Seems odd that an old scam is being featured now. The retro release of “The Elderberries” comic featured this years ago. Does this mean ‘fools’ are still being fooled today?
A minister in our area had his yahoo account hijacked and the person is sending people emails in his name asking for money because he’s in Spain and lost his cell phone and is stuck.
I also got an e-mail from a friend’s hijacked account. She too was “in Spain and stranded after having her purse stolen”. As cynical and well-informed asI am, I almost fell for this one. Luckily I asked for proof it was her, and never heard from “her” again. But I still get e-mails for the Nigerian scam.
As long as there are greedy people who think they can get rich for nothing, versions of this scam will keep working. I agree with simpsonfan2-most who fall for this deserve to lose money!
There are even follow-ups on this scam. I have received variations on an email from the FBI saying that a package of money has come from Nigeria for me. I’ll get arrested for “money laundry” if I don’t cooperate, but they’ll send it on for only a few hundred dollars.
I’m right there with Claire. My mom thought she won the Yahoo lottery since “yahoo” is a real place, and was so proud of herself since she went to the police before sending the taxes to these guys.
There were infamous scams long before the Internet. Anybody remember radio from Del Rio, Texas? The broadcasts originated in Mexico, and offered too-good-to-be-true “bargains.” I was really mad at my mother that she wouldn’t let me send $5 to Del Rio, Texas, to buy a typewriter.
Hate to believe there are still folks who fall for such things. I have fallen for some things. I amcurrently spending over 1400 for some of the areas in my home to have a new 3M product applied to my extreme heat gain areas on my S site of the house. It WILL acutally increase the heat loss from certain windows and I know how it works. I have seen some scams (like uncredited contractors) for one of my security doors) but this is a good company and I need to save in electrial use
Never mind government officials, I was one. Someone hacked my computer and claimed I was stranded in Ghana (later amended to the more conventional Nigeria) and needed money to get home. I doubt they raised very much – most people I know would have paid to leave me there.
skeeterhawk about 12 years ago
Seems odd that an old scam is being featured now. The retro release of “The Elderberries” comic featured this years ago. Does this mean ‘fools’ are still being fooled today?
meglocklear about 12 years ago
A minister in our area had his yahoo account hijacked and the person is sending people emails in his name asking for money because he’s in Spain and lost his cell phone and is stuck.
teddyr about 12 years ago
Sadly to say, this scam is still being perpetrated sucessfully on people yet today.
glendakan about 12 years ago
I also got an e-mail from a friend’s hijacked account. She too was “in Spain and stranded after having her purse stolen”. As cynical and well-informed asI am, I almost fell for this one. Luckily I asked for proof it was her, and never heard from “her” again. But I still get e-mails for the Nigerian scam.
mikekey about 12 years ago
As long as there are greedy people who think they can get rich for nothing, versions of this scam will keep working. I agree with simpsonfan2-most who fall for this deserve to lose money!
RonaldDavis about 12 years ago
There are even follow-ups on this scam. I have received variations on an email from the FBI saying that a package of money has come from Nigeria for me. I’ll get arrested for “money laundry” if I don’t cooperate, but they’ll send it on for only a few hundred dollars.
bahramthered about 12 years ago
I’m right there with Claire. My mom thought she won the Yahoo lottery since “yahoo” is a real place, and was so proud of herself since she went to the police before sending the taxes to these guys.
ted.hering about 12 years ago
There were infamous scams long before the Internet. Anybody remember radio from Del Rio, Texas? The broadcasts originated in Mexico, and offered too-good-to-be-true “bargains.” I was really mad at my mother that she wouldn’t let me send $5 to Del Rio, Texas, to buy a typewriter.
vldazzle about 12 years ago
Hate to believe there are still folks who fall for such things. I have fallen for some things. I amcurrently spending over 1400 for some of the areas in my home to have a new 3M product applied to my extreme heat gain areas on my S site of the house. It WILL acutally increase the heat loss from certain windows and I know how it works. I have seen some scams (like uncredited contractors) for one of my security doors) but this is a good company and I need to save in electrial use
elysummers about 12 years ago
Oh lordy.
antoniohaya about 12 years ago
this is a very funny one – nice!
hippogriff about 12 years ago
Never mind government officials, I was one. Someone hacked my computer and claimed I was stranded in Ghana (later amended to the more conventional Nigeria) and needed money to get home. I doubt they raised very much – most people I know would have paid to leave me there.