This is one of two or three "throw-away" email accounts established for the purpose of "419 Scambaiting"-aka a deliberate and systematic process of harassing and/or wasting the time of Nigerian "Spanish Prisoner", or Advance-Fee fraud eMail fraud artists. While it seldom results in the actual arrest and prosecution of these overseas criminals, it is by no means merelys and idol "online hobby", it does serve the useful purpose of diverting their attention away from gullible, naive potential victims. This account was established expressly for the purpose of serving as, to co-opt a hacker term, a "Trojan Horse" for the Nigerian's Russian "phishing" counterparts.
I had always been intrigued regarding the intentions of those seeking access to my primary Hotmail account, the one associated with my Craigslist, Facebook and YouTube account so I created this one in order to feign gullibility when "adviced" to verify my intention to keep the account active in the face of "anonymous registry of multiple accounts", among which mine was scheduled to be deleted.
As expected, this account was barely a week old when "Hotmail/Live Customer Care" "adviced" me to verify my password to "avoid it closed".
in the days before email, computers or
electricity for that matter, one method of rendering an eavesdropper's comeuppance was to burn their ears with false information, such as the location of hidden valuables following which one could revel in covertly watching the miscreant spend his day with a shovel attempting to unearth the fictitious booty.
In my case the eavesdropper's online counterpart soon found himself engaged in double mulligan of sorts, fruitlessly communicating with a counterfeit bank scammer who had contacted me through my original "master account". I simply forwarded the "Welcome to 'Wachovia' Online" correspondence to this phished account and my eavesdropper was instantly intrigued. From there, I was able to facilitate an "autopilot" scambait which required little more effort on my part to simply open a beer and assume the role of the eavesdropper, privy to the aforementioned mutually fruitless attempts on the parts off the Nigerian and the Russian to rob me.
Regarding my Craigslist account, my postings under "Services Offered>Lessons and Tutoring>guitar, bass guitar and piano" have been the frequent Target of the Counterfeit Cashier's Check/Overpayment scam. This happens to many sellers and service providers. In my case, I'm always skeptical when somebody in the former USSR or UK wants to send their "Child" to the U.S. for guitar lessons and to North Charleston for that matter rather than major conservatory metropoli such as New York/Julliard L.A. or smaller music-intensive towns like Nashville, Austin or Mussel Schoals, Alabama.
From there the logic is negligable at best. The child is always set to be traveling in the care and custody of a mysterious "nanny", or "au Paire" with whom "the student" 's father has contracted.
The scam is thus. The "Father"'s personal assistant has inevitably made the mistake of issuing only one check for the total funds to be remmited to both the nanny and to the music instructor and I am advised to deposit the cashier's check into my account and, once my available balance reflects the deposit, I am "adviced" to forward the "au pair's" remittance via Western Union. The scammer is relying on the music instructor's misconception ithat if I include a physical address under the Recipiant identifiers, only that party my claim the funds. In reality, only the Money Trasfer Control Number (M.T.C.N.) is required for the scam artist to pick up the "nanny's" money, by the time my bank would have detected the fraudulent status of the cashier's check, the money wired through Westtern Union has been released through the M.T.C.N.
I take this sort of attempted fraud more personally because unlike the mass/bulk nature of Nigerian scams, Cashier's check scams specifically target me through responses to my guitar/bass-lessons-offered postings on Craigs list. I used to delete them, but it dawned on me one day that that was too good for them and have endeavored to waste as much of their time as possible. They spend so much time talking about how to handle the "funds" on the check and have never bothered to research the "playing field" of their scam, that that is where I keep redirecting their attention. I make them work to be able to be conversent in things musical. What brand of guitar is your child learning on?, Is it an acoustic or electric? does s/he have a metronome?....I keep them talking about music and musical equipment as they frustratedly attempt to revert the subject to the wire transfer details.
Regarding the questionable nature of any forums to which Boris and Ivan have registered my phished account following the Barclay's Bank Fiasco of 2009, That indeed may be something I didn't think through,and while I haven't been contacted directly by any Soviet pederests, YES! I DO teach kids, albeit a teenage male predominance and as a result any further attempts to link me to child pornography will be considered an act of aggression.
