Way back on December 28, 2006 I posted about how Scamorama attracted a publisher's attention: a Brazilian traveler had sent me photos he'd snapped of guys walking hyenas and baboons along a street in Nigeria. He and others thought they might be robbers, circus performers or debt collectors. Or all of the above. Which had nothing to do with '419' scams but was so interesting that I put it on the web site.
Several entities asked to use the pics: the agency designing the cover art for the last Gorillaz album (Demon Days), and then The Disinformation Company, publisher of such books as Everything You Know About Sex is Wrong and 50 Things You're Not Supposed to Know. Which led to publication.
I just stumbled across Hyena Men of Nigeria.
They are a wandering troupe of performers (or strong-arm robbers, according to some locals - robbery at hyena-point).
Photographer Pieter Hugo had apparently stumbled across a Scamorama pic, re-posted (without permission or acknowledgment) by someone else. Intrigued, Hugo went to Nigeria, was lucky enough to hook up with journalist Adetokunbo Abiola, and they did a book together.
So, lots of stumbling:
- Brazilian guy stumbles across hyena men
- Brazilian guy stumbles across Scamorama and sends pics
- art agency & publisher stumble across Scamorama and ask to use pics
- somebody stumbles across Scamorama and simply takes the pics
- Pieter Hugo stumbles across that person's posting
- Adetokunbo Abiola stumbles across Pieter Hugo
- They publish a book through Michael Stevenson, a gallery owner in South Africa with a web site
- Someone stumbles across Michael Stevenson's web site and writes about it
- I stumble across that posting
Serendipity - it's so random.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Monday, May 28, 2007
Prague Rock
I gave a talk about scambaiting at IS2, the Information Security Summit in Prague. It was held on the grounds of the Prague Castle, was beautifully organized, and included a completely unexpected treat - a performance by the excellent Czech string band, Poutnici (Pilgrims), who do a mean cover of Telegraph Road (yeh really).
The talks were interpreted between Czech and English in real-time, and I suspect the interpreter had a hard time with my talk, judging by the stunned silence in places. The good soul on the program committee who translated my paper told me later that he had a hard time finding an exact translation for 'scam-baiter'. Everyone was familiar with the basic subject, though, if nothing else because of the tragic incident in which a Czech '419' victim shot the Nigerian consul in Prague a few years back. Apparently the consul had tried to warn the victim not to proceed with a '419' deal, and was not sympathetic enough after the fact.
The talks were interpreted between Czech and English in real-time, and I suspect the interpreter had a hard time with my talk, judging by the stunned silence in places. The good soul on the program committee who translated my paper told me later that he had a hard time finding an exact translation for 'scam-baiter'. Everyone was familiar with the basic subject, though, if nothing else because of the tragic incident in which a Czech '419' victim shot the Nigerian consul in Prague a few years back. Apparently the consul had tried to warn the victim not to proceed with a '419' deal, and was not sympathetic enough after the fact.
Saturday, April 07, 2007
Crossword puzzles
I tried my hand at creating a Scamorama-inspired crossword puzzle, using Crossword Forge.
The result is here: www.scamorama.com/scamology1.pdf
The result is here: www.scamorama.com/scamology1.pdf
Monday, March 26, 2007
Libraries
A few dozen radio interviews have come and gone. I'm getting used to this.
A Kindly Librarian told me about a cool tool for finding out which libraries have your book:
http://www.worldcat.org/
Universities from CU Hong Kong to UCLA have acquired the book. Wow! Who'd a thunk it?
A Kindly Librarian told me about a cool tool for finding out which libraries have your book:
http://www.worldcat.org/
Universities from CU Hong Kong to UCLA have acquired the book. Wow! Who'd a thunk it?
Chris Hansen's candid camera
Chris Hansen of MSNBC did a series of scambusts on television:
He and his crew set up stings in hotel rooms, in a bar, and on the street.
Picture guys in sharp suits sweating and trying to look low-key while edging toward the exit.
Or better yet, visit dateline.msnbc.com.
Beats 'reality' TV hands down.
He and his crew set up stings in hotel rooms, in a bar, and on the street.
Picture guys in sharp suits sweating and trying to look low-key while edging toward the exit.
Or better yet, visit dateline.msnbc.com.
