ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area I can't believe that this scam really works!

Good one Bj

Here's another example:

i don't even open these mails...if it ain't from someone I know..."delete"

http://www.watchingyou.com/nigeria.html
http://www.ftc.gov/reports/Fraud/lawenfor.htm "Cross-Border Fraud"
http://www.crimes-of-persuasion.com/contents.htm
"Nigerian Advance Fee Fraud"

I think the people who fall for these scams must allow the get-rich-quick dream to override their common sense.

A couple of years ago I was receiving pyramid schemes regularly in the normal mail. You probably know the sort: Send £5 to each of the five people listed above, drop the bottom name, move them down a notch, add your name to the top, then send out copies to 20 more people.

I'm sure that the easily-scammed just look at the five levels from which they anticipate receiving money. Let's see, I send to 20, each of those send to another 20, etc. until at level 5 there are 160,000 people each sending £5. Wow, this sounds too good to be true!

Well, it is. If they took the trouble to go beyond the stage of the pyramind they hope to benefit from, they'd see that the numbers just get silly. In this particular version, at level 7 it would be 64,000,000 people -- more than the population of the U.K. At level 9 it hits 25.6 BILLION -- more than the population of the earth.

And do I really believe that every one of those people below me will send money back?

Not thisth little black duck....



[This message has been edited by pauluk (edited 06-19-2002).]

Here's another from today,

MR. ALBERT OCHETTA
Tei: 27 73 2288958
E-MAIL:albertochetta@mail.com
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH
AFRICA.

ATTN: PRESIDENT/C.E.O.

DEAR SIR,

I AM THE REGIONAL MANAGER IN CHARGE OF INTERNATIONAL BANKING (WESTERN&SOUTHERN EUROPE DESK) DEPARTMENT OF ABSA BANK LIMITED. IN MY DEPARTMENT, WE DISCOVERED AN ABANDONED SUM OF US$15.300,000.00 (FIFTEEN POINT THREE MILLION US DOLLARS ONLY) IN AN ACCOUNT THAT BELONGED TO ONE OF OUR FOREIGN CUSTOMERS WHO DIED ALONG WITH HIS ENTIRE FAMILY ON NOVEMBER 1994 IN A GHASTLY PLANE CRASH.
SINCE WE GOT INFORMATION ABOUT HIS DEATH, WE HAVE BEEN EXPECTING
HIS NEXT-OF-KIN TO COME OVER AND CLAIM HIS MONEY BECAUSE WE CANNOT
RELEASE IT UNLESS SOMEBODY APPLIED FOR IT AS NEXT-OF-KIN, OR RELATION TO THE DECEASED AS INDICATED IN OUR BANKING GUIDELINES. UNFORTUNATELY,
NOBODY HAS COME FOWARD TO CLAIM THIS MONEY.

IT IS BASED ON THIS THAT SOME OFFICIALS IN MY DEPARTEMENT AND I HAVE
DECIDED TO ESTABLISH A CORDIAL BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU, HENCE
MY CONTACTING YOU. WE WANT YOU TO PRESENT YOURSELF AS THE NEXT-OF-KIN
OR RELATION OF THE DECEASED SO THAT THE FUND CAN BE REMITTED INTO YOUR
ACCOUNT.

MOREOVER, WE DO NOT WANT THE MONEY TO GO INTO THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT
AS UNCLAIMED BILL. THE BANKING LAW AND GUIDELINES HERE STIPULATE THAT
ANY ACCOUNT ABANDONED OR IS DORMANT FOR A PERIOD OF YEARS IS DEEMED
CLOSED AND ALL MONEY CONTAINED THEREIN FORFEITED TO THE GOVERNMENT
TREASURY ACCOUNT.

NOW IT IS BEING SPECULATED THAT THE ABOVE SUM WILL BE TRANSFERED INTO
THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT AS AN UNCLAIMED FUND ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER
2002. THE REASON FOR REQUESTING YOU TO PRESENT YOURSELF AS NEXT-OF-KIN
IS OCCASIONED BY THE FACT THAT THE DECEASED (CUSTOMER) WAS A
FOREIGNER.

THE MODE OF SHARING AFTER A SUCCESSFUL TRANSFER OF THE MONEY INTO YOUR
ACCOUNT: 75% TO MY COLLEAGUES AND I; FOR THE ROLE YOU WILL BE EXPECTED
TO PLAY IN THIS DEAL, WE HAVE AGREED TO GIVE YOU TWENTY PERCENT (20%)
OF THE TOTAL SUM, AND 5% FOR THE EXPENSES WE ARE GOING TO ENCOUNTER BY
THE TWO PARTIES AT THE COURSE OF THIS TRANSACTION.THEREFORE YOU ARE
EXPECTED TO REPLY THIS LETTER INDICATING YOUR READINESS AND INTEREST TO
PARTICIPATTE IN THIS BUSINESS.

