VirusHead

I have been had. I am furious, but that’s nothing next to what I am fully expecting to receive from friends, family, and professional colleagues. ARRRGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

Please disregard any invitation from Quechup – from me or anyone else.

I was invited to this networking site by a friend. You can see on the right-hand menu that I am involved in lots of online social sites.

I joined up, but they somehow hijacked my emails’ address book. I was shocked to receive a couple of out-of-office auto-replies.

I did _not_ request for invitations to be sent, or for my email addressbook to be accessed!

I have deleted my own membership, and my friend has also deleted her account.

If you receive an invitation to join, I advise you to delete the email. I am researching to find out how I might pursue a formal complaint.

I am deeply sorry for the breach and any inconvenience. My sincere apologies.

Salon.com People | I crave your distinguished indulgence (and all your cash)

Here is a lovely article on the "419" fraud scheme emails that usually reference Nigeria. They target your greed and suggest plans money laundering, inheritance, fake lottery, and the like. The people who follow up on these propositions are easy marks for these con games.

What I like about the Salon article is that the focus is on the language. Douglas Cruickshank writes that he has fallen for these emails, "not for the scam part, but for the writing, the plots (fragmented as they are), the characters, the earnest, alluring evocations of dark deeds and urgent needs, Lebanese mistresses, governments spun out of control, people abruptly ’sacked’ for ‘official misdemeanors’ and all manner of other imaginative details all delivered in a prose style that is as awkward and archaic as it is enchanting."

My favorite: "An Iron in his own stead! The reins of government grabbed by illation!"

The 419 Coalition Website has more details and suggestions on what you can do besides just delete the message.