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Fred Abe of Nigeria e-mails me claiming to need cancer surgery. He is asking for $35,000 to pay for the surgery as well as his travel expenses to and from the US. Patti Kake will surely steer him in the right direction.
Conventions within the thread:
E-mails from the fraudsters are in black.
E-mails from me (Patti Kake and Father Hershey Barr) are in italicized green.
Red X's represent characters that have been changed to protect personal info.
Comments from me are in bold black.
The game commences with the scammer's initial e-mail.
From: Fred Abe <save_mrfred@xxxxxxxxxx.com>
Subject: PLEASE IS ME FRED
Date: Tue, 27 Dec 2005 16:22:54 +0000
Dear friend,
My name is Mr Fred Abe, i am a 48 years old man from Nigeria. I am
married with five children;amongst whom are three girls and two boys. Iam a self employed (trader). I trade on textile materials.
I was living a healthy and happy life, life and business was going on fine. Until the 3rd of october 2005; when i was diagnosed of having "cancer of the lungs". It all started when i began to notice morning headache,blurred vision,unexplained weight loss,swelling of the feets and ankles,difficulty in breathing properly,costipation and serious cough.
So when i visited the doctor, i was diagnosed of having cancer of the lungs.The doctor said i needed to undergo a lung volume redution surgery to stay alive.The doctor said the sum of $35,000(us dollars) was required to carry out the sugical operation in the United State of America.
Infact my entire world is full of tension,fear and confusion right now, because i dont know how i will be able to raise this amount of money; for the operation. I keep asking my self the question;why me? Although i have heard of people suffering from cancer,but i never thought i will be having it some day.
I have tried all i can to raise this money required for the surgical operation.I have borrowed cash from friends and relatives,but i have still not been able to get the total amount of $35,000(us dollars) required for the surgical operation.I no longer go to work, not only because of my health condition, but because i have sold my shop and many other things i have, to get this money required for the surgical operation. I dont want to die,i have a wife and five kids to take care of; my kids are young and are still in school.I really want to become healthy again and be able to take care of my family.I dont know any body else to run to,i am not from a wealthy family background,so this has made it difficult for me to get relatives who can help me out with this amuont of money.
Please i beg and ask that you support me in any way you can,so i can be able to undergo this surgical operation, for i have no other hope of raise this money required for the surgical operation; and the earlier the surgical operation is done, the more my
chances of survival.
I pray that you will be rewarded abundantly in return for every help rendered and for taking time to read my mail.I await your reply soon.
To reply me, here is my contact email address: mail_abe2k5@xxxxxxxxxx.com
From: Patti Kake <pattikake@xxxxxxxxxx.com>
To: mail_abe2k5@xxxxxxxxxx.com
Subject: Re: PLEASE IS ME FRED
Date: Tue, 27 Dec 2005 17:23:34 +0000
Dear Fred
I cried when I read about your sad situation. It's simply awful when
you need life-saving surgery and you don't have the money to be able
to get that surgery.
I have an idea. I will pass along your message to my pastor. His name
is Father Hershey Barr of Our Lady of Perpetual Piercings Holy
Church. Of if you want, you can contact him yourself at
hersheybarr@xxxxxxxxxx.com . Father Barr give alot of the church's money
to charitible causes and he will probably get you fixed up as well.
If you email him directly just tell him that I told you to do so. He
knows me very well.
Warm regards,
__________
Patti Kake
From: fred abe
To: pattikake@xxxxxxxxxx.com
Subject: IS ME FRED ABE
Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2005 01:36:25 -0800 (PST)
Dear Patti Kake,
I have written to Father Hershey, but am yet to hear from him. Please if there is any way you can help me talk to him so as to consider my request i will be so greatful. Please i am hoping on your support so that i can undergo this surgical operation immediatly. Thanks for your concern. I await your reply soon.
From your humble friend
Fred Abe.
From: Patti Kake
To: fred abe
Subject: Re: IS ME FRED ABE
Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2005 16:09:56 +0000
Dear Fred,
I'm sorry. I just found out that Father Barr is out of town for a
couple of days on a personal matter. He should be back tonight, or so
I'm told. I'm certain that he'll get back to you as soon as he can.
I have also left a message for him at the church concerning your plight.
Bye for now.
