By GarethPosted Friday 1st February 2008 16:55 GMT
Why not long enough?
Although some 419 scams end in bodily harm or worse, this case looks like the (unstated) losses were purely financial - even if you think large financial losses justify a comparably large prison sentence then 20 years already seems quite harsh compared to the sentences handed out to Enron execs (mostly 3-6 years for fraud of tens of millions, or just 24 years for Mr Skilling, guilty of $11 *billion* in fraud).
By Andus McCoatoverPosted Friday 1st February 2008 17:35 GMT
Don't gerrit.
Crimes committed in Netherlands. Extradition to US.
If: crimes committed in US, targeting (say) Netherlands citizens, where does the trial happen? Netherlands?
Yeah. I know the answer. US, of course. Silly me, forgetting the location of the World Police (self-appointed). Probably claiming jurisdiction because - er - Internet backbone in America/they must've used DNS servers based there/ ___________ (fill in the blank) etc.
By David WiernickiPosted Friday 1st February 2008 17:58 GMT
I remember the 'throat cancer' ones. The best bit was when she introduced herself as the "wife of the late Engineer/Barrister/whatever Lord Hennings, an Englishman who is dead."
By Chris CPosted Friday 1st February 2008 19:07 GMT
So not only do we have to deal with spam from these and people like these, but now I need to stump up my hard-earned tax dollars to keep them locked away in prison, too? That's just a slap in the face. I have a feeling that's not what the tax system was originally started for.
And I agree about personal responsibility. If you're stupid enough to send money to these people, I have little or no sympathy for you. There's a saying -- if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. You do not get unsolicited (legitimate) offers for millions of dollars/pounds, period. End of story. If you really did have a long-lost relative who died and you're in the will, an attorney will contact you by phone or letter, not by email. I would suggest that people be trained to read full emails (including headers), but since people can't even avoid "bad" websites, it wouldn't do any good. Then again, clients like Outlook make it difficult to impossible to see the full email anyway.
By heystoopidPosted Saturday 2nd February 2008 06:18 GMT
Say did not these thieving wankers contribute towards the death of a preacher shot in the back by his wife one Mary Winkler on March 22nd 2006 in Tennessee !
He says she says but he can't say because he is dead and his character becomes fair game for every lie in town !
By Steve BrownePosted Saturday 2nd February 2008 08:33 GMT
If ordinary people are finger printed and photographed to help keep the bad guys out, why, then, does the US want to import bad guys? Is the department of homeland security aware of what the department of justice are doing?
By Sceptical BastardPosted Sunday 3rd February 2008 14:57 GMT
On the one hand, we have people who are so irredeemably moronic that they transfer money to the bank account of a complete stranger on risible and transparently absurd pretexts.
On the other hand, is a 20-year prison sentence too harsh for the scamsters who bring a reality check to those morons?
The former richly deserve to be fleeced because stupid people with money are a danger to themselves and to the rest of us.
The latter are scum and lowlife whose spam irritates the rest of us. Causing irritation by unsolicited email should carry a minimum term of, say, 20 years. The sentence should also take into consideration any offences against English usage and grammar.
I have no sympathy whatsoever with either victim or perpetrator - lock up both of them.
By Graham JordanPosted Monday 4th February 2008 13:42 GMT
through snail mail the other week. I'd won the spanish lottery apparently.
It was nice of them to send me a black and white letter with a camalot logo in the top right hand corner. Clever thinking that. If it'd come with a stamped addressed envelope id of thought about sending it back..
Comments on: 419 scammers plead guilty in US
Jiggaman #
By triky Posted Friday 1st February 2008 15:07 GMT
Personal responsibility #
By Anonymous Coward Posted Friday 1st February 2008 15:20 GMT
I'm a convicted 419 Scammer, please help #
By Anonymous Coward Posted Friday 1st February 2008 15:34 GMT
20 years prison time? #
By Anonymous John Posted Friday 1st February 2008 15:51 GMT
Surely... #
By Anonymous Coward Posted Friday 1st February 2008 16:01 GMT
Re: 20 years prison time? #
By Gareth Posted Friday 1st February 2008 16:55 GMT
Er, OK, but why extradition to US? #
By Andus McCoatover Posted Friday 1st February 2008 17:35 GMT
Heh #
By David Wiernicki Posted Friday 1st February 2008 17:58 GMT
You don't get it, do you? :-) #
By Roland Posted Friday 1st February 2008 18:03 GMT
Prison? Nah. #
By Morely Dotes Posted Friday 1st February 2008 18:03 GMT
Dear Mr. El Reg #
By Anonymous Coward Posted Friday 1st February 2008 18:57 GMT
Great, just great #
By Chris C Posted Friday 1st February 2008 19:07 GMT
does that mean #
By theotherone Posted Friday 1st February 2008 23:51 GMT
@ Andus #
By I. Aproveofitspendingonspecificprojects Posted Saturday 2nd February 2008 02:21 GMT
Say #
By heystoopid Posted Saturday 2nd February 2008 06:18 GMT
Confused #
By Steve Browne Posted Saturday 2nd February 2008 08:33 GMT
No conflict of ideas #
By Sceptical Bastard Posted Sunday 3rd February 2008 14:57 GMT
Er, location? #
By Name Posted Monday 4th February 2008 06:31 GMT
FAO 'Name' #
By Anonymous Coward Posted Monday 4th February 2008 08:02 GMT
i had one #
By Graham Jordan Posted Monday 4th February 2008 13:42 GMT
@Graham Jordan #
By Anonymous Coward Posted Monday 11th February 2008 16:24 GMT