[Falconoffury]

The dictionary defines phishing, "the practice of luring unsuspecting Internet users to a fake Web site by using authentic-looking email with the real organization's logo, in an attempt to steal passwords, financial or personal information, or introduce a virus attack; the creation of a Web site replica for fooling unsuspecting Internet users into submitting personal or financial information or passwords". I have an alternate email that I give out to websites that spam you, and I keep getting the famous "Nigeria Scam".

http://www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/nigeria.asp

While it can be any country, and any valuable, it's all known as the Nigeria Scam. Now I haven't actually fallen for this, but it still angers me. This is a shining example of what is wrong with the world these days.

The millions of dollars and other currencies that these scammers have stolen should be enough to put major political pressure on Nigeria to clean up its own house, but it just isn't happening. It has to be because of the operations and investments that various international oil companies have. This country basically gets a free pass because it is so cooperative with the oil companies. Anyone else angry over this?

[RonMN]

So...can i have your credit card numbers (with exp. date), bank account number, and your SSN?

Oh yeah, and your mothers maiden name if it wouldn't be too much trouble

[shakespear1]

Anyone who gets caught by these people really needs to think about not playing with a computer until they grow up

[RonMN]

I guess i wont just leave it as a joke...hell yes it irritates me! But it's just life...there's theft & violence everywhere...and i have to say a murder bothers me more than theft.

Phishing is no different than getting your pocket picked...although with a pick pocket, atleast you have some chance & catching him & bashing his teeth out

[Falconoffury]

Pickpockets don't disguise themselves as anyone you can trust. Con artists do.

The point of this post is mainly the anger over nothing being done.

[Free]

Well as long as it is not some technically advanced bank page fake or something like that, I just don't understand how people can fall for the typical scam, I guess greed and stupidity go together very often.

But there are people who strike back on the Nigerian scams, quite funny to read: http://www.419eater.com/

[Falconoffury]

I have never heard anything from a politician about internet scams. Since the scams are growing and growing, it would be nice if they were addressed. Consumer protection agencies need to be given more power.

[seldom_seen]

I just loaned 10,000 dollars to a prince in Nigeria to help him with some financial difficulties. This thread is giving me second thoughts.

[gg3]

Interestingly enough, Nigeria hired a prosecutor to go after the 419ers, and at first he seemed to be making good progress. After a while though, the threats on his life became too much and he retired.

This is not a *government* issue over there; the Nigerian government says it's embarrassed as hell about it. This is a *cultural* issue. Nigeria has been described as having a "culture of larceny." Think of a grassroots kleptocracy:-).

One way to deal with this is to simply cut off Nigeria from the internet. However, in the past, these scams have been done via postal mail, at which point they were known as "Nigerian Letter scams." So the next step would be to cut off Nigeria from international postal service. But then the scammers would cross borders and open mail-drops in neighboring countries.

If ever there were a case to be made for the corrective value of Western imperialism, this is one. Teach them to be right proper thieves like the good old boys at Halliburton. A few thousand bucks from the occasional retiree is a tragedy. Eight billion missing from the Iraq operation is merely a statistic.

----

For those who have never seen one of these, here's one I got today, unabridged, and exactly as I received it. If anyone wants to write to this unfortunate widow to help her recover her fortune, please post the details here as the story goes along, so we can all have a good laugh.


From: abialamobutu@luxmail.com
Subject: Mrs.Abiala Mobutu (widowed).
Date: 15 August, 2005 9:42:48 PM PDT

Good day dear,

Please, pardon me for I know that this proposal will come to you as a
surprise because you did not expect it from some one whom you have not
seen or met before, but kindly rest assured for I meant well and made
it with all sincererity because I have the urge that you will assist
me in all ramifications and also require you to treat it with top most
secret and confidentiality.

I am Mrs.Abiala Mobutu Sese Seko , the wife of Late Mobutu Sese Seko,
the former President of Democratic Republic of Congo. My husband was
dethroned by Laurent Kabila, who forced him to go on exile and take
refuge in Morocco with his entire family. Following the sudden death
of my late husband, Mobutu Sese Seko, and the circumstances sorounding
his death in Morocco in 1997, due to insecurity I decided to take my
leave to hide in one of the West African country with my children.

After much deliberation with My Son (Alfonso Mobutu) and our family
lawyer concerning my late husband's only remaining fund, ($35,000000.00
USD) only which I saved in a Finance & Security Company, which I will
give you their contacts as soon as I open up confidential
communications
with you.He advised me to look for a foreign partner who will be
trusted
and willing to receive this fund, US$35,000000.00 in his/her account
for
investment purposes in his country under his close supervision.

And I decided to contact you after looking through your profile in the
web. And since Alfonso Mobutu is the first son of my late husband, he
will be handling with you all matters in regard to this transaction.

