Stupid Punts!

Stupid Punts!

Text

Examples of the "Nigerian scam" that flood my email box everyday.

Tuesday, June 29, 2004

Now the scammers are trying to pretend that they are Iraqis.

Doubtless they feel that the current situation in Iraq makes us feel sorry for them.

This short email arrived in my email box this morning. Although the writer professes to be in Iraq, his email address is Italian; funny that!

Whatever the location, it is the same story; $15M in a bank account, which they want me to transfer on their behalf.

Some people actually fall for this!

DEAR FRIEND,
I AM RAFIK BELLO FROM IRAQ I AM CONTACTING YOU IN
CONNECTION WITH THE $15MILLION USD I HAVE IN MY
POSSESION WHICH I HAVE MOVE INTO A BANK IN ABIDJAN,
PLEASE COULD YOU HELP IN PROVIDING AN ACCOUNT SO
THAT THIS MONEY COULD BE TRANSFERED TO YOU SO THAT I
CAN COME OVER TO YOUR COUNTRY FOR RESETTLEMENT AND
START A NEW LIFE AND INVEST THE MONEY.

PLEASE FOR THE CONDITION OF ME AND MY FAMILY AND
WHERE WE ARE STAYING I CAN NOT DO THIS MY SELF SO,
IF YOU ARE INTRESTED I WILL GIVE YOU THE FULL NAME
E-MAIL/PHONE CONTACTS OF THE BANK SO THAT YOU CAN
CONTACT THE BANK ON HOW THE TRANSFER WILL BE MADE TO
YOU INTO YOUR ACCOUNT.

THANKS I BEG TO STOP SO FAR TILL YOU REPLY
ALLAH BLESS YOU.

RAFIK BELLO

Monday, June 28, 2004

This letter is almost a verbatim copy of one I posted a few days ago, only the names have been changed.

Now chaps if your going to fill up my mailbox with crud, at least entertain me by changing the story!

However, to give them credit; they did include a death certificate this time. I imagine that there is now a "cottage" industry surrounding these scams; producing false certificates and managing email spamming.

BRANCH MANAGER,
FINANCIAL TRUST BANK,
LAGOS T.HOUSE BRANCH,
LAGOS NIGERIA.
OFFICE EMAIL --
PERSONAL EMAIL --
Dear Friend,
My name is Rosemary Williams a branch manager in my bank. I have urgent
and very confidential business proposition for you. On JAN. 1990, an
American oil consultant/contractor with the Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation, Mr. smith Shaw made a numbered time (Fixed) deposited for
twelve calendar months, valued at US$15,000,000.00 (fifteen Million
Dollars) in my branch. Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification to
his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, we sent a
reminder and finally we discovered from his contract employers,
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation that Mr. smith Shaw died from
an automobile accident. On further investigation, I found out that he
did not leave a WILL and all attempts to trace his next of kin were
fruitless. I therefore made further investigation and discovered that
Mr. smith Shaw did not declare any next of kin in all his official
documents, including his Bank Deposit paperwork. This sum of
US$15,000,000.00 is still sitting in the Bank and the interest is being
rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. No one will
come forward to claim it. According to the Nigerian Law, at the
expiration of 15 (fifteen) years, the money will revert to the
ownership of the Nigerian Government if nobody applies to claim the
funds. Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner
to stand in as the next of kin to Mr. smith Shaw so that the fruits of
this old mans labor will not get into the hands of some corrupt
officials. This is simple, I will like you to provide me immediately
with your full names and address so that the attorney will prepare the
necessary documents and affidavits, which will put you in place as the
next of kin. We shall employ the service of an attorney for drafting
and notarization of the WILL and obtain the necessary documents and
letter of probate/administration in your favor the transfer. A bank
account in any part of the world, which you provide, will then
facilitate the transfer of this money to you as the beneficiary/next of
kin. The money will be paid into your account for us to share in the
ratio of 75% for me and 20% for you, while 5% for the expenses incurred
during the cost of this transfer. There is no risk at all as all the
paperwork for this transaction will be done by the attorney and my
position as the Branch Manager guarantees the successful execution of
this transaction. If you are interested, please reply immediately via
the private email address below. Upon your response, I shall then
provide you with more details and relevant documents that will help you
understand. Please observe utmost confidentiality, and rest assured
that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I
shall require your assistance to invest my share in your country.
Awaiting your urgent reply via email.
Thanks,
(For confidential purposes you could also reply me only through either
my personal or office email on.
OFFICE EMAIL --
PERSONAL EMAIL --

Thursday, June 24, 2004

This lady has tried to make her scam seem a little more convincing.