__________
Patti Kake
From: fred abe
To: pattikake@xxxxxxxxxx.com
Subject: FROM FRED ABE
Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2005 11:43:32 -0800 (PST)
Dear Patti Kake,
Thanks for helping me contact Father Barr , i appreciate your concern and effort. Please if there is any way you can help me convince him so that he can be able to support me immediately,because the earlier the surgical operation is done the more my chances of survival, please am really relying on you to help me in any way you can, because i do not want to die,i greatly appreciate every concern and effort you have shown towards me thanks and may the good Lord bless you. I hope to hear from you soon.
Yours sincerly
Fred Abe.
From: Father Barr
To: fred abe
Date: Dec 30, 2005 10:17 PM
Subject: Re: FROM FRED ABE
Dear Mr. Fred Abe,
I see that one of my parishoners has referred you to me.
I have read your email. Your situation is truly sad. However, I don't believe that you are a member of our church, Our Lady of Perpetual Piercings Holy Church.
This puts me in the unenviable position of informing you that I cannot give you any assistance. The rules of our church dictate that we can only give financial assistance to members of our own church.
If a member of our church had come to me with this same request, I would be able to authorize as much as the entire $35,000 he or she would need. But, as you are not a member, I'm afraid I can do nothing.
I'm truly sorry but I must abide by the rules of my church.
Best regards and may God bless you.
--
Father Hershey Barr
Our Lady of Perpetual Piercings Holy Church
18580 Roflmao Rd.
Evansville, IN 47747
From: fred abe
To: pattikake@xxxxxxxxxx.com
Subject: IS ME FRED ABE
Date: Sat, 31 Dec 2005 09:45:04 -0800 (PST)
Dear Patti Kake,
I contacted Father Barr as you advised me to, but he told me that he can not help me because am not a member of his church. I dont know what else to do i am so confused right now, because i have placed my hope so much on him. Please Patti, help me in any way you can for i really need to undergo this surgical operation as soon as possible in order to stay alive; i do not want to die. I appreciate every effort and help you have rendered to make sure you see me well again. Please help me, for my health situation is getting worst every day. Thanks for your concern and care. I hope to hear from you soon, thanks and God bless you.
From your humble friend
Fred Abe.
From: Patti Kake
To: fred abe
Subject: Re: IS ME FRED ABE
Date: Sat, 31 Dec 2005 22:23:07 +0000
Dear Fred
I am so sorry to hear that. I suppose I should have known that would
have been his answer. I'm so sorry that I got your hopes up. I feel
terrible.
If I was able to assist you financially in any way, I would do so.
Unfortunately, I am but a volunteer aid worker with the church.
Although the church does give me a stipend, it is barely enough for
me to live on.
Are you a young man? How old are you? I've never been to Nigeria
although I may be going there in a few weeks if Father Barr sends me.
One of the charities in Nigeria, The Johnson Njoku Foundation, is
becoming affiliated with our church and I will probably be sent over
there to oversee the charity officials conversion to our religion.
This is the only way, according to the rules of our church that the
foundation can receive money from us.
I have been to Africa once before. I spent about 2 months in Ghana
last summer doing volunteer work but I'm looking forward to visiting
Nigeria in the coming weeks. If you are in the Lagos area, I would be
happy to pay you a visit.
Please, I'd love to hear from you again.
Warmest regards,
__________
Patti Kake
From: fred abe
To: hersheybarr@xxxxxxxxxx.com
Date: Jan 2, 2006 1:52 PM
Subject: fed
Dear Father Bar,
I received your email, with heavy heart, i am so confuse because i have placed so much hope on the help i was going to receive from you. Please Father consider me and help me in any possible way, because i dont know what else to do right now and i dont want to die. Even if it means helping me with little amount of money i will greatly appreciate, because my health condition is getting worst every day and i need to undergo the surgical operation immediately. Please help me Father for i dont know were else to get this money. My wife is the one supporting the family with the money for our daily needs from the little money she gets from her hair saloon. Please i beg that you consider me and help me out because i dont want to die. I hope to hear from you soon. Thanks and God bless you.
From your humble friend
Fred Abe.
From: Father Barr
To: fred abe
Date: Jan 2, 2006 10:02 PM
Subject: Re: fed
Dear Mr. Fred Abe,
I understand your frustration completely and I feel for you. Unfortunately, I am but a poor clergyman. My day-to-day needs are met by the church. As such, I cannot assist you from my own pocket. The church has money set aside for our members but I cannot use these funds as I may see fit. They are for our members only.
Last year, a young man from your country contacted us. He had cancer of the uterus. Like you, he did not have long to live unless he received treatment. Fortunately for him, he converted to our faith in time. Once he did this and with the help of our donation of $17,800, he was able to seek treatment in Amsterdam.
