Every day more and more scammers are coming out of the woodwork through the Internet. When I open my electronic mailbox, there’s likely to be one or two messages from perfect strangers promising an inherited fortune beyond my dreams. Obviously, many people out there would rather spend their time concocting outrageous fraudulent schemes to steal money from me and all the other hard-working folks. It takes time and talent to come up with out-of-this-world money theft scenarios. My hope is that anyone who receives such a message would read it for what it is: A SCAM.
Many such emails not only try to get our personal data (known as phishing). In many instances we are asked to shell out money before the “funds” could be released. That is the red flag, my friends! Even if you’re promised a fortune in return for the $50 or $100 fee you need to pay upfront, DON’T DO IT! Once you part with your money, say goodbye.
Just this week, I received the following incredible messages which I’ve copied and pasted (typos and all) from my inbox. I’m sharing these for the benefit of those who don’t know what a fraudulent email reads like.
Just this week, I received the following incredible messages which I’ve copied and pasted (typos and all) from my inbox. I’m sharing these for the benefit of those who don’t know what a fraudulent email reads like.
From: owen <linda_owen0202@rediffmail.com>
Sent: Wed, December 15, 2010 9:37:23 AM Subject: Donation from Mrs linda Dearest in Christ, with due respect and humanity, I am contacting you under a humanitarian ground. I am Mrs Linda Owen; I was born in Baltimore, Maryland in America, and was married to Mr. John Owen, Director J.W Industries Cote d'Ivoire . We were married for 36 years with an only child who later died in a ghastly car accident. My husband died in 2006 after a Cardiac Arteries Operation. Recently, my Doctor told me that I have a precise time to live due to my stroke and cancer illness (cancer of the liver).
Before my husband died, there is this sum of Seven Million, Five Hundred Thousand Dollars (US$7.500.000) which he deposited with a Private security company here In Ivory Coast . Presently, this money is still in the custody of the Security Company.
I want someone who will use this fund according to the desire of my late husband, that is; to help the less privileged, orphans, widows, victims of war, terrorist attacks, natural disaster and most of its all, propagating the word of God. Though I have a precise time to live, I am not afraid of death hence I know my reward before our Almighty. Please always remember me in your daily prayers for my upcoming cancer surgery.
Looking forward to hear from you soon. God bless you.
Mrs Linda Owen.
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From:
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Sent:
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Wed 12/15/10 5:10 AM
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FROM OFFICE OF ECOWAS PAYMASTER GENERAL
21 AVENUE DE LA LIBERATION
Cotonou,BENIN.
DATE: 14/DEC/2010
Cotonou,BENIN.
DATE: 14/DEC/2010
Good Day,
Please be informed that you were earlier listed to receive all $800,000.00 via Western Union money Transfer services. This is to ensure that no official in the Banking sector has access to your funds or handle it. But having considered the fact that western union can only transfer maximum of $5,000.00 per day, it makes it very cumbersome for you to receive all the $800.000.00 through western union. On this note we decided to make a Direct Credit Transfer to an off-shore Asian Bank which is online to assist us in paying out your funds.
As a matter of fact, your payment has since been effected through a new secure system for making fast payments, the money is in a Online Bank Giro Swift Transfer Protocol and the transfer is set up under your name alone, so if you have no PIN withdrawal codes,you can not access your funds. The transaction is already online in the Giro Network Protocol,Atlantic Financial (Sarl) which is handling the payments should have sent you an email by now with details such as the Bank where you are to pick up the cash. You can pick up the cash at any convenient bank located in your area once your information and your nearest Bank of choice is programmed into the Giro Sysytems Protocol. If there are no convenient locations near you, you can request for Direct Cash on Transit Transfer of the cash directly to you.
To received your withdrawal codes you have to contact Director of Atlantic Financial Dr. Anthony Okpoka at his email ( anthonyokpoka@o2.pl ) Tel: +22996158701.
You will be charged $100, for the processing of your information into the Giro Online Network Protocol and your code will be sent to you to enable you cash your money at your nearest location (Bank) and your Bank can move the funds into your account directly on request.