Since I know you would never intentionally presume to link me to such lowlife. I consider the matter dropped."
Please enjoy this pathetic Nigerian's failed guitar lessons scam
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 11:33:15 -0800
From: pathjohn43@yahoo.com
Subject: ===== lesson for my son
To: zarathustra10@hotmail.com
Good day to you over there, my son was born 12th APRIL 1996, i
got your advert on the internet so i want my
child to be taught by you.chinton is 14 year old and easily catch up,easy
going his neat boy and gentle and intelligent,he loves education and
atlethics. Although,i understand you are in US but i've arranged with
my Nanny associate that my son is coming to stay with him for the period
of the tutoring and he has agreed with me he will be in you nearest
location to take good care of my son for the period of the tutor...pls
i will want you to get back to me with requirement information below
as i will like to finalize the basic arrangement before my son and the
Nanny arrive to your location for the lesson.
1.YOUR CHARGE
2.TOTAL CHARGES FOR THE TUTOR
3.FULL NAME AND ADDRESS WITH ZIP CODE
4.YOUR PHONE NUMBER
Don't hesitate to e-mail with your total charges.
Thanks
esson stilll available?So I get this detailed, well-worded reply to my craigslist ad 5 weeks ago and knew, right away I might add, that something was amiss. Oh, because it was some 3-rd World knuckledragging halfwit trying to ply me with a fake check scam
Naturally, the opportunity to waste these fake-cashier's-check scammers is too good to pass up, so I pretended yet again to be fooled and replied with a warm and welcome attitude.
Good day to you over there, my son was born 12th APRIL 1996, i
got your advert on the internet so i want my
child to be taught by you.chinton is 14 year old and easily catch up,easy
going his neat boy and gentle and intelligent,he loves education and
atlethics. Although,i understand you are in US but i've arranged with
my Nanny associate that my son is coming to stay with him for the period
of the tutoring and he has agreed with me he will be in you nearest
location to take good care of my son for the period of the tutor...pls
i will want you to get back to me with requirement information below
as i will like to finalize the basic arrangement before my son and the
Nanny arrive to your location for the lesson.
1.YOUR CHARGE
2.TOTAL CHARGES FOR THE TUTOR
3.FULL NAME AND ADDRESS WITH ZIP CODE
4.YOUR PHONE NUMBER
Don't hesitate to e-mail with your total charges.
ThanksFrom: Path John (pathjohn43@yahoo.com)
Sent: Wed 1/13/10 2:50 AM
@hotmail.com) HE EXTENDS HIS YULETIDE GREETINGS HERE!
hello
am very sorry for the late payment due to small accident i have........so am back home from the hospital and by the grace of god you will receive the payment on friday..........i will be very greatfull if my appology is favourably considered looking forward to hear from you and merry xmas and happy new year to you over there......
of Course, the check "For guitar lessons" arrives for way more than discussed with this explanation:of Course, the check "For guitar lessons" arrives for way more than discussed with this explanation:
Hello,
you shall received the payment today here is the UPS tracking number
of the package
1Z9R67V40198416772
As soon as you received the payment you proceed down to your bank and
cash or made deposit of the check, as soon as the money is available
you will deduct the total money for the lesson
The remaining money you will go to a nearby western union money
transfer location and send it to the nanny who will bring my son for the lesson
On getting to any of the Western Union Money Transfer outlet to make
the transfer, they shall ask for a transfer charge this you will
deduct from the Funds you will be sending and send the Funds with the
information below:-
Here is the nanny information read everything done well to avoid mistake...
