This is a SCAM read it and never play

[Joseph]

FROM: AIRPORT HOTEL
SUIT 78,LAGOS-NIGERIA

Dear Sir.

I hope you will not receive this proposal too surprising. I got your contact
E-mail address in the Internet while searching for a trustworthy business
partner who I can entrust a reasoning amount of money on his or her care
for investment. I am a Liberian and a cabinet member of President Charles
Tailor?s administration. I am presently in Nigeria under political asylum
status because of the on going war in Liberia. For your information I have
secured and sent abroad the sum of $35,000,000.00 (THIRTY FIVE MILLION UNITED
STATE DOLLAR) through diplomatic means. The fund is presently under the
custody of a finance security company in oversea. The money was originally
meant for the purchase of arms and ammunition to fight the rebel groups
in Liberia but from the look of things it is like we cannot continue with
the war because of the intervention of President George Bush of America.
As a result of the present development I now send the money abroad formy
personal investment without the knowledge of our Government. My main Purpose
of writing you is to seek your partnership if you could make claim of the
money

From the security company as the beneficiary for the benefit of both us.I
am willing to discuss sharing ratio in any reliable business you would Embark
Details of how you are going to claim the money from the security Company
shall be made know to you as soon as you indicate your interestin this transaction.
Please treat this proposal with utmost confidence.
I
Need your urgent response through this E-mail
Thanks
Yours faithfully,
DAVID MIKE

This is what a scam is, read real good so you will know when you are being scam.

[Dis]

of course it is a scam.

Who would fall for that?

of course I'm a cynical person, paranoid, and untrusting. So while I may never fall for scams, I don't make a lot of friends

[Urban Ranger]

Oh, that's the old 419 scam. Been around for ages. There are people who lead the scammers on and do other things to them. This is a related thread.

[alva]

You would think after a while the Nigeria thing would get old, can't they come up with an other country from time to time?

Why do they always come from Nigeria BTW??

[Urban Ranger]

Acutally they do. I heard some came from The Netherlands.

[Case]

Police in Sydney, Australia recently arrested a guy who'd been sending out 'Nigerian' scams from his Sydney apartment for years.

As for why they chose Nigeria: it's one of the most corrupt countries in the world, so it's easy to set up bank accounts to handle the money they get sent.

[MichaeltheGreat]

The last version of this I got used Zimbabwe, but the financial brokers always seem to be from the Netherlands:

********
From Mrs. Marian Labanu
Email: labanufamily4@hitoori.com

ATTN:
PROJECT/2003/MALANU-INVESTMENT ASSISTANCE.
I know you will be surprised to read from me, more so it comes from a stranger. But please consider this as a request from a family in a dare need of assistance.

First I must introduce myself; I am Mrs. Marian Labanu the wife of late chief Bennet Mudok Labanu, of the Republic of Zimbabwe. I got your contact through South African chambers of commerce. Having gone through your profile; I believe that you may be capable enough to handle this very transaction.

Before his death my husband was one of the secret supporters of the white farmers group who wanted to topple the government of President Robert Mugabe. He was the treasurer of this group and also one of the speakers for the white farmers in the black communities in Zimbabwe. My husband was assassinated along with some other prominent people who opposed President Mugabes confiscation of most white owned farm lands in Zimbabwe.

Before his death, Chief Mudok my husband was also in charge of arms and ammunition purchase for the white farmers from the Republic of South Africa, due to his direct contact with some prominent people in government there.
After his burial, his lawyer called my attention and enlightened me about some funds, which my husband acquired during his trips to Johannesburg for arms purchase, and deposited with a security and financial company here in the Netherlands. He directed that I should secure the release of these funds for our childrens investment purposes overseas
My family and I are presently in the Netherlands as asylum seekers. And I am soliciting for your assistance to transfer the sum of US$ 11.5 Million (Eleven million, five hundred thousand United States dollars) into your companys/personal account for investment purposes outside Africa.

