Is this a scam? Is this a Scam

chrisjbell · May 15, 2003

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StoneHeartFarm · May 15, 2003

Fraid so. It's a scam just like the email I got a year ago that said the Rev Chief Mrs Buhutta needed to flee the country and had to take millions of dollars with her, and needed my bank account number to deposit it to. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Steve

Bird · May 15, 2003

I think I've gotten a version of that one at least 6 or 8 times. Where do they get our e-mail addresses? I've not only gotten it here with this e-mail address, but also last year with my old e-mail address.

frank_f15 · May 15, 2003

yep! just a measley $2,500 ain't hardly worth the time and effort. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Anonymous Poster · May 15, 2003

Here is a link that tells the same story...via a chain of emails and also has a copy of the check this guy received.

Click on the small check image to make it bigger...

<font color="blue">

http://www.mogstink.com/scam/scam.htm

Click here to jump to that link...

</font>

r0GuE · May 16, 2003

It may be that there is a thriving grey market, but only for the reason that subverting import duties and regulations makes the item cheaper. I'd let the thing ROT in a feild before I would even begin to assume the risk and hassel of selling to someone in Africa. And that is even if the guy didn't want me to send him a check. Life is complicated enough already. Of course I'm the type of guy that likes to trade n cars because I'm not much of a salesman. I'm trading in a 1999 Trooper w/ 21,000 miles next week! They aren't giving me what it's worth, but at least I'll be done with it. HEY!! Wait a minute, ... Is there anyone from Africa out there that would like to buy my truck though a complicated scheme of wire trasfers and laserprinted checks??? If I can get a few more bucks, maybe I'd go for it.

Anonymous Poster · May 16, 2003

Bird:

<font color="blue"> Where do they get our e-mail addresses? </font>

1) When you visit a site that sets "cookies" or you allow code such as javascript you are allowing a "foreign" computer to examine your computer. Most sites (including I think this one) won't abuse that power, but some would.

2) A legitimate email from someone that is "mass" mailed (you will see others who also received it in the "to:" area) passes your email address to these other parties (whom you probably don't know) who may then pass it on.

3) There are a finite number of service providers and an even more finite number of 8 character names (many providers are limited to 8 byte names). Get a list of service providers and a computer can generate combinations of handles to go with those providers easily enough.

4) There are other ways I won't go into.

JEH

Anonymous Poster · May 18, 2003

When my dad worked in oilfield in Midland, Tx, the company he worked for shipping MANY things overseas especially in Nigeria, africa and asia.

Anonymous Poster · May 18, 2003

If you look at the Nigerian scheme they ask for something like 50k, $2500 profit just doesnt seem like a scam.

Anonymous Poster · May 18, 2003

Once a cookie is on your computer there is absolutly no way to view whats inside that cookie. Its encrypted so much that you cannot see whats inside.. after all it does contain passwords to websites!