Please reply me immediately so that we can be able to arrange with you
confidently on how the claim of the fund will be made by you. And due
to insecurity and political instability in Africa at large, I am
seriously considering to settle down abroad in a friendly atmosphere
like yours as soon as this fund is claimed by you on my behalf and save
under your care with the investment under your humble supervision so
that
I can start all over again if only you wish.

And for your acceptance to assist me claim this fund and save in your
account as well as assisting me to invest it in your country under your
care and control, your reward is 20% of the sum.

PLEASE, NOTE, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THIS POINT CLEAR NOW AND EARLIER
ENOUGH, SO THAT IF IT PLEASES YOU, WE CAN PROCEED TO WORK TOGETHER BUT
IF IT DOES NOT I CAN LOOK FOR ALTERNATIVE. I WOULD LIKE TO BE HONEST
AND BLONT HERE FOR THAT THIS TRANSACTION, YOUR CLAIMING THE FUND FROM
THE
CONCERNED FINANCE & SECURITY COMPANY ON MY BEHALF, WILL NEED SOME
LITTLE FINANCIAL EXPENCES WHICH YOU AND I WILL TAKE CARE OF TO ENSURE
YOUR SUCCESSFUL CLAIMING OF THE FUND WITHOUT A HITCH. MY REASON, OF
MAKING
THIS OPEN TO YOU NOW, IS THAT I LIKE TO BE HONEST TO YOU AND I KNOW YOU
TOO WOULD LIKE TO BE HONEST TO ME TOO. SO THAT NOT WHEN THIS EXPENCES
COME
UP AT THE MIDLE OR AT THE FINAL END OF THE TRASACTION YOU MAY BE
THINKING OTHERWISE, AFTER ALL, WHY DID I NOT TELL YOU AT THE BEGINING
THAT
THERE WILL BE A NEED FOR YOU TO ASSIST FINANCIALY OR THAT YOU WILL
SPEND
MONEY IN THIS TRANSACTION.

BUT ONE GOOD NEWS I HAVE FOR YOU IS THAT, ANY MONEY YOU SPEND IN THE
CAUSE OF CLAIMING THIS FUND IS NOT FOR FREE, YOU WILL IMMDIATELY TAKE
IT BACK FROM THE $35,000 000.00 AS SOON AS THE FUND IS IN YOUR
POSSESION BEFORE ANY FURTHER SHARING OR INVESTMENT WILL TAKE PLACE,
YOU HAVE MY PERMISSION FOR THIS AS IT WILL BE CONTAINING IN OUR
PARTNERSHIP
AGREEMENT.

HOPEING THAT YOU ARE CONFORTABLE TO PROCEED WITH ME TO ACTUALIZE THIS
TRANSACTION I WOULD WANT YOU TO SEND TO ME IMMEDIATELY;

(1) YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS,
(2) YOUR TELEPHONE & FAX NUMBER,
(3) A COPY OF YOUR INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT, DRIVER'S LICENSE OR NATIONAL
ID CARD FOR PROPER IDENTIFICATIONS.

We are waiting for your urgent reply.

Yours faithfully,
Mrs.Abiala Mobutu (widowed).

[Specop_007]

Well, you know what they say.

A fool and his money.....

While phishing scams are illegal, its more suprising to me how many people have NO common sense whatsoever.

[VinceG]

I agree, specop!

Currently, there is a scam in The Netherlands going on where people receive phonecalls from 'some' organization that tells them they've just won a holiday! In order to receive their tickets, they just have to pay a small amount of money for 'registration purposes', so they have to hand over their credit card number by telephone. Some people have lost a lot of money already...

Personally, I find it amazing how ignorant some people are when it comes to scams like these...

[gg3]

One way people fall for scams is when the scam does a very good job disguising itself as your legitimate bank or PayPal. In some cases it's almost impossible to tell.

I can't fault someone for responding to an "urgent security update" from their bank. Especially older-generation for whom internet is new.

What you can tell your older relatives who are online: If you ever get email that asks you for something, whether money or information, or that promises or offers you something, I want you to forward it to me and we'll talk about it.

Think of parents teaching their kids to avoid strangers. "He may offer you candy or a toy, but don't ever get in a car with him..."

[crossthread]

I get a couple of these a week,,, here's (2) that were recieved today in my E~Addy......

