I received an email the other day from someone who had hacked into my friend Rollin Hunt‘s Hotmail account and sent a message to his entire contact list asking them to wire money to Africa on behalf of his sick sister. I was pretty sure Rollin didn’t have a sister (apparently, I find, he does), but regardless was pretty sure that Rollin was not in Africa, but down the street from me, in his house, where he usually is. I decided to have a bit of a chat with the person who hacked his account, and what follows in the transcript from that exchange:
On Mon, Jan 26, 2009 at 6:26 AM, Rollin Hunt wrote:
Hello
How are you doing today? Fine I presume. My reason for writing you this emergency letter is that I am currently in Africa to visit my ill Sister, am sorry for not informing you before embarking on my journey to Africa it was quiet an argent move i took to Africa because of the news of her illness arrived to me as “EMERGENCY” she is suffering from a critical uterine Fibroid and needs immediate family support to keep her alive, her condition is deteriorating and the doctor told me that she will need to under-go a surgery to keep her alive because her fibroid is getting worse (70 pounds Large) and has done a lot of damages to her abdominal area. They require a deposit of $2500 because they are inviting professional surgeons from Israel to perform the (hysterectomy) operation because it had gotten to a critical stage. That brings me more to why I have written you, I need a financial help of $1400 from you to deposit for her surgery because the cash i traveled wasn’t enough to make the payment asap. I didn’t expect things to be the way it is right now. I really need this money from you soon because I am in a terrible and tight situation here, I have short time to get the money before the surgeons arrive. Even if you can’t afford the whole sum, I will appreciate whatever you are able to come up with because I don’t even know your financial status before asking you for money. I promise to pay you back when I get back.I am desperately waiting to hear from you soon so that I will know what step to take next.
Thanks
Hotmail® goes where you go. On a PC, on the Web, on your phone. See how.
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Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 23:06:00 -0300
Subject: Re: EMMERGENCY
From: nathancmartin@gmail.com
To: ringaling@hotmail.com
Hi Rollin,
I’m really sorry to hear about your sister. I will take all of the money out of my bank account and send it to wherever you want. This will mean that I won’t be able to pay rent next month or buy food, so I hope you don’t mind if I move into your place and eat everything that you have. I’m sure it will be worth it to keep your sister alive.
On another note, I’m trying to fly to Cairo in the spring and am looking at flights right now. Pretty expensive. I found some United flights to London for less than $200, but then the fees and taxes are something like $300. You’ve flown to London quite a bit, right? Know any secrets for cheap airfare?
God be with you and your family in this time of need.
-Nate
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On Mon, Jan 26, 2009 at 6:46 PM, Rollin Hunt wrote:
Thank you very much for your swift response to my email and also for your great concern to want to help! it goes a long way to show how much you care about me and my family and the good heart you have, you are the best friend one can ever have, a true friend indeed to a friend in need. May our almighty GOD in his infinate mercy and compassion continue to bless you and enrich you with more wherever these help is coming out from. Regarding how to get the money to me pls go to any gross store or shopping mall that operates western union money transfer or a money gramm and request to send the money to the name and address provided below.
Name: daniel jatau
Address: 15 marina hospital
City: surulerel
State: lagos
Country: Nigeria
text question: my colour
text answer: blue
And you will be given a 10 digits mtcn number…..and the amount sent with the senders name.
thanks
rollin
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[Nate does not respond...]
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On Wed, Jan 28, 2009 at 4:34 AM, Rollin Hunt wrote:
Gooday nate.
please i write to you concerning the money,please try send it to me so i can deposit it for the surgery,please reply asap
thanks
rollin
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Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 12:19:48 -0300
Subject: Re: EMMERGENCY
From: nathancmartin@gmail.com
To: ringaling@hotmail.com
Yeah, Rollin, jeez, hold on. It’s not like sending money to Africa is absolutely the only gosh darned thing I have to do with my time. Hold the freak on.
