The Nigerian Bank Scam

Embezzlement and the Nigerian Bank Scam

I first read about the Nigerian Bank Scam in the book The Informant by Kurt Eichenwald (Sept. 2000). The Informant is about Mark Whitacre who was a Vice President at the food and food products company Archer Daniels Midland (or ADM). Whitacre was, at one point, the US Government's star witness against ADM in a price fixing case. But as the Government got to know Whitacre better and learned more about the case it started to unravel, although at least one ADM executive went to jail.

Whitacre reported to his bosses that he and his family were being threatened and that "bad things" would happen unless he made a payment to those who were threatening him. The people who threatened Whitacre would contact no one else but Whitacre. Not surprisingly ADM reported these threats to the FBI, who, also not surprisingly, interviewed Whitacre. The extortion story was implausable and as it started to unravel, Whitacre told the FBI about price fixing at ADM in an attempt to focus their attention on other matters (and save himself, he thought, from closer scrutiny). As the price fixing case unfolded it became clear that Whitacre was embezzling money from ADM. He apparently started taking money from ADM when he lost money in a Nigerian Bank Scam. Once Whitacre discovered how easy it was to take money from ADM, he continued. The extortion report was a rather lame attempt to get more money from ADM.

Like Mark Whitacre, former Iowa congressman Edward Mezvinsky also fell for Nigerian scammers. According The Daily Iowan (Far from his heyday, Mezvinsky admits guilt, by Maryclaire Dale, The Daily Iowan, Sept. 30, 2002):

In the 1990s, Mezvinsky left the politics to his wife and turned to international business deals. But he rarely made a dime, instead losing millions to African con artists pitching pyramid-type schemes.

"Without any meaningful income, he was perpetually in debt throughout the 1990s," the plea agreement states.

While he first sought ever-larger bank loans, that pipeline soon shut down, and by 1995, he was turning to individual investors.

Mezvinsky, moving money at a frenetic pace, deposited $13.28 million in his numerous accounts from 1995 to early 2000, most of it from investors and clients, according to investigators, who reviewed more than 8,000 transactions.

During the same period, he spent $13.3 million, with 44 percent of the money going to creditors, 20 percent to Africans, and 17 percent for cash withdrawals, they said.

Victims of Nigerian bank scams are not limited to corporate Vice Presidents and ex-Congressmen. Michelle Delio's article How a Bank Got E-mail Scammed (in Wired News, Sept. 24, 2002) recounts the story of Ann Marie Poet, a 59-year-old secratery who embezzled $2.1 million (US) from her employer, a law firm. Ms. Poet fell for the "advance fee" scam and believed that these funds were being used to pay fees and bribes. She believed that the money she "borrowed" would be paid back from the $4.5 million she would receive after $18 million was moved from the South African Ministry of Mining into her bank account. Like Mark Whitacre, Ms. Poet will probably be spending some time as a guest of the United States Federal Government.

I feel a bit sorrier for Ms. Poet than I do for Mr. Whitacre, who was a very well compensated Vice President at ADM. As happens to all of us, the years were marching on for Ms. Poet. She may have been thinking of retirement and despaired at the though of how this could ever happen on the salary the law firm paid her. Then she gets an e-mail from a fellow who works for the South African Ministry of Mines and it seems to be the answer to her problems.

A comparison between Ms. Poet's jail sentence and the fates of the executives of Enron, Tyco, Worldcom and other companies involved in the great corporate scams of the late 1990s and early twenty-first century would be interesting. These executive pocketed far more money and were far better paid that Ms. Poet.

• A review of two books on Archer Daniels Midland, The Informant and Rats in the Grain, can be found here

The Internet, Spam and the Nigerian Bank Scam

There was an excellent article in Salon, titled I crave your distinguished indulgence (and all your cash) by Douglas Cruickshank on the Nigerian Bank Scam. According to this article, it is not just Whitacre who fell for this scam. In fact, the US Treasury Department now has a web page devoted to this scam.

Given the "over the top" nature of some of the bank scam come-ons it is easy to make fun of them and I've had a good time with this web page. Not only are the stories told in the scam wild and occasionally creative, but they are full of amusing errors in syntax, logic and arithmatic. For example:

FOR YOUR HELP AND ASSISTANCE IN THIS DEAL, YOU WILL RECEIVE 25% OF THIS MONEY IN CASH, 10% WILL BE SET ASIDE TO OFFSET ALL EXPENSES WHILE THE REMAINING 60% IS FOR ME.

Ah... 25% + 10% = 35%. Does that mean that they get 65% or is someone else getting the missing 5%?

Although these scams can be amusing, for people who fall for them, it can be a serious business. According to the David Emery's article The Nigerian E-mail Hoax: West African Scammers Take to the Net, March 14, 2002, published on the San Francisco Chronicle's SF Gate web site, at least 15 people have been murdered as part of these scams. The US Treasury Department estimates that these scams cost people in the United States about $100 million a year.

With the advent of the Internet, these "Nigerian Bank Scams" are relatively cheap. The costs are basicly an internet connection and a computer system to send out the spam. There are a few arrests here and there. See for example Six arrested over 'Nigerian e-mail' fraud by Graeme Wearden, ZDNet News, May 21, 2002. This article points out that one reason this kind of fraud is so safe for the scamsters is that many people do not report that they have been defrauded. And if you do want to report it, who do you call?

From the e-mail I've received, this web page seems to have helped several people avoid these scams. Still, I am surprised that they succeed at all. Especially after all the publicity. Michelle Delio claims to have actually interviewed a Nigerian e-mail scammer. See Meet the Nigerian E-Mail Grifters by Michelle Delio, Wired News, July 17, 2002

As with any financial endeavor, the bank scammers expect to make more money than they spend on Internet accounts and spamming. At the point where they drop into the red, they should, in theory disappear. The continued existence of these scams is a testimony to the sad fact that many people are poorly informed and tend to believe attractive lies (in this case, that the bank scam will make them rich).

Nigeria Remains a Poor Country

One of the missive ironies in the Nigerian bank scam is the implication that all of these tens of millions of dollars are rolling around third world countries with massive unemployment and malnutrition, looking for a path to get out. While various dictators the world over have amassed vast fortunes, they don't have much problem getting their money into foreign banks. As any corporate sponsor of the Republican Party can tell you, it's very easy to set up offshore bank accounts and move millions around without any problems from the US Treasury Department (see press stories on Enron, Tyco and other fine US companies who have moved their corporate "home" offshore).

Owning an Internet domain name like bearcave.com means that you get a lot of spam. The spam got so bad that I finally wrote a spam filter for my UNIX shell e-mail account. This catches most of the spam sent to my account. I check the spam hearders before discarding the junk_mail file to make sure that nothing I want ended up there. Recently I've been getting my own copy of the Nigerian Bank Scam. Compared to various offers for "home businesses" and penis enlargement, these spams have provided a great deal of amusement.

This originally started out as a simple web page, with a few Nigerian Bank Scams. I've been collecting these scams as they flutter in, like some demented lepidopterist. The spams are reproduced below with some HTML formatting. The web page has grown considerably. The use of capital letters was in the original. It should be obvious to anyone but someone who would fall for such transparent scams that I don't endorse these fraudulent offers. Some of these scams not only offer money, but a claim to a good cause. This web page has already stopped at least one trusting soul from being taken advantage of. In other cases the come-ons appeal to greed and a total lack of morals. Anyone who falls for such a come-on deserves what they get. Anyone who wants to help the family of a murderous deposed dictator invest stolen money should not let this web page stop them.

Variations on the Nigerian Bank Scam

"Friction" in a market is sometimes defined as the effort needed to bring buyers and sellers together. For example, the cost of advertising is an example of this "friction". The Internet hold out the promise of reducing some market friction by allowing sellers to cheaply avertise their products world wide. The internet also reduces the friction for scammers, looking for marks.

Nigerian Bank Scam, Version 3.0: The Shipping Fee Scam

I have been expecting that the Nigerian Bank will eventually die out as more and more potential marks learn about it. Of course scams never die, they just evolve into something else. One example of such a new species of scam is the shipping fee scam, described in the Wired News article Nigerian Net Scam, Version 3.0 by Michelle Delio.

In this variation of the bank scam, the scammer poses as a buyer for an item advertised on the Internet. The scammer tells the mark that they will have someone overseas (outside of the scammers country) send the seller a cashiers check for the purchase price, plus an additional amount that the seller should wire the buyer for shipping. Such an arrangement will strike most sellers as odd, but many sellers will think that they are protected by waiting for the cashiers check to clear. The check clears and the seller forwards the shipping fee, as promised. They have now become a victim of the scammer. In Nigerian Net Scam, Version 3.0 Michelle Delio writes:

The scam takes advantage of a little-known loophole in the U.S. banking system. Many people don't realize that when a bank says funds have cleared, it doesn't mean the check is good, according to Carol McKay, director of communications for the National Consumers League.

"Under federal law, depending on the type of checks deposited, banks must give consumers access to the money within one to five days. Longer holds can be placed on deposits over $5,000, but banks are reluctant to inconvenience their customers," McKay explained.

"Unfortunately, it can take weeks for fake checks to be detected in the banking system. And consumers are then left holding the bag for the money they've withdrawn. That's because it's the depositor, not the bank, who is responsible if a check turns out to be bad."

The seller has virtually no recourse, since the "shipping fee" has been forwarded to a foreign bank and the funds have disappeared.

The final quote in Nigerian Net Scam, Version 3.0 pretty much sums up the issue:

"But the bottom line is this: No legitimate company will offer to pay you by arranging to send you a check and asking you to wire some of the money back. If that's the pitch, it's a scam."

Just because the check cleared does not mean that it was not fraudulent.

In his article The Perfect Mark, published in The New Yorker (May 15, 2006), Mitchell Zuckoff tells the story of John W. Worley who lost tens of thousands of dollars to Nigerian scammers and, as I write this, is serving two years in federal prison.

The Nigerian scammers passed hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of forged checks through Worley's bank account. When these checks cleared, he forwarded the money to a Swiss bank account. Worley believed that this money was from investors who had contributed the money necessary to transfer the millions of dollars the scammers promised to Worley's US bank account. When it turned out that these checks were forgeries, Worley was left with both the financial and the criminal liability.

Nigerian Net Scam, Version 3.1: Perform hawala services for people you've never met

These scams keep evolving. I got email from someone who almost fell victim of a variation on the cashiers check scam. Here is the scam "come on":

Dear friend,

I represent OANDO IMPORT AND EXPORT COMPANY PLC based in Australia. My company markets and exports Polymeric Polyol and other products for world trade.

We are searching for representatives who can help us establish a medium of getting to our customers in Europe and America as well as making payments through you as our payment officer. It is upon this note that we seek your assistance to stand as our representative in your country. Note that, as our representative, you will receive 10% of whatever amount you clear for the company and the balance will be paid into an account we will avail to you. Please, to facilitate the conclusion of this transaction if accepted, do send me promptly by email the following:

1. Your full names,
2. Contact address and,
3. Phone/fax numbers.

Thank you for your time.

Very Respectfully,
Mr. Steve Howard
MANAGING DIRECTOR/CEO
OANDO PLC

Oando PLC is, in fact, a real company in Nigeria. They describe themselves as "second largest oil marketing company by revenues in Nigeria". As an established corporate entity, they would have relationships with international banks that can handle foreign currency transfer. Or, they could handle the transaction through their trading counterparts. They would not have to contact some random stranger to transfer money.

The person who emailed me provided their contact information. After all, it seems harmless. Not like providing bank account information. My correspondent writes:

In subsequent e-mail I was advised, that a check in the amount of $25,000.00 was in the mail to me from a company in Canada, and I was to deposit it into my bank, wait until the check had "cleared" and then send 90% of it on to Australia and enjoy the remaining 10% for myself.

Fortunately, this person's inner sense that something was wrong went off:

I could not figure out the scam, until I searched the web and found that little known US banking law, that a Bank must make my funds available to me in a few days, whether the check has actually cleared or not. That is when I stopped. Notice that we are not tossing around millions of Dollars! But when successful, the scammer in Australia will make over $22,000.00 per scam.

In many cases the people who are most tempted by these scams have strained finances. The story in the scam may seem like a life saver if you're not sleeping well at night because of the bills that are piling up. Ironically, people who are financially strained are exactly the people who can't afford to lose money in these scams.

I've been seeing more and more of these money transfer scams. Discounting their poor english, they scammers have a certain surface plausibility.

The financial-consulting company "Vision International People Group" is glad to greet you. We are a new financial company with the main office in Germany. Our company needs safe representatives of the payments.

In this letter you can read additional information about work in USA with Vision International People Group. Sales representatives (managers, financial assistants) for realization of financial and trading operations with our partners are required. Duties of sales representatives in USA include the reception of money resources from buyers and their sending to Germany. The full control of realization of financial operations and assistance in their realization. Daily hundred monetary operations from $400-$25000 passes through our company. You will have to receive the money resources from our buyers and send it on system Western Union to Germany within one day. The faster you work, the more money resources to you will receive and the more earnings you will get.

Please, do not send your resume, if you suppose you will be unable to carry out each operation within one day. Speed is one of the most important things for our company, however, we offer not 10% as usually but 20% from each carried out operation. Western Union fees are also paid by us. Working with our company is the most profitable work we offer in USA, you can receive as many money transactions as you will be able to carry out and earn 20% from the each transaction. Requirements. In order to start working with us, you need to follow the instructions below.

Send us your resume with these information:

1. Your personal information (First Name, Last Name)
2. Your home address
3. Phone number where you can be reached

The most important is your vigor, skill to communicate and desire to work in one of conducting financial companies. During work you will receive consultations from our managers (by E-mail, ICQ, Yahoo Messenger and phone).

At an initial stage at you will be a partial employment (not a full working day). As you will be typed experience volume of work and your salary will be increased. At first time you will receive to you up to $3000 per transaction. Your earnings depends on you only - the faster you will send the money to us, the more transactions you will receive.

Payment. From each carried out operation you will receive 20%. And you will leave to yourselves this sum. And you will be obliged to send other sum on system Western Union to Germany. We compensate for all your expenses. As we guarantee to you such amount of works that your payment from the very beginning will be not less 2000 USD per one month and it will grow in process of your promotion in our company. During 2006-2007 we plan opening a network of offices and representations for territories USA.