Dear Winner,

Your application for claim of lottery winning prize will be duly processed and settlements be made upon certification and verifications of your details.Be informed that we have in our possession,instruments of payments for the sum of 4,000,000.00 Euros to you.Hence carefully fill in the appropriate informations in the spaces provided below to facilitate our immediate processing of your claims.Your funds have since been deposited with FINANCE HOUSE.Once we receive the requested informations below,your claims file will be sent to FINANCE HOUSE for settlement.
THIS FORM SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY THE BENEFICIARY OF THE STATE FUNDS FOR VERIFICATION BEFORE TRANSFER.
TITLE...........................................................
FIRST NAME.................................................
LAST NAME..................................................
REFERENCE NUMBER...................................
BATCH NUMBER............................................
CONTACT ADDRESS......................................
EMAIL ADDRESS............................................
DATE AND PLACE OF BIRTH...........................
TEL NO.....................FAX NO..........................
NEXT OF KIN..................................................
ADDRESS OF NEXT OF KIN.............................
NAME OF EMPLOYER......................................
ADDRESS OF EMPLOYER................................
TICKET NO/AMOUNT WON...............................
OCCUPATION..................................................
MARITAL STATUS............................................
DECLARATION:
I...............................HEREBY DECLARE THAT THE ABOVE INFORMATIONS ARE TRUE AND BINDING ON ME.IF AT ANY TIME IT IS DISCOVERED THAT I HAVE GIVEN ANY FALSE INFORMATION,I WILL FORFEIT MY RIGHTS TO MY WINNINGS.
FULL NAME............................. DATE..........................
Accept our congratulations.
Sincerely,
MR DAVID BROWN.
N.B : WE HOPE YOUR WINNINGS WILL BE USED FOR THE BETTERMENT OF MANKIND,AND WILL CHANGE THE LIFES OF SO MANY PEOPLE FOR GOOD.NEVER THINK OF WHAT PEOPLE CAN DO FOR YOU BUT THINK OF WHAT YOU CAN DO TO UPLIFT THE LIFES OF PEOPLE,THAT WAY THERE WILL BE MORE OPEN DOORS AND BLESSING FROM GOD FOR YOU

NEXT....................

DEAR FRIEND,

AFTER SEVERAL MEETINGS AND FINDINGS,THE COMMITTEE HAS APPROVED THE
TRANSFERED OF $7.5M TO YOUR ACCOUNT AS BEING PAYMENT FOR INHERITANCE OF
FUND OF YOUR LATE RELATIVE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF WARRI
AND PORTHACOURT REFINERIES SINCE COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.PLEASE LET ME KNOW
HOW YOU WANT THE MONEY TO BE TRANSFERED TO ENABLE ME SUBMIT FILL AN
APPLICATION OF
CLAIM TO THE BANK FOR PAYMENTS AS THE BANK HAS GIVEN ME MANDATE TO PRODUCE
THE BENEFICIARY.

THE MONEY WILL BE TRANSFERED IN THREE(3)STAGES.IT IS SIMPLE PROCESS WHICH
WILL TAKE A SHORT WHILE TO PROCESS-OUTSIDE THIS, THE BANK MANAGEMENT WILL
CONFISCATE THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY AS UNCLEARED EFFECTS AND SEND BACK TO THE
DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION ACCOUNT. IF I HEAR FROM YOU, I WILL TELL
YOU ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE MONEY AND THE OPERATIONAL METHOD WE CAN
USE TO EFFECT THE REMITTANCE INTO YOUR ACCOUNT FOR OUR MUTUAL
BENEFIT.PLEASE ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO MY ALTERNATIVE EMAIL:
davidadamu5@3xl.net FOR PROMPT RESPONSE .THE PURPOSE OF CONTACTING YOU IS
THAT YOU BEAR THE SAME LAST NAME WITH THE DECEASE THIS GIVES US ADDED
ADAVANTAGE.SEND YOUR FULL NAME/TELEPHONE AND FAX FOR PROMPT RESPONSE.

SINCERELY
BARR.DAVID ADAMU
FAMILY LAWYER

[whiteknight]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Specop_007', 'W')ell, you know what they say.

A fool and his money......

[PenultimateManStanding]

Years ago I lived in Long Beach, CA and was coming out of the bank one day when a stranger came up to me with some preposterous story which, unfortunately I can't remember (was about 1982), but required me to hold some money for him and take it to a house. I was supposed to get a considerable amount of money for this transaction. I felt at the time and still do, that if I had taken the bait, I would have been robbed or worse. The guy had a partner who was standing a ways off. They were some kind of con artists like you see in the movies, but not very good. Anybody see that Nicolas Cage movie about con artists? Matchstick Men it was called.

[gg3]

Something like that happens, you find a good excuse to get alone with a phone for two minutes and call the cops.

Same case for people who ask you to take things into or through airports.

All of 'em deserve to spend a long time looking out at the world through bars.

[Falconoffury]

Does anyone think internet scams are on the rise? I've been using the internet for 10 years, and it seems like scams are way up in the past 2 years. Scams have the advantage that all illegal activities online have, the law enforcement world is always behind the technology curve. By the time law enforcement gets some new tricks to catch the illegal activities, most of them have already found out how to get around it.