When writing to Atlantic Financial, always include the following information:
Your Full Name =============
Address: -----------
Telephone number: -------
Your receiver Email: -----
Your Transaction Number: 17007045
Transfer Date: 13-12-2010 Validity (Until): 19-12-2010.
Transact Amount: $800, 000.00
Best Regards,
Mr. Roy Dukiya
Secretary to ECOWAS PAY MASTER
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From:
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Sent:
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Wed 12/15/10 1:49 PM
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AHSBC BANK PLC LONDON.(REGISTERED NO.1026167).
ADDRESS: 8 CANADA SQUARE LONDON, E14 5HQ, UNITED KINGDOM.
Chairman Committee On Foreign Contract And
Inheritance fund Payment Notification
FROM:HSBC BANK PLC LONDON.
Attn: Beneficiary,
The U.S.A Government, World Bank And United Nations Organization Official Has Approved to pay you part payment of your Contract/ Inheritance Fund payment Valued at $5.5m USD in conjunction with British Government and HSBC BANK PLC LONDON.
This International remittance department(HSBC BANK PLC LONDON) was set up to discover an outstanding unpaid fund being owned to Governments or Individuals all over the world through Contract Payment,Inheritance and Lottery Winning Prize Awards.
However, decision was made last week. With this development, a woman by name (MRS:JANET WHITE) came to our office with an application stating that you gave her the power of attorney to be the beneficiary of your Outstanding contract/ Inheritance/award funds. She made us to believe that you are dead and that she is your next of kin. We got your email address and decided to send an email through this address hoping to find out if you are dead or alive and also to find out if you at any time gave this woman the power of attorney to represent you.
Please let us know also if you are aware that we are almost ready to transfer part payment of $5.5m USD of your outstanding funds to her nominated bank account stated below:
NAME OF BANK: FIRST NATIONAL BANK
ADDR: 120 SO. 2nd. ST.
BLYTHEVILLE,ARKANSAS 72315 USA
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 482986
ROUTING NUMBER:084107343
Swift code # : WMSBUS66
BENEFICIARY: JANET WHITE
If you are not aware of the above instruction, do respond to this email immediately by contacting the Chairman of the International remittance department.
His contact information are written below:
Name:Mr.Victor Williams.
email:hsbcplc011@yahoo.co.jp
For immediate transfer of your funds be informed that you are not allowed to correspond or contact any person or office with respect to this transfer other than this office, you are required to send to him an email with your full following information below:
1) YOUR FULL NAME
2) RESIDENCE ADDRESS, CITY, STATE AND COUNTRY
3) PERSONAL CELL PHONE,FAX AND MOBILE PHONE NUMBER
Yours Sincerely,
Mrs. Ann Almeida.
HSBC BANK PLC LONDON.
ADDRESS: 8 CANADA SQUARE LONDON, E14 5HQ, UNITED KINGDOM.
Chairman Committee On Foreign Contract And
Inheritance fund Payment Notification
FROM:HSBC BANK PLC LONDON.
Attn: Beneficiary,
The U.S.A Government, World Bank And United Nations Organization Official Has Approved to pay you part payment of your Contract/ Inheritance Fund payment Valued at $5.5m USD in conjunction with British Government and HSBC BANK PLC LONDON.
This International remittance department(HSBC BANK PLC LONDON) was set up to discover an outstanding unpaid fund being owned to Governments or Individuals all over the world through Contract Payment,Inheritance and Lottery Winning Prize Awards.
However, decision was made last week. With this development, a woman by name (MRS:JANET WHITE) came to our office with an application stating that you gave her the power of attorney to be the beneficiary of your Outstanding contract/ Inheritance/award funds. She made us to believe that you are dead and that she is your next of kin. We got your email address and decided to send an email through this address hoping to find out if you are dead or alive and also to find out if you at any time gave this woman the power of attorney to represent you.
Please let us know also if you are aware that we are almost ready to transfer part payment of $5.5m USD of your outstanding funds to her nominated bank account stated below:
NAME OF BANK: FIRST NATIONAL BANK
ADDR: 120 SO. 2nd. ST.
