decided-to-string-him-along/191920/19 "2003-07-31T16:50:18Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Eleusis \*
> \*\*[http://www.secretservice.gov/alert419.shtml](http://www.secretservice.gov/alert419.shtml) \*\*
There’s something on the site that has me wondering:
> [@](#):
>
> The most common forms of these fraudulent business proposals fall into seven main categories:
>
> Disbursement of money from wills
> Contract fraud (C.O.D. of goods or services)
> Purchase of real estate
> Conversion of hard currency
> Transfer of funds from over invoiced contracts
> Sale of crude oil at below market prices
---
### Author:  [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2003, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-an-email-from-a-known-scam-artist-so-decided-to-string-him-along/191920/20 "2003-07-31T16:57:58Z")
Isn’t **Coldfire** from Amsterdam? Maybe he could pick up the money for you 😃
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