419 spam of the day:

FROM:PETER THEMBA MOYO

OR (moyo_2004@hotmail.com)

My response:

from: 419@blogafrica.com

Ethan Zuckerman

I’ll let y’all know if I hear anything.

C’mon, 419 scammers – let’s get our details right. Remember, it’s the little things that count. If you’re Jonathan Moyo’s son, remember to spell Dad’s name right. Oh, and check to see if he’s dead before sending this mail.

A thought: does it actually matter – to the effectiveness of this as a 419 mail – if Moyo is or isn’t dead? My guess is that effective 419 scams rely on three things:

419 spam of the day:

FROM:PETER THEMBA MOYO
JOHANNESBURG SOUTH AFRICA
E_mail: peter_moyo777@yahoo.co.in

Tel: 27-73-494-9086

ATTN: DIRECTOR/C.E.O

My name is MR.PETER THEMBA MOYO the elder son of MR.
JOHNATAN NKOMO MOYO,from the Republic of Zimbabwe.It
might be a surprise to you where I got your contact
address. I got your contact address from the internet
on line when am searching a capeble and reliable
person who we help me to transfer this fund out of
South Africa for investment purpose.

During the current war against the Farmers in
Zimbabwe, from the supporters of our President,Robert
Mugabe, in his effort to chase all the white Farmers
out of the country, He ordered all the white Farmers
to surrender their farms to his Party members and his
followers. My father was one of the best and
successful farmers in our country, and Formerly the
Finance Minister of Robert Mugabe Administration,but
he did not support the idea of dispossessing the white
farmers of their land. Because of this, his farm was
invaded and burnt by Government supporters. In the
course of the attack, my father was killed, and the
invaders made away with a lot of items from my fathers
farm. And our family house was utterly destroyed.

Before the death of my father, he drew my attention to
the sum of USD22M.(Twenty Two Million United States
Dollars).which he deposited with a Security company in
South Africa during his tenure as the Finance Minister
of Zimbabwe my Mother my one sister and I decided to
move out of Zimbabwe for our own security, because our
lives were in danger, We decided to move to the
Republic of South Africa where my father deposited
this money. Till date the security company is not
aware of the content of the consignment because my
father used his diplomatic immunity as at that time to
deposit the consignment as important personal
valuables.

We decided to contact with overseas person/firm who
will assist us to move the money out of South Africa.
This becomes necessary because as political Asylum
seekers, we are not allowed to own or operate a Bank
account. If you accept this proposal, you shall
receive 25% of the entire amount for your assisting us
to move this money out. 70% of this amount shall be
for us, and the remaining 5% shall be mapped out for
expenses incurred in the course of the transaction.

All we need you to do is to furnish me with your
entire personal phone, city cod and fax numbers for
easy communication. Note that this transaction is
100%risk-free and absolutely confidential. Please
contact me with this telephone number
27-73-494-9086.immediately for more details.

Thanks for your anticipated co-operation.

Urgent response awaited

Best regards.

MR.PETER THEMBA MOYO
(For the family)

NOTE…. PLEASE THIS IS MY PRIVATE E-MAIL ADDRESS YOU
CAN CONTACT ME THROUGH IT.(peter_moyo2004@yahoo.co.in)
OR (moyo_2004@hotmail.com)

My response:

from: 419@blogafrica.com
to: peter_moyo777@yahoo.co.in

Dear Mr. Moyo –

I'm dismayed to hear about the death of your father. As of yesterday, he was standing for election as an independent candidate in the Tsholotsho seat in the Zimbabwean parliamentary elections. Early returns suggested he had won the seat by a landslide. Then again, I was under the impression that your father was a former professor, not a farmer, and that he had been Minister of Information, not Minister of Finance.

Maybe I'm thinking of Jonathan Nkomo Moyo, not the “JOHNATAN NKOMO MOYO” you're referring to.

I hope the news that your father is alive, well and a newly elected parliamentarian somehow offsets the disappointment that I will not be able to assist you with this instance of advance fee fraud.

Sincerely yours,

Ethan Zuckerman

I'll let y'all know if I hear anything.

C'mon, 419 scammers – let's get our details right. Remember, it's the little things that count. If you're Jonathan Moyo's son, remember to spell Dad's name right. Oh, and check to see if he's dead before sending this mail.

A thought: does it actually matter – to the effectiveness of this as a 419 mail – if Moyo is or isn't dead? My guess is that effective 419 scams rely on three things: