‘Scam’ is the malpractice of misleading people after winning their confidence; therefore, the scammer is known as a ‘con’ in short. The scammed person is known as a ‘mark,’ and the accomplice of the scanner is called the ‘shill.’ Scams are distinguished from frauds in that they are practiced against a system by making use of the flaws in the system, whereas a fraud is against a person and exploits the person’s personal weaknesses and follies. There are so many other fraudulent techniques resembling a scam, like phishing, whaling, hacking, and many others that the Internet user is constrained to be extremely careful lest one unconsciously steps on a ‘scam mine.’ Scams are like booby traps, and there are Web pages which are like minefields. Although most of the scams are dangerous, some are more hilarious on account of their self-explanatory content. Some scams are so well known that they do not need any introduction. For example, the Nigerian scam, known as the 419 Scam, is named after Article 419 of the Nigerian Criminal Code used for prosecution in this case.

1. Letter from Her Majesty

If not the most hilarious, it is one of the most amusing scams ever seen anywhere. The scam was comprised of a letter from the Queen to the beneficiary. All parts of the letter and its language were enjoyable, although the end part is of special interest. The letter reads:

‘From Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Queen of the United Kingdom

Attn: Beneficiary

During our investigation we discovered unpaid debts from different banks and securities companies worth over Ј400m pounds lying unpaid with banks in the U.K. and that you are to be paid for an inherited fund or asset which requires presentation of certain documents and payment of fees before the funds can be released to you.’¦You are hereby advised to maintain constant contact with me and avoid any interaction with unscrupulous agents, partners, or lawyers.

Yours faithfully,

Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Queen of the United Kingdom

2. Immortality Rings

Immortality rings are the inventions by the self-proclaimed scammer who claims that his products can, not only enhance longevity, but also can enable eternal living, just as Eve was informed by Satan while trying to sell the idea of eating the forbidden fruit. The scammer speaks of some dense cell theory and offers free rings. When the given URL is tried, the response is that there are no more free rings, but they can be had from the scammer by contact.  It is fun to read the mechanism and functionality of the rings defined by the inventor as ‘The Immortality Rings have amplified your body’s Chi flow from 100% to 1,000%. Now there is lots of Chi energy available for healing. Your cells start to absorb medication and nutrients like crazy the moment you lie down. Your body heals itself faster than it can age.’

3.  Spiritual Healing Scam

Adlai E. Stevenson, II, the 31st Governor of Illinois, known for his intellectual demeanor and eloquence, once said, ‘There was a time when a fool and his money were soon parted, but now it happens to everybody.’ How the scammers cause this occurrence quite frequently is reflected in a scam reading, ‘I have enclosed a beautiful, photo-filled brochure to explain more about this incredible ministry tool that will increase the scope of our abilities to preach the Gospel around the globe. Now we must pay the remainder of the down payment, and I am asking the Lord Jesus to speak to 6,000 of my precious partners to sow a seed of $1,000 in the next 90 days.’

4. Face FBI or’¦

Someone introducing himself as, OBI Jacob, sent e-mails informing the recipients that FBI agents from Anti-terrorist and the Monetary Crimes Division were after them. There was an imminent danger that all their bank accounts shall be closed unless a prompt, preventive action is taken by immediately sending $98 to the FBI.  The funniest part is the location and address of the FBI is given as ‘NAME: OBI JACOB, ADDRESS: LAGOS NIGERIA.’ Who might the potential targeted audience be except the personal contacts of the scammer, most probably involved in criminal activities?

5. Nigerian Scam 419

A Nigerian scam, better known as Scam 419, was a very funny effort to trick uneducated people in order to deprive them of their money. It was known as Scam 419 after Article 419 of the relevant and applicable Nigerian Criminal Code. The scammer typically has inherited a large sum of money from the deceased parents or spouse and intends to invest it in the recipient’s country. A fair share is also offered for rendering the required services. It is amazing to note that a country like Nigeria, considered unsuitable for investment by the e-mail sender, can afford an outward flow of money without any checks or hindrance.

6. Large Hadron Collider Machine

The contents of the Hadron Collider Machine scam e-mail are self-explanatory and amusing. Part of the e-mail says: ‘Dear Friend, My name is Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth, Senior Data. Our Large Hadron Collider machine has been colliding high-speed beams of energy in order to explore new physics and understand how the universe began. CERN have been adamant that this is safe; however, I know the truth. However, I can help you. I am arranging for a number of selected people to be evacuated to a safe location on an island in the South Pacific via aeroplanes. Please, if you are interested, email me back immediately with the following information’¦’

7. Get Out of Jail

It is amusing to note that some convicts act more efficiently than some dim-witted police officers, at least in one case in which the clever scammer outwitted them. In this case a con won the confidence of the police officers and convinced them that he belonged to the federal Drug Enforcement Agency. Having done that, he contacted the prisoners in a jail offering to help them get out of jail with the payment of a significant fee. The prisoners could not be fooled and reported the truth to the authorities.

8. Bio Disc

Trying to find the ways and means of preserving things, especially food items, had been one of the foremost priorities in the development of human civilization. Quite a few genuine preserving techniques consequently evolved with the passage of time. Recently, someone offered a newly invented product for sale for $560. The product, called the Bio Disc, claimed to prolong the shelf life, enhance the flavor, increase physical energy, strengthen the immune system, relieve pains, rejuvenate muscles, and many other things. Interesting to note the product is simply a disc of ordinary glass.

9. Slimming Patch

Scammers are like beggars who are smart enough to note the weaknesses of people and try emotional blackmail in different manners for different people. Scammers too are smart enough to know that being slim is the weakness of overweight people. Zhending Hounde Health Products Co., Ltd. offered through scam e-mails a product called the Slimming Patch. It was a small magnet embedded in a belt that was supposed to fit at the position of the belly button. It was claimed to be a perfect solution for obesity by virtue of the deep penetration of magnetic waves. The point is that even the Nobel Laureates are unaware of this phenomenon.

10. DSSE TELEVISION

The founder of the DSSE Television is a big scammer, who, with the help of shills, approaches the marks and lures them into becoming members of a charity organization. He misuses names of celebrities to trap the people and steal theirs identities for his ulterior motives. He makes the people believe that the funds raised by selling candies will be spent on homeless people while the money actually goes into his pocket. It is interesting the celebrities projected as big donors are not aware of their own services to mankind. The funny part of the story is that, in the end, the founder even deprives his accomplices of their fair share.

Conclusion:

There are so many scammers busy day and night misleading the uneducated and dim-witted people to buy their products or service which for all practical purposes is now considered as a scam. At times a con plays like a queen bee, and uneducated people are enticed to perform as worker bees collecting honey and beeswax for the scamming beehive. It is neither the queen bee nor the worker bees that benefit most from their hard-collected honey; it is, rather, someone else behind the curtain who masterminds the scam to his or her sole benefit.