Tag Archives: samuel pepys

Phishing ain’t that new – Samuel Pepys got there first

Samuel Pepys is not often associated with Nigerian internet scams, yet there is an uncanny echo of modern problems in his own forgery of 1661. In August of that year the famous diarist recorded that he “counterfeited a letter to Sir W. Pen, as from the thiefe that stole his tankard lately”. A follow up letter offered to return the tankard in return for 30 shillings, a trick than William Penn fell for. Pepys retired to a pub to spend the 30 shillings drinking with his friends, where they were joined by the poor Penn who was – perhaps thankfully …

Posted in Books | Also tagged | 1 Comment
Advert

Recent Comments

  • Gary Peacock
    I very much agree with you, Karen. I know our (and my) attachment to the triple lock, but if there was a means of linking the pension to earnings over a longer...
  • Peter Davies
    @David Warren: a Universal Basic Income would undoubtedly be that big bold policy that people would talk about. The leadership is implacably opposed to it....
  • expats
    @Jana 30th Sep '26 - 7:18am Using your ship analogy.. So the nearest ship on the scene should take EVERYONE, permanently, whilst others should take none?I d...
  • Jack
    Jana that is a reductive and shameful argument that discounts situational complexity, operates from the stance that refugees should accept the absolute minimum ...
  • Jana
    @Nick Baird If I were at sea and my ship was sinking, I would be grateful to be rescued by whatever ship was closest…I wouldn’t then expect to be able to t...