# Scam (Internet and Otherwise) Omnibus Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 4, 2022, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265 "2022-04-04T18:23:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 22
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2023, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/421 "2023-03-07T03:57:06Z")
[Maybe there used to be a movie inside.](https://www.amazon.com/Planet-USA-Flo-Lackner/dp/B00VG3NXLI) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2023, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/422 "2023-03-07T04:08:41Z")
He’s still demanding payment. I’ve again offered to pay cash and sent a photo to prove I have the cash on hand. [[Album] imgur.com ![](https://i.imgur.com/Ha6e6fc.jpeg?fb "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/a/vFvs7v7) I explained that I recently moved from California and it’s common to keep cash and protection on hand due to all the earthquakes. (that’s actually a pellet pistol and stage prop money) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2023, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/423 "2023-03-07T04:40:58Z")
OK, it didn’t phase him. However, he did ask for my new address and when I told him it’s the same one I gave him before, it turned out that he thought “SC” meant Southern California. Supposedly, the diplomat will be flying out in the morning. (this is not the first time this has happened) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2023, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/424 "2023-03-07T04:55:16Z")
I asked him if he takes bitcoin. He said yes so I sent him my Bitcoin wallet with instructions to take out what he needs and send the rest back. [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/ivTrMsN.jpeg "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/ivTrMsN) ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2023, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/425 "2023-03-07T05:00:03Z")
Lol!! ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2023, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/426 "2023-03-07T05:23:58Z")
He claims he doesn’t know how to take the bitcoin out of my wallet and sent his wallet address. Me-“Oh, that’s the _old_ bitcoin. Obviously, you’re not aware of the _new_ bitcoin.” And he hasn’t sent back my wallet like I asked. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2023, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/427 "2023-03-07T14:54:39Z")
I lied to a customer yesterday by saying our money transfer system was down. She was sending money to her “fiance” in Nigeria. She was very excited that this summer she was actually going to fly there and meet this person. I tried to tell her that this seemed like a common scam but she kept insisting that it could not be because he was her “fiance.” Adamant. So suddenly my equipment froze. Computers, what can you do? I think many people in these fantasy relationships do not want to be told it is a scam. Is their fantasy worth $300.00 every few weeks just to keep it alive? I don’t know but I do not want to enable it. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2023, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/428 "2023-03-07T15:02:24Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > OK, it didn’t phase him. Probably because you need a phaser and not a pellet gun. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2023, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/429 "2023-03-08T04:15:36Z")
Today I was informed by a telephone recording in both English and Chinese that my social security number has been revoked. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2023, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/430 "2023-03-08T04:19:31Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > Today I was informed by a telephone recording in both English and Chinese that my social security number has been revoked. - Wow. Usually, they just suspend it. Did you get to speak to the scammer? ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2023, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/431 "2023-03-08T04:29:43Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Did you get to speak to the scammer? Nah, it was a recording. I was supposed to press some keys, but I hung up. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2023, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/432 "2023-03-10T19:00:17Z")
Just got an email from UTB Banque in Togo: > Dear Customer, > This authority bring into your notice that we got a signal from the FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF AMERICA and which they are demanding for the drug money laundering clerance certificate. :facepalm: ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2023, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/433 "2023-03-10T19:36:58Z")
Isn’t that the official certificate that allows you to launder drug money legally? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2023, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/434 "2023-03-10T19:52:46Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Isn’t that the official certificate that allows you to launder drug money legally? - You would think. I think it might be whoever came up with that one was probably trying to claim you had to buy your way out of a drug money laundering charge. Much like the SSA scam involving an abandoned car full of cocaine and blood and you have to pay to get the warrant canceled. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2023, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/435 "2023-03-10T20:26:00Z")
Is it _wrong_ to imagine one of these scammers contacting a SovCit sort and arguing various financial mythologies for an hour? Because I may be wrong… ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2023, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/436 "2023-03-10T20:48:55Z")
I can imagine sending SovCits an “official” letter stating that their supersekrit bank account has drained as punishment for their public statements. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2023, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/437 "2023-03-10T21:30:59Z")
They’d certainly deserve each other. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2023, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/438 "2023-03-10T23:17:14Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > > [@bobsmom101](#): > > > > “Planet: USA”? - > > Yep. And there supposed to be an armored box inside containing an ATM card worth 4,000,000 million USD dollar. (Yep, that’s exactly how it’s phrased.) Still baiting this idiot. Just broke 500 emails. I like to think that he has no other victims since he’s spending all his time on me. With all the inane comments and stubborn refusal to fall for his scam I’ve made, someone with two brain cells would have figured out he’s being baited. ---
**Author:** ![Ponderoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponderoid/32/19221_2.png) [@Ponderoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponderoid)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/439 "2023-03-11T04:48:22Z")
Is there any chance you’re dealing with a bot? A bot could have infinite patience and deal with thousands of potential victims at once. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265/440 "2023-03-11T04:51:48Z")
> [@Ponderoid](#): > > Is there any chance you’re dealing with a bot? A bot could have infinite patience and deal with thousands of potential victims at once. - Doubtful. The responses are specific to what I write. Also, I don’t think a bot would have such bad English. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265.md?page=21) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-internet-and-otherwise-omnibus-thread/962265.md?page=23)