Those who follow the murky and dangerous business of scambaiting (not recommended for the novice or easily intimidated) will be very aware that there is a reason why individuals such at TheEye feel the need to keep a few scammers at a time on a wind-up leash. It’s because we know that if someone is wasting their time with us, they’ve got less time to electronically mug grannies. Plus there is the being-a-bastard factor too, and TheEye gets to pretend to be a naive clergyman once in a while.

So it is depressing when the other side scores a big win:

A Scottish local authority lost £102,000 to an African gang after being duped by a targeted letter scam. The letter, received at the end of July, purported to come from one of South Lanarkshire Council’s legitimate suppliers, and requested that payments be made into a different account.


The finance department complied, apparently without checking the request was genuine. […] A South Lanarkshire Council spokeswoman said: “Forged documents instructing a change of bank details were sent to the council and used to obtain fraudulent payment of £102,000. […]


The Council is currently facing a £55m budget shortfall. News that it had given away £102,000 to fraudsters came as its Trading Standards department warned council tax payers that any communications asking for bank details “should set alarm bells ringing”


Good grief. What a bunch of morons.