AFTER RECEIVING YOUR REPLY, YOU WILL BE COMMUNICATED TO WITH THE EXACT
STEPS TO TAKE.

I EXPECT YOUR URGENT RESPONSE EITHER BY EMAIL TO: albertochetta@mail.com
OR BY PHONE: 27 73 2288958. FOR SECURITY REASONS, DO NOT CALL ME IN THE OFFICE. INSTEAD ON THIS NUMBER I GAVE TO YOU, WHICH IS MY PRIVATE NUMBER AND THE ONLY LINE I CAN ATTEND TO YOUR CALL.


PLEASE TREAT THIS BUSINESS PROPOSAL AS STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL FOR
SECURITY REASONS.

KIND PERSONAL REGARDS,

MR. ALBERT OCHETTA
Tei: 27 73 2288958
E-MAIL:albertochetta@mail.com
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH
AFRICA.

ATTN: PRESIDENT/C.E.O.

DEAR SIR,

I AM THE REGIONAL MANAGER IN CHARGE OF INTERNATIONAL BANKING (WESTERN&SOUTHERN EUROPE DESK) DEPARTMENT OF ABSA BANK LIMITED. IN MY DEPARTMENT, WE DISCOVERED AN ABANDONED SUM OF US$15.300,000.00 (FIFTEEN POINT THREE MILLION US DOLLARS ONLY) IN AN ACCOUNT THAT BELONGED TO ONE OF OUR FOREIGN CUSTOMERS WHO DIED ALONG WITH HIS ENTIRE FAMILY ON NOVEMBER 1994 IN A GHASTLY PLANE CRASH.
SINCE WE GOT INFORMATION ABOUT HIS DEATH, WE HAVE BEEN EXPECTING
HIS NEXT-OF-KIN TO COME OVER AND CLAIM HIS MONEY BECAUSE WE CANNOT
RELEASE IT UNLESS SOMEBODY APPLIED FOR IT AS NEXT-OF-KIN, OR RELATION TO THE DECEASED AS INDICATED IN OUR BANKING GUIDELINES. UNFORTUNATELY,
NOBODY HAS COME FOWARD TO CLAIM THIS MONEY.

IT IS BASED ON THIS THAT SOME OFFICIALS IN MY DEPARTEMENT AND I HAVE
DECIDED TO ESTABLISH A CORDIAL BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU, HENCE
MY CONTACTING YOU. WE WANT YOU TO PRESENT YOURSELF AS THE NEXT-OF-KIN
OR RELATION OF THE DECEASED SO THAT THE FUND CAN BE REMITTED INTO YOUR
ACCOUNT.

MOREOVER, WE DO NOT WANT THE MONEY TO GO INTO THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT
AS UNCLAIMED BILL. THE BANKING LAW AND GUIDELINES HERE STIPULATE THAT
ANY ACCOUNT ABANDONED OR IS DORMANT FOR A PERIOD OF YEARS IS DEEMED
CLOSED AND ALL MONEY CONTAINED THEREIN FORFEITED TO THE GOVERNMENT
TREASURY ACCOUNT.

NOW IT IS BEING SPECULATED THAT THE ABOVE SUM WILL BE TRANSFERED INTO
THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT AS AN UNCLAIMED FUND ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER
2002. THE REASON FOR REQUESTING YOU TO PRESENT YOURSELF AS NEXT-OF-KIN
IS OCCASIONED BY THE FACT THAT THE DECEASED (CUSTOMER) WAS A
FOREIGNER.

THE MODE OF SHARING AFTER A SUCCESSFUL TRANSFER OF THE MONEY INTO YOUR
ACCOUNT: 75% TO MY COLLEAGUES AND I; FOR THE ROLE YOU WILL BE EXPECTED
TO PLAY IN THIS DEAL, WE HAVE AGREED TO GIVE YOU TWENTY PERCENT (20%)
OF THE TOTAL SUM, AND 5% FOR THE EXPENSES WE ARE GOING TO ENCOUNTER BY
THE TWO PARTIES AT THE COURSE OF THIS TRANSACTION.THEREFORE YOU ARE
EXPECTED TO REPLY THIS LETTER INDICATING YOUR READINESS AND INTEREST TO
PARTICIPATTE IN THIS BUSINESS.

AFTER RECEIVING YOUR REPLY, YOU WILL BE COMMUNICATED TO WITH THE EXACT
STEPS TO TAKE.

I EXPECT YOUR URGENT RESPONSE EITHER BY EMAIL TO: albertochetta@mail.com
OR BY PHONE: 27 73 2288958. FOR SECURITY REASONS, DO NOT CALL ME IN THE OFFICE. INSTEAD ON THIS NUMBER I GAVE TO YOU, WHICH IS MY PRIVATE NUMBER AND THE ONLY LINE I CAN ATTEND TO YOUR CALL.