In addition to the normal letter, she has attached a photo (purportedly to be of herself) and a photo of a bank deposit certificate (which is of a course a forgery, these can be easily fabricated using a few net tools).

She claims to be in Nigeria, yet her email address is eastern Europe; funny that!

The essence of her scheme (sorry scam) is simple; she claims to be a bank clerk in Nigeria, one of her customers put $15M into an account in 1990 and died.

The money will go to the Nigerian government unless someone comes forward as next of kin.

This is where I come in, she wants me to commit fraud (yes it is as simple as that, I have to commit fraud!); and claim to be next of kin, and as a result claim the money.

No risk! Well actually it is a scam, so there is 100% risk.

BRANCH MANAGER,
FINANCIAL TRUST BANK,
LAGOS T.HOUSE BRANCH,
LAGOS NIGERIA.

Dear Friend,
My name is Sandra Johnson a branch manager in my bank. I have urgent
and
very confidential business proposition for you. On November 1990, an
American oil consultant/contractor with the Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation, Mr. smith Shaw made a numbered time (Fixed) deposited for
twelve calendar months, valued at US$15,000,000.00 (fifteen Million
Dollars) in my branch. Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification to
his
forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder
and
finally we discovered from his contract employers, Nigerian National
Petroleum Corporation that Mr. smith Shaw died from an automobile
accident.
On further investigation, I found out that he did not leave a WILL and
all
attempts to trace his next of kin were fruitless. I therefore made
further
investigation and discovered that Mr. smith Shaw did not declare any
next
of kin in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit
paperwork.
This sum of US$15,000,000.00 is still sitting in the Bank and the
interest
is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. No
one
will come forward to claim it. According to the Nigerian Law, at the
expiration of 15 (fifteen) years, the money will revert to the
ownership of
the Nigerian Government and the bank if nobody applies to claim the
funds.
Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to
stand
in as the next of kin to Mr. smith Shaw so that the fruits of this old
manÂ’s labor will not get into the hands of some corrupt officials. This
is
simple, I will like you to provide me immediately with your full names
and
address so that the attorney will prepare the necessary documents and
affidavits, which will put you in place as the next of kin. We shall
employ
the service of an attorney for drafting and notarization of the WILL
and
obtain the necessary documents and letter of probate/administration in
your
favor the transfer. A bank account in any part of the world, which you
provide, will then facilitate the transfer of this money to you as the
beneficiary/next of kin. The money will be paid into your account for
us to
share in the ratio of 75% for me and 20% for you, while 5% for the
expenses
incurred during the cost of this transfer. There is no risk at all as
all
the paperwork for this transaction will be done by the attorney and my
position as the Branch Manager guarantees the successful execution of
this
transaction. If you are interested, please reply immediately via the
private email address below. Upon your response, I shall then provide
you
with more details and relevant documents that will help you understand.
Please observe utmost confidentiality, and rest assured that this
transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall
require
your assistance to invest my share in your country. Awaiting your
urgent
reply.
Thanks,
FOR CONFIDENTIAL PURPOSES, KINDLY CONTACT ME THROUGH EITHER MY OFFICE
EMAIL
OR PERSONAL EMAIL AS CLEARLY WRITTEN.

Wednesday, June 23, 2004

The Curse of El Gordo

El Gordo, the fraudulent lottery scheme, has written to me again.

This time they have made a rather pathetic attempt to make their note look professional, by adding html. Unfortunately it didn't work, the raw code appears in the note.

This time, despite the fact that I have not entered any lottery, I seem to have won Euros0.5M.

As usual, there has been "a mix up with the numbers". Don't these people know how to run a lottery? Well no they don't because of course there is no lottery.

Don't fall for this it is a con; I'm afraid those who receive this note will still have to work for a living, rather than retire to a tropical island with their "winnings".


