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These are real examples of many various types of scams that may arrive in your inbox.
NOTE: This document is a work in progress.
These types are probably the best known of all 419 scams.
In the following example, the scammer claims to be the son of the late former president of the country of Togo and needs your assistance (he doesn't explain why) in expatriating a box of cash ($15,000,000) in return for a percentage of the money.
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From:
Avis Eyadema
<aviseyadema04@gmail.com>
Subject: Help
Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2008 06:46:04 +0100
(01:46 EDT)
PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL
From:
Avis Eyadema,
Dear Sir,
This proposal may come to you as a big surprise, but I believe it is
only a day that people meet and become great friends and business
partners.
It's my pleasure writing you this mail, I am a Togolese by Nationality.
My name is AVIS EYADEMA, I am one of the numerous sons of Late
GNASSINGBE EYADEMA, with so many wife and children which am one of
them, former President of Togo who rule for 38 years and later was
succeeded by my half brother and the first son FAURE EYADEMA. Before my
father died he deposited huge amount of money in a security company
here in Accra, Capital city of Ghana.
Before my father died, he instructed and confined in me as his son
about his business and secrecy. As a matter of fact, my father gave me
some documents bearing the name of a Security company in Accra capital
city of Ghana, which he told me was the place he deposited huge amount
of money, Gold and Diamond when he was assigned for special duty.
Armed with this documents that my father gave to me, I flew to Accra ,
Ghana where I confirmed the documents. The Company showed me two sealed
trunk boxes with the inscription "FAMILY ARCHIVE" with my name being
used as the next of kin in the deposit form.
However, my father had earlier informed me that he cleverly packed the
Fifteen Million, Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars ( $15.5 Million ) in
one sealed trunk box the second box contains Gold and Diamond and told
the Company that they contain the works of art. This he did in order to
conceal the money from being detected.
Now with my father exit, I need a foreign partner with the image of God
in him who will assist me to receive this proceeds in abroad , and who
will equally not sidetrack me when this money get into his possession.
On completion of this transaction, I wish to offer you 25% of total sum
for your assistance,10% for unforeseen or miscellaneous and 65% for I
and my family and my family will also come over to your country for a
joint investment according to your directives.
I am here in Ghana because of a treat of my life by my half brother,
FAURE , the current President now, who is trying all means to
confiscate the funds from me after knowing that my late father made a
huge deposit with my name as his next of kin.
Contact me with the above mentioned information's if you know with can
work together for more details.
Yours truly,
Avis Eyadema.
Email me at : aviseyadema35@rocketmail.com
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Same idea in this next one with the scammer playing the role of the wife of the late Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat.
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From:
Mrs.SuhaTawil Arafat <mrs.suharafat@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: mrs.suhang@hotmail.com
Subject: Please expedite action
Date: 18 Jul 2008 05:06:57 -0400
Dear sir/madam,
I am Mrs. SUHA TAWIL ARAFAT, the wife of YASSER ARAFAT, the Palestinian
leader who died recently in Paris. Since his death and even prior to
the announcement, I have been thrown into a state ofantagonism,
confusion, humiliation, frustration and hopelessness by the present
leadership of the Palestinian Liberation Organization and the new Prime
Minister.
I have even been subjected to physical and psychological torture. As a
window that is so traumatized, I have lost confidence with everybody in
the country at the moment. You must have heard over the media reports
and the Internet on the discovery of some fund in my husband secret
bank account and companies and the allegations of some huge sums of
money deposited by my husband in my name of which I have
refuses to disclose or give up to the corrupt Palestine Government.
In fact the total sum allegedly discovered by the Government so far is
in the tune of about $6.5 Billion Dollars. And they are not relenting
on their effort to make me poor for life. As you know, the Muslim
community has no regards for woman, more importantly when the woman is
from a christian background,hence my desire for a foreign assistance.
I have deposited the sum of 22.5 million dollars with a Financial firm
in Europe whose name is withheld for now until we open communication. I
shall be grateful if you could receive this fund into your bank account
forsafe keeping and any Investment opportunity. This arrangement will
be known to you and I alone and all our correspondence should be
strictly on email alone because our government has tapped all
my lines and are monitoring all my moves.
In view of the above, if you are willing to assist for our mutual
benefits, we will have to negotiate on your Percentage share of the
$22.5,000,000 that will be kept in your position for a while and
invested in your name for my trust pending when my Daughter,Zahwa,will
come off age and takefull responsibility of her Family
Estate/inheritance.
Please note that this is a golden opportunity that comes once in life
time and more so, if you are honest, I am going to entrust more funds
in your care as this is one of the legacy we keep for our children.In
case you don't accept please do not let me out to the security
and international media as I am giving you this information
in total trust and confidence I will greatly appreciate if you accept
my proposal in good faith.
Please expedite action.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs. Suha Tawil Arafat.
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In the previous examples, the dead relatives are well known persons, but the deceased need not be as notable or even exist in real life, as demonstrated by this next e-mail from "George" who appears to be very confused about the spelling of his family name.
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From:
KOFU GEORGE <kofu.george@btinternet.com>
Reply-to: kofu.george@yahoo.com
Subject: From Master George Kufo
Date: 03/01/2010 04:05:37 AM (Mon, 1 Mar 2010
09:05:37 +0000 (GMT))
From Master George Kufo
Permit me to inform you of my desire of going into business
relationship with you. I got your contact from the International web
site directory.
I prayed over it and selected your name among other names due to it’s
esteeming nature and the recommendations given to me as a reputable and
trust worthy person I can do business with and by their recommendations
I must not hesitate to confide in you for this simple and sincere
business.
I am George Kofu the only Son of late Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell Kufo My
father was a very wealthy cocoa merchant in Abidjan, the economic
capital of Ivory Coast, before he was poisoned to death by his business
associates on one of their outing to discus on a business deal. When my
mother died on the 21st October 1998, my father took me special because
I am Motherless. Before the death of my father on 30th June 2006 in a
private hospital here in Abidjan
He secretly called me on his bedside and told me that he has a sum of
$15.5M (Fifteen Million, five hundred thousand United States dollars)
left in a suspense account with one of the Bank here in Abidjan, that
he used my name as his only Son for the next of kin in deposit of the
fund. My Father also explained to me that it was because of this wealth
and some huge amount of money his business associates supposed to
balance him from the deal they had, that was why he was poisoned to by
his business associates, that I should seek for a God fearing foreign
partner in a country of my choice where I will transfer this money and
use it for investment purpose, (such as real estate management).
Dear One I am honorably seeking your assistance in the following ways.
1) To provide a Bank account where this money would be transferred to.
2) To serve as the guardian of this since I am a Boy of 19 years.
Moreover, I am willing to offer you 20% of the sum as compensation for
effort input after the successful transfer of this fund to your
designate account overseas. If you are interested on this deal kindly
get back to me.
Thanks and God Bless.
Best regards.
Master George Kufo
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By the way, judging by the e-mails I receive, it seems that thousands of wealthy cocoa merchants in Ivory Coast are poisoned to death by their business associates every year.
Of course, there is no fortune to be shared but the scammer will supply an endless number of hurdles, all which will require your financial assistance to take care of. These "obstacles" range from paying some sort of legal or demmurage costs of a few thousand dollars to the hundreds of thousands of dollars required to purchase chemicals for washing the cash.
This next example is typical of the "dead foreigner" format. In this type of scam, the scammer plays the part of the lawyer or, in this case, the banker of the deceased and asks you to stand in as the next of kin to the deceased in order to claim the inheritance.
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From:
abdullahmoussa1@libero.it
<abdullahmoussa1@libero.it>
Subject: PLEASE YOUR URGENT REPLY IS
NEEDED FOR MORE DETAILS.
Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2008 07:32:59 +0200
(01:32 EDT)
Dear Friend,
I am the manager of auditing and accounting department of Bank of
Africa (B.O.A) here in ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. In my department we
discovered an abandoned sum of US$20.5m Dollars ( TWENTY MILLION FIVE
HUNDRED THOUSAND US DOMMARS) in an account that belongs to one of our
foreign customer ( MR. ANDREAS SCHRANNER From Munich, Germany) Who died
along with his entire family in jully 2000 in a plane crash for more
information about the crash you can visit this
site::(http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm)
Since we got information about his death, we have been expecting his
next of kin or relation to the deceased as indicated in our banking
guidlings and laws but unfortunately we learnt that all his supposed
next of kin or relation died alongside with him at plane crash leaving
nobody behind for the claim.
It is therefore upon this discovery that I decided to make this
business proposal to you and release the money to you as the next of
kin or relation to the deceased for safety and subsequent disbursement
since nobody is coming for it and we don't want this money to go into
the bank treasury as unclaimed bill.
Trusting to hear from you immediately for more explainations.
Mr. Abdullah Moussa
Yours Faithfully,
MANAGER.
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As always, you will be asked to pay the various "fees" that inevitably come up.
The next few examples follow popular formats. In these, the scammer plays the part of a wealthy person with no relatives worthy of receiving his or her fortune. You are asked to take the money and distribute it to various charities or churches and to put some aside for yourself.
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From:
Saeed Ahmed
<helpingsaeed@yahoo.com.my>
Reply-To: helpingsaeed@yahoo.com.my
Subject: Greetings to You
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:42:43 +0200
(SAST) (12:42 EDT)
Dear Friend,
As you read this, I dont want you to feel sorry for me, because, I
believe
everyone will die someday. My name is Saeed Ahmed a merchant in Dubai,
in
the U.A.E.I have been diagnosed with Esophageal cancer. It has defiled
all
forms of medical treatment, and right now I have only about a few months
to live, according to medical experts. I have not particularly lived my
life so well, as I never really cared for anyone(not even myself) but my
business.
Though I am very rich, I was never generous, I was always hostile to
people and only focused on my business as that was the only thing I
cared
for. But now I regret all this as I now know that there is more to life
than just wanting to have or make all the money in the world. I believe
when God gives me a second chance to come to this world I would live my
life a different way from how I have lived it.
Now that God has called me, I have willed and given most of my property
and assets to my immediate and extended family members as well as a few
close friends. I want God to be merciful to me and accept my soul so, I
have decided to give also to charity organizations, as I want this to be
one of the last good deeds I do on earth. So far, I have distributed
money
to some charity organizations in the U.A.E, Algeria and Malaysia. Now
that
my health has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do this myself anymore.
I once asked members of my family to close one of my accounts and
distribute the money which I have there to charity organization in
Bulgaria and Pakistan, they refused and kept the money to themselves.
Hence, I do not trust them anymore, as they seem not to be contended
with
what I have left for them.
The last of my money which no one knows of is the huge cash deposit of
twenty million dollars $20,000,000,00 that I have with a
finance/Security
Company abroad. I will want you to help me collect this deposit and
dispatched it to charity organizations. I have set aside 10% for your
time
and service.
Please reply me with honesty as soon as you receive this mail.
God be with you.
Saeed Ahmed.
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Incidentally, esophageal cancer that has "defiled all forms of medical treatment" seems to be a common ailment afflicting millions of wealthy merchants in Dubai.
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From:
Williams Gold
<williams_gold@ymail.com>
Reply-To: williamsgold@rocketmail.com
Subject: Hello dear,
Date: Fri, 19 Sep 2008 03:29:38 -0700
(PDT) (06:29 EDT)
I have a new email address!
You can now email me at: williams_gold@ymail.com
- Hello dear,This mail may meet you as a surprise but i have to start
by introducing myself to you,My name is Mr. Williams Gold,a merchant in
Dubai,Arab Emirate.I have been diagnosed with Cancer which was
discovered very late,due to my laxity in careing for my health.It has
defiled all forms of medicine,Right now I have only about a few months
to live,according to my Medical Doctor.I have not particularly lived my
life so well,as I never really cared for myself but the oil
business.Though I am very rich,I was never generous,I only focused on
my business as that was the only thing I cared for.But now I regret all
this as I now know that there is more to life than just wanting to have
or make all the money in the world.I believe when God gives me a second
chance and heal me I would live my life a different way from how I have
lived it.I have sowed a seed for my healing I have willed and given
most of my properties and assets to my immediate and extended family
members and as well as a few close friends.I want God to be merciful to
me and accept my soul and so,I have decided to give arms to charity
organizations and give succour and comfort to the less priviledged of
the Tsunami Victims,as I want this to be one of the last good deeds I
do on earth.So far,I have distributed money to some charity
organizations in India and Malaysia.Now that my health has deteriorated
so badly,I cannot do this my self anymore.I once asked members of my
family to close one of my accounts in Saudi Bank and distribute the
money which I have there to charity organization and to the less
priviledged in Bulgaria and Sudan Africa They cashed the money but kept
it only to themselves.Hence,I do not trust them anymore,as they seem
not to be contended with what I have left for them already.The last of
my money which no one knows of is the huge cash deposit of twenty two
million dollars that I have in the Vault of a Financial company in
europe for safe keeping.I want you to collect this deposit on my behalf
and disburse it to the Tsunami EarthQuake victims in Asia and hurrican
victms in America for the less priviledged.I will set aside 20% for you
for your time and efforts.I need your urgent reply so that I will not
have to go on sourcing for a credible person to handle this project.If
you are okey with the condition,do not hesitate to send me mail(} so
that i can furnish you up with all the informations needed.I wish to
hear from you soon.God bless you.Williams Gold.
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Here's another, slightly different example of this format featuring a woman claiming to be dying of an odd type of cancer.
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From:
Mrs Paricia Solomon
<pat_01solomon@yahoo.cn>
Reply-To:
patricia_solomonfamily@yahoo.com
Subject: DONATION FROM MRS PATRICIA
SOLOMON
Date: Tue, 16 Sep 2008 03:29:32 +0800
(CST) (Mon, 15:29 EDT)
Dearest One,
With Due Respect And Humanity, I was compelled to write to you under a
humanitarian ground.
My name is Patricia Solomon. My nationality is Poland, I am married to
Mr.John Solomon, director J.C Industries Cote d'Ivoire West Africa.We
were married for 36 years without a child. He died after a Cadiac
Arteries Operation.
And Recently, My Doctor told me that I would not last for the next six
months due to my cancer problem (cancer of the lever and stroke).