Please should you be interested, contact my attorney. Mr. Jurgen Van Der Laar.Email Jurgenvanderlaar@netscape.net.

There is an outstanding liability of $62, 720.00 (Sixty two thousand, seven hundred and twenty United States Dollars) owned to the security company, how ever I have discussed with a financier who is willing to pay this money. All that I require of you is an investment plan and the willingness to honestly help me. There will be no cost what so ever on your part.

I want you to understand that the future of both me and my children depends on this money; as such I will be grateful if you can assist me.Our present legal status as asylum seekers does not permit us financial rights to such huge amount of money, and we cannot also take the money back to Zimbabwe for obvious reasons. We are prepared to offer you a negotiable 20% of the total sum for your assistance. 10% will be set aside for all eventual expenses that may be incurred by both parties. 70% will be for my familys investment in your country, with your able assistance. For more information on this, please contact Mr. Jurgen Van Der Laar.
My family and I are counting on your mercy and understanding. Thank you in advance, while we anxiously wait for your response.

Yours sincerely
Mrs. Marian Labanu

************



I wrote back and told them that the former minister of petroleum in Nigeria was going to give me 30% of the 63 million in funds for unpaid contracts that he had to get out of Nigeria, so I simply had to go with the better offer. Got no response, though.

[Case]

Helping people like that would be a public service. Where's my credit card?

[Locutus]

Originally posted by alva
You would think after a while the Nigeria thing would get old, can't they come up with an other country from time to time?

Why do they always come from Nigeria BTW??

I've gotten version from Sudan, Zimbabwe, Angola, etc, etc. Probably half of the African continent, plus Afghanistan and Iraq

I've also seen a number of versions from the Netherlands as well, some similar to these, some very different ones (in one I had supposedly actually won the Dutch national lottery -- which might have been believable if they hadn't addressed me in English )

I think most of these scams are actually being organised by African groups in the Netherlands -- I read something in the paper a while ago about some Nigerians from Amsterdam being arrested for Internet fraud. The article was very short though, it didn't mention any specifics...

[Ming]

Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat
I wrote back and told them that the former minister of petroleum in Nigeria was going to give me 30% of the 63 million in funds for unpaid contracts that he had to get out of Nigeria, so I simply had to go with the better offer.

[Space05us]

Ive never gotten one before

[Space05us]

all i get are free penis enlargement adds and porn

[Q Classic]

UR referenced my thread!

seriously, a lot of scams ought to be blindingly obvious. anybody you don't know who wants to give you money for free...

[Locutus]

Lol, checked my spam folder just for the heck of it and turns out I got two today:


From: VAN DYKE [coingogame1@netscape.net]

FROM: COINGOGAMES PROMOTION/PRIZE AWARD DEPT.
REF: CEL/2311786008/01
BATCH: 118/00R78/I03PD

RE: WINNING NOTIFICATION/FINAL NOTICE

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the of the COINGOGAMES Lottery International programs held on the 10th of November 2003. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number 20511465886-629 with serial number 3772-99 drew lucky numbers 7-14-17-23-31-44 which consequently won in the 2nd category,you have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of One Million United State Dollars (US$1,000,000)

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep your winning information confidential until your claims has been processed and your money remitted to you. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants.

All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from over 100,000 company and 50,000,000 individual email addresses and names from all over the world. This promotional program takes place every three year. We hope with part of your winning you will take part in our end of year 50 million Euro International lottery.

To file for your claim,please contact our Fiduciary Agent MR. RICHARD MYERS OF QUANTUM DIPLOMATIC COMPANY TEL: 0031-620-147-528.

Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 24th of November 2003. After this date all unclaimed funds will be included in the next stake.

Please note in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications please remember to quote your reference number and batch numbers in all correspondence. Furthermore, should there be any change of address do inform our agent as soon as possible.

Congratulations once more from our members of staff and thank you for being part of our promotional program.

Note: Anybody under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified.