EL GORDO SPANISH SWEEPSTAKE


LOTTERY S.A.


C/ CARRACA Nº11 PISO 1-A


08905 BARCELONA -SPAIN


TELEFAX:


FROM: THE DESK OF MANAGING DIRECTOR


INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPT.


REF NO: EGS/0007459015/03


BATCH NO:17/7024/IPD


 


ATTENTION: .


RE:AWARD NOTIFICATION,FINAL NOTICE


WE are pleased to inform you of the release of the results of the EL GORDO
SWEEPSTAKE LOTTERY /INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM held on the 14th JUNE ,2004.SPANISH


Your name attached to ticket number 777-52104543-094 with serial number
3113-55 drew the lucky numbers 1-22-16-78-39-10 which consequently won the
lottery in the 3rd category.


You have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout of €515,810. 00
(FIVE HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED AND TEN EUROS ONLY ) in cash
credited to file REFERENCE


NO:EGS/0007459015/03.This is from a total cash prize of
€8,768,770.00(EIGHT MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED AND SIXTY EIGHT THOUSAND,SEVEN
HUNDRED AND SEVENTY EUROS ONLY) shared among the seventeen international winners
in this category


CONGRATULATIONS!!!


Your fund is now deposited with a security company insured to your name. Due
to mixed up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep this award from
public notice until your claim has been processed and your money remitted to
your nominated account as this is a part of our security protocol to avoid
double claiming or unwarranted taking advantage of this program by
participants.


All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from
25,000 names from Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and North America as part
of our international promotions program which we conduct once every year. We
hope that with a part of your prize , you will take part in our end of year high
stake US$1.3 billion International lottery.


To begin your lottery claim please contact your claims agent, Foreign
operations DON DIEGO MARTINEZ manager ESTRELLA SEGUROS S.A on Email:
for processing and remittance of your prize money
to a designated account of your choice. Remember that all prize money must be
claimed not later than 2ND AUGUST, 2004 After this date all funds will be
returned to the Ministry de Economic y Hacienda as unclaimed.


NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays there be any change of your
address, please do inform your claims agent, please remember to quote your
reference and batch numbers in every correspondence with us or your agent
.Furthermore should there be any change of your address, do inform your claims
agent as soon as possible.


Congratulations again from all members of our staff and thank you for being a
part of our promotions Program.


Sincerely.


SNR PEDRO
GARZON                                                                                                 
PRIZE CLAIM TRACK


Managing
Director                                                                                                          
Nº:8136534748


Tuesday, June 22, 2004

I am honoured, a prince has written to me.

Rather let me put it this way, some person claiming to be a Nigerian prince has written to me.

He claims to be involved with the Special Committee for Budget and Planning of the Ministry of Petroleum; and he has a sum of $8M, that he wishes to transfer out of Nigeria.

Now here is the amusing thing, this money (which doesn't exist) has been accumulated by over invoicing third parties. In other words, the person writing this claims that he has committed a fraud.

He wants me to help him get away with this fraud. The odd thing though, is that I have to prove that I am trustworthy. If I pass his "honesty test" (which I doubt is very demanding) he will then discuss the "modalities" (I love that word) with me.

So let's get this straight, if I were interested in getting involved in this deal (if I were stupid enough) I would have to accept the fact that the money I would be handling (which let us not forget doesn't exist) has been stolen. In other words I would have to be dishonest, yet I have to prove my honesty; bit of a conundrum really isn't it?

I don't have any sympathy for the people who fall for this one; they are not only stupid, but dishonest. The worst possible combination, a stupid dishonest person.

FROM THE DESK OF PRINCE TUNJI MOHAMMED


WE ARE SENDING THIS LETTER TO YOU BASED ON
INFORMATION GATHERED FROM THE FOREIGN TRADE OFFICE OF

THE NIGERIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY.
WE BELIEVE THAT YOU WOULD BE IN A POSITION
TO HELP US IN OUR BID TO TRANSFER THE SUM OF EIGHT MILLION FIVE HUNDRED
THOUSAND UNITED STATE DOLLARS ($8.5 M USD) INTO A FOREIGN ACCOUNT.

