Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

ghporter · Apr 1, 2008, 07:49 AM

I just received the following message:

THE FONDATION DE FRANCE(FDF)
London Office,
19 - 20 Great Sutton Street,
London, EC1V 0NB
United Kingdom
Fondation de France, Faire un don, Don en ligne - Accueil

The Fondation De France(FDF) would like to notify you that you have been chosen by the board of trustees as one of the final recipients of a cash Grant/Donation for your own personal, Wilfair development.
The UNO and the EU are giving out a yearly donation of £952,350.00 each to 100 lucky recipients which you happen to be one of them.
To file for your claim, contact us with the information below filled out carefully.
FULL NAMES,ADDRESS,CITY,STATE,ZIP CODE,COUNTRY,SEX,AGE,MARITAL STATUS,OCCUPATION,WINNING E-MAIL ADDRESS,TELEPHONE NUMBER.

Note: Forward all the information to us via e-mail [email protected].

Signed,
Executive Sec. Dr. Patrice Pagis
Email: [email protected]

The contacts for "Le Fondation" being through Hotmail in the UK is bad enough. But the "from" line in the header is clearly from an account at drexel.edu (Drexel University in Philly).

So... With the exception of already clichéd attempts such as the classical Nigerian scam, does anyone have anything lamer than this?

Dakar the Fourth · Apr 1, 2008, 07:59 AM

I wonder if that's any relation to "The Human Fund"

Mastrap · Apr 1, 2008, 08:14 AM

Nice. Wilfair development is a good one.

ghporter · Apr 1, 2008, 08:19 AM

FdF is both a legit foundation AND a well documented scam subject. It took very little research to find both-and the scams came up in Google way before the actual foundation. I don't think I need to give the real foundation a heads up about this-though I did contact the postmaster at Drexel.

Sherman Homan · Apr 1, 2008, 08:21 AM

Always take advantage of a chance for your own personal Wilfair development!

Andrew Stephens · Apr 1, 2008, 09:16 AM

Well if you don't want your grant money I'll have it. Did you have a contact name to send my application to?

Eug · Apr 1, 2008, 09:35 AM

CRASH HARDDRIVE · Apr 3, 2008, 12:10 PM

The saddest thing is that there actually are people out there so ignorant, they'll still fall for the lamest of lame scams. There are still plenty of doofuses out there who actually think virtually everything that comes into their inbox was typed out sent to them personally.

Eug · Apr 3, 2008, 12:15 PM

Just one of many:

From: "Todd Johnston" <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Apple iMac G5 2.0 GHz, 1.5 GB RAM, 400 GB HD, Radeon 9600 - $1375 GET BACK ASAP

Hi,
Thanks for your email response; I am in Wisconsin right now, but will be leaving for London soon for a coaching job in a few days time.
The item is for my son's birthday present; he travelled to spend time with his mum where she works in the US Consulate office in West Africa .
I'll be paying you through Storm-pay money order as soon as you make your decision and final price/shipping cost; it's secure and protects two parties in a transaction.I will like you to provide the below requirements in your reply for me to send it to storm-pay Office for payment before you ship it, I'll have to add $300 extra for you to send it to him as soon as possible.
Full Name:
Full Contact Address:
Tel Number:
All this information should be provided correctly please to avoid wrong payment. I will forward my wife residential address to you for shipping as soon as the payment reaches you.I will be very grateful to hear from you soon.
Best Regard

brassplayersrock² · Apr 3, 2008, 08:52 PM

congratulations on winning all that $ glenn. of all the people on these boards, you most definitely deserve it. congrats again!

turtle777 · Apr 3, 2008, 08:55 PM

Originally Posted by ghporter

To file for your claim, contact us with the information below filled out carefully.
FULL NAMES,ADDRESS,CITY,STATE,ZIP CODE,COUNTRY,SEX,AGE,MARITAL STATUS,OCCUPATION,WINNING E-MAIL ADDRESS,TELEPHONE NUMBER.

Geesh, if only I KNEW my winning email address...

-t

Laminar · Apr 4, 2008, 07:57 AM

Here's one I just got today:

Good day,

I am a Solicitor based in the United Kingdom and wish to make a business offer of 20.5m $ to you. Briefly, my client needs the assistance of a neutral but trusted person like you to help safeguard his inherited funds.

Please reply with your name, contact address & telephone to receive full details. Thanks and God bless.

Yours truly,

Ellis William
Oak Close, Holton
Beckley - England

Good grammar, spelling, heck - they even capitalized "God!" It has to be legit.

brassplayersrock² · Apr 4, 2008, 09:51 AM

you should go for it Laminar!

osiris · Apr 4, 2008, 10:06 AM

Originally Posted by Dakar the Fourth

I wonder if that's any relation to "The Human Fund"

Yeah, "Money - for people."

I was caught up in that one, and boy, did I learn my lesson.

brassplayersrock² · Apr 4, 2008, 11:14 AM

please do tell us what happened

osiris · Apr 4, 2008, 11:19 AM

Originally Posted by brassplayersrock²

please do tell us what happened

There's too much understated stupidity to go into detail.

Sherman Homan · Apr 7, 2008, 09:32 AM

What does "umpteently" mean?!

Dear Friend,

I am Mr Xiao Gang,branch manager in one of the leading banks here in china. I
respectfully seek your sincere conscent in this profitable proposal that i will
explain to you.Six(6) years ago, 2002,a british oil consultant/contractor with
the chinese mineral cooperation, deposited a numbered sum of Thirty million
united states dollars(30,000,000 USD) in my branch valid for twelve calender
months.

On maturity, notification was sent to him umpteently but no response was forth
coming.

iM@k · Apr 7, 2008, 02:11 PM

Originally Posted by turtle777

Geesh, if only I KNEW my winning email address...

-t

I'm sorry, I don't understand. You seem to be implying that you don't have a separate e-mail account for online grant acceptance.

turtle777 · Apr 7, 2008, 02:23 PM

Originally Posted by iM@k

I'm sorry, I don't understand. You seem to be implying that you don't have a separate e-mail account for online grant acceptance.

Yes, YES. Where can I get one ?

I hope they accept my grant application as a Powerpoint presentation.

-t

Rumor · Apr 7, 2008, 07:05 PM

Originally Posted by ghporter

I just received the following message:
The contacts for "Le Fondation" being through Hotmail in the UK is bad enough. But the "from" line in the header is clearly from an account at drexel.edu (Drexel University in Philly).

So... With the exception of already clichéd attempts such as the classical Nigerian scam, does anyone have anything lamer than this?

Perhaps you should contact the schools IT department. A student may be sending these or his computer may be compromised.

Buckaroo · Apr 7, 2008, 07:40 PM

Gads, I get two or three various scam emails like this every day.

ghporter · Apr 7, 2008, 07:49 PM

Originally Posted by Rumor

Perhaps you should contact the schools IT department. A student may be sending these or his computer may be compromised.

I did that-through the "postmaster" for that domain. Normally that's an active address for abuse reports, "how do I get my mail now that I'm graduated" and other issues, and if it isn't, it gets bounced. No bounce so far, so I think I got through. But that was the second thing I thought about. The first was "is anyone THAT stupid?"

CRASH HARDDRIVE · Apr 7, 2008, 08:10 PM

Originally Posted by Sherman Homan

What does "umpteently" mean?!

He should have spelled it out in the "official" chinese branch manager way, IE:

...Thirty million
united states dollars(30,000,000 USD) in my branch valid for twelve(12) calender
months.

On maturity, notification was sent to him umpteently(31785344168?ly) but no response was forth
coming.