# New type of spam: "Send us money or we'll kill you" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 24, 2004, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-type-of-spam-send-us-money-or-well-kill-you/270959 "2004-10-24T23:40:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2004, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-type-of-spam-send-us-money-or-well-kill-you/270959/1 "2004-10-24T23:40:56Z")
From [CBC Prince Edward Island:](http://pei.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=pe_threat20041022) > [@](#): > > CHARLOTTETOWN — RCMP investigators are warning people about a new type of e-mail fraud that threatens to have the recipient killed if a payment isn’t made. > > Const. Don Crozier is with the RCMP’s commercial crime section on P.E.I. He said one woman on P.E.I. called to say she had received the message. > > “From reading the e-mail that this lady received, some of the spelling and language is not good. So you can be sure it didn’t come from a person whose native tongue was English. If we could identify where this came from it certainly violates the laws here in Canada.” > > The e-mail asks people to send $50,000 US within four days or they’ll be assassinated. One Nova Scotia woman who recently received the message was also told to respond immediately and not go to police. So tell me, had _you_ thought it was possible for spam scammers to get any more evil? ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2004, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-type-of-spam-send-us-money-or-well-kill-you/270959/2 "2004-10-24T23:46:45Z")
So does this mean we can consider spammers _terrorists_ now? 😉 \ ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2004, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-type-of-spam-send-us-money-or-well-kill-you/270959/3 "2004-10-24T23:55:58Z")
Give me an IP. Please. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-type-of-spam-send-us-money-or-well-kill-you/270959/4 "2004-10-25T00:01:42Z")
It’s easy for us to be smarmy about this. But given the number of people who’ve fallen for bog-standard Nigerian scams, there’ll be significant (albeit numerically few) victims to this one, without a doubt. The one saving grace is that once such an email arrives in a western country, a crime’s probably been committed, purely through the threat made. In the more normal scams, the crime is only committed in the country the email it’s sent from (obviously if they follow through with the scam there’s more crimes.) ---
**Author:** ![Liz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/liz/32/17737_2.png) [@Liz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liz)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-type-of-spam-send-us-money-or-well-kill-you/270959/5 "2004-10-25T00:05:18Z")
> [@Bruce\_Daddy](#): > > Give me an IP. Please. My thoughts exactly. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-type-of-spam-send-us-money-or-well-kill-you/270959/6 "2004-10-25T00:12:19Z")
> [@Constable Don Crozier](#): > > “From reading the e-mail that this lady received, some of the spelling and language is not good. So you can be sure it didn’t come from a person whose native tongue was English.” I find this conclusion highly suspect. Nonetheless, I hope they catch the bastard and do horrible things to him. Although, in a pinch, any other telemarketer would do as a scapegoat. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-type-of-spam-send-us-money-or-well-kill-you/270959/7 "2004-10-25T01:28:47Z")
I hope they catch this moron. The last time somoene “offered” to kill me, I gave him an open invitation - 30 years later, I’m still waiting. Is there a Canadian equivalent to the FBI? I’m sure there is. Forward this sort of message directly to them, so they can try to track down the source. ---
**Author:** ![Fuji\_Kitakyusho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@Fuji\_Kitakyusho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuji_Kitakyusho)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-type-of-spam-send-us-money-or-well-kill-you/270959/8 "2004-10-25T01:44:05Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > Is there a Canadian equivalent to the FBI? The Canadian equivalent to the FBI is the RCMP. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-type-of-spam-send-us-money-or-well-kill-you/270959/9 "2004-10-25T01:57:23Z")
> [@MacTech](#): > > So does this mean we can consider spammers _terrorists_ now? This one certainly was. Wouldnt cry if they were put into gitmo for a couple of years. Then again I could say that about “regular” spammers as well, and about tabloid writers, but I wouldnt call them terrorists (yeah I know you were joking :)) ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-type-of-spam-send-us-money-or-well-kill-you/270959/10 "2004-10-25T02:16:08Z")
Thank god. It’s about friggen time those scammers realized the standard scam had played out. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-type-of-spam-send-us-money-or-well-kill-you/270959/11 "2004-10-25T02:16:22Z")
> [@Fuji Kitakyusho](#): > > The Canadian equivalent to the FBI is the RCMP. Nitpick: The Mounties certainly carry out all the roles of the FBI, but they also do a lot of stuff that the FBI doesn’t, so they’re not exactly equivalent. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-type-of-spam-send-us-money-or-well-kill-you/270959/12 "2004-10-25T02:27:28Z")
Well of course the spammers are pissed off. I’ll bet not one person in this thread offered to help that nice man in Nigeria who was trying to get the family millions out of the country, and none of you wanted to decrease your mortgage payments, get a college degree at home, increase the size of your _ahem_ member, or buy your prescriptions at a huge savings. It’s a fine state of affairs when you can’t screw people out of their money fair and square anymore. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-type-of-spam-send-us-money-or-well-kill-you/270959/13 "2004-10-25T02:42:44Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > Nitpick: The Mounties certainly carry out all the roles of the FBI, but they also do a lot of stuff that the FBI doesn’t, so they’re not exactly equivalent. Do they really have horses? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-type-of-spam-send-us-money-or-well-kill-you/270959/14 "2004-10-25T02:55:11Z")
