Instant Messenger “419″ Scam
Tonight I had a spooky experience — a 419 scam was attempted via AOL Instant Messenger. Someone using the screen name “taylornelly2″ claiming to have found me through MyBlogLog started out with small talk but quickly moved into the whole story about being from Africa and having lots of money that they need a foreigner to help them retrieve. I have seen hundreds (thousands?) of these emails in my life (thanks to Thunderbird and Gmail I finally have my spam under control), but to have it happening in real time with another person on the other end was a bit chilling.
I ended the conversation by simply pasting in this link:
http://www.fbi.gov/majcases/fraud/fraudschemes.htm#nigerian
A few minutes later they typed, “but i’m not nigerian i’m liberian and i don’t know what that means. i really need your help please find a place in your heart to help me please”
That was the point where I blocked the account from sending me messages and moved on with my life.
what is liberian?
and what was the person wanting from you?…
Comment by me — November 26, 2007 @ 4:51 pm
Social Networks and Instant Messenger is all the rage by the 419 crooks these days.
Being we are very close to christmas, my various messengers are getting clogged by a whole bunch of African ladies who are looking for someone to “love and cherish”.
Mostly it’s African men who are doing this, it’s easy and they have no risk. And, Messengers do not reveal who you are talking to if they keep to chat.
Sure the “cold call” approach is not that easy, but even these people can reckon on hooking at least one person a day who believes the rubbish they are telling. And, that is enough to keep them in money for a long time.
Michael
Comment by Michael Holdcroft — December 9, 2007 @ 11:35 pm