| | I received an RoR mail offering me 20% of 22 million dollars, and I received an e-mail. This is probably a robot program working the RoR site.
This type of letter is called a "419 scam." Here is some basic information on the 419 Scam (the "419" refers to an article in the Nigerian penal code dealing with fraud).
Nigeria - The 419 Coalition Website
Nigerian Scam
Scam o Rama: The Lads from Lagos
There is a new Internet sport that grew from these kinds of letters: scambaiting. The idea is to get the scammer to send a picture to you in a ridiculous pose to verify his authenticity before you send his "small unexpected fee." Scambaiters like to have them holding signs with phrases like "Phil McCrackin" or even some nasty graphic language and the African scammers dutifully send the photos back. Some of these people are so ridiculous in the role of millionaires that they don't even need a sign. Here is just one site that features pictures (and some are pretty hilarious): 419 Eater: The Trophy Room.
The real prize is if you can get the scammer to send you money. Some people have managed to do this, although the values are small. If you ever want to play this game, be VERY CAREFUL. After all, among the dorks are some real-life criminals and some of them are connected enough to do real damage if they get ticked at you.
Frankly, it's a temptation to do a number on Mr. Ahmed Saeed Zavandi's head using some villains and denigrating phrases from Rand, then post the results, but I don't have time right now to do all the precautions.
Michael
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