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Don’t Get Taken By This Adorable Scam!

posted November 11, 2007 - 11:50am
Don’t Get Taken By This Adorable Scam!

You have heard of scams before. But have you heard of this adorable scam?
The real genius of this ever evolving 419 scam is its ability to change with the times. Like Madonna or antibiotic-resistant staphylococcus, the money-advancing grift continuously reinvents itself to better infiltrate society’s weaknesses.

Coming soon to an Inbox near you; arguably the most insidious 419 scam yet. Unlike older cons promising money, love or your life, this new variant doesn’t exploit greed, lust or fear – but another human languor equally as vulnerable — puppies!

Read the whole story here:


Website: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21677608/
Author: Prabhjeet
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Thanks...

Idlewild - Sun, 2007-11-11 12:34 pm
I've gotten those Nigerian scam letters (snail mail and email) before, but didn't know about the 419 part. Thanks.

How the 419 Scam gets its name

jdubhub - Sun, 2007-11-11 12:27 pm
The original (and still probably most active) source of this type of scam originated in Nigeria, a country whose highest exports seem to be oil and scammers. Confidence schemes fall under Section 419 of the Nigerian penal code, hence 419 scam. The Naughty Nigerians used to be the primary source of these scams, with the address of the scammer being in Lagos, but the letters originate anywhere in Africa and even Europe. Things to look for in a suspect letter include:
  • The e-mail subject line is usually "Dear {insert last name here}"
  • The originator has a return mailing address in Africa
  • The letter is often in ALL CAPS and words are butchered {*}The sender claims to be a barrister (lawyer) or bank officer, yet will e-mail the letter from a Yahoo! or other free e-mail service
  • Often the subject of the letter shares your surname and may or may not be your relative
  • The deceased met their fate in an some unfortunate way. Sometimes the scammer may include a news link to a real accident as "proof".
  • The financial amount always involves millions of dollars and the scammer is trying to get it out of the country
  • The scammer always needs your help and bank account information to secure the transfer
  • In exchange for giving a perfect stranger your name, address, phone number, personal bank account information, and usually a payment of a few thousand dollars, you are promised that you will get a few million dollars for helping This is the basic formula for the scam letters. Once you are used to their form, it's easy to sniff them out and delete them. Unfortunately, the scammers e-mail broadcast these poorly-written letters to millions of people each day and they always find enough suckers to make the risk worthwhile.

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419 scam?

Idlewild - Sun, 2007-11-11 12:08 pm
What's a 419 scam? Haven't heard that term before. Is it a particular type of scam?

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