# If you are committing fraud, check your sig file. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 15, 2010, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-are-committing-fraud-check-your-sig-file/543303 "2010-06-15T16:10:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-are-committing-fraud-check-your-sig-file/543303/1 "2010-06-15T16:10:00Z")
I’ve gotten clueless attempts to extort money, but this one takes the cake: > [@Cluesss Mongol](#): > > Alan Brand and Co. > Tentville House > London road, > north cheam, > Surrey SM3 9AA, > United Kingdom, > [www.brandandco.com](http://www.brandandco.com) > > ## Attention: I am writing from Brand & Co solicitors and my name is Claire Callaway. I am just writing to Inform you that my client Mr Briggs Warner has recently passed away and he has no immediate family to collect his large personal fortune. You will be excited to know that he, appointed you to be the next of kin and you are due to inherit a lump sum of money. Kindly get back to me through email or Telephone on this for more details. It will be beneficial to all parties concerned. Regards, Claire Callaway - Attorney at Law > > КОМПЬЮТЕРИЙН ТЕХНИК МЕНЕЖМEНТИЙН СУРГУУЛЬ, MUST (КТМС). > Computer Science and Management School, Mongolian University of Science and Technology (CSMS). > Visit us at [http://www.csms.edu.mn](http://www.csms.edu.mn) It seems that the Mongolian University of Science and Technology is offering a class on theft, but I suspect this guy will fail Do check if you have your sig turned on before mass mailing. The name of your client also shouldn’t be taken from bits of a corporate directory. Are these people getting supider, or is it just me? ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-are-committing-fraud-check-your-sig-file/543303/2 "2010-06-15T17:09:07Z")
Nice. You should forward it back to the school’s administrators. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-are-committing-fraud-check-your-sig-file/543303/3 "2010-06-15T18:36:54Z")
Great, now the Mongolians are getting into the scam biz’ too. _Where does it end?_ ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Poster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Happy\_Poster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Poster)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-are-committing-fraud-check-your-sig-file/543303/4 "2010-06-15T18:39:34Z")
I have to laugh at you, fuckwit Thinking you’re so clever working out the origin of this email form the signature. Anyone with a brain could work out the signature is forged. You know nothing about who sent this email. HTH ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-are-committing-fraud-check-your-sig-file/543303/5 "2010-06-15T18:58:54Z")
> [@Happy\_Poster](#): > > I have to laugh at you, fuckwit > > Thinking you’re so clever working out the origin of this email form the signature. > > Anyone with a brain could work out the signature is forged. You know nothing about who sent this email. > > HTH **Happy Poster** , I think the staff is tired of your drunk posting and your recent behavior in general. You’ve been acting like a jerk. This is a formal warning for personal insults. If this continues your posting privileges will be reviewed. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-are-committing-fraud-check-your-sig-file/543303/6 "2010-06-15T19:00:33Z")
That is a real law firm. Or at least, the link works and they do have email. So I asked if they have a Claire Callaway working there, and what’s up with this email? > [@Bo](#): > > Is your firm involved in this email? It lists your correct address, although I don’t see a Claire Callaway on your Staff Profiles. > > The full email was posted on a forum I participate in at > > [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=12579172#post12579172](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=12579172#post12579172) > > and details something about an inheritance. Frankly, it seems to be some sort of scam, but I thought I’d go to the (reputed) source and see what’s what. > > Bo I’ll let y’all know if they reply. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Poster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Happy\_Poster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Poster)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-are-committing-fraud-check-your-sig-file/543303/7 "2010-06-15T19:40:34Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > **Happy Poster** , I think the staff is tired of your drunk posting and your recent behavior in general. You’ve been acting like a jerk. This is a formal warning for personal insults. If this continues your posting privileges will be reviewed. Not my fault you lack a sense of humour :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-are-committing-fraud-check-your-sig-file/543303/8 "2010-06-15T19:43:28Z")
> [@Happy\_Poster](#): > > Not my fault you lack a sense of humour :rolleyes: Your fault if you’re breaking the rules of the message board, though. So please quit doing that. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-are-committing-fraud-check-your-sig-file/543303/9 "2010-06-15T20:24:43Z")
My guess: A Bot made its way onto a school computer and the school’s network attaches the signature automatically. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2010, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-are-committing-fraud-check-your-sig-file/543303/10 "2010-06-16T00:59:02Z")
> [@CaveMike](#): > > My guess: A Bot made its way onto a school computer and the school’s network attaches the signature automatically. Could be, but most people I know have email set up to add sigs automatically, and I’ve never seen another example of this. I suppose it is possible that there is a correlation between having a sig and being not clueless enough to get your account hijacked. It does ruin the effect, though. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2010, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-are-committing-fraud-check-your-sig-file/543303/11 "2010-06-16T01:43:13Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > Could be, but most people I know have email set up to add sigs automatically, and I’ve never seen another example of this. I suppose it is possible that there is a correlation between having a sig and being not clueless enough to get your account hijacked. I was thinking of the automatic signatures that get attached by Yahoo! Mail, iPhone, etc. As well as the disclaimer sigs attached by corporate ITs. I hate to ruin the effect though 😉