This is NOT Funny

Hi Lisa -

I think it's despicable, personally. Obviously, you seem to know about this so-called "Nigera Scam", which has been running the ranks for god knows how long.

They've recently 'adapted' to using links to actual BBC news stories to add shock value and/or credence to their "plights".

Your husbands' name was James (lastname), I assume? They often simply tap into email lists (the route of most spammers) to get a last name, and then slap it on an official/dignified first name, sometimes with a title, to make it seem "rich". I think this was just a very unfortunate coincidence; I doubt they know your husband was James or even that he has passed on. Each one of these letters is tailored with the recipient's last name - however, the chance of his family getting this *exact* letter are pretty slim...even if they do get one, it will probably read "william" xxxx or "reginald" xxxx, you know?

I'm very sorry for your loss - I sincerely hope this dirtbag gets locked up in a filthy cell.

-Fox

Thanx Fox,

The thing is this came into my yahoo email that I hardly ever use but no where is my yahoo email attached to my last name. I hardly EVER use my last name anywhere, usually I'll just put in L. My last name is not common, there are less then 100 in the whole united states, the spelling is much different then a name that is more common, yet this email had the correct spelling.

I find it odd considering I've been getting emails from someone claiming to be my husbands only child. My husband was way sterle so not sure how he could have a child.

I just wish people would leave me alone and let my husband rest in peace.

the worst you can do is reply to them. Once you reply, even if you say "bugger off", they'll keep emailing you, give your email addy to their cohorts, etc.

there's really not a whole lot you can do, unless youre willing to bait them.

if you report the offense (fraud/spam) to yahoo, it wont make any difference because these scammers have tons of email accounts.

how they typically do their email -
one or more accounts for personal use
one or more accounts for communicating with cohorts
multiple accounts for sending spam
multiple accounts for communication with victims

if you look, it has where your reply is to go to a different email addy than the one that sent the spam. the reply to addy is where the real fraud takes place and where they're communicating with victims. the spam account only sends out the spam, thus it's disposable and your reporting and getting it shut down wont do anything to slow them down.

BTW, the fact that they used James Lxxxx is simply a coincidence. They take a common first name, and add your last name, then send the spam.

I know you said that your name isnt out there with your email acct, but it's somewhere since one of them found ya. They get their lists from lots of places - forums, yahoo member lists, aol lists, website guestbooks, etc. I had one that sent me a 419 email to an email account of mine and it's not out there anywhere that i know of. the ONLY way i can think of that they could have gotten my email addy was by using an email addy generator like the spammers use. acct is firstname_lastname@mydomain.com

If you have time to kill (and I mean TONS of time to kill) can always bait him

if you do bait him, do it safely! always use an anonymous email account that hides your IP addy (fastmail or gmail), never ever give out any of your real info (not even your real name), etc. For safe baiting help, join http://www.419eater.com

if you sign up to the eater, dont put any real info in profile and dont use name in username. reason why is cause the scammers are known to stop by and read the eater from time to time.

if you need a gmail invite to set up an anonymous account with fake info, let me know

oh, as to why so much concern about being fully anon when baiting, although these lads (scammers) are in nigeria, south africa, etc, they often have cohorts in other countries such as the UK and the US. There's a whole mob of them in Houston, for example.

couple more rules to follow when baiting (along with the bait safe)

never give them something they can use on another vic (ie: when they ask for copy of passport, dont send them anything, not even a fake one - they use them on victims)

never give fake info that tracks back to someone else. (ie: if you give fake mailing address, make sure it doesnt exist and isnt someone else's real address) just as you need to bait safe, never put someone else in their crosshairs.

So sorry for the lost of your husband. No one but you can feel your pain. As for those "----" who emailed you, they have way to much spare time...the best advice to you I can give,is to say a prayer for them, as they are truly very sick!!!! God Bless You! My prayers are with you!