Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Scam emails

I find these deeply amusing. I received my first one literally as I returned to my desk from an office training on recognizing and stopping money laundering. How we laughed. Last year I decided it would be fun to lead one of these people on for a while and opened up a yahoo account with a spam name (something like xydhsejzzjs@yahoo.com), took on the persona of a lonely teenage girl who worked at a fast food restaurant, was extremely unpopular, and clearly could be of no use to him. He wrote back.
Lately, I've been finding them more offensive, as I did with the one below - I'm not sure what's going on here (oh, and the "to" address is not mine...):

From:"Mrs. Babara Irene Hanff"
To:charity@beloved-christcentral.com
Subject: Dearly Beloved In Christ!!!!
Date: Tue, 15 May 2007 19:30:38 -0400
Dear Friend,

I am the above named person undergoing medical treatment now. I was
married to Dr. Peter Hanff who worked with erithean Embassy in Poland as a
diplomat and a business man for over 6 years before his untimely death
in the year December 2004 We were married for eleven years without a
child. He died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days.

Before his death we were both Christians. Since his death I decided
not to re-marry or get a child outside my matrimonial home, which my
religion is against. When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum
of$20 Million (twenty million U.S. Dollars) with one finance/security
office in Europe.

Presently, this money is still with the Security/Finance Company.
Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next three months
due to cancer problem. Though what disturbs me most is my stroke.
Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to a foundation or
better still a Christian individual that will utilize this money the way
I am going to instruct here in. I want an individual that will use this
to fund missions, orphanages and widows and other good charity deeds
The Bible made us tounderstand that blessed is the hand that gives.

I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit
this money and my husband relatives are not Christians and I don't want
my husbands hard earned money to be misused by unbelievers. I don't
want a situation where this money will be used in an ungodly manner, hence
the reason for taking this bold decision. I am not afraid of death
hence I know where I am going. I know that I am going to be in the bosom of
the Lord. Exodus 14 VS 14 says that the lord will fight my case and I
shall hold my peace. I don??need any telephone communication in this
regard because of my health, and because of the presence of my husband's
relatives around me always.

I don't want them to know about this development. As soon as I receive
your reply I shall give you the contact of the Finance/Security Company
Europe. I will also issue you a letter of authority that will empower
you as the original- beneficiary of this fund. I want you to always pray
for me because the lord is my shepherd. My happiness is that I lived a
life of a worthy Christian. Whoever that wants to serve the Lord must
serve him in spirit and truth. Please always be prayerful all through
your life.

Understand that we must keep this contact secret as possible that way
we can be focused on the fact that you have claimed the money
successfully and commence on what we have discussed Any delay in your reply will
give me room in sourcing for a reliable individual for this same
purpose.

.Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated
herein.Please reply me through my private email: babara_hanff@yahoo.com.hk

Remain blessed
Mrs. Babara Irene Hanff