Re: FN-FORUM: New scam???

date posted 22nd August 2003 20:07

On Friday, August 22, 2003, at 07:44 PM, [EMAIL REMOVED]
wrote:

> hey all,
>
> just got this email off some guy called "Andy" - he says he's not
> going to
> scam me, and he's not going to offer anything in return for my help -
> his
> wife left him, and now he's broke, so can I please send some money -
> and
> then he gives his bank details.
>
> Anyone heard of this before? It's new to me.
>
> Seems the make-believe Nigerian things aint working no more, so hey,
> let's
> just beg for money.
>
> Dan.

Yeah. I got it too.

Seemed to be a legit email address so I reported it to his ISPs abuse
address [EMAIL REMOVED]

May be true, and I'm sorry his wife left him. But begging for money
from complete strangers is just not on.

When my wife walked out on me after a mere 6.5 months I just dealt with
it, not impose my grief and upset on random people in the street.

And there are plenty of people and institutions who *would* be willing
to help sort his life out. Maybe if he just explained his situation to
his creditors he could sort a repayment holiday out and save his house.
I--and every one else he spammed--owe him nothing.

It's the electronic equivalent of begger-muggers accosting you in the
street asking for spare change. I give to Big Issue sellers because
they are *trying* to help themselves, and regular amounts to organised
charities, but people just asking in the street get no sympathy from me.

Guess I'm just getting hard and cynical in my old age.

--
Andy Warwick
Creed New Media Design
w: http://www.creed.co.uk