Well, we'll see how it goes. I posted an iphone on craigslist, and got this response this morning:

Quote :

"Am out of town at the moment for a Medical Seminar, so i can't be able to meet. The Package is a birthday gift for my son, he is currently on a research with American Medical Student Association (AMSA) in West Africa. I would pay you additional $80 for shipping in cash via paypal to cover the cost and shipping fee to my son. Send me your paypal email.. You can also text or call me on 971 373 5555 "

My response back, taken from another Nigerian scam email, fighting fire with fire and shit:

Quote :

" DEAR SIR TOP OF THE DAY TO YOU OVER THERE.THANK YOU FOR THE MAIL AND FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THIS TRANSACTION WHICH I BELIEVE IS THE BEGINING OF A GREAT RELATIONSHIP.I SHALL INTIMATE YOU ON WHAT YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO DO AFTER I MUST HAVE DISCUSSED WITH MY CLIENT YOUR RESPONSE,SO THAT THE TRANSACTION CAN BE COMPLETED IN EARNEST AT THIS JUNCTION I WOULD LIKE TO REASSURE YOU THAT A SINGLE PENNY WOULD NOT BE REQUIRED FROM YOU AS ALL LEGAL REQUIREMENT WOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BY MY CHAMBERS.AGAIN THANKS FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH US WE REMAIN OBLIGED AARON OBASANJO From: craigslist reply efb5 Date: Friday, November 8, 2013 10:17 AM To: Subject: Re: Factory unlocked AT&T iPhone 4 32GB - $250 Am out of town at the moment for a Medical Seminar, so i can't be able to meet. The Package is a birthday gift for my son, he is currently on a research with American Medical Student Association (AMSA) in West Africa. I would pay you additional $80 for shipping in cash via paypal to cover the cost and shipping fee to my son. Send me your paypal email.. You can also text or call me on 971 373 5555 "

11/8/2013 9:30:36 AM

Watch, he's going to reply back with "Samuel? How's it going man? You coming to the cookout tonight?"

11/8/2013 9:37:59 AM

I heard an interesting story about this on NPR the other day. They said the scammers still use Nigeria as their location because they only want the really gullible people to respond. The idea is anyone who hasn't learned how scammy Nigerian emails are might just be dumb enough to send them money.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2012/06/22/155581764/those-nigerian-email-scams-are-ridiculous-for-a-reason
http://www.npr.org/2013/05/22/186048342/how-that-nigerian-email-scam-got-started

11/8/2013 9:39:09 AM

I have it on good authority that AARON OBASANJO is a thief and a liar.

11/8/2013 9:48:33 AM

Keep us posted!

I recently read someone's Master's degree thesis on this subject where they analyzed the fuck out of this issue, from every aspect, technological, financial, economical, psychological, etc. Will find it and post the link.

I hate that these cockroaches have invaded every fucking place on the Internet. FB groups, LinkedIn discussions, various message boards and forums, buy-and-sell platforms, everywhere.

11/8/2013 10:20:33 AM

Scum of the earth

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24890952

Nigerian sex-trafficking gang in Spain who brought women over on false promises and forced them into prostitution, then laundered the profits by buying electronics and luxury items to ship back to Nigeria. Some of them were also involved in sending the scam emails.

11/10/2013 3:49:44 PM

Liam Nesson will fuck their shit up

11/10/2013 5:11:58 PM

Go to the 419eater.com forums for advice from experienced scam baiters.

11/10/2013 5:19:36 PM

i won this thread like a year ago when i made the scammer mad and he was emailing me and all caps "FUCK YOU AND ALL YOUR FAMILY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

11/10/2013 11:18:30 PM

No further responses. Next time I'll be more subtle about it.

11/11/2013 10:43:50 AM

I never get responses... I must be bad at this. Deleted several, but here are a few:

email:

Quote :

"CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA PHASE II, GARKI FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY ABUJA-NIGERIA REF:CBN-0XX2/987 TEL: +234 7093874042 ATTN: BENEFICIARY, RE: FUND TRANSFER NOTIFICATION WE HAVE RECEIVED AN INSTRUCTION FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY, THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE (FMF), AND THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN PAYMENTS (SCFP), TO PAY YOUR CONTRACT/INHERITANCE FUND FROM OUR BANK (CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA) IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE HSBC BANK LONDON. THIS IS TO NOTIFY YOU THAT YOUR FUND WHICH IS THE TOTAL SUM OF TEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS (US$10,500,000.00), AS YOUR FUND HAVE BEEN PROGRAMMED FOR IMMEDIATE PAYMENT TO YOU. AND YOUR INHERITANCE FUND PAYMENT HAS BEEN FINALIZED TO BE RELEASED TO YOU AS THE LEGITIMATE BENEFICIARY OF THE CONTRACT/INHERITANCE FUND. MEANWHILE, WE WANT YOU TO CLARIFY IF YOU INDEED APPROVE A WOMAN FEW DAYS AGO TO CLAIM YOUR FUND ON YOUR BEHALF, WHO NOW CLAIM THAT SHE IS YOUR REPRESENTATIVE SENT BY YOU TO RECEIVE YOUR FUND ON YOUR BEHALF. DUE TO THE NATURE OF MY JOB, I CANNOT AFFORD TO MAKE ANY MISTAKE IN RELEASING THESE FUNDS TO ANYONE EXCEPT YOU WHO IS THE RECOGNIZED TRUE BENEFICIARY TO THESE FUNDS. NOTE THAT I ASKED HER TO COME BACK NEXT WEEK SO I CAN VERIFY THIS FACT FROM YOU FIRST. KINDLY CLARIFY US ON THIS ISSUE BEFORE WE MAKE THIS PAYMENT TO HER WHOM CAME ON YOUR BEHALF. HOWEVER, NOTE THAT WE ARE WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU SHORTLY, AS YOU PROVIDE THE INFORMATION BELLOW TO ENABLE OUR PROCESSING DEPARTMENT TO PROCESS THE TRANSFER OF THE TEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS TRANSFERRED TO ANY BANK ACCOUNT THAT WILL BE PROVIDED BY YOU ANY WHERE IN THE WORLD. THE REQUIRED INFORMATION IS AS STATED BELOW: 1. YOUR NAME: 2. YOUR ADDRESS: 3. HOME/CELL PHONE#: 4. AGE: 5. YOUR OCCUPATION: NOTE THAT YOUR PAYMENT WILL BE RELEASE FOR TRANSFER AS SOON AS WE RECEIVED THE ABOVE INFORMATION FROM YOU TO PROCESS YOUR PAYMENT SUM OF US$10,500,000.00. FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY, THIS REPUTABLE BANK HAS BEEN APPROVED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE HSBC BANK LONDON, WE ARE ACCREDITED TO MAKE THE PAYMENT TO ALL FOREIGN FUNDS BENEFICIARIES THIS THIRD QUARTER PAYMENT OF THE YEAR 2013. GET BACK TO US AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO ENABLE US TRANSFER YOUR FUNDS TO YOU WITHOUT ANY DELAY. YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE WILL BE HIGHLY APPRECIATED. BEST REGARDS, DR YURI AKOTA DIRECTOR, FOREIGN PAYMENT DEPARTMENT CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN) TEL: +234 7093874042 "

response:

GREETING DR YURI,

YOUR ACQUAINTANCE IS MUCH APPRECIABLE. IT WILL PLEASE YOU TO HERE THAT I AM SO VERY HAPPY YOU FIND ME TO TRANSACT TO ME THESE DOLLARS. I HEAR YOU WRITE A WOMAN WHO HAPPENS TO LAY CLAIM TO MY FORTUNE. I HOPE THE WORDS SINCERE. I MUST CONFESS NO PERSON TO COLLECT MY DOLLARS. YOU GIVE TO ME WOMAN NAME AND THOSE DETAILS OF WHICH ARE GREAT IMPORTANCE AND I SHALL DISCOVER HER AND BLEED HER UNTIL DEAD. NO WOMAN OF HUMAN KIND IS TO TAKE OWNER SHIP OF THESE DOLLARS. I WILL CUT THE NECK OF HER BODY AND HER HEAD BE OFF.

GREAT YURI, THE DETAILS OF WHICH YOUR LETTER HAS BEEN REQUESTED WILL BE MADE OF AVAILABLE AT ONCE AS SOON AS I HAVE LAY THEE TO MY SWINDLE. PLEASE GIVE FAST RESPONSE THAT THESE MONIES BE RELEASED TO MY NAME AT ONCE.

SENSEARLY,

WILLIAM. F. CLINTON


email:

Quote :

"Hello Dear, I'm Faith Ebue by name, I came across your contact when i was browsing looking for honest partner, then i felt to drop this few lines to see if you could be interested in establishing a nice relationship with me. I'm a loving lady, God fearing, I'm seeking for true friendship, a friendship that will be built on mutual understanding and Trust. True love is hidden in every heart and it bonds for lifetime. For more details about me, kindly get back to me so that i can tell you more about me and also give you my pictures. Waiting earnestly for your reply. best regards. have a nice day. Faith."

response:

Quote :

"GOOD DAY FAITH. I AM GLAD UPON CONTACT AND TRUST YOU HAVE. I BELIEVE THAT AS ONE WE ARE TO DEVELOP FRIENDSHIP. IT IS NOT KNOWN BUT MAY AFTER TODAY BE LOVE. PLEASE SEND TO ME YOUR INFORMATION SO THAT I MAY UNDERSTAND YOUR PERSON MORE LIKELY. "

[Edited on December 19, 2013 at 1:15 PM. Reason : ,]

12/19/2013 1:14:58 PM

Hilarious responses.