Sincerely yours,

Van Dyke.
(Winning Coordinator)

Similar to the lottery one I mentioned in my previous post. Here it doesn't mention the Netherlands specifically but the phone number is a Dutch mobile phone number (and the name of the sender sounds Dutch as well).

The second one is another variation on the classic Nigeria scam

From: Barr Mark Misan [markmisan33@fsmail.net]

Dear Beloved in Christ,

It is by the grace of God that I received Christ, knowing the truth and

the truth have set me free. Having known the truth, I had no choice

than to do what is lawful and right in the sight of God for eternal life

and in the sight of man for witness of God?s mercy and glory upon my

life.

I have the pleasure to share my testimony with you, having seen your

contact from the Internet. I am Barrister Mark Misan , the legal adviser

to late Mr. and Mrs. Bright Williams, a British couple that lived in my

Country Nigeria for 25 years before they both died in the plane crash

late last year. These couples were good Christians, they so dedicated to

God but they had no child till they died. Throughout their stay in my

country, they acquired a lot of properties like lands, house properties,

etc.

As their legal adviser, before their death, the husband Mr. Bright

Williams instructed me to write his WILL. Because they had no child, they

dedicated their wealth to God. According to the WILL, the properties

have to be sold and the money be given out to a ministry for the work of

God. As their legal adviser, all the documents for the properties were

in my care. He gave me the authority to sell the properties and give out

the fund to the Ministries for the work of God.

In short, I sold all the properties after their death, as instructed by

Mr. Bright Williams before his death. And as matter of fact, after I

sold all their properties, I realized more than $10,000,000.00 (Ten

million US dollars plus), and what supposed to be the percentage interest of

my right legal fee was firstly deducted by me out of the total amount

realized from the sold properties, this was base on the initial

agreement between me and the owner of the properties before his death.

Therefore the total amount left to be invested into God's work as instructed by

the owner, is $10,000,000.00 (Ten million US dollars) only. But Instead

of giving the main fund out for the work of God as instructed to me by

the owner before his death.

I converted the fund to myself with the intention of investing the fund

abroad for my personal use. I was afraid of putting the fund in the

Bank, because I have to give account to the bank on how I got the money. I

then packaged the fund in consignments and deposited the con

I had encounter with Christ when Pastor Benny Hinn was preaching on

television concerning Ananias and Saphira in Acts 5:1-11. After hearing

the word of God, I gave my life to Christ and became a born again

Christian. As a born again Christian, I started reading my bible and one day,

the Lord opened my eyes to Ezekiel 33: 18 and 19 where the word of God

says: "When the righteous truth from his righteousness, and committee

iniquity, he shall even die thereby. But if the wicked turn from his

wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby".

From the scripture, I discovered that the only way I could have peace

in my life is to do what is lawful and right by giving out the fund as

instructed for the work of God by the owner before his death.

I have asked God for forgiveness and I know that God have forgiven me.

But I have to do what is lawful and right in the sight of God by giving

out the fund to the chosen ministry for the purpose of God's wok as

instructed by the owner before his death.

After my fasting and prayers, I asked God to make his choice and direct

me to a honest Christian or the chosen ministry that deserves this fund

by his Grace. I then came across your address on the Internet as I was

browsing through a Christian site, and as a matter of fact, it is not

only you or your ministry that I picked on the Christian site initially,

but after my fervent prayer over it, then you were nominated to me

through divine revelation from God, so these are how I received such a

divine revelation from the Lord, how I got your contact information, and I

then decided to contact you for the fund to be used wisely for things

that will glorify the name of God.

I have notified the Security Company where I deposited the consignments

that contained the fund, that I am moving the consignment abroad and

the security company has since been waiting for my authority for the

consignment to leave my country and move to abroad.

So if you know that you will use this fund honestly and wisely for

things that will glorify God's name, then do contact me back first through

this my email address:markmisan33@yahoo.com

You should also forward to me your telephone and fax number for easy

communication and to fax you the documents concerning the consignments.

Your prompt response will be highly appreciated.

Yours in Christ.

