Thread: New spam?

So...this was in my bulk folder:

I ANN JACKSON WILL CELEBRATE MY 25TH BIRTHDAY ON 7th OF JULY 2007

I WILL LIKE TO HAVE A GOOD AIR /BELLY DANCERS ON MY BIRTHDAY TO DISPLAY FOR 2HOURS

THE PARTY WILL BE HELD : 384 LAKESIDE AVE ORANGE NJ: 07050
WAITING FOR YOUR REPLY

ONE LOVE

ANN JACKSON

This is spam, right? I mean, it's got all the markings of spam, but it does give an address that is potentially nearby to me - not usual for spam.

What's an "air dancer"?

Looks like spam to me. Have you actually checked what the address is?

I WILL LIKE TO HAVE A GOOD AIR /BELLY DANCERS

What is an air/belly dancer?

Looks like spam. Usually most people are polite and educated enough to put a greeting in their emails, and not write it out to sound like a last will and testament..."I Ann Jackson..."
Also, nobody named Ann Jackson (very all American name) would say "I WILL like to have a good" anything. They'd say: I WOULD like to have a good dancer, etc.
They'd say, "The party will be held AT:" and not omit the AT.
Just little details that indicate that the writer of this email is probably not named Ann Jackson.

Regards
Priscilla

Originally Posted by danielabellydance

So...this was in my bulk folder:

I ANN JACKSON WILL CELEBRATE MY 25TH BIRTHDAY ON 7th OF JULY 2007

I WILL LIKE TO HAVE A GOOD AIR /BELLY DANCERS ON MY BIRTHDAY TO DISPLAY FOR 2HOURS

THE PARTY WILL BE HELD : 384 LAKESIDE AVE ORANGE NJ: 07050
WAITING FOR YOUR REPLY

ONE LOVE

ANN JACKSON

This is spam, right? I mean, it's got all the markings of spam, but it does give an address that is potentially nearby to me - not usual for spam.

What's an "air dancer"?

Ann Jackson wouldn't say on the 7th of July 2007. Ann would say on July 7th.

One love? WTF is that? I guess it could be goddessy.

I was pretty much certain it was spam. It is a real address though (I just put it into map quest).

I think the spammers are just getting better at it (but not at their grammar!)

I actually got one that is the best written I have ever seen, but alas, it still holds all the markers of spam, such as not addressing me by name, mentioning that the person is currently "out of town", etc. At least I'm pretty sure this is spam. They did hit me pretty well geographically though - San Diego is within an hour's drive, whereas in the past I've gotten them for as far away as Florida ..c:: It's actually surprisingly low in bad English and grammar compared to usual, but I like how they said "I and my ex are currently in Belgium for our pre-wedding honeymoon"... If she's marrying her ex, that's going to be one lively wedding....LOL ,r:;


hi there,
I just saw your ad on wedding music entertainer directory, my name is Stella and i am looking for real cool entertainers, Dancers and Comedians to come and entertain our guests on our wedding ceremony on July 28th in San Diego but right now, I and my ex are currently in Belgium for our pre-wedding honeymoon. We have a wedding planner thats working on the event while we are away but we think it will make the job easier if i look for a great entertainers around California. What are your charges?, Let me know if you will be available.

Regards,
Stella

Lilla,

I don't know - if they have a wedding planner involved & are looking for names to send in as suggestions - it might be legit. At least they give you a name and so on. It doesn't sound as fakey as spam really.

Originally Posted by danidance

Lilla,

I don't know - if they have a wedding planner involved & are looking for names to send in as suggestions - it might be legit. At least they give you a name and so on. It doesn't sound as fakey as spam really.

But don't you think the "me and my ex are on our honeymoon" sounds like one of those "oops, I revealed that my name couldn't be Stella or I'd know that 'ex' does not mean the same thing as 'fiance'" kind of mistakes?

I suppose I could innocently email back, and soon enough I'd know it was a scam if they started suggesting they send me a certified check.... ,r:;

I skimmed right over the ex part. that was weird, but it might be just a brainless moment.

Like you said - when you get the email request for money to get them back from their advance honeymoon so they can hire you for their wedding, then you'll know for sure! ..l;,

Originally Posted by Lilladancer

But don't you think the "me and my ex are on our honeymoon" sounds like one of those "oops, I revealed that my name couldn't be Stella or I'd know that 'ex' does not mean the same thing as 'fiance'" kind of mistakes?

I suppose I could innocently email back, and soon enough I'd know it was a scam if they started suggesting they send me a certified check.... ,r:;

Originally Posted by danidance

I skimmed right over the ex part. that was weird, but it might be just a brainless moment.

