im used to getting the same boring old fraud emails from nigerian dudes, but the one i got this afternoon had me laughing. I found it funny how a supposedly 58 year old woman would use teenage shorthand like "pls".

Dear Friend

Greetings in the name of God Pls let this not sound strange to you for my
only surviving lawyer who would have done this died early this year. I
prayed and got your email id from your countries Christian guestbook which
i have been with my late husband and liked to visit once more if God will
in his infinite mercies.

I am Mrs. Joy Hoffman from Kuwait, I am 58 years old, I am deaf and
suffering from a long time cancer of the breast which also affected my
brain, from all indication my conditions is really deteriorating and it is
quite obvious that, according to my doctors they have advised me that i
may not live for the next two months, this is because the cancer stage has
gotten to a very bad stage. I was brought up from a motherless babies home
was married to my late husband for twenty years without a child, my
husband died in a fatal motor accident Before his death we were true
Christians.

Since his death I decided not to re-marry, I sold all my inherited
belongings and deposited all the sum of US$5.6Million dollars with a
Security Firm.
Presently, this money is still with them and the management just wrote me
as the true owner to come forward to receive the money for keeping it so
long or rather issue a letter of authorization to somebody to receive it
on my behalf since I can not come over because of my illness or they get
it confisticated.

Presently, I'm with my laptop in a hospital here in Mauella Hospital
Germany where I have been undergoing treatment for cancer of the lungs. My
doctors have told me that I have only a few months to live. It is my last
wish to see that this money is invested to any organization of your choice
and distributed each year among the charity organization, the poor and the
motherless babies' home.

I want you as God fearing person, to also use this money to fund churches,
orphanages and widows, I took this decision, before i rest in peace
because my time will so on be up.

As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the
Security Firm. I will also issue you a letter of authority that will prove
you as the new beneficiary of my fund. Please assure me that you will act
accordingly as I stated herein.

Please reply me through this my private email address: mrsjoyhoffman02@yahoo.fr

Hoping to hear from you soon.

Waiting for your reply

Yours in Christ,
Mrs. Joy Hoffman

Amen!!

Does anyone have that link from a while back -- the one with the progressing telling of an investigator who ended up turning the tables on the schemer?  I can't recall the particulars, but he actually got him to send HIM money. 

I'd love to re-read that. :)

oh lord (pun not intended) I love how people think throwing in religious references makes them "appear" to be more honest. Actually, when people flaunt stuff like that it actually turns me off so fast it ain't even funny...

This reminds me of the one sale listing for a copy of BOFIII I saw on ebay... this *supposedly* 60 something year old women said she (a christian) made most of her money on ebay had this whole array about the game itself... um, sure. Why would I care about the faith of someone I'm purchasing something from a person I'll never see or meet.

I'm pretty sure it's somewhere here:

http://www.419eater.com/index.htm

although I'm not sure exactly where in the website. Good stuff though

ps They have some cool videos too!

Oh man Avatar, I love you.

I'd never  been to 419eater.com before. This thing is excellent. I may even get involved.

http://www.419eater.com/html/user_subs/ … llage.html

Scroll about 1/3 of the way down (maybe a little more). There are links to a massive photo gallery where the scambaiter (pretending to be a Christian/pagan Bishop) gives detailed instructions on a CLEANSING CEREMONY that must be performed for the scammer to get the "grant" he applied for (2000 pounds).

Man, you have GOT to see these images. They are just outrageous.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/ … bread1.jpg

There's an example. Change the number in the URL (from 1 to like 75 or so) and be amazed.

Ramza

Ramza, definitely let us know if you do the scambaiting! I've thought about it myself... sounds like it would be fun One of my favorite responses is:

http://www.419eater.com/html/user_subs/ … ttel1.html

I love all the references this guy uses in has scambaiting! Below is an example!

Date: Wed, 27 Oct 2004 18:07:56 +0200
From: DEEP THROAT
To: contact@keromail.com
BCC: ecobank_foriegnoperation@financier.com
Subject: URGENT IMPORTANT

Dear Sir,

I am Barrister B. Auernfaenger and Mr. DEEP THROAT is my client. I am sitting in the office from Mr. DEEP THROAT and writing this mail to you. I have bad news for you. This morning my client was arrested by the F.B.I. (Federal Bureau of Intestination) because his last deal was illigal. The dagger of Xian, he purchased from Mrs. Lara Croft (a well known tomb raider), was stolen by Dr. Jones from a museum. The F.B.I. was observing Mr. Jones for a long time and now they had sufficient evidence.

My client violated §419 + §419b international law. All his money was confiscated by the F.B.I.. Special Agent Mulder from the F.B.I. told me that my client will stay for a long time in prison if he is guilty.

Meanwhile I could read all x-files to this case. As I could read in the x-files there is only one chance to get my client preliminary free. Someone must pay 5000 Dollar bail. My client entreated me to ask you - as his friend - to pay the bail for him.

May the force be with you!

Yours sincerely

Barrister B. Auernfaenger
Schlepper Str. 12a
32321 Nepper
Phone: +49190707980

Ah, sweet sweet 419eater. I remember how much fun I had when I first came across it myself!

ShiverMeTimbers has become a hero for many.

Yep, The Tale of The Painted Breast.  That's the one, thanks!

I recently was shown this music video:

419 scamming seems to be somewhat of a sport in Nigeria.  Those most successful at it are hailed as local heroes of sorts.

"You are the mugu, I am the master."

http://youtube.com/watch?v=f1nKR3gYRY8

Wow, that's really sad! Glorifying crooks and liars... kinda reminds me of how some losers glorify Nazis. Now, I know it's not the same thing, but these scammers are really evil, and have in fact killed people (some directly, granted very few directly but even those they don't "kill" they can often destroy lives by stealing entire life savings which is in effect destroying someone). I really don't understand how people can not find this appalling, but I guess they can happily live with themselves (scum that they are)!

-avatar!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3887493.stm

This one was covered by the BBC. That's pimp.