Should email (419) scam victims also be jailed for being greedy?

[SUBMAN1]

That is what one diplomat in Nigeria is saying:

http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/jail-greedy-scam-victims-diplomat/2008/08/21/1219262419867.html

-S

[StdDev]

Technically..., in most cases, the victim is conspiring to defraud the government (or some major corporation) out of money.
Even though it is a scam... they believe that they will harvest some $$$ by helping the scammer commit a crime by helping him/her get money that usually the scammer has a very tenuous claim to, out of the country.

So the question becomes what is a more serious crime.. trying to rip off people or trying to defraud a sovereign government?

In any case most of the victims deserve a "sign".......

[SUBMAN1]

Technically..., in most cases, the victim is conspiring to defraud the government (or some major corporation) out of money.
Even though it is a scam... they believe that they will harvest some $$$ by helping the scammer commit a crime by helping him/her get money that usually the scammer has a very tenuous claim to, out of the country.

So the question becomes what is a more serious crime.. trying to rip off people or trying to defraud a sovereign government?

In any case most of the victims deserve a "sign".......If you read the emails, a lot of times someone needs help and they are not looking to defraud anyone from the way it sounds. Lets collect a few examples maybe and post them here. I'm sure we can better analyze them then.

-S

[SUBMAN1]

An example:

(URGENT BUSINESS ASSISTANCE STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL)

COMPLIMENTS OF THE SEASON

Good Day!

I am the manager of bills and exchange at the foriegn remittance department of the (ABN AMRO BANK AMSTERDAM ). I am writting you this letter to ask for your support and co-operation to carry out this transaction. We discovered some abandoned sum $15,500,000(FIFTEEN MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND U.S DOLLAR ) in an account that belongs to one of our foriegn customer who died along-side his entire family in march this year in a terrorist train bomb blast in Spain some few months ago.Since this development,we have advertised for his next of kin or any close relation to come forward to claim this money,but nobody came yet to apply for the claim.

To this effect,i and other official in my department have decided to look for a trusted foriegn partner who can stand in as the next of kin of the deceased as we cannot do it only ourselves and claim this money.We need a foreign partner to apply for the claim on our behalf because of the fact that the customer was a foreign and we don't want this money to go into the treasury as unclaimed fund.

Every document to effect this process will emanate from my table and i will perfect every document to be in accordance with the banking law and guideline,so you have nothing to worry about and we have agreed that 30% of this money will be for you,while 10%will be for any expenses incured on both sides wihile 60% will be for my colleagues and me. If you are willing to help us,please indicate by replying this letter and putting in your name, private telephone number,fax and permanent residential address via my private email address below.I awaits your immediate response to enable us start this transaction as soon as i recieved your reply,i will send you a text application form for immediate APPLICATIION OF CLAIM.

Please contact me even if you are not intrested in my proposal to you to enable us scout for another partner in the event of non-interest on your part. Thanks for your co-operation

E-MAIL :pietjan2000@netscape.net
Mr Piet Van Jan

[SUBMAN1]

Here is another:

Dear Friend.

As you read this, I don't want you to feel sorry for me, because, I believe everyone will die someday.

My name is Peter Lawson,a merchant in Dubai, in the U.A.E.I have been diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer which was discovered very late,due to my laxity in carrying for my health. It has defiled all forms of medicine, and right now I have only about a few months to live, according to medical experts.

I have not particularly lived my life so well, as I never really cared for anyone not even myself but my business. Though I am very rich, I was never generous, I was always hostile to people and only focus on my business as that was the only thing I cared for. But now I regret all this as I now know that there is more to life than just wanting to have or make all the money in the world. I believe when God gives me a second chance to come to this world I would live my life a different way from how I have lived it.

Now that God ! has called me, I have willed and given most of my properties and assets to my immediate and extended family members and as well as a few close friends. I want God to be merciful to me and accept my soul and so, I have decided to give arms to charity organizations and give succour and confort to the less priviledged in our societies, as I want this to be one of the last good deeds I do on earth.

So far, I have distributed money to some charity organizations in the U.A.E, Algeria and Malaysia. Now that my health has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do this my self anymore. I once asked members of my family to close one of my accounts and distribute the money which I have there to charity organization and to the less priviledged in Bulgaria and Pakistan, they refused and kept the money to themselves. Hence, I do not trust them anymore, as they seem not to be contended with what I have left for them.

The last of my money which no one knows of is the huge cash deposit of twenty four million dollars that I have with a Security Company in Europe for safe keeping. I will want you to help me collect this deposit and disburse it to some charity organizations and to the less priviledged.

Please send me a mail to indicate if you will assist me in this disbursement.

I have set aside 10% for you for your time and patience.

You can e-mail me at:plawson@hknetmail.com

While I await to hear from you, may God be with you and your entire family.

Remain blessed.

Mr.Peter Lawson

[SUBMAN1]

Here is a link with a ton more:
http://www.hoax-slayer.com/nigerian-scam-examples.html

Most of them seem innocent at start. That is why I question the need to lock up these greedy people? Then again, maybe at some point people realize that its a scam, yet their greed carries them on?

-S

[StdDev]

This is why I tend to use words like "most" and "usually".
In your given examples the first one is asking the victim to pose as someone's relative.. ie defrauding the Dutch government.

