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Computer Gurus - R2K, Sonny, Vengeance, etc Need Help

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout' started by Manny Ramirez, Apr 6, 2004.

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  1. Manny Ramirez

    Manny Ramirez The Music Man

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    I get this email today and I am pretty sure it is a virus of some sort but it is unusual (even for a virus, worm, trojan). Here is what the email says (this "Alan" guy has a netscape.net email address):

    By the way, the title says "Please Reply Back"



    Dear Friend,

    As you read this, I don't want you to feel sorry for me, because, I believe
    everyone will die someday.
    My name is BATES ALAN a merchant in Dubai, in the U.A.E.I have been diagnosed
    with Esophageal cancer.
    It has defiled all forms of medical treatment, and right now I have only about
    a few months to live, according to medical experts.
    I have not particularly lived my life so well, as I never really cared for
    anyone(not even myself)but my business. Though I am very rich, I was never
    generous, I was always hostile to people and only focused on my business as
    that was the only thing I cared for. But now I regret all this as I now know
    that there is more to life than just wanting to have or make all the money in
    the world.
    I believe when God gives me a second chance to come to this world I would live
    my life a different way from how I have lived it. Now that God has called me, I
    have willed and given most of my property and assets to my immediate and
    extended family members as well as a few close friends.
    I want God to be merciful to me and accept my soul so, I have decided to give
    alms to charity
    organizations, as I want this to be one of the last good deeds I do on earth.
    So far, I have distributed money to some charity organizations in the U.A.E,
    Algeria and Malaysia.
    Now that my health has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do this myself anymore.
    I once asked members of my family to close one of my accounts and distribute
    the money which I have there to charity organization in Bulgaria and Pakistan,
    they refused and kept the money to themselves. Hence, I do not trust them
    anymore, as they seem not to be contended with what I have left
    for them.
    The last of my money which no one knows of is the huge cash deposit of eighteen
    million dollars $18,000,000,00 that I have with a finance/Security Company
    abroad. I will want you to help me collect this deposit and dispatched it to
    charity organizations.
    I have set aside 10% for you and for your time.

    God be with you.

    BATES ALAN


    It may not be a virus but some scam, but have any of you (or anyone else) seen this? It seems I am getting about 2 or 3 weird emails a day, but this is the weirdest of them all.
     
    #1 Manny Ramirez, Apr 6, 2004
  2. drapg

    drapg Member

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    Modified Nigerian e-mail scam.
     
    #2 drapg, Apr 6, 2004
  3. drapg

    drapg Member

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    #3 drapg, Apr 6, 2004
  4. ima_drummer2k

    ima_drummer2k Member

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    Any email that starts out "dear friend" or "please reply back" or "this is not an email hoax" gets deleted.
     
    #4 ima_drummer2k, Apr 6, 2004
  5. RocketMan Tex

    RocketMan Tex Member

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    I got one today also. It started with THIS IS NOT AN EMAIL HOAX and then went word for word into the Nigerian scam. Hilarious!
     
    #5 RocketMan Tex, Apr 6, 2004
  6. A-Train

    A-Train Member

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    Dude.....to quote the legendary Rich Lord...

    COME ON!!
     
    #6 A-Train, Apr 6, 2004
  7. Manny Ramirez

    Manny Ramirez The Music Man

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    drapg,

    That is the first thing that ran through my head but "Alan" never told me to give him my contact info (other than the email title) and of course, Alan Bates is not a Nigerian name. So, I thought it could be a new thing but modified Nigerian scam sounds right.
     
    #7 Manny Ramirez, Apr 6, 2004
  8. drapg

    drapg Member

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    I don't have the time right now...

    But there is a hilarious web site dedicated to a person who has "messed" with the people sending these responses.

    Sort of like the hilarious IM transcripts describing virtual, internet sex between a jokester and an innocent participant.

    This guy leads on the "Nigerian" through a bunch of funny hoops and finally bails at the end.

    GOOD STUFF!
     
    #8 drapg, Apr 6, 2004
  9. coma

    coma Member

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    Alright Manny, admit it, you replied back offering your help, didn't you!? :)
     
    #9 coma, Apr 6, 2004
  10. drapg

    drapg Member

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    For some reason, they always use the figure $18,000,000.

    I have yet to figure out the significance in that. I did research on this scam back when I was unemployed and bored.
     
    #10 drapg, Apr 6, 2004
  11. Manny Ramirez

    Manny Ramirez The Music Man

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    Haha - no, but maybe 10 years ago, I would have!

    I guess I just thought it was unusual since it wasn't a Nigerian name and the email never said for me to give contact info, etc.

    How do these people get your email address to send this crap?

    It is like it is a worm.
     
    #11 Manny Ramirez, Apr 6, 2004
  12. drapg

    drapg Member

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    There was a good article in last month's PC World describing this.

    Basically, if you're e-mail handle is in the form of:

    firstinitialLastname@domain.whatever
    firstnameLastname@domain.whatever
    firstnamelastinitial@domain.whatever

    you are more prone to spam because spammers utilize software that generates all combinations of letters and numbers and throw out massive spam. if it doesn't bounce back, then that account exists. But first, they try the 3 aforementioned formats, by writing a program with common first names and last names. (and initials).

    I've actually done this a couple of times when I'm bored. It is surprisingly effective.
     
    #12 drapg, Apr 6, 2004
  13. LegendZ3

    LegendZ3 Member

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    Try reply back, I bet it will told u to give him more information about you or to tell you to go to some site which will have trojan waiting for you.
     
    #13 LegendZ3, Apr 6, 2004
  14. 3814

    3814 Member

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    from snopes...supposedly the scam has sucked $100 million out of the US in the last year.

    in that case...how do i get in on this? the canadian prisoner scam??? hmmmmmmm... :p
     
    #14 3814, Apr 6, 2004
  15. Uprising

    Uprising Member

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    Do yourself a favor, never open any emails that contain sexual words, please reply back, get bigger, need help, hello friend, sorry I missed you, need lovin.....etc.

    I never open emails unless I can tell who the sender is, if it was something I signed up for (sports updates/ Rockets.com) then I open it.
     
    #15 Uprising, Apr 6, 2004
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