Stupid Punts!

Stupid Punts!

Text

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

Friday, February 25, 2005

WARNING

There is an email doing the rounds at the moment, purportedly from Pay Pal.

It is not from them, it is a "phish", designed to trick you into revealing your account details.

Do not respond to it.

Dear PayPal Member,

Your account has been randomly flagged in our system as a part of our routine security measures. This is a must to ensure that only you have access and use of your PayPal account and to ensure a safe PayPal experience. We require all flagged accounts to verify their information on file with us. To verify your Information at this time, please visit our secure server webform by clicking the hyperlink below

Click here to verify your Information




Thank you for using PayPal!
The PayPal Team

Tuesday, February 22, 2005

A certain Biros Affi writes to me today, with a splendidly dishonest proposal.

He claims to have access to $8M, lying in the account of a dead man.

In reality there is of course no money, but Mr Affi is assuming that I am stupid; big mistake mate!

He wants me to pose the next of kin of the dead man, who also doesn't exist, so that he can transfer the non existent money out of the country; in other words, he wants me to commit fraud.

He claims that there is no risk, well he would say that wouldn't he?

Were I to fall for this obvious scam, I would be very stupid, dishonest and greedy indeed.

I am not, I hope you're not either!

FROM Mr BIROS AFFI
ACCOUNTS / OPERATION DEPARTMENT,
BANK IN COTE D'IVORE
ABIDJAN COTE D'IVORE(IVORY COAST)
Email
Tel +

Dear ,

Compliments of the season and how are you today, i
hope fine. before i proceed i would like to introduce
my self to you.My name is Mr BIROS AFFI , a staff in
accounts/ operation department of A Bank IN COTE
D'IVOIRE(IVOIRE COAST). I have urgent and very
confidential business proposition for you. I got your
contact from the world trade center (W.T.C.) regional
office in ABIDJAN COTE D'IVOIRE the details of my
intention was not made known to them.

On June 6 2000, An oil consultant / contractor with
the ABIDJAN COTE D'IVOIRE National Petrolum
Corporation, MR KAFFAL AMMARI, made a numbered
time(fixed) deposited for twelve calendar valued at
US$8,000,000.00 (Eight Million united states 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 contact employers COTE D'IVOIRE
National Petroleum corporation that MR KAFFAL AMMAR,
died in auto crash along with his entire family. 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 KAFFAL AMMAR, did not declare
any next of kin in all his official documents,
including his Bank Deposit paperwork.

This sum of US$8,000,000.00 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 ABIDJAN
COTE D'IVOIRE Law, at the expiration of 6 (six) years,
the money will revert to the ownership of the COTE
D'IVOIRE 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 KAFFAL
AMMAR,so that the fruits of this old mans labor will
not get into the handsof some corrupt government
officials.

This is simple, 1. I will like you to provide me
immediately with your full names and address so that
the attorney will prepare all the necessary documents
and affidavits, which will put you in place as the
next of kin to this fixed deposit.
2. We shall employ the services of an attorney for
drafting all the necessary documents in your favour
for the transfer. 3. A bank account in any partof the
world, which you provide, will then facilitate the
transfer of this money to you as the beneficiary /
next of kin of MR KAFFAL AMMAR I. The money will be
paid into your account for us to share in the ratio of
60% for me and 40% for you.

There is no risk as all the paper work for this
transaction will be done by the attorney and my
position as a staff of this department, guarantees the
successful execution of this deal.
If you are interested, please reply immediately via
the private email address below or up. Upon your
response, I shall then provide you with more details
and relevant documents that will help you understand
the deal very well. Please observe ultimost
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.
Feel free to contact me on both the above telephone
number and email address for confidential reasons.
Looking forward to see your urgent responce.

Regards,

Mr BIROS AFFI

Monday, February 21, 2005

I received this charming little note today, from someone claiming to be the South African Minister of Communications.

He says that he has $20M, arising from the "over invoicing" (theft to you and me) of a contract.

