Scams from Africa
I get emails from Africa……
***
Okay…. This topic isn’t specifically about the iPhone. I do, however, initially receive and read the emails on my iPhone because the phone is usually with me. Messages have been coming in for several years. The first occurred in 2000 and was delivered by U.S. Mail not by electronic mail which seemed weird and I considered contacting the FBI or some other government agency, but never did follow through. Since that first U.S. Post delivered scam letter from someone in Nigeria, all subsequent African scam communications have been delivered electronically.
***
These notes are funny, scary, and a bit schizophrenic. They’ve recently achieved new levels of sophistication in terms of story line; while at the same time, the emails don’t always use standard English grammar; so, who in the heck would fall for the scam? Many of these notes claim to come from bankers and bankers tend to be an educated lot. Okay, maybe some bankers became overly clever and helped drive the U.S. and U.K. into a real estate bubble, which has burst and is now bringing down both economies. However, bankers generally create emails that conform with the “King’s English”.
***
I thought it might be useful to post a few of these scam email letters on the blog. I’m probably not the only person receiving them. In fact, according to Wikipedia’s Advance-fee fraud the letters are mass mailed to thousands of people and are descended from a scam known as “419″ which refers to an article of the Nigerian Criminal code. Creativity is remarkable and seems to reach new levels of sophistication with each message.
——- Letter 16 ——–
From: “finance federal ministry” <federalministryfinance11@mailbox.hu>
Date: May 30, 2008 2:46:31 AM PDT
To: info@federalminstryfinance.gov.ng
Subject: NOTICE ON WITHDRAWAL OF YOUR INHERITED/ CONTRACTORS FUNDS OF USD 5.5
NOTICE ON WITHDRAWAL OF YOUR INHERITED/ CONTRACTORS FUNDS OF USD 5.5 MILLION
NOTE: FOR PROMPT RESPONCE PLEASE SEND ALL REPLIES TO EMAIL:
permtsec.fmf.ng@gmail.com
GREETINGS:
FROM THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE WE WRITE TO INFORM YOU THAT WE RECIVED A ORDER FROM HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA IN PERSON OF MR. MUSA YAR ADUA TO CALL OFF THE APPROVED PAYMENT OF YOUR CONTRACT INHERITED FUNDS OF $5,500,000.00 DUE TO LACK OF RESPONSE OF CLAIM FOR OVER TWO MONTHS.
YOU HAVE BEEN AWARDED 7 DAYs GRACE FOR OPEN DOORS, AND ALSO MAKE THE FUND VALID TILL YOU CLAIM IT, AS SOON AS THESE DAYS ARE EXCEEDED WE WILL HAVE NO OTHER OPTION THAN TO CUT THE VALIDITY OF YOUR FUNDS.
DOORS ARE STILL OPEN FOR CLAIM FROM NOW. AT THIS POINT YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO ACT IN ACCORDANCE TO INSTRUCTIONS GIVING TO YOU, FOR WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE PERFECT EVERY ARRANGEMENT TO MAKE SURE YOU RECEIVE YOUR FUNDS THROUGH A DIPLOMATIC CONSIGNMENT BOX BEFORE THE END OF NEXT WEEK. WE ALSO WOULD ADVICE TO AVOID ANY LONG DISTANCE TRIP UNTIL YOU HAVE THE FUNDS IN YOUR HANDS, BE AWARE THAT THE FUND WOULD BE DELIVERED TO YOU THROUGH A DIPLOMAT MEANS.
THE ARRANGEMENT HAS BEEN MADE WE WANT YOU TO FORWARD THE AIRPORT THAT WOULD BE MOST CONVENIENT FOR YOU WHERE YOU WILL BE MEETING THE DIPLOMAT. PLEASE FOR CONFIRMATION THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH THE RIGHT PERSON WE WOULD WANT YOU TO ATTACH YOUR DRIVERS LINCENSE OR PASSPORT TO US THAT BEARS YOUR NAME IN IT.
BE ADVISED TO STOP ANY OTHER ACTIVITY OR CONTACT YOU HAVE ESTABLISHED WITH ANY OTHER PARTY FOR SAYING THAT THEY WOULD THEY CAN’T GRANT YOU YOUR PAYMENT.