Although I have not heard from that young man in some time now, I assume that he is doing fine. In his last email to me, he told me that he would spread the word of our faith throughout West Africa for as long as he lived.
Unfortunately, as you are not a member of our faith, I cannot help you. I am truly sorry.
May God bless you kind sir. If your situation changes, please let me know.
--
Father Hershey Barr
Our Lady of Perpetual Piercings Holy Church
18580 Roflmao Rd.
Evansville, IN 47747
From: fred abe
To: hersheybarr@xxxxxxxxxx.com
Date: Jan 4, 2006 7:44 AM
Subject: IS ME FRED ABE
Dear Father Barr,
Sincere greetings to you. I am writting you this email with tears in my eyes and great pains in my hearth.It is true i am not from your church, but i have decided to accept your faith i will like to know how i can become a full time member of your church immediately. I beg that you consider me immediately as a member of your church.Please Father i urgently need to undergo a surgical operation to survive from this lung cancer.My health condition is becoming worst as the day goes by, and i do not want to die. Please father do not let the church aboundon me in my critical health condition for i have taking it upon myself to become a member of your church. Please i await your urgent reply soon,so i may know the next step to take. Thank you and God bless you.
Your humble son
Fred Abe
From: Father Barr
To: fred abe
Date: Jan 5, 2006 6:41 AM
Subject: Re: IS ME FRED ABE
Dear Mr. Fred Abe,
I have received your email and understand that you may wish to join our faith. While this is wonderful, I hope you understand that a change of religious faith is not something to be taken lightly.
Also, there would be an induction ceremony which you will have to perform and since we are far too busy here at the church to attend such a ceremony in Nigeria, you would be required to send us photographic evidence of your compliance with.
However, if you have thought it through and choose to convert to our faith, then we can certainly assist you.
Please take the time to think it through before making a final decision.
Thank you and God bless.
--
Father Hershey Barr
Our Lady of Perpetual Piercings Holy Church
18580 Roflmao Rd.
Evansville, IN 47747
From: fred abe
To: hersheybarr@xxxxxxxxxx.com
Date: Jan 8, 2006 9:34 AM
Subject: IS ME FRED ABE
Dear Father Barr,
I received your email. I will like to find out if your faith is Christainity, if it is be well asured that i have fully made up my mind to join your faith. Please i will also like to know if your churh is Catholic, Anglican or Penticostal. Please help me with all the neccessary information i need as i relly need your assistance. I am ansciously awaiting your reply.
Your sincerly,
Fred Abe
From: Father Barr
To: fred abe
Date: Jan 9, 2006 7:03 AM
Subject: IS ME HERSHEY BARR
Dear Mr. Fred Abe,
I thank you for your questions. I hope you are feeling well considering your condition.
Our church follows the Anglican faith. However, we have certain rules which follow the old tradition. Most of these are very minor in nature with one exception. All of our adult members are required to wear a small metallic ring in their left breast nipple. The tradition behind this requirement is too complex to detail in this email but if you want more information on this, please let me know and I'll be more than happy to send it to you.
Please let me know if you still wish to join our faith and I'll draw up the paperwork.
Yours in Christ,
--
Father Hershey Barr
Our Lady of Perpetual Piercings Holy Church
18580 Roflmao Rd.
Evansville, IN 47747
From: fred abe
To: hersheybarr@xxxxxxxxxx.com
Date: Jan 10, 2006 5:01 PM
Subject: IS ME FRED ABE
Dear Father Barr,
It is nice hearing from you once again,please if you woulden`t mined i would like you to explain what the metallic ring in the left breast nipple is all about,because i am really interested to be part of you only if you explain better to me.Please you have to really understand that the doctor has asked me to undergo this surgical operation as soon as possible and i really need your help to carry out this operation .Thank you and may the good Lord bless you.
Your sincerely
Fred Abe.
From: Father Barr
To: fred abe
Date: Jan 10, 2006 9:39 PM
Subject: IS ME HERSHEY BARR
Dear Mr. Fred Abe,
I hope you are feeling well today.
I would be happy to explain the Holy Ring to you. I have also attached some photos and scans for you to better understand the Holy Ring.
When our faith was founded by Mrs. Dinah Soares and her daughter, Tyranna Soares-Rex back in 1866, it was their belief that the way to salvation was to have metal rings, known as Holy Rings, inserted into the nipples. That tradition continues today although over the years it has been decreed that one niple ring was enough. All adult members of our faith are required to have properly worn Holy Rings.