Needless to say this money doesn't really exist. However, our dear friend wants me to help him move this non existent money out of South Africa.

In other words he wants me to help him steal it!

For good measure he closes his email with the phrase "Honesty and transparency, they are my best work tools".

I have no sympathy for anyone who loses money, by falling for this nasty little scam.

Dear friend,

I am contacting you to front as a co-owner and beneficiary of funds
(US$25,000,000.00) due for an executed contract here in South africa.

I am currently a high ranking government official in the ruling cabinet of
President Thabo Mbeki (South Africa).

This funds are a result of over-invoiced proceeds of a contract I helped a
South African based company secure and is yet to be paid out by the Reserve
Bank of South Africa.

This funds emanated as a result of an over-invoiced contract which Sentech
(Pty)Ltd., a communications company executed with the Government of South
Africa. I am afraid that the government of South Africa might start to
investigate on contracts awarded from 2000 to date. If they discover this
money yet unclaimed with my name linked to it, the government will
confiscate the money and this will definitely affect my political career in
Government.

I want your assistance to front as a co-owner of this company (SENTECH [PTY]
LTD) to facilitate the release of the funds. I will introduce a very good
attorney to assist us with the transfer process without any hitch but he
will not be told my interest in the transaction as I play a very sensitive
role in my government. As the contract was executed
in my present government department, be rest assured that I will use my
position to approve the immediate release of the entitlement. As soon as the
funds is release to your name, you are expected to move it
immediately into your personal bank account in your country. As soon as you
have confirmed receipt of the funds into your account, I will arrange to
meet with you.

If you agree to my proposal, please endeavour to send me an urgent reply to;

Due to my sensitive position in the South African
Government, I would not want you to phone or fax me.

The lawyer I will recommend to assist us will be representing our interest
at the Reserve Bank of South Africa and all necessary quarters. All future
correspondence must be made either to the attorney or myself.

I am reposing huge trust on you regardless of your being a total stranger.
Upon your reply, we shall discuss your percentage for
your assistance.

Because of my sensitive position as serving government official, I will only
give you more details of myself when we proceed further and I am sure of
your sincerity.

Thank you.

Dr. Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS

Honesty and transparency, they are my best work tools

Wednesday, February 16, 2005

Another scam lottery email is doing the rounds.

This one allegedly comes from Lucky Day Lottery.

Don't fall for it, it is a con.

LUCKYDAY LOTTERY NL BV.

LAAN VAN HOORNWIJCK 55
2289 DG RIJSWIJK.
AMSTERDAM, THE- NETHERLANDS
www.luckyday.nl

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
LUCKYDAY E-MAIL LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL
PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPT
www.luckyday.nl

REFERENCE NUMBER: NL/255125600304
BATCH NUMBER: 54/1017/IDL

DEAR SIR/MADAM,

RESULTS FOR CATEGORY "A" DRAWS

Congratulations to you as we bring to your notice, the results of the Category "A" draws of LUCKYDAY LOTTERY NL BV. We are happy to inform you that you have emerged a winner under the First Category, which is part of our promotional draws. The draws were held on the 11TH FEBRUARY 2005 and results were officially announced today 15TH FEBRUARY.
Participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 4,000,000 names/email addresses of individuals and companies from Africa, America, Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, Middle East, and New Zealand as part of our International Promotions Program.
You/Your Company, attached to ticket number 369-555-876/6181-22, with serial number 90-77 drew the lucky numbers 29, 41, 20, 39,48,44 (01), and consequently won in the Category "A".
You have therefore been awarded a lump sum pay out of 1,000,000.00EUR (0NE MILLION EUROS) which is the winning payout for Category "A" winners. This is from the total prize of 14 MILLION EUROS Shared among the 14 international winners in this category.

CONGRATULATIONS!

OMEGA Agency, a reputable firm in the NETHERLANDS has been assigned to be your agent .In your best interest and also to avoid mix up of numbers and names of any kind, we request that you keep the entire details of your award strictly from public notice until the process of transferring your claims has been completed, and your funds remitted to your account. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming or unscrupulous acts by participants/no participants of this program.

