NightWindWhisper
Posts: 143
Joined: 5/28/2006
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Scammers are quite rampant everywhere, including here. Collarme doesn't always definine who is and who is not, but it is wise, I think, especially for those who are new here to see a fairly subtle scammer. Here is a note that I just received in my mailbox.
<mail deleted>
I have removed the person's name, as required (I think) to protect the guilty.
Now do you think that this person is legit?
Most will, as it is a well written scam but here are red flags:
#1: Ethnicity: "Native American" (This is the most common error that a foreigner makes. They think it means "I was born in America," we realize that it means Aboriginal Native Americans, "Indians" like Iriquois, Cree, and Abanaky. At any rate the photo hardly looks like a native american.
#2: More subtle but telling: English usage, here are some flags and corresponding "normal" verbiage:
a) I am slave (Asian) here we say "I am a slave."
b) "I have experience about been a slave" correct: "I have experience as a slave, I am an experienced slave," etc.
c) "i have work with a master" Common Asian tense error, should be "I have worked...
d) "feel a creative hand inside the ass" should be "feel a creative hand inside my ass...
e) referral to an outside addy at the onset (a hallmark of fraud) as this site can no longer see evidence in email.
I chose this one scammer because the profile is so well written, and the errors are more subtle than generally found and I think this serves as a good example to those unfamiliar with scammers. The extent of Asian/Russian/Ukranian scamming by my guess exceeds 100 million US$ a year. (Yes I am willing to argue that point--gold/item farming by asians for online games excteed 500 million to 1 billion dollars a year.
It is wise to remember that in China/Philippines a weeks pay is, at best $40. A $20 "gift" is three to five days pay... Many cannot get jobs, but internet infrastructure is common. If you meet someone overseas do not send any $, especially by Western Union until you fly there to meet them. Even then it can be difficult (but not impossible) as shown by the recent arrest of the Philippine woman who had four husbands (all married to her at different locations). The husbands were wisely chosen to be available to visit during the right months. She's in jail now.
To find a partner, join a respected local group, or at least be careful, and it is wise if things seem to be going well but plans to meet seem to be constantly put off, to trace the email to see if where it is being sent from matches where the person says they are.
visualware(dot) com has a great program for finding the origin of an email, it's easy, and it's free to use for few weeks. I used it to sleuth a lady that I had a wonderful cerebral connection with, but over time there was always something that came up impeding our meeting, ill father, etc. But with the trace I could see that while she said she was in Minnesota, she was in fact, far, far away. Great lady, but she came with something a bit extra, namely about 200 lbs extra. Oh well, ignoring the morbid obesity trust had been destroyed.
Another, and sadder on-line relationship from long ago was a nurse in a hospital Oncology unit. She was a lot of fun to talk to and I looked forward to meeting her. Then she stopped writing. Since I knew which hospital it was I called the Oncology unit and asked to speak to her. The response (Hippa incorrect) was "I'm sorry, but she passed away three weeks ago." She was not a nurse, she was a patient. Well at least I probably made her final days a bit more fun, but it did not leave me feeling very good.
Tips for women: Hot online relationship with a single man? Ask "can I call your home phone if I'm feeling really blue at any time." If the answer is "yes," ok; but if the answer is "only work hours," he's married. Another tip: though this works less as time passes: Do a reverse search on phone number, the name should match his name. There are sites that show neighbors, call one or two and ask: "I met so and so on the internet, is he married or single and a good person?" Often you'll get the truth.
If a person has no cam, buy a cheap one off fleabay and send it to them. If still no cam, something is very wrong.
Hope these tips help.
[Mod Note: pasted email removed]
< Message edited by ModeratorEleven -- 6/28/2009 10:59:22 AM >
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