I've written (and others, too) about how Nigerians aren't just trying to hook people with "I am the son of the former dictator" money-transfer scams, but they also defraud bookstores in the U.S. They typically place special orders, use stolen credit-card numbers or forged cashier's checks, receive shipment, and then resell to Russia and other places. Very strange scams. (Here's a good two-year old article. I wrote about it around the same time.)
I got my latest in email today; I get these because I run isbn.nu, a book-price comparison service. I wrote back to the scamster explaining their schemes are well known and, surprise!, got a response.
From: Tolu Adekunle <rashos07@yahoo.com>
Subject: Mail Order Needed ASAP........
>Hello Sales,
> This is Tolu Adekunle, I am highly interested in purchasing
>order from your store to my store in Nigeria and i will like you to
>give me the cost of the order listed below and i will like to pay with my accept credit card info as method of payment. Look forward to hear
>from you with cost of the order including the EMS GLOBAL EXPRESS 3-5
>DAYS DELIVERY for the shipment cost.
>Look forward to hear from you and God bless you {Amen}.
>Happy Day .............
> Best regards
> Tolu.
I wrote back: "These scams are now well known in the United States. If you try to commit fraud, Nigerian authorities will arrest you." (This is somewhat true; Nigeria is finally enforcing some fraud laws.)
The witty response: "U ARE STUPID MAGAR."
Did he or she mean Magyar? Like a Hungarian?
I wrote back: "I'm not the one trying to rip people off. Just listen for the knock of the police at your door..."
Can you freak out these kinds of fraudsters? Probably not. And they're not sophisticated enough for me to worry about electronic reprisals.