Best their sales representatives will be invited to work in these offices on higher posts. Vision International People Group Offers you to begin the career in the large international and known company.

If you want to believe in such a scam because you're finances are in desparate shape, consider this: if the money mentioned in the scam where real (which it is not), it would be illegal in the United States and most other countries to perform the transfer that the scammer requests.

On November 7, 2001, agents from the Customs, Immigration, the IRS and the FBI burst into the Dorchester, Massachusetts, offices of al-Barakaat, a Somali conglomerate with branches in forty countries, and arrested Mohamed M. Hussein, treasurer of Barakaat North America, on charges of operating an unlicensed money transfer business, or, as it was known a hawala. Al-Barakatt stood accused of raising, investing, laundering, and distributing money on behalf of al-Qaeda. Then-Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill announced that its various companies were "the money movers, the quartermasters of terror." Meanwhile federal authorities were also conducting raids on suspected businesses in eight other American cities.
[...]

In July 2002, a federal judge in Massachusetts sentenced Mohamed Hussein, who had been apprehended in the offices of al-Barakaat, to eighteen months in prison.

Quartermasters of Terror by Patrick Radden Keefe, The New York Review of Books, February 10, 2005. A review of the book Blood from Stones: The Secret Financial Network of Terror by Douglas Farah, Broadway Books, 2004

Again, even in the wildly unlikely event that the money was real such a transaction could land you in real trouble. You have no idea who the people are in this transaction. They could be terrorists or illegal drug dealers. Performing such a a transfer could land you in federal prison. Regardless of whether you think that this "proposal" is real or not, it is a bad idea. Don't do it!

Here's yet another variation on the above scam. You should never act as a middleman in shipping packages. The claim about avoiding VAT taxes is suspicious. They are either after your money, or they are shipping something illegal, using you as an intermediate. Imagine trying to explain to the authorities that you really didn't know that the packages contained illegal drugs. Don't fall for this scam. No reputable business uses SPAM to advertise or to get "business partners".

My name is Mark Birman I'm job manager in RuAmerica corporation. We're searching for new partnerships in continental USA.

Let me say few words about our company. We're working for several years worldwide, providing the best service in Shipping and Transporting. We work with European countries for 4 years. Our partners are USPS, FedEx, DHL, Ebay, Amazon and many other shipping companies and shops. We're providing financial services too.

Let me say about the position we offer. It is called Correspondence Assistant/Representative. It is new position for us, and it is very valuable now. In August 2003, many European countries changes their rules for customs and taxes for merchandise, sent from countries, that don't belong to EU. This means, that package that is sent from a company - will be a subject for VAT in Europe, but the package that is sent from a person - doesn't have VAT. Because of that, prices for shipping services grow, and we try to reduce them. And we need YOU.

Your task - to receive packages that will be delivered to you, and redirect them, following our instructions. Packages will be delivered by courriers to your location. Then you will be given money for shipping fees. Your fee is 25 USD per package you receive. No start up fees! No out of pocket fees! Nothing to pay!

IMPORTANT. We put names of our customers on the packages, so names will be different from yours.

We will inform you about incoming packages. We pay you via PayPal, wire transfer, Check, Money Order or Western Union. Your commissions will be paid every two weeks. We will make agreement which you will sign and return back to us. In this document all responsibilities and duties will be conrirmed. If you are interested in this offer, or have more questions please fill application form refer to http://hiramjr.com/vacancies.asp.htm

Thank you for your time.

Best regards, Mark Birman Tel/Fax : (910) 401-1021

Bitter experience with the "shipping transfer" scam

I am happy to write that this web page has saved a few people from the thieves who run these scams and caused other who intially fell victim to think about what is happening. I got the following email (I've withheld the names and done some minor editing):

My name is XXXX and I have received one of these scams. I have actually fallen for it, and would have fallen for it completely, if it wasn't for a good friend who told me to research this because she remember hearing about this scam. Otherwise I would have not have found your website.

My story goes that Pedro Baretto needed help to get his family to America, and that the money was going to be sent to me to help establish accounts and investments. I have gone as far as signing the benificary paper. Also the funds were to be sent to me and I was to receive them through E PICXPRESS PARCEL SERVICES on Friday October 14 (2005). I even have a tracking number that was sent to me with the documents of shipment. Tracking # TRE4031EXS. Please help me I do not know how to get out of this if this really is a scam. I have a family and do not want anything to happen to me.

The person above forwarded me "Pedro's" email, which I've left uncorrected so that you can appreciate once again the english stylings of scammers:

Hallo,

They have finally doit the shipment of the boxes yesterday; the boxes have dispatch and will be deliver via London transit point to you in US. For security of reasons, the content of the boxes is declare as classified documents and insurance bonds instead of cash; hence do not disclose the actual contents of the boxes to the carrier company. I have attach the waybill of shipment to this email, so please print it out and go through it very carefully because it have all the important detail about shipment include the tracking number.

According to information from the transport company, the boxes will deliver to you in 3 working days which mean by friday, you should have receive the boxes. You must report to me as soon as your receive the boxes so that I can join you immediately and we can make to doit lodgement of monies into the banking system and doit neccessary investments. I have the secure combination codes to the boxes and I will give you later for security reasons.

I hope to meet you soon. God bless.

Pedro

I've included my response below. Just as many people have a hard time believing that the President of the United States repeatedly lied to them once they placed their confidence in him, many people have a hard time believing that they really have been taken in my scammers. I hope that my advice bore fruit in this case.

Dear XXXX:

This is definitely a scam. If you have signed any documents that affect your bank accounts or commit you to financial transactions you must cancel them immediately. Talk to your bank and anyone else in the United States. You are not alone in falling for these scams. They would not exist if people did not fall for them, after all.

If anyone threatens you or your family you must go to the police, the FBI and the Treasure Department (which has a branch than handles these Nigerian Bank scams).

Many people who get involved in these scams do not want to believe that it is a scam. The crooks count on this. The first step in helping yourself must be to come to the realization that these people are thieves.

Banks in the United States and Europe are international. They not only have branches abroad, but it is very easy to transfer money internationally. I was in Barcelona Spain in April and I had no problem accessing my bank account in the United States. If I had a Spanish bank account I could have easily transferred money to the United States. There is no reason that anyone not involved in criminal activity would need your help in opening an account and transferring money.

Although the only money transfered will be yours, to these crooks, if they really were going to transfer money it could get you into trouble with the US authorities.

The US has strict international money transfer laws, that became stricter after 9/11. It is illegal to transfer and deposit large amounts of money without declaring the source of these funds. If someone was transferring money into the US in a crate, it would be of great interest to the US authorities. If you were to deposit large sums of money, you would probably come to the notice of the banking authorities. You could be charged with a felony for doing this (after all, this is what drug runners do, move large amounts of money around).

But none of this is going to happen. There is no money, these people are liars. Yes, they have various way bills to make things look correct, but they are just stringing you along. They want to get access to your money. You must stop now before you lose thousands of dollars, as others have.

What is ironic is that these crooks tend to prey on the people who can least afford to lose the money. If your bills are piling up and you are struggling it is tempting to believe that some great good fortune has come along and offered you the way out. But when these people steal your money it will be that much worse.

There is only one correct choice, and I hope you make it. Stop now and do what you can to reverse any damage that these people have done to you. Yours,

Ian Kaplan

An Insurance Scam version of the Nigerian Bank Scam

In this version of the Nigerian Bank Scam, rather than basing the scam on unclaimed millions or money that is being smuggled out of the country, this version of the scam is based on an unclaimed insurance policy payment. Someone has died in a tragic accident and there is no next of kin. The scammer claims that an insurance payment can be collected with the recipient's help. An example is provided below. One would think that any self-respecting scammer would not use a Nigerian address. To make the scam e-mail spam generic, the scammer does not actually address the recipient by name, as would be the case if this were actually an attempt at "honest" insurance fraud. Like many of the Nigerian Bank Scams below, this scam invites the "mark" to commit fraud (in this case by supposedly posing as the heir of the insurance policy holder).

From: Mr.Arthur A.Adams
Goldbond Insurance PLC
Victoria-Island Branch,
Lagos Nigeria.

Dear Friend

Subject: Cash Accumulation Plan Policy(CAP)

My name is Mr.Arthur A. Adams,Agency Manager, Goldbond Insurance Company PLC. I am writing in respect of a foreign client(policy holder) of my insurance company [Mrs. Barbara Freeman and Jarold Freeman of America] who alongside perished in the plane crash of 31st of october1999 with (Egyptian Airline 990) with other passengers aboard as you can confirm it yourself through this website: http://www.cnn/us/9911/02/egyptair990 (a bad web link, but apparently there really was an EgyptAir 990 crash).

Since the demise of Mrs. Barbara Freeman, I personally have watched with keen interest to see her beneficiary, but all has proved abortive as no one has come to claim her benefit of (cash accumulation plan policy) of total sum amounting to us $9,860,000.00 (nine million eighthundred and sixty us dollars) only when added up the following bonus,basic allowance, waiver premium and accidental indemnity, which has been with our insurance company here for a very long time unclaimed.on this note. As no one has come to put up any claim as the beneficiary and the insurance ethic here in nigeria does not allow such claim to stay for over more than six years,because the company shall have power after six good years to discontinue the insurance and terminate the insured policy owners benefits.

In view of this I got your contact through my country's foreign trade mission, after i was convinced in my mind that your name could be used as the beneficiary to this policy holder claim.the request of a foreigner as the beneficiary to the insurance policy holder caim isoccasioned by the fact that the(client)policy holder was a foreigner and a nigerian cannot stand as the beneficiary to a foreigner in this claim.

I therefore propose that 25% of this above fund will be for you as a foreign participant in respect of your involvement, compliance and full co-operation towards the successful claim, while 5% will be for any expenses that might be incurred in the process of procuring satisfactory proof documents for back-up to enable the insurance company pay the lump sums and allowance benefits as set out under the cash accumulation plan policy (cap)scale of compensation and the rest fund will be for me.

Thereafter, I will visit your country for disbursement of fund as I am almost due for retirement. Upon the receipt of your reply, I will then send to you by fax or e-mail a draft application of beneficiary claim which you will in return forward to the insurance company head office as the beneficiary and also the next step to take. I will not fail to bring to your good notice that this deal is 100% hitch free, as the whole required arrangements has been carefully perfected for the beneficiary claim.

Please reply to email: arthur.adams@hotmail.ro

My highest considerations and regards as I await your reponse.

thank you.

Mr. Arthur A. Adams

You've been named as a beneficiary and now stand to receive lots of money (NOT)

This is a slight variation on the above scam. You're not being asked to stand in as the beneficiary. Instead, the scammer would have you believe that you've been named as beneficiary by someone you've never met or even heard of (note the incorrect english in the scam come-on). Yes, indeed! Buckets of money falling from the sky. I particularly liked the 95 cents in the amount that the mark is supposed to receive. Of course, as with all of these scams, a few fees have to be paid first before you become "rich".

From: GEORGE HYCENT 
Reply-To: georgehycent@ozu.es
Subject: Beneficiary
Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2006 12:37:35 +0100

Dear Beneficiary,

It is with great delight that I write you. On January 31st in the year 2000, tragedy struck and if you can recollect fully, the tragic incident was the fatal air mishap of Alaska airlines flight 261 from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico enroute sanfrancisco and Seattle. Eighty-eight people were onboard that flight, eighty-three passengers and five crew members, none of them made it alive. You can look it up at Alaska airlines archives with google.com.

Onboard that ill fated flight was a worthy and highly respected customer with LACIAXA BANK Spain in the name of Morris Thompson. He was onboard that flight in the company of his wife Thelma and his only child Sheryl Thompson. They had been in Mexico for vacation as at that time.

Let me add here that I had the rare privilege of meeting late Morris Thompson on two occasions and I can attest to the fact that he was a very fine gentleman, very simple, very humane and admired by all. He was one of the state of Alaska most wealthy businessmen and prominent native. Late Thompson had in a domiciliary account with LACIAXA BANK Spain a certain amount totalling eight million, nine hundred and seventy-five thousand, ninety-five cents ($8,975,000.95)

It would interest you to know that late Thompson had appended the name of Sheryl and yours as his next of kin and for whatever reasons late Thompson may have had to include your name as next of kin no one can question. Consequently, Sheryl Thompson demise now leaves you as the sole beneficiary and next of kin to the said funds in the account of Late Thompson. Frantic efforts has been made since then to locate you and the delay was actually to ascertain the authenticity of your name as the true next of kin to Morris Thompson and you must forgive us for contacting you this late.

Once again, accept my deepest apologies for the delay in reaching you. On receipt of your acknowledgement of this mail, you can reach me at your earliest convenience or at my alternative email, georgehycent@ozu.es I anticipate your quick response. Best regards,

George hycent

Real Estate: For Sale by Owner

I got a note from a gentleman in one of the Southern states who had listed his home for "sale by owner" on Yahoo. He got a note from a Nigerian buyer who claimed that he wanted to buy the house. Of course the money was tied up, but, with the help of the US seller, could be transferred to a US account. The Nigerian's english was not very good, so I did not fully understand his proposal, but he apperently wanted the US seller to sign a note that would be balanced by $2 million that would be transferred to the US. Then the accounts would be settled and the house purchased.

Complex cash transfers for any transaction are a red flag. The money involved is either non-existent (as is the case with these Nigerian scams), is from illegal sources, or the buyer is unreliable. In all these cases, you are better off staying away from such a transaction.

Foreign nationals usually have to purchase US property for cash, unless they have existing assets in the United States which can be used for collateral for a loan. Anyone who has real cash or assets for such a purchase will not need to engage in some complex transaction to do so. As I have stated repeatedly above, there is a whole international infrastructure available for financial transfers, both legal and illegal. Anyone who has real cash does not need the help of someone not involved in this business.

Pay us money or we'll kill you!

According to an article in the British Internet publication The Register, there is a new Nigerian scam that claims to be from a group of assassins for hire (with offices in 102 countries around the world). The SPAM email informs the recipient that they have been targeted for termination by someone they offended "a long time ago". Only by immediately paying $40,000 will the recipient avoid being killed by local minions of the multinational Assassins Inc.

One wag on Slashdot suggested responding with something like this:

Dear Mr. Assassin:

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to save myself from immediate death by paying your company $40,000. I not only wish to save my life for myself, but also for my wife and children, who depend on me for support.

