  bcool Premium join:2000-08-25 The Ozarks
| Is it possible that you could be duped?
The first of its kind to land in my Inbox - if anything, an interesting read. But who in their right mind would respond?
From: "Dan P." To: danpatrick2003_xxxxxxxxx.org Cc: Subject: URGENT RESPONSE Date: 4 Nov 2003 03:26:39 -0000
FROM: MR DAN PATRICK. DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO. ALTERNATIVE EMAIL: (patrickdan@xxxxxxx.com).
Dear Sir, SEEKING YOUR IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE. Please permit me to make your acquaintance in so informal a manner. This is necessitated by my urgent need to reach a dependable and trust wordy foreign partner. This request may seem strange and unsolicited but I will crave your indulgence and pray that you view it seriously. My name is. DAN PATRICK of the Democratic Republic of Congo and One of the close aides to the former President of the Democratic Republic of Congo LAURENT KABILA of blessed memory, may his soul rest in peace. Due to the military campaign of LAURENT KABILA to force out the rebels in my country, I and some of my colleagues were instructed by Late President Kabila to go abroad to purchase arms and ammunition worth of Twenty Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars only (US$20,500,000.00) to fight the rebel group. But when President Kabila was killed in a bloody shoot-out by one of his aide a day before we were schedule to travel out of Congo, We immediately decided to divert the fund into a private security company here in Congo for safe keeping. The security of the said amount is presently being threatened here following the arrest and seizure of properties of Col.Rasheidi Karesava (One of the aides to Laurent Kabila) a tribesman, and some other Military Personnel from our same tribe, by the new President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the son of late President Laurent Kabila, Joseph Kabila. In view of this, we need a reliable and trustworthy foreign partner who can assist us to move this money out of my country as the beneficiary. WE have sufficient ''CONTACTS'' to move the fund under Diplomatic Cover to a security company in the Europe in your name. This is to ensure that the Diplomatic Baggage is marked ''CONFIDENTIAL'' and it will not pass through normal custom/airport screening and clearance. Our inability to move this money out of Congo all This while lies on our lack of trust on our supposed good friends (western countries)who suddenly became hostile to those of us who worked with the late President Kabila, immediately after his son took office. Though we have neither seen nor met each other, the information we gathered from an associate who has worked in your country has encouraged and convinced us that with your sincere assistance, this transaction will be properly handled with modesty and honesty to a huge success within two weeks. The said money is a state fund and therefore requires a total confidentiality. Thus, if you are willing to assist us move this fund out of Congo, you can contact me through my email address above with your telephone, fax number and personal information to enable us discuss the modalities and what will be your share (percentage) for assisting us. I must use this opportunity and medium to implore You to exercise the utmost indulgence to keep this Matter extraordinarily confidential, Whatever your Decision, while I await your prompt response. NOTE: FOR CONFIDENTIALITY, I WILL ADVISE YOU REPLY ME ON MY ALTERNATIVE EMAIL BOX (patrickdan@xxxxxxxx.com). Thank you and God Bless.
Best Regards, MR DAN PATRICK. |
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 SexyGirl0
join:2003-11-04 | i get at least 2 of those per week. i wonder what they say if you respond to them.. |
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 LowWaterMark Premium join:2002-05-16 Wallingford, CT
| reply to bcool Well, the name and the country are different but it's the same old scam, a la »Nigerian Spam Scammer Caught....
I guess the people who would be duped are those who believe they'll get something for nothing - in this case a very large something, for nothing. It's just greed. -- Use the most powerful combo Firewall/AV/AT package available - "Common Sense" - It can be upgraded daily! |
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  JasonSVA Under Dark Skies Premium join:2003-07-29 Tempe, AZ
| reply to SexyGirl0 said by SexyGirl0 : i get at least 2 of those per week. i wonder what they say if you respond to them..
