You know how you sometimes get urgent letters from the chancellor of Nigeria’s brother’s second cousin’s financial adviser saying that if you wire $10 to some remote location to help the Prince’s dog get a rabies shot they will repay you with 1 bazillion dollars?
Well recently I got an email from a “man” named Michael Dale.
Let me tell you a little bit about Michael Dale. Well actually, let me quote his email and he will tell you a little bit about himself:
Bro. Michael Dale,The legal adviser to late Mr. Mike & Carol Hall, a God fearing and dedicated couple. They were very wealthy but had no child. They travelled to Patong-Thailand for Christmas holiday but met death on the 26th of December 2004 during the Tsunami disaster
HAH
I love spammers. I love them so much that I just have to play along :-)
After I replied to his first email, I did not expect a response. But quickly my dear Michael replied and I had ourselves a conversation … for a little while. Enjoy the copy pastes below:
From: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:39:46 GMT To: [email protected] Subject: How does a person become a born again Christian? > > Dear in Christ, This is a personal email directed to you and I request that it be treate= d as such. God is a spirit, and they that worship him must worship him i= n truth and in spirit. Based on this scripture, it became obvious that I= should do the right thing if I must enter into the kingdom of God . I am, Bro. Michael Dale,The legal adviser to late Mr. Mike & Carol Hall,= a God fearing and dedicated couple. They were very wealthy but had no c= hild. They travelled to Patong-Thailand for Christmas holiday but met de= ath on the 26th of December 2004 during the Tsunami disaster (http://new= s.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/4153821.stm). As their legal adviser, before their death, the husband Mr. Mike Hall in= structed me to write his WILL, because they had no child, he dedicated t= heir wealth to God. They had a lot of landed properties houses Stocks/bo= nds, etc. According to the WILL, their assets should be given out to a ministry fo= r the work of God. As their legal adviser, all the documents for the fun= d that are deposited with the Vault Company are in my care. As a born ag= ain Christian, I have been reading my bible and I have to do what is law= ful and right in the sight of God by giving out the fund to the chosen m= inistry for the purpose of God\'s work as instructed by the owners befor= e there death. After my fasting and prayers Today, I asked God to make h= is choice and direct me to an honest Christian or the chosen ministry th= at deserves this fund by his Grace. I then came across your addresses on= the Internet and decided to contact you. However, before I proceed further, I will like you to answer the followi= ng question(s). 1. According to John chapter one, Jesus Christ is what? 2. How does a person become a born again Christian? 3. Do you believe in the rapture of the church? 4. If you do believe in the rapture, then when will it come in relation = to the tribulation? 5. At what point during the tribulation does the Battle of Armageddon ex= plode? 6. If I would ask you for one Scripture above all others in the New Test= ament that should identify you as being a brother in Christ, what would = it be? These questions should not offend you as all spiritual brothers and sist= ers in Christ that have spent time in God's word do understand it. May God bless you as you make up your mind to work for God. Thanks. Bro. Michael Dale. Email: [email protected]
My first reply is as follows:
Subject: Re: How does a person become a born again Christian? From: Jason Pawlak <[email protected]> To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, [email protected], [email protected] Dear Michael Dale (or is it Michale Dalle) - Before I answer your questions, I would like to verify your credentials. What qualifies you to be legal adviser to the late Mr. and Mrs. Hall? With what organizations are you affiliated? Why is it that you listed three different email addresses with two different names? Any why if this email is directed to me, does it not list my name anywhere in the body? How can I trust that this is no scam and that you are not trying to take advantage of your fellow Christians? Jason
I wasn’t trying to be too polite or play along too much at first. But then he actually replied and that’s when I decided it was time to see where this could go.
From: Michael Dale <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Subject: The Peace of our Father in Heaven be with you. Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:45:35 +0000 Dearest Jason, Loving greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,I must say that your response is truly an evidence that your are capable of handling this project which will bring about joy and happiness to the Kingdom and I have no doubt in my mind that you will do what is right. like I said in my previous mail,I am one of the Honorary Advisor of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland,England and also the legal adviser to late Mr. Mike & Carol Hall who where victims of the 26th of December 2004 during the Tsunami disaster (May their gentle souls rest in Peace). In line with their instructions, I am to distribute their wealth for the propagation of God's word. it was based on this I contacted you; I got your contact details from an intensive search on the Internet for a God fearing person after days of prayer to God for whom will assist me in carrying out the wishes of Mr. Mike and Carol hall bearing in mind that I am also advanced in age. Therefore immediately I came across your website I knew by the ministration that yes you are the right person for this project and thus I contacted you. So all you have to do now is to draw yourself closer to God and put everything in prayers and confidential so that you can be able to resist any form of temptations that Satan will want to throw at you this period. Remain blessed in the vineyard of the Lord as I await your prompt response. In Him always Micheal Dale. London,UK NB The Name is MICHEAL DALE and the three different emails are mine.However at times to send email through a particuler one may be difficult due to net traffic and maybe my connection so I use the other. > >
Ok - Fine, don’t answer any of my questions, but I’ll reply.