Barrister Mark Misan.

Edit: had to circumvent the auto-censor to display the name of the sender of the first mail properly

[Locutus]

PS I have never visited a Christian website in my life, let alone left my email address there. I actually used to be rather fanatically anti-Christian (I still am from time to time, when I feel like trolling my mother's half of the family -- who are all quite fanatic Christians), so it's rather ironic that I should be the one to receive that latter email

[Stefu]

I've always rather liked this one:

DEAR friend.

I AM PRINCESS LEIA ORGANA ONLY SURVIVOR OF THE ROYAL FAMILY OF ALDERAN
(ALDRN).

I AM MOVED TO WRITE YOU THIS LETTER, THIS WAS IN CONFIDENCE
CONSIDERING MY PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCE AND SITUATION.

I WAS FALSLEY IMPRISONED UPON THE IMPERIAL BATTLESTATION ("DEATH
STAR") WHEN MY PLANET WAS HIDEOUSLY DESTROYED AND ENDED BY THE BVERY
BAD SITH LORD VADER.

I ESCAPED ALONG WITH THE AID OF BRAVE REBELS AND WOOKIES, AND AM NOW I
AM LYING LOW DUE TO THE SITUATION IN THE 4TH MOON OF YAVIN TILL WHEN
THINGS GETS BETTER.

I HAVE CONTROL HERE OF THE SUM OF $25, MILLIONNN IN IMPERIAL CREDITS
DEPOSITED WITH A SECURITY COMAPNY FOR SAFEKEEPING ON TATOOINE.

THE FUNDS WERE SHIPPED BY A COURIER SERVICE AS DIPLOMATIC ITEMS OF
HIGH VALUES TO PREVENT THEM FROM KNOWING THE CONTENT.

WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO friend IS TO INDICATE YOUR INTEREST THAT YOU
WILL ASSIST ME BY RECEIVING THE MONEY ON OUR BEHALF ON TATOOINE AND
ASSIST
IN INVESTING THIS MONEY IN ANY LUCRATIVE BUSINESS LIKE MOISTURE FARMS
AND
STOCK IN MULTI-PLANETARY COMPANIES AND OTHER SAFE LUCRATIVE INVESTMENT
IN YOUR SECTOR.

MAY I AT THIS POINT EMPHASISE THE HIGH LEVEL OF CONFIDENTIALITY, WHICH
THIS BUSINESS DEMANDS, AND HOPE YOU WILL NOT BETRAY THE TRUST AND
CONFIDENCE WHICH I REPOSE IN YOU.

IN CONCLUSION,IN THE EVENT YOU ARE INTRESTED TO ASSIST ME I WILL LIKE
YOU TO CONTACT MY LAWYER WHO I HAVE STATIONED IN MOS EISLEY TO WITHNESS
THE TRANSACTION TO IT'S CONCLUTION.

YOU CAN REACH HIM ON HIS DIRECT LINE VIA MAIL [email removed for
protection],
HIS NAME IS WATTO THE TOYDARIAN, I HAVE THE FULL TRUST IN HIM.

FINALLY, I HAVE SET ASIDE 15% OF THE TOTAL SUM OF THE FUNDS FOR YOUR
ASSISTANCE,AND 5% FOR ANY ESPENCES THAT SHALL BE INCURED DURING THIS
TRANSACTION.PLEASE BE FREE TO DISCUSS WITH MY LAWYER.

I SINCERELY WILL APPRECAITE YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

HELP US, friend, YOU ARE OUR ONLY HOPE.

BEST REGARDS,
PRNCSS. L. ORGANA

(<http://project-apollo.net/blog/usenet/alderaan.txt>)

[CerberusIV]

These things sound obviously too good to be true but not everyone is as cynical as the average 'poly poster (can a 'poly poster ever be described as average? )

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/m...er/3235471.stm

[Ming]

Stefu


Thanks... I hadn't seen that one before...

[Locutus]

Cerberus,

*Sigh* It's those kind of people that spam companies and other kinds of criminals and fraudsters thrive on...

