Does 80% Of Spam Come From Just 10 Spammers?

from the seems-highly-unlikely dept

The Inquirer points us to an article at Security Pro News suggesting an update on the 80/20 Pareto rule for spam. It appears that the top 10 spammers may account for nearly 80% of the spam you see. Of course, the Inquirer then suggests that we could solve the spam problem by taking down those 10 people -- though that leaves out the fact that others would quickly fill in behind them. In the past, we've seen other top spammers taken out, either through legal means or less than legal means and it hasn't done anything to stop the onslaught of spam. While it makes sense to try to make things more difficult for the top spammers in hopes of keeping others away from the business, it should be pretty clear that spamming is quite lucrative for some people, and it's not just going to go away any time soon, no matter what you do to those at the top of the current spam pyramid.
Hide this

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team


Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread


  1. identicon
    misanthropic humanist, 14 Nov 2006 @ 4:41pm

    We can find spammers but not prosecute them

    The continued existence of spammers remains a mystery to me. Not the technical issues, since I think we all understand the intrinsic faults of the mail protocols, open relays and non-verifiable push routing algorithms, but the politics is odd.

    I mean, if I were to portscan the entire domains of several government and comercial organisations I would have someone knocking at my door within a day, but nobody tackles the spammers who send out millions of unsolicited junk mails.

    Both actions are illegal, and both actions are equally possible to track down the perpetrator given a little time and motivation, not least of all because spammers are tracable via the sites through which they offer goods and services. Yet nobody tackles the spammers, though you would think there are a large number of powerful interests who stand to lose and who have the teeth to take on the spammers.

    The argument that others would just replace the prosecuted spammers is specious, by analogy why not apply that reasoning to house breakers and muggers?

    Without having to adjust my tinfoil hat too much, I think there's something obviously rather queer about this entire situation. It kind of stands to reason that the serious spammers not entrepreneurial individuals and groups working in the black economy but are in fact backed by mainstream interests who afford them a level of cover and protection.

    How else could the courts and legal system so consistently fail to deal with trangressors who are operating in plain sight right under their noses?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  2. identicon
    John, 14 Nov 2006 @ 5:02pm

    Misanthropic put it pretty well... although I don't think it's as much of a conspiracy.

    These spammers A) are making money B) it's not costing them anything C) they are childish and think it's partly a game.

    So these spammers think they are clever...but really they are not.. they are just preying on people's good nature. Most of us just ignore their emails and delete them... figuring it takes less time to delete a few emails then to launch some sort of civil action.

    So they are not clever, we are just too nice.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  3. identicon
    Anonymous coward, 14 Nov 2006 @ 5:17pm

    Here's a tinfoil hat theory... in an effort to avoid detection with one on one communication, potential ne'rdo-wells could contract these spammers to send out messages with embedded details for more co-ordinated wrongdoing.

    Sure, the various national security organizations could track a single email from one person to another; but could they determine the intended recipient to such a message when its sent to millions of recipients.

    Really, though - one or two evening news exclusives aside, these stock spam messages, (w/ embedded, animated gifs) can't be generating income for their respective companies. Who could possibly benefit?

    The Antispam software manufacturers, I suppose...

    link to this | view in thread ]

  4. identicon
    jamesdugo24, 14 Nov 2006 @ 5:28pm

    YOUR URGENT ATTENTION IS NEEDED

    From: James Dugo Esq. (For Trustees)
    Managing Partner(Dugo Chambers)
    PRETORIA SOUTH AFRICA

    NOTIFICATION OF BEQUEST:
    On behalf of the Trustees and Executor of the estate of Late
    Mr. Edwin
    Gabriel, I once again try to notify you as my earlier letter
    was
    returned undelivered. I hereby attempt to reach you again by
    this same
    email address on the WILL. I wish to notify you that late
    Mr. Edwin
    Gabriel made you a beneficiary to his WILL. He left the sum
    of Five
    Million One Hundred Thousand Dollars (USD$5,100.000.00 ) to
    you in the
    codicil and last testament to his will.

