No, HE's Crandall Spondular

[Ceejaytee]

In the spirit of Mangetout , Martin Lee invented a new persona, Alistair Benn , to play with some Nigerian spammers. Things got a little hairy though, when he received a check for $78,000, apparently from a PBS station (WGBH in Boston), with directions to keep 10 percent for himself and send the rest to Hong Kong–a check which would have bounced if he’d deposited it.

The law enforcement agencies involved - the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Department of Justice - won’t comment on the case or even say whether it is being investigated.

A spokeswoman at WGBH, however, confirmed Lee’s account. The station lost no money, she said, and doesn’t know how it became involved in the fraud.

So, here’s to Alistair Benn and Crandall Spondular: keeping Nigerian spammers on their toes since 2008.

[Winston_Smith]

While I agree the Crandall Spondular thread was amusing, I think this is asking for trouble. If you get a check, you’re obligated to involve The Authorities. While you would think The Authorities would appreciate a citizen doing their part to “fight crime” I’d be inclined to think you’d be drawing suspicion your way, too. I mean, seriously - what kind of kook amuses himself by carrying out elaborate, months-long dramas with internet scammers? (This is not a knock on Mangetout, whom I greatly admire for his creativity and the contributions he makes here) All I’m saying is that beyond the context of our community I’d think that was pretty bizarre.

[Marley23]

The thread title makes me think of the famous scene from Spartacus.

“I am Crandall Spondular!”
“I’m Crandall Spondular!”
“I am Crandall Spondular!”

[Hypno-Toad]

Would the real Crandall Spondular please stand up, please stand up, please stand up?

I bet that Alistaire Benn never sporked anyone.

[Mangetout]

I’m Crandall Spondular!

Consider yourself sporked!

[Sal_Ammoniac]

@Ceejaytee

Things got a little hairy though, when he received a check for $78,000, apparently from a PBS station (WGBH in Boston)…

Ah, my old employer! But I had nothing to do with it, I swear.

And for the record, my real name is Spondall Crandular.

[masterofnone]

I came across one of the anti-nigerian spam websites where some guy actually got the spammer to send him $20 to prove he was legit. The guy actually admitted that he had scammed the spammer out of the $20 on-line. I thought that was pretty stupid to brag about commiting mail fraud (+whatever else they could pin him on). I don’t think the law actually says it’s ok to con a con man.

[Mangetout]

@masterofnone

I came across one of the anti-nigerian spam websites where some guy actually got the spammer to send him $20 to prove he was legit. The guy actually admitted that he had scammed the spammer out of the $20 on-line. I thought that was pretty stupid to brag about commiting mail fraud (+whatever else they could pin him on). I don’t think the law actually says it’s ok to con a con man.

Are you thinking of The Church Of The Painted Breast? - The baiter was UK-based - not that it’s exactly legal to con a conman here, but the definition of mail fraud is probably different.

[Really_Not_All_That_Bright]

I’m Crandall Spondular and so’s my wife!