I will immediately pay you the money you demand as soon as I can retrieve my assets from a security company in the Netherlands.

For many years I worked with my brother as a mining engineer and businessman in Sierra Leone, where I had a diamond mining company. During the recent troubles my brother was killed and I was forced to flee Sierra Leone. Fortunately, before I left I managed to transfer $20,000,000 (twenty million dollars, US) in diamonds to a security company outside of Amsterdam, in the Netherlands.

I was forced to flee Sierra Leone with little more than the cloths on my back and do not have the funds to pay the shipping and storage fee for the trunk containing the diamonds. If International Assassins Inc. will send me $3,800 for the shipping and storage fees, I will not only pay the $40,000, but %20 of the value of the diamonds (that's four million dollars, US).

Please do not kill me before we have had an opportunity to work out all of the modalities for this transaction.

Yours,
Ursus Bearcave

The Hitman Scam has also been reported in the Washington Post: Latest E-Mail Scam Offers Reprieve -- at a Price -- From Killer-for-Hire

Bank Scams are Frequently Inspired by Current Events

I'm still waiting for a Bank Scam based on the massive Enron corporate fraud. The Bank Scammers probably don't read the business press, so my satire (near the end of the web page) may be the only version in existence. Included below is a Bank Scam based on the US invasion and occupation of Iraq. As it turns out, the US military did, in fact, find millions of US dollars in shipping crates and false rooms. Billions of dollars in both Iraqi and US money have also gone missing. But the best path to these ill gotten gains is to be a Bush administration crony. The email below is included because it is a scam. This scam is constructed with some care. If the amount of money mentioned had been too big, a large shipping container would have been needed. $7 million would probably fit in a box the size of a luggage trunk. The scam is meant to appeal to both greed and sympathy for members of the US military who are serving in Iraq. Here's this guy whose risking his life, doing his duty to his country. Help him get his ill gotten gains out of Iraq.

This is a transparent scam. Not only is the story outlandish, but the english reads like it was written by someone who is not a native speaker. But just imagine for a moment if this scam was actually true. What would happen if you went to a bank and tried to deposit a suitcase full of $100 bills? The US Treasury Dept., the FBI and perhaps the DEA would be by to see you as soon as the bank made the phone calls they're required to make.

From: "Donald Greene" 
Subject: URGENT!!!
Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2006 17:20:17 +0100
Reply-To: "Donald Greene" 
X-Priority: 3 (Normal)
Organization: Donald Greene

FROM: Sgt. Donald Greene

To whom it may concern.

We managed to move funds belonging to Saddam Hussein's family. The total amount is US$7.2 million dollars in cash, mostly 100 dollar bills. We want to move this money to you, so that you may invest it for us and keep our share for banking. We will take 60%, my partner and I. You take the other 40%. No strings attached, just help us move it out of Iraq, Iraq is a war zone. We plan on using diplomatic courier and shipping the money out in one large silver box, using diplomatic immunity. If you are interested I will send you the full details, my job is to find a good partner that we can trust and that will assist us. Can I trust you? When you receive this letter, kindly send me an e-mail signifying your interest including your most confidential telephone/fax numbers for quick communication also your contact details. This business is risk free. The box can be shipped out in 48hrs.

Respectfully,
Sgt. Donald Greene
Private Email: donald22greene@netscape.net

The Biggest Scammers are not from Nigeria

Despite the publicity that the Banks Scams have attracted these scams keep coming, apparently with increasing frequency. Over time this web page has grown much larger than I originally planned. The scams tend to pretty much echo the same themes. Unless I get some really creative scams, I am not adding to this web page. So please don't mail me examples of the same kind of scams published here.

A number of the African governments (if you can call them that), have been referred to as kleptocracies. The primary accomplishments of these governments has been to move billions of dollars that belong to their people to secret overseas accounts. The news accounts of African kleptocracy seems to lead the credulous to believe that there are millions of dollars sloshing around Africa just waiting to find an exit.

Although African governments have become infamous for kleptocracy, it is worth remembering there are cases where a few loot the many in the United States. Executives and venture capital investors in "dot-com" companies have cashed out billions of dollars in stock options. These companies, which were once valued at hundreds of millions or billions and are now worthless, or close to it. Large corporate conglomerates like Tyco and energy companies like Enron have been similarly looted by their executives. This money came from the shareholders, who are largely mutual funds and pension funds. The vast majority of the money in these funds consists of the retirement savings of millions of people in the United States (the rich invest in hedge funds, not mutual funds). Although corporate looting has not destroyed the economy of the United States to the same extent that that it has some African countries, the behavior of the corporate ruling class in the United States could be characterized as a corporate kleptocracy. But never fear, as executive salaries continue to rise we are assured that this is simply the behavior of a few "bad apples".

Although the electorate in the United States seems to ignore the issue of corporate executive crime, I wonder if the wide spread accounts of the millions in misappropriated funds from companies like Worldcom, Tyco or Enron will lead to a new version of the bank scam. All those corporate executives with their millions need to move their ill gotten gains so that the government and lawyers can't get their nasty Democratic hands on it. Those poor beleaguered rich white men need YOUR help. Just send your bank account information for a fat commission! In the spirit of satire, I've even included an Enron bank scam at the end of this web page.

References Available on the Web

I've provided links to articles from Internet publications in the discussion about. Some additional references are listed below:

• Nigerian scam continues to thrive: Cashier's checks, Iraqi plea add two new flavors to old story By Bob Sullivan, MSNBC, March 5, 2003

  This article relates a twist that I had not seen before: the persecuted Iraqi Christian. Help them, Pat Robertson, Help them!

  I am brameem anu [sic], i the son of a victim of oppression in iraq. my father was a successful businessman in bagdad-iraq, and not too long the iraqi presidential guards came into our house at about one a.m. midnight, picked up my father away, only to find him few days later, dead in front of the house. At present we are not also safe because they believe my father has been financing the opposition group in surport of the Americans, but it's just a way of cleaning out the few christian minority in Iraq and this is the best time to do so. we are christian and my father happens to be one of the few rich christian in iraq.

• Nigerian Slain Over E-Mail Scam, by Michelle Delio, WiredNews, February 21, 2003.

  This WiredNews article relates how an employee of the Nigerian embassy was shot and killed by a 72-year-old Czech man who apparently had been a victim of the Nigerian Bank Scam. Apparently he was victimized a year ago and had been trying to get his money back. So apparently there still are people who fall for the scam.

• Web of deceit: Who's sending you all those scam Nigerian e-mails? By Brendan I. Koerner, SLATE.COM, Oct. 22, 2002. This article seems to have disappeared from the Web.

  This article in Slate claims that the Nigerian scams represent the fifth largest industry in Nigeria, accounting for an estimated $100 million, US. The author also claims that the cash flow from the scams have been responsible for improvements in the Nigerian telecommunications and Internet infrastructure.

• Notorious e-mail scam snares Volusia retiree's nest egg By Jim Stratton, Orlando Sentinel, December 23 2003

  This is a tragic story of a Florida retiree who was taken for over $300,000 in a Nigerian bank scam. The article outlines the evolution of the scam as the scammers ask for more and more money.

  What is interesting is that the scammers frequently reference religion ("God has brought us together"). However, as an old grifter from the 1930s noted, a honest man is never scammed. Those who fall for the scam are dreaming of imaginary riches that they would have no right to if they were real. This is not to say that those who suffer from human frailty deserve to be financially ruined. But the fact that their moral beliefs are only skin deep when it comes to the dream of wealth means that they are vulnerable. Perhaps if you believe in religious fictions, it is easy to believe in a Nigerian scam.

  One of the oddest claims in this article is attributed to the US Secret Service: [the Nigerian scams] "represent a serious financial threat" to the United States. This seems unlikely unless my fellow citizens who believe that the missing Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction actually exist start sending money to Nigeria. Perhas the Secret Service is worried that if you fall for one scan, you'll fall for another.

  This is a copy of the Orlando Sentinel article. Bearcave.com is a non-commercial site and I felt that keeping this article on-line was more important that a strict adherence to copyright. Once in a blue moon I get email from people who are tempted to fall for one of these scams. It is difficult to talk them out of their false dreams. Perhaps this article will help.

• Netherlands Nabs Nigeria Scammers, Associated Press, January 30, 2004, republished on Wirednews

  A number of bank scammers claim that they have large "trunks" or other shipping containers that contain millions in cash. For what ever reason, these containers, with the imaginary cash, is supposedly in storage with a company the Neatherland.

  This brief article recounts a raid by the Neatherland authorities to crack down on this scam, at least in the Neatherlands.

• Anatomy of a 419 Scam, The Register, July 9, 2004

  This article in The Register provides an account of a particularly sophisticated version of the Nigerian Bank Scam.

  The scammers sent out a spam that claimed to be from an investment firm asking if the recipient was related to "a client who shares your surname" (note that this allows the spam to be generic) whose last contact address was in Belgium and had was born in 1932.

  When the "mark" responded, one of the scammers, "Clive Bannister", sent the mark a long email explaining that his firm had been trying to find someone with the same name last name who had recently died and left a large amount of money unclaimed. No next of kin was listed with the bank and they had been unable to find any relatives. The "mark" who received the email was their last chance. Now that Mr. Bannister knows that there is no one to claim the money, he invites the "mark" to conspire with him to obtain the funds. Eventually this entails setting up a bank account (with a fictitious bank, via a Western Union deposit). Of course there is a minimum deposit requirement. In the end the "mark" lost $1,000 US.

• The Perfect Mark, by Mitchell Zuckoff, The New Yorker, May 15, 2006.

  This article tells the story of John W. Worley, a Christian psychotherapist who fell victim to Nigerian scammers and ended up serving time in federal prison. Like many of the Nigerian scams, the one that Worley fell for was both immoral and illegal. Immoral in that the money that would supposedly be transfered into his account was stolen from the people of an African country. The scam was illegal because he planned to take part in a covert transfer of money that would not be properly reported to the US Government. Like so many of the "Christians" who have supported George W. Bush and who have been the backbone of the Christian right, Worley publicly proclaimed his faith while acting in an immoral fashion.

• Don't Touch That Mail! by Gbemisola Olujobi, January 25, 2007, TruthDig.com

  A native Nigerian writer takes stock of the changing face of her country.s most prominent economic export after oil: e-mail scams.

  This article mentions an Internet/Email scam that I have not heard of before, the on-line Romance scam:

  The chat room and romance variation is the most interesting. It is usually combined with one of the other forms of 419. You meet someone in a chat room and fall head over heels in love. (Do such things really happen?) The object of your affection secures your confidence one way or the other. S/he then begins to play on your emotions, making what look like harmless requests at first (small change, camera, mobile phone etc.). But as the plot thickens, you begin to part with more valuable things.

  An offer of marriage is made to further suck you in. Undying love is declared on both sides. You need to send engagement rings and money for a traditional betrothal ceremony at this point. You also need to send gifts to an extended family of in-laws. The .love of your life. is a poor, cash-strapped African, and you need to give financial muscle to the relationship. You need to pay the bride price. You may even be asked to pay for a virginity test, or, if the distant loved one is male, for a manhood test. There will also be a wine-carrying ceremony. There will be sacrifices to appease the ancestors for the sacrilege of a .prince/princess. marrying a stranger. Before you know it, you have invested heavily in what should have been a simple matter of the heart.

  In answer to the author's question ("Do such things really happen?"), the answer is yes. I met my wife of (as I write this) thirteen years via an email list (this was before the Web). I have known several other couples who have met on-line as well. Fortunately most people are not scammers, but you still have to be cautious as this article notes.

Scam Satire Sites

These are web sites whose authors lead the scammers on and post the results on their web sites. This was covered in Web Enthusiasts Take Up Scan Baiting by Lynn Cowan, Dow Jones Newswires, published in The Wall Street Journal, March 19, 2003, Pg. B4C

• www.scamorama.com
• www.quatloos.com This site goes after other scams, in addition to the Nigerian ones.
• www.sweetchillisauce.com
• www.geocities.com/scamjokepage
• www.geocities.com/a_kerenx
• 419 Eater. This site has some sophmorically funny exchanges with the spammers. These scammers are not native english speakers and don't have an understanding of english slang and other trivia (e.g., in one letter the author includes "cornish pasties" in his bank's street address). The person who runs the site, "Shiver Metimbers", gets the spammers to pose with signs. In one exchange, titled "I Like to Worry Sheep", the author gets the scammer to hold a sign that says "I Shag Sheep".

• Nigerian email conmen fall into their targets' net by Tony Thompson, Nov. 16, 2003, The Observer, reprinted in the Guardian Unlimited

  This article discusses some of the web sites run by people who lead the Nigerian scammers on (some of these are listed above). There is a definite comic element. One of these sites specializes in getting the scammer to pose for a photograph, holding a sign with the fictional correspondent's name. Examples of names are Ben Dover, Iama Dildo and other sophmoric puns.

Some Sample Scams

I do appreciate getting email about innovative new versions of these scams. But please don't send me a sample scams if it is just a variation of one of the scams listed on this web page, with new names or a different story about how some wealthy person died.

As Douglas Cruickshank notes in his Salon article there is a certain creativity in the Nigerian Bank Scam letters. For example, the Dr. Evil Trust Fund for Arms and Ammunition to further war in Africa and the rest of the world. Of course there are a few errors in both english, english usage and numerical accuracy (hey, only a stickler would be picky about three orders of magnitude).

From g_ali23@yahoo.com  Thu Sep 27 11:16:53 2001
Received: from web20809.mail.yahoo.com (web20809.mail.yahoo.com [216.136.226.198])
	by idiom.com (8.9.3/8.9.3) with SMTP id LAA86085
	for ; Thu, 27 Sep 2001 11:16:52 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <20010927181651.9345.qmail@web20809.mail.yahoo.com>
Received: from [63.227.234.229] by web20809.mail.yahoo.com via HTTP; Thu, 27 Sep 2001 11:16:51 PDT
Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2001 11:16:51 -0700 (PDT)
From: George Ali 
Subject: URGENT BUSINESS PROPOSAL
To: g_ali23@yahoo.com
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

As before, the Nigerian Scam e-mail below is reproduced as I received it. I did add paragraphs, since the formatting was a mess.

