# lazy, idiotic scammers **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 12, 2004, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lazy-idiotic-scammers/244802 "2004-05-12T15:29:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JerH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bb73d2/32.png) [@JerH](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerH)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2004, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lazy-idiotic-scammers/244802/1 "2004-05-12T15:29:34Z")
I just got this scam spam: > [@](#): > > Dear citi\_bank Mebmer, > > ThIs email was sent by\_the\_ Citicards sevrers to veerify your\_ _e-mail_ adrress. You must complete this process by clicking on\_the link below and enttering in the litle window your citi\_bank Debit\_ card number and PIN that you\_use on\_the local Atm\_Machine. That\_is donne for Your protection -g- becaurse some of our memebrs \_no\_longer have access to their email addersses and we must verify it. > > \ > > To verify \_your E\_MAIL adderss and _access_ your _citibank account, clic on the\_link below_. If you’re going to try and rip me off, at least put a little bit of effort into it - spend that extra 5 minutes and run your message through a spell check, maybe have someone who actually speaks English take a look at it, and use a return address that actually looks like it could be legit. Take some pride in your work! This is why American scammers will always be more successful - because they put in that little bit of extra effort that says “I recognize that my superior work will enable me to pull in people with IQ’s as high as 75 or 80, rather that the 60 that’s the limit on yours.” ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2004, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lazy-idiotic-scammers/244802/2 "2004-05-12T15:35:56Z")
If they have all the words spelled correctly, most spam blockers will pick it up. My guess is that anyone who would fall for a scam like that probably wouldn’t notice all the misspellings. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2004, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lazy-idiotic-scammers/244802/3 "2004-05-12T15:38:40Z")
I am a mebmer of citi\_bank adn I got one off theses teh ohter day, but wehn I clikced on the link to veerify my adrress, it didnt wrok. ---
**Author:** ![JerH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bb73d2/32.png) [@JerH](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerH)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2004, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lazy-idiotic-scammers/244802/4 "2004-05-12T16:06:43Z")
**Lord Ashtar** - I somehow doubt that words like “done,” “servers” and “address” are going to set off anyone’s spam filter. I agree that only true idiots would fall for this. ---
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2004, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lazy-idiotic-scammers/244802/5 "2004-05-12T20:28:01Z")
> [@JerH](#): > > **Lord Ashtar** - I somehow doubt that words like “done,” “servers” and “address” are going to set off anyone’s spam filter. I agree that only true idiots would fall for this. JerH- Let me confirm what Lord Ashtar said. They miss spell words and insert odd characters(like-, \*, ~, Etc.) to defeat spam filters. It’s not accidental or bad spelling, just a means to an end. Sam ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2004, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lazy-idiotic-scammers/244802/6 "2004-05-12T20:48:30Z")
> [@JerH](#): > > **Lord Ashtar** - I somehow doubt that words like “done,” “servers” and “address” are going to set off anyone’s spam filter. No, but specific phrases might. Things like “verify your email address” would increase a email’s spam/scam score. I don’t fall for these. I’ve already updated **all** my internet accounts using this [excellent **free** service](http://www.cockeyed.com/citizen/accounts/update.html). I would urge all Dopers to use it immediately, before all your accounts close and deathrays come down your internet connection and destroy your computer. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2004, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lazy-idiotic-scammers/244802/7 "2004-05-12T20:56:00Z")
I have a buddy who would fall for this. He nearly got stung by a version of the Nigerian scam. The clerk at Western Union put the kibosh to it. His mother has been in banking for over 20 years. ---
**Author:** ![Tazmanian\_Devil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cc9497/32.png) [@Tazmanian\_Devil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tazmanian_Devil)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lazy-idiotic-scammers/244802/8 "2004-05-13T02:20:11Z")
Let’s see…I’ve had the Citibank e-mail, I’ve also had the South African diamond mine one tried on me, where the idiot ass scammer says in so many words that if you send a little money to him, he’ll let you in on his diamond mine investment. I believe I set a world record for fastest click on ‘delete’. ---
**Author:** ![kung\_fu\_lola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f4b2a3/32.png) [@kung\_fu\_lola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kung_fu_lola)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lazy-idiotic-scammers/244802/9 "2004-05-13T15:13:11Z")
I got one of those “joe-job” e-mails claiming to be from a bank that I don’t bank with (and never have). I recognized it for what it was, but it looked convincing enough that I thought someone else might fall for it. I tried to report it, since it was a real doozy (asking for bank account number and PIN), but there wasn’t anyone to report it to (I live in Canada, and all the agencies I found were based in the US).