NOTE: FOR PROMPT RESPONCE PLEASE SEND ALL REPLIES TO EMAIL:
permtsec.fmf.ng@gmail.com
Thank you,
baba ijo Olusegun Olujimi O. OGUNKUA, OON, mni
Permanent Secretary
Federal Ministry of Finance
Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Abuja FCT
NIGERIA
——- Letter 15 ——–
From: Tim Concannon
Subject: Regarding Engr.Rudolf Mayer ’s Will
To:
Date: Thursday, July 24, 2008, 5:35 AM
Guildhall Chambers Portsmouth,
Prudential Buildings,
16 Guildhall Walk,
Portsmouth ,
Hants PO1 2DE
DX: 2225 Portsmouth 1
tim_concannon@live.co.uk
On behalf of the Trustees and Executor of the estate of Late Engr.Rudolf Mayer,I wish to notify you that late Engr. Rudolf Mayer made you a beneficiary to his WILL. He left the sum Nine Million, five Hundred Thousand Dollars (USD$9,500.000.00) to you in the Codicil and last testament to his WILL.
This may sound strange and unbelievable to you, but it is real and true.Being a widely traveled man, he must have been in contact with you in the past or simply you were nominated to him by one of his numerous friends abroad who wished you good. Engr Rudolf Mayer. Until his death was a member of the Helicopter Society and the Institute of Electronic & Electrical Engineers. He was a very dedicated Christian who loved to give out. His great philanthropy
earned him numerous awards during his life time. Late Engr.Rudolf Mayer died on the 13th day of December,2005 at the age of 81 years, and his WILL is now ready for execution. According to him this money is to support your humanitarian activities and to help the poor and the needy in our society.
Please if I reach you as I am hopeful, endeavor to get back to me as soon as possible to enable me conclude my job. I hope to hear from you in no distant
time. Note: You are advise to contact me with my personal details below;
Email:tim_concannon@live.co.uk
I await your prompt response.
Yours in Service,
Mr. Tim Concannon
PRINCIPAL PARTNERS: Barrister Lincoln Brookes LLB (Hons) (London) ,Mr.ROBERT
COLOVER
—— Letter 14 ——
Our Ref: UN/CITIBANK/511
Your Ref:
======= ============
WORLD BANK GROUP AND UNITED NATION ORGANIZATION do hereby give this irrevocable approval order with Release Code: GNC/3480/02/00 in your favor for your contract entitlement/award winning payment with the UNITED NATION to your nominated bank account. Now you’re new Payment, United nation Approval No; UN5685P, White House Approved No:WH44CV, Reference No.-35460021, Allocation No: 674632 Password No: 339331, Pin Code No: 55674 and your Certificate of Merit Payment No : 103 , Released Code No: 0763; Immediate Citibank Telex confirmation No: -1114433 ; Secret Code No:XXTN013, Having received these vital payment number , therefore You are qualified now to received and confirm Your payment with the United Nation immediately within the next 72hrs.
As a matter of fact, you are required to Deal and Communicate only with MR ANDREW WOLLEY, DIRECTOR INTERNATIONAL REMMITTANCE CITIBANK OF UNITED KINGDOM, with the help and monitory team from the CITIBANK OF NEW YORK which is our official remitting bank, Committee On Foreign Payment Matters in United Nation, has look up to make sure you receive your fund valued $8.3m. So contact: MR ANDREW WOLLEY on his contact information, Direct Citibank Telephone No :+447624198271, Cell/mobile +44 793 617 9966 or cell/mobile :+44 870 288 7323 Fax Number:+44 870 288 7323, Telephone Number::+44-704 576 5962, Email:andrew.wolley775@hotmail.com for immediate release of your contract/inheritance/Award Winning claim Be informed that you are not allowed to correspond with any person or office anymore, You are required to send bellow information for your transfer.
- 1) YOUR FULL NAME:
- 2) ADDRESS,CITY,STATE AND COUNTRY.
- 3) PHONE,FAX AND MOBILE
- 4) COMPANY NAME(IF ANY) POSITION AND ADDRESS
- 5) BANK DETAILS,ACCOUNT NO,ROUTING NO,/SWIFT CODE AND BANK ADDRESS.
- 6) PROFESSION,AGE AND MARITAL STATUS
- 7) COPY OF YOUR INT’L PASSPORT/DRIVERS LICENSE
NOTE: YOUR PERSONAL CONTACT/COMMUNICATIONCODE WITH CITIBANK IS(511),YOU ARE ARE ADVICE TO SEND YOU FULL BANKING INFORMATION TO THE CITIBANK OF LONDON INTERNATIONAL REMMITTANCE DIRECTOR HEADED BY MR ANDREW WOLLEY AND MAKE SURE YOU SPEAK WITH HIM, WITH YOUR NEW PAYMENT CODE FOR RELEASE OF YOUR PAYMENT AND SEND HIM ALL YOUR BANKING INFORMATION NOW.
