Someone whom we suspect is a co-winner of the 2005 Ig Nobel Prize in literature has just sent us a bulk order for Ig Nobel-related books.
That 2005 prize was awarded to the Internet entrepreneurs of Nigeria, for creating and then using e-mail to distribute a bold series of short stories, thus introducing millions of readers to a cast of rich characters — General Sani Abacha, Mrs. Mariam Sanni Abacha, Barrister Jon A Mbeki Esq., and others — each of whom requires just a small amount of expense money so as to obtain access to the great wealth to which they are entitled and which they would like to share with the kind person who assists them.
Here is the message that has just now arrived here:
From: Johnson Brown <johnsonbrown95@yahoo.com>
I AM THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF JOHNSON BROWN BOOKSTORE STORES INC. KINDLY BE INFORM THAT I WILL LIKE TO ORDER THE TITLE BELLOW
The Ig Nobel Prizes (Paperback)……30 copies
The Best of Annals of Improbable Research (Paperback)…….30 copies
A Briefer History of Time (Paperback)……..30 copiesIN OTHER TO MAKE IT EASIER I WANT IT SHIP USPS POSTOFFICE MAIL VIA DHL COURIER SERVICE TO MY OFFICE
ADDRESS…………………….DELIVERY……………………………….
JOHNSON BROWN BOOKSTORE STORES INC
NAME:JOHNSON BROWN
ADDRES 4 ODUNLAMI LANE
CITY; LAGOS ISLAND
LAGOS STATE
ZIP CODE; 23401
COUNTRY; NIGERIA
PHONE…+234014192536 OR +2347014763273
MY METHOD OF PAYMENT WILL BE WITH MY CREDIT CARD , SO CALCULATE THE TOTAL COST OF THE ORDER AND THE SHIPPING COST TO MY ADDRESS BELOW……….AWAITING TO RECEIVE FROM YOU SOON
A quick web search reveals that Mr. Brown sent an almost identically worded order to the American Welding Society for one of their publications, and that Mr. Brown’s name and email address appear on a prestigious list kept by the folks at PrintNet. PrintNet describes that list this way:
Find a scammer
This page is dedicated to listing the various names and e-mail details being used by alleged scammers who may try to solicit prepayment for the shipment of your goods as part of the current print quotation scam. It has been compiled using the feedback from printing companies throughout Australia, the USA and UK who have had contact with the alleged perpetrators.