A very strange email I got

[cynikal1234]

From: Elena (elenaga@yumail.ru)

Hello,

My name is Elena, I have 32 years and I live in Russian province. I work in library and I can use computer after my work when possible. I finded your address in internet and I decided to write you this letter.

I have a 8-years old daughter Angelina, her father abandoned us and we live with my mother.

Due to the financial crisis recently my mother lost job and our situation became very difficult.

The prices for gas and electricity is very high in our region and we cannot use it to heat our home anymore.

The winter is coming and weather becoming colder each day. We are very afraid and we don't know what to do.

The only accessible way for us to heat our home is to use a portable oven which work with burning wood. We have enough wood in our region and this oven will heat our home all winter for minimal charges.

Unfortunately, we cannot buy this oven in our city because it costs equivalent of 285 US dollars and very expensive for us.

If you have any old portable oven and in case you don't use it anymore, we will be very grateful to you if you can donate it to us and organize transport of this oven to our address (200km from Moscow). This ovens are different, usually they made from cast iron.

I will be waiting for your answer.

With deep respect from Russia,
Elena and my family.




It is probably spam but its one hell of a story

[MadMan118]

Meh, this story is pretty par for the course as far as scam e-mails go.
But why and oven?
Then they have your return address.

[Webtroll]

Aye the scam alert is very strong with this one

I however am freezing in Texas and my stove only burns dollar bills. If you could send me some more fuel for my stove I would be very grateful!

[theory028]

Sounds legit.

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Originally Posted by cynikal1234

It is probably spam but its one hell of a story

cynikal1234, welcome to the internet. It's apparently your first time here. I would have expected you to be more cynical of the email based on your username

Maybe should could burn the computer she wrote you the email on for warmth.

[6jase5]

I would ask for a picture first, I'm sure that it will be of her. I would also just send a check, cheaper for a few stamps versus the hassle of ups pack and ship.

I have to run...General Mogabadindo is wiring me 10% of his $15 million dollar family fortune because of some problem he's having back home, can't recall what exactly but who cares...ARE YOU WITH ME?!?!?

[RWP]

http://www.419eater.com/

[cynikal1234]

Originally Posted by 6jase5

I would ask for a picture first, I'm sure that it will be of her. I would also just send a check, cheaper for a few stamps versus the hassle of ups pack and ship.

I have to run...General Mogabadindo is wiring me 10% of his $15 million dollar family fortune because of some problem he's having back home, can't recall what exactly but who cares...ARE YOU WITH ME?!?!?

With that money, i can buy 10,000 portable ovens!

[SoonerMatt]

Now, if her name was Natalya Simonova.....

[L-A]

Subscribe her address to many porn sites.

Fight spam with spam, I say.

[Sbociol]

My father got basically the same e-mail,with just a few details different.Told him it was scam right ahead and he called me a cynic.Apparently he was really moved by it...oh well

[Hollow Man]

Originally Posted by Bryan R. Tyler

Maybe should could burn the computer she wrote you the email on for warmth.

But she CLEARLY stated that she's using the library's computer after she finishes work... you aren't suggesting she destroy the only source of technology in her entire village, are you?

What's sad is that there probably are people in the world who are suffering through the exact same situation that she (he?) described, but I'd wager that whoever sent this email isn't one of 'em.

If you read more than the first line and still thought there was anything real to this email, you need more help than anyone on this forum can provide. But how's that for creativity... a scammer asking someone to send an OVEN instead of cash?

[cynikal1234]

Originally Posted by Hollow Man

But she CLEARLY stated that she's using the library's computer after she finishes work... you aren't suggesting she destroy the only source of technology in her entire village, are you?

What's sad is that there probably are people in the world who are suffering through the exact same situation that she (he?) described, but I'd wager that whoever sent this email isn't one of 'em.

If you read more than the first line and still thought there was anything real to this email, you need more help than anyone on this forum can provide. But how's that for creativity... a scammer asking someone to send an OVEN instead of cash?

i was thinking the same exact thing. what kind of scammer would want a oven

[alapantera]

Originally Posted by cynikal1234

I finded your address in internet...

^^The only truth to this email.^^

[becker4567]

please sending me your refridgerator or car. my families need colded beer or car to drive to colded beer store. money help also (dollars not rubles). looking forward to your money. i will send youngest daughter to you in return.

[Jimmy Bones]

This is just round one of a scam. If you fall for it, it'll very shortly go into asking for money. If you even respond, even if only to tell him/her/it to piss off and go to a very warm place, which would solve her heating problems, it'll respond with ways to ask for money.

Scam, delete it, and run a scan of your drive for spybots and such.

[superbassman2000]

sounds legit

[f'nar f'nar]

Originally Posted by cynikal1234

i was thinking the same exact thing. what kind of scammer would want a oven

Possibly to smuggle drugs in? I'm sure old cast iron ovens could be used for it.

[guitar ed]

I have to imagine that the cost of shipping an oven to Russia would cost more than $285. Way more.

And besides, don't most of us have an old, junked out, oven in our side yards? Right next to the rusting '55 Bel Air?

edg

[Renegade614]

are you kidding me? this is obviously a real story