    This may sound strange and unbelievable to you, but it is
    real and
    true. Being a widely travelled man, he must have been in
    contact with you
    in the past or simply you were nominated to him by one of
    his numerous
    friends abroad who wished you good. Mr. Edwin Gabriel until
    his death was
    a member of the Helicopter Society and the Institute of
    Electronic &
    Electrical Engineers. He was a very dedicated Christian who
    loved to give
    out. His great philanthropy earned him numerous awards
    during his life
    time. Late Mr. Edwin Gabriel died on the 16th day of
    February 2004 at the
    age of 90 years and his WILL is now ready for execution.
    According to him
    this money is to support his Christian activities (may his
    soul rest with
    the Lord) and to help the poor and needy.

    Please if I reach you as I am hopeful, endeavor to get back
    to me as
    soon as possible to enable me conclude my job. I hope to
    hear from you in
    no distant date.please contact me on this email:
    jamesdugo@myway.com
    Yours in His service,

    James Dugo Esq.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  5. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 14 Nov 2006 @ 5:35pm

    Solution exists

    and the solutions name is Gmail.

    Got about two pieces of spam in the year or more I've been using it that didn't get caught by the filter, and no legitimate email snagged incorrectly (I check).

    link to this | view in thread ]

  6. identicon
    Giojohn, 14 Nov 2006 @ 5:41pm

    Re: YOUR URGENT ATTENTION IS NEEDED

    Man that guy was nice, he alos left me $Five million. Hey! I t's the same letter. WTF? It's my Five million and you can't have it.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  7. identicon
    Giojohn, 14 Nov 2006 @ 5:42pm

    Re: YOUR URGENT ATTENTION IS NEEDED

    Man that guy was nice, he also left me $Five million. Hey! I t's the same letter. WTF? It's my Five million and you can't have it.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  8. identicon
    Dash, 14 Nov 2006 @ 5:48pm

    Gmail is not a solution. The spammers will find your email address eventually, and get ready for the torrent of spam.

    My gmail used to get no spam at all, but recently its been getting on the order of 10 a week, quite annoying really...I didn't sign up for any lists or anything recently, so I don't know what did it.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  9. identicon
    Michael Long, 14 Nov 2006 @ 6:07pm

    Blocking

    What ISPs need to do is block incoming requests to home accounts.

    That would prevent a good deal of the exploits, starting today, and prevent spammers from broadcasting command and control messages to their botnets. It would also, in term, block a good deal of the addresses to which infected computers could "phone home" for commands....

    ...which it turn would make it MUCH easier to target and block the reall C&C nodes, or block individual spam servers.

    Yeah, it might prevent Joe Geek from running a home Linux web server, but I think I'd be willing to give that up to block a great deal of the spam generated daily.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  10. identicon
    Charles The Tech, 14 Nov 2006 @ 6:33pm

    Re: Blocking

    Michael, botnets typically use IRC or make it where the zombied windows box's send outgoing requests and read what it's instructions are.

    Your method would stop very little botnet activity.

    Or atleast that is the way I've come to understand it.

    Charles~

    link to this | view in thread ]

  11. identicon
    zcat, 14 Nov 2006 @ 6:54pm

    Block incoming connections..? haha!

    You'd kill most games, for a start.
    You'd also kill many VoIP and chat applications.
    And VPN's, which would piss off a lot of business customers.

    Bother spammers? Not one bit... For the most part, zombie PC's get infected via mail and controlled via IRC. They really don't need to handle any inbound connections, ever.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  12. identicon
    Stu, 14 Nov 2006 @ 7:01pm

    Sorry John, I disagree

    These spammers
    A) are making money
    B) are making money
    C) are making money
    D) it's not costing them anything (or at least not much)
    E) they are not childish, they are business people

    . . . these spammers think they are clever . . . and they are. See A through E above. The script kiddies are still out there, but they are a minor factor now. It's about big money.

    The poster who said to go after the retailers who employ spam (and spammers), has it right, although it will be difficult to stop those who sell online internationally. On the other hand, I used to get tons of spam from Home Depot.
    The other weapon is to convince the entire population of the world to (1) stop opening spam (2) stop buying from those who use it.

    I'm not optimistic, are you?

    For my full take on spam and some grins, visit my home page
    http://stucohen.com/
    check out the link "About Spam"

    link to this | view in thread ]

  13. identicon
    mikstin, 14 Nov 2006 @ 7:03pm

    Spam solution.

