# Really stupid phishing **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 23, 2019, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-stupid-phishing/828276 "2019-01-23T16:22:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-stupid-phishing/828276/1 "2019-01-23T16:22:10Z")
I just got the following: > [@](#): > > You are herewith notified to visit to court to give evidence. > > It is extremely mandatory that you study the subpoena you received very attentively. This will state definitely what the procedures will be if you fail to do what is bounden of you. With regards Witness Care Unit agent Mr.Klane Escher Mary. Then there was a link. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/22080_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-stupid-phishing/828276/2 "2019-01-23T16:35:26Z")
Wow - extremely mandatory! It must be really important! ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-stupid-phishing/828276/3 "2019-01-23T16:47:05Z")
When I was an Economics undergrad, one of my classes was about building economic models and running them through various simulations. Our professor’s example, that he showed us in lecture before sending us to make our own models, was about how using the stupidest possible phishing emails is actually a winning strategy. See, the initial spammy emails take very little time and effort. You send them all out with mass emailing software. But then you need to communicate with the people who reply, one on one, actually formulating responses. So the best strategy is to make the initial email so hard to fall for that only the most gullible people respond to it – meaning the people you actually end up communicating with are the ones most likely to fall for your scam and send you money. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2019, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-stupid-phishing/828276/4 "2019-01-23T19:09:15Z")
I got an e-mail today from Ms. Shirley Biscar, head of something very important-sounding at Harts-Field Airport (her hyphenate). She was alerting me to the confiscation of two trunks (each weighing 242 pounds and each containing $10 million) from a British diplomat. Apparently if I send my info pronto we can share the bounty. With all those specifics, it has to be real, never mind the misspellings and grammar atrocities. > [@](#): > > With regards Witness Care Unit agent Mr.Klane Escher Mary. You do realize that when you visit to court, you’ll wind up on a strangely spiraling staircase that just leads back to where you started. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Karen\_Lingel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karen_lingel/32/18649_2.png) [@Karen\_Lingel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karen_Lingel)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-stupid-phishing/828276/5 "2019-01-24T00:06:57Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > See, the initial spammy emails take very little time and effort. You send them all out with mass emailing software. But then you need to communicate with the people who reply, one on one, actually formulating responses. So the best strategy is to make the initial email so hard to fall for that only the most gullible people respond to it – meaning the people you actually end up communicating with are the ones most likely to fall for your scam and send you money. That’s genius! ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2019, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-stupid-phishing/828276/6 "2019-01-25T13:21:57Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > When I was an Economics undergrad, one of my classes was about building economic models and running them through various simulations. Our professor’s example, that he showed us in lecture before sending us to make our own models, was about how using the stupidest possible phishing emails is actually a winning strategy. > > See, the initial spammy emails take very little time and effort. You send them all out with mass emailing software. But then you need to communicate with the people who reply, one on one, actually formulating responses. So the best strategy is to make the initial email so hard to fall for that only the most gullible people respond to it – meaning the people you actually end up communicating with are the ones most likely to fall for your scam and send you money. That makes sense if you are supposed to respond. But if you are asked to click on a link, then they could infect your computer immediately. It takes no extra effort on the Phisher. Phishing is different from spam. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Shine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr_shine/32/464_2.png) [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2019, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-stupid-phishing/828276/7 "2019-01-25T13:42:51Z")
That’s probably similar to a genuine court summons from 20 years in the future, although slightly better written than the average one. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2019, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-stupid-phishing/828276/8 "2019-01-25T14:52:15Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > When I was an Economics undergrad, one of my classes was about building economic models and running them through various simulations. Our professor’s example, that he showed us in lecture before sending us to make our own models, was about how using the stupidest possible phishing emails is actually a winning strategy. > > See, the initial spammy emails take very little time and effort. You send them all out with mass emailing software. But then you need to communicate with the people who reply, one on one, actually formulating responses. So the best strategy is to make the initial email so hard to fall for that only the most gullible people respond to it – meaning the people you actually end up communicating with are the ones most likely to fall for your scam and send you money. Or, probably, English is not their first language. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2019, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-stupid-phishing/828276/9 "2019-01-25T15:03:53Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > When I was an Economics undergrad, one of my classes was about building economic models and running them through various simulations. Our professor’s example, that he showed us in lecture before sending us to make our own models, was about how using the stupidest possible phishing emails is actually a winning strategy. I wonder if this has ever been verified by people actually running these Nigerian/E. European scam rings. It feels like the “Oh, those stupid Seen on TV products are actually intended for people with disabilities!” line – nice to tell yourself when the alternative is “People are buying a thirty dollar machine to crack their eggs” but not actually backed up by evidence. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2019, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-stupid-phishing/828276/10 "2019-01-25T15:11:07Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > I wonder if this has ever been verified by people actually running these Nigerian/E. European scam rings. It feels like the “Oh, those stupid Seen on TV products are actually intended for people with disabilities!” line – nice to tell yourself when the alternative is “People are buying a thirty dollar machine to crack their eggs” but not actually backed up by evidence. Doesn’t matter if the individuals running the scams are doing this on purpose or not. The spammers could also be this stupid, but get better results than sophisticated spammers because their dumbness isn’t causing them to miss out on any contacts who would actually pay. ---
**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:** [January 25, 2019, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-stupid-phishing/828276/11 "2019-01-25T16:54:58Z")
Tell us where the link goes! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2019, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-stupid-phishing/828276/12 "2019-01-25T17:30:12Z")
I got this one today: > [@](#): > > Howdy, > > Expect you do not mind my english language sentence structure, since im from Indonesia. I infected your system with a virus and now have all of your personal info from your os. > > It previously was mounted on a mature page and after that you’ve picked the online video and clicked on it, my software instantly got into your computer. > > And then, your cam started to record you flying solo, additionally i captured a movie that you’ve seen. > > After a short while this also pulled out your device contact info. In case u want me to clear off your all that i have got - transmit me 830 dollars in btc its a cryptocurrency. This is my btc wallet transfer address : 19C1MFR6w7HPoPiYNGbLTaEwoNJzo4 > > At this moment you will have 28hrs. to make a decision Immediately after i will receive the transaction i’m going eliminate this video and everything entirely. In any other case, please be sure that the footage is going to be submitted to all your contacts. “flying solo” lol. ---
**Author:** ![Disheavel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@Disheavel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disheavel)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2019, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-stupid-phishing/828276/13 "2019-01-25T18:54:43Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > I got an e-mail today from Ms. Shirley Biscar, head of something very important-sounding at Harts-Field Airport (her hyphenate). She was alerting me to the confiscation of two trunks (each weighing 242 pounds and each containing $10 million) from a British diplomat. > > Apparently if I send my info pronto we can share the bounty. > > With all those specifics, it has to be real, never mind the misspellings and grammar atrocities.You do realize that when you visit to court, you’ll wind up on a strangely spiraling staircase that just leads back to where you started. :eek: Uh oh, Jackmannii, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I too was contacted by Ms. Shirley about this same exact shipment (seriously not joking), and I beat you to it. It is funny to see that they are literally just sending the same email to everyone! ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2019, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-stupid-phishing/828276/14 "2019-01-25T19:17:07Z")
> [@Disheavel](#): > > Uh oh, Jackmannii, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I too was contacted by Ms. Shirley about this same exact shipment (seriously not joking), and I beat you to it. > > It is funny to see that they are literally just sending the same email to everyone! Well, that’s how spam works. If you had to create a custom message for each target it would take too long, so what you do is write one stupid message, send it to a hundred thousand people, and then glean the 2% of them that are stupid enough to buy it.