We also wish to bring to your notice our mid year (2005) high stakes where you stand a chance of winning up to EURS 10.Million, we hope that with a part of your prize you will participate.
Please contact your claim agent immediately, to begin your claim process;

MR.JOSEY MARK.

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
OMEGA AGENCY NL BV.
REG.OFFICE HOLENRECHTSTR 305,2401XZ
DEN HAAG THE NETHERLANDS

TEL:
EMAIL:

For due processing and remittance of your prize money to a designated account of your choice. Remember, you must contact your claim agent not late than 30TH FEBRUARY 2005. After this date, all funds will be returned as unclaimed.

NOTE: For easy reference and identification find below your reference and Batch numbers.
Note that you are to forward this email to your assigned agent in your first correspondence with them.

REFERENCE NUMBER: NL/255125600304
BATCH NUMBER: 54/1017/IDL

Congratulations once again from all our staff and thank you for being part of our promotional program.

Sincerely,
MR.MACK GIBSON.
LUCKYDAY LOTTERY NL BV.

N.B. Any breach of confidentiality on the part of the winners will result to disqualification.

Please do not reply to this mail. Contact your claim agent with the contact information given above

Sunday, February 13, 2005

A million Dollar win on the lottery?

You didn't enter the lottery?

A mix up with the numbers?

Yes that's right, it's a scam.

If you get one of these, do not be stupid enough to respond.

LOTTERY WINNING NOTIFICATION/ FINAL NOTICE EMAIL LOTTERY SWEEPSTAKES (ACCREDITED LICENSED AGENT TO FAMOUS CULTURE LOTTERY) Ref. Number: 262/415/7673 Batch Number: 1352-8884-AF 11 Sir/Madam We are pleased to inform you about the result of the Lottery Winners International programs held on the 4th February 2005. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number 107613205- with serial number 180-214-730 drew lucky numbers 7-22-18-23-11-44, which consequently won in the 1st category, you have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of US$ 1,000,000.00 (One Million United States Dollars) CONGRATULATIONS!!! Due to the mix up of some numbers and name's we ask that you keep your winning information confidential until your claims has been processed and your money Remitted to you. 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 25,000 company and 40,000,000 individual email addresses and names from all over the world. This promotional program takes place every three years. This lottery, was promoted by the software corporation to compensate some few individuals with website and email addresses, we hope that with part of your winning you will take part in our next year USD50 million international lottery. To file for your claim, please contact our FIDUCIAL AGENT: Mr. Joe West of FAMOUS CULTURE AGENCY. TEL: Email: Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 3rd of March 2005. 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. Furthermore, should there be any change of address do inform our agent as soon as possible. Congratulations once more from our members of staff and thank you for being part of our promotional program. Note: Anybody under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified. Sincerely yours, Mrs. Rita Hamilton. (Lottery Coordinator)

Wednesday, February 09, 2005

I have won $2.5M on the British Lottery, not!

Another con I am afraid.

To add credibility to their con, these guys claim association with the Rockefeller (I think they mean Rockerfeller..at least spell it right guys!) Foundation; not a chance!

Do not fall for this, it is a con.

BRITISH LOTTERY HEADQUARTERS:
Customer Service
an Affiliate of THE ROCKEFELLER
FOUNDATION
28 TANFIELD ROAD,
CROYDON.LONDON

Ref:BTL/4910X1/04
Batch: 12/25/0340

WINNING NOTIFICATION:

We happily announce to you the draw of the BRITISH
Sweepstake
Lottery International programs held on the 1st of
April 2004 in London.Your
e-mail address attached to ticket number:
69475600545-721 with Serial
number
8867/04 drew the lucky numbers: 31-6-26-13-35-7,which
subsequently won you
the lottery in the 2nd category.You are therefore,
been approved to claim
a total sum of US$2,500,000.00 (Two million, five
hundred thousand, United
StatesDollars) in cash credited to file
KPC/9080118308/02.This is from a
total cash prize of US $125 Million dollars, shared
amongst the first Fifty
(50) lucky winners in this category.