CONTACT CODE(511)
OFFICER:MR ANDREW WOLLEY.
POSITION:DIRECTOR,INTL,REMMITTANCE CITIBANK LONDON.
TELEPHONE OFFICE/BANK::+447624198271,
FAX NUMBER:+44 870 288 7323,+44 793 617 9966
BANK TELEPHONE,+44 870 288 7323 or cell/mobile +44-704 576 5962.
EMAIL: andrew.wolley775@hotmail.com
SIR FRANK PETERSON.
(CHAIRMAN COMMITTE ON FOREIGN CONTRACT/AWARD WINING PAYMENT UNITED
NATION AND USA GOVERNMENT).
—— Letter 13 ——
Mr Patrick K W Chan
wrote:
Date: Sat, 30 Jun 2007 12:06:00 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: REPLY ME
From: Mr Patrick K W Chan
CC: recipient list not shown: ;
–
MR. Patrick K W Chan
HANG SENG BANK LTD.
83, Des Voeux Road,
Central HK,Hong Kong.
Good Day,
Let me start by introducing myself.i am Mr Patrick K W Chan Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer of the Hang Seng Bank Ltd Hong Kong.l have a secured business proposal of thirty million United State Dollars only ($30,000,000.00) for you to handle with me from my bank. I will need you to assist me in executing this Business project from Hong Kong to your country.l will like to know if you are willing to assist me before i can give you more informations about this transaction.lf you are intrested i will like you to reach me on my private email address
(p_hkhk_patrickchan@yahoo.com.hk)
Your earliest reponse to this mail will be highly appreciated.
My Esteemed Regards,
Mr Patrick K W Chan.
—— Letter 12 ——
From: Nick Osler <os.nccc15@gmail.com>
Subject: Re
To:
Date: Thursday, July 17, 2008, 10:30 PM
I am Nick Osler, Director of Investment management, SMITH & WILLIAMSON Private Banking. I am contacting you concerning a deceased customer and the investment he placed under our bank management three years ago. I would respectfully request that you keep the content of this mail confidential and respect the integrity of the information you come by as a result of this mail.I am making this contact with you based for a need of an individual/company who is willing to assist me to stand as the next of kin to my deceased client.
Being the deceased financial consultant before his untimely and sudden death and since i am the only one who has the knowledge of the vaulting company in Europe where these funds ($30million) was moved to and can move this deal forward to it’ s successful end once we conclude to work together.It is a task well worth undertaking.According to practice, the vaulting firm will by the end of this financial quarter broadcast a request for statements of claim, failing to receive viable claims they will most probably revert the deposit back to SMITH & WILLIAMSON Private Bank.
What I propose now is that if you are the relative to my client please let me know. I alone have the deposit details and the vaulting firm will release the deposit to no one unless I instruct them to do so. I alone know of the existence of this deposit for as far as SMITH & WILLIAMSON Private Bank is concerned, all outstanding interactions in relation to the file are just customer services and due process. The vaulting firm has no single idea of what is the history or nature of the deposit. They are simply awaiting instructions to release the deposit to any party that comes forward. This is the situation.
My proposal is that; you share similar details to the late fellow; I am prepared to place you in a position to instruct the vaulting firm to release the deposit to you as the closest surviving relation. That is: I will simply nominate you as the next of kin and have them release the deposit to you.Upon receipt of the deposit, I am prepared to share the money with you in half. I would have gone ahead to ask the funds be released to me, but that would have drawn a straight line to me and my involvement in claiming the deposit.
I have evaluated the risks and the only risk I have here is for you to betray my confidence. Hope to hear from you soon if you are interested.
Nick Osler
—— Letter 11 ——
From: “eze.oke” <eze.oke@laposte.net>
Date: March 7, 2008 2:49:50 PM PST
To: undisclosed-recipients: ;
Subject: THANK FOR YOUR PAST EFFORT THEN.
Reply-To: “eze.oke” <eze.oke@laposte.net>
Dear Friend,
Longest time, I hope all is well together with your family, if so glory be to God almighty.
Well, Sorry to hear this news and understand that the fault is not from me. I’m happy to inform you about my success in getting those funds transferred under the cooperation of a new partner from paraguay. Presently I’m in Paraguay for investment projects with my own share of the total sum.
