A new spin on 419 scams

Everybody with an email address has heard of the Nigerian "419" scams. You know, where you get an email from somebody in Nigeria who wants to move millions of dollars out illegally, and if you just pay some fees, you'll get a sizeable cut?

Now we've got Iraqi 419 scams. From my email this AM:

President/ceo.

Dear sir,

RE-CONSTRUCTION OF IRAQ - VARIOUS SUPPLIES...

My name is ( ABD-AL-RAHMAN) and this is an urgent contract.We have recieved an allocation for a contract to supply your company’s Product, this is a Multi Million Dollars worth of international supplies to Iraq.

My benefactor in this project is a high level Iraqi Government official who has mandated me to seek for your confidential cooperation and participation in this contract.If your company is capable of supplying or help to re-construct iraq, You would be paid cash before you supply. If you can assist us, then kindly contact me immediately via the details below,and make sure to furnish me with your full company profile,full names,direct telephone and fax numbers,and include your direct email address.

As soon as we recieve your response, we shall get back to you with all details to commence.

Thank you.

ABD-AL-RAHMAN
( ABDRAHMAN123@AOL.COM )
NB:100% upfront payment for all supplies.

This might be more believable if I didn't work for a bank! :-)

Hybrid Blogging

My Saturn Vue hybrid needed gas today. I got 21.4 MPG, which is becoming the "short haul" in-town average for me. I do drive a bit agressively, and the weather in Chicago has been "air conditioning on high" for most of this last tank.

21 still beats the hell out of 15, especially with gas at $3.40 a gallon.