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04 October 2012

I haven't received a 419 scam email in a really long time at any of my (too many) addresses. And I am kinda down about it.[More:]Not in the spam boxes, nowhere. I don't receive any other scam emails, either. The only spam I receive anymore is penis-related, which I suppose might technically be a scam, but I also have a feeling that if I sent the senders of those emails some money there's a fairly decent chance I might actually get something in the mail in return. That it will do as advertised is another pointless post altogether.

I feel like it's my gods-given right to be targeted for my gullibility in the form of interesting prose.
Also: oh hey everybody. Been a while, huh.
posted by item 04 October | 13:08
I spoke too soon. I just noticed this intriguing gem in my spam folder, addressed from "Un General Malaysia Trust Fund":

subject: $650,500.00 USD
message: Reply for claims
Congratulations.... your grant pin number is (UNO-154/4456/011)


Hmm. I must know more.
posted by item 04 October | 13:11
Your receiving fewer scam emails has an explanation. Scammers are using email filters to their advantage now. They figure anyone smart enough to configure a spam filter is too smart to fall for the scam. So, their scam content now is written purposefully to trigger spam filters, and those who do actually receive the scam in their ordinary email are supposedly too dumb to maintain a filter.
posted by Ardiril 04 October | 13:24
A co-worker and I had lots of fun stringing along a 419 scammer who called himself Jesus Champagne. Our correspondence lasted for several months and made our working days very interesting for a while.
posted by Senyar 04 October | 13:58
Jesus Champagne

That. is. Wonderful.

Glad I have not yet had kids. I'm saving that one.
posted by Eideteker 04 October | 15:02
Ah, memories. I can't remember where it started from but, a few years ago, a bunch of people started engaging with these scammers on the theory that, if enough of their time was taken up with people who knew what was going on, they had less time to actually scam people. I set up meetings at various airports with several people and got lots of puzzled phone calls when I didn't turn up, had lots of 'funny at the time' e-mail exchanges, but then started to get worried that these people might actually be dangerous. They had my mobile phone number and I guess they could somehow get to my address from that, so I stopped. Good times, though.
posted by dg 04 October | 16:08
I have so, so many since the Zappos database got hacked or compromised or whatever the hell happened. The do all get caught in my spam filter, which I check because sometimes non-spam gets stuck there and also because I like to pretend that I am important enough to receive messages from Nigerian and UN diplomats on a regular basis.

I can forward them to you, if you like.
posted by occhiblu 04 October | 21:00
I have never received a 419 scam.


:(
posted by Kronos_to_Earth 04 October | 21:44
Jesus Champagne is an excellent euphemism for sparkling cider, IMO.

I never check my spam, maybe I should.
posted by rmless2 05 October | 09:45
Just checked my work spam out of curiosity and it looks like I get a lot of invitations to come speak at bogus conferences where I ONLY have to pay $$$$ for the privilege.
This is a new kind of spam to me!
Let me know if you want some of it and I'll forward along.
posted by rmless2 05 October | 09:51
I got a GREAT spam offer from, um, NATO. I'm not sure why NATO would have a million dollars for me, but I'll shoot off a claim to the enclosed Yahoo address requesting it! Sounds legit for sure!
posted by Elsa 05 October | 15:39
Whatever happened to predictibility? || energy.gov

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