Maybe they know you're fucking with them?

12/19/2013 1:38:22 PM

Rumor is the grammar is bad to weed out the mildly suspicious. Reply with better grammar/old-person typing to get more bites.

12/19/2013 3:41:06 PM

I do notice that a large amount of usernames on skype are trying to mimic several government officials... I wonder what their angle would be.

12/20/2013 6:25:54 AM

"Hello, I'm President Obama. Please send me your bank details and social security number so that I can make sure you're funds are still ok in our retirement system."

12/20/2013 7:09:01 AM

surprised wdprice didnt ask Faith to FDT

12/20/2013 7:13:15 AM

I was a pretty active scambaiter about 10 years ago. My best success was getting the scammer to send me $50 plus a series of hand written letters. I shut down about a dozen fake bank web sites as well.

During this time, there was a real baiting pro who worked over some poor scammer for thousands of dollars in shipping charges. Look up the "Anus Laptops" scambait. This guy had the scammer paying for shipping of laptops from the US to Africa, when he really shipped him a busted up washer and dryer with insulting photoshops all over it.

Be careful though, it is organized crime after all. I started a bait once on Craigslist on the west coast. I got part of the way in and they were asking me to ship stuff to Raleigh. Turns out the scammers were living in southeast Raleigh. The last thing you want is to piss some of these guys off and have them find out who you really are.

12/20/2013 7:48:05 AM

a reply from my 2nd email above

Quote :

"Dearest I am more than happy in your reply to my mail. How is your day?it's hot over here in Dakar Senegal. My name is Faith Ebue(23) single and never married, tall and fair in complexion, Good looking girl but very sharing, giving, caring and loving, above all God fearing, i am from ivory coast in west Africa and presently i am residing in the refugee camp here in Dakar Senegal as a result of the civil war that occurred in my country. My late father Dr .Richard Ebue was the chairman managing director of FAN INDUSTRIAL COMPANY LTD, in ivory coast and he is also the personal adviser to the former head of state before the rebels attacked our house one early morning killing my mother and my father. I am the only person that survived because i was just at the back of the house when they came and i managed to make my way to a near by country Senegal where i am living now as a refugee, I would like to know more about you. Your likes and dislikes,your hobbies and what you are doing presently. I will tell you more about myself in my next mail. Attached here is my picture hoping to hear from you soonest. Yours Forever Faith."

(2 pictures attached)

response:

MY DEAREST INDIAN PRINCESS,

WHY OH YOUR BEAUTY IS VERY GRATE. IT IS PLEASED MY EYES THAT YOU ARE SO HAPPY TO LOOK UPON. AT ONCE YOUR PICTURES ARE SHOWN THE PANTS AROUND MY BODY GET TIGHT. YOU SAY RELATIVE OF YOUR FAMILY IS DAKAR SINBAD? THE SAME PERSON AS WHO TO STAND ON PILLAR TO GAIN LAUGHTER FROM PEOPLE? OH IT HAS MADE MY SELF VERY HAPPY THAT YOU HAVE SENT ME COMMUNICATION. IT IS NOW UPON THE NECESSARY TO ENJOY YOUR PHOTOGRAPHERS YOU HAVE SENT SO THAT I MAY RUB ONESELF UNTIL HAPPY.

IT IS BEST TO HERE FROM YOU.

[Edited on December 20, 2013 at 8:56 AM. Reason : .]

12/20/2013 8:55:57 AM

^Post the 2 pictures!

12/20/2013 9:08:57 AM

I ain't clicking attachments

here, you can have a screenshot of the thumbnails



[Edited on December 20, 2013 at 9:11 AM. Reason : .]

12/20/2013 9:09:53 AM

Jon Paul we will lay swindle

12/20/2013 10:25:31 AM

Quote :

"Be careful though, it is organized crime after all. I started a bait once on Craigslist on the west coast. I got part of the way in and they were asking me to ship stuff to Raleigh. Turns out the scammers were living in southeast Raleigh. The last thing you want is to piss some of these guys off and have them find out who you really are."

If they're sending you an address in the US, they're most likely going through a middle man who has no idea what's going on. My Brother-in-law is a detective and he says he gets several reports a year of people that are scamming them like you described, and when he goes to investigate it's nothing more than old ladies or trailer park rednecks that receive the packages and then turn around and mail them to Cuba or the Dominican Republic.

12/20/2013 12:14:28 PM