Anyone get this one yet? I am sure it’s crap, but where is the scam? Am I supposed to give them some money first and later get screwed. Am I supposed to reply and somehow get a virus or something? What’s the deal with this one? There are no CCs but I assume there could be a million BCCs. Plus the whole “free email” thing is kinda right on par for crap like this. The only thing I can’t figure out is, what is the point. It doesnt ask me to forward anything to a million of my friends, doesn’t ask for money (at least I dont think it does. I read it kinda fast), it doesn’t have any links to kiddie porn or anything (unfortunately). Basically, what the hell was the point of this? Anyone know?
Hope I didn’t just ruin some ladies chance of freedom…
This scam has been around for ages. I even recieved a similar copy of it in the good 'ole United States Postal Service box back in 1995. I assume that I recieved it there because our “branch” office (meaning me) was a relatively new to the city I was in.
Let’s see - these people now have your full name and address, and your passport number. Gee, you don’t suppose the terrorist network could be manipulating this little scam in order to obtain false identities, do you? I’d sure hate to have MY passport turn up on the body of the next suicide bomber.
pezzy, Enclosed in this coughemptycough envelope you will find the proceeds from the sale of your passport to nigerian wannabe terrorists. I sold it to them a few weeks back, along with your snare drum.
Haha Nice new sig Broc! I’ll have you know that I got my snare drum back.
I think you are all just jealous about me helping this lady out and making all this money. I’ll have you know that it’s not just about the money, I see myself as a true humanitarian. Now if youll excuse me I have an email box FULL of chain letters to reply to.
You should have done like I did, just send him your bank account number so he can deposit the money directly into your account. It is so much easier and quicker to get the money that way.
This scam is not only very old (it has been going on for decades and started in snail mail), it is also very dangerous. People who have been strung along have ended up going to Nigeria and being killed by the scammers.
Researching Nigerian 419 scams (as they are called after a code section dealing with fraud) was what brought me to Snopes, and Snopes was what brought me to the Straight Dope.
The Snopes article has a good explanation about how the scam works, and also links to various other articles.