-Nate
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On Wed, Jan 28, 2009 at 11:54 AM, Rollin Hunt wrote:
please help me nate i need ur help, its not like u sending money to me i will pay back i promise you nate, Regarding how to get the money to me pls go to any gross store or shopping mall that operates western union money transfer or a money gramm and request to send the money to the name and address provided below.
Name: daniel jatau
Address: Divine Grace Hospital surulere,
city: Lagos
Country: Nigeria
text question: my colour
text answer: blue
And you will be given a 10 digits mtcn number…..ad the amoutn sent with the senders name.
thanks
rollin
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Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 11:55:42 -0600
Subject: Re: EMMERGENCY
From: nathancmartin@gmail.com
To: ringaling@hotmail.com
You don’t even have a job, Rollin. How could you possibly pay me this money back?
-Nate
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On Wed, Jan 28, 2009 at 12:01 PM, Rollin Hunt wrote:
i will sell little of my things ok. to pay u back i promise.
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Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 12:02:37 -0600
Subject: Re: EMMERGENCY
From: nathancmartin@gmail.com
To: ringaling@hotmail.com
Like what? You sold your television and stereo the last time you went on a heroin binge. You don’t have anything to sell except that old car.
-Nate
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On Wed, Jan 28, 2009 at 12:12 PM, Rollin Hunt wrote:
PLEASE NATE DONT MAKE FUNNY OF ME, I NEED UR HELP.
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Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 12:13:41 -0600
Subject: Re: EMMERGENCY
From: nathancmartin@gmail.com
To: ringaling@hotmail.com
I’m not making fun of you. Answer me one question and I will send money: What is the name of your girlfriend?
-Nate
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On Wed, Jan 28, 2009 at 12:19 PM, Rollin Hunt wrote:
what has my girlfriend got to do about this nate, thanks for everything and ur concern, u have shown me how much u care nate,
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Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 12:20:16 -0600
Subject: Re: EMMERGENCY
From: nathancmartin@gmail.com
To: ringaling@hotmail.com
Sure thing, Rollin. I’m always willing to help out a stranger.
-Nate
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On Wed, Jan 28, 2009 at 12:24 PM, Rollin Hunt wrote:
i need you now nate.
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Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 12:28:06 -0600
Subject: Re: EMMERGENCY
From: nathancmartin@gmail.com
To: ringaling@hotmail.com
I need you, too.
-Nate
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On Thu, Jan 29, 2009 at 4:58 AM, Rollin Hunt wrote:
please i write to u concerning the fund u want to send to me for the surgery, please try get whatever u can i really need ur help now,and i promise i will pay u back.
thanks.
rollin
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Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2009 10:28:06 -0600
Subject: Re: EMMERGENCY
From: nathancmartin@gmail.com
To: ringaling@hotmail.com
I saw Rollin Hunt on the street last night. I asked him how his sister was doing. He said he does not have a sister.
I asked him about the emails he sent me, and apologized for not sending money. He had no idea what I was talking about.
I do not know who you are, where you come from, or how much you really need money, but you will get none from me. I give my money away quite often to those who need it, and to some who don’t but who lie to me and say they do. I have no problem doing either, but since I know absolutely nothing about who you really are except that you stole my friend’s email account and pretended to be him, I will give you nothing except good wishes for the future.
I am not angry at you, nor spiteful. I wish you all the best.
Take care.
-Nate
Bank Bailout & Somewhat related:
“I want to warn people from Nigeria who might be watching our show, if you get any emails from Washington asking for money, it’s a scam. Don’t fall for it.” – David Letterman
So so funny. I’ll never feel the same stepping into a gross store again.
By the way, people, if you want to really help folks in Africa, use Kiva.org.
Its probably that kid on tv with flies all over him.
We need to just cut Nigeria off from the Internet. Problem solved. Oh, no more phone calls, either.
The topic is quite trendy on the Internet at the moment. What do you pay the most attention to while choosing what to write ?
I dispise the phishing emails they appear to get more desperate by the day I get two or three everyday and submit them to phishtrackers a site I recently found that allows you to report them anonymously.