Technology in Society

This is another form of scam, asking for charity (Zakat in Arabic) for the month of Ramadan (fasting in the Muslim calendar).

Nothing like the prospect of helping orphans and widows to milk people for money.

Subject: Ramadan zakat for poor ophan & widows women
From: Dr. Mrs. Shireen Mujtaba <dr.shireenwcch@gmail.com>
Date: Aug 2, 2007

Dear,
Salam Alai Kum Wa Rahmat Ullah Wa Bara Katu Hu

Here is another variant of the advanced fee fraud. An alleged rich person wants to distribute a large amount of money via a charity, and looking for a trusted person.

Note the new twist of "only having a laptop as a means of communication" in order to allay fears about no phone number/physical address provided.

From: "Mrs.Kate Nuhanvaye" <katenuhanvaye505@hotmail.com> Add to Address BookAdd to Address Book
Subject: From; Mrs.Kate Nuhanvaye ( Charity Project )
Date: Thu, 16 Aug 2007 11:30:10 +0200

My Dear,

Another scam claiming to be a promotion from Heineken, the beer company.

Note how they say that no tickets were sold in order to remove concerns over "how would I win a lottery if I did not buy any tickets?" 

From         HIENEKEN PROMOTION <lottery102@mchsi.com>
To         undisclosed-recipients <>     
Date        Aug 16, 2007 9:01 PM     
Subject        HEINEKEN     
HEINEKEN

Another classic scam claiming a corrupt Nigerian official has amassed a fortune and entrusted the scammer with a portion of it. 

This one includes links to real people and events to lend legitimacy to the claim. 

Yet another variant of the scam, winning a lottery, this time claimed to be from Australia. 

Date:   Tue, 7 Aug 2007 01:16:14 +0200 (MEST)
From:  "australialoto08@terra.es" <australialoto08@terra.es>
Subject:   CONGRATULATIONS! ! ! YOUR E-MAIL WON AUSTRALIA JACK POT

                            Visions of Australia logo

This is yet another variant of the winning a lottery scam. 

From:  "henry don" <inter_24q@hotmail.com>  Add to Address BookAdd to Address Book
Subject:   YOU HAVE WON $2,950,000.00
Date:   Mon, 6 Aug 2007 12:10:14 +0200
   henry don inter_24q@hotmail.com

 PLATINUM LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL

Another scam, about an alleged rich person dying, and wants to give money to charity. He has large sums of money abroad, and wants you to collect the money on his behalf.

In this case, it is a Bahrian citzen, dying from cancer.

From : tscabo <tscabo@netcabo.pt>
Date: Aug 7, 2007 2:38 PM
Subject: Hello,

I am khalid mahmoud, A Bahrain national I have been diagnosed with Oesophageal cancer.

It has defiled all forms of medical treatment, and right now I have only about a few months to live.