Computers, a phone line and access to the Internet must be very expensive in Nigeria. On top of this bribes must be paid to protect the scam artists. So given the costs, we can only assume that the Nigerian Scam is profitable and that there are suckers who continue to fall for this.

But there are obvious problems with the story. Anyone who came from a family of the wealth the author claims would have been educated in either Europe or the United States. This would give the author contacts to help move funds out of Nigeria. In fact, I'm sure that there are a number of reliable offshore banks that would be willing to help arrange such a transfer for less than a 10% (from what I've read, money laundering groups charge 5% or less).

From henrymuzalia@excite.com  Mon Oct 22 05:34:56 2001
Received: from kuku.excite.com (kuku-rwcmta.excite.com [198.3.99.63])
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          Mon, 22 Oct 2001 05:34:26 -0700
Message-ID: <7012369.1003754066001.JavaMail.imail@squealer.excite.com>
Date: Mon, 22 Oct 2001 05:34:25 -0700 (PDT)
From: henry muzalia 
To: finnman_55@hotmail.com
Subject: Urgent Assistance
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
X-Sender-Ip: 208.198.156.21
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
X-MIME-Autoconverted: from quoted-printable to 8bit by idiom.com id FAA97066
Status: RO

Dear Sir,

I am the eldest son of the late Aloys Muzalia Wakyebwa (a foremost human rights activist in the Democratic Republic of Congo). My father died in September 2000 as a result of the inhumane treatment meted out on him while in prison by the RCD Government of Goma and Rwanda allies. However, it is particularly important to mention here that before the death of my father, he was a politician, educationist, successful businessman and consultant services which cut across Africa.

He was able to accumulate enough money both in local and foreign currencies through his business empire. His entire business has been on the upward trend over the past ten years, bringing his net profit during the period under review to twenty eight million U.S dollars ($28,000,000). This of course does not include his assets which are already running into millions of dollars.

Having said all this, there was a twist in my father's success story following his confrontation with the RCD-Goma and Rwandam attack on the Congolese people. My father being a human right activist, criticized this attack. This infuriated them and he was clamped into jail until he died in September. Fortunately, before the arrest of my father, his attorney acting upon his instructions, transferred the sum of twenty -eight million U.S dollars ($28,000,000) from his local banks to a security firm. He did this for fear of this accounts being frozen.

Following my father's death, the entire family decided to seek political asylum in Lome -Togo, as the eldest son of my late father and according to our tradition in Africa. I have now inherited all my father's wealth. I was then advised by my father's attorney (presently my attorney) to seek the assistance of someone based in your country to receive the amount in question being ($28,000,000). Since I have the intention of relocating my family there with the aim of settling down there and investing. I have decided to give you 10% of the $28,000.000.

To finalize this transaction you will have to contact me via my e-mail. Further discussions will be centered on how and when we shall be meeting. I shall expect you to keep this transaction confidential due to the present circumstance of my family.

I urgently await your response.

Yours faithfully

Henry A. U Muzalia

This variation of the bank scam was sent to me by someone who read this web page. This is a more sophisticated variation of the previous "come-one" above. It is interesting to see how the story line has evolved.

As always, I've only added formatting, but left the english alone. I suppose that this one should be called a Congo Bank Scam, rather than a Nigerian bank scam. Again, there is the massive irony of an honest business person (a human rights activist, no less) making a fortune in a poor, corrupt and conflict ridden country like the Congo. For the sake of the Congolese (or Nigerian people) I only wish such stories were true.

I am the eldest son of the late Henri Tobo Kabongo (a foremost human rights activist in the Democratic Republic of Congo). My father died in March 2000 as a result of the in humane treatment meted out to him while in prison by the government of Laurent Kabila.

However, it is particularly important to mention here that before the death of my father, he was a successful businessman and his business empire includes real estate, exportation, banking and consultancy services which cut across Africa. He was able to accumulate enough money both in local and foreign currencies through his business empire. In fact, he was at one time rated among the first five richest Congolese businessmen by one of the leading business magazines in my country. His entire business has been on the upward trend over the past ten years, bringing his net profit during the period under review to twenty one million U.S dollars ($21,000,000).

This of course does not include his assets which are already running into millions of dollars. Having said all this, there was a twist in my father's success story following his confrontation with the government of Laurent Kabila who has been quite high-handed and dictatorial in his policies and day-to-day running of the affairs of the Congolese people.

My father being a human rights activist, criticised his government in both local and international newspapers. This infuriated him and he clamped my father in jail until he died in March last year due to ill health. Fortunately, before the arrest of my father, his attorney acting upon his instructions, transferred the sum of twenty one million U.S dollars ($21,000,000) from his local banks to a security firm overseas where it is presently. He did this for fear of this accounts being frozen by the government. Following my father's death, my entire family and attorney decided to seek political assylum in Lome, Republic of Togo, where we now coordinate my father's business. Be that as it may, as the eldest son of my late father and according to our tradition in Africa. I have now inherited all my father's wealth. Considering the present face-off between Kabila and my family, I was then advised by my father's attorney (presently my attorney) to seek the assistance of someone based in your country to receive the amount in question being ($21,000,000).

Since I have the intention of relocating my family there with the aim of settling down there and investing. I have decided to give you 10% of the total amount involved and I have also set aside 5% for any expenses that might be incurred in the course of this transaction. To finalize this transaction you will have to contact me via my e-mail address (emma_tobo@yahoo.com). further discussions will be centered on how and when we shall be meeting with the officials of the security firm. I shall expect you to keep this transaction confidential due to the present circumstance of my family and I urgently await your response.

Yours faithfully

EMMA TOBO.

This is one of my favorite versons of the Nigerian Bank Scam, since it has the moral elegance that anyone who falls for it deserves to be taken advantage of.

The old style cons that were popular in the 1920s and 1930s attempted to ensnare the "mark" through their greed by offering a chance to profit from an illegal scheme. If the mark took the bait they would be involved in an illegal conspiracy and would be less likely to report it. I suspect that conspiracy to launder money is probably a crime in the United States.

This version of the Nigerian scam follows the same course. Rather than appealing to both greed and moral sense (e.g., stop the Dr. Evil Fund for War in Africa and Other Places), this one is a straight appeal to naked greed. The author claims that he and his colleagues ripped off the Nigerian Petroleum corporation to the tune of $21,500,000. At the end of the e-mail they mention that they are cronies of the previous military dictatorship (a nasty bunch responsible for killing the writer Ken Saro-wiwa, among others). They need to get the money out before the democratically elected government finds out about the theft.

Apparently they don't have the standard money laundering contacts and they are appealing to the recipient for help in getting their ill gotten gains out of the Nigeria. In return for this service they are offering $6,450,000. Especially after the September 11, 2001 terrorist event and the new laws targeted at terrorist funds, some trouble might be involved when $21,500,000 shows up unaccountably in your bank account.

If almost six and a half million is not enough of an inducement to take part in an illegal money laundering scheme they add an amusing twist. "Dr. Jega" mentions that Patrice Miller (named, no doubt after the African activist Patrice Lumumba), who they previously counted on to transfer money disappeared with the whole boodle once the transfer was complete. They even provide Mr. Miller's address and phone number, but since we can assume that he is living in Monaco under another name, he may be hard to interview. I assume that "Dr. Jega" mentions Mr. Miller to suggest to the reader (in case they are too stupid to figure it out themselves) that they could also make off with all the money. After all, if you're a dumb greedhead, why settle for a third of the imaginary funds when you can have the whole fictional pie. The e-mail mentions up front that they stole the money, so what's so bad about stealing from thieves.

From: uba_jega_ag@yahoo.com
Subject: CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP
Date: Sun, 28 Oct 2001 14:43:01 -0000

FROM:DR.UBA JEGA.
SATELLITE TEL.871-761-8888-31.
SATELLITE FAX.871-761-8888-32. 
Email:uba_jega_ag@yahoo.com

The english in this version of the Nigerian scam is better than most. However, it suffers from the usual problems in arithmetic and notation. This particular scam allegedly involves over invoicing a large order for computer systems. The order involves 2,367 computer systems, at approximately $38,107 (US) per computer system. Presumably each system is a multi-processor server with large amounts of memory and disk space. These systems are being procured from Bulgaria no less. Back in the days of the Soviet Union Bulgaria was actually a high tech area where many of the Soviet Unions silicon chips were fabricated. However, I'm told that those days are past. I worked with someone from Bulgaria who told me that Bulgaria had "hit bottom and was digging". So it's pretty unlikely that Bulgaria would be supplying home grown computer systems. But what is a Nigerian Bank Scam with out factual kinks.

Obviously if the story in this scam where true, it would involve fraud and embezzlement, so it is amusing that at the end the author states that it depends on "trust and fear of God".

Mail-from: From dan_sa44@excite.com  Mon Dec  3 19:22:00 2001
Received: from oemcomputer ([63.227.235.123])
	by idiom.com (8.9.3/8.9.3) with SMTP id TAA58120
	for ; Mon, 3 Dec 2001 19:21:52 -0800 (PST)
Message-Id: <200112040321.TAA58120@idiom.com>
From: "DAN OSA" 
To: 
Subject: PROPOSAL
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Date: Tue, 4 Dec 2001 04:18:48

Dr Dan Osa

NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION FEDERAL SECRETARIAT, FALOMO- LAGOS, NIGERIA.

Tel:234.1.7759249
Fax: 234-1-7597998.

Dear Sir,

BUSINESS PROPOSAL: TRANSFER OF US$ 14.3 M (FOURTEEN MILLION,THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND USD.).

First, I must solicit your trust and strictest confidence in this transaction; this is by nature of the top-secret information I am about to divulge to you. You were introduced to us by a mutual acquaintance from the Nigerian Chamber of Commerce, Foreign Trade Division, who does not know of the nature of what I am about to introduce to you. He only knows that I have some funds to invest abroad, hence he recommended you.

I am the Director of Engineering & Project of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (N.N.P.C) in Lagos, Nigeria. I am seeking your assistance to enable me transfer the sum of US$14,300,000.00 into your private company account for mutual benefits. This money came about as a result of a contract for the supply of two thousand, three hundred and sixty-seven computer unit, installation and the Y2K compliance turn-around maintenance executed on behalf of my Ministry (N.N.P.C), in the year 1999. This contract was officially assigned to be awarded and executed by two foreign contractors at the tune of US$105,500,000.00, but in the course of my negotiation, I bargained with only one foreign contractor, a Bulgarian firm which now executed the contract at the cost ofUS$90.2000.000.00. Thus leaving the remaining US$14.3M floating in the escrow account of the Central Bank of Nigeria (C.B.N) to the benefits of we the three members of the contract award panel unknown to the contractor and any other person in my Ministry. This contract has been satisfactorily executed and inspected as the Bulgarian firm is presently securing his payment from my Ministry.

It is however to this effect that I seek your maximum assistance and approval to present your company name alongside with the Bulgarian contractor as the second foreign contractor to enable me transfer the difference (US$14.3M) into your account for further investment depending on your advice.

On actualization of the transaction, the funds will be shared thus:

1. 30% of the money go to you for acting as the beneficiary of the funds.
2. 10% for reimbursement to both parties for incidental expenses that may be incurred in the course of the transaction for insurance phone bills, documentation etc.
3. 60% to we three members of the Contract Award Panel.

All logistics are in place and all modalities worked out for the smooth actualization of the transaction within fourteen working days of commencement after receipt of the following information by fax: Your company's Name. Address. Phone/Fax number and activities. Also, if we opt for electronic transfer only other than payment by solar bank draft or cash call programme, then your bank account particulars.

The above information will enable me make the application and lodge claims to the concerned Ministries in favour of your company or name and it is pertinent to state here that this deal is entirely based on trust and the fear of God.

If you are able to handle, feel free to reach me by fax on: 234-1-7597998. Also furnish me with your own phone and fax numbers, as I will be sending you immediately I receive your positive response some classified documents.

Thanks in anticipation for your positive response.

Yours faithfully.
DR DAN OSA.

Here is an Ivory Coast/Sierra-Leone bank scam. Mrs. Joy Coleman was married to a Mr. Fidelis (which happens to be Latin for Faithful). This scam letter has not followed the usual pattern of using names names that sound African to the westerner. As with most bank scam come-ons, this is yet another manager who has amassed a fortune before his untimely and violent demise. Once again, his desperate surviving relatives are trying to get the money out of the country and are willing to pay a hefty percentage of the assets to do so. This time the money is with a security company in a "metallic box". It must be a really big box to hold $18,500,000 (perhaps a steel cargo container).

The sad fact is that Sierra-Leone has a recent history that is as close to Hell on earth as anyplace I know of. People who had money left long ago, however. It is tragic to see the horrible events that took place in Sierra-Leone used as a pretext for a scam. It demeans the victims of these events.

Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2002 03:53:01 -0800 (PST)
From: Joy Coleman <mrs_joy_coleman@yahoo.com>
Subject: LETTER OF ASSISTANCE
To: someone@somewhere.com

Unbeknownst to most of us, there are vast amounts of money rolling around in African countries that most people in the United States could not place on a map of Africa. Here is a case in point. An unclaimed $126,000,000 in US Dollars that no one has noticed in this bank. This is rather remarkable since the withdrawal of this kind of cash would be noticed by large international banks. As always, these funds are desperate to get out of the country.

From: joe akin 
Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2002 17:01:30 -0800 (PST)
Subject: BUSINESS OFFER

FROM MR JOE AKIN
COTONOU, BENIN REPUBLIC.
PHONE# 871-76-2535865
FAX# 871-76-2535866

Dear Sir,

In order to transfer out (USD 126 MILLION) One hundred and twenty six million United States Dollars) from BANK OF AFRICA BENIN [BAB]. I have the courage to ask for your assistance to handle this important and confidential business believing that you will never let me down either now or in future.

I am MR JOE AKIN,the MANAGER of BANK OF AFRICA BENIN [BAB]. There is an account opened in this bank in 1980 and since 1990 nobody has operated on this account again. After going through some old files in the records, I discovered that if I do not remit this money out urgently it will be forfeited for nothing. The owner of this account is Mr. SMITH B.ANDREAS, a foreigner, and a miner at KRUGER GOLD CO., a geologist by profession and he died since 1990. No other person knows about this account or any thing concerning it, the account has no other beneficiary and my investigation proved to me as well that this company does not know anything about this account and the amount involved is (USD 126M) One hundred and twenty six million United States Dollars million dollars.