The first two attachments are scans of pages from our church's manual spelling out the technical requirements for the Holy Rings.
The next attachment is a typical stainless steel Holy Ring. While most members prefer to wear Holy Rings made from gold, stainless steel is an economical way of complying with the tenets of our faith.
Attachment number 4 is a properly worn Holy Ring. Note how the ring is inserted horizontally through the piercing in the nipple.
The next attachment is a photo of one of our members displaying his Holy Rings. While some members chose to wear Holy Rings in both nipples in traditional fashion, only one Ring through the left nipple is actually required.
The final attachment is a photo of a young man from Accra who recently joined our faith. As you can see, we have converts from your part of the world as well.
I hope this explanation has helped you.
Remain blessed,
--
Father Hershey Barr
Our Lady of Perpetual Piercings Holy Church
18580 Roflmao Rd.
Evansville, IN 47747
    
From: Father Barr
To: fred abe
Date: Jan 21, 2006 8:07 AM
Subject: Re: IS ME FRED ABE
Dear Mr. Fred Abe,
How are you today? I hope you haven't yet succumbed to the cancer.
I haven't received a reply from you to my last email and I was wondering if you are still considering joining our faith.
Remain blessed,
--
Father Hershey Barr
Our Lady of Perpetual Piercings Holy Church
18580 Roflmao Rd.
Evansville, IN 47747
From: fred abe
To: hersheybarr@xxxxxxxxxx.com
Date: Jan 21, 2006 11:53 AM
Subject: ACCEPTANCE OF YOUR FAITH BY FRED ABE
Dear Farther Bar,
I am glad to hear from you once again, but the condition has gone worst , this has made it impossible for me to contact you. I have chosen your faith , and i need your directions as to how i can eventualy get this help and support , the doctor informed me that my situation has gotten so critical and as a result requires urgent attention, he told me that if i am to eventually make it i have to undergo this surgical operation immediately, before the end of this month (january). So please if there is any way you can quickly accept me as a member of your faith, please do it quickly so that i can get this finanacial assistance from you. May you be rewarded in return for your love and concern, i hope to hear from you very soon. Once again i have accepted your faith.
From: Father Barr
To: fred abe
Date: Jan 21, 2006 10:43 PM
Subject: Re: ACCEPTANCE OF YOUR FAITH BY FRED ABE
Dear Mr. Fred Abe,
I am truly sorry to hear about your worsening condition. On the other hand, It is wonderful that you wish to join our faith.
Normally, we would require that you attend an induction ceremony consisting of one of our clergy and yourself whereby you would receive the Holy Ring. However, due to your location, this will not be practical. So, we are prepared to allow you to have the Holy Ring inserted by a person of your choice at your location as we have done for the young man in Accra and accept photographic proof of the ceremony.
As I have indicated in my email of January 10th to you, the properly worn Holy Ring is a key part of our faith. I shall describe in detail how we will proceed.
When you have the Holy Ring properly inserted in your left nipple, as described in the scanned pages of our manual which I have already sent to you, we will require several photographs for verification by our donation committee.
These photographs must consist of at least one photo of yourself holding a picture of our revered founder, Dinah Sores, much like the photo of the young man in Accra which I sent in my email of Jan. 10th. I have attached a picture of Mrs. Soares for this purpose.
They must also include at least one close-up photo of the nipple bearing the Holy Ring, much like the close-up photo that I have attached.
You must also print, sign and scan a copy of the Memorandum Agreement which I have also attached.
Last, we will require some photo identification from you. A scanned image of your passport or driver's licence will suffice.
When you supply all of those items to me, I will pass them along to the donation committee, whereby, they will meet and approve or reject your request. If they approve your request for a donation, they will deposit the amount you have requested ($35,000) into your bank account. As your request has already been approved by the donation committee, all they are waiting for now are the items which I have detailed above.
I am certain that you will have some questions. Please feel free to contact me any time. I will try to address your concerns to the best of my ability.
May the Lord be with you, Kind Sir,
--
Father Hershey Barr
Our Lady of Perpetual Piercings Holy Church
18580 Roflmao Rd.
Evansville, IN 47747
 
From: fred abe
To: hersheybarr@xxxxxxxxxx.com
Date: Jan 26, 2006 6:40 PM
Subject: ACCEPTANCE OF THE RING BY FRED ABE
Dear father Bar,
I am deeply sorry that i have not giving you the address you asked for ,it is as a result of the critical state of my health condition right now, but hear is the address you asked for,
Flat 1, No14, Adolor Street off Ugbor road,G.R.A Benin City Edo State,Nigeria.Please send down the ring to this Address.I am anciously waiting for it.
