Do you ever respond to the West African scam artists?

Question

I never have, until this morning. Now, I'm hoping each of you who gets one of these scams will respond in kind. Here is what I wrote to my most recent would-be benefactor.

Dear Mr. Wallace K. Kadanga,

You do know this is highly illegal, correct?

I think you are a criminal for keeping this money.

The sum, in its entirety, should be donated to the African Children's Fund. You should be ashamed for taking food out of the mouths of the impoverished, hungry youth on your continent.

While I am well aware that this is a scam and there is no money forthcoming, I would like you to know that if you did forward it to me you would not get one red cent. Neither would I as all the funds would be redirected to charity.

I hope you re-think your life of crime and will rededicate yourself to the service of all the wonderful children in this world, especially those in West Africa.

Most sincerely,

The Beach Saint

----- Original Message ----
From: walla k Kadanga

Dear Jesse, but imagine how frustrating it would be to have to read through millions of emails in order to know if they have made one score. Last week alone, I received more than a dozen letters. From now on, I will simply copy what I have written and send it back. Last year, I was nearly part of a Nigerian scam which began by an alleged London art dealer attempting to purchase one of my paintings. Fortunately, I caught onto it before any harm was done to me personally or financially. I hadn't received any emails again until recently. For those who want more resources and information on Nigerian faxes and 419 scams, go to http:www.419.com.

Shortly after noon time today, I received a response.

Dear Friend

I knew my proposal will sound strange to you, with the way things is going on in the world now, one really need to be careful in who ever he or she is dealing with.But i most assure you that my coming to you will be a great blessing to both parties, if only we can work with trust and honesty.my contact to you is for good, because my main reason of making this arrangement for this funds to be release to you was as a result that i want to set up an organization that will be taken care of the needy and the poor from all these war torn countries mostly here in africa.

My good friend,i also want you to understand further that if no one come for this money by the end of this month,the money $4.5M will be conficiated into goverment account Which will do no good to the citizens and the needy.The goverment official's have been looting public funds to their personal account overseas, they will do the same by looting this fund

too since the owner is late.And this will do no good to the poor citizens, as it has been the number one motive of ou rlate customer to build a home for the needy before his sudden death.He is a friendly customer with my branch, no matter i dont know much about his personal back ground.But he do inform me of his plans to set up an organization here for the needy,call motherless care center.I want to keep his dream alife by using some of this cash for that based on the fact there is no one related to him to make this claims.

How i want you to come into this transaction for the claims as the next of kin to our late depositor.

1) I will give you a draft application letter which you will re-arrange with your full name on it for presentation to the bank as the next of kin to our late depositor.

2) I will give you the account number of our late depositor which you will also mention to the bank.

In other to complete the above stated process,i will need your full contact information

and to further confirm your full name, this will enable me complete the draft application letter for claims which you are to send to the bank directly.As a matter of fact the bank board of directors will verify the application,but with me as the regional manager of the bank, i will be in better position to assist you in this process.Just keep me informed of any response you received from the bank , If we can be fast in our arrangement before end of next week the funds will be released to you.The bank board of directors agreed that if no one come for the funds, at the end of this month this funds left by our late Customer will be confiscated during.I have come to agreement to share this funds in this ration, based on the fact you are going to play a very big role in making this transaction a great success:

1) 35% OF $4.5M TO YOU.WHICH IS $1,575,000

2) 40% OF THE $4.5M TO ME. WHICH IS $1,800,000

3) 20% OF THE $4.5M FOR THE SETTING UP OF THE ORGANIZATION THAT WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF

THE NEEDY.WHICH IS $900,000

4)5% TO BE SET ASIDE FOR ANY EXPENSES YOU MAY INCURE DURING THIS PROCESS. WHICH IS $225,000

My good friend, you are to invest the sum maped out for the setting of the organization there, before proper arrangement will be made on that.My good friend, i will travel to meet you once the funds is been released to you.That will give us chance to arrange towards investing my share through your assistance there in your country.

I look forward hearing from you.

Thank you.

Mr Walla K.Kadanga.

------

FYI YAHOO FRIENDS: I wonder if he realizes how "top secret" his communication is???

Answer 1

You make a good point about getting them to open up your email to see if they made a score, wasting their time and filling up their inbox with something they don't want..just like they are doing to you! I haven't responded before, I guess I'm afraid that they will just retaliate further against my email address. I guess I could make an email address just for such replies.

Answer 2

A few years back I have attended without knowing all this: that is during 2001 or so: But now a days I am getting these kind of many e mails: I simply delete it:
if we block it : no use; if we give advise or threaten and etc , they never mind:
they do their routine duty:

I heard that many people in other countries ( I do not like to spell the name of countries)and youngsters joyfully doing this kind of non-sensible work: there is a group of youngsters making software and use it for this kind of activities:

sometimes if some person without knowing all, give his address,telephone account number etc,first they will pay some money and ask the person to meet at some hotel or place

there they will swindle what they got from that person, even they are doing murder after getting the ATM card, Visa card, available money, holdings etc: for this a team of people are working

be careful
simply delete

Answer 3

I never have, but here is a site you might enjoy concerning how another person deals with the scam artists:
http://www.bustedupcowgirl.com/scampage.html
It's actually quite funny, if a person had the time to do it!

"....Nigeria is still ranked as one of the most corrupt countries on earth. U.S. citizens lose approximately $2 billion ($2,000 million) a year to Nigerian fraud -- be it credit card fraud, insurance fraud, or 419 scam letters, or counterfeiting," which totals about "two and one-half times the value of our total U.S. exports to Nigeria.""

― Nov. '99, Robert L. Mallet, Deputy Secretary of Commerce (source).

Answer 4

Sorry, but, your pleas are falling on deaf ears. They plain dont care as they are just in it for ripping off the "Rich White Americans" as they are known by, and relish the idea of doing so.

Your effort was a waste of futility, as they send this scam to millions of people just hoping for one "hit" or two, so they can wipe out a bank account. The more they rip off, the more they are happy, and the more they celebrate the stupidity of American Greed.

But, if it made 'you' feel good, then I am happy for you.

I wish you well...

Jesse

Answer 5

Good for you Beach Saint!!! Well put, very well stated. I could not have done a finer job myself. I've never responded to those things, merely deleted them & dismissed them as hoaxes/trash. I like your way of dealing with the matter far better!! Classy!!