Please don't fall for this stuff

[HeyWayne]

I just received a scam email and thought I'd share in case anyone receives anything similar. It's a definite scam, and not a very good one at that, but I know some people get caught out.

Here's the email:

Mr. Cherif Soro.
Assemble of God Mission Chr.
Lot 4521 Ilot 85 ,Koumassi 32
Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire

Good-Day.
Mr Cherif Soro is my name a citizen of IVORY COAST Africa I belive you are the rightful person to assist me and my Sister without any problem or betrayal of trust among each other and I want you to know that it is the spirit of the Almighty God that directed us to you.

This is to introduce you into project of transfering the sum of ($10.5million) .,which I needed it to leave here soon regarding the same political problem if not we shall lose it.

However,the fund belonged to my late father Engr.Alex Konan Soro) but he died due to the political problem .please if my proposal accept kindly send your full informations to further you in more details I needed your assistance.

Mean while hope to talk about your percentage in the next mail,,,Enclose your full contact details for more trust.

Best regards
Cherif Soro.

Stay sharp people!

Wayne

[JanieB]

Ah yes! The Nigerian/419 scam see here : Nigeria - The 419 Coalition Website

[SarzWix]

Thanks Wayne, I'm sure if you hadn't said anything, I might have sent my full informations, for more trust....

[HeyWayne]

Thanks Wayne, I'm sure if you hadn't said anything, I might have sent my full informations, for more trust....

Don't thank me, thank the spirit of the Almighty God!

I know I'm MOM an all, but still...

[Madasafish]

I think you are so unkind.

Al these nice people write to me and promise me loadsofmoney... and they're from Nigeria.. who says charity begins at home?

I'm still waiting for my 5% of the $300 million stolen in 1981, in 1982, in 1983, in 1984...........

[Seahorse]

Well me and Charles Taylor, son of the ousted leader of Libya, are like that. I think I get to be Queen once that lovely family are reinstated.

[smallblueplanet]

I have to say I found these emails totally funny, until someone on another messageboard I post on told us of his father and how he believed the emails he was getting to be true and had been sending them money. Difficult to believe really.......so I still laugh but not quite as much.

[valmarg]

Most of these scams are blatantly obvious, but I received the following on Wednesday. Its a bit more worrying. It mentions the Lottery and Camelot, is in better English than the usual scams:-

YOU HAVE WON.

The Camelot Group,:
Operators of The National Lottery,
3b Olympic Way, Sefton Business Park,
Aintree, Liverpool , L30 1RD
REF Nº: UKL/74-A0802742008
BATCH Nº: 2008UKL-01

We wish to congratulate you over your email success in our computer
balloting held on 21st January 2008. This is a Millennium Scientific
Computer Game in which email addresses were used. It is promotional
program by Great Britain aimed at encouraging internet users;
therefore you do not need to buy ticket to enter for it. You
have been approve for the star prize of £891,934.00(Eight hundred
and ninty-one thousand, nine hundred and thirty-four Great Britain
pounds) in the 2nd category.

To claim your winning prize you are to contact the below appointed
Casino agent as soon as possible for the immediate release of your
winnings:

Telephone lines are open between the hours of 8.00am - 9.30pm on
Monday through Saturday

Customer Service Unit,
Telephone: +44-703-194- 7341
Reply email: ukclaims20089@yahoo.co.uk
Contact person: MR.FRED MARTINS.

You must contact the appointed agent with the below informations:
VERIFICATION FORM
1.FULL NAMES:__________________________________
2.ADDRESS:_____________________________________
_______________________________________________
3.SEX:__________
4.AGE:__________
5.MARITAL STATUS:___________________
6.OCCUPATION:_______________________
7.E-MAIL ADDRESS:_____________________________
8.TELEPHONE NUMBER:__________________________
9.AMOUNT WON:______________________
10. COUNTRY________________________________
OFFICE USE ONLY
Verified by:________________
Confirmed by: ________________
CLAIMS AGENTS SIGNATURE:________________ via email to process the
immediate payment of
your prize.
The Validity period of the winnings is for 15 working days hence
you are expected to make your claims immediately.

Once again congratulations !!!

At your disposal, we remain.
Very Truly Yours,
Mrs. Elizabeth Taylor
Online Games Director
UK NATIONAL-LOTTERY


INTERNET SWEEPTSTAKES LOTTERY COORDINATOR


--
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.19.9/1238 - Release Date: 22/01/2008 20:12

valmarg

[annafricangrey]

i got an ivory coast one too!!


ann

stinkers eh?

[Herbgardener]

I got one claiming to be from the tax office, binned that straight away!

[SueA]

I get them all the time, you've won the lottery, please help us to get funds out of the country, fake charities etc. etc. I got one once in the post as well from one of the lottery scams & googled it to see how common it was & should I report it. I got one discussion board where a memeber was claiming it was genuine & that he'd sent the amount of money off & received a large amount in return, luckily everyone else on the board asked him how long he'd worked for the 'fake' lottery etc. , they really will try anything!

[Paul Wagland]

As if a lottery organisation would have a yahoo email address! I say if people are stupid enough to fall for it, then that's cool! It's a bit like natural selection.

Funny that they should use the lottery to try and con people - I always thought that was Camelot's job. Call me a cynic...

[smallblueplanet]

As if a lottery organisation would have a yahoo email address! I say if people are stupid enough to fall for it, then that's cool! It's a bit like natural selection.

Funny that they should use the lottery to try and con people - I always thought that was Camelot's job. Call me a cynic...

The person I mentioned before who posted that his dad had become entrapped in one of these scams also talked about the detrimental affect it was having on the rest of their family.

[Flummery]

I used to get them at work - a school address. I don't get them at all through my own private email - good filtering I reckon.

[Seahorse]

I say if people are stupid enough to fall for it, then that's cool! It's a bit like natural selection.

Ouch! That's a little bit harsh. The sad fact is that it's largely the vulnerable who are caught out by this sort of thing. Most of the ones I've had have been laughable (see above) but some do sound plausible, especially if you're not quite 'with it'.