I got an interesting e-mail from someone that apparently got my e-mail from Team America Rocketry Challenge Mentor List. Turns out it is a scam. I attached the entire conversation, the first part you see is where he finally gets down to business. You can see where he was using a potential innocent conversation to try to hook me into something.

Douglas Gardei,

THE REASON WHY I WAS CONDUCTING A SEARCH WITH YOUR NAME:

How are you doing today? Like I said in my first email to you that I was conducting a search with your name Douglas Gardei – Mr. Anthony Gardei relations, when I get to your details in that site, the reason why I was conducting a search with your name Douglas Gardei is that late Mr. Anthony Gardei: from your country who worked with one of the Mine companies down here, who died in the year 2012.

Before his death, he deposited the sum amount of Fifteen Million United State Dollars ($15, 000, 000, 00) in the bank where I worked before my retirement and I was his account officer before my retirement. The reason why I was conducting a search with your name is that your name Douglas Gardei is what he stated as his next of kin.

After the bank audit meeting last year - which I was invited, I found out that the money has not been transferred to you as the beneficiary

I am willing to help you claim this fund, but you have to promise me that you are going to give me 20% of the fund as soon as you receive the money, for my help and assistance.

If you know quite well that you are not going to make undue advantage of the trust I will bestow in you, giving 20% for my help and assistance, I would like you to get back to me with Your Cell Phone number. Contact Address. Age and Occupation – to enable me draft a letter that you will use to contact the bank where the money is deposited.

I am ready to provide you with all the necessary information attached to this fund upon request.

Looking forward to hearing from you

Michael

On 8/27/22, Douglas Gardei <redacted> wrote:

> I don't know of an Anthony Gardei.

> Sorry.

> Doug

> On Aug 26, 2022 3:45 PM, Michael Bollman <redacted>

> wrote:

>>

>> Douglas Gardei,

>>

>> How are you doing? I am referring to Mr. Anthony Gardei, are you

>> related to him?

>> Michael

>> On 8/26/22, Douglas Gardei <redacted> wrote:

>> > I do know an Anthony family, but I am not related to them.

>> > I'm curious why you were searching my name?

>> >

>> > Doug

>> >

>> >

>> > -----Original Message-----

>> > From: Michael Bollman <redacted>

>> > Sent: Friday, August 26, 2022 2:44 PM

>> > To: redacted

>> > Subject: Inquiry?

>> >

>> > Greetings to you

>> >

>> > How are you doing today? I was conducting a search with your name

>> > when I get to this link

>> > (https://rocketcontest.smapply.io/re...ry-Mentor-List/ ) I

>> > would like to know if you are related to Mr. Anthony?

>> >

>> > Looking forward to hearing from you.

>> >

>> > Michael

>> >

>> >

>

I hate to say it because it sounds cold and uncaring (I absolutely hate scum who prey on people), but folks who would fall for such outlandish and ridiculous stories such as this almost (almost!) deserve to be scammed. Sadly, this kind of approach must work at least some small percentage of the time because the scammers keep on using it.

Earl

__________________
Earl L. Cagle, Jr.
NAR# 29523
TRA# 962
SAM# 73
Owner/Producer
Point 39 Productions

Rocket-Brained Since 1970

+1 to what Earl just said.
Those that fall for such scamulations usually deserve it.

__________________
When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !
Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.
ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, and HAVOC !

Since he didn't ask for any money (other than a cut of the proceeds), I'm curious...........what's this guy's angle? How does he get money from you unless there actually is an inheritance?

Are you in the habit of giving the following information to total strangers?





Bill

__________________
It is well past time to Drill, Baby, Drill!

If your June, July, August and September was like this, you might just hate summer too...

Please unload your question before you ask it unless you have a concealed harry permit.

: countdown begin cr dup . 1- ?dup 0= until cr ." Launch!" cr ;

Give a man a rocket and he will fly for a day; teach him to build and he will spend the rest of his days sanding...

I think they drag you along for a few more message exchanges and then says something like I will pass on a 'cut' of this money to you but I need a bank account number or some such as that. By that point, the mark (if the scammer has done his job right) is so excited about getting some money that he/she give them the bank account number. Using that, the scammer loots the account.

...or something along those lines.

Earl

__________________
Earl L. Cagle, Jr.
NAR# 29523
TRA# 962
SAM# 73
Owner/Producer
Point 39 Productions

Rocket-Brained Since 1970