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April 15, 2005

Greedy from Africa

No, not me, the e-mail. Have you been getting these e-mails about a general's wife, an adviser, or just a plain old bank president wanting to extricate money from a country and they need you to help them? All you will have to give is your bank information, a small transaction fee, and THE LEFT SIDE OF YOUR BRAIN.

People, this is a scam, and not a new or inventive one, so why are people still falling for it? There is no tooth fairy, no Easter bunny, and no free lunch. That's right, you will pay for it somehow, some way. I'm almost tempted to let this one slide since it is just your own greed that gets you into trouble.

Here's how it works. If you make contact with these people, initially all will seem well and good. They may play on your Christian identity, your global good citizenship,or the sheer kindness of your heart. You may want to buy it, but that hissing sound you hear is the conman blowing hot air up your skirt. They will need you to send them a fax of your drivers license, passport, and small amount of money -- a couple of hundred, maybe a grand-this is really to prove to them how much of a sucker you are. In the short form of the scam, the conman inevitably needs some extra capital to bribe someone at the 11th hour. Kiss that money goodbye along with the funds in the bank account to which you have given the number. Thanks to you and your good heart, some cat in Zimbabwe will soon own the flattest, largest, TV you have never seen. In the longer form of the con you have to fly to this country to sign papers and what have you. Family members: If a relative of yours is about to do this, please e-mail me their address so I can go over there and smack him for you. Oh -- and get the ransom money ready since they will be held hostage for X amount of dollars. People, do not be this stupid. Simply do not reply to the e-mail. Me-I'm a smart ass so I reply and send them one of the links below.
419 scam from rica.net
419 legal.org

Now let's talk common sense. Have you heard how corrupt some of the other governments are around the world? Saddam had a gold-plated bed while outside people were farming dirt. I made that up, but you get the gist.

Why would these people from another country need your help? Like America has the market cornered on money laundering and fraud. If you really wanted money to disappear would you transfer it from Nigeria to America (where the IRS is looking to catch you, particularly if you're a common working class Joe), or would you transfer it to some bank in the Ukraine or Turkey. Americans, I know you want to be apart of the raping and pillaging of foreign countries-me too-OK, not really--- but let's think about it. Do you really want to be like the civilian businessmen/contractors in places like Iraq. They are not soldiers, they are businessmen. They belong in business situations-not in a war zone. Yes, to the victor goes the spoils-- I cannot think of a saying for "keep your greedy ass at home where it's safe, money is not worth your family seeing your head cut off on TV." I'll have to look around for one. I am going to go with "penny wise pound foolish," but it still lacks something.

Here are some links from people who have answered the e-mail.
Please do not be like these people just delete the e-mail.

419 scam transcript

419 scam transcript

Posted by Kwaku at April 15, 2005 10:27 AM

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Posted by: D at April 21, 2005 11:45 AM

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