ericcoleman: (Default)
ericcoleman ([personal profile] ericcoleman) wrote2006-01-05 10:46 am
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Hmmm?

I've gotten a couple of these over the last few months, one from England and now this one.

Can, I please have a autographed photo or cd cover?
god bless and that all your dreams come true! I have a blood disorder that
affects my immune system ,had since birth and I cannott afford much!
I love to read books.Your so talented.Love your music !

Wonder where he ran into my music ...
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[identity profile] ntrlstgrl.livejournal.com 2006-01-05 05:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Possibly dumb question and knowing me I'll forget the checkbook anyway...but will you have CDs with you at the January gig in Ames?

Wait a minute...this is January...

27th, right?
ericcoleman: (Default)

[personal profile] ericcoleman 2006-01-05 05:20 pm (UTC)(link)
I always have CDs with me.

[identity profile] ntrlstgrl.livejournal.com 2006-01-05 05:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Nifty. Hopefully see you the 27th.

[identity profile] barondave.livejournal.com 2006-01-05 07:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Depending on just how much you're interested in finding out...

Chance 1: It's not merely spam, it's simply a check on whether your e-mail address is valid. In which case responding at all is bad (though not terribly bad).

Chance 2: It's a variant of the Nigerian scam, and this is the first step in sucking you into a larger hoax. If you think this, a) ignore them or b) respond with requests for more specifics, like what hospital you can send the photo to and so on. When they give you a real name and/or more information, Google them.

Chance 3: This is a semi-legitimate request from someone who doesn't have much money or speak English well. If you think this, direct them to a site that sells your CD (not you) and have them ship the CD to you to autograph before it gets shipped to them. (Or some variant thereof.)

Chance 4: A real request. Alas, the least likely. Still, a chance. Write back for more info (such as mailing address and name/location) and what album they've heard of yours and what's their favorite books. Might be worth sending through one of the one-time use only e-mail address places; apologize for the inconvenience and ask them not to reply to this mail but "send another request to the e-mail address you used before".

Personally, if I got more than one of these with the same wording, I'd treat it as a "Hey dude, where's my money" e-mail list check as in Chance 1. Lots of people make music (or else they sucked your address from a music list) and if they read a lot of books they should speak English better.
ericcoleman: (Default)

[personal profile] ericcoleman 2006-01-05 08:53 pm (UTC)(link)
Chance 1: The email address it came to is on the front page of my website. I expect spam at it (but I get a lot more at my AOL address)

Chance 2: They did give me an address (it's in Missouri) and I did email them back asking where they heard of me, if I don't get a response I don't send anything. The guy in England emailed me back and was quite nice so I sent him an autographed CD just to be nice. I haven't heard from this one. I did google the email address and a lot of indy musicians with a web presence have gotten emails identical to this one.

Chance 3: He seems to write about as well as your average net denizen. My CD is only available from me, either at shows or from my website.

Chance 4: I have a feeling that this one is for real, but I am always skeptical.

I thought of most of the things you mentioned, but discounted most of them. The posts about this guy out on the net are very interesting. He sends a lot of these requests out.
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