WE ARE MEMBERS OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE FOR BUDGET
AND PLANNING OF THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM, THIS
COMMITTEE IS PRINCIPALLY CONCERNED WITH CONTRACT APPRAISALS AND APPROVAL OF
CONTRACTS IN ORDER OF PRIORITIES AS REGARDS CAPITAL PROJECT OF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA. WITH OUR POSITIONS, WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY SECURED FOR OUR
SELVES THE SUM OF EIGHT MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATE DOLLARS
(US$8.5M). THIS AMOUNT WAS ACCUMULATED THROUGH OVER INVOICED CONTRACTS PURPOSELY
DONE BY US FOR OUR OWN GAINS.

WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU IS TO PLAY THE ROLE OF EXECUTOR
OF THE CONTRACT AND THEREFORE THE BENEFICIARY OF THE FUNDS, YOU WILLALSO
PROVIDE A SAFE ACCOUNT WHICH THE INCIDENCE OF TAX WILL BE LOW AND WE ARE SURE TO
BE ABLE SPEND THE MONEY AFTER THEN, INTO WHICH THE FUNDS WILL BE TRANSFERRED
SINCE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ARE NOT ALLOWED BY OUR LAWS TO OPERATE FOREIGN
ACCOUNT. IT HAS BEEN AGREED THAT FOR YOUR ROLE, YOU WILL BE GIVEN 25% OF THE
TOTAL SUM AND 5% HAS BEING EARMARKED FOR SETTLEMENT OF EXPENSES AFTER THE FUNDS
HAVE BEEN SECURED IN YOUR ACCOUNT.

SO IF YOU CAN PROVE YOURSELF TO BE TRUSTED, ABLE AND INTERESTED IN THIS DEAL
THEN WE ARE PREPARED TO DO BUSINESS WITH YOU.
WHAT WE WANT FROM YOU IS THE ASSURANCE THAT YOU WILL
LET US HAVE OUR SHARE WHEN THIS AMOUNT OF US$8.5M IS TRANSFERRED INTO YOUR
ACCOUNT. PLEASE CONTACT ME STRICTLY THROUGH MY E-MAIL STATED ABOVE, SO WE CAN
ADVICE YOU ON THE MODALITIES OF THE TRANSACTION. . THIS TRANSACTION IS 100%
SAFE. PLEASE TREAT AS URGENT AND VERY CONFIDENTIAL.

GOD BE WITH YOU AS I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR REPLY TO MY CONFIDENTIAL EMAIL ADDRESS
:


BEST REGARDS.


PRINCE TUNJI MOHAMMED



Saturday, June 19, 2004

This email appeared today in my mailbox.

At first sight it could be mistaken for being a genuine, if somewhat amateurish, business proposal; not a Nigerian scam.

However, on closer inspection (5 seconds of my life wasted!), it turns out to be another Nigerian scam. At least the story is a little different.

Here the writer claims to be in the business of solar panels, and has $31M stashed away in escrow.

The two big giveaways in the letter, that it is in fact a con, are:

  • The writer uses the word "modalities", this word does not in fact exist in any form of the English language that I am aware of; and is only used by Nigerian scammers. I imagine they think that it makes them sound sophisticated and professional.


  • The proposal is bollocks.


Enough said!

Dear Sir,

I have been instructed by my colleagues to look for
partners who
can assist us execute an urgent business transaction
involving huge
profits and international cooperation.
We are interested in the importation of Solar Panels,
Agricultural equipment and computer accessories. We
need a foreign
partner who can assist us with the transaction
involving US$31, 000 000.00,which
has been set-aside in an escrow account. We have
resolved that a
negotiable percentage will be your commission for
participating in
this transaction on our behalf and any other
assistance you may give in
this deal.A percentage will also be set aside from the
entire sum to settle
any expenses we may incur in the cause on these
transactions and Send all Replies to my alternative email address on:
karim_phillips@luxmail.com. My
colleagues and I are civil servants and as such, it is
not possible
for any of us to operate a foreign account directly;
hence we are soliciting
your support. We propose to finalize the transaction
in tenworking days.
If this proposal is accepted please respond to us via
e-mail to
enable us provide you with the detailed modalities for
the successful
completion of the project.I would also suppose you'd
prefer a voice
contact which requires sending your telephone and fax
numbers to facilitate
the various processes.There is no risk involved we
just need an international
conntact.Moreso,it will be of great importance you
provide me with
your telephone/fax details,so we can have a more
detailed conversation
regarding the whole project.
Finally, if you are not interested in this proposal, I
apologize on
behalf of myself and my colleagues for any
inconvenience.