Before my husband died last year there is this sum $4.2 Million Dollars
that he deposited with one of the Bank here In Cote D'Ivoire. Presently
this money is still in the Bank.
Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to any good God
fearing brother or sister that will utilize this fund the way I am
going to instruct herein.
I want somebody that will use this fund according to the desire of my
late.husband to help Lessprivilaged people, orphanages,widows and
propagating the word of God.
I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit
this fund, And I don't want in away where this money will be used in an
unGodly way.
This is why I am taking this decision to hand you over this Fund.
I am not afraid of death hence I know where I am going.I want you to
always remember me in your daily prayers because of my up coming Cancer
Surgery.
Write back as soon as possible any delay in your reply will give me
room in sourcing another person for this same purpose, Hoping to read
from you asap.
God bless you as you listing to the voice of reasoning
Mrs.Patricia Solomon.
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I didn't know that a woman could get cancer of the lever.
The poor astronaut in this next one seems to have a problem that's out of this world.
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From:
Simon Timothy
<simontimothy30@sohu.com>
Reply-To: simontimothy@voila.fr
Subject: PLEASE CONTACT MY ATTORNEY FOR
MORE DETAILS.
Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:20:43 GMT
(08:20 EDT)
Hello
I pray that this email reaches you in the best of health. This letter
may come to you as a surprise due to the fact that we have not yet met.
The message could be strange but it's real and you will realise this if
you pay some attention to it. I want to notify you about it at least
for the sake of your integrity.
My name is Major Simon timothy, a direct and only remaining member of
the wealthy Timothy's family. I am an astronaut with the Burkina Faso
Air Force and on loan to the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA).
In 2003 I left earth aboard the Mars Rover, Spirit. Seven months later
I arrived on Mars. Prior to departing earth, I deposited the amount of
US$ 11,600,000 (Eleven million, six hundred thousand United States
dollars) in four safety galvanized boxes in a European financial
institution which will be disclosed to you upon your acceptance of my
proposal.
Last year, during the course of my research on Mars, I was ambushed by
a group of analdwelling rebel Martians who inflicted great torturous
pain upon my body with anal probes. After a few weeks of enduring the
physical pain, they released me. As a direct result of this cruelty, I
am now very ill with a ruptured uterus that has defiled all forms of
medical treatment and which has been deemed to be inoperable by my
Martian surgeons. I am writing this mail to you on a laptop from my
hospital bed in the Martian capitol of Zhwrong.
I now have but a few weeks to live and I am far too ill to endure the
long and arduous journey back to my Burkina Faso home. Therefore I have
decided to donate the bulk of my fortune to a church or charitable
organisation that will utilize this money in the manner which I shall
impart to you later. In return for your assistance, I shall authorise
you to keep 30% of this fund for your trouble and aggravation plus an
additional 10% to cover your expenses.
You should contact my attorney in Ouagadougou immediately with your
address and
Telephone number and he will give you his full contact information and
guidance so that we can make arrangements as soon as possible.
CONTACT ADDRESS OF THE
ATTORNEY.HON. BARRISTER AKPARA KADIOGO.OFAKPARA
CHAMBERS.TELPHONE: +22678235021
FAX: + (226) 50014470
E-MAIL: akparaassociatechambers2@yahoo.com
SINCERELY YOURS,
MAJOR SIMON TIMOTHY,
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
ELYSIUM VETERINARY INFIRMARY
ZHWRONG, MARS
NANO
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We'll now look at some examples of scams where the scammers have money that they have apparently already found or scammed from someone else.
In this one, the scammer claims to have diverted some funding which had been allocated to the 2010 World Cup event in South Africa.
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From:
Mr Graham Thebe
<graham.thebe@gmail.com>
Subject: Investments Proposal??
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 2008 07:39:30 -0700
(10:39 EDT)
FROM MR, GRAHAM THEBE
ENERGY BUILDING COMPLEX
21, BOTHA STREET,
P. O . BOX 7100
JOHANNESBURG SOUTH AFRICA
My name is Mr., Graham Thebe ,I am the financial director of the bid
committee that won the hosting right of the soccer world cup to be
hosted by South Africa in 2010 of which Mr. Danny Jordan is now the CEO
of the 2010 World Cup local organizing committee.
I was in charge of all monetary affairs of the bid committee, during
this period, I and the chief executive officer and the other members of
the committee has earmarked usd$250 m dollars with the consent of the
president (Mr.Thabo Mbeki, the sports ministry and other members of his
cabinet) for a golden hand shake to the members of FIFA executive and
the four CAF members from African sub region.
As I was fully in charge of monetary affairs and in control of the
disbursement to all the members of the 24 FIFA executive. I and my
assistant was able to keep USD $ 6.5m dollars aside for our selves,
which no one knows. After our successful presentation and subsequent
award by the FIFA president Sepp Blather to South Africa of the hosting
right on the 15th may 2004. I have to submit to the SAFA executive our
entire expenses book to enable them arrange for the (I.O.C.) and
dissolve the board (bid committee).
I now seek for your humble assistance to help me transfer this fund out
of South Africa into your account overseas. I have done a very good
documentation regarding its transfer to your nominated account in your
country.
This business has no risk involved, as no one knows about the fund.
Kindly reply through my e-mail, if you volunteer to assist me. I shall
send you my private telephone number for easy communication when I see
your willingness to assist. Do keep this proposal very secret and
confidential .I wait for your positive response soonest, send your
reply at mrgrahamthebe@yahoo.co.in
Best regards,
Mr., Graham Thebe. S.A
N.B. KINDLY STATE CLEARLY YOUR DIRECT FAX AND TELEPHONE NUMBER FOR
SWIFT EXCHANGE OF NEEDED INFORMATION.
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That's not someone I'd want to do business with.
Next, we have an e-mail from someone claiming to be a banker who simply "found" $2.4 million dollars in his bank that no one knows exists.
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From:
Mohammed Sule
<mohd_sule2003@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: ffank1956@yahoo.com
Subject: Re:Investment Opportuinity
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:22:25 +0000
(GMT) (12:22 EDT)
DEAR SIR,
MY NAME IS MOHAMMED SULE, AM THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF
INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK OF GHANA TAKORADI
BRANCH.I GOT YOUR CONTACT DURING A BANK CONFERENCE
THAT WAS HELD IN LONDON.
I AM A MAN OF PEACE, MARRIED WITH TWO LOVELY KIDS.I
NEVER WANT PROBLEMS IN MY LIFE,IT WAS BECAUSE OF MY
PRESENT FINANCIAL SITUATION THAT I HAVE PLANNED TO
UTILIZE THIS OPPORTUNITY THAT CAME MY WAY AND I ONLY
HOPE YOU CAN ASSIST ME AND NOT PERSECUTE ME.IF YOU DO
NOT WANT THIS PROPOSAL CAN YOU KINDLY FORGET THAT I
EVER CONTACTED YOU.I WILL BE GLAD YOU DID FOR THE SAKE
OF MY JOB AND FAMILY.
I HAVE PACKAGED A FINANCIAL TRANSACTION THAT WILL
BENEFIT YOU AND I.AS THE REGIONAL MANAGER OF
INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK IT IS MY DUTY TO SEND IN
A FINANCIAL REPORT TO MY HEAD OFFICE IN THE CAPITAL
CITY OF ACCRA AT TH END OF EACH BUSINESS/FINANCIAL
YEAR.ON THE COURSE OF LAST YEAR 2003 BUSINESS REPORT,I
DISCOVERED THAT MY BRANCH IN WHICH I AM THE MANAGER
MADE ($2,400,000,00)TWO MILLION FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND
UNITED STATES DOLLARS WHICH MY HEAD OFFICE IS NOT
AWARE OF AND WILL NEVER BE AWARE OF AND I HAVE PLACED
THIS FUNDS IN WHAT WE CALL ESCROW CALL ACCOUNT WITH NO
BENEFICIARY.
HOWEVER AS AN OFFICER OF THE BANK I CANNOT BE DIRECTLY
CONNECTED TO THIS MONEY,SO MY AIM OF CONTACTING YOU IS
TO ASSIST ME RECEIVE THIS MONEY IN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT
AND GET 30% OF THE TOTAL FUNDS AS COMMISSION.THERE IS
PRACTICALLY NO RISK INVOLVED AS IT WILL BE A BANK TO
BANK TRANSFER.WHAT I WANT FROM YOU IS TO STAND AS THE
ORIGINAL DEPOSITOR OF THIS FUNDS WHO MADE THE DEPOSIT
WITH MY BRANCH SO MY HEAD OFFICE CAN ORDER THE
TRANSFER TO YOUR DESIGNATED BANK ACCOUNT CO-ORDINATES.
MOREOVER IF YOU ACCEPT TO WORK WITH ME I WILL
APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH, SEND ME AN EMAIL IF YOU THINK
WE CAN WORK TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN GO OVER THE
DETAILS AND I CAN SEND YOU THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS AS
REGARDS THIS VERY TRANSACTION.THANK YOU VERY MUCH IN
ADVANCE AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
BEST REGARDS
MOHAMMED SULE
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Often, the scammer will claim to be in a position to over-invoice customers and pocket the difference, then ask you for assistance in getting this money out of the country.
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From:
devon nero
<d.nero207@gmail.com>
Subject: urgent reply needed
Date: Sat, 19 Jul 2008 11:09:43 -0700
(14:09 EDT)
Dear.
This letter may come to you as a surprise since it is
coming from someone you have not met before. However,
we decided to contact you based on a satisfactory
information we had about you.I am a Medical Doctor
currently working with the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF).
I and some of my close and trusted colleagues need
your assistance in the transfer of US$21.8 million
into any reliable Account you may nominate
overseas.This fund was generated from over-invoicing
of contracts executed by the PTF under our control and
supervision. This fund is now ready to be remitted
into any Account we put forward for that purpose. What
we want from you is a good and reliable company or
personal Account into which we shall transfer this
fund. Details should include the following:1. Name of
Company, Address?& Your Private Telephone?& Fax
Number. 2. Name of Bank & Address of Bank .3. Account
Number 4. Beneficiary Name Upon receipt of your
company?& bank particulars, an application shall be
made in your name to the Central Bank of Nigeria for
the approval of the remittance of the funds which
shall be by SWIFT (Telegraphic transfer) copies of the
approval and other relevant documents shall be faxed
to you for your perusal.please treat as strictly
confidential for obvious reasons. The fund will be
shared as follows:1. 30% for your assistance 2. 60%
for myself & my Colleagues 3. 10% for contingency
expenses We wish to assure you that your involvement
should you decide to assist us, will be well
protected, and also, this business, proposal is 100%
risk free as the remittance will be made through the
legal procedures.Note: your discussions regarding this
transaction should be limited because we are still in
government service. We intend to retire peacefully at
the end of this transaction. Let honesty and trust be
our watchword throughout this transaction and your
prompt reply will be highly appreciated.Thank you for
your anticipated cooperation while we look forward to
a mutually benefiting business relationship with you.
Best Regards.
DR CLARAVEIN.
NOTE-please you can contact me through the following
email d.nero207@yahoo.com
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This next one was unique and absurd enough that I thought I'd add it. Here, a "hunter" claims to have been in the forest checking his traps when he discovered a crying girl with a box of money. He's willing to give you this box of money if you first send him $200 to cover his taxi fare and the (now deceased) girl's hospital fees.
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From:
Michael Okiri <mikeokiri@gmail.com>
Reply-to: mikeokiri@gmail.com
Subject: YOUR DAUGHTER
Date: 03/01/2010 10:35:36 AM (Mon, 1 Mar 2010
21:35:36 +0600)
Good Day,
Am a local hunter here in Accra, Ghana and me want to contact you
because
of what happened early this morning when i was going to check animal
trap
me set in bush and me hear somebody crying far inside the bush. Sorry
forget to tell you name, my name is Michael Okiri and me have a family
here in Accra.
When i got to were the person was crying me found out it was a
girl that
have being rapped by some bad people who were inside the same car with
her. I had to take a taxi and she told me she was coming from Cote
d'Ivoire to go and pick up her consignment box up in a bush inside Togo,
i took the taxi and we got there to carry the box. On our way back the
girl was unable to stand the bleeding before we reach town and when i
got
to the hospital the girl died in the hospital.
I carry the box now to a safe place and when we were going to the
hospital the girl told me about you to be her father, now I have carried
the box and hidden it somewhere safe because I know it belongs to you
and
her. Please let me know how I can send the consignment box to you or if
you have somebody here in Ghana whom i can give it to please tell me to
give it to the person.
But before I will give the consignment box to you or anyone you
have to
pay me my $200 I used for the Taxi and paid in the hospital for deposit
then i give you your box because it belong to you and your daughter.
Thank You
Michael Okiri
|
Surely, even the most gullible of people won't fall for that wacky story.
The soldier / contract worker in Iraq format has become popular in recent years and involves Saddam's money that had been stashed in some of the most unlikely of places.
|
From: mike williams <williamsmike75@rocketmail.com>
Reply-To: sgtmikewilliams@gmail.com
Subject: Sgt Mike Williams
Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2009 11:31:35 -0800 (PST) (14:31 EST)
I have a new email address!
You can now email me at: williamsmike75@rocketmail.com
-
My name is Sgt.Mike Williams; I am an American soldier with Swiss
background, serving in the military with the armyʼs 3rd infantry
division. With a very desperate need for assistance, I have summed up
courage to contact you. I found your contact particulars in an address
journal. I am seeking your kind assistance to move the sum of
(US$14,600,000.000) Fourteen Million Six Hundred Thousand United States
Dollars to you, as far as I can be assured that my share will be safe
in your care until I complete my service here, this is no stolen money,
and there is no danger involved.Source of money: Some money in various
currencies was discovered in barrels at a farmhouse near one of
Saddamʼs old palaces in Tikrit-Iraq during a rescue operation, and it
was agreed by staff Sgt Kenneth buff and I that some part of this money
be shared among both of us before informing anybody about it since both
of us saw the money first. This was quite an illegal thing to do, but I
tell you what? No compensation can make up for the risk we have taken
with our lives in this hellhole. Of which a roadside bomb killed my
brother in-law last week. You will find the story of this money on the
web address below; http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2988455.stm
The above figure was given to me as my share, and to conceal this kind
of money became a problem for me, so with the help of a British contact
working here and his office enjoy some immunity, I was able to get the
package out to a safe location entirely out of trouble spot. He does
not know the real contents of the package, and believes that it belongs
to a British / American medical doctor who died in a raid here in Iraq,
and before giving up, trusted me to hand over the package to his family
in united states. I have now found a much-secured way of getting the
package out of Iraq to your country for you to pick up, and I will
discuss this with you when I am sure that you are willing to assist me.
