I just thought I'd record here the conversation for posterity.
- Conversation started today
- Jim RipponHi Catherine, I've received your friend request - can i ask what you're looking to connect about?
- Catherine EasterlingMy name is Catherine Easterling from the Facebook headquarters based in the USA, I am a Facebook Online Coordinator.i was asked to send you a Friend request by the Facebook CEO Mr Mark Zuckerberg,And Am contacting you because I have good news for you from Facebook…
- Jim RipponI'd be happy to help out, my rates are £125GBP per hour or part thereof for consulting but I'd need to know more about what you'd like to work together on.
- Catherine EasterlingHas any of our agent contacted you before concerning your Facebook account that you won some amount of money in the ongoing Facebook promotion?
- Jim RipponNo but that's great. I'll collect my cheque from the Facebook office here in London. Who should i ask for there?
- Catherine EasterlingThere’s an online draws that was conducted by a random selection of Emails you were picked by an advanced automated random computer search from the Facebook that you won the sum of $600,000.00usd For the Facebook Lottery Year 2016Your name was selected by Automatic Random Machine, which your Facebook user name show up on number 2nd from the 25 lucky listed names i want you to know that your winning prize is 100% real and legit and the United state FBI is also aware of this lottery
- Jim RipponThat's great. Who should i ask for at the London office to verify that?
- Jim RipponThat's a nice photo. Who should i ask for at the London office to verify this?
- Catherine Easterlingthose are the pics of our winners okay
- Jim RipponWho should i ask for at the London office to verify this? I'm approaching the reception desk now.
- Catherine EasterlingI want you to know that this is 100% real and legitimate.
- Jim RipponThen who here should I ask for, or should i be speaking to the fraud team?
- Catherine EasterlingNo your winnings is coming from USA not in london okay
- Jim RipponThey haven't heard of this, Steve from the user security team is tracing your account.
- Catherine EasterlingI am your claiming agent and i am here to lead you through the steps on how you will get your $600,000.00usd winnings Ok
- Jim RipponOh, so you're not from Facebook now?That will be a relief when the police arrive...
- Catherine EasterlingAm from the Facebook Inc,USAShall we proceed on the claiming of your winnings Of $600,000,00?Are you there?
- Jim RipponSure, you tell me how you're going to send me the winnings.
- Catherine EasterlingFirstly, your award is attached to Ticket Number:00545-188-564756 Winning Number:Fb/575061725 Prize No:77801209/N Serial Number:5368/02So what Lucky Numbers:17 98 09 67 46 Note them down now on a safe place and keep its very important,Once you are done with that kindly get back to me ok..
- Catherine EasterlingHave you note them down?
- Jim RipponI'm still in the Facebook offices reception, there fetching me a pen as i didn't bring one.OK I've noted that down now
- 13:34Catherine Easterlingyou don't need to be in the office to not them down okay you can also do that at home okay.
- 13:34Jim RipponI'm already here. I've noted them down now.
- 13:36Catherine EasterlingAll that is for security reasons,So you don't have problems with me ok.
- 13:36Jim RipponOK, so you're supposed to be telling me how you're going to send me my winnings.
- 13:37Catherine EasterlingYes..
- 13:37Catherine EasterlingYou are to choose one out of the two listed payment option below and your winnings shall be packaged in accordance to the option you choose: Payment Options/Preferred mode of payment1.Diplomatic courier delivery (CHEQUE DELIVERY)2.Diplomatic courier delivery (ATM CARD DELIVERY
- 13:38Jim RipponThat's strange, Facebook aren't entitled to diplomatic privileges...
- 13:42Catherine EasterlingYour winnings will be delivered to you with whatever option you prefer to go with okay
- 13:42Jim RipponOK, when should i expect them?
- 13:43Catherine EasterlingYou will need to choose an option among the two..
- 13:43Jim RipponI'll have option 1 please.
- 13:44Catherine EasterlingGood..
- 13:44Catherine EasterlingTo Finalize your winnings documents and some other Certificates,you are required to fill and forward the this information Below:Full Name: Full Home Address: Occupation: Email Address: Sex: Age: Phone Number:
- 13:44Jim RipponTell you what, you send me those details for yourself first.
- 13:46Catherine EasterlingYou will need to provide those details so you can assure us that we are not sending your winnings to the wrong person.
