Are You There, Minx? It’s Me, Nigerian Spammer
The other day I received a heartrending email that I simply couldn’t ignore. Please pull up a chair and I’ll share it with you.
Samuel wrote: Am samuel….am from Nigeria….i really need your financail surport.
The email was unfortunately lacking in detail. Normally in these types of communication I’ve won a lottery, or someone has a brilliant business idea but they just need a $20 million investment from me to get started.
Of course, I responded to my new BFF Samuel immediately. I wrote: Hi Samuel. Of course. How can I help?
Samuel has thus far not replied, so perhaps he’s already received help from some other kind-hearted blogger. Perhaps someone pointed him in the direction of the ubiquitous Buy Me a Beer plugin.
But seriously, why are these fund-seekers always from Nigeria? Is there a lack of cash but an abundance of broadband? Is it simply a numbers game, where if you ask and ask and ask and ask via every email address on the planet, someone will happily forward you their credit card details and wish you well?
Apparently, yes. The law site linked to dishes all the dirt on these “unsolicited email communications” and provides a list of dodgy pseudonyms which you should steer well clear of.
So next time Dr Ikomo Jeef writes to you asking for your assistance in delivering him from a pressing financial situation by sharing your address and bank account details, advise him of the merits of AdSense instead.
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Tuesday, June 19th, 2007 at 8:13 am
under
Yep I once there was this girl from Nigeria who tried to scam me by just coming out and asking me for my bank account information. What do these people think that we are all stupid or something? They do change their tatics though as they sometimes will try and use social netwwrkings sites to establish a relationship and then later ask you for your money. It is just sad.
June 19th, 2007 at 9:33 amYes, always from Nigeria check out http://www.419baiter.com I guarantee it’ll cheer you up Minx!
June 19th, 2007 at 11:09 amRead the following story of a poor Nigerian and a nice reverend from the church of “Fish and Bread”.
http://www.419eater.com/html/tope.htm
It’s not sad… it’s illegal. They are conning people so that later they can steal from them… as I said… definately not sad.
June 19th, 2007 at 11:28 amAgree with Steve - not sad, it’s wrong!
I get pissed most every day when I check my inbox only to see that 5-10 of them are Nigerian scammers! Grrr!
They base their whole lives around scamming as their sole means of income. What a life to live…
I love responding to them though. They get all excited about it. Hell, I could start a blog on that alone…
June 19th, 2007 at 7:15 pmThis spam is definitely a blight on the blogosphere. Notice, though, that when we think of these outlandish spam campaigns, we think of Nigerian spammers. Why does Nigeria produce such scabs? Based on what I’ve read about Nigeria, particularly the cites, it’s because much of the population lives in the depth of abject poverty and rampant corruption the likes of which most of us couldn’t even imagine. Spamming is like a dream job compared to what many people are forced to do to survive in a place like Lagos.
Which is not to say, of course, that you should send a spammer money!
June 19th, 2007 at 9:28 pmHi Mike,
That’s true, they have their reasons for doing it. It certainly wouldn’t be my last choice for making money in a desperate situation.
June 20th, 2007 at 8:57 amRyan: I’d love to see your dialogue with the Nigerian spammers!
June 20th, 2007 at 9:03 amKronic: Funny but I think ‘Tobe’ deserved at least some money after the fish photos!
June 20th, 2007 at 3:15 pmrichminx: Yeah if he had a paypal address I reckon I’d pop in $20, well worth the laughs!
June 22nd, 2007 at 5:36 am