The second one appears to be "innocent".. however it is even harder to believe than the first.

For some amusement go to http://www.419eater.com
Read some of the letters in the letter archive

[Digital_Trucker]

The ones that really get me ticked off are the ones where the sender is supposedly dying of some disease and wants you to take the millions of dollars and the 14 year old daughter to "take care of". Granted, there may be someone out there that might be greedy and altruistic at the same time, but I think you know the type that this one is geared towards. I don't have an example around at the moment (having just dumped my spam boxes), but you've probably seen them.

[Blacklight]

Here's an example. I got this one a couple days ago.

You're invited to: (DEAR GOOD FRIEND)Pls. I am writing For your help in an investment Dad left. By your host: veroneece thompson Message: Dearest One,
Pls. reply to this my private email:missveroneecethompson@yahoo.fr

I am miss Veroneece Thompson, a 19 yrs old girl from Abidjan,Ivory Coast.
Please i am writing to seek your assistance in an investment dad left for me before he was poisoned.If you are interested and willing to help me, i will give you all the details immediately i get your response.
Pls. reply to this my private email:missveroneecethompson@yahoo.fr
God Bless You,
Miss Veroneece Thompson.
Date: Sunday 17 August 2008 Time: 18:00 - 19:00 (GMT +00:00)

[STEED]

I get hundreds a week and there all crap. If anyone falls for there BS well tough luck its not to hard to see they are so stupid and badly laid out emails you got to be a real fool or mug to fall for there claptrap. I mark all of them as spam then bin them.

[StdDev]

I agree with you Steedster... but stupidity is not yet a crime..
and the point of the thread is "Do the victims deserve prosecution" on top of being swindled...

And it is my position that in some (many) cases the scam is based on a plot to defraud a government or corporation out of money.. which IS against the law. However I still have not stated whether I believe they SHOULD be prosecuted.. technically they could be... but I think a more appropriate consequence (on top of losing money) would be to have their names/email addresses publicized noting their gullability/greed/stupidity..
Oh yes.. and a "sign" :p

[STEED]

HANG ALL INTERNET SCAMMERS, HANG THE BLOODY LOT OF THEM.

As for those who have been scammed they need to go back to school on how not to be greedy or dumb.

[Platapus]

I believe it was Larsen E. Whipsnade who said "you can't cheat an honest man"

Most of these scams work because the so called victim is also trying to run their own scam.

[darius359au]

Slightly OT but a funny little factoid - The biggest number of people in Australia that fall for theses things and get ripped off live in Queensland , the funny part is the majority of scams that originate in Australia come from Queensland :D:rotfl:

As for the original question ,If you were to throw people in jail for stupidity then a large proportion of the population would be behind bars ;)

[SUBMAN1]

Slightly OT but a funny little factoid - The biggest number of people in Australia that fall for theses things and get ripped off live in Queensland , the funny part is the majority of scams that originate in Australia come from Queensland :D:rotfl:

As for the original question ,If you were to throw people in jail for stupidity then a large proportion of the population would be behind bars ;)
I don't think stupidity accounts for the majority. As StdDev says above, there is some major greed involved at some point in the chain. I have to agree with him.

-S

[Digital_Trucker]

Here's one I'm gonna accept as real (NOT).

Anti-Terrorist and Monitoring Crimes Division.
Federal Bureau Of Investigation.
J. Edgar. Hoover Building, Washington D.C
Telephone Number: (202)-202-0790

Attention Beneficiary:

This is to Officially inform you that it has come to our notice and we have thoroughly Investigated with the help of our Intelligence Monitoring Network System that you are having an illegal Transaction with Imposters claiming to be Prof. Charles C. Soludo claiming to be the Central Bank Of Nigeria Governor. During our Investigation, we noticed that the reason why you have not received your payment is because you have not fulfilled your Financial Obligation given to you in respect of your Contract/Inheritance Payment.

You are now qualified to recieved and confirm Your payment with the Bank Of America Phone Telegraphic Transfer method (BOA PTT) immediately. I wish to inform you the correct amount you are approved to receive is Fifteen Million Great British Pounds Sterling Ј15, 000, 000. 00, and not USD800, 000. 00.

Please verify the availiable funds from your Home or Mobile Phone #, dialing 1 206 453 0445 and following the Instructions by INCERTING THE FOLLOWING NUMBERS ONLY WHEN REQUIRED:

Bank of America Tel #: 1 206 453 0445
Your Security Pass Code, Press: 1945
Your A/C #, Press: 3533 - 5533 - 8884
Your Pin #, Press: 3588
For Your Transfer, Press 4

Your fund is now programmed on the telephone service of the bank of America for Security. And as soon as you call the number, you can transfer your fund to any bank account you wish, But You Will Need A Transfer Code to Complete the Transfer of the Fund.

Since the we (FBI) Federal Bureau of Investigation is involved in this transaction, you have to be rest assured for this is 100% Risk Free because it is our right to protect our Citizens from been scammed again. All I want you to do is proceed and contact OUR PROTOCOL OFFICER **DR. FRED MBA** for the Instructions on how your funds will be transfered into your nominated bank account.