We all get them. "Dear Beloved, I am Prince Aboubakar from Zamunda. I have $50 Million USD." Usually, I delete them. Today, I replied.
ATTN: BENEFICIARY,
I am Dr. Patrick Mboma. During our audit, we discovered an unclaimed sum of $10,500,000.00 USD in your name. We wish to transfer this to you immediately. Please reply with your Full Name, Bank Account, and Phone Number.
God Bless,
Dr. Patrick
Dear Dr. Patrick,
This is a miracle! I was just praying for $10.5 Million. I am ready to receive the funds. However, I have a problem. My bank account is currently "Locked for Incoming International Wire Transfers" due to a tax issue.
To unlock it, I need to generate a "Test Transaction" of $1.00 to verify the link. Can we proceed?
Mr. User,
Do not worry about the lock. We have special diplomatic immunity channel. Just send the details. I cannot send $1.00. I am sending MILLIONS. Do not waste my time.
Dr. Patrick,
I understand. I have attached the SECURE WIRE TRANSFER AUTHORIZATION FORM (PDF). Please click the link to digitally sign it so I can release my bank details to you.
Link: [secure-banking-portal-v2.glitch.me/auth]
> THE_TRAP
The link was not a banking portal. It was a Canary Token. It's a URL that, when clicked, records the IP address, Device Type, and Browser Fingerprint of the clicker.
> ...
> ...
> CLICK DETECTED!
> TIME: 14:33:12 UTC
> IP ADDRESS: 102.176.xx.xx
> USER AGENT: Safari / iPhone 12
> LOCATION: Lagos, Nigeria
> ISP: MTN Nigeria
Dr. Patrick is not at the Central Bank. He is on an iPhone 12 in Lagos.
THE LINK IS NOT WORKING. IT SAYS "IP LOGGED". WHAT IS THIS?
Hello Patrick from Lagos.
I see you are using an iPhone 12. Nice phone. Is that where you keep the $10.5 Million?
> AFTERMATH
He didn't reply. He blocked me.
I didn't get my $10.5 Million. But I wasted 24 hours of his time. That's 24 hours he wasn't scamming a grandmother out of her pension.
Just for fun, I generated an invoice for "Cybersecurity Consultation Services" for $500.00 and sent it to his email.
Status: Unpaid.
Total Scammer Time Wasted: approx. 2 Hours.
My Time Wasted: 4 Hours.
Winner: Nobody.