E-mail scams. We’ve all had them, and while I do not know anyone stupid enough to fall for one, it seems that scammers often end up raking in handsome rewards. All I can say is, people idiotic enough to fall for these deserve it.
Take the latest one to make its way into my inbox. I wasn’t particularly surprised to find a mail from an eminent Indian historian with the subject line “Very Urgent”. Having worked with him in the past, I just assumed he was contacting me for work. My hopes were dashed, though, for this is what the mail said (original punctuation retained for added entertainment!):
Please, i am in a Critical situation right now which i will need your urgent response.Actually, I had an urgent trip to United Kingdom but unfortunately for me Armed Robbers attacked the hotel i lodged and all my money and some of my luggages was stolen .I had been so restless and hopeless because i have been without any money. All the Hotel telephone lines here got disconnected by the robbers and they are still trying to get them fixed so i only have access to emails, my mobile can’t work here so i didn’t bother to bring it.All i want you to do is to help me with some money,please kindly send me 1450 pounds, so i could pay my hotel bills and return home.I would refund it immediately i get home,please help me send it through Western Union Money Transfer because it is the fastest and safest way i can receive it.
Send it with my name and the address of the hotel below:
NAME: […]
ADDRESS: […]
CITY: Middlesex
COUNTRY: UK
ZIP CODE: TW2 7QTI will be waiting for your help soon,i will really appreciate your quick response.
cheers
[…]
😆
~PD
Goodness, you better save him! Anything might happen to him all alone in the UK without money. What if he spots a vending machine full of chocolate bars but can’t buy one? What luck they didn’t take his computer so he could contact you for help. I guess his family and friends must all suffered similar Armed Roberries and don’t have any money to send him.
Damn, I didn’t think of that! Those dastardly Armed Robbers — looks like they took off with the British police and telephone authorities as well as the guy’s “luggages”, leaving him stranded in that deserted island with a computer and a Net connection and a Western Union branch.
*gasp*
Lol! Someone was clearly inspired by the Mumbai terrorist attacks!
And someone should also tell these morons that eminent Indian historians usually know how basics of English grammar and punctuation!