Please note that your lucky winning number falls
within our European booklet
representative office in Europe as indicated in our
play coupon. In view
of this, your US$2,500,000.00 (Two million, five
hundred thousand,United
States Dollars) would be released to you by our
affiliate bank in London.Our
agent will immediately commence the process to
facilitate the release
of your funds to you as soon as you make contact with
her .

All participants were selected randomly from World
Wide Web site through
computer draw system and extracted from over 100,000
companies.This
promotion
takes place annually. For security reasons, you are
advised to keep your
winning information confidential till your claims is
processed and your
money remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit
to claim
your prize. This is a part of our precautionary
measure to avoid double
claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some
unscrupulous
elements.

Please be warned.To file for your claim, please
contact our fiduciary agent
with the below details for processing of your claims.

AGENT: Mrs laura Banks
Email:

To avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please
quote your
reference/batch
numbers in any correspondences with us or our
designated
agent.Congratulations
once more from all members and staffs of this
program.Thank you for being
part of our promotional lottery program.

Sincerely,
Micheal Ronin.
BRITISH LOTTERY ZONAL ONLINE CO-ORDINATOR

Tuesday, February 08, 2005

Scams come in many forms, this one purports to come from someone offering me the chance of a business relationship with his company.

Needless to say, any reputable business would have identified what business I was working in; then tailored the letter accordingly.

This mail is a scam; they will at some satge ask me to give them details of my bank account, and presumably ask for an up front fee.

Investment Capital Inquiry
We are brokering an Investment deal in your country on
behalf of a client of our firm.
This deal will involve the eventual investment of USD 25
M.(Twenty Five Million Dollars)
in your country.
We are by this letter offering you our partnership, so as
to allow us have you as
representative and manager of invested funds in your
country.
Since we can not determine if this email is still
functional and also your willingness
we have kept this proposal brief.
If you are Intrested in this offer of partnership, please
respond and give us your full
contact details plus company profile, and in response we
will send you an elaborate
proposal and details of this offer.
Your expedient response will be appreciated.
Wong Andersen



Monday, February 07, 2005

WARNING

The following email is "doing the rounds" at the moment.

It purports to come from Bank of The West, it is in fact a "phish"; designed to entrap the unwary into clicking on the link, and entering their account details.

Do not fall for this, no reputable organisation will ever send you an email requesting you to confirm your account details.

Dear Bank Of The West customer,
We have noticed unusual activity on your
account. You need to verify and approve the charges
before we allow any additional activity.

Please follow the link below:

Saturday, February 05, 2005

De Lotto Switzerland have written to me today, telling me that I have won $18M. In truth it is just a scam.

Don't fall for this.

FROM THE DESKTOP OF THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD
DEPARTMENT/AWARD NOTIFICATION
De Lotto Switzerland 41132,
SW-1007 SWISS-ZURICH
BATCH NO.:54/769/307.
Website:
DEAR SIR/MADAM,
AWARD NOTIFICATION
We wish to inform you of the lottery draws held between 5sat of february
2005 by the SWISS LOTTO ZURICH HIGHSTAKES INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS
LOTTERY.
Your email address, attached to ticket number 27522465896-6453, with
serial number 3772-554 drew the lucky numbers 7-14-18-31-45, and
consequently won in the 2nd Category of the lottery.
You have therefore been approved for a lump sum of$1,800,000.00 USD in
cash credited to file REF NO: 538901527-Bc68.
This is from total prize money of $35,000,000.00 USD shared among the
various international winners in this category.
All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from
30,000 names and 30,000,000 email addresses from Australia, New Zealand,
America, Europe, Middle East,
Asia and Africa as part of our International Promotions Program, which is
conducted twice a year. CONGRATULATIONS!
Your fund is now available for claim. Due to the mix up of some numbers and
names, we ask that you keep this award strictly from public notice until
your claim has been processed and your money remitted to your account.
This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming or
unscrupulous acts by participants of this promotion.
We hope with part of your prize, you will participate in our next year
highstakes 5,000,000.00 Euros International Lottery.
To begin your claim, please contact your claim agent MR HOPE JOHN
EMAIL:
For due processing and remittance of your prize money to a designated
account of your choice.
Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than 28mon of february
2005
after this date, all funds will be returned as unclaimed.
NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please
remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in every one of your
correspondences with your agent. Furthermore, should there be any change of
your address, do inform your claims
agent as soon as possible.
Congratulations again and thank you for being part of
our lottery promotions.
Sincerely yours,
THOMAS RAMSON.
PROMOTIONS MANAGER.

