That was quick....

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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 4:29 pm

Got a strange one the other day:

Quote:

Hi,

How are you doing today? Hope all is well, my name is Jerri Stearns, am from Lodi, California 95240 USA, I have a very big problem, am into buying of goods from China, I lost all my money by Africa impostor, I paid money into a wrong account and since than, things is not easy for me.
Please I need your help so that I can be able to go back to Washington to start something, please I need $625 to complete the one I have now, if you want me to back you back, you give me time with trust, if you want to help me with it, I will be very happy.
Please try and understand what am going through now.

Thanks.

I respond with this:

Quote:

Why did you contact me?

The Lad quickly send this:

Quote:

Thanks a lot for your assistant, am in Springfield, VA now, in my sister house trying to see what to do, please transfer the money into her account below.

BANK NAME :Bank of America: (Springfield Branch)
BANK ADDRESS : 6417 Loisdale Road, Springfield, VA 22150
Banking ACCT NO : xx
Routing NO : xx
Swift Code No : xx
NAME OF ACCOUNT : xxx
Thanks a lot, please i need the payment slip for confirmation.

thanks again.

The mail comes from Turkey. I haven't reported it yet as I am still trying to see where it will go...

Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 9:47 pm

thats not a 419 scam, just a begging letter, not really worth your time baiting it

Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 10:16 pm

^Figured as much but wasn't exactly sure. I did send another short response in the manner of 'What's in it for me?' but don't expect to hear back.

Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 11:09 pm

Your average beggar tells a story that can neither be confirmed nor fully contradicted. If there is a chance the story is true, even if it is clearly exaggerated, it falls squarely into "beggar" category.

In this case, he is claiming to be an American in the US, when clearly neither is even remotely close to true. That pretty much makes him fair game, just like any of the African romance scammers who are sitting in Ghana or Nigeria, claiming to be an American in UK, etc.

With that said, the approach is so ridiculously over-the-top, I wouldn't waste any time baiting it anyway.