Sometimes the depths to which spammers will stoop really sickens me. 

Even in today's criminally infested internet I sometimes naively hope that there is still some kind of Code of Conduct where trying to capitalize off of certain catastrophic events was considered taboo.  As we've seen before, such as with the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina back in 2005, the Indian tsunami in 2004, and now with the earthquake and aftershocks that have already killed over 28,000 people in southwest China's Sichuan province (with estimates that the death toll will be over 50,000 before the final counts are tallied) over the past week and a half, scams looking to tug at both your heart strings and purse strings have started popping up.
I'll abbreviate the message that we received for the sake of brevity (it's about the longest phish I have ever seen) as it gives a fairly detailed account of the plight of the person allegedly sending the message:

Dear friend,

I don't know your exact name. I can only guess.

I ask you to read my letter up to the end. After that you will be in the right to send my letter in a garbage basket or.......

My letter is caused by despair. I don't know to whom to address. I am compelled to ask for help any person. Namely you. I hope that mine letter has got to the person which has sympathy and compassion. I wish to trust in it.

My name is Arnulfo. My situation plunges me into depression and despair.

I will tell you shortly. I do not even know how to express correctly my thoughts. How to write you about it. I can tell with confidence that my hands shiver when I press on the buttons of the keyboard. Several days ago I could not think that I shall address to the stranger with such situation. Probably it's stupid or incorrectly. But it's the only thing that is left to do. I just ask to understand me. I even must  say that it is a shame to do it.

I will continue. I don't know where you are. And I do not know what news you watched on TV or listened by Radio. I think that you could hear about Earthquake in China. My God, it's awful...

Me and my wife have flied to the country of Philippines two weeks ago. We wanted to search for a new place in this world, where we could create our new world. There where we
could live and create good family. We have got married a year ago. The matter is that my wife is a chinese woman, and I was born on Philippines, but has grown in Spain. My father is Spaniard, and my mum is Philippine. My parents have died several years ago. I have left to study in the university to another country. I studied Chinese
language and culture. There I also have got acquainted with Jin It's my wife. We have got married. And yes, we were happy. I will tell - We are happy together. But parents of Jin were against our marriage. And we have decided to search a place which will make us happy. We thought of Philippines.

All. Everything was good. Yes, everything was simply magnificent. Until the first impact has happened. We have heardabout it in the news. I do not want to describe that occured with Jin when she has heard about that her native city was completely destroyed. Her native city has been destroyed. Me and Jin were in panic. We have decided at once to come back to China to my wife's parents. Jin was in despair.

But the destiny has made a new turn. We had no money for air flight to China for two. We had money. We have made money transfer to the bank account in Philippines for purchase of a small house. But I can receive this money only on the 1st of June. Not earlier. Bank bureaucracy exists all over the world. We did not know what to do. Then we have found only one output. We have received all money which were on our ATM-cart. Me collected the sum of money for air flight only for my wife. It was a hard moment in our life. But then I did not know that the worst will be ahead. We have solved that my wife will go to China alone. It was a difficult decisions for me. But I could not stop Jin. And I could not fly together with her. Jin has quickly gathered and has departed. When she left tears flew on our cheeks . I do not know how to explain that I felt during this moment. But I understood that my wife felt. Mine Jin. Her parents were in trouble. I have remained alone not having money. My hotel accommodation has been paid for some days.

[ SEVERAL UNIMPORTANT PARAGRAPHS REMOVED ]

Also some kind people which know about my situation have helped me. I shall have the small sum of money. But a greater sum of money is required . I am lack of 1500$. I have no opportunity to find such sum of money. I tried all ways to find thó money. I do not wish to think that money solve everything in this world. I believe that the main thing is people and love. And I want to believe that I will be able to be beside my Jin soon . We are sure will be happy together.

Only despair has compelled me to write you this letter. Probably it sounds silly. You have a right to think about me all that you want. I shall understand you.I I address to you for a help. Your help is required to me. I will tell directly that I ask you to help me with money. I will return you money
later, right after as soon as I receive my money which are in the bank. I can return to you money on the first of June. I shall see the wife. I shall be with her. I can take care of her. After that I will return on Philippines to take back money. And I will return to you even more Money. I only ask to help me now.I have been explained that I will be able to receive money in Western Union. And I shall return the money to you in the same way. I am ready to return you more.

I will hope that my letter will not offend you because we are unfamiliar. I do not even know your name. I have taken yours e-mail from Internet. And I have hope that e-mail to which I write is of a good person.

I will understand you in any case. Iask to excuse me . I only want you to understood me. Only despair and love have compelled me to write this letter to you. I wish to use all variants To be near to my love.

And still, if you will be able to help me I shall consider you to be the best man in this world. You will save a life of mine Jin. I shall write the data on which I will be able to receive cashes in Philippines through Western Union.

I don't know what to tell you more . I believe in love and destiny. I ask you to answer me to this e-mail:

arnulfoqramos@yahoo.com.ph

I have registered it right now. I shall wait fo your answer to this e-mail. If you want to answer me

Yours faithfully Arnulfo


The words that I want to use to describe people who would try to capitalize on an event that has affected hundreds of thousands of people aren't appropriate for corporate blog nor for any other conversation for that matter.  Every time I see these types of things, it further lowers my faith in humanity.

Please be on the lookout for this and other related scams over the coming weeks as we are sure to see more of them, likely alleging to be from relief organizations and/or companies who claim to be affiliated with them. 

If you wish to make a donation to your favorite relief organization to help them to provide assistance to people around the world being affected by these horrific natural disasters please contact them directly.  Do not respond to solicitations via email, even if they look legitimate or come from an email address that potentially looks legitimate.



*** UPDATE 5/21/2008 11:20am MDT ***  Here are some of the subject lines that we are seeing associated with this scam:

-- Help me
-- Help me please. Read through the letter
-- Last hope. Help me please
-- I ask to help. Please