Online pawnbroking. A sign of the times in so many ways.
From Channel 4 News:
Now where did I put that Rolex…?
Online pawnbroking. A sign of the times in so many ways.
From Channel 4 News:
Now where did I put that Rolex…?
This is a shame.
Capital One did a really cool thing. Or at least it looks like they could have done if they hadn’t banked it up.
I noticed on Flickr that I could make a Capital One card. I thought that sounds interesting. It’s probably only the US, but I want to take a look.
Here’s the link:
So I click the link, and get here…
Here’s what’s wrong:
They say:
Which sounds really rubbish. I don’t want that. I want something that’s a bit interesting, or a bit exciting, or just a bit, different. I’ve come from Flickr. You know I like photos and stuff. Maybe even show me what one of these cards looks like…
Perhaps the answer is somewhere on the page. My eyes are being drawn to the card in the top left of the screen. Then they start to burn…
Now I don’t know about you. But most of the people I know do not have photos like that in Flickr. Unless they’re collecting photos of the most vile bank friendly stock art on the planet. And anyone who’d choose an image like that to be ‘distinctly them’ would be no friend of mine.
And then I notice that is says:
How on earth is that going to work. They’ll send me the card. I go back to the website and:
I’ve got no idea. I’m now really confused. And the happy people at the top of the page are making me feel inadequate. There’s only one thing to click on…
I’m hoping that I’ll get to see some nice credit cards, just to reassure me that I’m in the right place and I haven’t just dreamed the last 2 clicks of my life…
Oh knackers. I’ve been tricked into the belly of the beast, again!
Following on from last year’s ‘Speak Like a Pirate Day’. I’m proposing that the world embark upon a ‘Write Like an Email Scammer Day’.
I was motivated to propose this course of action resulting from a recently inbounded email communication from my orphan and esteemed friend Miss Mary Johnston. Of particular noteworthiness from the aforementioned I markedly refer to the below:
Hello Dear Chosen one,
Please excuse me for all the inconveniences my mail could cause you. I have the pleasure to expose to you my predicaments.Please even if we never knew before, I believe firmly that on the basis of the right of humanitarian assistance that a real confidence and love can arise from our communication and also a real partnership between us.
Henceforth and furthermore:
Today my major concern is to move out this sum outside here. Given that I am the only child and I have seriously suffered from the ragging and the harassments on behalf of the political opponents of my Father.
It is in this prospect that I contact you. Because of the political war and the hostilities in this country I seriously wish to leave from here and live the rest of my life in a more peaceful and politically more stable and quiet country.
Her electronic mail terminates as such:
I would like to count on your human, virtuous and professional qualities to actualise this project. I look forward to receive your urgent responds.
Thanks for your care and may God bless you for your kind heart to hear the cry of an orphan
The details of the impressive sums of finance to which she refers for have been found necessary for removal resulting from safety sake and to avoid the greed exemplified by the enemies of her forefathers and those reading this website.
By joining me in ‘write like an email scammer day’ you will eligible to receive untold fortunes and grate happinesses in your futures. A proposed day of action is suggested as being 6th February 2008 (THE sixth of FEBRUARY, Two thousand AND eight).
Your loyal friend and compatriate.
Mr Iain Tait
(Image borrowed from the excellent book Cry For Help which has a collection of wonderful scam emails with lovely illustrations to match)