Anyone know Barbara Patterson?!

[boxtops]

I've just received this email, lucky ol' me! (she doesn't sound very Dutch to me...)

Happy Sunday Dear Beloved? I am barbara Patterson,61yrs, a widow from Netherland.I am presently in the hospital suffering from cancer of the larynx. Can i trust you?I am very rich I want to distribute my funds for charity works in your country before my death.Let me know if you can assist me. My funds which no one knows about is a deposit of GBPё1,500,000.00 (One Million, Five Hundred British Pounds) I deposited with a security company in Europe.I shall intruct them to remit this money to you so that you can dispatch it to charity organizations of your choice in your country. I have set aside 10% for your time and effort. Please reply me back if you are willing to assist me.Remain Blessed, From Mrs Barbara Patterson

[2sp_]

How lovely that she'd want to give money to our charities.

Tell her I'm a registered charity. I'll look after her money for her.

[sherrardk]

I had a similar one but can't remember the persons name now, however I had to spread the word of god so I didn't take it any further.

[ttfn]

sherr - good thinking, 3 letter words don't go that far

[Psybbo]

Oh boxy how lovely, my bank details are on their way

[chrissa1]

I get these all the time, from various daughters/sons of millionnaire oil execs who have been vilely murdered. They are quite entertaining to read.

[boxtops]

I'll start the AB charity, for a start

[2sp_]

I feel quite left out. No-one ever wants to give me money.

[Graham-W]

Makes a change from the Nigerian General.

[Graham-W]

I spoke too soon. Do you think this is the same Barbara Patterson?
http://scams.wisestmo...-419-suspected/scams/

[Barmaid]

If i wasn't so busy, I would have some fun with Ms Patterson.

If I ever get round to it, I shall publish some of the conversations I've had with scammers, they are really funny.

[boxtops]

It must be the same one.... Abidjan's not that far from Nigeria, is it?

[Barmaid]

Nah they all copy the same broccoli. Unoriginal idiots.

[abstibus]

http://www.npr.org/te...y.php?storyId=7688138
The scambaiter

[Barmaid]

Yes Annemollie, I used to do that for a giggle. It was hilarious. THe idea is de-education (ie never correct their errors) and use as much of their internet time as you can. Every time they get an email back correcting their errors, they alter their way of approaching people, if you take their emails at face value yet play them along you can eat up HOURS of their time. I used to have 2 or 3 on the go which I used to keep hanging on yahoo messenger or msn whilst I was doing something more interesting. I played the part of a lonely, stupid, RICH, techophobe widow together with a crooked solicitor.

[abstibus]

Hey ho, barmaid. I wouldn't have the guts to do that.
My scam mails come in via the work filter - they make for great reading, but we cannot open them without informing IT Services.
If you haven't already seen it, look at the Nigerian dead parrot sketch on YouTube. I can't do a link from the iPad, but googling it will give the link to the full version. You'll enjoy it.

[Barmaid]

I've seen it AM - and many others. The "Chad excursion" was even funnier. I even earned my own "Safari" badge (ie getting a scammer to travel to another country to collect the money "I" was sending, not to mention a few site shut downs and dodgy bank closures). If I ever had the time, I'd do it again (my s-i-l was targetted by one of these chaps, and I had to errrr, ummmm, "intervene" in a way that she didn't know in order to keep her and her money safe. Long story, but with a bit of help from a few friends she realised what she was into we think cos she ended it).