# So I've been stringing along a scammer... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 23, 2019, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-been-stringing-along-a-scammer/830092 "2019-02-23T16:08:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Twoflower](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/twoflower/32/22_2.png) [@Twoflower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Twoflower)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2019, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-been-stringing-along-a-scammer/830092/21 "2019-02-23T18:11:52Z")
Those payment instructions were not written by a native English speaker. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2019, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-been-stringing-along-a-scammer/830092/22 "2019-02-23T18:40:49Z")
> [@Alpha\_Twit](#): > > +1 > > Make sure you bring hard copies of all communications with you. If they can’t help you, they can probably tell you who can. > > Either that or just send them an envelope of Monopoly money. Not monopoly money, [this](https://www.wish.com/search/prop%20money). Bonus is that they get to add counterfeiting to the list of charges if they try to use it. Also available on Amazon with faster shipping, just at a higher price. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2019, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-been-stringing-along-a-scammer/830092/23 "2019-02-23T19:11:34Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > So this morning she (pic is female, but it could also be a male) asked me to send her $3850, and then I would receive $350,000. Did they say _why_ you would be the lucky recipient of a small fortune in return for your more modest generosity? The Nigerian scam is passé these days, but their letters at least contained some sort of (bogus) explanation about why you might expect a shitload of money. Your scammers must have had some sort of story as well to try to con you into sending the $3850. What was it? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2019, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-been-stringing-along-a-scammer/830092/24 "2019-02-23T19:20:22Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > Not monopoly money, [this](https://www.wish.com/search/prop%20money). Bonus is that they get to add counterfeiting to the list of charges if they try to use it. > > Also available on Amazon with faster shipping, just at a higher price. I like that fake money from _wish_, that’s what I would do. I would tell the postmaster, too. Can you report people on Facebook? ETA, if the homeowner in Texas has to answer a few pointed questions, so be it. They need to know someone is using their name and address. It could be a maid or babysitter or a crazy nephew. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2019, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-been-stringing-along-a-scammer/830092/25 "2019-02-23T19:24:08Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > Not monopoly money, [this](https://www.wish.com/search/prop%20money). Bonus is that they get to add counterfeiting to the list of charges if they try to use it. > > Also available on Amazon with faster shipping, just at a higher price. I once bought play money at Michael’s for a panel I was running where the audience bid on ideas, but this is much cooler and more convincing. But I’d go with contacting the postal inspector. They can stake out the mailbox, and they might ask you to send the package. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2019, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-been-stringing-along-a-scammer/830092/26 "2019-02-23T20:15:57Z")
> [@Twoflower](#): > > Those payment instructions were not written by a native English speaker. Obviously, but that doesn’t change anything. > [@Riemann](#): > > It seems less clear cut that the latter would be illegal, although it probably still is if they are misrepresenting their identity. Right. If postal inspectors are going to stake out a house, they’ll probably want a clear-cut intention to defraud. Just saying, “Please send me $xxxxxx in cash–I promise I’ll pay you back ten times” is not necessarily intent to defraud–even if someone is using a “nickname.” > [@ivylass](#): > > I would be surprised if the person living at that address has any idea of what’s going. It could even be a house which is momentarily unoccupied, but they’re probably going to redirect with the tracking number. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2019, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-been-stringing-along-a-scammer/830092/27 "2019-02-23T21:29:32Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > Here is the message where she instructs me to send money: Moderating: thanks for waiting 20 minutes from the time you asked the question until you posted it. I am mostly OK with what you did. The message is fine. I removed the partial address in your post. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2019, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-been-stringing-along-a-scammer/830092/28 "2019-02-23T21:31:52Z")
