e-mail scam? or something else? i need your opinion

[cleofus1]

i just recieved this in my e-mail box...it seems to be an obvious scam...but to what end?

"Hi,
I'm vivian.i listened to your songs and they really sound great
i will
like to buy 50pcs of your Cd's and you will be shipping them
internationaly. i will be sending you a cashier check for the
Cd's.Do get
back at me and keep the Good job going.
Looking forth to your response
Regards Vivian Diana"

i'm so vain i would probobly ship her (them?) 50 cd's for free...but something is very strange about this...

[cleofus1]

1. here is my replay and her response

Hi Vivian,
I'm shocked that you would want to buy my cd's. I will gladly
ship you some cd's...I will need to have your address and shipping
information.
I am curious...are you American? Or are you from another
country? I'm very flattered that you like my music.
well keep in touch and e-mail me with more information about
yourself...are you a wholesaler? an agent? or just a private citizen who enjoys spreading around amateur music? well anyways let me know your shipping address and i will send you some cd's as soon as possible...

michael ortega



Dear Micheal,
i am presently in mexico and you will be shipping the Cd's
internationally to Nigeria,Do provide me with your full name and
address including phone number,so that we will send you a check
as
soon as possible.

Waiting to hear from you,

Vivian

[salin]

2. I would be skeptical

why sending to a different country than where the requester resides (if either is true?) Anyway to do COD internationally? Unless you can part (for free) with the CDs - I wouldn't risk it.

Could they target folks on the net selling music and other products - and use a scam to get personal info which can somehow be used?

[cleofus1]

3. playing to an artists ego is shrewd

i could send her a po box and not my actual physical address...and to really scam me she would need my bank info and not have to snail mail me a chashiers check...could it be just a cheap way of getting product to northern africa and eastern europe...anything america sells like hotcakes...but 50 cds ripped and shipped could cost about 100 bucks (?)...mmmmmmmmmmmm...still...to be a minor celebrity in Nigeria or Lithuania might be a hoot...

[salin]

4. If you are not at risk (such as the bank info) - and you can afford to

eat the cost of the product and shipping - then go for it... as you say, if legit - could be a hoot.

[radwriter0555]

9. chances are the check is completely bogus. Most likely the check will be

from a friend who owes 'her' money, and for a lot more than what is needed for the CDs and shipping. So won't she just have you cash her friend's check and send her the difference.

Play it out, see what happens.

Can't hurt.

[datasuspect]

7. ummm

nigeria is highly suspect.

big time scam artists proliferate in the region there . . .

delete and ignore this person.

[JanMichael]

8. Furthermore, a "fan" would be flattered to answer questions

this is just "I am in Mexico....." and you will do this....blah blah blah.

No. Delete the emails, and send some free CD's to a DJ in Nigeria or something.

This is garbage.

[JanMichael]

5. SCAM

There is something similar to this going around...it's jogging my memory, but at this age...that could take days.

Send her a couple of free CD's from a PO Box...

Otherwise, there is no way in hell I would get involved in this.

[cleofus1]

6. given the opportunity i will always post my songs

here's a link even dial users can access..it's lo-fi...so 56 k modem users can listen easily...

http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=3093528&q=lo

the correct title is "streets of laredo" public domain...my own arrangement...

[cleofus1]

10. yeah the whole "nigeria connection"

tells me this is a very sophisticated rip off...probobly tell me that the cashiers check won't turn...so they need my bank info to e-transfer funds...i should be so gullible...

[sbj405]

11. I suspect this is an offshoot of the ebay scam

The cashier's check will be more than what she owes you. She'll want you to send the excess back. The cashier's check is of course bogus.

More info here http://www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/cashier.asp

[cleofus1]

12. here's another song

i wrote and performed this one it's called "henderson"

http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=2995791&q=lo

once more a link that 56 k modem users can use...

[cleofus1]

13. here's a upbeat humor song

it's based on all the insults conservatives have hurled at me...in this song i embrace the envectives...and make them mine...

http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=2987871&q=lo

[cleofus1]

14. legend has it...this one was written by hobos...

http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=3097543&q=lo

public domain...my own arrangement