Friday, August 13, 2010

Emails from a Nigerian



I finally launched the Spanish program that I'm offering this fall. The website has been up for a few weeks but I didn't start advertising until this week. Thankfully, I've already had 2 inquiries and 1 sign-up! I've also received about 10 requests like this:

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Greetings!!!
Please let me know if you can tutor my 10 years old Daughter and tell me what Subject are you good in it?
,
Hope to hear from you soon.

Mr Jeff.

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Hello,

Greetings to you! ..I want to know if you if you have available slots/times to accommodate my Daughter for lesson 3 time a week.It will be useful if you could get back to me with your area of Expertize/Specialization.

Hoping to read from you soon so as to proceed with the arrangement.

Regards

Nia
(This one actually almost fooled me! The Daughter with a capital D got me though.)
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Hi, How are you doing today?I want a private lessons for my son(Paul) at your location. Paul is 14 year old boy and is ready to learn. Please I want to know your policy with regard to the fees, cancellations, and make-up lessons.Also,get back to me with the total fees for six month lessons(one-hour lesson in a week) starting from August 30.
In addition,I want to know the lessons location and your phone number.Looking forward to hearing from you.
My best regards,

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Can we say BabelFish anyone??

I've read multiple articles and forum posts to learn that it's very common for Nigerians to try and scam people on Craiglist's services/lessons section. They offer to pay over the amount you need with a fake check, and then want you to send the extra amount back to them. Or something like that.

It's kind of funny on so many levels. But then I just kind of felt bad for these guys. I mean, what does your life have to be like that you are willing to spend your days in an internet cafe searching Craigslist for scams to pull? Really? That's pretty sad. I tried to write one guy back and ask about his life. I also told him I knew he was pulling a scam. He didn't write back.

For one, I wrote back and said that my prices were $3000 an hour. That wasn't very nice of me.

Anyways, here is the link to my Little Amigos website. If you are in my area, there are spaces ope for you! Well . . . for your kid. YOU, are too old to be in my class. Sorry about the age discrimination.

Also, I got a can of PB today for $0.50 cents.

1 comment:

Beatriz said...

Congratulations on your website!.... Even I feel the urge to sing up to your Spanish lessons :)
I was concerned about the Nigerian scamp though, of course I pity them but I couldn´t help wonder what would happen if you were not aware of scamp....