I want to first transfer [USD26M] twenty-six million United States Dollars from this money into a safe foreigners account abroad before the rest, but I don't know any foreigner, I am only contacting you as a foreigner because this money can not be approved to a local bank here, but can only be approved to any foreign account because the money is in us dollars and the former owner of the account is Mr. Smith B.Andreas is a foreigner too.

I know that this message will come to you as asurprise as we don't know our selves before,but be sure that it is real and a genuine business. I only got your contact address from my secretary who operates computer with believe in God that you will never let me down in this business. You are the only person that I have contacted in this business, so please reply urgently so that I will inform you the next step to take urgently. Send also your private telephone and fax number including the full details of the account to be used for the deposit.

I want us to meet face to face or sign a binding agreement to bind us together so that you can receive this money into a foreign account or any account of your choice where the fund will be safe. I will fly to your country for withdrawal and sharing and other investments. I am contacting you because of the need to involve a foreigner with foreign account and foreign beneficiary.

I need your full co-operation to make this work fine because the management is ready to approve this payment to any foreigner who has correct information of this account, which I will give to you later immediately, if you are able and with capability to handle such amount in strict confidence and trust according to my instructions and advice for our mutual benefit because this opportunity will never come again in my life.

I need truthful person in this business because I don't want to make mistake I need your strong assurance and trust. With my position now in the office I can transfer this money to any foreigner's reliable account, which you can provide with assurance that this money will be intact pending my physical arrival in your country for sharing. I will destroy all documents of transaction immediately we receive this money leaving no trace to any place. You can also come to discuss with me face to face after which I will make this remittance in your presence and two of us will fly to your country so at least two days ahead of the money going into the account. I will apply for annual leave to get visa immediately I hear from you that you are ready to act and receive this fund in your account.

I will use my position and influence to effect legal approvals and onward transfer of this money to your account with appropriate clearance forms of the ministries and foreign exchange departments. At the conclusion of this business, you will be given 35% of the total amount, 60% will be for me, while 5% will be for expenses both parties might have incurred during the process of transferring.

I look forward to your earliest reply Contact
info; PHONE#:(871)-762535865,
FAX#: (871}-762535866,
COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC

Yours Truly,
MR JOE AKIN

Although I seem to be off the spam list for the bank scamers, my wife is not. This is from her junk_mail file caught by the spam filter. I particularly appreciated the fact that they "Brilliantly" transferred the money. I guess that they have never heard of bank accounts in near by Lichtenstein.

From bilytanla@yahoo.com  Mon Feb 18 05:26:57 2002
Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2002 05:26:56 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Confidential Business Proposal

TEL:+31-610-370-483

Sir/Madam,

I know it's quite astonishing when a business proposal comes from an unknown person whom you do not know or have in anyway come in contact with. I got your address from the chambers of commerce and industries here in the Netherlands, due to the consideration of your companies profiles, I solicit for your understanding and co-operation in this transaction that will be benefit to both of us.

I am from Sierra Leone in West Africa; a diamond merchant, but presently residing in the Netherlands due to the unstable political situation in my country. My proposal to you is, we have Brilliantly and quietly transferred my capital and that of my friend which amounts to the sum of USD$10.5 Million (TEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS) through a diplomatic means in the Netherlands, which we safely deposited with a security company in exchange to pay a very high interest rates.

My partner and I will be willing to invest this fund in your country, of course with your assistance once we can trust you. We have also decided to give you 10% of the total sum if you are able to assist us on the areas of investment in this transaction. As we have practical reasons for not investing in the Netherlands. It might interest you to know that this transaction is risk free for both parties. Hence all modalities for efficient security, safety and successful transaction have been arrange.

So please feel free to contact us with the above number or you can e-mail us(bilytanla@yahoo.com) if this proposal interest you.

Thanks and looking forward to your urgent reply.

Best Regards

BILY TANLA

My favorite cons are those that are upfront immoral schemes. Anyone taken in by one of these schemes deserves what they get. Few schemes could be more immoral than aiding in the secret transfer of money amassed by an infamous kleptocrat and murderer.

Since I have some rather harsh words here for Mobutu's regime in what was then known as Zaire, it is probably only fair to mention that my country, the United States, played a part in bringing this murderer to power (how much of a part is a matter of controversy).

In an interview, Larry Devlin, the CIA Station Chief at the time, tells how even in the early stages of independence, Mobutu was seen as a possible replacement for his sponsor Patrice Lumumba. Devlin describes receiving the order to eliminate Lumumba

From a description of Mobutu, King of Zaire, A Three-Part Film by Thierry Michel, which I found here

During the cold war, Mobutu was an "ally" of the United States, and the United States turned a blind eye to Mobutu's excesses. It was only when Mobutu lost his usefulness to US foreign policy that he became the target to criticism.

The dictator (president for life and living god) Mobutu Sese-seko, who was backed, sadly, during the cold war by the United States, is famous for stealing billions of dollars from his starving and illiterate people. In addition to being a kleptocrat, Mobutu is also infamous for the mass murder of his people. But now that the great man is gone, his family are in dire straights. Their chateaux has been confiscated by those faithless French! Hundreds of millions have been impounded. You just can't trust the Swiss anymore! Mobutu's poor family is reaching out to the internet for help! How can we refuse?

Date: Mon, 18 Mar 2002 04:38:36 -0800 (PST)
From: mariam sese <confidence@spinfinder.com>
Subject: PLEASE ASSIST ME
Reply-To: confidence@spinfinder.com
X-Originating-Ip: [63.100.194.163]

Here is another "help the family" of that murderous kleptocrat Mobutu Sese Seko "invest" the money Mobutu stole from what was then known as Zaire. My bon mots are included in the text, enclosed by square brackets. Mobutu probably had lots of mistresses and, if I recall correctly, multiple wives. If you happen to be a moron greedhead with no morals what-so-ever, I should mention that I could find no reference to a "Philip" Mobutu (except in other copies of this particular version of the Nigerian Bank scam). The author of this come-on did not even go to the trouble of researching Mobutu's life. Mobutu's most prominent son seems to be Nzanga Mobutu.

From: "Philip Mobutu" <mobutu_32@37.com>
Date: Wed, 22 May 2002 21:57:24

I am the son of the late President of the Federal Republic of Zaire, President Mobutu Sese Seko, (now Republic of Congo, under the leadership of the son of Mr. Laurent Kabila) [that would be Joseph Kabila].

I presume you are aware there is a financial dispute between my family (THE MOBUTU) and the present civilian Government. This is based on what they believe as bad and corrupt government on my father's part [such accusations for a man known to be a corrupt murderer who stole hundreds of millions and defined the term kleptocrat]. May his soul rest in peace.

Presently, we cannot do business here in Nigeria [home of the famous Bank Scam] where we are seeking for asylum due to our refugee status, and many countries of the world because of the new friendly relationship between the present government and the western world [and the fact that 'Dad' was a murderer and kleptocrat].

As you might have heard, a lot of my father's bank account in Switzerland and North America have since been frozen [life is hard]. Following the above mentioned reasons, I am soliciting for your humble and confidential assistance to take custody of Twenty Five Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (US$25,500,000.00), also to front for me in the areas of business you desire profitable. This sum of US$25.5M, has secretly been deposited into a confidential Security Company where it can easily be withdrawn or paid to a recommended beneficiary. The funds will be released to you by the Security Company based on my recommendations. On this note, you will be presented as my partner who will be fronting for me and my family in any subsequent ventures. If this proposal satisfies you, do response as soon as possible. Thank you and God bless

Yours Faithfully,

Philip Mobutu.

I thought that as a result of these web pages I might have been removed from the Nigerian Bank Scam spam lists. But I just got one. The author assures us that the offer is both real and legal. It includes something that I have not seen before: money to be allocated to paying taxes.

If we are to believe these Nigerian Bank Scam come-ons, the Nigerians are the worlds worst money launderers. I am a humble computer scientists, who always pays his taxes and whose law breaking activities to date consist of an illegal left hand turn. But even I know more than these guys (I read a lot). Here is the Bear Products International guide to laundering money. Use at your own risk. I've never tried any of these techniques and I don't advocate illegal acts. The only money that gets laundered at the Bearcave is small denomination bills that get left in pants that are thrown in the washer.

The Bearcave Guide to Laundering Money

As the current press reports involving "blood diamonds" have demonstrated, diamonds remain the best way to covertly move money across international frontiers. Diamonds are untraceable and they can be sold in the diamond markets in New York or Amsterdam. Keep in mind that you will pay a premium for an unreported transaction, so be sure to allow for this when calculating the quantity of diamonds you need. One the basis of no experience what-so-ever the financial wizards at Bear Products International estimate that you will need $750,000 worth of diamonds to finally clear $500,000 in laundered funds. Be sure to spread your funds across a number of bank accounts (known as smurfing). This adds to costs, but helps avoid notice by those nasty nosers at the United States Department of the Treasury. The money, once it is laundered, can then be used to establish an import/export business. You need to be sure that you do some amount of business to justify the flow of inflated invoices. Using this technique, as the Russians have in the past (see the articles on The Bank of New York and Russian money laundering), you should be able to transfer all of your ill gotten gains into the Land of Opportunity. Remember to make use of reputable off shore banks like the Royal Bank of Canada.

From: ayomeo@yahoo.com
To: no_one@nowhereman.com
Subject: AWAITING YOUR REPLY
Date: Sun, 7 Apr 2002 06:35:48 +0200

From: Mr. Mayowa Itunu
Fax:American Efax: 1 775 254 8031
email: mayowaitunu1@zipmail.com

Dear Sir,

PROPOSAL

May I first of all honestly express the seriousness and dutifulness with which I am sharing this correspondence with you. I implore you to hold it and all subsequent correspondences regarding this proposition in strictest confidentiality.

Be allayed of any fears stemming from the genuineness of the transaction. I know that as we progress, any existing doubt(s) will be put to rest. Fortunately, I am in a position to ensure and will actually see to it that the transaction is completed smoothly and swiftly.

For your information, I am Mr. Mayowa Itunu a top Nigerian civil servant with the Federal Ministry of Aviation (FMA) and a member of the 5-member adhoc committee set up by the Federal Government of Nigeria to review contracts awarded by the previous military administration between 1995-1999. We, the members of the committee are interested in the importation of goods into the country with funds presently floating in the Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF) foreign payments account.

Our request is anchored on our desire and need to establish a profiting business relationship with you and your company. We therefore solicit your partnership to enable us transfer into your designated account the said funds.

The funds in question, presently floating in the Federal Ministry of Aviation (FMA) foreign payments account with the Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF) is as a result of grossly over-invoiced contracts that were executed for the FMA during the previous military administration in Nigeria and are presently under verification. To this effect, the present administration in Nigeria set up our adhoc committee to identify, scrutinize and recommend for payment all valid contracts that have been fully executed. In the course of our assignment, we have identified a lot of misappropriated and inflated contract sums, which are presently floating in the suspense account of the Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF), ready for payment. The companies that executed these contracts have been duly paid. It is part of the over-inflated sum, totalling US$28,250,000.00 (twenty eight million, two hundred and fifty thousand United States dollars) that we intend to transfer into a foreign account.

The members of the committee have therefore mandated me, as a matter of trust, to seek a foreign partner into whose account we would transfer the sum of US$28,250,000.00 (twenty eight million, two hundred and fifty thousand United States dollars). This is the main purpose of this correspondence.

On completion of the transfer, we the committee members have agreed to share the fund thus:

1. 10% to be used in settling taxation and all local and foreign expenses that will be incurred in the course of this transaction;
2. 25% for the account owner (you) and
3. 65% for us (the committee members)

It is from the 65% that we intend to commence the importation of goods into the Nigerian market. Please note that this transaction is completely safe and guaranteed since the law under which our committee was set up has empowered us to disburse all the funds found to be floating in the Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF) redundant accounts from 1995 till date. Also, the present democratic dispensation creates even a more favourable atmosphere.

We shall immediately commence with all appropriate arrangements to transfer of the funds as soon as you send us the following information;

1. Your company's name and full address (if you own one)

2. Your complete banking information. This should include,Your banker's name, address, telephone and fax numbers (if you want to use your old account however you can open a new account for this transaction)and your account number.

3. Name of would be beneficiary

The above information is to enable us put up Letters of Claim and Job Description to the appropriate ministries for the issuance of the mandatory fund release approval/recommendations. This way, you or your company will become recognized and accepted as the beneficiary of the contract entitlements before the final remittance to your nominated account by the Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF) being the paying body.

We look forward to doing business with you and solicit your absolute confidentiality in this transaction. Please acknowledge receipt of this letter using my American Efax number:1-775-254-8031 and/or email address:mayowaitunu1@zipmail.com for more details regarding this transaction.

Yours faithfully,

Mr. Mayowa Itunu

Efax# 1-775-254-8031
mayowaitunu1@zipmail.com

From: "Mark Eweka" <business_centre2000@yahoo.com>
Date: jeu., 25 avr 2002 05:19:31
To: iank@bearcave.com
Subject: Business Proposal
Content-Type: text/plain;charset="iso-8859-1"

Dear Sir,

I write to solicit your assistance for a transaction of mutual benefit; believing that you will treat this with utmost confidence. I implore you to excuse me of any embarrassment this letter might cause you, as we have not met before.

I am Mr. Mark Eweka, son of the late Mr. Halid Eweka. It happens that five months ago, my father who was the Chairman of the Committee set up by the Sierra Leone Government to monitor the revenue generation from the sales of Diamonds, died after engaging in a motor accident on his way home from a National conference in Freetown. He was admitted in the hospital for eight (8) days before he finally died. While I was with him in the hospital, he disclosed a secret to me which am about to share with you.

n Before my father finally died in the hospital, he told me that he has USD16,000,000.00 (Sixteen Million United States Dollars) cash in a trunk box coded and deposited in a security company as a bonded shipment. He said the security company is not aware of it's contents, that on producing a document which am now in possession of, I will only have to pay the demurrage, after which the box will be released to me.

He further advised me not to collect the money without the assistance of a foreigner who will open a local account in favour of his company for onward transfer of the funds to his nominated overseas account where l can peacefully invest the money. He said as a civil servant, I am not supposed to own such money, and l would face lots of problems at the bank if l try to deposit the funds in my name without the assistance of foreigner.