Meanwhile, I didn’t forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me in transferring this funds despite that it failed us some how. Now contact my secretary in Benin his name is GODWIN EZE on his e-mail address (godwineze01@yahoo.fr)
Ask him to send you the total Amount of $1,250,000.00 u.s dollars which I kept for your compensation for all the past efforts and attempts to assist me in this matter.
I appreciated your efforts at that time very much. so feel free and get in touch with my secretary and instruct him where to send the cheque as you know it was issued in a certfied bank draft which you will cash in any bank approved or owned by government of any country. Please do let me know immediately if you cash the money so that we can share the joy togather after all the sufferness at that time.
Right now, I am very busy here because of the investment projects which me and the new partner are having at hand, Finally, remember that I have forwarded instruction to the secretary on your behalf to send the draft cheque to you immediately, so feel free to get in touch with GODWIN, he will send the money immediately to you without any delay.
Thank you and congratulations as God has done it for me.
Best Regards,
Dr.Eze Oke.
—— Letter 10 ——
— On Wed, 9/8/04, Mr Chris Ogiemwonyi <ch4120@k.ro> wrote:
From: Mr Chris Ogiemwonyi <ch4120@k.ro>
Subject: Business Proposal!
To: tony@byorick.com
Date: Wednesday, September 8, 2004, 11:38 AM
National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS)
NNPC Building
38 Kingsway Road
Ikoyi, Lagos
Tel: 234 80 28326956
Contact: Mr Chris Ogiemwonyi – Group General Manager
Email: chris4120c@k.ro
I am Mr Chris Ogiemwonyi a member of the Presidential Payment Verification Committee (PPVC) of the Federal Government of Nigeria, West Africa and also a Director of Project Implementation with the NNPC. I am presently on assignment with my colleagues in the ministry of finance and the presidency carrying out routine verification of contractual claims on behalf of the NNPC I apologize for using this medium to reach you for a Transaction/business of this magnitude, but this is due to Confidentiality and prompt access reposed on this medium. In unfolding this proposal, I want to count on you, as a respected and honest person to handle this transaction with sincerity, trust and confidentiality. I have decided to seek a confidential co-operation with you in the process of actualising our dreams described hereunder. For the benefit of all parties and hope you will keep it in confidence because of the nature of this transaction within the NNPC and Ministry of Finance (FMF), where I work as Director of Project Implementation. With the cooperation of four other top officials, we have in our possession overdue payment bills which we are presently verifying, to the tune of Twenty Six Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (US$26,500,000.) which we want to transfer abroad with the assistance and cooperation of a foreign company/individual to receive the said fund on our behalf or a reliable foreign non-company account to receive such funds. More so, we are handicapped in the circumstances, as the Civil Service Code of Conduct does not allow us to operate offshore account hence your importance in the whole transaction. This amount $26.5m represents the balance of the total contract value executed on behalf of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) by a foreign contracting firm, which we the officials over-invoiced deliberately in the course of our verification exercise. Though the actual contract cost have been paid to the original contractor, leaving the balance in the tune of the said amount which we have in principle gotten approval to remit by Key Tested Telegraphic Transfer (K.T.T) to any foreign bank account you will provide by filing in an application to NNPC and the Ministry of Finance for the transfer of Rights and Privileges to the contractual sum to you/your account. I have the authority of my partners involved to propose that should you be willing to assist us in the transaction, your share of the sum would be 30% of the $26.5million, 60% for us, while 10% has been mapped out from the total sum to cover any expenses that maybe incurred by us during the course of this transfer, both locally and international expenses.. The business itself is 100% safe, on your part provided you treat it with utmost secrecy and confidentiality. Your area of specialization is not a hindrance to the successful execution of this transaction. I have reposed my confidence in you and hope that you would not disappoint me. Should you be interested or not in this transaction, please notify me through this private email: chris4120c@k.ro or to call me with the tel number above. If not also let us know, so as to enable us enough time to scout for another credible foreign partner or not to help carry out this transaction. I assure you that my partners and I are in a position to make the payment of this claim possible provided you can give us a very strong assurance and guarantee that our share would be secured and please always remember to treat this matter with the utmost confidentiality, as any form of exposure would compromise our positions in this government, being active Government Civil Servants. Once again, remember time is of great essence in this transaction.
I wait in anticipation of your fullest co-operation.
Yours faithfully,
Mr Chris Ogiemwonyi