Receivers Name :.Denise Henderson
Address........141 south state street
City.......... Randolph
State........ NJ
Zip Code......... 07869And so I begin with the Western Union reverse-scam MTCN Secure gameof Course, the check "For guitar lessons" arrives for way more than discussed with this explanation:
Hello,
you shall received the payment today here is the UPS tracking number
of the package
1Z9R67V40198416772
As soon as you received the payment you proceed down to your bank and
cash or made deposit of the check, as soon as the money is available
you will deduct the total money for the lesson
The remaining money you will go to a nearby western union money
transfer location and send it to the nanny who will bring my son for the lesson
On getting to any of the Western Union Money Transfer outlet to make
the transfer, they shall ask for a transfer charge this you will
deduct from the Funds you will be sending and send the Funds with the
information below:-
Here is the nanny information read everything done well to avoid mistake...
Receivers Name :.Denise Henderson
Address........141 south state street
City.......... Randolph
State........ NJ
Zip Code......... 07869To submit the payment with Western Union Money Transfer, follow
this steps: -
1. Visit a Western Union Agency Location's
2. Complete the "To Send Money" form
3. Identify yourself
4. Present payment
5. Collect the receipt from the clerk
: As soon as you have transferred the money, you will send me the
details which you use in transferring the money so as to enable him
get the money and I shall call you as soon as the money is been picked
up to let you know that everything is fine and okay. You will send me
these Western Union Money Transfer Transferr details which you use to
transfer the money :-
1. Sender's Name : .....?
2. Sender's Address : .....?
3. Receiver's Name : Denise Henderson
4. MTCN ( Money Transfer Control Number ) 10 Digits : ..... ?
5. Amount Transfered { After Western Union Fees/charges } : .....?
6. YOU CAN SCAN THE WESTERN UNION RECEIPT/TRANSFER SLIP AND EMAIL
IT TO ME OKAY.
Thankse?
Youre Welcomebhello am very glad to read from you what am saying is that you must send it to my nanny today because you are the that is delaying them so that they can arrive immediately you send the money to them and i will let you know that am in califonia for my bussiness cuz am a business man and my son and the nanny is in Randolph NJ and is my nanny that call me and said he is waiting for the money you want to send for the arrival of my son get back to me asap......
Hello ,I don't really get what you saying on the Phone..Please it's getting late and want you to go ahead and have the money sent today
Current Server Time: Sat, 06 Feb 2010 21:51:39 -0500
The Mugu did very well, clicking all the little, ti-nitsey itsy. witsy boxes for several hours.
Start Time / Time of latest Refresh: Sat, 06 Feb 2010 19:47:05 -0500
Time of last Box click: Sat, 06 Feb 2010 20:20:10 -0500
Total Correct boxes clicked: 40
Total Refreshes: 13
Completed the Process?: noand at last writes
Hello,thanks for the info you pass on to me but there is a problem on here cos the Nanny said she having alot of problem getting through all this and also there is no western union outlet at his area,so i will like you to go back and have the money you sent then proceed to Money Gram and have the money send there..You can deduct $50 for gas and have the rest send to her..I will be looking forward to hear back from you..Thanks
Path JohnSo, it's off to MoneyGram....  February 7th, 2010, 07:34 AM |
| TSB Noobie  |
| Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Charleston, SC, Denver, Austin at various times of year Posts: 29 | |
|
IMPORTANT THE MTCN NUMBER IS DIFFICULT FOR MY NANNY TO FIND...
From: Path John (pathjohn43@yahoo.com)
Sent: Sun 2/07/10 12:13 PM
To: ********************0@hotmail.com)
Hello i was informed now from my nanny due to the information of the MTCN SECURE you send to me that i forward to my nanny and my nanny told me that is very difficult to him to find the MTCN number pls kindly write out the MTCN NUMBER to me 10 DIGIT for him to cash the money today so that they can arrive on monday .
|
February 7th, 2010, 07:37 AM |
| TSB Noobie |
| Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Charleston, SC, Denver, Austin at various times of year Posts: 29 | |
| IMPORTANT THE MTCN NUMBER IS DIFFICULT FOR MY NANNY TO FIND...