It is in view of this, that l have decided to contact you for assistance with the following conditions:

1. That this transaction is treated with Utmost confidence, cooperation and absolute secrecy which it demands.

2. That the money would be transferred to an account where the incidence of taxation would not take much toll.

3. You would assist in paying the demurrage and handling charges.

4. You would have 20% of the funds for your assistance.

Please contact me at once if you can be of assistance. I am at the moment Ivory Coast, you can call me on 225 05 894 529. To enable you get through when calling, make sure you do not exclude any digit from the numbers. (225 is the country code), (05 is the area code, dial the 05 exactly the way it is, do not exclude the zero).

For confidentiality sake, please do not send me email, the email address is not a private one. Give me a call and we would arrange a better communication.

Yours sincerely .

Mark Eweka

My benchmark for elegant scams are those that ask the mark to do something that is immoral or illegal. These scams can only take advantage of a person with "larceny in their heart".

Certainly posing as the next of kin and contracting for fraudulent documents stating that this is the case is both immoral and illegal. So I kind of like this scam. There are no doubt numerous fees for the attorneys, bribes to be paid, all of which will come out of the mark's pocket (to be reimbursed from the twenty five mill.)

I love the "risk free part". Of course there is no $25 million. But lets pretend for a moment that there is. Unless you're a big US corporation, with a big political action committee that makes large donations to the Republican party (think Enron), you cannot transfer large amounts of money without attracting lots of attention. You can bet that US Treasury and FBI would stop by to ask about the $25 million that suddenly appeared in your bank account. Undeclared transfers of this kind are illegal in most countries.

From: "Paul Odu" <paul2odu@hotvoice.com>
Reply-To: paul2odu@hotvoice.com
Date: Fri, 3 May 2002 13:34:11 -0700
Subject: let us work together

I am Paul Odu, Bank Manager of Diamond Bank of Nigeria, Lagos Branch. I have urgent and very confidential business proposition for you.

On June 6, 1997, a FOREIGN Oil consultant/contractor with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mr. Barry Kelly made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit for twelve calendar months, valued at US$25,000,000.00 (Twenty- five 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, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation that Mr. Barry Kelly died from an automobile accident.

On further investigation, I found out that he died without making a WILL, and all attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless. I therefore made further investigation and discovered that Mr. Barry Kelly did not declare any kin or relations in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank. This sum of US$25,000,000.00 is still sitting in my Bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. No one will ever come forward to claim it. According to Nigerian Law,at the expiration of 5 (five) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Nigerian Government if nobody applies to claim the fund.

Consequently, my proposal is that I will [would] like you as an Foreigner to stand in as the next of kin to Mr. Barry Kelly so that the fruits of this old man's labor will not get into the hands of some corrupt government officials. This is simple, I will [would] like you to provide immediately 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 two Attorneys for drafting and notarization of the WILL and to obtain the necessary documents and letter of probate/administration in your favor for the transfer. A bank account in any part of the world, which you will 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 80% for me and 20% for you. 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 the transaction. 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 my email:paul2odu@hotvioce.com. Thanks and regards.

MR. Paul Odu

The bank scams seem to be branching out. Here is one involving South Africa. There is no back story about how they got the money, which is disappointing from an entertainment point of view. Also, there is no mention of the fee that will be paid. This has the disadvantage of not appealing to the greed of the intellectually and morally challenged reader. I've copied the e-mail without correcting the obvious errors in punctuation and numeric notation.

From: "TAMBO SISULU" <tambosu1@lycos.com>
Subject: INVESTMENT  REQUEST.
Date: Fri, 31 May 2002 23:35:47

INVESTMENT
REQUEST

Compliment of the season! It is indeed my pleasure to write to you this letter, which i believe, will be a big surprise as we are both complete strangers. I work for the Ministry of Minerals and Energy in South Africa, and by this letter I am representing and also acting on behalf of two of my senior colleague (The Director General and The Group General Manager) whose mandate I have got to contact a trusted and reliable foreign based businessman, concerning the business matter of mutual benefit to all.

By this mandate given to me, we are in dire need of a foreign partner to assist us in the transfer/investment of USD 15,00,000,00. (fifteen Million, United States Dollars). The key issues are the transfer and the subsequent investment of the said sum. We are ready to go into an agreement with you and also offer you a negotiable fee for putting together an investment portfolio.

It does not matter whether or not you own a company or you have invested funds before. We shall guide you on what to do. The basis will be that a major company won a contract and subcontracted it to you. More often, big trading companies and firms of unrelated field win contracts and subcontracts to more specialized firms for execution.

We shall follow strictly all the legal procedures entailed in our laws and international laws in transferring the funds to you. The source of the funds is legitimate and authoritative.

Please, be informed that under the South Africa Government monetary policy, strategic positioned government officials are not allowed to operate or own bank account overseas, hence our need for a foreign partner to front for us.

We pray that you take the essence of this letter in strict confidence, as the two officials involved would not like to be exposed on this. Kindly notify me via my e-mail, upon you acceptance to assist us. Further details will be made available to you as soon as you reply. We shall provide you with our confidential phone and fax number, once there is positive response from you.

Thank you and God bless, as we wait for your urgent response.

Best Regards.

TAMBO SISULU

I thought that this version of the scam had a better story than most. The events related in the "come-on" are part of actual history. Here is this poor guy whose father was murdered by Mugabe in the "land reform". He's seeking help to get his money out so he can leave the horrorshow that Zimbabwe has become. The english better than most of these scam letters. Mr. Matongo does not directly appeal to the reader's naked greed, although he leaves the path open. Of course anyone who falls for this will find that this poor soul needs a few thousand here and there to pay bribes, fees etc... to complete the transaction. All fees will be paid back, of course.

From a moral stand point, the scams that appeal to the greed of the reader are the best, since they only ensnare the immoral. This scam, however, appeals to someone's better nature - helping someone who is a victim of horrible events. Of course there is nothing better than doing good and turning a profit, which this scam also offers as an inducement to the ignorant.

Date: do, 14 nov 2002 14:05:19

Good Day,

With warm heart I offer my friendship, and my greetings, and I hope this letter meets you in good time. It will be surprising to you to receive this proposal from me since you do not know me personally. However, I am sincerely seeking your confidence in this transaction, which I propose with my free mind and as a person of integrity.

My name is Michael Ndlovu Matongo, the son of Phiri Matongo, a farmer from Zimbabwe, murdered in the land dispute in my country. As led by my instict, I decided to contact you through email, after searching for contacts via the internet, as it is the only means I can contact anybody since I am cutting off ties with Zimbabwe for now. I apologize if this is not acceptable to you.

The purpose of this letter is to seek your most needed assistance in a business venture. Due to the the land and political problems in Zimbabwe, as a result of President Robert Mugabe's introduction of new Land Act Reform wholly affecting the rich white farmers and the few rich black farmers, and his desire to hold on to power for life, my father forsaw the danger that came in Zimbabwe. Before he was murdered, he withdrew all of our business foreign accounts in dollars and sold up our shares in major companies. We then went to Johannesburg, South Africa to deposit the sum of US$8.5 million (Eight million, Five Hundred thousand US dollars), in a private security company. This money was deposited with this Private Security company for safety and security reasons, and was to be used for the purchase of land, new machines and chemicals establishment of new farms in Botswana.

President Mugabe's support for the violent Zimbabwean war veterans and some lunatics in the society, led to the murder of my beloved father and other innocent lives. I was continually threatened to abandon my inheritance from my father after he was murdered. I resisted for a while, but when the danger became unbearable, and I survived two murder attempts, I fled Zimbabwe.

I am currently staying in the Netherlands where I am seeking political asylum. In fact my decision to come here to seek asylum, is because the security company from South Africa, has a branch here, I have contacted to move the safe deposit from their office in Johannesburg here, which they have since done.

I need to transfer this money to an account and invest part of the money. Since the law of Netherlands prohibits a refugee (asylum seeker) to open any bank account or to be involved in any financial transaction, this is why I am seeking a genuine and reliable partner, whose account this money can be transferred, hence this proposal to you.

You have to understand that this decision taken by me is a very big one, and it entrusts my future and in your hands, as a result of the safe keeping of this money.

If you accept to assist me, all I want you to do for me, is to assist with arrangements to claim the deposit from the security company from their office here in The Netherlands, as it has now been transfered from Johannesburg, South Africa to their branch here. The company will be legally informed of you representing me.

For your assistance, I have two options for you. Firstly you can choose to have 10% of the money for your assistance, and helping me open an account for the money to be deposited here, or you can go into partnership with me for the proper profitable investment of the money in your country. Whichever the option you want, please to notify me in your reply.

I have also set aside 1%($85,000) of this money for all kinds of expenses that come our way in the process of this transaction, and 4% ($340,000) for Charity donation. If you prefer to accept the 10% for assisting with opening an account, then 85%($7,225,000) will be left in the account here for me.

Please, I want to you maintain the absolute secrecy for the purpose of this transaction.

I look forward to your reply and co-operation, and I thank you in advance as I anticipate your co-operation.

Sincerely,
M.N. Matongo.

I found this version of the Nigerian bank scam amusing enough to reproduce here. First, the english structure and composition, while not flawless, is better than usual. The name is also familiar to the western reader: "Graham Douglas". So WASPy, so trust worthy. Not some ethnic name like Alphonse Capone. This version of the scam even avoids using the term "modalities" (which most people never encounter outside of Nigerian bank scams). There is even an enticing moral structure. Here's this guy who died in Nigeria and left a pile of money. He has no relatives to claim these funds. The author of the email has spent years looking. If "Dr. Graham Douglas" does not get help moving the money out of the country, it will be used by nefarious African military types to purchase arms and ammunition to kill the innocent and foment civil war. So getting this money out will not only make the recipient rich, but will do a good deed. Of course there are the usual expenses, bribes, fees and so on (all to be reimbursed). The only thing missing is mention of why they chose to send this email to me. Usually bank scams mention that the author has been told that I'm very reliable (suggesting that my fame has spread as far as Nigeria).

From: graham douglas <graham01@latinmail.com>
Date: Mon,  9 Dec 2002 11:32:46 -0500
Subject: Please Read
X-Priority: 3
X-Accessio: 1 2738 0.01 11291

From:Dr Graham Douglas
Union Bank plc
40 Marina Street,
Lagos.

Dear Friend,

I know that this email will surely come to you as a surprise, but I will crave your indulgence to view it seriously and I apologise, but I hope that it will be a welcome surprise. Before I run out of steam, I will like to introduce my self and go straight to the point. My name is Dr.Graham Douglas a banker. My primary reason for writing to you is to seek your partnership/assistance in a business transaction. I need your partnership and assistance because of the following reasons:

1. a. it is practically impossible for me to carry out this business alone.

2. You live in a foreign land far away from mine. This should normally not be a requirement, but when you understand the transaction then you will understand why it is important that you live far away from me.

3. The amount of money involved in this transaction is US$18,500,000.00, which is too much for a man of modest means like my self to handle in my country.

I believe from my few points above, you can begin to get an idea why I need your participation.

Let me explain how the money, which is the basis of this business I am proposing, came about. Before I became a deputy director, some years ago I used to be Accounts Officer to some special corporate customers. One of these very important customers of our bank(Union Bank PLC) was Engineer Johnson Juan Creek an American citizen, who had spent most of his years before his death working in Africa and mostly in Nigeria. He died in a plane crash in 1996 in Nigeria.

This money belonged to him. Technically speaking now,it belongs only to his name. The money is payment he received for a contract he executed on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing for the government (Installation of Pipelines in Warri Refinery).

My reason for deciding to carry out this transaction is that Engineer Creek did not mention any next of kin in any of the documents held by the bank for the number of years he had banked with us. Since 1996 we have searched for any body that could be related to late Engineer Creek , I was mandated by the bank to search for a relation of late Engineer Creek and I did this from January 1997 to December 1999 after which the search was called off in the belief that soon a relative may turn up to claim his estate. Nevertheless, as it is, there is no relative.

Now, the Chairman of the bank who is a retired soldier has indicated his intentions for the money. During the last meeting of Directors and Deputies, he said that he would donate the money to a military trust if it is not claimed soon, this invariably means the continuous flow of more arms and ammunition. I know for sure that not all of the money will go to the military trust some will surely line his pockets and that if anybodywho is in support of his plan.

My plan is to get a trust worthy person that can, under my constant guidance present him self as a cousin to the late Engineer Creek. I want you to note that your citizenship does not matter;You do not have to be an American. The papers demanded by the normal procedure for the claiming of an inheritance will take care of everything. You will be sole beneficiary to the estate of Engineer Creek. All I need is for you to follow my instructions closely because I am experienced in inheritance matters here and I am on ground here to advice you on every step until you receive the money.

when we meet.For your participation, we will allow you 30% of the gross.All expenses incurred in the process of this transaction will be deducted from the gross value and shared at a commensurate ratio; this we will done at the end of the transaction, because the money is bonded.

An estimated 10% or less will cover all incidental expenses and we will take 60% for ourselves. The most important thing to me right now is trust on both sides. Now the money is still in the care of the bank, I hope the trust will still be there when we must have legally established your relationship as cousin to Engr. Creek and the money is paid to you.

I need also to trust that you will not tell people or your bank about this business. You will collect the money first, then I get my share, then you can tell anybody what you chose thereafter. I shall need your help to invest in your country; therefore, any experience you have in this area will be beneficial.

Surely, you must have some questions or may be you just need further clarification. I will be happy to receive a telephone call from you or a fax message to this effect, this will enable men explain further what the next step is and the general plan.

I will also need your most confidential telephone number and fax number, if you have a mobile phone I believe it will help so that I can reach you anytime.

Please kindly respond by email only

Your positive and negative response is highly welcome.

Dr.Graham Douglas.

Here is a scam with a great sob story. The events related in Zimbabwe hae a historical basis. Opposition politicians might well want to get out before Mugabe's thugs kill them. And Mugabe has already seized the property of a number of white farmers. Opposition politicians might be next (assuming that they had assets). Truely a person in need. Who would not want to help them, especially in return for $3.6 million? Obviously the answer to this question is anyone who has heard of the Nigerian Bank Scam.

