Strange E-mail Just Arrived

[Dave R]

I just got this e-mail sent to my work e-mail address. In fact I deleted it once and it came again. I have no idea what boat plans are being referred to. Anyone else get it?

From Ildar [ildar@kmtn.ru] Hi, my friend. Writes to you Илдар. To me 61 year. Pension mine 66 $. Therefore I cannot buy drawings of your fine boat. If it is not difficult for you, send, please, drawings. It would be desirable to construct same. Thanks. The strange characters are cyrillic.

[L.W. Baxter]

Those strange characters spell "Ildar", the gentleman's name. He must have seen a picture of your boat and wants to build one like it. He can't afford to buy plans and hopes you have a set lying around that you would send to him free of charge.

I speak pidgin Ruski Yazik. ;)

[AlanL]

Looks legit to me.

That is, it doesn't read like a scam or spam. On the other hand, they are asking for a free copy of your plans, and don't be surprised if copies suddenly start appearing all over the place. In most parts of the world, the concept of copyright ownership varies substantially.

Alan

[Dave R]

Thanks guys.

I deleted the e-mails. I figured it was just some scam. If they can't afford $35 for a set of plans from the designer, how will they afford the materials?

[ 10-24-2005, 04:18 PM: Message edited by: Dave R ]

[Bruce Hooke]

Part of the explanation for the affordability question may be the exchange rate. I'd assume that he would be planning to use Russian materials, which are probably a LOT cheaper than imported materials once the exchange rate is factored in. I saw this in a small way when I was talking to a boat builder in Cape Town, South Africa. He loved WoodenBoat magazine, but once the exchange rate was factored in (plus International shipping) it would have effectively cost him something on the order of $200/year to subscribe.

None-the-less, regarding the email you received...asking for the plans for free and with so little explanation is a bit much...

[JimD]

Hi, Dave R, friend mine. Cannot afford boat. Make little money, not USA dollars. Please send your boat me, as your boat me like, to JimD. Yes?

[joejapan]

.
Hey ! Gypsy JimD, what's the shipping address ? :D

[Paul Pless]

how will they afford the materials?
dude's probably been hustling away prime pieces of lumber from his commune for years (under penalty of siberian exile no doubt :D ) dreaming about a boat just like yours and that long voyage to paradise to Cuba

damn he says tongue.gif

[Peter Malcolm Jardine]

Hey DaveDave... me have no canuckian momo send please free boats slave labor varnish awlgrip plans boatyard Yes? :D

[Dave R]

C'mon guys! Somebody owes me a new keyboard! Or at least a spray shield. :D

Jim D, me send boat via US Post. You pay stamps, yes? :D

[ssor]

I have a nephew that does business in Russia. He says that you are expected to look after your own interests and they look after their interests. Honor and honesty are nice, but twenty dollar bills are inspected with a magnifier before they are accepted. ( EVERYONE of THEM)!!!

[Todd Bradshaw]

Money-wise, the guy's probably telling the truth. My mother in law in Latvia is retired after 26 years of being the principal of a 600 student high school as well as serving on the city council. Her pension would come out to $200-$250 USD per month. Supposedly, it's even worse in Russia, so the guy's not likely rolling in dough unless he has old high-party connections. If it's a scam, he needs to devise a better one.

[joejapan]

.
Naw, he just needs to move his operation to Nigeria. :D