From: Path John (pathjohn43@yahoo.com)
Sent: Sun 2/07/10 12:13 PM
To: *********************@hotmail.com)
Hello i was informed now from my nanny due to the information of the MTCN SECURE you send to me that i forward to my nanny and my nanny told me that is very difficult to him to find the MTCN number pls kindly write out the MTCN NUMBER to me 10 DIGIT for him to cash the money today so that they can arrive on monday .
|
February 7th, 2010, 07:39 AM |
| TSB Noobie |
| Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Charleston, SC, Denver, Austin at various times of year Posts: 29 | |
| I've got the studio all set up for your son's lesson. I think instead of wiring the money, I'll just pay the nanny her fees tomorrow when the lesson starts.
Hello
Am very glad For your Honest But i want you to know that i have book my son Ticket now so the arriver day is Wensday And The nanny Need to Buy some thing Before my son arrivel to State that is why i want you to Help me Arrenge the MTCN Number Very well and send it to me so He can Quickly Go and Pick the money up in western union...... i hope you understand me Troy? please Kindly get me back with the MTCN Number Now am online waiting to hear From you.... please i Don't want any Delay For my Son |
February 7th, 2010, 07:57 AM |
 | Baiter Extraordinaire |
| Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,185 | |
a form idea to draw up for these?... multi daft question sort of thing  ... What is his level at the moment Is John left or right handed Which style of music is he interested in playing Electric / Acoustic / Clockwork...other etc.. |
February 7th, 2010, 09:03 AM |
| TSB Noobie |
| Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Charleston, SC, Denver, Austin at various times of year Posts: 29 | |
| Yeah, exactly. Thanks for reading it. I'm in the middle of one now.
I love to steer them away from talking about the money transfer and make them feign an interest in music, music equipment, and children's academics-all things a real parent would be very willing to discuss with a music teacher.
It's like when a junkie is trying to score money for a fix and you make them explain just how it is, one more time, that his wife and kids are stranded up the road and he needs gas money, but not a lift back to his family...sweat pouring out of his forehead and picking at his scabs. |
February 7th, 2010, 01:12 PM |
| TSB Noobie |
| Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Charleston, SC, Denver, Austin at various times of year Posts: 29 | |
| The Mugu is very upset.
hello am very glad to read from you but you dissapointed me by calling me scam the reason i said that you should pls send the MTCN NUMBER to me is that my nanny can't find it the way you said before and am using this oppotunity to tell you that my check is not a fake and i will le you know that am a man like you and i understand you because there is a lot of scam online that is why you said mu nanny should find the mtcn like that am waiting for your reply thanks...
I just verified that your check is real.
My piano student Leotard Hogarth is going now to send the $2,725 to Denise Henderson |
February 8th, 2010, 02:40 AM |
| TSB Noobie |
| Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Charleston, SC, Denver, Austin at various times of year Posts: 29 | |
| They're so hard on Western Union scams here, you have to gaze at this autostereogram and see the M.T.C.N. in your cross-eyed vision. Just be sure you don't stare too long, or you'll need to be shoved into an MRI and have your feet bled.
Hello
Well you Really sound great to me But i want you to know that you suppose to Follow my Instruction Cos i have told you that The Nanny have to buy some thing before the arriver of my son that is why i want you to Quickly Send the money to him so he can make Every thing fast so there would not be any Delay for the arriver of my son.... Once again i want you to be honest with me, i guess you told me that you are sending your student to wire the money to the nanny... Once again i want you to kindly go to Western union and get the western union and i want you to Deduct any amount western union charge you out of the money and send the rest back to the nanny..... Please and Please Mr Troy i want you to get the money Send now so the nanny can pick it up As soon as possible.....Please i don't want delay for the arriver of my son i want him to start the lesson immediately he arrive to State ok?