I want you to tell me how much you will take from this money for the
assistance you will give to me. One passionate appeal I will make to
you is not to discuss this matter with anybody, should you have reasons
to reject this offer, please and please destroy this message as any
leakage of this information will be too bad for us soldierʼs here in
Iraq. I do not know how long we will remain here, and I have been shot,
wounded and survived two suicide bomb attacks by the special grace of
God, this and other reasons I will mention later has prompted me to
reach out for help, I honestly want this matter to be resolved
immediately, please contact me as soon as possible my only way of
communication email.God Bless mike williams
|
It's worth mentioning that the number of soldiers in Iraq who have found Saddam's money stashed in barrels at farmhouses now rivals the number of wealthy cocoa merchants in Ivory Coast who are poisoned by their business partners and closing quickly on the number of wealthy merchants in Dubai who are suffering from esophageal cancer which has defiled all forms of medicine.
One more variant worth mentioning is the "Accidentally Sent E-mail". In the scammer's e-mail, he pretends to believe that he is communicating with a former associate but unwittingly sent the e-mail to you instead. He claims to want to send you a sum of money for your trouble stemming from a previous deal that had gone sour. The scammer asks you to contact his representative (lawyer, secretary, pastor, or whatever) and ask him to send you the funds. He then extricates his character from the scam, leaving you to think that you can con some money from his "representative".
|
From:
williams bob
<williamsbob4@pravda.ru>
Subject: GOOD NEWS
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 2008 08:54:15 +0200
(02:54 EDT)
GOOD NEWS
FROM MR HENRRY MARK MY DEAREST FRIEND,
WITH GREAT GRATITUDE TO YOUR EFFORTS, I AM INFORMING YOU THAT
I HAVE FINALLY SUCCEEDED IN TRANSFERRING THE FIFTEEN MILLION UNITED
STATES DOLLARS TO THE BANK IN ITALY,WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF A PARAGUAY
FRIEND,
WHOM BASED ON AGREEMENT,HE RECEIVED 25% OF THE ENTIRE MONEY FOR HIS
FINANCIAL INVOLVEMENT AND EFFORTS. PRESENTLY I HAVE
RELOCATED TO SOUTH KOREA, TO ESTABLISH THE ELECTRONIC COMPANY PROJECTS
WITH MY OWN SHARE AS I HAVE EARLIER
PROPOSED. NEVERTHELESS, I
CANNOT FORGET YOU,
ESPECIALLY YOUR HONEST EFFORTS, THOUGH IT DID NOT YIELD
POSITIVE FRUIT,BUT I STILL APPRECIATE IT, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, MEAN WHILE I HAVE A
SUPRISE PACKAGE FOR YOU, NOW CONTACT MY SECRETARY IN MY COUNTRY (BENIN
REPUBLIC) HIS NAME
IS
WilliamsBob PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU CONTACT HIM DIRECT
WHITH THIS PHONE NUMBER: +229-97850566 EMAIL
ADDRESS WILLIAMSBOB@HOTMAIL.FR
AND ASK HIM TO SEND YOU THE TOTAL OF $800.000.00, US DOLLAR
TO YOU WHICH I KEPT FOR YOUR COMPENSATION, I HAVE
INSTRUCTED HIM TO DIRECT YOU ON HOW YOU WOULD RECEIVE THE SUM OF EIGHT
HUNDRED THOUNSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS IN A CASHIER CHEQUE WHICH I SET
OUT FOR YOUR CPROJECTS, SO FEEL FREE AND
GET IN TOUCH WITH WilliamsBob
I REMAIN YOUR BOSOM FRIEND,
OMPENSATION, PLEASE I WANT YOU TO ACCEPT
IT IN GOOD FAITH. I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL YOU DID AND I PRAY THAT WE
WOULD MEET SOMEDAY,
BUT RIGHT NOW, I AM VERY BUSY IN ESTABLISHING THE ELECTRONIC
COMPANY BEST REGARD,
MR HENRRY MARK
|
Those have been examples of the best known types of 419 scams. While the various types differ from one another in premise, they all result in the scammer asking for various and escalating "fees" from the victim until the victim either discovers the truth or runs out of money.
While lottery/grant scams are not the first ones that come to mind when discussing 419 scams, they've become extremely popular in recent years.
Lottery scammers are after the quick money and this kind of scam is pretty straight forward. They generally don't plan on putting on an elaborate show to get huge amounts of cash. Rather, they demand fairly small amounts of money to cover fees, then they usually just stop communicating with you. They're content with conning just a few hundred dollars from each of a relatively high number of victims.
In this example, the scammer claims to be a representative of a real lottery organization:
|
From:
EURO MILLIONS LOTTERY
<eumillions@universia.pt>
Reply-To:
richardkerry04claimagent@yahoo.co.uk
Subject: Your E-mail Address Won
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2008 10:22:29 +0100
(WEST) (05:22 EDT)
EURO MILLIONS INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY PROMOTION
PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT.
REFERENCE: EML / IPP/1555002244/05
BATCH: ES34/044/ ILP /SL
RE: WINNING NOTIFICATION / FINAL NOTICE
Dear Lottery Winner,
We wish to congratulate you over your email success in our computer
balloting held on 16th July 2008.This is a Millennium Scientific
Computer Game in which email addresses were used. It is a promotional
program aimed at encouraging internet users; therefore you do not need
to buy ticket to enter for it. You have been approve for the star prize
of 600,000:00 Euros. (Six Hundred Thousand Euros Only).
Your =E-mail address attached to Serial Number 22221415366-609 with
Lucky Star Numbers 03 44 04, Winning Number 04 05 23 25 28 which
=consequently won in the 6th category, you have therefore been approved
for a = lump sum pay out of 600,000.00 Euros. (Six Hundred Thousand
Euros Only).
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
DO KEEP IT CONFIDENTIAL.
This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and
unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants.
All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn
from over 100,000 company and 50,000,000 individual email =addresses
and names from all over the world. This lottery was promoted and
=Sponsored by Sultan of Brunei, Bill Gates of Microsoft Inc,Shell
Oil.Company With the support of European corporate companies and
organizations to encourage the use of Internet and computers worldwide.
To claim your winning prize you are to contact the appointed
claim agent as soon as possible for the immediate release of your
winnings with your VERIFICATION FORM information below:
MR. RICHARD KERRY
CONTACT CLAIMS AGENT ON
TELEPHONE:+447035905364
Email:claimdepartmento@yahoo.com
emillionsoffice@yahoo.com
Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than TWO WEEKS, after
this date all unclaimed funds will be included in the next stake.
Please note in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications
please remember to quote your reference Number and Batch Numbers in all
correspondence.
Congratulations once more!! !!! !!!! !!!!!.
Congratulations once more!! !!! !!!! !!!!!.
VWD is an accredited member of the UK's Lotteries Council and conforms
to their Code of Conduct.
REMEMBER, YOU HAVE TO CONTACT YOUR CLAIM AGENT WITH YOUR VERIFICATION
FORM BELOW TO ENABLE HIM PROCESS YOUR PRIZE MONEY
IMMEDIATELY.
VERIFICATION FORM
1. FULL NAMES:
2. ADDRESS:
3. SEX:
4. AGE:
5. MARITAL STATUS:
6. OCCUPATION:
7. NATIONALITY:
8. TELEPHONE NUMBER:
9. COUNTRY:
10. SERIAL NUMBER:/LUCKY STAR NUMBER
11. WINNING NUMBER:
12. REF NUMBER:
13. BATCH NUMBER:
14. AMOUNT WON:
15. CATEGORY:
NOTE :THAT NOBODY OR EVEN THE PAYING BANK HAS THE RIGHT TO TOUCH,
DEDUCT/CUT OR GET ACCESS TO YOUR PRIZE MONEY FOR ANY REASON THEY HAVE
BEEN WARNED STRICTLY!.
Sincerely yours,
Dr. Mark Willis
Lottery Coordinator.
|
Just as often, the scammer will simply invent a lottery:
|
From:
microsoft word 2008
<micro_alert12@earthlink.net>
Reply-To: microsoft word 2008
<microsoftwordclaimsunit1@gmail.com>
Subject: Congratulations!!!You have won
the Microsoft Annual Lottery 2008
Date: Sat, 19 Jul 2008 05:58:44 +0100
(GMT+01:00) (00:58 EDT)
Microsoft Award Team
20 Craven Park, Harlesden
London NW10,United Kingdom.
REF NO: MSW-L/200-334841
BATCH: 2008MJL-01
ELECTRONIC MAIL AWARD WINNING NOTIFICATION
We are pleased to inform you
of the announcement today of winners
of the MICROSOFT WORD E-MAIL MEGA JACKPOT LOTTERY PROGRAMS
held on
1st JUNE 2008. Your company or your personal e-mail address is
attached to winning number 5-1JUNE-2008-02 MSW, with serial
number S/N-00179 drew the lucky numbers 887-13-865-37-10-83,
and
consequently won in the first lottery category. You have therefore
been approved for a lump sum pay of GBP 1,000,000.00POUNDS
credited to
file REF NO: MSW-L/200-334841 This is from total prize money
of GBP
7,000,000.00 POUNDS, shared among the SEVEN (7) international
winners
in this category.
All participants were selected through our Microsoft computer
ballot system drawn form 21,000 names, 3,000 names from each
continent, as part of International "E-MAIL" Promotions
Program, which
is conducted once in every four years for our prominent MS
WORD users
all over the world, and for the continue use of E-mail.
Your fund has been deposited in an escrow account with our
affiliate bank here in UK, and insured with your REF NO:
MSW-L/200-334841 and your E-mail address, Please note that, you are to
contact your fiduciary agent via email as we are promoting
the use of
E-mail,You have the right to call the fiduciary agent, as they will
provide you with the necessary details on how to claim your
prize. You
are to keep your ref. number and batch number from the
public, until
you have been processed and your money remitted to you.
We hope with your prize,you will be happy to promote the use
of
E-mail and the use of MS WORD. To claim your winning prize,
you must
first contact the claims department by email for processing
and
remittance of your prize money to you. Your assigned claims
officer ,please do
reply
to the email address below.
contact email is:
Mr.Joe Harrison
Microsoft Promotion Award Team
Head Winning Claims Dept
E-mail Address:microsoftwordclaimsunit1@gmail.com
He is to help you in claiming your due prize. Remember, all prize
money must be claimed as soon as possible. All funds not
claimed will
be penalized accordingly.
NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please
remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in all
correspondences with your claims officer.
Sincerely,
Mr.Howard Douglas
For MS WORD LOTTO UK.
Any winner below the age of 18years is automatically
disqualified
NOTE: Do not reply this mail. You are to contact your claims
officer
immediately.
SPONSORS:
CHIEF SPONSOR;MICROSOFT CO-OPERATIONS UK
|
Now, you're surely wondering how anyone could possibly fall for an e-mail claiming that a piece of software could have its own lottery that no one need enter to win and that a company like Microsoft would announce the winning using a free Earthlink e-mail account and request a reply via a free Gmail account.
A close cousin to the lottery scam is the grant scam. In this one, you have been chosen (for no apparent reason) to receive a cash grant of £450,000.00 for your use to "alleviate poverty across the globe" and/or for your own personal use, if you so choose.
|
From:
SHELL FOUNDATION
<shellgrant03@gmail.com>
Reply-To: shellfinance.dpt@gmail.com
Subject: NOTICE OF GRANT AWARD
(Congratulations you are a winner)
Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2008 10:24:30 +0100
(05:24 EDT)
SHELL PETROLEUM FOUNDATION INTERNATIONAL
Shell Centre LONDON SE1 7NA United Kingdom
Ref: PBL/CN/6654/CP.
Coupon No.PBL2348974321
MOTTO: STRIVING TO ALLEVIATE POVERTY ACROSS THE GLOBE!
ATTN:
NOTICE OF GRANT AWARD
The Shell Petroleum Foundation United Kingdom,is glad to notify you
that you have been chosen by the board of trustees and after series of
secret deliberations selected you as one of the final recipients of a
cashGrant/Donation for your own personal, alleviate poverty across the
globe,and business development.This program has been conceived with
the objective of human growth,alleviate poverty across the
globe,educational,and community development,whichis a measure to
universal development strategy.These grants are issued every year
around the world in accordance with the objective of the
ShellPetroleum Foundation International to alleviate poverty across
the globe.Kindly note that you will only be chosen to receive the
donation once,which means that subsequent yearly donation will not get
to you again.Take
time and thought in spending the donation wisely on a project that
will stand the test of time.
You were selected among the lucky recipients to receive the award sum
of £450,000.00 GB Pounds ( Four undred and Fifty Thousand Great
britain Pounds Sterlings) as charity donations/Grant from the Shell
Petroleum Foundation Kingdom in accordance with the enabling act of
Parliament.
You will be required to contact our Finance Officer below for
documentation and processing of the remittance of your grant.Please
endeavor to quote your Qualification numbers (G8-222-6747,EU -900-56)
in all correspondence.
===========================================
SEND ALL YOUR CLAIMS AND INQUIRIES TO
Mr.James Garry
Financial Officer,
Shell Foundation.
Email:shellfinance.dpt@gmail.com
Tel: +44704 572 3670
+44702 402 1157
Fax:+44-8719002361
===========================================
All information is strictly confidential and will only be used for the
purpose to which it isn been equested.Finally, all funds should be
claimed by their respective beneficiaries, no later than 21 days after
notification.Failure to do so will result to outright cancellation.
Sponsor: The Shell Petroleum Foundation International,Yahoo
icoropation,Mircosoft Coropration and Emirates Airlines.On behalf of
the Board kindly,accept our warmest congratulations.
Regards.
Mr DAVID WEST
Deputy Director / Grants Co-ordinator
Shell Petroleum Foundation International
WARNING!