    The problem isn't so much that people send spam; it's that clearly someone is responding to it. Realistically if spamers got zero responses at some point they would get bored and just quit. Obviously there are at least thousands upon thousands of people out there who respond to spam (or a couple of people who respond to a WHOLE LOT of spam). That being said the solution is fairly simple: We need to find these people who are responding to spam and kill them (or at least take their computers away).

    link to this | view in thread ]

  14. identicon
    sendeth, 14 Nov 2006 @ 7:38pm

    spam and gmail

    i currently have 2657 spam messages. they come so fast i can't even clean them out any more. when i had bluefrog, it almost stopped completely. then they wussed out when pressured by pharmamaster, the russian hacker.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  15. identicon
    SoAndSo, 14 Nov 2006 @ 8:15pm

    Article Changed

    The article in question was amended to 200 spammers running 80%, the top 10 just being the top of the batch.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  16. identicon
    Rico J. Halo, 14 Nov 2006 @ 8:26pm

    Ill betcha...

    Barracuda Networks love those guys and pray for their health every night (they make enterprise class anti-spam firewalls)

    ~RJH

    http://www.thatpoliticalblog.com

    link to this | view in thread ]

  17. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 14 Nov 2006 @ 10:50pm

    SPAM

    I run a medium sized corporate network, on the average we receive 100,000+ e-mails a day, less then 3,000 make it through the filter. Pretty pathetic, I hate spammers.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  18. identicon
    Matthew Stibbe, 14 Nov 2006 @ 11:55pm

    Stopping spammers can stop spam

    I'm not sure I agree that going after spammers doesn't stop spam. Criminologists agree that the risk of getting caught and the penalties of getting caught are the prime deterrent for criminals. I suspect it's the same with spam.

    There is some evidence that legal action against spammers does actually work. As reported on my blog, Bad Language the Dutch telecoms regulator was able to reduced Dutch-language spam by 85% in a short time by going after the spammers. Imagine if we could do that on a global scale.

    Other countries are catching up. The British government recently passed a law against denial of service attacks (see Get Safe Online's blog) and creating, holding or using phishing type software. The next step is enforcement, of course.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  19. identicon
    Tam, 15 Nov 2006 @ 12:11am

    Gotta pay to play.

    There is no government willing to stop spam because there is no payoff to the politicians. The victims of spam are too diffuse to organize and offer compelling bribes. Gotta pay to play.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  20. identicon
    Michael Long, 15 Nov 2006 @ 5:13am

    Re: Block incoming connections..? haha!

    It would seem to me that connections for most of the above are made from a home client to a server not located in a "home" ISP network. Thus, things like a VPN connection to the office would still work. And what we're talking about is really just what a good home firewall is supposed to do anyway. Block incoming requests.

    However, any requests from outside TO an infected home 'bot, IRC or not, would be blocked, as would any requests said bot would attempt to make to another home bot, which would in turn, as I said, begin to dramatically limit the number of command and control channels available.

    If all of the current 'bots suddenly lost C&C spam would drop. And if any new bots were forced to communicate with a finite set of servers setup in China or Russia or somewhere, then those addresses could be blocked as well.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  21. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 15 Nov 2006 @ 5:41am

    'we've seen other top spammers taken out, either through legal means or less than legal means'

    Dropping some paveway laser guided bombs down their chimneys might do the trick.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  22. identicon
    Flyboy, 15 Nov 2006 @ 7:00am

    Spammers make money because they convince companies that spam is an effective marketing means. Even if they get no response, it will not stop them from claiming that they can reach over X million people with just one click.

    The companies that hire the spammers should be prosecuted as an accomplice. I call them accomplices, because what they are doing to our Internet infrastructure is really a crime against society. It is their dollars that fuel the spam engine.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  23. identicon
    spamspamspam, 15 Nov 2006 @ 8:18am

    The most famous spammer in Russia (he ran an school or something) won't be sending any more spam, thats for sure. Course, someone put a bullet in his head.

