I like Twitter and post there daily. All of the posts here go automatically to Twitter, and I often send tweets from the New York Times, the Washington Post, The New Yorker, the Onion, etc. whatever strikes my fancy. I often respond to Tweets directed at me, and I scan other’s Tweets for good stories and comments. On the other hand, I deleted Facebook because I object to its invasion of privacy, mine and others.

I have 149,000 followers, and I seldom look at their names. But one day recently I looked at the most recent additions and saw that one identified himself as a Sheik from Dubai, Prince Sheik Hamdan. I was impressed and intrigued. I followed him and asked by private message whether he was interested in American education. He responded promptly and said he was. We then had several exchanges in which he described his background and education and asked about mine. I googled him and he looked authentic. I told him things about me that are public knowledge—what I do, where I was born, where I went to college, in response to his questions.

I began to have fantasies of flying to Dubai to give him advice about education. I wondered how he would react when he learned I am Jewish.

But, born skeptic that I am, I began to wonder if I was being hoaxed. Everything he told me was on his Wikipedia page, but then a fraudster would know that information too.

He wrote:

“‎I know you maybe asking yourself the meaning of the name Hamdan,(Hamdān) is a name of Arab origin. It is a name of an ancient tribe in Yemen, which can also be found in modern Yemen. It is different from the name Hamdan (Arabic: حمدان Ĥamdān) although in English both names appear with the same spelling. I would love to know you better if you don’t mind.”

Then he wrote:

“I’m the third post-federation ruler, heads the Dubai Executive Council which supervises public sector and development strategies in the emirate. I was Born on November 14, 1982, began schooling in Dubai before moving to Britain, where i graduated from the Sandhurst military academy. Where did you school and how old are you?”

I replied with publicly available information about where I was born and educated.

He wrote:

“I really want us to be good friends. This year marks 11 years since His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is also Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE, became the ruler of Dubai on Friday He did appoint me Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Al Maktoum as Crown Prince of Dubai.”

Like, how lonely is this guy? I noticed in his bio that he writes poetry, and I complimented him.

He thanked me, then wrote:

“In September 2006 i was appointed as chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, entrusted with overseeing Dubai government entities. Also made significant contributions to the council, which was highlighted particularly by the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015 that was launched in February 2007. what do you do for a living??? have you appointed to handle any office since you were born??”

Ah, we hardly knew one another but a day, and he wants to know me. I’m not that lonely. I say I am writing a book. I write:

“So, this is an awkward question. How do I know you are who you say you are and not a fake Twitter account. I am a public figure in the US, perhaps the leading name in US education. There are many pretenders on Twitter.” I was boasting, but then what do you say to a very important prince?

He responds:

“The internet has been grossly abused by scam artist and miscreants whose intention is to hurt. In as much as one should be careful, same time we should not allow negative to kill the positive potential in a realistic business, please read my proposal carefully is 100% Risk-free. So what do you do for a living ??”

Uh-oh. Here comes the pitch. My antennae are way up. I respond:

“I write and lecture for a living. I am writing a book now. What is your risk-free proposal? I am not in need of money or fame. I live to do good for others when I can.”

Pretentious, I know, but I was sending a signal that I am not interested in a big money grab.

But here it comes.

“I discover documents of a late client Mr. Andreas Schranner A German business magnate who work in devolpment of our great country Dubai. I discovered from my employers that Mr. Andreas Schranner, died in the plane crash Monday, 31 July 2000, (an air France jet liner) with his entire family, as you can confirm it yourself via the website below for (BBCNEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/859479.stm … …According to United Arab emirates/Dubai banking law after the expiration of 14 (fourteen ) years, if nobody apply for the claim it will confiscate as state treasury if
nobody apply for the claim, I am seeking for your support to stand as next of kin/ beneficiary to claim these funds”

Can you believe this? Am I that stupid? No. Do I want to claim to be the beneficiary of a stranger who died in a plane crash? No.

I replied:

“Congratulations.

“You don’t need my support. And you don’t need his money either.

“Why are you asking me to help you? You don’t need me.”

His answer:

“$12M (Twelve Million United State Dollars,) I have the power/right to add your name on the list as the legal beneficiary, the scan documents name list is right in my position. I am ready to share with you 40% for you and 60% will be kept for the Charity Project which you will have to help me supervise during the process of building this Charity Foundation.”

I didn’t answer.

No prince. No Sheik. No trip to Dubai.

Beware.