Thanks.
From: Father Barr
To: fred abe
Date: Jan 27, 2006 7:40 AM
Subject: Re: ACCEPTANCE OF THE RING BY FRED ABE
Dear Mr. Fred Abe,
Thank you for your email.
I'm sorry for any confusion you seem to have concerning the ring. The procurement of the ring itself is incumbent upon you.
You may choose any metallic ring as long as it is generally round in shape, made of metal, and is at least three quarters of one inch in diameter (1.9 centimetres). While many members opt for a ring made of gold or silver, a simple stainless steel ring like the one in the photo I sent will suffice.
You will then be required to have your left nipple pierced to accomodate the Ring. The Ring is worn as shown in the photos that I sent to you.
I hope I have addressed any misunderstanding.
Remain blessed,
--
Father Hershey Barr
Our Lady of Perpetual Piercings Holy Church
18580 Roflmao Rd.
Evansville, IN 47747
From: fred abe
To: hersheybarr@xxxxxxxxxx.com
Date: Jan 27, 2006 4:22 PM
Subject: IS ME FRED
Dear Father Bar,
A very good day to you,thanks for writing me,also thanks for explaining to me the kind of ring you want me to wear on my left niple.
Please i will like you to send to me those pictures and form you sent to me earlier,sorry,i mistakenly deleted them when i was deleting some messages from my mail box.
Thanks for your care and understanding.Please if there is any thing else you want me to do you can make me know about it.I await to hear from you soon.
From: fred abe
To: hersheybarr@xxxxxxxxxx.com
Date: Jan 28, 2006 2:42 PM
Subject: URGENTLY IN NEED OF DOCUMENT TO SIGN/ FOUNDERS PICTURE
Dear Father Bar,
Good day to you, please i have completed the piercing of the ring on my left nipple, it was a very painful experience , please send me the picture of the founder and the document i have to sign, so that i can take a photograph,sign the document and send it back to you immediately, because i am urgently i need of your financial support . I must say i am very glad to have chosen a faith that is willing to help me out of my predicament. May God bless your soul. I await your reply soon.
From: fred abe
To: hersheybarr@xxxxxxxxxx.com
Date: Feb 15, 2006 5:10 PM
Subject: is me fred abe
Dear Father Bar,
sincere greathings to you,am so sorry that i have not been able to get to you for a long time now,this is because,i have been trying to make sure,i perform those things you asked me to do appropriatly.
I plead that after i must have sent back to you all what i have performed you and the church will give me the money.Please Father Bar i dont want all that am doing now to be in vain,please i need you to assist me get the money to stay alive .
kindly extend my greathings to the church.Thank you and God bless you.
Your sincerely,
Fred Abe.
From: Father Barr
To: fred abe
Date: Feb 16, 2006 6:37 AM
Subject: Is me Hershey Barr
Dear Mr. Fred Abe,
It's good to hear from you again. I hope you're hanging in there okay.
If everything is to the satisfaction of the donation committee, we will be in a position to assist you to the full amount you have requested. I must inform you however that the donation committee is very strict about the photo requirements. The photos must be very clear and clearly show everything that has been asked for. Normally this induction procedure is done in person. It is only because this would be impractical in your case, we are willing to accept photographic proof.
Can you give me a time line on when you will be ready to commence the induction process and when you will be submitting the photographic evidence?
May our Lord be with you always,
--
Father Hershey Barr
Our Lady of Perpetual Piercings Holy Church
18580 Roflmao Rd.
Evansville, IN 47747
From: Father Barr
To: fred abe
Date: Feb 24, 2006 6:45 AM
Subject: Is me Hershey Barr
Dear Mr. Fred Abe,
It's Father Hershey Barr. I was just wondering if you were okay as I haven't heard from you in quite some time now. Are you still interested in becoming a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Piercings Holy Church? I certainly hope that you are.
Please let me know if you are still okay or if you have changed your mind about becoming a member of the church.
I hope to hear from you soon. God bless.
--
Father Hershey Barr
Our Lady of Perpetual Piercings Holy Church
18580 Roflmao Rd.
Evansville, IN 47747
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