BLYTHEVILLE,ARKANSAS 72315 USA
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 482986
ROUTING NUMBER:084107343
Swift code # : WMSBUS66
BENEFICIARY: JANET WHITE
If you are not aware of the above instruction, do respond to this email immediately by contacting the Chairman of the International remittance department.
His contact information are written below:
Name:Mr.Victor Williams.
email:hsbcplc011@yahoo.co.jp
For immediate transfer of your funds be informed that you are not allowed to correspond or contact any person or office with respect to this transfer other than this office, you are required to send to him an email with your full following information below:
1) YOUR FULL NAME
2) RESIDENCE ADDRESS, CITY, STATE AND COUNTRY
3) PERSONAL CELL PHONE,FAX AND MOBILE PHONE NUMBER
Yours Sincerely,
Mrs. Ann Almeida.
HSBC BANK PLC LONDON.
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Date: Thu, 16 Dec 2010 00:23:08 -0800
From: consultofficefile@att.net
Subject: He will send you the payment ASAP
From: consultofficefile@att.net
Subject: He will send you the payment ASAP
Dear colleague
Thanks on a very happy note andit is incredible your efforts , time and energy towards the project.Your tonic was why the large cash left finally after so many trails. Iwrite to inform you that at last, the fund transfer had been a SUCCESS.The Fund was later paid out and I have collected my own share. Presently,I am in South Korea where, in partnership with a core investor in theMining Sector of their economy, we are investing in the industry. But,I am not oblivious of the fact that you did your best in that context,although, it seem that element of doubt crept in. I pressurized theinfluential woman to concede some amount as COMPENSATION to you. Youalready know that the other co investor that approved the fund Alvinpeter Kappelmann Jr died DURING the sept 11 attack mishap that killedthousands of peopel at the world trade center in the incidence whichthe international media broadcast it that warranted this payment as ibelieve you know. pls log in tohttp://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/memorial/people/2632.html to see theCNN report of the incidence and the confirmation of mr peters death. Therefore your over due inheritance funds totalling $800,000 [thousandunited states dollars} has been approved and ractified by chrome oilboard company. Because of my appointment in South Korea and too,I could not get through to you since your number at any time indicated"not in use", I then handed it over to my secretary. His name is attorney chris coolman and his mail:(barrister2chriscoolman@gmail.com) TheSecretary is very much informed by me about you and I instructed him tohand over the Draft to you without you paying a dime as soon as youcontact him. I gave him the CODE 555, which you have to mention for identification. Yours Sincerely and associate, Mr.John Mba chiarman chiarman chrome oil middle east and london |
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From: Mr Hassan Muhammad <mrhassanmuhammad01@voila.fr>
Sent: Thu, December 16, 2010 9:55:49 AM
Subject: Trusting to hear from you immediately
Sent: Thu, December 16, 2010 9:55:49 AM
Subject: Trusting to hear from you immediately
I AM MR HASSAN MUHAMMAD
BILL AND EXCHANGE MANAGER.
BANK OF AFRICA (BOA)
OUAGADOUGOU , BURKINA FASO .
Dear Friend.
CONFIDENTIAL
I will like you to help me, in receiving of this fund into your Bank Account .However; it's just my urgent need for foreign partner that made me to contact you for this transaction. I am the manager of bill and exchange at the foreign remittance Department of BANK OF AFRICA (B.O.A) here in Ouagadougou , Burkina Faso. In my department we discovered an abandoned sum of (US$29.7 Million dollars) in an account that belongs to one of our foreign Customer (MR. PAUL LOUIS from Paris, France) who died along with His entire family in July 2003 in a plane crash.
I am afraid if this money stays in our bank without claim for long period of time, our government will step in because
The Banking laws here does not allow such huge amount of money to stay
Dormant for more than 8years. And you will be receiving this money into your Bank account within 10 or 14 banking days.
The Banking law and guideline here stipulates that if such money remained unclaimed after Eight years an above, the money will be transferred into the Bank treasury as unclaimed fund. I agree that 40% of this money will be for you as foreign partner in respect to the provision of a foreign account, and while 60%would be for me.