Send all Replies to my alternative email address on:


Yours Sincerely,

Karim Phillips

Saturday, June 12, 2004

This message dropped into my mailbox today, short, sweet and to the point.

Although she claims to be writing from Africa, her email address is Italian.

Not too bright!

Dear Friend,

I am Muyiwa Ige,Eldest Son of Slained late Chief Bola Ige,Former
Attorney-General,Minister
of Justice,Federal republic of Nigeria.

I need you(A foreigner) to help me transfer the sum of $32m,This money was
willed to me by my late father and the money is presently in a security
company.If i do not re-transfer this money immediately the government might
seize it.Please come to my rescue before we loose everything my father had
worked for decades.

You will be entitled to 30% on your willingness to assist me transfer the
fund into your account.
If you are interested write me now!

Best Regards,

Muyiwa Ige

Friday, June 11, 2004

I have a feeling that this person has written to me before, under a different guise.

The opening line "Dear respectful one" is the giveaway.

Anyway, this time the con revolves around the alleged daughter of the chairman of the Sierra Leonean National Diamond & Gold Corporation.

Guess what?

He's dead!

Assassinated along with the writer's two kid brothers. I wonder how many dead bodies I've been told about in these scam letters?, must be quite a pile by now.

Needless to say there is a box containing money, $18M to be precise. I am offered a share of this non existent money; in return for various services that I must perform, such as "wise investment" advice.

As with all of these, it is a con; there is no money.

ABIDJAN 22 ABIDJAN
COTE D’IVOIRE
E-mail:

Dear Respectful one,

I am MISS ROSE Adoh,I am 21 years old and
SierraLeonean, and the only daugther of Late DR. Tony
Adoh of blessed memory. My late father was the
chairman of Sierra Leonean National Diamond & Gold
Corporation. My father was killed along with my two
kid brothers in our Freetown residence while I was
away. They were assassinated by rebels led by Major
Johnny Paul Koromah because my family never supported
the way Major Johnny Paul Koromah and his splinter
group overthrew our legitimate President, Alhaji Ahmed
Tejan Kabbah and forced him to exile.

After the assassination of my father and brothers,
when the African
Peace Keeping Forces(ECOMOG) soldiers were in control
of my village
"Mende", I left my hideout in my village. When I was
searching for some
information in our family villa, I found the key of my
father's underground
strong room and discovered some documents also notes
that he made a
deposited of one metallic box containing Eigtheen
million US Dollars
(US$18,000,000.00)in a private security company and he
deposited it as
family valuables not as money for security reasons
best known to him.

Meanwhile, I made an arrangement with a fisherman that
operates a
fishing trawller boat who smuggled me out throughWest
African coast water to Abidjan, CôteD’Ivoire, and
Ihave search for the security company and they told me
that my late father family valuables is still with
them. I now decieded to look for a trustworthy and
reliable foreign partner who will assist
me to move this money to his country or any place of
his choice for investment.

I suggest offering you (10%) of the total money if you
will assist me
to have this transaction done.

(1) You will help me provide a lucrative business
where this money will
be wisely invested.

(2) To help me to secure a permanent residence permit
as I would love
to spend the rest of my life doing business overseas.

Meanwhile, I want to leave Côte d’Ivoire entirely with
this money for
investment in your country because of the unstable
political situation
and mostly for the future of my life. I want you to
please assist me to
claim the box from their affiliate in Europe. Because
of the political problem here I instructe the Security
Company to transfer the consignment to their branch
office in Europe for safe keeping.

So the consignment is now in Europe. Every other
information needed will be given to you on request.
Note: that your urgent assistance is
needed tofacilitate this transaction. For confidential
purpose, you should handle this
transaction with utmost secrecy which it demands.
Looking forward tohearing from you soon.

Thanking you in anticipation of your urgent response.

God bless you.

Sincerely,

MISS ROSE Adoh.

