Could anyone really fall for this scam?
By jasmine0728
@jasmine0728 (677)
United States
June 12, 2008 8:31am CST
I am on the mailing list for any F.B.I. updates,just something I like being informed about.This morning I get an email in my in box,not even as junk mail.This long letter claiming to be from the F.B.I. saying I have have had a business transaction with a business in Nigeria and that the F.B.I. and Washington have looked into the matter for me and that they have made my funds available to me.
Now I don't have any dealings with anyone in Nigeria,I am well aware that they are all scam artists.Who would fall for this? If you don't deal with Nigeria why would anyone fall for this scam?I am also wondering though how it got to my in ox,and what made them think of using the F.B.I. to get my attention,could they somehow know I am on that mailing list?I assume they think the American public is stupid enough to fall for it because they make it sound like the F.B.I. is involved,but come on what will they try next?
I even understand people having fallen for the fake lottery emails,they make it sound like your email came out a winner.Now that the scams have been talked about,and mentioned on the web with warnings and stuff,I think the public has gotten the message that these are scam.But this one is far off the realm of possibility that I can't imagine who would fall for it.
Jas
4 people like this
12 responses
@twallace (2675)
• United States
13 Jun 08
I have had a few scams that i have fell for before i knew what to look for when the came after the ones that I fell for. But I didn't send any money to them though. One thing that i know for sure if I won something for real there is certain information you would not have to ask me for. I think that was the part that got me to realize it was a scam. I have even received a fake check from some lottery that said i had to call them first before cashing the check. Something about it had to be cleared through their company. When i called the number the person that answered the other end; didn't even answer it in a business manner. So that was really funny though. Then i called back a few days later and spoke with someone and they said I should take the check to my bank. NOT, know it was not real after getting other scam. Then what about the distant relative or the one that need you for a business partner. Funny what they will do right.
@jasmine0728 (677)
• United States
13 Jun 08
I know it is amazing I wouldn't even begin to know how to scam somebody like this.I was scammed by a sweepstakes one I didn't give them any money either but they sent me a check and I went to my bank,told a bank manager the story and had her check if it was for real.It wasn't of course but the guy kept emailing me threatening my life if I didn't send him the money he said he was owed for putting the transaction together claiming he was a lawyer and all that.I fell for it because I had just found out about doing surveys,and many of those supposedly put your name in for a sweepstakes.I thought it was my lucky day,hahahahaha
Jas
@twallace (2675)
• United States
17 Jun 08
I know that was a pain in the side. The check that they sent me they didn't ask for it back. I just throw it in the garbage and left it at that. I try to pay attention to the emails that I get more so not. Then I really can't stand those that come saying test out a lab top. I just delete them one. Once i have read the title of the email. Have a good one.
@laglen (19759)
• United States
12 Jun 08
I know what you mean. I think these scams are so obvious. Unfortunately, people are trying so hard to make a buck and are desperate enough. Hopefully less and less people are falling for it. The bad news is, the scammers will have to actually get a little smarter. Good job being on that list!
@jasmine0728 (677)
• United States
12 Jun 08
The letter says from The U.S. department of justice,and in the subject it says F.B.I. approval letter,and is signed with a name claiming to be a representative manager of the F.B.I. located in Washington Dc.
Go figure,I know I do not have 7.5 million dollars anywhere.I sure wish I did.
Jas
@dfollin (25351)
• United States
13 Jun 08
I got one of those too.I said to myself,"Who would really believe this is from the FBI?" Who knows maybe someone will fall for it.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
17 Jun 08
I really think that since so much publicity has been given
on the net about these scams that not many are going to'
be fooled.only someone who is not very bright, and not
internet saavy might fall for these gross scams.
@nanajanet (4436)
• United States
17 Jun 08
Apparently, yes!!! Because they would not keep doing it if it did not work!! The very first one I got, years ago, I thought, "Who is that stupid?!"
I forward ALL spam to spam@uce.gov. They want us to send our spams so they can use them in investigations.
@Barbietre (1438)
• United States
17 Jun 08
What amazes me is that people believe the FBI, IRS or anyone else like that would send an email. That is really niave. ust like the one that says microsoft will track your email and pay you a certain amount of money. If that were even possible ( which it is not) why would they waste their time and money that way?
@di1159 (1580)
• United States
12 Jun 08
You would figure by now they would have at least changed the country. I've been getting all kinds of e-mails claiming I have money coming and they are all from Nigeria. Could they possibly try to come up with another country for a while? You are right, I don't know how people would actually fall for that, but I guess they do or they still wouldn't be sending them. Sad to think that some people will lose their life savings to something this absurd. Remember the old addage... If it looks too good to be true........ Stay safe!
@bongkarpasang (1377)
• Indonesia
12 Jun 08
was it really from FBI?
I think you should contact the real FBI to find out whether they were really the one sending you that email, well, if you are really curious to find out.
I don't believe that the FBI would send any email. if the case had been really like the sender's claiming, the FBI should have contacted you directly to your offline contact address, not through your email.
@blackmantra_x (2732)
• Philippines
13 Jun 08
good day. I don't think anyone who surf the net often would fall for this type of scam specially when the word nigeria is in the phrase. Do they think that with today's diffucult in earning money they just can lure everybody? Maybe they're the ones who's stupid.
@leatherandlatex (295)
• United States
12 Jun 08
That was not from the F.B.I. That is rediculous. My mother-in-lawjust recently recieved one of those e-mails. They said that they wanted her to cooperate with them and everything would be fine. All they want is your information. If you don't remember doing what they said they know you did then it's a scam. If you did it and you remember doing it then maybe you should comply. I don't know what F.B.I e-maisl you are signed up for, but they don't just do that for every day people. They have more on thier hands then sending someone e-mails.
@WATARIKENJI (1534)
• Philippines
12 Jun 08
Hi jas, Please advice me if you're going to Nigeria. lol Do not believe those a- ehem.. ehem.. It's something like this. Jasmine said to Watarikenji "Please go to the store across the road and check out if Im there."
@spiderhunter (46)
• United States
12 Jun 08
Only a few people in a hundred actually fall for these scams, but that's all it takes for these people to make a haul. Those who do fall for them usually are naive about internet scams. Maybe there should be a few emails going around that teach people how to identify scams.