If you agree to my business proposal, further details of the transfer will be forwarded to you as soon as I receive your return mail. Make sure you keep this transaction as your top secret and make it confidential till we receive the fund into the account that you will provide to the Bank. Don't disclose it to any body, because the secrecy of this transaction is as well as the success of it, have a great day.
but before i send to you the text of application form which you will fill and send it to the bank, I will like you to send me the following information
( 1.)Name in full:....................................
( 2.)Address:..........................................
( 3.)Nationality:......................................
( 4.)Age:....................................................
( 5.)Sex......................................................
( 6.)Occupation:.......................................
( 7.)Marital status:.................................
( 8.)Priavte telephone no..............................
( 9.)Private fax no:..................................Note this,please reply me with this email address (mrhassanmuhammad1@voila.fr) for security purpose.
Place contact me urgently
Yours faithfully.
Mr Hassan Muhammad
My BFF Josie B. just told me that her lawyer associate has a client who was swindled by a bogus Nigerian lottery winning communication. We may find it hard to believe, but many people are actually taking such fraudulent emails as gospel truth. As a conqequence, their bank accounts get hacked and the victims end up losing their life savings. Unfortunately, many of them are too embarassed to come forward! It would be really nice to get an unexpected windfall which many emails similar to the above are giving away. Always bear in mind that if the gesture is too generous to be true, it can only be a scam. We work hard for our money and we should guard it with our life!
BILL AND EXCHANGE MANAGER.
BANK OF AFRICA (BOA)
OUAGADOUGOU , BURKINA FASO .
Dear Friend.
CONFIDENTIAL
I will like you to help me, in receiving of this fund into your Bank Account .However; it's just my urgent need for foreign partner that made me to contact you for this transaction. I am the manager of bill and exchange at the foreign remittance Department of BANK OF AFRICA (B.O.A) here in Ouagadougou , Burkina Faso. In my department we discovered an abandoned sum of (US$29.7 Million dollars) in an account that belongs to one of our foreign Customer (MR. PAUL LOUIS from Paris, France) who died along with His entire family in July 2003 in a plane crash.
I am afraid if this money stays in our bank without claim for long period of time, our government will step in because
The Banking laws here does not allow such huge amount of money to stay
Dormant for more than 8years. And you will be receiving this money into your Bank account within 10 or 14 banking days.
The Banking law and guideline here stipulates that if such money remained unclaimed after Eight years an above, the money will be transferred into the Bank treasury as unclaimed fund. I agree that 40% of this money will be for you as foreign partner in respect to the provision of a foreign account, and while 60%would be for me.
If you agree to my business proposal, further details of the transfer will be forwarded to you as soon as I receive your return mail. Make sure you keep this transaction as your top secret and make it confidential till we receive the fund into the account that you will provide to the Bank. Don't disclose it to any body, because the secrecy of this transaction is as well as the success of it, have a great day.
but before i send to you the text of application form which you will fill and send it to the bank, I will like you to send me the following information
( 1.)Name in full:....................................
( 2.)Address:..........................................
( 3.)Nationality:......................................
( 4.)Age:....................................................
( 5.)Sex......................................................
( 6.)Occupation:.......................................
( 7.)Marital status:.................................
( 8.)Priavte telephone no..............................
( 9.)Private fax no:..................................Note this,please reply me with this email address (mrhassanmuhammad1@voila.fr) for security purpose.
Place contact me urgently
Yours faithfully.
Mr Hassan Muhammad
* * *
My BFF Josie B. just told me that her lawyer associate has a client who was swindled by a bogus Nigerian lottery winning communication. We may find it hard to believe, but many people are actually taking such fraudulent emails as gospel truth. As a conqequence, their bank accounts get hacked and the victims end up losing their life savings. Unfortunately, many of them are too embarassed to come forward! It would be really nice to get an unexpected windfall which many emails similar to the above are giving away. Always bear in mind that if the gesture is too generous to be true, it can only be a scam. We work hard for our money and we should guard it with our life!