***********
ANY MAIL RECIEVED OF THIS SUCH WITH ANY OTHER TRADE MARK OR ADDRESS
SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THIS BOX IMMEDIATELY, THIS WILL HELP US TO
FIGHT SCAM AND LOTTERY IMPOSTERS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ANTICIPATED CO-OPERATION. OR SENT TO THIS FRAUD
ALERT EMAIL :
***********************************************************************
Copyright 1999-2008 The Shell Petroleum Foundation
International Inc Nation Wide.All rights reserved.
Terms of Service - Guideline 77653476578.
|
Yes, £450,000.00 should be enough to alleviate poverty across the globe.
This next one is another twist on the lottery scam format, the U.S. work visa lottery. This one is fairly unique in that it actually details the fees that the victim will be required to pay in order to claim his/her free prize (which doesn't even exist).
|
From:
uniairtw@libero.it
<uniairtw@libero.it>
Subject: NOTIFICATION LOTTERY U.N AIR
Date: Sun, 31 Aug 2008 15:30:53 +0200
(09:30 EDT)
The Official Lottery U.N Air Program
United States Department of State, National VISA Center
32 Rochester Ave, Portsmouth, NH 03801-2909
http://www.uniair.com.tw
American Lottery
Live and Work in USA Congratulations From Uni Air Airline
Case Number: SfVPh700IU#
Dear winner,
Congratulations ! ! You have been selected as one of the lucky winners
on our internet screening machine,DV-2007-2008 USA national visa
lottery program.
It is our pleasure to congratulate you on your success in the America
DV-2007-2008 VISA
LOTTERY UNIAIR which was applied and processed by our immigration
service. Your visa lottery winner's identity is ID-GRN777#4200DV# case
number is SfVPh700IU# . In this respect,you are implored to forward the
following requirements for further correspondence:
(a) Your present contact address(for correspondent).
.
Your visa type permits you to travel with your family should you wish
to. Your visa duration is 10 years multiple entry to the U.S,it is
renewable upon expiration and it
permits you to work, study and own properties in the US .
All the selected lucky winners will need to act on their visa claims
application quickly before the expiration of the visa claim deadline
10-9-2008)
Your visa details falls within our Asia/pacific booklet representative
office as indicated in the draw system, do contact our Asia/pacific
Agent for your visa form and requirements with the below contact
details;
Soi 69 sukumvit Bangkok Thailand
Hotline +66-890538190
fax line 662-253-5643
Name Mr peter moon
Email: petermoon@alex4all.com
Email: contact-agent@mailpanda.com
(c) Clearance/processing The fee is $1019 per single or $1719
per family i.e. legally married couple or applicant traveling with a
family
Benefits.
Winners will get FREE Airline Ticket to the USA.
To participate in the Uni Air Lottery, you must satisfy General
Requirements and Education/Training Requirements. Both are described
below.
A short statement explaining how you satisfy this exception must be
included on your application.
Education/Training Requirements
To enter, an applicant must have EITHER:
A high school education or its equivalent, defined in the US as
successful completion of a 12-year course of elementary and secondary
education, OR
* 2 years of work
experience within the past 5 years in an occupation requiring at least
2 years of training or experience to perform.
*
Please retain this letter and take it with you to your visa interview
centre when directed for the issuance of your visa.
Do not reply back to this notification email (busy)
Please read and follow all the enclosed instructions very carefully.
Sincerely yours,
Mrs. Dorothy Smith.
Online Co-ordinator
Policy
According to the united states code of conduct and constitution
Vol.176/866 :Act 690SN guiding all immigration, unair permit agencies
if non-response after 14days on receiving this notification, your
winner's status shall reveal no interest and we would inresponse refer
your lottery winning code and acknowledgement card back to the USA
government/immigration service center
|
Fake Job Offer scams have also become popular in recent years. There are two very different types of job offer scams.
The first type works in the same way that most other 419 scams do. That is, you are offered something of value in return for a fee. The "job" in these scams is typically within either the service sector or the petroleum industry. The fake job is always in another country (travel required) and is aimed at victims in poorer parts of the world, people who would consider relocating to a first world nation to be desirable.
The following is a very typical example of this scam e-mail.
|
From:
OMNI HOTELS CANADA
<caomnihotels@yahoo.ca>
Reply-To: caomnihotels@yahoo.ca
Subject: 2008 JOB VACANCY IN CANADA
Date: Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:11:31 -0700
(PDT) (11:11 EDT)
1050 Sherbrooke Street Quest
Montreal, H3A 2R6 CA
Email : caomihotels@yahoo.ca
Toll Free Reservations 1.510.OMNI
Fax: 1 (510) -225-0748
Omni Hotels Montreal Canada
Celebrity Hotel Lines
Training and Employing For Greater Tomorrow
Hotel Services
This is from the Omni hotels management board. The Omni hotel
management needs workers both male and female whom are to be employed
to work in our hotel in Canada and USA.
The Hotel Management will pay for your flight ticket and provide an
accommodation for you. You shall be given 3 years
work permit sealed visa on your international passport through Canada
immigration bureau Vancouver. So if you are interested to work in our
hotel, kindly write back to me and send below requirement needed for
work application to me as soon as possible. As soon as i receive your
application and below needed requirement, Omni Hotels director shall
prepare and approve your offer of appointment after due verification
and confirmation of your CV and international passport.
SEND BELOW DOCUMENT AND
INFORMATION TO ME NOW VIA
THIS EMAIL CONTACT ONLY :
caomihotels@yahoo.ca
1)Your CV/resume.
2)One size passport photograph recently taken
3)Your Scanned Valid international Traveling passport.
4)Your Country of residence at present
Warning:Failure to send his or her document and information needed for
application to the above/below given email address only will not be
selected and qualified. The earlier the better, spaces for vacancies
get limited day by day.
Thanks,
Mrs Kristin Middleton
Hotel Manager
Omni Mont Royal Hotel Canada
Email contact: caomnihotels@yahoo.ca
|
In a scam like the example given above, the victim would be required to pay the scammer in advance for non-existent work visas, permits, and other silly fees. As the victim would eventually figure out, there is no job, no work visa, etc.
Another example:
|
From:
Henry Eze
<henryeze86@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: henryeze86@yahoo.co.uk
Subject: Sea Petroleum and Gas Group of
Companies Ltd
Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2008 05:16:25 +0000
(GMT) (01:16 EDT)
Hello,
SEA PETROLEUM GROUP OF COMPANIES LTD
INFORMATION OF VACANCY
We are writing to inquire if you are qualify to work in the field of
oil refinery (located in different part of the world) in the following
areas:
Petrochemical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical
Engineering, Electrical/Electronics Engineering, Industrial Chemistry,
Industrial Physics, accountant, business management, securities and
other related course
SEA PETROLEUM GROUP OF COMPANIES LTD,
is looking for chargeable and determined personels with the
above qualification to apply if interested for the various positions.
It is available for qualified person in any part of the world.
In other to apply for the various positions candidate should respond
back.
Other information will be given to you later.
Thanks
|
Okay. On to the second type of job scam.
This type of job scam is much more dangerous than other typical 419 scams. Many people have been financially ruined in a very short amount of time with this scam as the scammer can easily convince the victim to send large sums of money that he or she does not actually have.
Let's look at a typical example of this type of scam.
|
From:
bright
<brightmacos@aol.com>
Reply-To: brightmacos@aol.com
Subject: :- JOB OFFER WORK AT HOME EARN
$2000 PER WEEK :-
Date: Sat, 19 Jul 2008 05:31:35 +0900
(Fri, 16:31 EDT)
Dear Sir/ Ma
I'm the C.E.O of B & M Textiles. We'd like to offer you
additional earnings $2000 - $8000 per month. It's easy and will not
take a lot of time. No costs, No Investments, Work Part Time or Full
Time. Up to $2000 Part Time and $8000 Full Time. Work from Home with a
Business Opportunity that no job could ever offer. Use your own
computer to make money and make a CAREER as your own boss. I would like
to know if you are interested. Work will consist of receiving of the
payments from our clients in USA and Canada. All you would be doing is
receiving these payments that would come to you via the mail system in
your country, have
them cashed and remit the rest to me. I would be willing to
pay you 10% of whatever payment you process. These payments would come
indifferent forms.
We are always facing serious difficulties when it comes to selling our
products to Americans; they are always offering to pay with Different
Modes, which are difficult for me to cash here in the UK. Because of a
hold of almost three weeks that would be placed on them before they
clears the banks here in the UK.
Unfortunately we can't open the bank accounts in all the countries we
work with and because of that we seek for a representative/bookkeeper
in USA and Canada.Respond only if you will like to work from home
part-time/full time and get paid weekly without leaving or it affecting
your present job. (PAY IS GOOD)If interested please reply with the
information below to
Email:brightmacos@aol.com
EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION FORM
FULL NAME...............
ADDRESS (P.O Box Not Accepted)...........
CITY.....STATE....ZIP CODE....
PHONE ....... CELL PHONE...........
EMAIL ADDRESS........
AGE...................
SEX.............
BANK NAME ..............
BRIEF WORK EXPERIENCE ...............
PRESENT OCCUPATION ................
DO YOU HAVE EQUITY LINE OF CREDIT ACCOUNT? YES OR NO....
ART HOME ARTS AND CRAFTS
21-23 NICOLE STREET
SHOREDITCH
LONDON
WG2B 6TD
Tel: +44031962604
|
This job looks like an easy way to earn money. You simply collect checks and money orders from your employer that land in your mailbox, cash them at your bank, skim 10% of the value of the checks off the top for yourself, and wire the remaining money back to your employer.
As we can see, this scam is targeted at victims in the U.S. and Canada. There's a reason for this. Bank customers in these two countries (there are a few others as well) are able to access the funds from checks long before the checks have actually cleared.
The problem is that the checks and/or money orders that are sent to the victim are worthless. They are documents that are either stolen and altered or forged outright.
It's quite normal for two weeks or more to pass from the time a check is deposited or cashed to the time it actually clears. This type of scammer takes advantage of that lag time by demanding that the victim wire back the money immediately. By the time the first checks begin to bounce, the victim of this scam has likely already cashed many of these worthless checks, possibly as much as $100,000 in bad checks, and has wired most of the money back to the scammer.
The bank, which has advanced the money to cover these checks eventually receives word that the checks are fraudulent and goes after the victim to cover these amounts. In addition, the victim may be looking at criminal fraud charges (for cashing fraudulent checks and/or money orders), particularly if he or she is unable to cover the amount of money at issue.
Now you can see why the counterfeit check scheme is so dangerous. It can cost you not only money that you have, it can cost you money that you don't have as well, not to mention your freedom. And while a moderately successful 419 scammer in Lagos can take a year or more to scam a six figure sum the old-fashioned way, a counterfeit check scammer can accomplish that same feat in a matter of days with just a single victim.
There are other kinds of scams that employ counterfeit check fraud as well. I'll cover some of those later but first, let's look at another example of this type of fake job scam. This one appears to be functionally similar to the previous but there's a significant twist. Can you spot the difference?
|
From:
UK Dell Store
<dellsmallstores@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: dellsmallstores@yahoo.co.uk
Subject: Become A Dell Agent And Earn
More!!!
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2008 22:05:13 -0400
(EDT)
Employment Offer
Dear Sir/Madam,
Would you like to work online from home and get paid weekly?
Yes! You can work online from home and get paid weekly.
Dell Small Business Store. is committed to global citizenship by
operating in a responsible and sustainable manner around the globe. As
part of our Multi Level Marketing scheme, we need capable hands to act
as representative/book keeper in the United States and Canada on the
companys behalf.
Dell Small Business Store. United Kingdom needs a representative in the
United States and Canada. We are into supplies of Printers &
Ink, PDA, Monitors, Software, and Major exporters e.t.c. These we
supply weekly to our clients all over Canada and USA.
This Job proposal can be taken as a part time job as it has no negative
effect to your present job status.
Note: The average monthly income is about $10,000, and this job takes
only 3-7 hours per week.
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO FOR US:
The international money transfer tax for legal entities (companies) in
United Kingdom is 25%, whereas for the individual it is only 7%. It
yields the company lesser profit if we are to work that way, while tax
for international money transfer made by a Private individual is
7%.Hence our Multi Level Marketing Scheme!
We need agents to receive payment for our supplies in bank wire
transfers and to resend the money to us via Western Union Money
Transfer in UK while the tax shall be 7% instead of 25% which will
absolutely favor our company.
JOB DESCRIPTION:
1. Receive payment from Clients by wire transfer
2. Deduct 10% which will be your commission on each payment processed.
3. Forward the balance after deducting of 10% commission to offices
which shall be provided by you as soon as the fund becomes available.
HOW MUCH WILL YOU EARN:
10% from each operation! For instance: you receive $5000 via wire
transfer on our behalf. You will cash the money and keep $500 (10% from
$5000) for yourself! At the beginning your commission will equal 10%.
After creditable performance, your commission may be reviewed for
increment.
This job is very challenging and you should understand it. We are
looking only for the Honest and Open Hearted Individual who satisfies
our requirements and glad to offer this job position to you. If our
proposals interest you, do get back to us with your under listed
detailed information;
Names:
Address:
Age:
City:
Zip Code:
State:
Home Phone:
Cell Phone:
Gender:
I AWAIT YOUR URGENT RESPONSE.
Warmest Regards,
`Mr. John Claman
UK Dell Small Business Store.
Romily Court, Landridge Road, London
SW6 4LL Tel: +447011128285 Fax:+447043019046
|
This example seems to be very similar to the previous one. Both are looking for representatives to receive payments, both obviously target victims in the U.S. and Canada and both offer a 10% "commission". But there is a key difference, indicated in line 1 under the job description heading which reads, "Receive payment from Clients by wire transfer." This scammer is offering to wire (actually, transfer from another bank account to yours) money rather than send you counterfeit checks.
This means that money actually is transferred to your account. The catch is that it's stolen money so it's only very temporary.
If you've ever wondered how those phishing scammers armed with stolen online banking passwords can get money out of someone's bank or credit card account and into their possession without being caught, this is how it's done. They transfer the stolen funds into your bank account.