Thursday, February 03, 2005

Bullshit!

Don't fall for this obvious scam.

My name is Kelvin Mudzuri.My father was one of the people killed in the land reform dispute in my country Zimbabwe. I got your contact as i was searching for a reliable and reputable person to handle a very confidential business which involve the claiming and transferring of fund into a foreign account for safe keeping and further investment.

My father was among the few black Zimbabwean opposition party rich farmers who were against President Robert Mugabe's land reform policies against the white farmers in Zimbabwe.For his alleged support and sympathy for the Zimbabwean opposition party controlled by the white minority farmers.Before my father was killed,he was a successful farmer in support of his white colleagues .
He had taken me to South Africa and deposited the sum of Nine million five hundred thousand united state dollars (US$9.5 million) with a security/finance company as he for seen the looming danger in Zimbabwe. This is to avoid it been confiscated by President Robert Mugabe and ruling party.This money was allocated for the establishment of new farms in Lesotho and Swaziland.This land problems arose when President Robert Mugabe introduced a new land act that wholly affected the rich white farmers.Some blacks vehemently condemned the "modus operandi" adopted by the government. This result to rampant killings and mob action by the war veterans and some political thugs,precisely more than three thousand( 3,000) people has been killed.Heads of government from the west, especially Britain and United States have voice their condemnation of Mugabe's plans.Currently,the money has been transfer to Europe via diplomatic process,due to current escalation of the problem in Zimbabwe to avoid
it been confiscated.Hence,South Africa Development Community (S.A.D.C) has continuously supported Mugabe's new land act.This is the reason why we decided to transfer this fund to Europe and fled out of the South Africa where we were living since this problem started to staying in the Netherlands where we are seeking political asylum and mores have decided to transfer my fathers fund to a more reliable foreign account. since the law of Netherlands prohibits a refugee (asylum seeker) to be involved in any financial transaction throughout the territorial zone of Netherlands, As the eldest son of my father, I am saddled with the responsibility of seeking a genuine foreign account where these funds could be transferred without the knowledge of my government who are bent on taking everything we have got.

The South African government seems to be playing along with them .I am faced with the dilemma of keeping and investing of this money in whole of Africa for fear of encountering the same experience in the future or confiscation of all that belong to my family by these African leaders.Since all countries in Africa have almost the same political tie.

Hence,my family and i are currently asylum seeker in the Netherlands.
All i demand from you is to be our representative/beneficiary to make claim of this fund,which is currently deposited in the security/finance company custody .I will also inform you that a transaction of this magnitude is of mutual benefit.For your assistance of claiming and safeguarding the fund,we are wiling to offer you 10% of the sum ,85% for me and my family, while 5% will be for any expenses that we may incurred during this transaction.We wish to offer you 10% of annual turnover of any investment you wish to invest this money when it finally gets into your propose account,for a period of Five consecutive years.
Finally, i will demand for assurance that you will not sit on the fund when it gets to you , If this proposal is accepted please confirm your interest by sending an email.

God bless you as i wait your response.

Thanks and God bless you.

Mr.Kelvin Mudzuri


For more information on the crisis in Zimbabwe please click on the links below:

http://www.hrw.org/reports/2002/zimbabwe/ZimLand0302-03.htm#P530_123949

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2414713.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1964548.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/717793.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/717748.stm