They come up with some pretty amusing stuff 
A good site on this: »www.ebolamonkeyman.com/
--Jason |
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  zmaugy
join:2003-05-24 Slovenia
| reply to bcool I had to reply once because stupid general manager of the company in which I was working has got this email and he saw it as a business opportunity (this brainless individual also got himself into some "opportunity" to invest if he would send 2000 USD to some phony account in Bahamas. When he would have to decide, he transferred the call to my mobile phone and I had to listen to those phony financial experts which would call me for weeks before they gave up...)I knew it was a scam but did what I was told to do and I have replied that we are not interested in their proposition but we can sell them our products to Congo if they pay in advance or open a letter of credit in our benefit. After that, they haven't send any mail again. |
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  gwion wild colonial boy Premium,ExMod 2001-08 join:2000-12-28 Pittsburgh, PA
| reply to bcool Ahhhh, yes... the Nigerian/Mexican/Rhodesian/whatever scam... I found a letter in my grandfather's old junk, after his death, dated 1934. Country of origin, Mexico... wording, virtually the same. He evidently thought it was a little amusing, too... what they usually do is describe something that's so evidently a crime in almost any jurisdiction, assure you it's entirely legal, or at least morally conscionable under this or that circumstance... and ask for your assistance. Of course, that generally involves money. Lots of money... assuming they gull you that far, they then figure you'll want to protect your investment, and claim something went wrong, and ask for more money. They'll keep it up as long as you keep sending the cash. In extreme cases, the scam culminates in getting you into their country illegally, then extorting you to get you back home, alive and unindicted... -- For it's rise up Jock and sing your song for the summer is short and the winter long now, let's all join hands and form a chain 'til the leaves of springtime bloom again... |
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  Link Logger Premium,MVM join:2001-03-29 Calgary, AB
·Shaw
| reply to JasonSVA said by JasonSVA : They come up with some pretty amusing stuff 
A good site on this: »www.ebolamonkeyman.com/
OK I enjoyed that, but it really worries me that if the scammers are that stupid, then it really doesn't say much for the people they scam?
Blake |
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  dp Go Steelers Premium,MVM join:2000-12-08 Greensburg, PA
·Verizon Online DSL
| reply to bcool Last week I received one from a foreign country that stated I was the winner of $1,500,000 USD since my email addy was selected and to respond to the the mail for addition instructions. Needless to say I didn't respond so now I'm still as poor as I was before  -- Write your questions down on the back of a $20 dollar bill and send them to me |
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  bcool Premium join:2000-08-25 The Ozarks
| at least you got the clothes on you came in with...  I read about some folks who did respond and ended up with far less after being taken to the cleaners. My example above is rather outrageous. But there are some ploys that to the uninitiated appear quite plausible and legal. But like my daddy used to always tell me, "if it sounds too good to be true, it almost always is too good to be true!"
[text was edited by author 2003-11-04 10:35:41] |
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  dp Go Steelers Premium,MVM join:2000-12-08 Greensburg, PA
·Verizon Online DSL
| said by bcool : But like my daddy used to always tell me, "if it sounds too good to be true, it almost always is too good to be true!"
Your daddy is a wise man  -- Write your questions down on the back of a $20 dollar bill and send them to me |
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 Peter2150
join:2003-08-31 Washington, DC
| reply to bcool Saw an amusing approach to these emails. Save the first one. Then when the 2nd one comes, reply and say you can't be of assistance, but you have a friend who can. Send the 2nd scammer the email address of the 1st scammer. Then sit back and smile. |
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  markwp2001 Spreadhead Premium join:2002-05-25 Long Beach, MS
| reply to bcool I get these occasionally. I replied to one a few months ago and ended up stringing them along for several weeks, with a couple of dozen emails going back and forth. Even after I came out and said "You're a criminal and I'm just playing with you, stop trying to rip people off", they continued to try and get me involved. Hilarious. |
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  StraitShoot Who Loves Ya Baby? - Theo Kojak Premium join:2003-02-08 Clinton, MA | reply to bcool I heard people actually lost their lives responding to these scams...so I would not think it's THAT funny... -- Stavros, Why are you eating again? |
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 anthrorules Premium join:2003-09-14 Rollinsville, CO | reply to bcool Probably a good topic for one of the SPAM forums...don't know exactly know how it relates to "security". |
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  bcool Premium join:2000-08-25 The Ozarks | Perhaps. But let's see, loss of money and possibly even life - well not a real stretch for me... -- "in flagrante delicto" |
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  Jason Levine Premium join:2001-07-13 USA
| reply to StraitShoot Not so much in responding, but if they can dupe you into going to their country to "pick up your money" they will kidnap you and ransom you off to your family to get more money. These are truly individuals to avoid. (Perhaps some of the few folks who are lower than spammers in my book.) -- -Jason Levine http://www.jasons-toolbox.com/ http://www.PCQandA.com/ http://www.urateit.com/ |
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