If they were to transfer these stolen funds into their own accounts, they would soon be identified as the thieves. So, what they do here is transfer those funds to your account. Your job as their "company representative" would be to immediately wire the money overseas to them via Western Union or some similar service. You become an intermediary in their theft rather than their company rep. Only you and your bank account can be directly tied to the theft. The scammers get the money (minus your paltry 10% commission) and make a clean getaway, leaving you to take the blame for the theft and stuck with the bill.
This next example is slightly different. Here you are asked "run errands" for your employer. Specifically, he wants you to accept mail for him and courier it on to him.
|
From:
john brooks
<johnbrooks101@gmail.com>
Subject: hello
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:20:03 +0100
(Tue, 19:20 EDT)
Are you looking for a part time job other than babysitting? I am
looking for someone who can handle my personal and business errands at
his/her spare time. Someone who can offer me these services:
Mail services: Receive my mails and drop them off at Fed
ex(nothing illegal).
Shop for Gifts Sit for delivery( at your home) or pick items up at
nearby post office at your convenience.
Let me know if you will be able to offer me any of these
services.
Mr John
|
This one should raise red flags with anyone which is why it is rarely seen in this form (as a stand-alone scam). If you do accept a job like this you will be serving as the postal drop for all sorts of goods purchased with stolen credit card numbers, breached PayPal accounts, etc. and you will ultimately be on the hook to either return the items or pay for them. You will also surely face criminal charges for your actions.
This particular type of scam is most often used in conjunction with the Internet Romance Scam.
Here, the seller claims to have gold or diamonds for sale.
|
From:
samuelopoku Gazeta.pl
<samuelopoku@gazeta.pl>
Subject: Sales Of Alluvial Gold Dust And
Crude oil
Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2008 03:59:19 +0100
(Sun, 22:59 EDT)
To whom it may concern.
Sir/madam,
May I use this medium to inform you that we have for sales at a very
attractive rate 500kgs of 22karat plus gold in stock and ready for
monthly supply of between 50 and 100kgs. We currently wish to
sell at $20,500. Per kg. and might reconsider according to the
quantity.
Brief introduction, our company is a licensed gold mining/sales company
in Ghana West Africa and we have been in business for over seven years.
We have always sold our product in small quantities locally but today
we wish to expand by purchasing mining equipments that will help
increase our annual turnover.
We are searching for reliable and huge purchasers or investor world
wide. We are also in search of brokers in any part of the world as
commissions shall be agreed upon.
We are looking forward to hear from you soon.
Best regards,
Mr Samuel Opoku.
(Company P. R. O.)
|
Of course, the scammers aren't quite stupid enough to think that you'd advance the full payment to them for 50 KG of gold (not that they'd turn it down). Rather, they would go for the idea of sending you a free sample if you would kindly wire just the cost of shipping and insurance fees to them (maybe a couple of thousand dollars). Obviously, since the scammers possess no gold or, in this case, no crude oil, you'll get no sample. If they actually did possess gold and crude oil, you'd still get no sample.
Now, a smart buyer would actually want to travel and meet with the seller to make a purchase like this. The scammers would be fully prepared for this also. In fact, this is what the scammers really want you to do. Planning on making a small sample purchase? Don't forget to bring enough cash to pay the "export fees" of $2000/KG. After all, you'll be told that you don't want to get caught smuggling 5 KG of gold out of Ghana in your suitcase. There will be fees to be paid, bribes as well. Better bring at least $150,000. Cash, of course. Those crooked "government officials" don't accept checks. You will also be encouraged to bring gifts for your hosts. It will be suggested that laptop computers, GSM mobile phones, and Rolex watches make great gifts.
Upon your arrival in Ghana, you would be graciously be picked up at the airport and taken to a location where you would be relieved of your cash, gifts, luggage, clothing, and anything else that you may have of value. After all, you won't be needing any of those things where you're going.
Another example:
|
From: goldsarls@centrum.cz
Subject: we have gold dust
Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2009 22:22:01 +0100
(17:22 EDT)
Hello,
Good day and i want to use this to introduce my company we
are GOLD DUST supliers in West Africa SUB REGION. I
am a head of a Company of Transit and Consignment based in
Cotonou-Benin & Ghana West Africa. Our Company
represents helps a group of village Gold mining washers to
sell their natural noble metals; mainly A/U Gold.
We are sourcing agent for a strong and reliable buyer of Gold dust
450Kg which we have here in Cotonou-Benin. We have
at present for export 675Kilogrammes of Gold dust whose characteristics
are as follows: * Origin: Burkina-Faso in West
Africa * Quality: 22 Karats + * Nature: Gold Dust *
Rate of purity: 93%* Impurity composition: 7% (primarily iron Oxide)
These Gold mining washers can provide 80
-100 Kilogrammes of Gold monthly. We want to choose
you as our partner in your country so that you can buy and sell to make
profit, we also sell below internaional market price . If our proposal
to you meets you in a favourable considerations, then revert
back to us with all your telephone / fax number including your
residential or postal addresses immediately for us to
progress.
Be informed that upon your arrival, you will be take to mining site in
Ghana or Burkina-Faso to view the site in person.You feel free to ask
all questions you may want to ask us. Further information about our
price will be given to you upon indication of interest.
Regards,
Mr. Baradji Boukary.
Gold Trading Sarl.
Carre 19 Cocotomey-Benin
Tel: +229 96261454
Fax: +229 21 33 8080
E-mail;realgoldtrading@yahoo.fr
|
Here's one suggesting that a buyer might get a little more than just gold:
|
From: martha.annkuhns@libero.it
<martha.annkuhns@libero.it>
Reply-to: "martha.annkuhns@libero.it"
<martha.annkuhns@libero.it>
Subject: Marth Ann kuhns (mixed race
America/Ghana)
Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 08:38:47 +0200
(CEST) (02:38 EDT)
(Note.This offer is real and free risk) I am from the mixed race my
mother is
from United States of America but my father is from
Ghana and apart from my
fathers position as a king, i also work in gold mining
company with Mante
Gold mining Company as we move forward i will forward to you an id of
myself as
to assure you security in this offer.
I hereby draft this mail to you in order to contact you for assistance
into a
gold business for the future benefits of both of us.
However,before i move forward i am Marth Ann the daughter of
Kuhns of Accra
Ghana,as the position of my father in our country Ghana,my father is
controlling a big gold mining land and as a result of this there are a
lot of
golds here for sale but due to here in Africa there is no big buyers ,
for this
reason i therefore decided to seek for a trusted foreign
business partner who
can assist us over there so that this gold can be sold there in abroad.
Note:As soon as we built a business
relationship with you and see that
you are trusted we will go ahead to establish a gold company
with you in your
country which you will be the director.
We can send to you 65kg of 21-24 karat
through Airway bill while i come
over to meet you or if you wish to come to Ghana to see things for
yourself and
hereafter both of us will travel to your country with as many golds we
can
carry through Air way cargo for sales.
I hereby look forward to hear from you
for a go ahead.
Marth Ann Kuhns.
|
Another straight forward advance fee scam is the fake loan scam. Basically, you are offered a loan with very attractive terms.
|
From:
Standard Loan Firm
<Standardloan_firm@gmail.com>
Subject: DO YOU NEED A LOAN? { APPLY NOW
}
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 2008 05:50:19 +0100
(00:50 EDT)
ATTENTION: DO YOU NEED A LOAN? { APPLY NOW }
Are you a business man or woman ? Are you in any financial mess or do
you
need funds to start up your own business? Do you need loan to settle
your
debt or pay off your bills or start a nice business?
Do you have a low credit score and you are finding it hard to obtain
capital loan from local banks other financial institutes? Do you need a
loan or funding for any reason such as :
a) Personal Loan,Business Expansion,
b) Business Start-up ,Education,
c) Debt Consolidation,
d) Hard Money Loans
We offer loan at low interest rate and with no credit check, we offer
Personal loans, debt consolidation loans, venture capital,business
loans,
education loans, home loans or "loans for any reason!".
However, Our method, offers you the chance to state the amount of loan
needed and also the duration you can afford. This gives you a real
chance
to get the funds you need! Any interested Applicants should get back to
me
via email:
Name: Mr Mike Buckler
Email:standardtrustfunds@gmail.com
Thanks for your understanding as we await your contact.
Mr Mike Buckler
|
This scam is targeted toward individuals who wouldn't qualify for a loan from conventional lenders. In fact, everyone qualifies for a loan from a loan scammer.
Of course, the lender has no money to lend you but you'll be expected to pay "administrative charges" in advance just for the promise of receiving money from the lender.
Like the lottery scam, the fake loan scammer is counting on reaping relatively small sums of money (usually under $1000) from each of many victims.
The charity scam can be especially insidious in that it plays on your compassion rather than your natural desire to profit. You are offered absolutely nothing in return for sending money to the scammer. It is said that the most successful scam is the one where the victim never realizes that he or she has been ripped-off and with this type of scam, you may never figure out that you've been taken for a ride.
These scams often land in your e-mail box in the wake of a major natural disaster, most recently, during the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes in Haiti and Chile. Usually, they are just scammers posing as charities or churches looking for funds.
|
From:
VICTORY UDOKKA <victoryudokka@yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: Chile earthquake: Death toll rises,
authorities race to assess damage...DONATE TO SAVE SOULS.
Date: 03/01/2010 05:56:49 PM (Mon, 1 Mar 2010
22:56:49 +0000 (GMT))
AmeriCare/American Red Cross.
AmeriCare/The American Red Cross is making funds available for relief
operations/Settlement in Chile while also helping people in Hawaii
prepare for a possible tsunami. Donate to the AmeriCare
As Your Donation is Highly Needed at this Urgently to Save Souls in
Chile.
Your Humble Servant.
REV FR.VICTORY UDOKKA.
Relief Officer.
AmeriCare/American Red Cross.
REPLY TO.american_care@yahoo.com
|
Another faux earthquake victim appeal, this one from a scammer claiming to be Al Gore.
|
From:
Al Gore <22442244b@gmail.com>
Reply-to: 22442244b@gmail.com
Subject: Earthquake hits Haiti - help urgently needed
Date: 01/16/2010 03:37:54 AM (Sat, 16 Jan 2010
09:37:54 +0100)
Dear ,
The earthquake in Haiti has been catastrophic. More than three million
people have been affected, and estimates are that over 50,000 have
died. The human suffering is unimaginable.
That's why I'd like to pause from our usual conversation and ask for
your help.
Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, with 85% of
Haitians already living in desperate poverty. Now, with hospitals in
ruin, dire shortages of even basic necessities like fresh water, and no
way to find out whether family members are alive, the Haitian people
urgently need our help.
A number of organizations are already engaged in critical relief
efforts, and I urge you to support as many of them as you can. One of
them, Oxfam America, has an emergency response team of more than 200
people already on the ground. The need for clean water and critical
public health services is massive and immediate -- and our donations
can help save lives.
There are moments when we, as human beings, must come together as a
global community and as stewards of each others' health and welfare. It
is that sense of interconnectedness that brought each of us to the
climate movement, and it is moments like this that bring out the best
in us -- as individuals, as a nation, and as a movement.
Note that due to the past experinces we had in regards to the donation
made by some good spirited individuals and organisation following the
use of credit card for the donation and the safety of the security
informations on the credit cards,we decided it will be better to donate
money via western union money transfer using my name[Al Gore] and the
location should be london.
This way, the safety of your credit card and its information will be
garanteed.we are truely sorry for all the inconvinences this might
cause you but please let us join hands together to help the people of
Haiti and save lives.
Let's make sure the people of Haiti do not face this disaster alone.
Thank you for taking action in the face of this tragedy.
Al Gore
Chairman
Alliance for Climate Protection
|
(Hmmm...that scammer might just be more believable than the real Al Gore.)
Next, we have an example of a scammer trying to scam money for a small child, apparently a female child with prostate cancer (?!?) in addition to esophageal cancer which, as we have now come to expect, has defiled all forms of medicine. Attached to the e-mail was a photograph (not shown here), which was obviously of a young boy.
|
From: Lilian Boba
<lilianboba10@yahoo.com>
Reply-to: lilianboba15@yahoo.com
Subject: SAVE.......
Date: Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:40:10 -0800
(PST) (17:40 EST)
SAVE A SOUL
TODAY
(SAVE BABY LILIAN LIFE)
This is Baby Lilian Boba 3 years old from Dakar,Senegal.she have been
diagnosed with prostate and esophageal Cancer that was
discovered very late due to her mother's laxity in
caring for Baby Lilian Boba health. It has defiled
all form of medicine and right now, she have only about Four weeks to
live according to medical experts.
Please there is urgent need to fly her out to United State of America
for Surgery and this will cost $25,000usd.These is the cost travelling
and hospital bills for the surgery.So we the family and friends of Baby
Lilian Boba are reaching out to the whole world for help.PLEASE KNOW
THAT NOTHING IS TOO SMALL TO SAVE THIS BABY'S LIFE.YOUR PENY IS HIGHLY
APPRECIATED.PLEASE WE NEED YOUR DONATION
PLEASE SEND YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE CO-ORDINATOR SAVE BABY LILIAN
BOBA'S LIFE,MR JULIUS CHIKELUO(through western union,money gram)SO THAT
THINGS WILL BE DONE FAST BEFORE THIS BABY DIES,THANKS.
JULIUS CHIKELUO,
(co-ordinator)
|
Sometimes, the scammer is a little less in-your-face as to his intentions. The purpose of their initial e-mail is often simply to capture your interest.
|
From:
Pastor Dorababu
<destineyatcross@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: destineyatcross@yahoo.com
Subject: Introducing my self and my
ministry
Date: Sun, 13 Jul 2008 11:33:43 -0700
(PDT) (14:33 EDT)
Dear Brethren,
Greetings to you in the most precious name of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ. I would like to introduce my self to you; my name is G
.Dorababu, working for the Lord as a Pastor among Hindu villagers. Our
aim is to win the souls and prepare for the coming of the Lord.
In our Church there are many needy groups , like children, old aged
mothers and fathers, leprosy patients, young sisters , God is
helping me to teach them and He is also helping me to
provide them , like slates, pencils, table’s book, note books
and boxes and food for leprosy brethren and old aged people ,
free sewing education for poor young sisters. We have also Pastors
fellowship, encouraging them with a little financial support and with
spiritual support.
