Stephen Dubner

OK, now you've just hit the nail on the head, because the reason we're here, Marty, is because of an email that I received that turned out to be the first of many.

And as they kept coming, I wised up to it.

But the first one and then even the second one, I was more enthusiastic even after the second one.

Can I just read it to you and you'll tell me what you would have made of it?

Just wanted to reach out again, this person wrote.

Her name, by the way, is Ms.

Janeth, J-A-N-E-T-H, which sounded real enough to be real.

Just wanted to reach out again.

I wanted to check in regarding the message I sent earlier about the Yamaha piano and

that belonged to my friend's late husband.

It's a special piece with a lot of meaning, and she'd be so happy if it went to someone who truly appreciates music.

And then she keeps going, if you or anyone you know might be interested, she'd be happy to share more details.

So should that have been enough, just that offer of a free piano to have had my guard up?

All right.

My feelings are a little bit hurt that I wasn't being targeted directly.

So what should I have done at this point?

Oh, yeah.

But but doesn't that happen a trillion times a day?

Like what is the provider actually going to do?

That's not an actual fraud alert.