Like you said - when you get the email request for money to get them back from their advance honeymoon so they can hire you for their wedding, then you'll know for sure! ..l;,

Okay - I emailed saying that San Diego is a bit far and I'd need to know what city exactly in order to determine my charges, and asked for more details about the event. The email I got back was:

"San Diego is the city and it will be at my home. I awaits your reply."

Anyone who actually lives in San Diego would have given some sort of description of what part of San Diego it is (or would say something like "it's in San Diego proper, near downtown") because San Diego is also a County, and it's a widespread area.

And, she completely ignored my request for more details.

I have to say it is kind of an amusing brainteaser trying to determine the authenticity of these emails. I wouldn't want to over-react like I once did when a woman called me and said her daughter was coming from London and wanted to study bellydance with me (and it was true!!!..l;, ) But I'd still say this one sounds like a scam. I could try one more question just to be sure...

Originally Posted by danielabellydance

I ANN JACKSON WILL CELEBRATE MY 25TH BIRTHDAY ON 7th OF JULY 2007

I WILL LIKE TO HAVE A GOOD AIR /BELLY DANCERS ON MY BIRTHDAY TO DISPLAY FOR 2HOURS

THE PARTY WILL BE HELD : 384 LAKESIDE AVE ORANGE NJ: 07050
WAITING FOR YOUR REPLY

ONE LOVE

ANN JACKSON

I have to say, Daniella, your Ann Jackson email is hilarious! I think the "one love" is just a giveaway of someone who has very poor ability/resources for aquiring English translations of what they are trying to say. I like the "to display for 2 hours" part too. LOL I really am too easily amused......l;,

"I and my ex are currently in Belgium for our pre-wedding honeymoon."

Geez, she's going about this all backward! She must not realized that it's traditional to get married first, then go on the honeymoon and THEN divorce & become ex-es. ..l;,

"One love" is a farewell expression in African American English. I'm not saying that makes this e-mail any more legit, but the phrase does at least exist.

The funny use of it, though, reminds me of how some of the African students I knew in college used to imitate A.A.E. dialect to sound cool, occasionally with hilarious and/or wildly inappropriate results. A Maltese guy I knew (who was olive-complected at best) was totally discombobulated when his Nigerian roommate kept greeting him with "One love, n*****!". He asked us: "How am I supposed to explain to him what that word means?!?" .w.:

Almost as awkward as the time two Québecois students asked me what "wiener" meant in the context of Calvin and Hobbes... ..g.:

I think what they mean by and air dancer is ambience

am·bi·ance also am·bi·ence (ām'bē-əns, äɴ-byäɴs') Pronunciation Key
n. The special atmosphere or mood created by a particular environment.

I have friends who have done gigs like this they just want you to dance in the background... maybe?

air dancer - is that like air guitar? Perhaps you're expected to hum your own music, plus drums, then dance around wildly, while throwing your head around to the really wild parts.

OOOOr maybe it's like aerial moves in swing, when you are hoisted up into the air for a secod (perhaps by a drummer, or helpful audience member), where you do some fancy bellydance "trick" (perhaps juggling of zills), then you return to earth gracefully and continue on?

Ann Jackson wouldn't say on the 7th of July 2007

Actually, if she wasn't an American or a journalist she would. Though if she was living in New Jersey you'd think she'd have picked up the local date form. (I write July 14 because of being a journalist, but 7/14/07 still looks very wrong to me.)

I've been offered immense sums of money by lots of grieving widows and public servants lately, but not to dance. There seems to be a rash of Nigerian scams about.

They likely want you to play air zills, too. ;)

When a possible scammer sends you a legitimate address it sometimes helps to google the address. A while ago one, that was claiming to want to hire a dancer for a really high end wedding was "being held" at what were these horrible high rise housing projects with all sorts of drug problems.

How about this one....I find it odd because she says there's age restrictions at other places. I know this isn't true at all. I called the number and it just played a tinney Cheap Trick song. Deleted the email.

Anyone else get this one?

Hi,

I was browsing your site and was wondering if I could get more information regarding your lessons. I have never bellydanced before so would need information on your beginner's class. My best friend and I have been looking for a place to participate in lessons but unfortunately, most places have age restrictions. I am in my 40's and she is in her late 20's.

Please contact me either via email or by phone: 918-812-7342. I would also like the chance to come by the dance studio as well and maybe we could talk at that time.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon!

Daniela S.

Ok, this lady called me back and it's not spam, sorry. I just can't believe my old instructor would say only people under 25 were accepted. That is so strange! Maybe she's going with the Ballet model of business? The lady said she called 2 places though, and both turned her down. Wow! Thank goodness she kept trying and found me.