- 13:48Jim RipponI'll provide those details when you've provided me with some verifiable evidence of who you are. A Facebook message doesn't exactly hold water in that regard...
- 13:50
- 13:50Jim RipponWhat on earth makes that verifiable?!
- 13:50Catherine EasterlingThat your winning certificate for your prove.
- 13:51Jim RipponDo you know what verifiable means?
- 13:53Catherine EasterlingThe certificate is verifiable.
- 13:53Jim RipponOK, where can i verify it?
- 13:54Catherine EasterlingYou save it on your mobile phone and show it to the FedEx delivery team that will deliver your winnings to your home address.
- 13:55Jim RipponBut I'll need to have it verified before i can provide my details won't I, silly!
- 13:57Catherine Easterlingyou don't need to be at all i need from you is to provide the necessary detail so you can have your winnings without any delay okay.You are showing that certificate to the FedEx delivery team that will deliver your winnings to your home address.
- 14:00Jim RipponSee, the problem here is that what you're doing is Fraud so I need your details so I can get the authorities to come and arrest you.
- 14:02Catherine Easterlingwhat that a lie.
- 14:02Jim RipponIf thats not the case, you should not have any trouble providing some verifiable proof that you are who you say you are.You're asking me to prove who I am after all...
- 14:04Catherine Easterlingokay..So you want my identification.
- 14:05Jim RipponI want you to tell me how I can check the authenticity of what you're claiming. Sending me a picture doesn't really help...
- 14:07Catherine EasterlingThat means you not interested in your winnings cause i have prove to you that is is real and legit okay.
- 14:09Jim RipponI tell you what, you send me a photo of yourself with Mark Zuckerberg with todays newspaper (with date and headline readable) and a hand-written sign with my name and email address on it. That would be sufficient.or if you prefer, just let me know who at the registered and published address of facebook can verify that you are who you say you are.
- 14:12Catherine Easterlingwhat you are requesting for is what i just send to you.
- 14:13Jim Ripponno its not, you still haven't told me who at Facebook can prove that you are who you're claiming.
- 14:14Catherine Easterlingokay i will send you a E-mail address now to verify if you are a winner or not okay.Here is their email address.. facebookfedexdelivery@outlook.com
- 14:16Jim RipponThat's not a Facebook address though.
- 14:18Catherine EasterlingYes that not a Facebook address is the E-mail of the FedEx delivery team that will deliver your winnings to your home address you mail them and tell them if its true you are a winner or not.
- 14:18Jim RipponIts a free, unverified address at outlook.com - not good enough, keep trying.
- 14:20Catherine EasterlingMr Jim it seem you are not interested in your winnings tell me cause i got other winners to attend to okay.i have told you the only way to prove you are a winner is the certificate i send to you sign by Mark Zuckerberg with your name written on it.
- 14:22
- 14:23Jim RipponIf you'd like to let me know the following details I can get the process started for you: Full Name: Full Home Address: Occupation: Email Address: Sex: Age: Phone Number:
- 14:23Jim RipponActually, I don't need to know your occupation - thats shortly going to be "Convict"...You seem to have gone very quiet, I assume you're not interested in your winnings?
- 14:25Catherine EasterlingNo you are the one who is not interested in your winnings.
- 14:26Jim RipponFunny, cos you're not letting me have any identifiable details, so it seems you are the one who is breaking the law here. Do you know what a 419 scam is?
- 14:27Catherine Easterlingi know know oooo
- 14:27Jim RipponTell you what - I have a good opportunity for you. I have a super-wonderful document which explains how you can make $2000 per week. It will only cost you $200 to buy, and you only need to send 10 emails per week to make your money - are you in?
- 14:28Catherine Easterlinghow?
- 14:28Jim RipponWell, you buy my wonderful document, it explains it all in there. Only $200.
- 14:30Catherine EasterlingHow do i get the document.
- 14:33Jim RipponIts simple: 1. You send me $200 and your email address 2. I send you the document.
- 14:34Catherine EasterlingHow am i sending the money?
- 14:37Jim RipponYou can either: * Send bitcoin to my address which I will let you know if you want to do that * Send funds by Western Union (you will have to cover all fees involved)
- 14:47Jim RipponSo how would you like to send me the $200?
Stay sceptical everyone, and don't go giving out any details online unless you know who you're talking to and you can verify they are who they claim to be yourself (e.g. by getting in touch with the company they claim to represent directly - never use contact details you got from the potential scammer to do this).