    If people wonder why spam exists, its pretty simple. It costs virtually nothing for a spammer to send out spam. If they get one sale, they make a profit. 99% of the people might just delete it, but there is profit in percentages when your cost is virtually nothing.

    Personally, I would rather receive spam than junk mail. Its a lot easier to delete an email than it is to carry a piece of paper to the curb.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  24. identicon
    Johnny Huh, 15 Nov 2006 @ 12:08pm

    Making an Example of Spammers

    I get zero spam in my Gmail account and dozens of spams a day in my Yahoo account.

    99% is garbage.

    I like the idea of going after people who respond to spam and encourage them to keep sending out spam. But I also really like the idea of catching a few spammers and executing them on national television, though that might be a touch extreme.

    Spam isn't just a nuisance, its a serious problem for businesses to cope with and the law doesn't take it seriously at all.

    I have taken to tracking the stocks I get spams for, just to watch them crater. Its oddly satisfying.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  25. identicon
    glitch, 15 Nov 2006 @ 12:40pm

    I just don't understand it !

    I get zero spam, but, I believe it is how i use email.

    I have multiple pop3 accounts. Mainly from ISP's.

    2 are my primary accounts. I guard them agressively. They are only given to people and/or companies that have proven their "worthiness".

    One has Postini and the other I use Mailwasher on.

    2 others are for family & friends who like to "forward". 99% of those emails are dumped without being seen. But, I can honestly say "I got 'em" These are Comcast addys.

    1 CC said I have to use, for info and billing from them. Another, I set up, cuz I could. They do from time to time get hit by spam. But, I have never given them to anoyone or use them. CC has proven they can't be trusted. Only CC knows of them, so, where do the spammers get their data from ?

    I also have a Gmail acount, which i limit using. Again, 99% get dumped, and I never check their spam folders.

    I am also a person who routinely uses bogus emails when they are demanded. abc@xyz [.net, .org, .com: depends on where my fingers are resting.]

    Also, if I am required to check and respond to an email, for something "free", then it isn't worth the cost.

    I don't know..I guess it is just me.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  26. identicon
    lil'bit, 28 Nov 2006 @ 1:32pm

    Re: I just don't understand it !

    Best move I ever made, although it was entirely accidental and I have to take the time to re-create it. I used aol account for all shopping, since it already got more spam than any other account, another - yahoo I think, for ezines and other requested spam-like emails, etc.
    I'm also one of the few people at work that do not get spam to my work email (both my current job and the previous one) - which I attribute to not using my work email address EVER for anything but work-related emails.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  27. identicon
    Mona, 6 Apr 2007 @ 12:41pm

    Re: Re: YOUR URGENT ATTENTION IS NEEDED

    Well he must have liked me more, he left me 10.5 million. And I don't think I feel like sharing either. So WTF, Where's the check???? Still waitin in Alaska

    link to this | view in thread ]

  28. identicon
    Amy, 17 Jul 2007 @ 9:51pm

    Re: YOUR URGENT ATTENTION IS NEEDED

    I got this one too!

    link to this | view in thread ]

  29. identicon
    Linux Poker, 22 Aug 2007 @ 12:24am

    Linux Poker Online

    There are so many linux poker rooms out there, how can you choose just a single Linux poker room?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  30. identicon
    Linux Poker, 22 Aug 2007 @ 12:25am

    More poker sites for Linux

    link to this | view in thread ]

  31. identicon
    Roxy, 11 Oct 2007 @ 8:22pm

    Re: YOUR URGENT ATTENTION IS NEEDED

    I received this same email but the "To" address was empty and there was no information given to contact the asshole who sent it. What I wonder is how these scammers are getting my email address?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  32. identicon
    ANONYMOUS, 10 Dec 2007 @ 1:36pm

    YOUR URGENT ATTENTION IS NEEDED

    This stupid person also left me a part of his will. I am at a young age and have a gmail account. WHOEVER is doing this needs to be stopped. I am afraid that whoever this weirdo is can access personal files through my email, however this evil person got it, and either stalk me, harass ne, rob me, even murder me. I know it is possible if you have high enough power. Many people could be killed over this!

    link to this | view in thread ]

  33. identicon
    Dan Knollhoff, 19 Dec 2007 @ 10:42am

    spam or not?

