Why 'Nigerian Scammers' Say They're From Nigeria 209
angry tapir writes "'Nigerian scams' (also known as '419 scams' but more accurately called 'advance fee fraud') continue to clog up inboxes with tales of fantastic wealth for the recipient. The raises the question: Do people still fall for this rubbish? The emails often outline ridiculous scenarios but promise millions if a person offers to help get money out of a country. The reason for the ridiculous scenarios seems obvious in retrospect: According to research by Cormac Herley at Microsoft, scammers are looking for the most gullible people, and their crazy emails can help weed out people who are savvy enough to know better. Contrary to what people believe, the scams aren't 'free' for the scammers (PDF): sending an email might have close to zero cost attached, but the process of getting money out of someone can be quite complicated and incurs costs (for example, recruiting other parties to participate in the scam). So at the end of the day, the scammer wants to find people who will almost certainly fall for the scam and offer a good return."
Re:Waste their time (Score:5, Funny)
Microsoft did the research - if this is the answer they can solve it too. "Upgrade" their PC's to Windows 8 and watch them take 10 times longer trying to do the same thing under Metro.
Re:NSS (Score:4, Funny)
sending an email might have close to zero cost attached
Why, you're right again, Watson! This missive contains numerous self-evident truisms, does it not?
Re:please ignore (Score:5, Funny)
For once in my life, I want to say "FIRST POST!"
Congratulations, you have one the "first post" prize. This was set up in the year 1922 by President Nboko of Nigeria, who felt that those who posted first to Slashdot on the 20th of June each year (his birthday) should receive a million US$. However to release these funds some small charges apply....
Re:NSS (Score:5, Funny)
"According to research by Cormac Herley at Microsoft, scammers are looking for the most gullible people"
Well no shit sherlock!
He might have had experience in their "OEM pre loaded" department
Re:Waste their time (Score:5, Funny)
But having to do that would also waste our time. Are you willing to do that?
Well he's posting on slashdot isn't he?
Why 'Nigerian Scammers' Say They're From Nigeria? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Waste their time (Score:5, Funny)
But having to do that would also waste our time. Are you willing to do that?
Well we're posting on slashdot aren't we?
I brought you up to spec there.
Re:People still fall for it (Score:4, Funny)
Makes me wonder how someone like that could ever become a top-ranked manager to begin with.
really?
Re:please ignore (Score:5, Funny)
Re:please ignore (Score:5, Funny)
There have been several cases where victims have disappeared without a trace.
if I had just been given $100M cash by a Nigerian prince, I would probably disappear without a trace too.