I visited gust book which you signed already, through that I came to
know that you stood for Christ and His commandment, so that it is my
wish to let you know about us and ask you to pray for my ministry.
I studied at Church on the rock theological seminary for
B.th. For 7 years I am in God’s ministry.
God blessed us with film ministry; we take Jesus film in Telugu
language at different village, it is our wish to cause of some
perishing souls salvation, in the Lord Jesus Christ. If you
are interested I want to send some of our ministry pictures.
May God bless you abundantly.
Yours in His
service.
Pastor: G. Dorababu.
MY ADDRESS:
Pastor: G: Dora Babu,
Door no: 4-1-33
Gullavaripeta
Ramachandrapuram
Pin-533255
E.G. Dt , Andra Pradesh.
South India
destineyatcross@yahoo.com
|
In the example above, the scammer takes on the identity of an actual person, Bishop Gootla Dorababu. I've been told by two near-victims of this scammer that "donations" were to be directed to a bank account in China.
Occasionally, the scammer will actually claim that he wants your money for himself, as seen in this next charity scam example, a rather lengthy and plausible yarn about a pregnant girlfriend and her pissed-off father.
|
From: kingsley chekwube
<helpkingsleyandchioma@gmail.com>
Subject: please help my baby........
Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 06:41:38 -0700
(09:41 EDT)
Dear friend.
Good day, my name is derek from nigeria ,please have mercy
on me and listen to what i have to say,i made a mistake i shouldnt
have made,but that will not make me to sin again, my girlfriend got
pregnant for me and i cannot deny being responsible for the
pregnancy,i am a poor youngman but she came from a rich family,we both
love each other and i want to give the child the chance to live and
see life, but her father wants the baby to be aborted by all means,the
pregnancy is upto one month plus and her life will be at stake on
aborting the baby, the father never considered all these things
,simply because he wanted her to marry his business partner,he has
ordered his guards to beat me up and yet he is not ready to give up.
sir/madam, please i know i do not know you before but since friends
and family have left me alone to suffer for my mistake,i decided to
ask for help anywhere,i would have gone to look for a job but her
father has sent his boys on a look out for me and god help me if they
find me,my good friend james whom am leaving with at the moment gave
me his internet laptop computer and access, he suggested i
seak help
through the internet,he said that that is the best he could do for
me,please i ask for your favour to help me financialy,nomatter how
little ,just to give this child a chance to live again,i have ran away
with chioma my girlfriend,and i intend to stay away till she puts to
bed so that the safety of our baby will be gauranteed,but now,we find
it very difficult to feed properly,not to talk of taking her to
hospital for medical check-ups.
please i realy need your help for i am very broke and confused.
please if you have any financial support for us,let me know, the
child will live with your help,success,favour and blessings will never
depart from you nor your household as your hear the cry of the poor
and come to my rescue, please advice me.
thanks you and remain blessed for your understanding as i await your
reply.
regards,
derek
|
The body of this next one arrived as an image. Scammers occasionally do this to beat agressive spam filters as well as to make them difficult to convert to text. I've done the conversion and posted the original image below (with the innocent little girl's photo slightly obfuscated).
|
From: Laura Stancu <laurastancu@ymail.com>
Subject: Hello and sorry to disturb you!
To:
Date: Tuesday, January 6, 2009, 3:09 AM
Hello dear sir or lady,
Before deleting this email please give me a chance to explain why this
isn't just a junk mail that consumes your time and money.
My name is Laura, I'm 13 years old and all i want is to be heard!
That's all i ask and that is also my bet with life.
I
was born with a hearing impairment that condemned me to a life with no
sounds, but God also made me with a winner atitude and a paradoxal
passion: the violin.
A deaf young girl, from a poor eastern-european family, playing the
violin?
Yes, and I want to show everyone that i will fulfill my dream and even
graduate the conservatory some day.
I
play the violin for 10 years now and I'm able to do so thanks to the
only two people that believed in me: grandma and grandpa ( I never new
my father and mom died when i was 2 years old ).
When i was 3 i saw
a violin in a boutique window and although i didn't knew what is it
for, i somehow knew that is the object which will make the world HEAR
the music inside a deaf soul.
Grandpa told me that for 6 months i did nothing else but hundreds of
childish drawings of violins.
I guess you can imagine how they felt seeing that my dream was an
object build to please people with sounds.
But
grandpa believed in me, in life, in extraordinary things and did
inimagineable: He had bought a violin and with the help of a microphone
and an old magnetophon he made the impossible become possible.
He
made a special little chair and put the speaker underneath ( face up )
enabling me to feel every vibration just by sitting down on it.
An
old neighbour with was a music teacher had tough me for the first 2
years and after that my grandparents had managed to someone until i
went to the school and which i still study. Yes it's a music school and
yes everybody in the exam commission laugh when they noticed i am deaf.
The laughter didn't last long.
I had made it 4th on the list of more than 1500 children.
I couldn't hear laughter and i couldn't hear applause's ...but i can
remember their faces!
Long
story short, i recently found out that some doctors can make me hear
for the first time. They can give me back one fifth of the life i
otherwise will lose. They can make me hear the vibrations i now know
only through my bottom when i seat on the chair while playing.
The
operations cost around 6000 dollars and by now i managed to raise
around 1200 dollars by playing at a few private parties and from a
couple of friends who appreciate classical music.
I don't expect to gather all the money over night but every single cent
means a little step close to the world of sounds.
Please donate whatever your heart lets you and be one of those who will
help the first deaf person into conservatory.
No
matter if you donate or not i still thank you so much for reading this
all the way: EVEN THOUGH I CAN'T HEAR YOU I'VE MADE MYSELF HEARD
Best wishes,
Laura Stancu
george.lupascupp@gmail.com
help.stancufamily@gmail.com
laurastancu@ymail.com
|
That one demonstrates just how low some of these scammers will go.
Internet Romance Scammers usually target victims who are registered on dating or other social networking sites but they do occasionally send out mass e-mails like the crude example below.
|
From:
jasmine awa <jasmine1awa@gmail.com>
Subject: HELLO
Date: Sun, 14 Sep 2008 16:48:39
+0000 (12:48 EDT)
Hello Dear,
My name is jasmine,honest and nice looking girl .i am 24yrs old 165cm
tall,chocolate skinned,with brown sexy eye balls looking for a man who
can be a true friend and a close confidant,so i checked the site of
acquaintance and found your profile very interesting and i would love
for us to have communication.so please mail me on my email add
(jasmine.awa@gmail.com) and lets know each other better. have a
lovely,beautiful,love filled week ahead as i expect your mail remember
age and distance should not be a barrier to finding true friendship,it
should not limit us from discovering the beauty that lies in between us
ok,and i will send you my photo and tell you more about myself as soon
as i get a mail from you thanks.
jasmine
|
Basically, the Internet Romance Scammer attempts to get you into an online romantic relationship with them. They are usually located either in Africa or countries of the former Soviet Union though they could be from anywhere. These scammers are very patient, often cultivating a relationship for many months without making any odd requests. They fabricate absolutely every detail about themselves. Often this even includes their gender. Any photos or identification documents they may send you always belong to other people, sometimes previous victims of the scammer. Communication is usually conducted via instant messenger and sometimes e-mail.
When the scammer feels that he/she has your trust, you will begin receiving odd requests, Sometimes they make a blatant request for money, claiming to be stuck at an airport somewhere. Often the scammer will claim to have been paid for a job with checks that he/she can't cash and ask if you could cash them and wire back the money (see the counterfeit check-cashing job scam described above). Often you will be asked to become a postal drop for goods obtained fraudulently (also mentioned above).
A victim who has been particularly generous and has demonstrated that he or she is financially comfortable may be asked to visit the scammer. This can be a particularly dangerous move. Victims who have gone to meet their new loved one will, at the very least be releived of any wealth they may have. Scammers who have been able to lure the victim onto their own turf often engage in kidnapping, forcing the victim to drain his or her bank accounts. Sometimes they will hold the victim for ransom, demanding money from the victim's family members in return for release. The most ruthless ones will just dispose of the victim in a rather grizzly fashion when they feel that he or she is no longer of use to them.
Pet adoption scam e-mails are not particularly popular but judging by the number of e-mails I receive from victims of this scam, they seem to have a very high success rate.
By far, the most popular animal used in these scams is the Yorkshire Puppy but the kind of pet featured could be just about anything. Baby monkeys are also popular.
In this type of scam, the victim will be asked to adopt one or more of the scammer's pets. The scammer will claim that he or she is unable to keep the pet for one reason or another. Once the victim shows some interest this proposition, the scammer will send photos, fake documentation, etc. to get the victim hooked on the non-existent animal, then invent all sorts of fees that must be paid (by the victim, of course) before the animal(s) can be shipped.
Here's an example of the Pet Adoption Scam:
|
From:
Ileana Douff
<ileanadouff@gmail.com>
Reply-To: ileanadouff@gmail.com
Subject: YORKIE PUPPIES FOR ADOPTION
Date: Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:04:39 -0500
(12:04 EDT)
Hi, I saw your email as a possible pet lover. i would love to send you
my
two Yorkie puppies for
adoption, since I am travelling out of the country in two weeks time, i
would need a pet lover
with a good heart that would be able to afford vet-visits and
dedications.
their names are Patti
& Philly (female & male) both weighs---1.7lbs and
1.6lbs each, and are
currently 12 weeks old.
AKC registered, with complete papers. up to date on all shots/worming.
already potty trained with
excellent temperaments. also very good with children and other animals.
If
interested,Please
contact me for pictures. Best regards' Ileana Douff.
ileanadouff@gmail.com
|
...and another...
|
From:
Ono Layor
<meryonoappt115@gmail.com>
Subject: adorable puppies for adoption
Date: Sun, 27 Jul 2008 05:29:34 -0800
(09:29 EDT)
Dear family in the Lord
My name in Marry Onobell i and my husband came to west Africa on a
missionary trip and we came along with our 3 different puppies,1 male
Yorkshire and 2 female American bulldog puppies so after some while
period of time we discover the wealthier here is not good for their
health so we are looking for a better family who can adopt them from
us and also promise us to care for them as we do because they are very
much mean to your and we are very in love with them as well so please
we need your kindly help if you can.looking forward to your fast
response
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...and one with a photo attached.
|
From:
Anita Sides
<anitacsides2@googlemail.com>
Subject: pup needs new home
Date: Mon, 1 Sep 2008 03:56:10 -0700
(06:56 EDT)
Hi there, pleasure sending you this email. I know this will come as a
surprise. I have a Chihuahua puppy that I am willing to give away, I
just got married and cant take puppies along.. gave out the others but
this is the only one left. If you are a good pet-loving person and
would like to have her, please email me on sides_anita1@yahoo.com .
Thank you .
--
Anita C. Sides
Co-founder
American Disabled Movement,
653 N. Little Rock Road,
Little Rock,
Arkansas, 72206.
|
This next one doesn't really fall under the Pet Adoption category but is very similar, only far more disgusting.
|
From: Benin Orphanage Home
<beninorphanagehome3@yahoo.it>
Reply-To: beninorphanagehome@yahoo.es
Subject: Did you want to adopt a child?
Date: Mon, 22 Sep 2008 21:42:55 +0000
(GMT) (17:42 EDT)
Please i will like to know if you want to adopt a child?
Thanks
Mr Raymond +229 93 60 81 81
|
Although not an entirely new scam, the Stranded Relative / Friend scam is rarely sent via mass mail.
|
From: Jean-Philippe, Sharon
<jeanphil@utk.edu>
Subject:
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 2009 21:33:56 -0400
I am really sorry to
bother you with my problem,this has to come in a hurry. I had traveled
to United Kingdom on an International business trip, Unfortunately for
me all my luggage (which included my cash, diary and credit cards) were
stolen at the hotel where I lodged, I am so confused right now, I don't
know what to do or where to go. I did not bring my phone here
and the hotel's telephone line was disconnected during the robbery
incident, Please can you send me £ 500 (pounds sterling)so I can return
home, As soon as I get home I would refund it immediately GOD BLESS YOU
AS YOU HELP ME. Please contact my E-mail:
thanksforgettingbacktome@googlemail.com
Regards
Dinah ,
|
This type of scam works well when the scammer has intimate knowledge of his victim as well as the person he or she is impersonating. When mass-mailed such as the above example had been, I can't see how it would work on anyone who doesn't have a close friend, family member, or associate by the name of Dinah who just happens to be unreachable.
The "Throwing Good Money After Bad" Scam is one used by scammers to target previous victims of scams. Sometimes the scammer uses this type as a new approach to one of his current or previous victims. Usually however, these scam e-mails are just sent out randomly in the hope that they'll get the attention of another scammer's mark.
In this type of scam, the scammer claims to be an official of some government, the United Nations, or an anti-scam organization. Often he will insist that in order for the victim to collect the money that he or she had previously been promised, they must now deal with him. Sometimes the scammer will instead offer some sort of financial package to reimburse the victims for their financial loss. The premise may vary slightly.
A popular letter is the one ostensibly from the director of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation.
|
From:
Robert S. Mueller, III
<fbi@fbigov.org>
Reply-To: fbiusa124@hotmail.com
Subject: ANTI-TERRORIST AND MONITARY
CRIMES DIVISION
Date: Sat, 20 Sep 2008 11:04:22 -0700
(14:04 EDT)
ANTI-TERRORIST AND MONITARY CRIMES DIVISION
FBI HEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
J. EDGAR HOOVER BUILDING
935 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, NW WASHINGTON, D.C. 20535-0001
Website: www.fbi.gov
ATTENTION FUND BENEFICIARY,
THIS IS AN OFFICIAL ADVICE FROM THE FBI FOREIGN
REMITTANCE/TELEGRAPHIC DEPT.,
IT HAS COME TO OUR NOTICE THAT THE C.B.N BANK NIGERIA DISTRICT HAS
RELEASED 10,500,000.00 U.S DOLLARS INTO BANK OF AMERICA IN YOUR NAME AS
THE
BENEFICIARY,BY INHERITANCE MEANS.
