How stupid are we?

I mean really. Well I guess the question is really... How stupid do they THINK we are? I get these emails all the time. This one was so great, I thought I'd share it with you all...

Good day,

I have been waiting for you since to come down here and pick your bank draft but did not hear from you since that time then i went and deposited the $1.200,000.00 usd draft/cheque in the bank.We have arranged your payment through swift card payment center Asia pacific, this card center will send you an atm card which you will use to withdraw your money in any atm machine in any part of the world, but the maximum is One Thousand, Five Hundred United States Dollars Per-Day.

Kindly contact the below person who is in possition to release your ATM Payment Card.Send your information which they will use to send the card to you.

1::Your full name::
2::Your home address were you them to send the atmcard::
3::Current occupation::
4::Age::
5::Your current home telephone number/mobile phone number:: ::
6::A Copy of your identification::

However, kindly contact the below person who is in position to release your atm card.

Chief Obong Koffi Director,
ATM Payment Department Sgbb Bank- Benin
Avenue Clozel, 01 BP 585 Cotonou, République du Bénin.
Tel : +229 97522 663
Email: info.sgbbenin_bankbj@yahoo.fr

I have paid for the processing and delivery charges.the only money that your are going to pay to them is only $255 dollars which they will use to obtain the affidevit of onwership from the federal high court of Benin Republic.

Try to contact them as soon as possible to quicken the processing of your card before your draft gets expired .

Let me know as soon as you receive your card.

Wait for your respond. and your Urgent Call.

Thanks,
Alfred G. John

Really...Do people actually fall for this crap? I mean, even with out all the warnings, and those hysterical commercials, warning against this crap. Wouldn't you NOT fall for it?

The thing that sucks is...when you are trying to do good, people think it's a scam. How do we keep from being scammed. How do we find the balance between who to trust and who not to trust. Have you ever made a deal with a friend, that went sour? It's hard to know why, or if it was intentional, or just happened. Ya know? Maybe I'm naive, but I think people are generally good hearted, and set out with the best of intentions, and something goes horribly wrong.

I don't know. It's learning the balance...again... of thinking everyone is "fine", but then, not like a freak that trusts no one. I just hate the world that we have created. I was thinking the other day, how I remember a time when you could open a bottle of syrup, and pour. Not have to stop and take of the "seal". I remember when as kids, we could play outdoors all day, with no cell phones, and our parents didn't know where we were. When you could accept a ride from a stranger. When you could just trust people, no questions asked.

Yuck... sometimes I hate the times we live in. BUT...we have cell phones, and shunts, and NICU's, and GREAT things on the internet. I guess we just have to go into things with our eyes wide open, and our hearts guarded, just a little bit.