Subject: Re: The Peace of our Father in Heaven be with you. From: Jason Pawlak <[email protected]> To: Michael Dale <[email protected]> Michael - So what you are saying is that if I draw myself closer to God and put everything in prayers and confidential so that I can be able to resist any form of temptations that Satan will want to throw at me this period I will then be given money? But Michael, how can such good fortune be true? Jason
And finally! Here comes the punch line. My dear friend Michael puts the boat out in the water and starts phishing.
From: Michael Dale <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Subject: RE: The Peace of our Father in Heaven be with you. Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:19:25 +0000 > > Dearest Jason, Loving greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Your mail is well received and I very much understand your mail. However,I want you to know that there in no need for you to be suspicious and everything I have told you are very true and if you want,I can invite you at my expense to fly to the UK so we can meet in person and together fill all needed documents to transfer of the estate to you. I have also Attached to this mail a copy of the Final Will and Testament of the Halls regarding the estate and I want you to go through it carefully and take notes then destroy it as no one apart from me is supposed to see it but since you are a true Christian and knowing your confidentiality in this matter I am sending it to you not only as proof but for you to see that the integral part of the dying wish of the Halls was for the estate to be released to a God fearing Christian just like you. I also know that our Father in Heaven has seen your heart and knowing that you are an upright person who is dedicated to his work and that is why this estate of the Halls is being directed to you. Therefore I have no doubt in my mind that you will do what is right according to the wishes of my late clients, Mr and Mrs Carol Hall. So you just put everything into prayers and have TRUST,BELIEVE and have FAITH and I assure you that everything is going to be fine. Their bank as their finance mangers has disposed of all their assets in line with the instructions they gave. Everything came to a total of Four Million Seven Hundred Thousand British Pounds Sterling.The money is currently being held in trust by the bank and they have mandated me to forward to them information on how I wish the fund dispersed. Now for us to proceed, and for you to collect the estate without any hitch. I will need to make some Documentation changes that is making you the beneficiary of the fund.And for this to be successfully done,I will require the following. I will need you to send me by E-mail your complete name and address, I will also want you to send me your telephone and fax numbers for alternative communication. These aforementioned information will be used by used by me to go to the High Court of Justice to secure you the relevant documentation in your favour.These documents include a Sworn Affidavit in your favour, a Certificate of Legality. It is these documents that will make you the legal beneficiary of the fund and cause the bank to open communication with you on the modalities of transfer. These documents are very vital as without them the funds will not be released to you by the Finance firm where it is currently been held as you will have to provide copies to them before they can release the funds to you without any troubles.On this note, I will be very happy if you could send me these information's as soon as possible so that I can facilitate things and hopefully by the grace of the Almighty God on or before next week the funds will be with you. Once again always remember that this project requires absolute confidentiality and as such I want you to give it all the secrecy that it deserves. Feel free to call me as soon as you receive this mail on my direct line +44-7024025883 for further clarifications its very important. Remain blessed in the vineyard of the Lord as I await your prompt response. In Him always Michael Dale. London,UK
Here are attachments of the “will” he gave me:
Not to bad of phishing all things considered. But still it is a start. At this I decided to make a request that would probably end the conversation (and so far, it has). This is my last reply to him. It was two days ago that I sent this message, and previously he had been so prompt! I guess my friend Michael has decided to move on.
Subject: Re: The Peace of our Father in Heaven be with you. From: Jason Pawlak <[email protected]> To: Michael Dale <[email protected]> Hello Michael - Thank you for such prompt replies. You are quickly gaining my trust. Please understand my concerns as now in the year 2010 there are many people who would do such an evil thing as put on the facade of a Christian only to do harm to you. This is much like the Taliban that my country is at war with. They mask themselves as ordinary citizens only to put fellow citizens in harms way. They are cowardly as is anyone who puts others in danger in place of themselves. However, due to the grand nature of this conversation, I do ask one more favor in return for my cooperation. It might seem an odd request, but please understand that I only ask this in attempt to completely verify the validity of our conversation. You appear to be an upstanding man who has complete and honest intentions, and I would like to assist you if you so wish. My request is that you take a picture of yourself from the waist up holding a piece of paper that has my website address written on it: /. I do this so that I know you are truthful and honest in your claims. Best regards, Jason [ /
I guess my phishing friend has bid me farewell. If not, I guess I just broke the confidentiality agreement … so much for my millions.
Hope you enjoyed :-)