Also: oh hey everybody. Been a while, huh.

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.

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.

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.

Jesus Champagne

That. is. Wonderful.

Glad I have not yet had kids. I'm saving that one.

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.

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.

I have never received a 419 scam.


:(

Jesus Champagne is an excellent euphemism for sparkling cider, IMO.

I never check my spam, maybe I should.

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.

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!