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Old 08-01-2006, 11:54 AM   #1 (permalink)
Crack
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Location: Ohio! yay!
Crack > Nigerian 419 scammers

I had so much fun playing with Thomas Cole and his "Barrister" here, that I decided to play some more.. I figured General discussion was the best place for this. If not, Mods feel free to move.

First, I opened up 2 new gmail accounts. Why Gmail? Because they hide the org. IP address. The scammers have no clue where you are, from the headers of the e-mail (if they even knew how to look:-P )

The account names are not important to the 'bait' but they need to look legit. The 2 I picked are EcherotATgmail.com and MidinkusATgmail.com (I don't want the scammers googling my account)

I then mass mailed a form letter seen here:
Quote:
Hello!
Your business deal has peaked my interest, but I am sorry I cannot help you right now.
I am in the middle of a large business deal of my own. I barter and sale works of african art to people and companies in Columbus Ohio (USA). I am extremely busy, one of my artists backed out, and now I am currently looking for someone who can take up his slack. I am at my wits end here, you see, he was a very good sculpture artist, and was working for me out of Liberville, Gabon.

You arn't an artist are you? haha! I didn't think so. Oh well, back to searching. You would think, for what I pay these people, they would be more than happy to work for the commission I give them! But no, for the last sculpture he sent me he got paid $23,650US, but did he even thank me? Of course not! Damn his french speaking ass! haha! What I wouldn't do to find a sculpture artist that could at least speak english...

Regurads,
Sidney 3cherot
to every 419 e-mail that I recieved. (which was around 30ish) until I got an 'off the script' response. Seen here from this scammer:
Quote:
Dear Sydney 3cherot,

Could you please sent me picture samples of this deal you are into to enable me see if i have someone here in Lndon who i will introduce you to before we talk about my deal.

Hope to hear from you soonest.

From James.
From that e-mail, I knew I found the greedy bastard I was looking for.

What follows is the e-mail conversation up until today.

Quote:
James,
Oh indeed I can! I usually only deal with artists out of Africa, so I am not sure someone in London can give me what I need here, but I am always open to a new way of doing business!
My firm, Echerot Techart Inc, provides tech companies with artwork for displays in their corp headquarters. Companies like Microsoft, Dell, Sony, and many many more. All the the sculptures I deal with are computer and technologically related (usually Keyboard and mouse, but sometimes laptops and computer monitors) Nothing too complicated. I have attached a few of the older sculptures that I have bought in the past. The price range for what you see there is anywhere from $12,000US for 3 mice, to around $67,000US for the complete computer system, keyboard/monitor/mouse.

The current project I am working on is for AMD. You may or may have not known this, but they have recently merged with ATI, and have commissioned my firm to recreate their top of the line Motherboard in a high quality wood of my choice. I am usually quite partial to cherry wood, but I am open to any ideas. The last image I have attached is what I need reproduced. It is the RS480 AMD Motherboard. I need it in as much detail as possible, and, as always, I have the final say in the project. I have 2 other artists working on other projects right now, and they cannot be bothered to stop what they are doing and work on this new project.

Because this is a rushed project, I was willing to pay $24,600US, but as I am unable to find an artist in such short notice, I have bumped the fee up to $32,500US. I need this done fast.
Cheers,
Sidney 3cherot
3cherot Techart Inc
Columbus Ohio, USA
Quote:
Dear Sidney Echerot,

Thanks for your email and the attachment sent i dont know how to do this or to find any ones who will do this am not into engerinering but wish you good luck you will surely make or get the deal.

So for my proposal can we start it or do i wait till you are done with your deal.

Regards James.
Quote:
Thanks James,
If you have any contacts that you think might be able to accomplish this for me, please send them my way.
I still am unable to fine anyone, so I am offering a $5600 signing bonus to an artist that can assist me.
Sid.[/COLOR]
Quote:
Dear Friend,

I will do my best if i see someone i will inform me but is this about building computer or build the case i will with wooden or plastic?.[/COLOR]
Quote:
It's sculpting the computer part I sent you out of wood.
Not an actual working computer part, just a piece of art.
I have attached the part I will need sculpted out of wood. The size should be about 10 inches by 12 inches, and have as much detail as possible. Not color, just detail. I can give you some more sizes and pictures if you think you can find someone who can help out! I would be dealing with you though, and any money spent on the project would be going through you, and you pay the artist whatever you like. Consider it a finding fee.
Thanks,
Sid
Quote:
Dear Friend,

Hope your fine today?.

I saw someone who is from is from Africa he said that before he starts that consultation fee must be paid the sum of $300 from the mail and your samples i showed him he will do the job perfectly.

So what do you say?.

Hope to hear from you soonest.
Quote:
James, it is good to hear from you!
I am sorry, my firm does not pay any fees up front without seeing a sample of the work to be done. Rest assured, we do pay well, but if we started giving out advances to aspiring artists, everyone and their brother would want to try and play artist! If you would like to tell him that any work he does for my firm will be paid handsomly as soon as samples are seen, that would be fine, but any money in advance is out of the question. I can provide e-mail and telephone numbers of artists I have worked with in the past if you would like to contact them as a reference.

It is company policy to pay out 1/3rd of the total sum of the money when photographic evidence of quality of work is shown. For this project, that would come to around $10,833US when samples are seen, and the rest ($21,667US) when the final piece is delivered to the office. If that will work for your artist, then let the project commence!
Sidney 3cherot
Quote:
Dear Sydney,

Ok i will forward your mail to him which will tell him more about what you said though weve talk on phone before i replied your mail.

I will want you to send detail information or samples of what you will need him to do.

I look forward for your response soonest.
These are the "samples" I sent to him:







and a picture of the mobo I want carved:



Now... as I quote most people in my life
Quote:
Originally Posted by dad
"Son... you won't amount to nuthin"
If I actually get my hand carved wooden motherboard from a nigerian 419 scammer, I wouldn't care what anyone ever said again, I would be successful!

EDIT:
Can everyone read the green/blue text? If not, I can pick a different color.

EDIT2: Fine, no more colors. geez, I try and add a little color to a bleak and sad world, and this is what I get...
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Last edited by Crack; 08-01-2006 at 12:46 PM.. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
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