    From: James Dugo Esq. (For Trustees)
    Managing Partner(Dugo Chambers)
    PRETORIA SOUTH AFRICA
    Email:jamesdugo12@webmail.co.za


    NOTIFICATION OF BEQUEST:

    On behalf of the Trustees and Executor of the estate of Late Mr. Edwin Gabriel, I once again try to notify you as my earlier letter was returned undelivered. I hereby attempt to reach you again by this same email address on the WILL. I wish to notify you that late Mr. Edwin Gabriel made you a beneficiary to his WILL. He left the sum of Ten Million One Hundred Thousand Dollars (USD$10,100.000.00 ) to you in the codicil and last testament to his will.

    This may sound strange and unbelievable to you, but it is real and true. Being a widely travelled man, he must have been in contact with you in the past or simply you were nominated to him by one of his numerous friends abroad who wished you good. Mr. Edwin Gabriel until his death was a member of the Helicopter Society and the Institute of Electronic & Electrical Engineers. He was a very dedicated Christian who loved to give out. His great philanthropy earned him numerous awards during his life time. Late Mr. Edwin Gabriel died on the 16th day of February 2004 at the age of 90 years and his WILL is now ready for execution. According to him this money is to support his Christian activities (may his soul rest with the Lord) and to help the poor and needy.

    Please if I reach you as I am hopeful, endeavor to get back to me as soon as possible to enable me conclude my job. I hope to hear from you in no distant date.please contact me on this email: jamesdugo12@webmail.co.za
    Yours in His service,
    James Dugo Esq.

    Man, I got this on 12-2007, that man must think that we don't check the internet for spam mail
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    link to this | view in thread ]

  34. identicon
    Dan Knollhoff, 19 Dec 2007 @ 10:48am

    Re: YOUR URGENT ATTENTION IS NEEDED

    Come on man, the chance of you getting killed over spam mail is like falling out of a plane, without a parachute, and catching a bald eagle, and flying it to the ground unharmed... get over it, you sound concerned, but dont be, you can always change your ip address.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  35. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 11 Jan 2008 @ 3:11pm

    From: Dada William Esq. (For Trustees)
    Managing Partner(Brian Chambers)
    Pretoria, South Africa
    Tele:+27 78 8278 919.
    Fax:+27 86 6194 289
    NOTIFICATION OF BEQUEST:


    On behalf of the Trustees and Executor of the estate of Late Mr. Edwin Gabriel, I once again try to notify
    you as my earlier letter was returned undelivered. I hereby attempt to reach you again by this same email
    address on the WILL.
    I wish to notify you that late Mr. Edwin Gabriel made you a beneficiary to his WILL.

    He left the sum of Ten Million One Hundred Thousand Dollars (USD$10,100.000.00 ) to you in the codicil and
    last testament to his will.
    This may sound strange and unbelievable to you, but it is real and true.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  36. identicon
    jerseyboy in florida, 24 Jan 2008 @ 6:43am

    james dugo

    just thought id let everyone know that mr james dugo is now with yahoo

    link to this | view in thread ]

  37. identicon
    cal carter, 20 Mar 2008 @ 6:18pm

    Late Mr. Edwin Gabriel

    i just got this good thing i looked it up on the spam net.


    "Eric Sipho"
    03/20/2008 05:47 AM
    To
    undisclosed-recipients:;
    cc

    Subject
    FINAL BEQUEST NOTICE





    From: Eric Sipho Esq. (For Trustees)
    Managing Partner (Sipho Chambers)
    PRETORIA SOUTH AFRICA
    Email: ericsipho1@webmail.co.za

    NOTIFICATION OF BEQUEST:

    On behalf of the Trustees and Executor of the estate of
    Late Mr. Edwin Gabriel, I once again try to notify you as
    my earlier letter was returned undelivered. I hereby
    attempt to reach you again by this same email address on
    the WILL. I wish to notify you that late Mr. Edwin Gabriel
    made you a beneficiary to his WILL. He left the sum of Five
    Million One Hundred Thousand Dollars (USD$5,100.000.00) to
    you in the codicil and last testament to his will.