From: "MRS VICTORIA KOMO" <vikomo2@netpiper.com>
Reply-To: vikomo2@netpiper.com
Date: Thu, 5 Dec 2002 23:38:58 +0100
Subject: With Trust

Dear Friend,

ASSISTANCE REQUIRED FOR ACQUISITION OF ESTATE PROPERTIES.

I write to inform you of my desire to acquire estates or landed properties in your country on behalf of my Husband, Former opposition Vice Presidential Candidate in Zimbabwe's last general elections recently concluded Considering the strategic and influential position he held in the opposing political party in Zimbabwe, he would want the transaction to be strictly confidential as possible.He further wants his identity to remain undisclosed at least for now, until the completion of the transaction.Hence our desire to have an overseas Manager.

I want to inquire on behalf of my family if you would agree to act as our overseas Manager in order to actualize this transaction.

We have heard rumours that President Robert Mugabe intends to confiscate all properties and assets belonging to top members of the opposing political party and try them for treason andattempt to assasinate him.If found guilty, they will be jailed or executed, this is one of his moves in becoming a dictator

The project in brief, is that the funds with which we intend to carry out our proposed investments in your country, is presently in the custody of a security Company in overseas and we need your assistance to transfer the funds to your country in a convenient bank account that will be provided by you before we can put the funds into use in your country. For this, you shall be considered to be the beneficiary of the money. The total sum is US$18 Million, of which your share shall be 20% if you agree to be our overseas agent and the remaining 80% is for buying the properties in your Country with your assistance.This money is part of the donations we received from friends and from various governments that was in support of the removal of President Robert Mugabe during the recently concluded Presidential elections in Zimbabwe. The President is aware of this money that is why we have deposited the money with the Security Comapany in overseas.

As soon as payment is effected, and the amount mentioned above is successfully transferred into your account, we intend to use our own share in acquiring some estates abroad. For this too you shall also be our overseas manager of all our properties and you will be paid based on a certain percentage agreed on by both parties.

In the light of this, I would like you to forward to me the following information:

1. Your company name and address(if any)
2. Your personal telephone/fax number.
3. Complete Mailing Address
4. The name you want us to use as beneficiary.

As soon as i receive the above information from you,i will present it to our family,s lawyer to raise a power of Attorney empowering you to have full authority over the total money.

You are requested to communicate your acceptance of this proposal through my above stated email address after which my elder brother(SunnyMutola) shall discuss the modalities of the transaction with you.

Your quick response will be highly appreciated. Thank you in anticipation of your cooperation.

Yours faithfully,

Victoria Komo.

An Enron, WorldCom, Adelphi or Tyco bank scam still has not appeared (see below), but the bank scams are spreading beyond Africa. The one below is from the Philippines. The author is obviously trolling for someone with no morals, since "she" notes that her husband is in jail for corruption and that she has secretly amassed a fortune of $30 million. There is the usual enticement for theft as the author notes that she trusts that the recipient is "God fearing" and will not make off with all the money (hint, hint).

Date: Sun, 2 Feb 2003 11:54:16 +0100
Subject: MRS LOI C. ESTRADA

Dear Sir,

My name is LOI C.ESTRADA, The wife of Mr. JOSEPH ESTRADA, the former President of Philippines located in the South East Asia. My husband was recently impeached from office by a backed uprising of mass demonstrators and the Senate. My husband is presently in jail and facing trial on charges of corruption, embezzlement, and the mysterious charge of plunder which might lead to death sentence.

The present government is forcing my husband out of Manila to avoid demonstration by his supporter. During my husband's regime as president of Philippine, I realized some reasonable amount of money from various deals that I successfully executed . I have plans to invest this money for my children's future on real estate and industrial production.

My husband is not aware of this because I wish to do it secretly for now. before my husband was impeached, I secretly siphoned the sum of $30,000,000 million USD (Thirty million United states dollars) out of Philippines and deposited the money with a security firm that transports valuable goods and consignments through diplomatic means.

I am contacting you because I want you to go to the security company and claim the money on my behalf since I have declared that the consignment belong to my foreign business partner. You shall also be required to assist me in investment in your country. I hope to trust you as a God fearing person who will not sit on this money when you claim it, rather assist me properly, I expect you to declare what percentage of the total money you will take for your assistance. When I receive your positive response I will let you know where the security company is and the payment pin code to claim the money which is very important.

For now, let all our communication is by e-mail because my line are right now connected to the Philippines Telecommunication Network services.

Please also send me your telephone and fax number.

I will ask my son contact you to give you more details on after i have received a response from you.

Thank you and God bless you and family.

MRS LOI C ESTRADA

I have been waiting for the Nigerian bank scam to branch out beyond the bounds of Nigeria. Here is one that claims to be from Britain. It arrived without paragraph formatting, which I have attempted to correct in the interests of readability. The English structure and strange capitalization were in the original.

I suppose that a Tory might list this as evidence of the decline of the British school system. These sort of errors, a Tory might claim, would never have happened in the days when the cane was liberally applied. In this era of poodle Prime Ministers, these Tories can only dream of the vanished empire and caned buttocks. Even now, however, it is difficult to imagine such an illiterate making the Queen's List.

What sets this bank scam apart from most of the others included here is that the scammers seem to have done at least some basic research. There really is a National Westminster Bank (called NatWest) and the address given may indeed be a valid NatWest address. Interestingly, National Westminster Bank is part of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group, a bank holding company in Great Britain.

Dr. Stanley Heard really did die in a plane crash. Apparently Dr. Heard was, in fact, a "Friend of Bill" and treated President Clinton's mother, stepfather and brother. He was, presumably, also a donor to the Clinton politcal cause. All this makes Dr. Heard grist for the conspiracy mill. A Google search for "Stanley Heard" "plane crash" Clinton will return a number of right wing web sites which suggest that Dr. Heard was murdered ("his death was no accident"), along with Vince Foster. To someone who wants to believe in this scam, such a background might suggest that Dr. Heard would have a big chunk of money offshore collected for Clinton. Of course the real money is with Republicans (think Enron, Tyco, and the offshore slush funds set up during the Reagan administration).

Apparently Dr. Heard was a chiropractor, so the claim that he was President Clinton's "personal physician" is false. Dr. Heard was not a medical doctor and U.S. Presidents are usually treated by doctors at the U.S. Army's Walter Reed Hospital.

From: "Alex Johnson" <a_johnson2003@yyhmail.com>
Reply-To: alexjohnson2003@yyhmail.com
Date: Fri, 4 Jul 2003 15:39:49 +0100
Subject: Hello my friend

I am Sir. Alex Johonson,the bills exchange director at the NATIONAL WESTMINSTER BANK PLC, 135 BISHOPSGATE LONDON EC2M 3UR. I am writing this letter to solicit for support and assistance from you to carry out this business opportunity in my department.

Lying in an inactive account is the sum of ninty six Million United States Dollars($96,000,000.00)belonging to a foreign customer(Stanley Heard),the former President(Bill Clinton's personal physician) and Chairman of the National Chiropractic Health Care Advisory Committee who happens to be deceased. He died with his wife and two children in a plane crash on Board a small airplane that plunged into a river.

Ever since he died the Bank has been expecting his next of kin to come and claim these funds. To this effect, we cannot release the money unless some one applies for it as the next of kin, as indicated in our Banking Guideline. Unfortunately he has no family member here in the UK or America who are aware of the existence of the money as he was he was a contract physician to the Chairman of Royal Bank of Scotland.

At this juncture I have decided to do business with you in colloboration with officials that matter in the Bank. To this effect we solicit your assistance, in applying as the next of kin, then the money will be proccesed and released to you, as we do not want this money to go into the Bank Treasury as an unclaimed bill.

The Banking law and guideline stipulate that if such money remains unclaimed for a period of Ten years the money will be transfered into the Banks. Treasury as unclaimed bill. Our request for a Foreigner as a next of kin is occassioned by the fact that the customer was a Foreigner and a British cannot stand as next of kin.

Sir, 15% of the money will be your share as a Foreign partner, while 5% will be for any expenses incured during the transaction, thereafter we would visit, your country once the money hits your account for disbursement and investment.

Please reach me at the above email if willing to do business with us.

Best regards,

Sir. Alex Johnson

And here is a bank scam supposedly from Hong Kong. I received the SPAM for this scam on July 10, 2003. So we can assume that time is of the essence, since the five years mentioned in the SPAM will be up in a year. The short time window presumably allows the scammer to tell the mark to "send money, quick" to "facilitate" the transaction or those government officials will get their hands on it. Then the money will all be gone and all will be lost. All that is needed are a few thousand dollars to allow the realization of undreamed of wealth. And then a few thousand more...

These scams are always full of logical holes. One of the most obvious in this case is the fact that the SPAM mentions that the interest on $38 million has been compounding over for five years (1998 to 2003). Yet the balance mentioned is still $38 million. We can only assume that the scammer is too lazy to calculate an appropriate appreciation.

I've only added a little HTML formatting. The idiosyncratic english is left as in the original. This scam does not use the word "modalities", as so many of the African scams do. I guess that the authors don't realize that its not a bank scam without the magic "modalities" word.

FROM THE DESK OF: 
MR.WANG QIN 
HANG SENG BANK LTD. 
DES VOEUX RD.BRANCH 
CENTRAL HONG KONG 
HONG KONG. 

I am Mr.Wang Qin, credit officer of Hang Seng Bank Ltd. I have an urgent and very confidential business proposition for you.

On June 6, 1998, a British Oil consultant/contractor with the Chinese Solid Minerals Corporation, Mr. Smith Lawrence made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit for twelve calendar months, valued at US$38,000,000.00 (Thirty-eight Million United States Dollars only) 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, the Hong Kong Solid Minerals Corporation that Mr. Smith Lawrence died from an automobile accident.

On further investigation, I found out that he died without making a WILL,and all attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless. I therefore made further investigation and discovered that Mr. Smith Lawrence did not declare any kin or relations in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank.

This sum of US$38,000,000.00 is still sitting in my Bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. No one will ever come forward to claim it. According to Laws of Hong Kong, at the expiration of 5 (five) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Hong Kong Government if nobody applies to claim the fund. Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as the next of kin to Mr. Smith Lawrence so that the fruits of this old man's labor will not get into the hands of some corrupt government officials.

This is simple, I will like you to provide immediately your full names and address so that the attorney will prepare the necessary documents and affidavits that will put you in place as the next of kin.

We shall employ the services of an attorney for drafting and notarization of the WILL and to obtain the necessary documents and letter of probate/administration in your favour for the transfer. A bank account in any part of the world that you will 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 60% for me and 30% for you and 10% for Expenses Incurred by you or me in the course of the transaction.

There is no risk at all as all the paperwork for this transaction will be done by the attorney and with my position as the credit officer guarantees the successful execution of this transaction.

If you are interested, please reply immediately to my email box. Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details and relevant documents that will help you understand the transaction. Please send me your confidential telephone(mobile) and fax numbers for easy communication. You should 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 and regards.
Mr.Wang Qin.

The banks scams seem to follow current events. Of course since most people in the United States don't read the newspaper or magazines like The Economist, they have no idea what these current events are (as I write this some of my fellow citizens are not sure whether or not US forces still occupy Iraq).

Never the less, the scammers, hopeful that their mark might be ignorant enough to fall for the scam but still knowledgeable enough to understand the context, have branched out beyond Nigeria to Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone and now Iraq.

In this scam the corrupt customs official, Alhaji Malam Yakubu, peace be upon him, and his colleagues have grabbed two "gigantic trunk boxes" belonging to Saddam Hussein's murderous henchmen. They don't want to disclose the contents of these boxes, but the implication is that it is valuable: US dollars, diamonds, something like that. Of course given the sort of thing that US forces found in the abandoned palaces in Iraq, it could as well be a large cache of Viagra, lace panties, dildos and butt plugs.

From: "Alh. Malam Yakubu" <yakubu44@cnet.com>
Subject: Read Very Carefully
Sender: "Alh. Malam Yakubu" <yakubu44@cnet.com>
Date: Sat, 12 Jul 2003 16:04:10 +0100
Reply-To: "Alh. Malam Yakubu" <malamyakubu22@runbox.com>

DEAR FRIEND,

I AM MAKING THIS CONTACT BASED ON MY PRESUMED RELIANCE, AFTER GOING THROUGH A BRIEF PROFILE OF YOUR COMPANY. I AM ALHAJI MALAM YAKUBU FROM WEST-AFRICA (A GHANAIAN). I AM A CUSTOMS SUPERINTENDENT OFFICER ATTACHE TO THE GHANA PORTS AND HARBOURS AUTHORITY. TEMA, AND I AM CONTACTING YOU TO ESTABLISH THIS RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU IN BENEVOLENT SPIRIT AS TO ENHANCE IMMEDIATE RESOLUTION TO AN OPPORTUNITY RIGHTLY AT HAND.

IT WAS MORE LIKE A DREAM WHEN TWO OF MY COLLEAGUES I INTERCEPTED TWO (2) GIGANTIC TRUNK BOXES AT OUR SEA PORT IN THE EARLY HOURS OF 2ND APRIL, 2003 ON TRANSIT TO CAIRO, EGYPT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE OWNERS WHOM ACCORDING TO OUR INVESTIGATIONS WERE ARABIANS FROM THE GULF REGION (SOME OF THE SADAM HUSSAIN'S ENTOURRAGE) WITHDREW FROM THE OPERATION SINCE THEY OBVIOUSELY STAND NO CHANCE OF DEFENDING THE SOURCE OF THE CONTENT OF THESE BOXES. ALSO, AS A MATTER OF FACT THAT THIS SAME PEOPLE ARE ACCORDING TO OUR INVESTIGATION FACING CHARGES OF LOOTS AND HUMAN-RIGHT ABUSES IN IRAQ.

AFETR DUE INVESTIGATIONS AND CLEARIFICATIONS, WE HAVE DECIDED TO OWN THESE BOXES WHICH'S CONTENT I CANNOT DISCLOSE NOW FOR SECURITY REASONS, TO OURSELVES. SINCE WE HAVE EARLIER DECIDED NOT TO OFFCIALLY ANNOUNCE THIS INTERCEPTION FOR ABVIOUS REASON.