Wednesday, June 09, 2004

This lady has a heart full of hope and trust, enough to make you weep isn't it?

She, like so many of these con artists, has a dead mother and father; together with a large sum of money ($7M in this case).

She is looking for a trustworthy person to transfer the money to, and to help her get a visa.

Now even the most lame brained of folks ought to ask at this stage; if the person is genuine, why on earth would she write to a complete stranger asking for help in this matter?

Sadly there are lame brained folks who don't ask this, and fall for the con.

From:Miss Regina Kone,
Abidjan-Cote d'Ivoire,
Email:

Dear ,

It is with a heart full of hope and trust in GOD that I write you this
letter to seek your help in the context below. My name is Miss Regina Kone,
22 years old from Sierra Leone in West Africa. My father and I escaped from
our country to Abidjan-Cote d?Ivoire at the heat of the civil war after
loosing my mother and two of my senior brothers in the war. And as a result
of the political instability in my country Sierra Leone even after the war,
my father decided to re-established his Cocoa and coffee export business
in Abidjan-Cote d?Ivoire where I am presently staying.

My father was in Bouake, a northern city of Cote d?Ivoire to negotiate for
the purchase of a Cocoa plantation and was shot by unknown men. The death
of my father has now made me an orphan and thereby exposed me to danger
since I noticed that the killing of my father was mastermind by our enamies
who are envy of my father's wealth.

Before the unfortunate death of my father in a private hospital here in
Abidjan, he secretly disclosed to me of the total sum of $7.5 Million United
States Dollars he deposited with one of the banks here in Abidjan and then
advised me to look for a reliable and trustworthy person whom I can transfer
the money into his or her account for my dear future life in case he died,
since there is insecurity of lives and property in this country.

Dear, due to the above reasons, I am honourably seeking your assistance
to stand as the beneficiary of the money as well as guardian , and to
provide a bank account for the transfer after which it will be invested
in any lucrative business you will advise for the benefit of you and me.

Moreso, I will want you to assist me with a letter of invitation that will
make me get a visa to your country for my re-settlement, continue my education
and to invest the money as I mentioned above.

Finally, I have made up my mind to offer you 20% of the total Sum as
compensation
after the transfer, and if this is acceptable to you, send me a mail immediately
through this my email account so that I can inform you what to do for easy
and immediate transfer of the money into your account.

Expecting to hear from you.
Best regards,
Miss Regina Kone.

Tuesday, June 08, 2004

Major Ken wrote to me today, doubtless aware of my work in De Beers; he decided to offer me the usual bull about diamonds and treasure troves of money ("millions and millions" no less!).

He claims to have nicked (there's an honest fellow) two boxes containing $35M, and he will pay me 20% to have them transferred.

Well if he nicked them off his comrades in arms, who is to say he won't nick off me as well.

No deal Ken.

Sir,


BUSINESS PROPOSAL.

I am retired Major ken abba, an ex-member of the
Revolutionary United Front of Sierra Leone (RUF). During
my active service, I was the unit Commandant responsible
for negotiation and procurement of arms and amunitions
used in the prosecution of the war against the Government
of Sierra Leone under the leadership of Alhaji Teejan
Kabbah. During this period, our high command raised
millions and millions of US dollars from the sales of
Diamonds, which was used in payment for arms and
amunitions.

When our Leader, Corporal Sankoh was arrested and detained
by the Sierra Leonian Government for possible trial by the
United Nations, our high command was thrown into confusion
and under this state of confusion., I took two boxes
containing about $35 Million USD (thirty five million
United States Dollars) and escaped along with refugees
from Ghana and Republic of Benin that were being
repatriated by the Ghanaian Navy to Accra, Ghana where I
deposited the two trunk boxes in the vaults of a security
company and declared the contents Artifacts and traveled
to Republic of Benin where I am now on self exile. Right
now, I am distressed as a result of sickness and would
like to claim those boxes in Accra and transfer the money
overseas for investment and also for medical attention.

So I write you because I need your assistance to claim the
boxes from the security company,and thereby use you as a
front to transfer the funds into your account in your
country.Upon your acceptance, I will offer you 15% of the
total money for your assistance and if you recommend any
viable business for the investment of the funds, I will
give you additional 20% equity share participation in the
business venture and you will be totally responsible for
the management of the siness.Should you be interested,
please do not hesitate to reach me immediately by mail. I
expect your urgent reply. Thanks and God bless.