THE C.B.N BANK NIGERIA KNOWING FULLY WELL THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE
ENOUGH FACILITIES TO EFFECT THIS PAYMENT FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM TO
YOUR
ACCOUNT, USED WHAT WE KNOW AS A SECRET DIPLOMATIC TRANSIT PAYMENT
S.T.D.P TO PAY THIS
FUND THROUGH WIRE TRANSFER,THEY USED THIS MEANS TO COMPLETE THE PAYMENT.
THEY ARE STILL, WAITING FOR CONFIRMATION FROM YOU ON THE ALREADY
TRANSFERRED FUNDS WHICH WAS MADE IN DIRECT TRANSFER SO THAT THEY CAN DO
FINAL CREDITING TO YOUR ACCOUNT. SECRET DIPLOMATIC PAYMENTS
ARE NOT MADE UNLESS THE FUNDS ARE RELATED TO TERRORIST
ACTIVITIES WHY MUST YOUR PAYMENT BE MADE IN SECRET
TRANSFER , IF YOUR TRANSACTION IS LEGITIMATE,IF YOU ARE NOT A
TERRORIST, THEN WHY DID YOU NOT RECEIVE THE MONEY DIRECTLY INTO YOUR
ACCOUNT,THIS IS A PURE CODED ,MEANS OF PAYMENT?
RECORDS WHICH WE HAVE HAD WITH THIS METHOD OF PAYMENT IN THE PAST
HAS ALWAYS BEEN RELATED TO TERRORIST ACTS, WE DO NOT WANT YOU TO GET
INTO
TROUBLE AS SOON AS THESE FUNDS REFLECT IN YOUR ACCOUNT IN THE U.S.A, SO
IT IS OUR DUTY AS A WORD WIDE COMMISSION TO CORRECT THIS
LITTLE PROBLEM BEFORE THIS FUND WILL BE CREDITED INTO YOUR
PERSONAL ACCOUNT.
DUE TO THE INCREASED DIFFICULTY AND UNNECESSARY SCRUTINY BY THE
AMERICAN AUTHORITIES WHEN FUNDS COME FROM OUTSIDE OF EUROPE, AND THE
MIDDLE EAST, THEF.B.I BANK COMMISSION FOR EUROPE
HAS STOPPED THE TRANSFER ON ITS WAY TO DELIVER PAYMENT OF
$10,500,000.00 TO DEBIT YOUR RESERVE ACCOUNT AND PAY YOU THROUGH A
SECURED DIPLOMATIC TRANSIT ACCOUNT (S.D.T.A). WE GOVERN AND OVERSEES
FUNDS TRANSFER FOR THE WORLD BANK AND THE REST OF THE WORLD.
WE ADVICE YOU CONTACT US IMMEDIATELY,AS THE FUNDS HAVE
BEEN STOPPED AND ARE BEING HELD IN OUR CUSTODY ,UNTIL YOU CAN
BE ABLE TO PROVIDE US WITH
A DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY SEAL OF TRANSFER(DIST) WITHING 3 DAYS FROM THE
WORLD LOCAL BANK THAT AUTHORIZE THE TRANSFER FROM WHERE THE FUNDS WAS
TRANSFERRED FROM TO CERTIFY THAT THE FUNDS THAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO
RECEIVE FROM NIGERIA ARE ANTITERRORIST/DRUG FREE OR WE SHALL HAVE CAUSE
TO CROSS AND IMPOUND THE PAYMENT,WE SHALL RELEASE THE FUNDS
IMMEEDIATELY WE RECEIVE THIS LEGAL DOCUMENTS .
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We have decided to contact you directly to acquire the proper
verifications and proof from you to show that you are the rightful
person to receive this fund, because of the amount involve,we
want to make sure is a clean and legal money you are about to
receive. Be informed that the fund are now in
United State in your name , but right now we have ask the
bank not to release the fund to anybody that comes to them ,
unless we ask them to do so, because we have to carry out our
investigations first before releasing the fund to you.
Note that the fund is in the BANK OF AMERICA right now, but we have ask
them not to credit the fund to you yet, because we need a solid proof
and
verifications from you before releasing the funds.
So to this regards you are to re-assure and proof to us that
what you are about to receive is a clean money by sending to
us FBI Identification
Record and also Diplomatic Immunity Seal Of Transfer(DIST) to satisfy
to us that the money your about to receive is legitimate and
real money. You are to forward the documents to us
immediately if you have it in your possession, if you don?t have it let
us know so that we will direct and inform you where to obtain
the document and send to us so that we will ask the bank holding the
funds the Bank Of America to go ahead Crediting
your account immediately.
This Documents are to be issued to you from the World Local Bank that
Authorized the transfer, so get back to us immediately if you don?t
have the document so that we will inform you the particular place to
obtain the document in United Kingdom U.K, because we have
come to realize that the fund was Authorized by H.S.B.C Bank
in London.
An FBI Identification Record and Diplomatic Immunity Seal Of
Transfer(DIST)often referred to as a Criminal History Record or Rap
Sheet, is a listing of certain information taken from
fingerprint submissions retained by the FBI in connection
with arrests and, in some instances, federal employment,
naturalization, or military service.
THESE CONDITION IS VALID UNTIL 22TH OF SEPTEMBER 2008 AFTER WE SHALL
TAKE ACTIONS ON CANCELLING THE PAYMENT AND THEN CHARGE YOU
FOR ILLEGALLY MOVING FUNDS OUT OF NIGERIA .
GURANTEE: FUNDS WILL BE RELEASED ON CONFIRMATION OF THE DOCUMENT.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINAL INSTRUCTION:
60F CREDIT PAYMENT INSTRUCTION: IRREVOCABLE CREDIT
GUARANTEE
61E BENEFICIARY HAS FULL POWER WHEN VALIDATION IS
CLEARED
62 BENNEFICIARIES BANK
IN U.S.A., CAN ONLY RELEASE FUNDS-
62 UPON CONFIRMATION FROM THE WORLD
BANK/UNITED NATIONS.
64 BEARERS MUST CLEAR BANK PROTOCOL AND VALIDATION
REQUEST
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE: We have asked for the above documents to make available the
most complete and up-to date records possible for the enhancement of
public safety,welfare and security of Society while
recognizing the importance of individual privacy
rights.. If you fail to provide the Documents to us, we will charge you
with the FBI and take our proper action against you for not proofing
to us the legitimate of the fund you are about to
receive.
The United States Department of Justice Order 556-73 establishes rules
and regulations for the subject of an FBI Identification Record to
obtain
a copy of his or her own Record for review. The FBI Criminal Justice
Information Services(CJIS) Division processes these requests to check
illegal activities in U.S.A.
An individual may request a copy of his or her own FBI Identification
Record for personal review or to challenge information on the Record.
Other reasons an individual may request a copy of his or her own
Identification Record may include international adoption or
to satisfy a requirement to live or work in a foreign country
or receive funds from another country (i.e., Diplomatic
Immunity Seal Of Transfer, letter of good conduct, criminal history
background, etc.)
FBI Director
Robert S. Mueller, III
|
Here's one employing the same M.O.
|
From: kellyrorick@wt.net
Reply-to:
<metrofraudalert@mail2police.com>
Subject: United Kingdom Fraud Alert:
Contact Metropolitan Police Immediately
Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2009 03:12:46 -0700
(06:12 EDT)
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Attention:
This email notice is from the Metropolitan Police,
United Kingdom, and this notice is being sent at random, alerting and
creating awareness of Nigerian/United Kingdom Fraud and Scam. Are you a
victim to any form of Nigerian/United Kingdom Fraud or Scam? We receive
over a thousand reports about United Kingdom fraud/scams each day, in
which the crimes are committed by Nigerian living in the United Kingdom
and the Diaspora, and this as been a major problem for our economy.
Now, the Metropolitan Police, and the proper authorities in Nigeria
such as the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), Nigerian
Police Force, and the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) are in a joint mission to stop and apprehend any defaulter
involved in any form of fraud/scam. We urge you to send us an email if
you are a victim to any form of Nigerian fraud or scam below:
Typical form of Nigerian/United Kingdom Scams:
1. Online Dating/Relationships
2. Online classifieds/ Marketplaces (eg. Craiglist.org, eBay.com,
eBid.net, Amazon.com, Kijiji.com, adpost.com.au e.t.c)
3. Online Lottery (U.K Lotto, Coca -cola Lottery e.t.c)
4. Nigerian Oil and Gas (e.g NNPC, Shell, Mobil e.t.c)
5. Next of Kin/ beneficiary (CBN, Mariam Abacha, Prof Charles Soludo
e.t.c)
6. Online Theft (Bank accounts, Credit Cards, Paypal.com, Alertpay.com,
Nochex e.t.c)
7. False Pet sales, Accommodation rentals including false House sales
(e.g Craigslist, Houseforrent, Kijiji e.t.c)
8. Email account theft (Yahoo, Hotmail/Msn, GMail e.t.c)
9. Checks/Cheque Money Order & A.T.M Fraud
Note that there are other forms in which Nigerian Fraud and scams can
occur. Most fraudsters now have accomplice(s) in most western countries
to help them carry out their fraud such has countries like United
Kingdom, United States of America and Canada. They use this countries
to make their fraud convincing since most people are aware of the fraud
rate in Nigeria.
Help us fight against Nigerian Fraud/scam by contacting us about your
case or that of any relative you have or know that have is a victim to
Nigerian fraud. Send comments to metrofraudalert@mail2police.com. Your
present transaction, could be a Nigerian Scam, Beware! Let us
investigate your transaction to avoid scam.
Thank you!
The Commissioner
Metropolitan Police
London, United Kingdom.
|
This scammer lists many of the different types of e-mail scams but neglects to include his own.
If the victim falls for this, he or she will get the same runaround as before, fees and bribes to be paid, etc.
This next one appears to be from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of Nigeria, offering $1 million dollars in compensation to previous victims of 419 scams.
|
From:
Mrs.Farida Waziri.
<mrswzrfarida956@gmail.com>
Reply-To: dr.patrickaziza18@yahoo.fr
Subject: Dear Beneficiary
Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:18:17 -0700
(03:18 EDT)
Dear Beneficiary
I am Mrs.Farida Waziri the acting chairman of ECONOMICAL FINANCIAL
CRIME COMMISSION (EFCC).
EFCC in alliance with economic community of West African states
(ECOWAS) with head Office here in Nigeria .
We have been working towards the eradication of fraudsters and scam
Artists in Western part of Africa .
With the help of United States Government and the United Nations We
have been able to track down so many of this scam artist in various
parts of west African countries which includes (NIGERIA, REPUBLIC OF
BENIN, TOGO, GHANA CAMEROUN AND SENEGAL LONDON) and they are all in our
custody here in Lagos Nigeria.
We have been able to recover so much money from these scam artists.
The United Nation Anti-crime commission and the United State Government
have Order the money recovered from the Scammers to be shared among 100
Lucky people around the globe.
This mail is been directed to you because your email address was found
in one of the scam Artists file and computer hard disk in our custody
here in Nigeria. You are therefore be Compensated with $1.Million
Dollars.
Who claims that they are barristers/bank officials Lottery Agents who
has money for transfer or want you to be the next of kin of such funds
which do not exist.
Since your name appeared among the beneficiaries who will receive a
compensation of $1.million we have arranged your payment through our
swift card payment center, Feel free to contact Dr. Patrick Aziza the
swift card has been specially prepared it enable you withdraw your
money in any ATM machine in any part of the world, but the maximum is
Five Thousand Dollars Only per day.
So you are advice to contact email; dr.patrickaziza18@yahoo.fr
Attn:Dr. Patrick Aziza
Provide the information bellow to allow him prepare your card including
your Pin.
1. YOUR FULL NAME
2. PHONE AND FAX NUMBER,
3. ADDRESS / D.O.B ( Date Of Birth)
4. YOUR AGE AND CURRENT OCCUPATION
5. A COPY OF YOUR INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT
Best Regard
Mrs.Farida Waziri.
(Acting Chairman EFCC)
|
Finally, this rather humorous e-mail apparently from Anti-Scam Association. This organization claims to have a strange device in the sky for catching scammers. They also offer "compassesion" (compensation) to previous scam victims.
|
From:
Worldorganization Antiscammer
<worldorganization_antiscammer@rocketmail.com>
Reply-To:
worldorganization_antiscammer@rocketmail.com
Subject: DEAR RECEIVER,
Date: Fri, 1 Aug 2008 20:53:00 -0700
(PDT) (23:53 EDT)
DEAR RECEIVER,
We the entire board of directors of ANTI-SCAM ASSOCIATION WORLD WIDE,
the association declared out by the World Technology
Organisation (W.T.O) after our meeting we decided to use this
medium of transmission to inform all those who has been scammed by
fraudsters over the compassesion which we have for them. But before any
procession of your compassesion we will like to have your full details
and profile .Never mind we are out for the fraudsters. Our association
has provided the world with a modern Satellite technology device, this
device are mounted on the sky for tressing and flooding out the scam
emails sent by and an individual fraudster. The Satellite device also
provides the I.P address of the computer used in defrauding people by
the scammers.
Moreover we the entire members of ANTI-SCAM ASSOCIATION WORLD WIDE are
out for the fraudsters our agents are mounted in the various countries
and continent of the world in other to bring all this fraudsters to
justice, so this is why we are bringing this notice to the NATION and
PUBLIC today, once you receive this notice reply immediately for
verification and clarification of your compassesion there must be an
evidence of proof before you be compasset. We promise to bring all the
Fraudsters and Scammers to justice.
Thanks
Best Regard
ANTI-SCAM ASSOCIATION
|
There are all kinds of investment scams in this world but here we'll take a look at some of the nuttiest advance fee fraud e-mails that I've ever seen - the investment scam e-mails from overseas.
These aren't pyramid schemes. No one could possibly mistake any of these scammers for Bernie Madoff. Rather, we have scammers trying to get you to "invest" in some really off-the-wall products. This type of scam e-mail isn't particularly popular and it's easy to see why.
In this first example, your new "partner" claims to be able to purchase "cow medicines" inexpensively and sell it for a large profit.
|
From:
nicholas_komoh52@yahoo.co.jp
Subject: BUSINESS PROPOSAL FROM
MR. NICHOLAS KOMOH!!