    This may sound strange and unbelievable to you, but it is
    real and true. Being a widely traveled man, he must have
    been in contact with you in the past or simply you were
    nominated to him by one of his numerous friends abroad who
    wished you good. Mr. Edwin Gabriel until his death was a
    member of the Helicopter Society and the Institute of
    Electronic & Electrical Engineers. He was a very dedicated
    Christian who loved to give out. His great philanthropy
    earned him numerous awards during his lifetime. Late Mr.
    Edwin Gabriel died on the 16th day of February 2004 at the
    age of 90 years and his WILL is now ready for execution.
    According to him, this money is to support his Christian
    activities (May his soul rest with the Lord) and to help
    the poor and needy.

    Please if I reach, you as I am hopeful, endeavor to get
    back to me as soon as possible to enable me conclude my
    job. I hope to hear from you in no distant date. Please
    contact me on this email: ericsipho1@webmail.co.za

    yours in His service,

    Eric Sipho Esq.
    Win! ILLUDER.com is giving away a complete inverter system worth R15 000! Enter here now!

    http://www.illuder.com/brabys/competition.htm

    link to this | view in thread ]

  38. identicon
    Mike, 4 Apr 2008 @ 11:54am

    5.1 Mill

    Damn - and I thought I'd be living on easy street.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  39. identicon
    roberto santos, 6 Apr 2008 @ 5:29pm

    From: Eric Sipho Esq. (For Trustees)
    Managing Partner (Sipho Chambers)
    PRETORIA SOUTH AFRICA
    Email: ericsipho1@webmail.co.za

    NOTIFICATION OF BEQUEST:

    On behalf of the Trustees and Executor of the estate of Late Mr. Edwin Gabriel, I once again try to notify you as
    my earlier letter was returned undelivered. I hereby attempt to reach you again by this same email address on
    the WILL. I wish to notify you that late Mr. Edwin Gabriel made you a beneficiary to his WILL. He left the sum of Five Million One Hundred Thousand Dollars (USD$5,100.000.00) to you in the codicil and last testament to his will.

    This may sound strange and unbelievable to you, but it is real and true. Being a widely traveled man, he must have
    been in contact with you in the past or simply you were nominated to him by one of his numerous friends abroad who wished you good. Mr. Edwin Gabriel until his death was a member of the Helicopter Society and the Institute of Electronic & Electrical Engineers. He was a very dedicated Christian who loved to give out. His great philanthropy earned him numerous awards during his lifetime. Late Mr. Edwin Gabriel died on the 16th day of February 2004 at the age of 90 years and his WILL is now ready for execution.
    According to him, this money is to support his Christian activities (May his soul rest with the Lord) and to help
    the poor and needy. Please if I reach, you as I am hopeful, endeavor to get back to me as soon as possible to enable me conclude my job. I hope to hear from you in no distant date. Please contact me on this email: ericsipho1@webmail.co.za

    yours in His service,
    Eric Sipho Esq.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  40. identicon
    nano88, 12 Apr 2008 @ 5:00am

    late mr gabriel

    I know it is cleverly deceived mail. But i love the trill it caused me. I just want to try it out, how long it can last. By the way, the best part, yet to come, when I have to pay the remittance fee......, i'm drooling in participation....... Luck to me.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  41. identicon
    cath, 3 Jun 2008 @ 8:46am

    Re: YOUR URGENT ATTENTION IS NEEDED

    i recieved this e-mail!

    link to this | view in thread ]

  42. identicon
    Cath, 3 Jun 2008 @ 8:49am

    Re: YOUR URGENT ATTENTION IS NEEDED

    he left me USD$5,100.000.00

    never even met the man hahaha, effing idiot

    link to this | view in thread ]

  43. identicon
    ben, 8 Jul 2008 @ 10:03am

    Re: spam and gmail

    who is pharmamaster?

    i don't think he's russian....my friend used the same alias and he is Israeli.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  44. identicon
    Ben, 8 Jul 2008 @ 10:06am

    Re: Re: Re: YOUR URGENT ATTENTION IS NEEDED

    link to this | view in thread ]

  45. identicon
    Jules, 7 Aug 2008 @ 4:02am

    Re: YOUR URGENT ATTENTION IS NEEDED

    I just got this from "Barrister Eric Sipho." I am in the process of scambaiting him now.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  46. identicon
    Charlotte Feckers, 15 Sep 2008 @ 3:55pm

    Re: YOUR URGENT ATTENTION IS NEEDED

    I just today received this exact same e-mail!
    The author is William Kaven though I did submit a complaint.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  47. identicon
    Big D, 13 Oct 2008 @ 11:03am

    Re: spam or not?

