Scam Examiner - Take that, Nigerian Scammer!

Home Examiners News Politics Entertainment Sports Business Health

classifieds autos jobs real estate

- Con artists (10)
- fraud (10)
- E-mail (6)
- Identity Theft (5)
- sales tactics (5)
- hoax (4)
- movies (4)
- phone solicitors (4)
- suspicion (4)
- door-to-door (3)

POSTED April 30, 6:45 PM

A recently received e-mail from a rental property owner puts a new twist on the Nigerian (or 419) Scam.

You know, where a foreign ~~contact~~ stranger desperately needs your help releasing funds from a) an inheritance or b) government contract. Only he requires an advance from your bank account to a) pay taxes or b) bribe corrupt officials, with the promise of untold riches.

In this case, a visiting group of dignitaries required three-week, high season accommodations. Could the property owner please immediately wire a portion of the forthcoming rubber check to a travel agent in Idaho?

The scam dates back to at least an early 1900s con, The Spanish Prisoner. So what's the new twist?

A developing internet sport: Baiting the Scammer. The landlord returned e-mails (based on an enterprising Scamorama.com contributor,) signing his name as Captain Kirk, bemoaning his inability to escape the Gamma Quadrant.

~~Marks~~ Tricksters prolong the correspondence, attempting to reach new absurd levels, sending scammers on wild goose chases to banks and even convincing one to transmit his naked portrait. (It's likely he conned someone else into posing.)

Warning: Some sites detailing Scam Baiting exploits aren't suitable reading for all ages.

Scam Baiting may be humorous, but dangerous. The Scammer looks like an unsophisticated volume dealer, hoping for one score out of 10,000. If he's a professional, though, he may not be as dumb as his e-mail looks, already factoring in that you think you're smarter than he is. The prevalence of baiting may open up a whole new scam. After all, that's their business.

Best for most of us to hit the delete.

Categories: Con artists , E-mail , fraud , Nigerian scam , scam baiting

3 Comments: Add | Read

Rss Feed

Link

Karin Malchow
Gullible suburban mother of four regularly duped in her half-century life. Exploring hoaxes and schemes as the ExSCAMiner, she attempts answering the nagging question: Should I have fallen for that? Got scam tips, email Karin at ScamExaminer@gmail.com.