I've got a pile of work to do this morning, but luckily I was diverted by an online scammer who hacked my friend's Facebook account and asked me for money. Since I didn't feel like tackling my inbox at the moment, I had a little fun with the scammer (after telling my friend about her FB account, of course).
It's amazing how much shit they'll put up with if they really think there's a chance you'll send them some cash. In the end, what made them quit was me googling their location. Full transcript is below:
Hi Aram
How are you doing?
Are you there?
Please i need you online
Please i need you online
Please i need you online
Please i need you online
Please i need you online
Please i need you online
Please i need you online
Please i need you online
Please i need you online
Please i need you online
Please i need you online
Please i need you online
Please i need you online
Please i need you online
Please i need you online
Please i need you online
Please i need you online
Please i need you online
Please i need you online
Please i need you online
Please i need you online
Please i need you online
Please i need you online
ok
i am here
what's up
Thank God you respond,Not good at the moment,My family and I are in a deep mess now
.......
really? tell me more
We are currently stuck in London UK,went there on a short vacation and was mugged at a gun point last night
that's terrible! then what happened?
I was hurt on my head,writing you in tears now as we speak, All cash and credit card was stolen off including cell phones,it was a brutal experience
that's really sad. i hate it when people i care about are the victims of crime.
I reported to the police but they told me to wait for good 2weeks to carry out there investigation
wow, they're probably too busy investigating online identity fraud to bother with muggings these days
what happened next?
Most important now is that our return flight leaves less than 2-3 hours to this time and we are having a problem in sorting the hotel bill and get a cab down to the airport
yes, i could see how that would be a problem. how is little tyrone? is he ok?
We haven't eat anything since this incident happened to us....Thank God we still have our life and passport with us...I need your help?
of course, please tell me how i can help you. does esmerelda have her medicine?
Please i need you to loan me some few $$$ to sort out my hotel bill and take cab back down to the airport.....I promise to refund the money back to you as soon as am back home hopefully tomorrow
i will gladly help, if you promise to bring tyrone and esmerelda over for a visit soon. i love the way they sing and dance for me.
Ok i promise to bring them
how lovely! i miss their smiling faces so!
Please Aram most important is our flight we don't want to miss the flight
yes, i understand. what airline are you taking? maybe i can call one of my friends there.
Omg.....we can't leave the hotel with out sorting out the hotel bills
yes, of course. can't you climb out of the window using the sheets as a rope?
All what we need is 1,450 and we promise to refund it back to you once we get home
All what we need is 1,450 and we promise to refund it back to you once we get home
1,450 yuan?
Dollars
or naira?
oh, dollars.
Yes
well, i think i can help. just let me know which hotel you're at, and i'll give them a call.
Do you know how to get the money to us?
yes, i'll just send you all my banking information via facebook -- i think that should be safe, right?
No
oh... what then
I think you can have the money wired to us via western union
Do you know any nearest western union outlet or store around you?
i object to using western union on principle because of their history as media monopolists
you know that!
isn't there any other way?
That is the fastest way to get the money fast
Or you can have it wired via money gram
All what you need at the western union is my name and my present location
how will they know it's you when i send it? are you wearing one of your ridiculous hats with the taxidermy on it?
Once you have the money wired to us all what you need to give us is the western union confirmation details
ok, so where are you right now?
Am in the local library
cool, which one?
All what you need at the western union is my name and my present location
what's your present location? there are many libraries in the uk.
are you in the library where karl marx wrote his classic piece of social analysis "the communist manifesto"?
Receiver name: [redacted for blog]
Address : 5 Albemarle Street, London W1S 4HQ, United Kingdom
i've always wanted to visit it
Got it?
Do you go the info?
so you're at citco
[name redacted] is offline. Your messages will be sent to their inbox.
that's where the prison letters were written by gramsci
You were much to patient for my tastses. I did fancy the dig at Karl Marx's expense though!
Posted by: Zed Power | 2011.08.14 at 20:27