Date: Fri, 12 Sep 2008 04:05:16
+0900 (JST) (Thu, 15:05 EDT)
FROM MR. NICHOLAS KOMOH.
EMAIL:nicholas_komoh52@yahoo.co.jp
Dear Partner,
I am writting this letter out of a genuine desperation to find a
reliable partner in an unfolding transaction.I have been unjustly
treated by my partner in an earlier transaction, so I seek your help,
attention and genuine co-operation to our mutual benefit and I believe
that you will not let down the trust and confidence I am about to
repose on you.For the past ten years,I have been working for a public
relations firm that pays me about two hundred dollars each month, plus
little bonus based on my work input. On the 30th of June last year, our
company made a very big financial breakthrough when we made contact
with Alhaji Mabolo Dongo and began to supply him his cow medicines.
Alhaji Mabolo Dongo is the president of MABOLO DONGO FARMS, and is a
millionaire farmer with animal farms at Chad, Burkina Faso, Senegal,
Ghana, Benin and Togo with main offices in Cote d'Ivoire, and a new one
located at Zimbabwe.Moreover,heis the greatest supplier of cattle beef
and other dairy products to the whole of West Africa.
He had informed us about the huge amount of money he spends on the
purchase of a particular but very important cattle medicine. Precisely,
he buys US$5,000 per carton. He asked if our organisation can source
for a cheaper supplier.We did market research and discovered that we
can buy these medicine in Europe for US$2,000 per carton. We moved a
proposal to Alhaji Dongo, to supply him at US$4,800 per carton which
they accepted.
As these supplies progressed and our company was doing fine, I
requested my boss to increase my salary. He was so upset that he sacked
me without benefits after ten years of dedicated service. Though I was
later called back when another kind-hearted senior staff protested
against his action. During my moments of being sacked, which lasted for
close to two months, I was so desperate that I went to the Dongo Farms
and infomed Alhaji Mabolo Dongo that I have a foriegn contact that will
be willing to supply him this same products at US$4,000 per carton.
He was very happy with this news, and in turn confided to me that he
was about to place order for one thousand cartons following a suspected
outbreak of disease in his farms. I assured him that my foriegn contact
will be in the position to manufacture and supply to him; infact I
convinced him that my former boss usually buys from my foriegn contact
and that is why he sales to him at a higher price.
HOWEVER, I INFORMED ALHAJI DONGO THAT HE WILL HAVE TO PAY CASH IN
ADVANCE BEFORE MY FORIEGN CONTACT WILL SUPPLY TO HIM.
For the moment he has stopped all contact with my boss.Please consider
on how to handle this profitable project and kindly contact me
immediately for details and negotiations as regards my commission.
However,I will insist that my commission will be 20% of the total
profit.You can use this email address:Note: We will buy one thousand
carton at US$2,000,000.We sell to them at US$4,000,000. Our client pays
cash before lifting of the goods. They must not know our purchase point
in Europe.
Thanks and God bless you.
Sincerely,
Nicholas Komoh.
Email:nicholas_komoh52@yahoo.co.jp
|
Since your partner has the connections, you'll be expected to supply the cash. Of course, there's no cow medicine in this scenario, only bullshit.
Here's another, better written version describing the same product by its brand name, Adequan.
|
From: barr john smith
<barrsmithbarrsmith@yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: urgent attention
Date: Sat, 30 Aug 2008 19:27:51 +0000
(GMT) (15:27 EDT)
Hello Dear,
My name is Charlotte Mary. I'm working with
Medivet Veterinary Group 4 Mowat Industrial Estate Sandown Road Watford
Hertfordshire WD24 7UY= UNITED KINGDOM.
I am looking for a dependable individual that I can trust,
someone
who will be wiling and honest enough to carry out this transaction
with deligent to the best of his/her ability.
The bord of directors normally send me to Malaysia,
to purchase Adequan.The Adequan is a product and is
used to treat animals,such as cattle ,horses and etc.
The product is very cheap in Malaysia compare in U.S and Europe,in
u.s and Europe, per carton of the product is cost $5500 to $6000
while in Malaysia i only buy for 6500 Malaysia money.
When i purchase the product RM6500 per carton,when i get back to my
Company i will tell my director that i purchase the product for
RM11500,i have been coming to Malaysia alone all this time but right
now Because of my condition,i cant go to Malaysia for now,i have a car
accident and my Company want to send somebody to represent me and i
don't want the person they will be sending to know the cost price i
have been purchasing the product in Malaysia.
if you can handle this business for me until i stand back on my feet
this is what i want you to do,i will introduce you to a Malaysian
lady,she is the seller of this product,i want you to go and purchase
the product from her at RM6500 so when my Company arrive to
Malaysia i will introduce you to my Company and tell them that you
are the main supplier of the product and you will sell the product
to them at rate of RM11500 Per carton.
They need about 30 to 50 cartons .I want you to know that
my percentage from the profit you will make from the transaction is
40% out the profit. you will take 60%
please If this business proposition offends your moral and ethic
values, do accept my sincere apology. Please contact me at once
if you are interested so that i can inform you on
what
to do next, and ignore it if you are not.
Regards,
Charlotte .
|
Adequan is by far the most popular product used in these scams. I have no idea why this is but if you don't think that cow medicine is such a wonderful investment, you might want to consider some plant roots.
|
From: Office Ukcontact
<officeukcontact@yahoo.com.co>
Reply-To: ericsmithoffice@yahoo.co.uk
Subject: BASIL HERBAL SEED IS
HIGHLY NEEDED IN UNITED KINGDOM LONDON
Date: Thu, 1 Jan 2009 03:11:03 -0800
(PST) (06:11 EST)
- FROM ERIC SMITH 26 NEWTON LANE, LONDON, W8 5DL, ENGLAND. DEAR SIR, I
AM MR ERIC SMITH TUNISIAN BY ORIGIN BUT WORKING WITH NEO PHARMACEUTICAL
COMPANY IN LONDON-UK, WE ARE ALSO LOCATED IN SOUTH AFRICA. I AM THE
PERSONAL SECRETARY TO THE DIRECTOR.,I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR A LONG TIME
FOR SOME ONE WHOM I CAN TRANSACT THIS BUSINESS WITH TRUST....WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT THE HERBAL PRODUCT MONO HERBAL ROOTS(ONUGBORRO ) FROM
INDONESIA AND INDIA. THIS PRODUCT OUR COMPANY IS BUYING FROM KENYA AT
PRESENT. THIS PRODUCT CAN BE FOUND ONLY IN INDONESIA AND INDIA. AND THE
KENYA PEOPLE HAS BEEN BUYING IT FROM INDONESIA AND INDIA.. BUT RECENTLY
I GOT THE CONTACT OF SELLER IN INDONESIA AND INDIA. AND I CAME TO KNOW
THAT THIS PRODUCT CAN BE PURCHASED AT $ 70 US DOLLAR FROM INDONESIA AND
INDIA AND SUPPLIED TO THE COMPANY AT $150 US DOLLAR AND I HAVE THE
CONTACT OF PRODUCERS FROM INDONESIA AND INDIA OF WHICH I DON'T WANT TO
REALSE THIS CONTACT TO MY DIRECTOR. SIR, MY REQUEST IS IF YOU CAN
INVEST IN BUYING FROM THESE PEOPLE FROM INDONESIA AND INDIA AT $70 US
DOLLAR AND WE WILL SELL THIS PRODUCT TO MY COMPANY AT LEAST $150 US
DOLLAR. THEN WE CAN SHARE THE PROFIT.. AND THE COST OF THIS ROOTS WILL
COME LIKE FIVE GRAMES COST $ 70 US DOLLAR. I CAN'T EASILY RELEASE THIS
CONTACT BECAUSE IF MY COMPANY KNOWS ABOUT IT, THEY WILL CONSULT LEGAL
PETITION AGAINST ME, AND I CAN'T GO TO INDONESIA OR INDIA TO BUY THIS
PRODUCT NOW BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY AND OUR COMPANY ALWAYS BUY
1500 OR 2000 SACHETS (EACH SACHET CONTAINS 5 GRAMES). IF YOU CAN INVEST
MONEY TO BUY THIS PRODUCT FROM INDONESIA OR INDIA, I WILL FORWARD YOU
THE CONTACT SELLER WITH HIS DETAILS AFTER THIS. AS AN INDONESIA OR
INDIAN YOU WILL GET THIS HERBALS IN LESS PRICE.WITH YOUR CONTACT THE
COMPANY WILL SEND THE PROCUREMENT AND LOGISTIC MANAGER TO YOU INDONESIA
OR INDIAN WITH THE COMPANY STANDARD SAMPLE AND THE CASH TO PAY ON
DELIVERY.... THANKS AND I LOOKING FORWARD TO HEAR FROM YOU DR ERIC
SMITH
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What's next? Magic beans? I think that if they actually begin to suggest some sane investments, these types of scams might just get dangerous.
This next one promises an insane rate of return on your 'investment'.
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From: Nasdaq Invest LTD
<nasdaqltd@live.com>
Reply-to:
<nasdaqltd@live.com>
Subject: Secure & Stable Invest
Program, 21-27% daily for 5 days !
Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 12:24:30 -0400
We are a group of private individuals, most of our teammates are
professional bankers and traders, and some of them have good years of
business and financial related experience. Our group is made up of
American, Australian, Asian and European people, thus we are able to
watch and trade on the different markets almost 24 hours a day.
We offer following investment plans to our clients:
1) 21% daily for 5 days
Min: $20 Max: $1000
2) 23% daily for 5 days
Min: $1001 Max: $5000
3) 25% daily for 5 days
Min: $5001 Max: $9999
4) 27% daily for 5 days
Min: $10000 Max: $50000
We accept Liberty Reserve and have fully automated payouts.
Our web resource: http://nasdaqinvest-ltd.hostrator.com/
Mail to: nasdaqltd@live.com
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This next type of scam e-mail is extremely rare which is a good thing. Receiving one of these can truly be frightening to many. Out of the tens of thousands of scam e-mails I receive each year, probably only a half dozen or so are of this kind.
Here are two examples. The first example is by far the most popular format. These kind of e-mail scams require no explanation. In both examples the scammers' method of operation and intent is very clear.
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From: Jacks Man H. Killer <jackskiller18@telegraf.by>
Sent: Tuesday, July 8, 2008 2:54:06 AM
Subject: SOMEONE YOU CALL YOUR FRIEND, WANTS YOU DEAD.
Attention:
I
felt very sorry and bad for you, that your life is going to end like
this if you don't comply, i was paid to eliminate you and I have to do
it within10 days.Someone you call your friend wants you dead by all
means, and the person have spent a lot of money on this, the person
also came to us and told us that he wants you dead and he provided us
your names, photograph and other necessary information we needed about
you. If you are in doubt with this I will send you to death.
Meanwhile,
I have sent my boys to track you down and they have carried out the
necessary investigation needed for the operation, but I ordered them to
stop for a while and not to strike immediately because I just felt
something good and sympathetic about you. I decided to contact you
first and know why somebody will want you dead by all means. Right now
my men are monitoring you, their eyes are on you, and even the place
you think is safer for you to hide might not be. Now do you want to
LIVE OR DIE? It is up to you. Get back to me now if you are ready to
enter deal with me, I mean life trade, who knows, and I might just
spear your life, $9,000 is all you need to spend. You will first of all
pay $1,500 usd then I will send the tape of the person that want you
dead to you and when the tape gets to you, you will pay the remaining
$7,500 usd If you are not ready for my help, then I will have no choice
but to carry on the assignment after all I have already being paid
before now.
Warning: do not think of contacting the police
or even tell anyone because I will extend it to any member of your
family since you are aware that somebody want you dead, and the person
knows all members of your family as well. For your own good I will
advise you not to go out once is 7pm until I make out time to see you
and give you the tape of my discussion with the person who want you
dead then you can use it to take any legal action.
Good luck as I await your urgent respond.
Thanks,
Mr. Jacks H. Killer
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From: ali morgan <oosavey@gmail.com>
Subject: ITS URGENT
Date: Sat, 4 Apr 2009 01:15:06 -0800 (05:15 EDT)
ATTN.
LISTEN VERY CAREFULLY ,THIS IS THE ONLY WAY I CAN CONTACT
YOU, my TEAM HAS BEEN PAID TO ASSASINATE YOU, I HAVE EVERY REASON TO
CARRY
OUT THE CONTRACT,BUT I DECIDED TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE AND SAVE YOUR
FAMILY THIS PAIN,THIS YOUR ALTERNATIVE,I WISH TO HELP YOU UNLESS YOU
DONT WANT TO HELP YOUR SELF,I WILL SEND YOU ENOUGH EVIDENCE YOU NEED ON A VIDEO TAPE RECORD
TO NAIL MY EMPLOYER DOWN WITH THE LAW.
BEFORE THAT YOUR REQUIRED TO MAKE AVAILABLE THE SUM OF $70,000. USD,
AFTER WHICH I WILL DIRECT YOU ON WHAT TO DO NEXT TO SAVE YOUR SELF AND
YOUR FAMILY FROM THIS PAIN THAT WOULD HAVE BEFALLED YOU FROM MY
EMPLOYER,THE MONEY WILL BE USED TO SETTLE THE TEAM MEN INVOLVED TO GO
BACK TO THERE DESTINATIONS AND YOU BETTER KEEP THIS INFORMATION TO
YOUR SELF BECAUSE YOU DONT KNOW WHO IS WHO WHERE YOU ARE NOW,IF HE
FINDS OUT I HAVE BETRAYED HIM TRYING TO HELP YOU,YOU WILL HAVE YOUR
SELF TO BLAME, I HAVE ORDERED MY MEN TO SATY AWAY FROM YOU.
DO WE HAVE A DEAL OR NOT ?
NOTE: YOU HAVE TWO OPTIONS HERE, (1)YOU HAVE TO GET HIM ARRESTED WITH
THE INFORMATION I WILL GIVE YOU AFTER THE PAYMENT OR ( 2)YOU HAVE HIM
KILLED TO SAVE YOUR SELF.
I WILL VISIT YOUR HOUSE AGAIN BUT NOT NOW,MY BOYS EYES ARE ON YOU SO
GET BACK TO ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
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This concludes this document (for now) but I'll be adding to it in the future.
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