Hoax Emails – Promises promises promises

Firstly I have to ask you a question, to allow you to test your potential to be fooled by a hoax email. Do you think Nigeria has a national lottery? If you answered yes, delete your email account, there is a risk that you could be broke in a week, if you answered no, then read on.

At what point people were believing anything thing that was written in an email was as honest as a priest? People are more sceptical of door to door sales people, even if they have a reputable logo on their uniform, because usually they are acting on behalf of that company. But suddenly when it comes to emails, well they have to be truthful right? Because otherwise it would be in my junk mail box right? Probably the worst invention in the email world, is the lonely overworked junk mail folder. It gives people a false sense of security that anything left in their inbox is all legit. But you must still tread carefully, and if you don’t know who it’s from, simply delete it or at least don’t follow links or download images etc.

If we believed all that came into our inbox, the world would be a wacky place, read the following selected lines from emails I’ve received recently;

“Our products are 100% authentic and our customers are never disappointed with the effect”

“Are you ready to change your life and make girls admire your man's strength? “

“Give your action this strength and girls will bend their knees”

“Use your carrot better”

“0% amorous failure risk”

The list goes on, complete with the most obvious lack of basic English comprehension. But some clearly inadequate or paranoid men will click on these links, hoping for a cheap wonder drug they can keep secret from their friends and most importantly the girlfriend or wife. But when does that drug ever exist, or for that matter come exclusively through the email?

Back to my opening statement, Nigeria is a typical financially troubled African country, where it’s people are doing anything to get money out of westerners. And why not make money without having to leave your desk chair? They are open about where the money is going, because they usually only have Nigerian bank accounts, and use a multitude of excuses to get some money out of you, with the promise of much more riches to flow your way soon. And if you do give them money, they will no doubt ask for more when ‘complications arise’. Don’t be stupid!

Other desperate attempts at money, tug on the heart strings of the weak minded. Like ones about orphaned children that require money to enlist the help of lawyers to free up money from deceased estates. This kind of plea is not solved through the use of random emails sent across the world.

What is guaranteed with these emails, the stories will continue to change, and the suckers will continue to send money off shore with promise of many fruitful returns, some things never change.