    I got the exact same e-mail, only it was from Barrister Eric Sipho.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  48. identicon
    Big D, 13 Oct 2008 @ 11:06am

    Re: Re: YOUR URGENT ATTENTION IS NEEDED

    WTF. I inherited $5.1 million too.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  49. identicon
    Big D, 13 Oct 2008 @ 11:12am

    Re: Re: YOUR URGENT ATTENTION IS NEEDED

    This scum needs to be punished. He is telling a lot of people that they inherited $5.1 million. Then he tries to collect $2,000 from you to process it. He has been doing this same scam for years.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  50. identicon
    Big D, 13 Oct 2008 @ 11:27am

    Re: late mr gabriel

    I played along too, for about a month. He finally wanted me to wire him $2,000 for some bogus forms from the High Court of South Africa. I actually received phone calls from this jerk, as well as from another jerk claiming to be the banker. What's sad is some people are probably wiring this prick the money.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  51. identicon
    Daisygirl79, 28 Oct 2008 @ 6:40am

    Re:late mr gabriel

    I got the same e-mail supposed to be 5 million one thousand dollars richer! Knew it wasn't kosher and now I know why do these people think you can't check this stuff out!!!! I will be filing a complaint you think after all these people file them they would stop trying to scam more people! Oh by the way my guy was William Gregg!

    link to this | view in thread ]

  52. identicon
    leigh hislop, 2 Nov 2008 @ 10:54am

    Mr James Dugo

    If people read this with half a brain, they will see it for what it is. eg. He says my email was put on a will, when I didn't have an email!!!!

    link to this | view in thread ]

  53. identicon
    blaine, 13 Nov 2008 @ 9:45am

    spam?

    From: William kaven Esq. (For Trustees)
    Managing Partner(william Chambers)
    PRETORIA SOUTH AFRICA
    Email: Williamkaven_44@yahoo.com


    NOTIFICATION OF BEQUEST:

    On behalf of the Trustees and Executor of the estate of Late Mr. Brain York, I once again try to notify you as my earlier letter was returned undelivered. I hereby attempt to reach you again by this same email address on the WILL. I wish to notify you that late Mr. Brain York made you a beneficiary to his WILL. He left the sum of Five Million One Hundred Thousand Dollars (USD$5,100.000.00) to you in the codicil and last testament to his will.

    This may sound strange and unbelievable to you, but it is real and true. Being a widely travelled man, he must have been in contact with you in the past or simply you were nominated to him by one of his numerous friends abroad who wished you good. Mr. Brain York until his death was a member of the Helicopter Society and the Institute of Electronic & Electrical Engineers. He was a very dedicated Christian who loved to give out. His great philanthropy earned him numerous awards during his lifetime. Late Mr. Brain York died on the 16th day of February 2004 at the age of 90 years and his WILL is now ready for execution. According to him this money is to support his Christian activities (May his soul rest with the Lord) and to help the poor and needy.

    Please if I reach you as I am hopeful, endeavor to get back to me as soon as possible to enable me conclude my job. I hope to hear from you in no distant date. Please contact me on this email: Williamkaven_44@yahoo.com
    yours in His service,
    William kaven Esq.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  54. identicon
    Lee Lee, 8 Jan 2010 @ 9:37am

    Re: Re: YOUR URGENT ATTENTION IS NEEDED

    It is MINE I tell you, MINE MINE MINE

    link to this | view in thread ]


Follow Techdirt
Essential Reading
Techdirt Deals
Report this ad  |  Hide Techdirt ads
Techdirt Insider Discord

The latest chatter on the Techdirt Insider Discord channel...

Loading...
Recent Stories

This site, like most other sites on the web, uses cookies. For more information, see our privacy policy. Got it
Close

Email This

This feature is only available to registered users. Register or sign in to use it.