PLEASE TREAT THIS BUSINESS PROPOSAL AS STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL FOR
SECURITY REASONS.

KIND PERSONAL REGARDS,

AIBERTO OCHETTA
Tei: 27 73 2288958
E-MAIL:albertochetta@mail.com

I am so glad that this topic came up. My e-mail is constantly being inundated by this ^%*&%$&$&*^!! If there is a "sucker list" out there somewhere, my name has got to be on it.

My condolences to Mrs. Abacha, whose husband mysteriously died as a result of Cardiac Arrest. (guess I'll go back and re-read the cardiology chapters in my paramedic textbooks...)

BTW, would anyone like to go in halves in a great deal on the Brooklyn Bridge ?

Trying to be serious now...does anyone have any suggestions for stopping this cybergarbage?

Mike (mamills)

[This message has been edited by mamills (edited 06-19-2002).]

Well talk about tempting fate! I thought I'd escaped this particular sort of junk, until one turned up in my e-mail today.

I'll save you whole spiel, here's the edited version:


Well for start, it might be just slightly more convincing if the sender could decide whether he/she is named John or Faith! And there was no telephone number above either.

Mike,

Only if I can interest you in buying London Bridge. The new one that is, you've already got the old one!



[This message has been edited by pauluk (edited 06-20-2002).]

Paul,

Sure sounds like an Identity crisis going on there!

I wonder how many vatiations there are of this scam? I probably get at least one a day average.

Another:
Dear Sir,

I am Mr. George Nogxina, a native of Cape Town in South Africa and I am an
Executive Accountant with the South Africa Department of Mining & Natural
Resources. First and foremost, I apologized 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. Be informed that
a member of the South Africa Export Promotion Council (SEPC) who was at
the Government delegation to your country during a trade exhibition gave
your enviable credentials/particulars to me. I plea to seek a confidential
co-operation with you in the execution of the deal described Hereunder for
the benefit of all parties and hope you will keep it as a top secret
because of the nature of this transaction.

Within the Department of Mining & Natural Resources where I work as an
Executive Accountant and with the cooperation of two other top officials,
we have in our possession as overdue payment bills totaling Forty - Five
Million, Five Hundred And Sixty Thousand U. S. Dollars ($45,560,000.)
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 South Africa Civil Service Code
of Conduct does not allow us to operate offshore account hence your
importance in the whole transaction.

This amount $45.560m represents the balance of the total contract value
executed on behalf of my Department by a foreign contracting firm, which
we the officials over-invoiced deliberately. 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 principles gotten approval to
remit by Telegraphic Transfer (T.T) to any foreign bank account you will
provide by filing in an application through the Justice Ministry here in
South Africa for the transfer of rights and privileges of the former
contractor to you.

I have the authority of my partners involved to propose that, should you
be willing to assist us in this transaction that is 100% hitch free, your
share of the sum will be 25% of the $45.560 million, 70% for us and 5% for
taxation and miscellaneous expenses. The business itself is 100% safe, on
your part provided you
treat it with utmost secrecy and confidentiality. Also 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 will
not disappoint me. Endeavor to contact me immediately through my above Tel
number or
my e-mail address, whether or not you are interested in this deal. If you
are not, it will enable me scout for another foreign partner to carry out
this deal I want to assure you that my partners and myself 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 will be secured and please remember
to treat this as very confidential because, we will not comprehend with
any form of exposure as we are still in active Government Service and
remember once again that time is of the essence in this business.
I await in anticipation of your fullest co-operation.And you can also
reach me with this private email address:mrgeorgenogxina@excite.com

Yours faithfully,

MR GEORGE NOGXINA

I've recieved some of these Nigerian emails over the past few years. I knew a guy from Nigeria that was in my church congregation about five years ago and he told me that there is a lot of business and commerce in Nigeria but also a lot of corruption including with their Government if I remember correctly.

I called my bank and asked them if I let these Nigerians make a deposit or gave them account info, if they could make an unauthorized withdrawal. The bank said they probably could if they were corrupt. Actually, many corportations have the ability to automatically debit your bank account. Payments are commonly made by conusmers to these corporations in the form of checks by phone. Anyone that you ever gave a check to has your bank routing and account number.

If I had a spare bank account, I thought that I might empty it and then let them have the numbers just to see what happens out of curiousity and jollies.

I'm about 99.9% sure they would never make a deposit though, and I was afraid that they might be able to tap another account I had in the same bank if I let them get even a toe in the door.

The problem with them being in Nigeria is you have no way to get them arrested. If it someone in the United States, any District Attorney would jump on it, and the FBI would get involved if it was interstate.

Maybe we need one of These?