> [@Alpha\_Twit](#): > > I’m not going to comment on forum rules but I’d be leery of it. The scammer probably didn’t give you their real name. The fact that the name you were given matches the name of the property holder means nothing. By releasing that data, you might be calling fire down on an innocent person. sort of like SWATting someone [calling in to the police with a tale that would end up getting a SWAT team called in to assault the house] I think if i were trying to get someone in trouble without the possibility of murder by police, postal fraud would be the way I would possible try. ANd it might actually be a friend or neighbor that could check the mailbox covertly and extract any money, maybe the resident is elderly or otherwise bed/housebound and the person really doing it is a caretaker. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2019, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-been-stringing-along-a-scammer/830092/29 "2019-02-23T21:44:28Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Did they say _why_ you would be the lucky recipient of a small fortune in return for your more modest generosity? > > The Nigerian scam is passé these days, but their letters at least contained some sort of (bogus) explanation about why you might expect a shitload of money. Your scammers must have had some sort of story as well to try to con you into sending the $3850. What was it? One of my FB friends is a woman named Martha. A scammer copied her picture and created a new FB account with the same name as her. The scammer then messaged me: * * * **Scammer: Hello how are you doing?** Me: Hi Martha. Doing well. Yourself? **Scammer: I’m just so happy with every single thing happening around me . Very Happy for my life and I was wondering if you have heard about the ongoing LCIF?** Me: Tell me more! **Scammer: It is Lion Clubs International Foundation, Have you heard about them ?** Me: Yes, I have heard of Lion’s Club. **Scammer: I don’t know you have heard from them since they selected people regionally. I got some money delivered to me from the program and i dont have to pay it back. i only pay for delivery and clearance fee. you could also get same benefit. Can I send you their info to apply if you wouldn’t mind?** Me: Sure. But are you sure it’s legit? **Scammer: Sure I got $100,000 from this program and no need of paying back to them Here is a link (XXXXX) click on the link sent to you that you are interested in this program and keep me posted** Me: Well yes, I would definitely be interested. **Scammer: Ok done that now and keep me posted** * * * I clicked on the link. It took me to the agent’s FB account. I contacted the agent via Messenger. The agent replied: YOU’RE WELCOME, MY NAME IS AGENT XXXXX FROM THE DESK OF FOREVER LIVING ASSISTANCE NEH, THIS A FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WHICH HAS BEEN CREATED AND AUTHORIZED BY (U.S LAW) WITH THE HELP AND SUPPORT OF THE WORLD BANK TO CARRY OUT A SPECIFIC PUBLIC PURPOSE WHICH HAVE NOT FORFEITED, NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES ARE FUNDED BY THE UNITED STATE AND CANADA GOVERNMENT YEARLY AND COUNTLESS MILLIONS DAILY BY PRIVATE AND CORPORATION FOUNDATIONS, AND ALL THE FUNDING FOR THESE PROGRAM COME FROM YOUR TAX DOLLAR AND COMPANY PROFIT OF THE STATE, THIS IS REAL AND LEGITIMATE BE HONEST WITH US WE HATE ANYTHING CALL SCAM OR GAME. ONCE YOU ARE HONEST YOU ARE GETTING THE GRANT MONEY FROM US. GET BACK TO US WITH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION BELOW SO THAT WE CAN VERIFY IT WITH OUR DATABASE, ARE YOU READY TO FILL OUT THE INFORMATION ? And then we messaged each other back and forth. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2019, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-been-stringing-along-a-scammer/830092/30 "2019-02-23T21:55:44Z")
You’d think that with all that money they could afford some lower case letters… ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2019, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-been-stringing-along-a-scammer/830092/31 "2019-02-23T23:50:02Z")
This can’t be a scam. Look, they said “THIS IS REAL AND LEGITIMATE”. Also, they hate anything call scam. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2019, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-been-stringing-along-a-scammer/830092/32 "2019-02-24T00:04:16Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I like that fake money from _wish_, that’s what I would do. Wish is great. The only complaint I have is that almost everything comes from China so delivery time is 3-9 weeks. Tough to keep a scammer going that long. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2019, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-been-stringing-along-a-scammer/830092/33 "2019-02-24T01:12:25Z")
> [@digs](#): > > You’d think that with all that money they could afford some lower case letters… And a better translation software… ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2019, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-been-stringing-along-a-scammer/830092/34 "2019-02-24T05:39:11Z")
Oh! It’s the World Bank! We know it’s legitimate now. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2019, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-been-stringing-along-a-scammer/830092/35 "2019-02-24T06:41:22Z")
> [@Mk\_VII](#): > > Sending packets of filth through the mail may itself be illegal (and dangerous to USPS employees) “Someone has sent me a bowel movement!” (Like this post if you got it; oh, wait, you can’t do that here.) Here’s a video from a man who decided to work, albeit briefly, for a mail scammer. Watch it through to the end. 😃 A while back, I saw a Twitter post from a Caucasian American who was working in Nigeria, and was offered US$10,000 a month, cash, to work for them. You see, some of them used white Americans or Canadians to appear on Skype, because their victims were more trusting if they saw someone who looked and sounded more like them. He declined. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2019, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-been-stringing-along-a-scammer/830092/36 "2019-02-24T07:31:37Z")
I think there’s an actual website that sends people animal poop. Or you could mail them glitter. Makes a horrible mess when they open it. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2019, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-been-stringing-along-a-scammer/830092/37 "2019-02-24T08:33:13Z")
Yea, don’t send any white powder, though. The feds might knock on your door. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-been-stringing-along-a-scammer/830092.md?page=1)