Major ken abba (rtd)

Sunday, June 06, 2004

I received this little gem today, entitled "can you be trusted?".

Mr Savimbi, who has written to me before (guys if you are going to operate a scam, at least keep records of who you have written to; and what story you have tried to peddle), states that his letter will have come as a surprise (not really!).

He asks that I should not be alarmed about his present family troubles; no sweat, I'm not alarmed at all.

He claims to have got my name through an uprooted search on the net, what on earth is an "uprooted search"?

His father is dead and left him some money, made from the diamond business; were this story to be true you can be assured that the money from the diamonds would be "blood money", where the poor sods who dig the stones up do so with a rifle butt to their heads.

However, rest assured, there are no diamonds; and most certainly there is no money.

The one oddity about this letter is that he does not mention a sum of money; normally it would be above $10M, but here he just refers to a large sum. Clearly our boys in Nigeria are getting lazy with their lies.

The other oddity is that he asks me to come to collect the money myself, but assures me of the safety of this exercise. I can assure you, nothing on the planet would get me to travel out to meet him and his associates, most certainly it would be a one way trip.

You ask Mr Savimbi, if you can trust me; the real question is can I trust you?

The answer is NO, because you are a lying SOB who should be rotting in jail.

Goodday,
I know that this letter will come to you as a surprise due to the fact that we
have not yet met each other before, but please I will like you to consider my
present family troubles and be rest assured that there is no cause for alarm.
Please put yourself in my position and help me the way you will expect people to
assist you to redeem your family's wealth. It is my humble pleasure to write
this letter irrespective of the fact that you do not know me. However, I came to
know of you in my private search for a reliable and trustworthy person that can
handle a confidential transaction of this nature in respect of this, I got your
contact through an uprooted search on the internet. Though I know that a
transaction of this magnitude will make any one apprehensive and worried, but I
am assuring you that all will be well at the end of the day I am Mr. David
Savimbi, son of the late rebel leader Jonas Savimbi of Angola who was killed on
the 22nd of February 2002. Presently, I am de
sperately looking for a trustworthy person to assist me in this confidential
business.
My late father, Jonas Savimbi lodged huge sums of money realized from the sales
of diamonds and other precious stones / metals in different banks in Overseas.
My father is presently no more, and the movement of his family members
(including me) is highly restricted, all his bank accounts and properties have
been frozen and seized. We are forbidden to either travel abroad or out of our
immediate localities. Presently, I have just discovered a huge deposit made by
my father from the money realized from the last sales of diamonds before is
death .

My father had deposited this money as diplomatic consignment with a security
firm in Oversea, I have called the security firm and they have confirm to me
that the consignment is with them. I have all the documents with me right now
that is be needed to collect the consignment from the security firm, my father
has instructed the security firm in his deposit request to release consignment
to any three family members which includes myself, my mother and only sister
who is also dead incase of emergency or death.Right now my family has given me
the authority to do everything possible to get the consignment out as this is
the only hope we have now to bring the family out of its present poor financial
state.
I am therefore soliciting your help to have this consignment collected by you
and the funds transferred into your account. I will give you all the necessary
documentations to facilitate your collection of the consignment personally. The
government has no or will never have knowledge of this business, so there is no
need to be worried about your safety. I guarantee you your safety.Once I have
your complete assurance that you can handle this, I will immediately send to you
the relevant documents that will enable you take possession of the consignments.
This will include certificate of deposit and shipment airway bill and all other
relevant documents.
However, in return for all your assistance we have decided to offer you 15% of
the total amount of money as your share and 5% for all your expenses which will
include your travel expenses and every other expenses you incure in the cause of
this transaction, such as your telephone bills etc,this makes a total of 20% my
family has agreed to give to you for helping us secure the money. I am waiting
for your response to enable us proceed.
PLEASE REPLY TO MY CONFIDENTIAL EMAIL ADDRESS :
Regards,
David Savimbi


Friday, June 04, 2004

Cunning Linguist

Not content with bombarding me with letters written in lousy English, my dear old Nigerian scamming chums have decided to send me French letters as well.