Sincerely john |
February 8th, 2010, 03:01 AM |
| TSB Noobie |
| Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Charleston, SC, Denver, Austin at various times of year Posts: 29 | |
Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 23:08:09 -0800 From: pathjohn43@yahoo.comSubject: Re: Lessons begin Monday, 8 February. To: ************@hotmail.com
hello how are you today i will like to tell you that my son will arrive with my nanny on wednesday...Well, that's funny, because from the looks of things, your nanny can't handle a simple Western Union Wire-Transfer-pickup, yet you would trust her with the care and feeding of a human child? I wouldn't leave her alone with a Shih Tzu. Even a housebroken Shiz Tzu. That incompetent hag is having trouble getting her money. I think you should send her a money order so she can travel with your kid to my city for these guitar lessons, and I'll just send your money back Western Union. Better yet, just let me keep the whole check and I'll clear out the room I've been using for storage. My last touring band had a giant dragon and a massive satanic pentagram onstage, but if you explain to your son that it was just heavy metal theatrics, I'm sure he'll understand that I don't really worship the devil. I'm really one of Jehovah's Witnesses, like the Jackson 5 brothers, but who wants to go see a band play dressed in nice suits and normal male haircuts? What kind of food does your son like? Is he used to 3 large meals or more like 6 smaller meals, like a weightlifter? I'll get a used TV from the pawnshop, there's already a coaxial cable I won't even block the porn, he'll love that. At his age, I used to masturbate till the cows came home.,because I grew up on a working bovine farm that also made dirty movies. I've taken care of kids before and taught them the value of hard work. |
February 8th, 2010, 08:01 AM |
| Baiter Extraordinaire |
| Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,185 | |
You spent his $ in a casino ..and guess what  |
February 8th, 2010, 02:32 PM |
| TSB Noobie |
| Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Charleston, SC, Denver, Austin at various times of year Posts: 29 | |
 I should have thought of that this time. Thank you, I'll do that next time. In the meantime, my Mugu from this teaching scam/fake check can't take the hint, and "The nanny is still trying to collect her fund". Hello,
Am very confuse about you what you said.... i have already made all arrangement with the nanny just for you to Wire the money to the nanny you are making me feel that you are not Honest with me.... Please Try and be honest with cos i don't want any delay for the arriver of my son Even this Issue is Disturbing from my work Please Kindly go now to the western union and get my money sent to the nanny Now again i want you to know that There is know Problem with the nanny to received the money in western union so don't be scared about that.... Okay
Sincerely pad |
February 8th, 2010, 02:52 PM |
| TSB Noobie |
| Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Charleston, SC, Denver, Austin at various times of year Posts: 29 | |
Quote: Originally Posted by Ben  You spent his $ in a casino ..and guess what | That's a great idea, and I modified it a bit because this was superbowl weekend:
I have to be honest with you
From: hotmail.com)
Sent: Mon 2/08/10 7:43 PM
To: pathjohn43@yahoo.com
Dear Mr. Path:
I got drunk and bet your nanny's money on the Superbowl Football game, trying to double it before I sent the Nanny's fee's. I bet on the Colts and, as you know, the Saints won 31 to 17.
Now I have to borrow another $2,000 from Guido "The Noose" Bagadonuts to send you.
You realize that I'm going to end up with three broken thumbs because of this, don't you?http://thescambaiter.com/forum/images/icons/vomit.gif
|
February 8th, 2010, 03:09 PM |
| TSB Noobie |
| Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Charleston, SC, Denver, Austin at various times of year Posts: 29 | |
Quote: Originally Posted by Ben You spent his $ in a casino ..and guess what | That's a great idea, http://thescambaiter.com/forum/image.../notworthy.gif and I modified it a bit because this was superbowl weekend:
I have to be honest with you
From: hotmail.com)
Sent: Mon 2/08/10 7:43 PM
To: pathjohn43@yahoo.com
Dear Mr. Path:
I got drunk and bet your nanny's money on the Superbowl Football game, trying to double it before I sent the Nanny's fee's. I bet on the Colts and, as you know, the Saints won 31 to 17.
Now I have to borrow another $2,000 from Guido "The Noose" Bagadonuts to send you.
You realize that I'm going to end up with three broken thumbs because of this, don't you?http://thescambaiter.com/forum/images/icons/vomit.gif
|
Harold, nor Kumar, were not at this particular White Castle. But as it was across the street from Indianapolis Greyhound, it was cheaper than Greyhound food while I waited for the Cincinnati connection.
I love icehouse-type bars with sawdust on the floor. Why sawdust? Puke. Simply due to puke!
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