Beats 'reality' TV hands down.
KGO Interview
The KGO Scamorama interview has been broadcast and can also now be found, I believe, on YouTube.
Principally it features "Pedro Martinez" (aka the brilliant Adam Casey).
Baseball fans, you will love this.
Thanks to Sarah Wornick of KGO for publicizing the scam on her consumer show.
Principally it features "Pedro Martinez" (aka the brilliant Adam Casey).
Baseball fans, you will love this.
Thanks to Sarah Wornick of KGO for publicizing the scam on her consumer show.
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Interviews Galore
About a dozen radio interviews in the last month and some tv spots (air date unknown) with ABC Boston and NBC Miami (The Today Show).
All kindly hosts with styles ranging from jokey and punchy, to mellow, and all asked smart questions.
Most asked "how does anyone fall for this? don't you have to be greedy?"
I continue to reply - no, it's enough to be naive (not a crime last I heard), or charitable, or chivalrous. Different people respond to different packaging.
All of the hosts are doing a service by publicizing the scam.
I'm enjoying all the accents.
All kindly hosts with styles ranging from jokey and punchy, to mellow, and all asked smart questions.
Most asked "how does anyone fall for this? don't you have to be greedy?"
I continue to reply - no, it's enough to be naive (not a crime last I heard), or charitable, or chivalrous. Different people respond to different packaging.
All of the hosts are doing a service by publicizing the scam.
I'm enjoying all the accents.
Tings Dey Happen
Passed through San Francisco recently and saw a terrific one-man show by Dan Hoyle called Tings Dey Happen.
It's about his time in the Niger Delta, working on a thesis about oil politics,
with beautiful impersonations of Nigerian Ijaw revolutionaries, American and Scottish oil men, and pretty much everyone he ran into.
The show is sold out through February, extended through March.
It's about his time in the Niger Delta, working on a thesis about oil politics,
with beautiful impersonations of Nigerian Ijaw revolutionaries, American and Scottish oil men, and pretty much everyone he ran into.
The show is sold out through February, extended through March.
Dear Landlord
Started the DEAR LANDLORD page.
So many people write in with tales of trying to find roommates or tenants, only to receive scam offers.
It's on the right-hand side of the main Scamorama page, along with the DEAD BANK CUSTOMER, JOB SCAM, LOTTO and other digests.
So many people write in with tales of trying to find roommates or tenants, only to receive scam offers.
It's on the right-hand side of the main Scamorama page, along with the DEAD BANK CUSTOMER, JOB SCAM, LOTTO and other digests.
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
The Wrath of Wikipedia
I took another step into modernity and signed up as a Wikipedia editor. My tenure may be shortlived.
It was prompted by this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advance_fee_fraud
... which includes a list of terms used in scamming.
One term was "Modalities".
I added the comment that this may reflect roots in an older French version of the scam. (Modalités in French just means ways or methods.)
At the end was a list of books, including Scamorama, with such a nice comment:
"The emphasis there and in the book is on the amusing, as some folks retaliate against the scammers. Quite a lot of it is hilarious."
Gee! (No I *didn't* write that, but I'm certainly grateful. Also glad that not all of it is thought hilarious - I did try to be serious here and there.)
The other books in the list were accompanied by ISBN numbers, but not mine.
So I added one. Silly me! This resulted in the complete removal of all mention of the book.
I have received a "caution" and whoever did it is apparently 'away'.
Oh well. Adieu Wikipedia...
It was prompted by this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advance_fee_fraud
... which includes a list of terms used in scamming.
One term was "Modalities".
I added the comment that this may reflect roots in an older French version of the scam. (Modalités in French just means ways or methods.)
At the end was a list of books, including Scamorama, with such a nice comment:
"The emphasis there and in the book is on the amusing, as some folks retaliate against the scammers. Quite a lot of it is hilarious."
Gee! (No I *didn't* write that, but I'm certainly grateful. Also glad that not all of it is thought hilarious - I did try to be serious here and there.)
The other books in the list were accompanied by ISBN numbers, but not mine.
So I added one. Silly me! This resulted in the complete removal of all mention of the book.
I have received a "caution" and whoever did it is apparently 'away'.
Oh well. Adieu Wikipedia...
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