This gem popped up a few minutes ago in my mail box.

Whilst my French is decidedly poor, I can give you a rough freehand translation.

Madame Bare has pleasure in writing to me from the Ivory Coast...where she has lived for a year with her 2 kids...she was the wife of the President of Niger (who of course is dead)...she now has $38M..she wants me to help transfer it offshore, and I will get 25%.

Different language, same old shit!

Clemence Fatou Baré
Adresse : 05 BP 159 Abidjan 05
Republique de Côte d'Ivoire

A L'ATTENTION DE :

C’est Avec un réel plaisir que je vous contacte depuis
ABIDJAN la capitale économique de la COTE D’IVOIRE
(AFRIQUE de l’Ouest) ou je vis depuis bientôt une
année avec mes deux enfants HASSAN et MOUSSA.

En fait je suis Mme FATOU BARE MAÏNASSARA, l’épouse
légitime de l’ex-président de la république du NIGER
(AFRIQUE de l’Ouest) assassiné par une junte militaire
en avril 1999.
Pendant l’exercice de son mandat présidentiel, mon
époux avait déposé auprès d'une Compagnie de Sécurité
en COTE DÂ’IVOIRE la somme de 38 millions de dollars
américains pour lui permettre de concevoir un projet
d’investissement à la fin de son mandat présidentiel.
Malheureusement le sort en a décidé autrement.

Quelques temps après sa mort, la Compagnie de Sécurité
m’a contacté en ma qualité d’épouse légitime de
mÂ’informer sur la position de ses fonds.

Au jour d’aujourd’hui ma préoccupation majeure est de
transférer cette somme hors de l’AFRIQUE de l’Ouest.

CÂ’est dans cette perspective que je vous contacte
pour que vous mÂ’assistiez dans ce transfert en mettant
à ma disposition un compte OFFSHORE.

Je peux ainsi vous rassurer qu’à la fin de l’opération
je vous consentirai 25% du montant total comme votre
récompense personnelle.

Je voudrais savoir compter sur vos qualités humaines
et professionnelles.

Salutations distinguées
Clemence Fatou Baré

Thursday, June 03, 2004

Lady luck has smiled upon me again, yes I have won yet another lottery.

This time a paltry $500K, I normally win over $1M, this sum makes it hardly worth my while getting out of bed to file the claim.

For reasons best known to the perpetrators of this scam, they all claim to operate from Holland; anyone know why?

Anyway, don't fall for this one folks, it is a con.

POST LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL
ACCREDITED LICENSED AGENT TO GLOBAL LOTTERY
Ref. Number: (7)(90)(29)(83)(56)(AX)
Batch Number: (6)(92)(47)(26)(54)(ZB)
Sir/Madam,
We are pleased to inform you about the result of Post Lottery Winners
International programs held on the 20th of May, 2004. Your e-mail address
was used for confirmation and prize notification which subsequently was
attached to a ticket number 2/0/3/9/7/5 with serial
number 4/9/2/3/7/2 drew lucky numbers 7/2/6/3/4/9 which consequently won
in the 2nd category, you have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay
out of US$500.000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars)
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
However you are to keep this information confidential until your claims
has been duly processed and your winning sum confirm to your nominated
bank account.
This is part of the measure taken to ensure the winning sum is paid out to
the right winner and also to avoid unwarranted abuse of this program by
some participants.
All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from
over 29,000.00 company and 35,000,200 individual email
addresses,names/website from all over the world. This promotional program
takes place every year. We encourage you to take part in our next year
USD20 million international lottery stake. To file for your claim, please
contact our;
FIDUCIAL AGENT: Mr.Samuel Hogeweg of: PROMID BV.
TEL:
EMAIL:
For your immediate attention, your winning must be claimed not later than
18th of June 2004. After this date your winning sum will be carried over
and included in the next USD20 million lottery stake. Please remember to
quote your reference number and batch numbers in all correspondence with
your agent to avoid any complication. Furthermore, should there be any
change of address do notify your agent as soon as possible. Once again
Congratulations from our members of staff and thank you for being part of
our program.
Note: Anybody under the age of 20 is automatically disqualified.
Sincerely yours,
Edith Claudia (Mrs.)