It all started with an eBay auction for a new G4 Powerbook. This guy named Jeff was e-mailed by a scammer trying to "buy" his laptop using a fake escrow site and an assumed name. Using the help of Internet users across the globe, he orchestrated a massive international prank where he successfully "scammed the scammer."

Here's how it worked: the thief wanted him to send the Powerbook to an address in London. Since taxes on international shipments run 27.5%, payable by the receiver, Jeff sent him a very expensive fake package. In the first part of the prank, Jeff built the "notebook computer" pictured at right, shipped the prank package with a declared value of $2,000, and successfully got the scammer to pay the taxes to receive his "gift."

Three things happened after that fateful day.

1) The scammer responded to Jeff's e-mail by sending him a virus:

Date: Mon, 17 May 11:28:43 -0800

To: mbbq@bootsix.net

Subject: Re: Thank you!

From: scont06@yahoo.com

Message-ID: bbq@bootsix.net

See attach.

For security purposes the attached file is password protected. Password 27735

The file "attach" was the W32.Beagle virus, which is easily caught by Norton AntiVirus. It would have been easily caught by a third-grader with brain damage. It was a pretty lame attack, but it did verify that the scammer had received the package.

2) Next, the scammer orchestrated a denial of service attack on www.p-p-p-powerbook.com, the Web site that Jeff had set up to advertise the prank. While the hacker succeeded in taking down the site, this story had already spread, AIDS-like, across the Web, so it didn't really make a difference. Am I the only one that finds it strange that this hacker could organize a DoS attack? It's hard to believe that a guy who writes sentences like "acces your account with the uzername that you have and if the transaction isOk with you please accept it" could do anything more complicated than operating a salad fork.

3) Finally, and most disturbingly, Jeff was not heard from again. I personally e-mailed him for permission to run his story on ZUG, but after an initial response, I never heard from him again. All of his Web sites have come down, and he is nowhere to be found.

If Jeff indeed gave his life for The Powerbook Prank, then I think it's only fitting that Apple Computer, Inc., do something to honor the man that turned the Powerbook into a work of comedic art. Fortunately, they are.

Jeff, wherever you are, this P-P-P-Powerbook's for you.

Chi-Chi Felipe 161,353 14
06/11/2004 01:13 AM

Holy crap! That guy got killed? Dude. I sent a poop to the Nigerian people. I'm so dead.

Mofo Baggins <FrGr> 10,950 10
06/11/2004 01:27 AM

Hmmm...You can get killed over Shakespeare like this? Maybe I shouldn't have sent that letter to Ashcroft calling him a Nazi, you know how the "Ministry" doesn't like domestic dissadents.

peter eater sucks 1,850 10
06/11/2004 01:28 AM

Thank god that guy got killed. I thought Jeff was trying to steal his clickies.

StormKat 2,051 9
06/11/2004 10:04 AM

Send in the troops!

No_Key_Bandit 76,490 10
06/11/2004 10:59 AM

<action>wonders if they have a w-w-w-windows version</action>

SheCabbage 5,200 13
06/11/2004 12:11 PM

I hate to be a party pooper, but this conclusion was like the ba-dum *tink* after a joke.



I feel unfulfilled. You must find him and get a better ending story!

dazmax 9 10
06/11/2004 02:20 PM

It's not over...

SheCabbage 5,200 13
06/11/2004 02:23 PM

Yeah, we know--that's the problem!

themod 12 9
06/11/2004 03:03 PM

Send the spies again lol to see if he talks about it lol.

He just should hAve send on the email, 'Do you wish to accept a virus ?

Frankly i am glad he had to pay that money ,aswell you could have simply some of the people call the police in england to report a accoutn stealer of ebay and scammer, but that would've taking the fun out of it.

Why weren't the england spies to see when he opened the package lol and took a picture of him lol, that would've won the funniest face of the year price, maybe the price could cover he's fee lol

Blue-Footed Boobie 21,744 10
06/11/2004 03:05 PM

Wow, I have never see such gratuitous use of 'lol' before. You, sir, bring the suck to a whole new level.

peter eater sucks 1,850 10
06/11/2004 03:26 PM

I thought that post was a joke.

Boots at the Boar 2,305 11
06/12/2004 12:12 PM

<action>cums on pelvis.</action>Well that was anticlimatic. Two days of fingering my balls, somehow I've come to expect more.

The Last One 7 9
06/27/2004 10:53 PM

I can only imagine what the look on the scammer's face was when he opened the package. Responding with a worm is about the dumbest thing he could have done, if he wants to be a sissy he should atleast use a respectable virus. Well, I loved the series and I hope to see more stories!

~One in a million

bigDummy 10 9
11/13/2005 11:58 PM

We don't like spamming dipShakespeares here. Are you a spamming dipShakespeare?

Chickens 286,472 61
11/17/2005 12:07 PM

Sweet! And I've been looking for a Vicodin source.

John Hargrave 128,751 73
11/27/2005 01:08 PM

Unbelievable.



They could at least pay me for those links.

Jade - Locked and Loaded 14,453 11
11/27/2005 01:13 PM

<action>rubs eyes, does a double take</action>Did I just see John Hargrave post? Wow.

Vincent 31 7
11/27/2005 01:18 PM

Track the ip and sue! TRACK IT!

John Hargrave 128,751 73
11/27/2005 01:21 PM

Sorry, I'll go back to lurking.

Jade - Locked and Loaded 14,453 11
11/27/2005 01:23 PM

No, no, stay! It's a refreshing change to Nathyn's stupid posts.

John Hargrave 128,751 73
11/27/2005 02:00 PM

OK.

Jade - Locked and Loaded 14,453 11
11/27/2005 02:02 PM

Hooray.

Dogs Akimbo 211,511 32
11/27/2005 02:07 PM

<action>waves at John. And Bonky.</action>

Dogs Akimbo 211,511 32
11/27/2005 02:08 PM

Hmmm. The worm that I posted showed up in Preview.

Dogs Akimbo 211,511 32
11/27/2005 02:26 PM

Evidently, the terrorists have already won.