I’m writing this in advance of Tuesday’s post since I probably won ‘t be there–I’ll be on a nice beach in Hawaii. When you read the following letter I received, you’ll understand…My name is Mrs. Ferguson. I am 63 years old, I am a dying woman who have decided to donate what I have to you/churches/ motherless babies/less privileged/widows.I was diagnosed for cancer for about 2 years ago. I have been touched by god to donate from what I have inherited from my late husband to you for good work of God. I have asked god to forgive me and believe he has because he is a merciful God.
Please kindly let me know if you can assist me receive my funds and distribute to charity of your choice. I am willing to give you 20% out of $USD20million for you help.
Please reply me
Your sister
Mrs. Fernandez
I did everything she told me to, including giving her my bank account number so she could deposit the money in my bank. I’m sure it’ll be there tomorrow…
Now for last week’s Mystery Question and the answer: One of the following is false.
- A woman was looking for a drug dealer so she posted an ad on Craig’s List saying she wanted to purchase some marijuana. The police read her ad and set up a meeting with an undercover cop. She showed up and was immediately arrested.
- A man thought a Shop With A Cop charity event would be the perfect time to steal items from Walmart. He didn’t figure on the cops monitoring the surveillance cameras and was caught on the spot.
- A man decided to steal a flat bottom fishing boat stored in a boat house by lowering it and rowing it to a waiting truck and trailer half a mile away. His trouble started when water started filling the boat because the owner had removed the drain plug. It ended when the police responded to a security alarm that went off when he lowered the boat.
- A man ordered marijuana from a dealer for $10. When the dealer didn’t return, the man…are you ready for this? He called 911 for help. The rest is self-explanatory.
And the answer is…#3! Congrats Lisa, Caryl, and Jerusha for getting the correct wrong answer. 🙂
And now onto this week’s Mystery Question! in honor of Mrs. Ferguson, I thought I’d report some of the scams going around the Internet. Three are true, one is false. Your job, should you take it, is to guess the false one.
- Get out of jail — but not for free. A con man convinced officials at a Mississippi jail that he was an agent with the federal Drug Enforcement Agency. They let him speak with prisoners, and he told the crooks he could help get them released — for a hefty fee. The inmates were smarter than the officials and reported him.
- After her husband’s memorial service, a widow received a visit from a woman who claimed to be the long-lost daughter of the widow’s husband. While she bore little resemblance to the deceased man, she knew details of his life she claimed she learned from her mother. Since the husband had been cremated, checking DNA was out of the question…except the couple had tried in-vitro fertilization…turns out the woman had successfully scammed several other widows with the same scheme.
- In 2010, a truck driver claimed to be a go-between in the supposed $400m sale of London’s famous Ritz Hotel by its secretive owners. He found no shortage of potential buyers, including someone who put up $1.5m as a deposit.
- A security company reports an interesting twist on the Nigerian “you’ve got money” scam. Victims receive an email message that begins, “We are writing to know if it’s true that you are dead.”The scammer claims someone else has been trying to collect a huge amount of money the recipient is really entitled to by claiming that they’re dead. If the person can prove they’re actually still alive, they can collect. Of course, we know what happens next.
Okay Super Sleuths, what’s the scam I made up? Leave your answer in the comments section and when I return from Hawaii… 🙂
[tweet_box design=”default” float=”none”]Outrageous scams to watch out for. See if you can guess the one I made up! #bookgiveaway[/tweet_box]
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Comments 28
Enjoy your luxury beach vacation. Some people are just so giving and generous in life (wink wink). I am so tired of receiving scam calls… I wonder if the state sold me enlistment on the do no call registry to scammers!
Author
I’m thinking the state may very well have sold our information to the scammers. lol. Thanks for stopping by!
Ah, such a sweet lady, too bad her grammar is terrible! Never trust someone with bad grammar . I would guess the scam you made up is #3.
Author
Hi Ellen. Yes, you’d think they’d find someone to check their grammar, wouldn’t you? Thanks for dropping by. Your answer is duly noted.
I think it’s #4 this time but you have some real dillies here. And you’re taking all your friends with you to that beach in Hawaii, aren’t you?
Author
Oh, yes, Delores, all my friends are going with me. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
I’m going to guess #3
Author
Hi Rosalyn and welcome to my blog! We’ll see next week if you picked the scam I made up.
Just want to say …Have a wonderful trip!! Keep safe!
Author
Oh, I wish I were going to Hawaii, Jackie. Don’t you just love these scams? I’m with Elaine and wondering if the do not call people sold my name to these scammers. lol
I’m not ready yet to pick my answer above but simply have a comment about that generous lady. Her first sentence says her name is Mrs. Ferguson, but she closes with Your sister Mrs. Fernandez. If I was trying to run a scam, I think I would at least be consistent with the name I used.
Author
Oh, Edward, I need you to proof my manuscripts! I didn’t even see that she did that. lol. Another case of your mind seeing what you think it will see. Thanks for your comment.
I’m baaack and ready to make my guess. I choose #2. On another note, I went to the public library today and checked out your new book – Justice Buried. I plan to start reading it sometime today. I’m really looking forward to it.
Author
Great, Edward! I hope you enjoy it. And don’t find any errors!!! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
#2
Author
Jenny, evidently I was so excited about getting all that money that I posted a whole day early! lol. We’ll see if you’re right next week. Thanks for stopping by!
Okay, Patricia, you really confused me. I really thought that you were going to Hawaii since it is a day early. Haha! But I am gullible. Ask my kids. I am going with #1.
Author
Sorry about that, Gloria! But somehow I put the wrong date. I’ll probably do another post tomorrow for the promo I’m in with the Kill Zone. It’ll be a chance to win lots of books and a kindle. 🙂
I’m guessing two this time. Yes, those scams are so obvious with their bad grammar and typos! You’d think they would know better than to try to scam a WRITER!
Author
You’d think, Paula! lol. Thanks for stopping by!
First, if you don’t come to our book club on Tuesday, we’ll know why! Secondly, I think number 1 is from your mind. Partly because it is in MS, and mostly because I’m guessing most of our prison officials would not only know our inmates don’t have much money, but I’m thinking they would believe the inmates got what they deserved if they gave away what money they did have to anothere “crook”.
Author
Hi Jan, and it was really great seeing you Tuesday! We had a great book club and the food was SO good! And I am now officially on a diet.
Happy trip to Hawaii! I’m still waiting on the money they promised me lol. In your picture above, it looks like it contains the words from the letter. Where did Doris come from? I can’t find it… And the name change from Ferguson to Fernandez. I’ll go with #3 this week. Happy vacationing!
Author
I really amazes me that anyone would send out a letter with that many errors, Sally. I do believe that is the worst one I’ve ever received. Thanks for stopping by.
Have a nice trip to Hawaii Patricia! Why not choose something MUCH more tropical since you’ll have money to blow? 😉 Aren’t scammers great, I think we’ve all been able to look right through their scemes (at least I hope so anyway)!
Are you sure one of these is fake? Because they all could be true! I’ll go with #3 but I’m sure I’ll be wrong 😉
Author
Trixi, it’s very hard to come up with scenarios that sound stranger than the true ones. lol. Thanks for stopping by!
Hawaii does sound lovely! I’m guessing #3.
Author
Hi Caryl! It would sound lovely if I were there. Just to set the record straight, I did not go to Hawaii, but maybe someday. lol Thanks for stopping by!