The 419 Scammer

[Rimmer]

Although I know that the 419 scammer doesn't show up on HC at all (thank god), I think there is a lesson to be learnt from the whole 419 scam routine (check out 419 scamming or advance fee fraud from Magic Taxi or Google etc..).

The main bit of advice I would put forward is to NEVER use Western Union transfer as a payment option for goods EVER. There is no reason for anyone to use cash transfers to transfer funds to and from two or more unknown individuals for the purchase of goods.

I would now consider myself to be an experienced individual with regard to Western Union based scams, mainly the 419 Nigerian/Dutch/UK/US advance fee scammers so my advice is NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER use Western Union or any similar fast track methods of cash transfer to pay for anything (however desperate you have been made to feel).. If anyone feels they need any advice with 419 scams or are simply interested in that sort of fraud, then please feel free to PM or email me.

Rimmer

[Mkoris]

Ah yes, the 419 scammers.

It is a scam that actually date back to before the internet became common and they started out as real life snail mail letters or fax, requesting assistance to transfer funds, of ridicoulos amounts, across borders.

I could write an essay about 419 and related scams but i'll refrain from that.

Let me just quote some 419 haikus from The Registers 419 haiku competition that never cease to make me chuckle a little bit:

SIR, MY DAD IS DEAD
AND YADA YADA YADA...
SEND ME SOME MONEY!


Top 419ers
Won't get out of bed to spam
For less than ten mill.

Also beware of the fake cashiers check scam described here:
Fake cashiers check scam (http://www.swapmeetdave.com/Scam/index.htm)

[Chelle]

Yeah, I've generally accepted that if you see the words western union to not walk but run away.

It is too bad, i know it has probably really hurt western union a lot - I'm sure many more people would use it if it weren't for so many spam issues.

[boxorox]

Western Union charges a Dollar to send 50 cents. An exageration, but they are damnably expensive. But if time is of the essence and the other party has no bank account, you're kinda stuck with them. They exist for the sole purpose of bailing your wife's brother out of jail in Florida for being a drunken larcenous douchebag.

[TL4558P]

http://www.419eater.com (http://www.419eater.com/)

These are always great for a laugh

[cenoch]

http://wantfreethings.com/social/1.jpg

[Rimmer]

http://wantfreethings.com/social/1.jpg

Heh. Unbelievable... :)

[amp_surgeon]

Western Union is still quite good for what they've always been good for - sending money quickly to someone you know anywhere in the world. For instance, your kid is on a backpacking tour of Europe and runs out of cash, or your cousin in Asia needs some cash to get his scooter repaired, or (like the TV commercial) your brother needs bail money at 3:00am in another state.

Western Union used to be quite expensive. Just a few years ago I recall the price being $15 fee per $100 sent. They're a lot less expensive now, probably because of competition. I recently sent $300 to my fiancee in Asia to put a deposit on a restaurant we're renting for a party, and the total fees were only $6.

So, the lesson really should be, don't ever use Western Union (or any other wire transfer service) to send money to someone you don't know personally. On the other hand, Western Union is great for sending money to friends and family.