I think most of us would agree that email is a wonderful addition to our lives, opening lines of cheap and easy communication and allowing us to stay connected to an increasingly interconnected world. However, SPAM or junk email happens.
Have you ever received a "scam" letter from Africa or some other location? Usually these letters ask the receiver to "hold" money in an American or European bank account. Once the scammer has account authority, they proceed to bilk the replier out of a few thousand dollars or Euros through the auspices of an "advance fee" before the replier wises up. Worst case scenarios have even included victims traveling to Nigeria to confront scammers, only to end up as victims of violence (U.S. State Department Travel Warning: Nigeria 2008, http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_928.html).
So, what recourse do we really have? One tactic is to set up your own bogus email account and scam the scammers back. Posted below is the original scam letter I received, followed by my response:
Letter:
Subject: GREETINGS!
From: M E Fernandez
Date: Fri, 2 Nov 2007 04:39:50 +0100 (GMT+01:00)
GREETINGS!
From Mrs Maria Elena Fernandez,
I am the above named person from Philippine. I am married to Mr. Rodolfo FERNANDEZ who worked with Philippine embassy in Kuwait for nine years before we left to Philippine where he was re-appointed as a navy officer before his untimely death in the year 2005.
We were married for eleven years without a child. He died in his home country Philippine after a brief illness that lasted for only four days Before his death we were both born again Christian. Since his death I decided not to remarry or get a child outside my matrimonial home which the Bible is against. When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of $7.3Musd (Seven Million Three Hundred Thousand U.S. Dollars) in cash concealed in a trunk box and deposits it with a Security Company in Abidjan Cote d ivoire (West Africa) which he declare and register it as family valuables.
Recently, my Doctor told me that i have serious sickness which is cancer problem. The one that disturbs me most is the high blood pressure sickness. Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to a church or individual that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct herein. I want a church or individual that will use this fund for orphanages, widows, propagating the word of God and to endeavour that the house of God is maintained. The Bible made us to understand that Blessed is the hand that giveth I took this decision because I do not have any child that will inherit this money and my husband relatives are not Christians and I do not want my husband’s efforts to be used by unbelievers. This is why I am taking this decision to contact you.
I am not afraid of death hence I know where I am going. I know that I am going to be in the bosom of the Lord. Exodus 14 VS 14 says that the lord will fight my case and I shall hold my peace. I do not need any telephone communication for security purpose until this mission is accomplished.
With God all things are possible. As soon as I receive your reply with full assurance of your assistance, I shall give you the legal proof of this matter and contact of the security company in Abidjan where he deposited the trunk box. I will also issue you an authority letter that will prove you the present and legal beneficiary of this trunk box (fund). I want you and the church to always pray for me because the lord is my shepherd. My happiness is that I lived a life of a worthy Christian. Whoever that wants to serve the Lord must serve him in Spirit and Truth.
Hope to receive your reply.
Remain blessed in the Lord.
Yours in Christ,
Mrs Maria Elena Fernandez
--------------------
Response:
Dear Ms. Fernandez,
I was deeply saddened to hear about the death of your late husband, the esteemed Mr. Rodolfo Hernandez. The Philippines lost a great man and a national hero on the tragic and unfortunate day of his passing. I understand your desire to give your fortune away so that The Lord's Will May Be Done.
I am Father Craven Morehead of the Ecumenical Holy Faith and Bible Readers of the Born Again Messiah, Our Savior, Who Art In Heaven Church (EHFBRBAMOSWAIHC for short). We are located at the base of the lovely and verdant Coburg Hills in Oregon. We have over 10,000 members in this area and try to tend to the Lord's work, helping those less fortunate and less illiterate than ourselves. I, as a Holy Father, specialize in consoling widows, helping these poor and needful women to Come Hither Unto the Lord, and Feel The Special Light of The Passion of the Holy Device.
Your blessed letter came to me in a moment of great extremity and requirement. Our church is currently in need of money to rebuild our seven buildings, which were recently destroyed in a fire. We fear the fire was the work of that old villain, Satan himself. If we can rebuild our church, I have high hopes that we can reach even more unfortunate souls in this area, and perhaps even international widows, which are my specialty. God help us! We can really use that money, I thank Him and you for your wonderful offer!
Please email me with the details of how we may obtain the funds. May god bless you and your sizeable financial assets.
Yours in the Divine Epiphany of The Holy Ecumenical Spirit,
Dr. Craven Morehead
Holy Father and Professional Spiritual Consoler
The Ecumenical Holy Faith and Bible Readers
Of the Born Again Messiah,
Our Savior, Who Art in Heaven Church
Coburg Hills,
Oregon
USA
So- you may be asking yourself, "what's the point?" First of all, it is fun. I like the idea of scamming a scammer. Second, if I can waste a few hours of their time making them run back and forth to their local Western Union office, I'll gladly do it. Perhaps this will save some poor schmuck from being scammed. And third, the local police officials in many of these countries either don't have the resources to fight these scammers or lack the political will to do so.
If you want to send these folks a letter like this, I urge you to do so, but never give out any personal information whatsoever.