> [@Dog80](#): > > Do they really have horses? 😕 For ceremonial events. The other dutys of the RCMP most closely resemble what State Police do here in the U.S. Most Provinces do not have Provincial Police forces ( Ontario and Quebec being notable exceptions, I believe) ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-type-of-spam-send-us-money-or-well-kill-you/270959/15 "2004-10-25T03:09:12Z")
> [@Weirddave](#): > > For ceremonial events. > > The other dutys of the RCMP most closely resemble what State Police do here in the U.S. Most Provinces do not have Provincial Police forces ( Ontario and Quebec being notable exceptions, I believe) Plus they do municipal policing in a lot of rural areas. It’s the whole gamut, from small town cop to liasons with international agencies, and everything inbetween. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-type-of-spam-send-us-money-or-well-kill-you/270959/16 "2004-10-25T04:56:01Z")
Here’s an article from The Register, July 2004, containing a copy of one of the spam messages: > **[419ers morph into Murder Incorporated](https://www.theregister.com/2004/07/19/419ers_murder_incorporated/)** > > Pay up or die The letter appears to be derived from a scam-fax sent out as early as 1994: > [@](#): > > EXECUTION! EXECUTION! EXECUTION! > > Your Ref:\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\__ **Our Ref: JANSO/0587/52AB\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_Date 15-11-94** _ > > We wish to introduce our company/ourselves as a subsidiary of INTERNATIONAL > ASSASINATORS AND WORLD SECURITY ORGANZATIONS, with branches in one hundred and > two (102) countries. > We have received a fax message our World Headquarters, New York, this morning to > inform you to produce a mandatory sum of US$35,000.00 (THIRTY-FIVE THOUSAND > UNITED STATES DOLLARS) only, into our account given below in Switzerland within > Ninety Six hours (96), alternatively, you will kidnapped and forced to commit > suicide during the period of our on-coming anniversary of fifty years. > APM AMRO BANK > 12 QUAI GENERA GUISAN > 1212 Geneva 3 > A/C NO. 8270LB (L.N.SIADU) > SWITZERLAND > CAUTION > > 1. Fax immediately to this office, the payment slip, confirming the payment an to > enable us reconcile with our files and deploy our men already monitoring you. > 2. We will as well waste no time to carry our operations, if we discover that > this contract is disclosed to any second party including the following:- > a) Police (b) Relation and (C)Friends > 3. We guarantee your safety locally and internationally, on the completion of > this contract and will not hesitate to disclose our men in your country to you > and as well render our service if needed or on request. > We seek your urgent co-operation, for it is not our wish to get you eliminated. > PRINCE (DR) BVANO H. JIMOH > SECRETARY That cheery message is reprinted from a State Department document (.pdf file), page 25: [http://www.state.gov/www/regions/africa/naffpub.pdf](http://www.state.gov/www/regions/africa/naffpub.pdf) ---
**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:** [October 25, 2004, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-type-of-spam-send-us-money-or-well-kill-you/270959/17 "2004-10-25T06:10:26Z")
That has got to be the most pathetic piece of spam I’ve ever seen. I’m surprised they didn’t ask the recipient to make seven copies and forward them. I couldn’t take these bozos seriously if they were standing in my living room with a gun and the bodies of their last eight victims. If Prince Jamoh really wants to frighten people, he should threaten to put them on his mailing list. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-type-of-spam-send-us-money-or-well-kill-you/270959/18 "2004-10-25T06:17:19Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > So tell me, had _you_ thought it was possible for spam scammers to get any more evil? Eh, that’s not so bad. A _really_ evil spammer would say “Pay up now or we’ll spam you every day for the rest of your life!” And then do it anyway after receiving payment. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-type-of-spam-send-us-money-or-well-kill-you/270959/19 "2004-10-25T06:46:54Z")
You think _that’s_ bad, check out a piece of spam I found in my in-box today: > [@](#): > > stranger see absent colour" months eight him leader pleasant, > thats conscience cold become seen opposite! save passed comes > into seems, find ill talking sad ought should" > care completely order known alone maam luck forth wrong, > breakfast off as in blew! hair lady full private. ears lips > building persons believed. wife late garden turn toward free > pounds didnt white grabbed" > sometimes legs clear circumstances spent serious months modern. > wonderful believe power height sharp practice feelings family" > tongue meaning exciting pale are always wednesday thats, means > degree wished sorry wide note, > american disease parents parallel closed place home glad bound! > hurry clean nineteen all can black pretty hear, nineteen summer > listened kind loss car article companion professor. What the hell is THAT supposed to mean? And just what are they trying to sell me? ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-type-of-spam-send-us-money-or-well-kill-you/270959/20 "2004-10-25T09:08:28Z")
> [@I Love Me](#): > > You think _that’s_ bad, check out a piece of spam I found in my in-box today: > > What the hell is THAT supposed to mean? And just what are they trying to sell me? Jim Morrison is spamming from beyond the grave! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-type-of-spam-send-us-money-or-well-kill-you/270959.md?page=2)