"It could happen to anybody - it is very plausible."

Yeah, sure

[Mercator]

What! So that e-mail I got from Mobutu's widow some time ago wasn't real?! I guess I can say goodbye to that €50,000 loan I got for them, then? Not to mention my percentage of his millions.

[alva]

Got this non-Nigerian one yesterday aparantly, didn't even read it.

MR. WANG QIN
HANG SENG BANK LTD.
DES VOEUX RD. BRANCH,
CENTRAL HONG KONG,
HONK KONG.

Dear Sir,

Let me start by introducing myself. I am Mr. Wang Qin credit officer of
the Hang Seng Bank Ltd. I have a concealed business suggestion for
you.

Before the U.S and Iraqi war our client General. Ibrahim Moussa who was
with the Iraqi forces and also business man made a numbered fixed
deposit for 18 calendar months, with a value of Twenty millions Five
Hundred Thousand United State Dollars only in my branch. Upon maturity
several notice was sent to him, even during the war early this year.
Again after the war another notification was sent and still no response
came from him. We later find out that the General and his family had
been killed during the war in bomb blast that hit their home.

After further investigation it was also discovered that Gen. Ibrahim
Moussa did not declare any next of kin in his official papers including the
paper work of his bank deposit. And he also confided in me the last
time he was at my office that no one except me knew of his deposit in my
bank. So, Twenty millions Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars is
still lying in my bank and no one will ever come forward to claim it.
What bothers me most is that according to the to the laws of my country
at the expiration 3 years the funds will revert to the ownership of the
Hong Kong Government if nobody applies to claim the funds.

Against this backdrop, my suggestion to you is that I will like you as
a foreigner to stand as the next of kin to Gen. Ibrahim Moussa so that you
will be able to receive his funds.

WHAT IS TO BE DONE:

I want you to know that I have had everything planned out so that we
shall come out successful. I have contacted an attorney that will prepare
the necessary document that will back you up as the next of kin to Gen.
Ibrahim Moussa, all that is required from you at this stage is for you to
provide me with your Full Names and Address so that the attorney can
commence his job. After you have been made the next of kin, the
attorney will also fill in for claims on your behalf and secure the
necessary approval and letter of probate in your favor for the move of the
funds to an account that will be provided by you.

There is no risk involved at all in the matter as we are going adopt a
legalized method and the attorney will prepare all the necessary
documents. Please endeavor to observe utmost discretion in all matters
concerning this issue.

Once the funds have been transferred to your nominated bank account
we
shall share in the ratio of 70% for me, 25% for you and 5% for any
expenses incurred during the course of this operation.

Should you be interested please send me your Full names and address
and I will provide you with more details of this operation.

l will prefers you to reach me no this email below wang_qin200
@tiscali.co.uk security purpose.

Your earliest response to this letter will be appreciated.

Kind Regards
Mr. Wang Qin

.

[SlowwHand]

These are about as old as, well, as old as Ming.

[alva]

Don't think so !!!






Those letters are way to long to be send by morse...

[Locutus]

Let alone smoke signals

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by alva
Got this non-Nigerian one yesterday aparantly, didn't even read it.

He's SOL, cause there's actually somebody who can run a check on him.

[Q Classic]

the one that alva posted, i've seen in an incarnation regarding a korean bank. too bad that won't really work, 'cause i know a person who knows her, and while the email says it's a he, he's really a she.

[ixnay]

This something awful update from yesterday is a great response to these types of scams.

[Dis]

I never see any of these. I think my bulk mail folder on Yahoo filters all that stuff very well.

The only site I have my "real" e-mail address registered to is here at Poly. And I think one other site as well. So I do get like one or two spams a day at that address as well

[Provost Harrison]

MtG, they will get the $62.5k when I receive the $11.5m

[Case]

There's a lot on this stuff at : www.scamorama.com/ including recent news stories on the kind of people who both fall for these scams and are responsible for them.