SCUMBAGS (vent)

Anyone know what authorities you would send these kinds of folks to? Since my dad died, I have gotten several money-scam emails (starting within days of his death) telling me that my dad had worked with them, etc and had several million dollars in a foreign account, etc -- and if I will just give them my banking info (or, with one, an $850 processing fee) I can then access the secret stash of money. I am sure they got my email address due to it being given online in the Washington Post Guest Book obituatuary. SCUMBAGS! HOW DARE THEY PREY ON GRIEVING FAMILIES LIKE THIS! Isn't the loss of the loved one ENOUGH???? Now they have to try to scam their families out of money? Everything that happens after a death is so confusing, overwhelming and, dare I say, expensive. I am so appauled. I want to send these con artists to some kind of authority -- but I don't know who. Anyone know? Here are exerpts from the latest email I've recieved. (By the way... my responses have ranged so far from nothing -- to "you are scum, f*ck off") *** Good day Maria, How are you today, hope all is well with you and your family? If so, thanks to God. I only want to show my gratitude for your father's past assistance to me. I hope this mail meets you in a perfect condition. I am using this opportunity to thank you for your father's great effort to our unfinished transfer of fund into your account due to one reason or the other best known to him. But I want to inform you that I have successfully transferred the fund out of my Country to someone else account in Nepal who was capable of assisting me in this Great venture. Due to your father's effort, sincerity, courage and trustworthiness you showed at the course of the transaction I want to compensate you and show my gratitude to him now that he is dead with the sum of USD$1,500,000.00. [blah blah blah...] .... Please understand that the money can be paid to your account as cash ($1.5M) via telegraphic wire transfer if you want. I will not be able to send you any more emails as result of my tight schedule. I also want you to understand that I am a real human with a heart. Though, you never gave me all the truth I required, but all the same, we thank God for a successful transfer of the funds at the end of the day. Kindly accept this token with good faith, as this is from the bottom of my heart and also make sure you do not let any one know about the gift until you receive it. *** SCUM SCUM SCUM SCUM SCUM SCUM SCUM SCUM SCUM

i know. that is why I never answer my phone. people are gross. sorry maria.

that is horrible !!!!! is this something you can contact the police regarding?? i wish that i had an answer for you (huggs) Tina

it is sick.. and I don't know who you can report them too.. I guess it goes right along with having someone stay at the departeds home.. when everyone is at the services, so it doesn't get broken into. SCUM.. sorry Maria

My latest response (to this one) was: "I hope you never need open heart surgery, because the doctor won't be able to find it. You have never met God, and if you keep up these frauds you never will." In response I got this vacation auto-response from the Dear Reverend... "Dear beloved, How are you doing today? I am not present,but thank you for contacting me, however, I will get back to you as soon as possible, but if it is urgent, please reach me on telephone number: +27 730 563 214 for Prayers, counselling or any other needs. You are blessed and highly favoured. Bread of Life Int'l Churches."

Maria, my dad will have been gone 15 yrs this December and my mother still gets credit card offers for him and telemarketers calling to speak with him. The world just amazes me more and more everyday...

it's too late but in the future NEVER reply to these people. it validates your email address for them. your best bet is to just spam block them. if they're truly in Nepal there's not going to be a lot you can do. Sorry you have to go through this. it does suck, they are scum. hard as it might be for you to read those it's the people who are gullible enough to believe those scams that i really feel sorry for.

Your disgust is very justified. One would think that even the most low life folks would hold up their wicked ways in times of grief. I have even heard stories of family members being the victim of identity theft and credit card fraud committed on their departed family member. Growing up my father taught each of his four children to alway respect grown-ups and to respect them. I have also taught my boys much of the same with one proviso, that not all adults are to be trusted. It seems everyone is saturated with veiled schemes intended to de-fraud them. However it is a damn shame when someone is trying to deal with the loss of a loved one that this crap goes on.