Previously, I introduced my coworkers to web standards and usability design. My new goal is to make sure they incorporate that into every project.
There’s a security hole in WordPress, the blogging platform running this site.
For the last two entries I posted, and probably this one, the comments somehow get turned off and there is a huge list of hidden links added to the entry.
My server host, Bluehost.com, seems to keep WordPress up to date. Not sure what I can do. I know next to nothing about WordPress.
If anyone knows of a solution, let me know in comments (if you can)!
If you didn’t read PART 1 or PART 2, here’s a brief review. I was contacted by a Nigerian scam artist telling me I had won $450,000. I sent them the address of the FBI and gave them the name of an Assistant Special Agent in Charge as my information. Still thinking I was buying into the scam, he told me I had to send $200 by Western Union wire transfer to him so that he could mail me the funds. I told him to just remove the $200 from the funds and send me the remaining $449,780. Not giving in, he told me the money was in check form and could not be withdrawn by him.
Here’s my reply:
Would you be so kind as to pay for the shipping? Once I receive the money, I will gladly pay you $1,000 for your courtesy as a debt of gratitude. I can hardly pay for my medication as it is and the money you are sending me will be very much needed. As you may know, $220 doesn’t go very far here.
Thank you for your kindness!
Aren’t I generous? But after I have my $450K, giving away $1000 is no big deal, right?
Amazingly, my friendly scam artist bought into this and met me more than halfway:
Attn:
I received the mail you sent to me, I will want you to know that I’m ready to help you with the shipment fee which is $220.
But right way i don’t have up to that amount in hand I can only come up with $120.00.
My advice for you is to come up with the remaining amount which is $100.00 to complete the shipment fee.
Am sorry that is what I can afford for now.
Get back to me as soon as possible.
Raymond
So this dirt bag is trying to get ANYTHING he can out of a poor sick old man, like myself, who can’t even afford his medication. Still, I made him negotiate with me. I liked how he apologized for not having enough.
Anyway, I sent back a short reply to let him know I was still hooked:
Thank you!
Today I looked up Nigeria on Wikipedia. It says some of the people who respond to these scams are beaten up and murdered….fortunately, this only happens to people who fly to Nigeria to complete the deal [see FTC site]. Also, I gave them the FBI’s address. So I’m not too worried.
Today, I received a reply from the scammer letting me know he would wait until tomorrow to receive the, now, $100 and repeated the transaction details from PART 2, with the $220 replaced by $100.
So what should I do next? My plan is to tell him that I have a friend in Nigeria on a mission trip who would be glad to pick up the check for me as my agent. Then I ask him to send me an address where my friend should go to. I might also send a picture of my friend: An FBI Agent. Any other ideas?
If you didn’t read PART 1, here’s a brief review. I was contacted by a Nigerian scam artist name “James” telling me I had won $450,000. I replied with a ridiculous email. Evidently, it went unread, because I received a reply from his business partner “Raymond” who asked what my address was so they could send me the check. In turn, I sent them the address of the FBI and gave them the name of an Assistant Special Agent in Charge.
Here’s what happened after that:
“Raymond” responded again:
Thank you for the information you sent to me to send across your bank draft to you,I will want to make the payment of $220 for the FedEx fee so that your bank draft will be delivered to you via FedEx.
You are to make this payment via WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER with these listed payment details. So that i can comment delivery.
You are to send the money with our Cashier name below.
(Toba James) via WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.
RECEIVERS NAME. Toba James
NAME OF SENDER. James Davis
TEST QUESTION: Who can save us?
TEST ANSWER: Our lord only
ADDRESS OF SENDER. Room 679, FOB 575 North Pennsylvania Street Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
ADDRESS OF RECEIVER. Victoria Island Lagos 23401 , Nigeria
AMOUNT. $220 USD Dollars
WESTERN UNION CONTROL NUMBER (……)
Make sure you send to me the payment information which was given to you via WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER back to me to enable my cashier pick up the fund.
Get back to me as soon as possible.
So I got back to him as soon as possible.
Thanks
Surprisingly, he replied. (This guy is really desperate!)
On your mail, which you sent; I believe you understand that the money is in a bank cheque and it is impossible for any amount to be withdrew from it.
Hence, you have to provide me with the money to send across your money, which is in a bank cheque form.
Get back to me on what to do.
Regards
Raymond Miles
The fun isn’t over yet! Check back soon for PART 3!
Have you ever received those scam letters from Nigeria? The ones where the tell you that you have somehow inherited several thousand dollars? I decided to have some fun with one.
Here is my reply to the initial email:
Dear Friend,
Hello my dear dear friend Mr James Williams! How are you? I’ve heard your wife has left you because you have had an affair with a monkey. How very sad and I hope you realign yourself. I do understand that your wife looks like a monkey. You were probably confused. You’re mother also resembles a monkey and they say that we seek a surrogate mother when we choose a wife. I just never thought to look in the zoo! Hahahaha, I jest! You AND your hideous wife are like family to me, my dear friend!
How are you today? Hope all is well with you and your family?
Since you are my dear friend, I’m sure you know that I am feeling very ill. I am not in perfect condition
I hope this mail
meets you in a perfect condition.
….No…I am fucking sick.
I am using this opportunity to thank you for
Your great effort to our unfinished transfer of your winning cheque to
you as a
winner,
Thank you for winning me this winning check as a winning winner!
due to logistic reasons or the other best known to you. But I
Want to inform you that I have successfully cleared the cheque to
someone else
account who was capable of assisting me in this great venture.
I’m not really sure what you’re talking about, but I think you’re saying it’s my fault. Shove off.
Due to your effort, sincerity, courage and trustworthiness
Hahahaha James! Very funny. Trustworthy! You’ve always been a joker.
you showed at the
course of the transaction I want to compensate you and show my
gratitude to you
With the sum of $450,000.00 Thousand United State of America Dollars
AWESOME!
I have
authorized Mr. Raymond Miles where I deposited my money to issue you
International certified bank draft cashable at your bank.
WTF!? Why didn’t you just send the check to ME! Are you some kind of idiot!
My dear
friend I will
like you to contact Mr. Raymond Miles for the collection of this international
Certified bank draft.
I will like for this to happens also
The name and contact address of the Mr. Raymond Miles is as follows.
Mr. Raymond Miles
Telephone: +2348022504293
Email: raymiles113@yahoo.it
Contact Mr. Raymond Miles at the moment, I am very busy here because of the
investment projects which I and my new partner are having at hand In London.
Thanks and God bless you and your family. Hope to hear from you soon.
Mr. James Williams
Goodbye buddy!
I did receive a reply back from “Mr James Williams”, however it merely said to contact Raymond Miles instead since “James” is sooo busy in London!
Then Mr Raymond Miles contacted me.
I am Mr. Raymond Miles and thank you for your swift response. I will be handling the proceedures of your compensated funds as instructed by Mr.James Williams.
I will like to inform you that your certified bank draft will be sent to your through a FedEx representative here in my office and as the beneficiary,you are to settle for the cost of delivery which is the sum of $220 usd.
To avoid further delays with your transaction you are adviced to fill in the receiver’s information below after which a payment instruction along with your delivery details will be sent to you which will include a tracking number to monitor your parcel and also a payment receipt of a $220 after the confirmation of your payment.
Reciever’s Informations:
Reciever’s Full Name:
Reciever’s Contact Address (State, City,Zipcode):
Reciever’s Reachable Phone Number:
Do fill in the above informations to enable us proceed further with your delivery.
I will wait to hear from you.
Thank you and God Bless.
Raymond Miles
So I replied back with the address of the FBI headquarters in Indianapolis and the name of one of the Assistant Special Agents in Charge.
I was surprised to find a reply in my mailbox! Part 2 is coming soon!