[LINK] fbi caught up in spam spoofing/phishing

[Craig Sanders]

On Thu, Dec 11, 2008 at 09:58:19AM +1100, Jan Whitaker wrote:
> [That's hilarious: if you fall for the original Nigerian spam, you're
> now up for this next stage threat from the FBI to pay the money back!]

not surprising.  

it's just a variation of what they already do. after someone has been
conned to the point where they just can't make themselves believe the
lies any more, they're often contacted by by "private investigators" or
"police" who confirm their growing suspicion that it has all been a con,
and offer to get their money back for them. there are, of course, more
advance fees, fines, taxes, bribes, etc involved in order to get their
money released.

it's just another phase of the con to keep the money flowing from that
particular victim. they know they've got a sucker, they're not going
to let him/her off the hook until they have to, especially not now
that he/she is desperate to get the money back before their spouse (or
their employer who they've embezzled from) finds out....and is eager to
believe that paying just a little bit more can make it all come good and
the nightmare go away (and then a little more after that. and again and
again)



IMO, nigerian scams really only work on stupid greedy criminals (or
potential criminals who haven't yet had the opportunity or sufficient
incentive to overcome their fear of being caught), they're led to think
that the money is dodgy somehow and that they're in on the crime....when
the truth is that they're the target of the crime.

craig

-- 
craig sanders <cas at taz.net.au>