Technology in Society

This is yet another scam attempt:Note the spelling mistakes, boiler plate text (nothing specific about the item). I also included the inserted scam advisory by craigslist. 

From: austin ford <shopay1@dbzmail.com> To: meDate: Sep 16, 2006 7:03 PMSubject: [title of item]** CRAIGSLIST ADVISORY --- AVOID SCAMS BY DEALING LOCALLY** Avoid: wiring money, cross-border deals, work-at-home** Beware: cashier checks, money orders, escrow, shipping** More Info: http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams.htmlDear Seller

I got this email from a scammer, in response to a classified ad for a car. You can see that his questions are more sophisticated than the others:However, the signs of scamming is there, such as "the item", and signing "Donald" while his name in the email is "greg mcdonald".

From: greg mcdonald <gregmcautos@yahoo.com>Subject: [title of car ad from craigslist]HELLO, MAY I KNOW IF THE ITEM YOU ADVERTISED ON THE NETIS STILL AVAILABLE FOR SALE, MY CUSTOMER IS INTERESTED INBUYING IT , HE IS PRICING IT $950 ,LET ME KNOW IF ITS STILL FORSALE, WITH THE BOTTOM PRICE .ASAP.WHEN WAS IT DRIVEN LAST?ARE YOU FIRST OWNER?Donald 

Timothy Olufemi Akanni was a Nigerian electoral official, being the director of Finance and Supplies from 1996 to 2005. He was also a Pentecostal church pastor. He died in a plane crash in 22 October 2006. He was eulogised as a selfless and patriotic Nigerian.

What was to be revealed later was that Akanni had another secret wife, and has amassed $55 million dollars illegally.

The matter was discovered when his two widows started squabbling about the spoils.

A corrupt official, or hypocrite pastor is nothing new.

What is amazing is that this looks like a plot from a typical email fraud from Nigeria. Imagine reading this:

I recently listed a car for sale on craigslist and other local classified ad services.This is one reply I got, which is clearly an attempt at scamming:

From: Dave Smith <goldenwum12@yahoo.com>Subject: [The title of the classified ad for the car]Hello,I just viewed your car posting on craigslist and i have interest on it i will like to know the present condition and two more pictures of the car before i proceed with the transaction.Thanks

Problem is, the scammer is not very smart. I did not posted pictures to begin with, so there are no more pictures.

Here is another classifed ads (craiglist) scam that I got in response to listing a computer for sale for a few hundred dollars.

From: richard adelson <richardsonandco@yahoo.ca> hi seller,   i am interested in the item you placed online for my son schooling in Nigeria- West Africa.  pls let me know how much the goods will cost and the term of payment. thanks.

My reply was as follows:

$237,579, including shipping by FedEx to Nigeria.Payment by cash.

Radio Shack has fired 400 employees by sending them emails. Read the Canadian Press version, and the discussion on Slashdot. This e-firing reminds me of e-divorce for some Muslims.In 2000, and Egyptian court refused to uphold a divorce notice by email. Another scholar from Saudi Arabia agrees that it is hard to prove in court.

I got this from Dr. M. S.

I would like to ask about the registration fees for an [some citizenship] Girl wants to egister in the second year of the secondary school (Grade 11). Also, the fasilties for aquiring studying Visa to enter Egypt.Thanks

Another example of winning the lottery.

INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY PROMOTIONPRIZE AWARD DEPT.HAARLERBERGWEG 161101 CH AMSTERDAMREF: CMWN321501/55 BATCH: 32/852042/ILPPA/CMWNIPDear Sir/Madam,We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Lottery Winners International programs held on the 12th August 2006.Your e-mail address attached to ticket number 2154892-09 with serial number 8542189-92drew lucky numbers 92-21-21-99-3 which consequently won in the 1st category, you have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of US$ 500,000.00(Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars)CONGRATULATIONS!!!Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep your winning information confidential until your claims has been processed and your money Remitted to you. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants.All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from over 20,000 company and 30,000,000 individual email addresses and names from all over the world. This promotional program takes place every year.This lottery was promoted and sponsored by eminent personalities like Mr. Bill Gates and the sultan of Brunei, we hope with part of your winning you will take part in our next year USD50 million International Promotion lottery. To file for your claim, please contact our fiducially Agent:Dr. Desmond P. Williams (PercyDWilliams@netscape.net)Operations Director,TEL: 0031-6135-04625FAX: 0031-84753-9200email: CiscoGlobalNet@netscape.netRemember all winning must be claimed not later than 10th Sept 2006.after this date all unclaimed funds will be included in the next stake. Please note in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications endeavor to quote your reference and batch numbers inall first correspondence. Furthermore, should there be any change of address doinform our agent as soon as possible. We hope with part of your winning you will take partin our next year 30 million dollars international lottery.Congratulations!!!Once more from our members of staff, we thank you for being part of our promotional program.Note: anybody under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified.Sincerely yours,Winfrey Howard,SecretaryNB: We are very sorry for the delay!!!

Here is another one that showed up on the Drupal development list. I guess we don't have to any fund raising for servers anymore, and Dries can retire early ...

Here is another scam email for the Euro Million Lottery.

From: EURO MILLION AWARD <euromillionaward2006@caramail.com> To: ...Date: Aug 14, 2006 11:45 AMSubject: FINAL WINNING NOTIFICATION 2006 EMAIL AWARD PROGRAMME EURO MILLION AWARDOFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENTINTERNATIONAL PROMOTION/PRIZE AWARD DEPT.REF: EMLA/61-ILGI0509/45BATCH:EMLA/15/096/WRCSRE: WINNING FINAL NOTIFICATION:We happily announce to you the draw of the Euro Million LotteryInternationalprograms held on the 30th July 2006 in Madrid Spain.Your e-mail addressattached to ticket number: 213440056545 168 with Serial number4188/05drew thelucky numbers:4 9 22 24 30 41 20 which subsequentlywon you the lottery in the 2nd category.You have therefore been approvedto claim a total sum of 500,000.00 Euro(Five Hundred Thousand Euro)in cash credited to file KPC/9087533308/03.This is from a totalcash prize of Five Million Euro(5 million Euro), shared amongst the firstTenth(10th)lucky winners in this category.Please note that your luckywinning number falls within our Madrid booklet representative office in Spain asindicated in your play coupon.In view of this, your 500,000.00 Euro(Five HundredThousand Euro) would be released to you by our security firm in Madrid, Spain.Our agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of yourfunds as soon asyou contact him.All participants were selected randomly from World Wide Web sitethrough computer draw system and extracted from over 100,000 companies. Thispromotion takes place annually. For security reasons, you are advised to keepyour winning information confidential till your claims is processed and yourmoney remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fitto claim your prize.This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming andunwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous elements. Pleasebewarned.To file for your claim, please contact our fiduciary agent:DR PETER JAMESSanta Lucia Security Company. Spain.Email:santalucespana@netscape.netEmail:santaluciaespana@casinomail.comTelephone: 0034-660 689 879For due processing and remittance of your prize money to a designatedaccount of your choice. Remember,You are to contact our agents by email and withina week of receiving this notice.After this date, all funds will be returnedtothe MINISTERIO DE ECONOMIA Y HACIENDA as unclaimed. To avoid unnecessarydelays and complications, please quote your reference/batchnumbers in anycorrespondenceswith us or our designated agent.Congratulations once more from all members and staffs of this program.Yours Sincerely,Wilfred MiguelLottery Director.