WE URGENTLY NEED AN INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE AS TO ENABLE US TRANSFER THESE BOXES AND THEIR CONTENTS ABROAD. MEANWHILE, I AM ONLY SENDING THIS PROPOSAL TO ASCERTAIN YOUR INTREST AND ONCE POSITIVE RESPONCE IS RECIEVED FROM YOU, ASSURING ME OF YOUR UTMOST COOPERATION, SINCERITY AND CONFIDENTIALITY, I WILL PROCEED TO FURNISH YOU WITH ALL DETAILS AND HOW WE INTEND TO CARRY OUT THIS RISK FREE TRANSACTION WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY.Please you can also reach me on this email: malamyakubu22@runbox.com, and the below telephone number.

Thank You

ALHAJI MALAM YAKUBU
EMAIL:malamyakubu22@runbox.com
DirectTEL: +2289444155

The Nigerian bank scams (now branching out beyond Nigeria) tend to follow the current international news. The on-going civil war and the atrocities in Liberia have been in the news and the banks scams follow.

From: "Mr.  Jonson Tubman" mrjtubman@indiatimes.com
Reply-To: mrjtubman@sify.com
Date: Sat, 2 Aug 2003 10:27:17 +0100
Subject: Sincere request, please reply

Dear friend,

This letter may come to you as a surprise due to the fact that we have not yet met, but kindly consider the message, because, I am determined to live for posterity.

I wish to plead with you to join me in not only serving humanity, but to also benefit in the process. This message could be strange but reality will definitely dawn on you, if you pay some attention to its contents.

Please accept my sincere apologies. In bringing this message [ahh, scam] to you, I have to say that I have no intention of causing you any personal pains or discomfort. I am Mr. Jonson Tubman, former Special Assistant to the Liberian President, Mr. Charles Taylor, who is facing the fight of his life with rebels who want to overthrow his government.

President Charles Taylor, in his bid to fend-off rebel insurgency, and since he could no longer trust the army generals, confidentially put in my care, the sum of $18,000,000.00 (eighteen million United States dollars) in one instance for the purpose of purchasing arms and ammunitions should the need arise. But unfortunately, the need did not arise as he is going on exile.

I deposited the US$18million in a trunk box in a secret location and just the two of us knew about it, and I could not get in touch with any arms dealer before the President was indicted in a war crime tribunal set up by the United Nations (UN). I have since held on to this trunk box, which I was able to transport out of Liberia with the aid of peace keeping soldiers under the guise of conveying my personal effects without anybody knowing, to a security deposit company.

I am presently in Africa, where I now work as a consultant on inter-regional co-operation. I have borne the burden for too long. I do not want to keep the funds any longer, but I can never turn it over to the brutal and tyrannical rogue regime of Mr. Charles Taylor who is still committing all sorts of atrocities on the liberian people. I am NOT solicitng for your help to wage a war against the regime, but to act as a foreign partner, to allow me transfer the funds to you, and YOU, in turn, would donate a portion of it as a humanitarian gesture to the Liberian people by purchasing such essential needs like blankets, milk and so on, water-pumping machines and agricultural equipment, from the money after deducting your expenses and the comission of 20%.

Please note that I could have approached the Red Cross Society, but I changed my mind on that after calculating what they would deduct as comission, and also, after rationalising the scandal that followed their mismanagement of the donations meant for the victims of the September 11th attack on the United States.

Also note that this offer will give you a double-edged advantage :

1. as the benefactor of the Liberian people and;
2. the comission you stand to earn.

On getting a positive response from you, I will send to you the secret access codes to the funds and the security and vault company. Please note that confidentiality and honesty are fundamental rules in this transaction. Be assured that I am a reputable personality in this country and I am mindful of the legal implications of this transaction, as I intend taking care of all the legal documentations for a successful and hitch-free transaction. You will be expected to take delivery of this fund personally from the deposit company in Europe.

I am therefore soliciting your assistance to have this money collected by you and/or facilitate the transfer into your nominated account(s). ***PLEASE NOTE THAT YOUR CONFIDENTIALITY IN THIS TRANSACTION IS HIGHLY REQUIRED. I will give you the details of this transactionon receipt of your response to this proposal. Thank you very much for your time and understanding.

Yours sincerely,

Mr. Jonson Tubman

I liked the creativity of this scam. I don't think that it is as amusing as my Enron scam below, but it is good enough to be added to this growing collection. After all, who could doubt this dying Christian woman, who has experienced such tragic events.

This is not per se a bank scam. This appears to be what is called an advance payment scam. Presumably the story is that the money in Amsterdam can only be retreived after a payment, which the "mark" is supposed to front to allow the transaction to move forward.

The original arrived without paragraph formatting, which I have attempted to provide for readability. I've left the usual mistakes in english grammar. It is interesting to note that the author did not cite the biblical quotation properly either. The usual format would be Exodus 14:14 (which is also translated as "The Lord will fight for you, and you can be still").

From: "SERENA JONES." cirenajoness@netscape.net
Reply-To: cirenajoness@netscape.net
Subject: FROM SERENA JONES
Date: Mon, 01 Dec 2003

From: Mrs Serena Jones
PLEASE ENDEAVOUR TO USED IT FOR THE CHILDREN OF GOD.

I am the above named person from Kuwait. I am married to Dr. Harry Jones who worked with Kuwait embassy in Ivory Coast for nine years before he died in the year 2000.

We were married for eleven years without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days. Before his death we were both born again Christians. Since his death I decided not to re-marry or get a child outside my matrimonial home which the Bible is against.

When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of $8.6 Million (Eight Million six hundred thousand U.S. Dollars) with one finance/security company in Amsterderm Holland. Presently, this money is still with the Security Company.

Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next three months due to cancer problem. Though what disturbs me most is my stroke sickness. Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to church or better still a christian individual that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct here in. I want a church that will use this fund to fund churches, orphanages and widows propagating the word of God and to ensure that the house of God is maintained.

The Bible made us to understand that Blessed is the hand that giveth. I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this money and my husband relatives are not Christians and I don't want my husband's hard earned money to be misused by unbelievers. I don't want a situation where this money will be used in an ungodly manner. Hence the reason for taking this bold decision. I am not afraid of death hence I know where I am going. I know that I am going to be in the bosom of the Lord. Exodus 14 VS 14 says that the lord will fight my case and I shall hold my peace.

I don't need any telephone communication in this regard because of my health and because of the presence of my husband?s relatives around me always. I don't want them to know about this development. With God all things are possible. As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the Finance/Security Company in Amsterderm Holland. I will also issue you a letter of authority that will prove you as the original-beneficiary of this fund.

I want you and the church to always pray for me because the lord is my shephard. My happiness is that I lived a life of a worthy Christian. Whoever that wants to serve the Lord must serve him in spirit and truth. Please always be prayerful all through your life. Any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing for a church or christian individual for this same purpose. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein. Hoping to hearing from you.

N.B-
PLEASE I WILL ADVICE YOU TO GIVE THE LAWYER IN CHARGE A CALL IN HOLLAND IMMEDIATELY, HE DOES EVERYTHING ON MY BEHALF AND HE IS VERY UNDERSTANDING AND I BELIEVE HE WILL LEAD YOU TO YOUR SUCCESS IN JESUS NAME. THE LAWYER'S NAME IS ADVOCATEN VAN BOSCH, PHONE NUMBER IS: 0031-620-794-311.
EMAIL: advocatevan@netscape.net.

Remain blessed in the name of the Lord.
Yours in Christ,
Mrs Serena Jones

The latest fashion in bank scams seems to the the "I want to donate money to charity but I'm dying and need your help" come-on. In this scam the author claims to be British. Unfortunately he does not seem to be a native speaker. He says his "names are Larry Moore" and he makes many other obvious mistakes in english usage.

Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2004 09:11:29 +0100
From: larry moore 
Subject: a dying man's plea

Greetings to you and your family in the name of God.

In my search for a reliable and God fearing person and having gotten your contact through prayers and painstaking efforts I have decided to seek your help in carrying out my last wish.

My names are Larry Moore. I'm a 65 years old man and a British living in Dubai (United Arab Emirate). I was a merchant and owned two businesses in Dubai. I was also married with two children. My wife and two children died in a car accident six years ago. Before this happened my business and concern for making money was all I lived for. I never really cared about other values in life. But since the loss of my family, I have found a new desire to assist helpless families.

I have been helping orphans in orphanage/motherless homes. I have also donated some money for humanitarian needs in Sudan, South Africa, Cameroon, Brazil, Spain, Austria, Germany and some Asian countries. Only recently I saw on television the colossal loss of properties and livelihood of people in Canberra, Australia through fire. I was moved with great pity and compassion that I decided to make a contribution on assisting people over there.

Before I became ill, I kept $12.5 Million in a long-term deposit account in a finance company. Presently, I'm in a hospital where I have been undergoing treatment for oesophageal cancer. I have since lost my ability to talk and my doctors have told me that I have only a few months to live. It is my last wish to see this money distributed to victims of this fire outbreak in Australia and other charity organizations.

Because relatives and friends have plundered so much of my wealth since my illness, I cannot live with the agony of entrusting this huge responsibility to any of them. Please, I beg you in the name of God to help me collect the deposit and the interest accrued from the company in Canada and distribute it accordingly. Use your judgement to distribute the money and keep 5% of it to yourself. Feel free to reimburse yourself when you have the money for any cost you incur during the process of collecting and distributing the money. If you are willing to help, please reply as soon as you can through my private email address:

May the good Lord bless you and your family.

Regards,
Larry Moore

Here's a new twist on the Nigerian Bank Scam: According to this email, someone in Nigeria has supposedly left me millions of dollars. Note, however, that this note was not addressed to Mr. Bearcave. This would not have been possible, since it was sent out in a massive spam to millions of people.

If a sucker answers this email they will soon find that they have to put up money to get their bequest released. There are legal fees, filing fees, on and on. Of course after extracting more and more money the "bequest" will not show up.

From: "DR JOHN YAHAYA" 
Reply-To: john2341@tiscali.co.uk
Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2004
Subject: Non-response of our earlier letter (urgent)

FROM: DR JOHN YAHAYA
JOHN YAHAYA & CO.(SOLICITORS & ADVOCATES)
 #22 ALLEN AVE. IKEJA-LAGOS NIGERIA.
34 onwer Richmond Rd, Putney, London
Tel/fax: +44 870 831 9478
E-MAIL: john2341@tiscali.co.uk

This is sequel to your non-response of our earlier letter to you On behalf of the Trustees and Executors to the Will of late of Sir Engr. Willy Bubenik (ksm), I wish to notify you that you were listed as a beneficiary to the bequest of the sum of US$4,500.000 [Four Thousand Five Hundered Million US Dollars] in the codicil and last testament of the deceased. The late Sir Willy Bubenik until his death was a former Managing Director and pioneer staff of a big construction company (Julius Berger) here in Nigeria. He was a very dedicated Christian and a great philanthropist during his lifetime.

Late Sir Willy Bubenik died on 9th February 2002 at the age of 68. He was buried on the 23rd of February. Late Sir Willy Bubenik even though he was an American living and working in here as a foreigner he requested before his death that he be buried here in his words, "I regard here as My home and the people as my people". He said that this token is to support your ministry and help to the less- privileged. I hereby request that you forward any proof of identities of yours, your current telephone and fax numbers and your forwarding address to enable us file necessary documents at our high court probate division for the release of this bequest of money.

Congratulations. Yours faithfully,

Dr. John Yahaya SAN
JOHN YAHAYA & CO.(SOLICITORS & ADVOCATES)
 #22 ALLEN AVE. IKEJA-LAGOS NIGERIA.
34 onwer Richmond Rd, Putney, London
Tel/fax: +44 870 831 9478

And so on, and so on...

The bank scams keep coming. They all repeat the same themes as the bank scams listed here. So I think that this web page has reached its limit. Unless I get a bank scam that is really unusual, I'm just going to delete them.

Of course there are some bank scams that I'd love to see...

Dear Mr. Bearcave:

I was told by a friend in Kabul, Afghanistan that you are a trustworthy business contact. I could tell you my friend's name, but then he would have to kill you. To avoid such unpleasantness we will leave his identity anonymous.

My familiy has been involved in the cultivation of the opium poppy for generations. My dear departed Father, Salim Sulaman, peace be upon him, was killed by the Taliban as their evil regime was falling to American ariel bombardment. My father left $14,500,156.43 in profits from his opium and heroin refining business. The current warlords that are ruling Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban have attempted to sieze these funds. However, my widowed mother managed to smuggle these profits out under her burka to Pakistan, where the money is deposited in a local bank. We are trying to transfer these funds out of the country before they are siezed by the corrupt government of Pakistan. We wish to transfer these funds to your great country, land of opportunity, where we wish to invest in various enterprises suggested to us by our Russian friends. To this end we are willing to pay you 20% of these funds to compensate you for any minor trouble you might encounter with your DEA or Treasury Department.

Please wire your bank account number and other information at the first opportunity.

May Allah guide your hand,

Islam Abu Salim Sulaman

Dear Mr. Bearcave:

My name is Robin Lay. I found your web page while surfing for information on the wavelet transform and Win Sweldens Wavelet Lifting Scheme. I am writing you because I know that anyone who would post such cute pictures of signals and time series is someone who can be trusted.

I am the step daughter of Kenneth Lay, the former chief executive officer of Enron. As you may know, my beloved step father, a gentle, kind, Christian and above all, honest man, was forced to flee the United States and go into hiding by numerous unfair accusations. Before he fled to Brazil, he moved $150 million (one hundred fifty million, US) into offshore bank accounts so that those evil Democratic plaintiff's lawyers could not get their grubby hands on it.

As you might imagine, no one whose last name is Lay or who is associated with our family can touch this money without being discovered by rapacious lawyers and agents of the United States government. We plan to move $20,000,000 (twenty million, US) quietly back into the United States, where we plan to donate it to homes for disabled children.

The people that my step father believe were his friends, like George W. Bush, who my step father helped get appointed president, have abandoned him. My mother, Linda, and I cannot do this without your help. We need an honest person, such as yourself, who will allow us to move these funds through their bank account. In return we will pay you a 10% commission (that's two million, US on your end).

Please send your bank account information and wire transfer numbers on company letterhead to the Bahamas post box below. When we receive this information and all modalities [got to use that word, modalities] we will proceed with the details of this transaction.

In the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior, God bless you for helping our family in its time of need. I look forward to corresponding with you soon.

Robin

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Ian Kaplan