Playing on one's greed - con artist at work

[Cecil Lee]

The Nigerian Advance Fee Fraud
In a survey conducted on the type of scams on the internet, the most popular ones are those that try to `depart' our hard earned money.
The most popular and well know ones sound something like this:-
--- Con artist at work ---
From: beatrice zongo
Subject: urgent assistance
Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2002 09:58:12 +0000 (GMT)
Dear Sir,
I am writing you with the greatest delight and personal respect through your contact which I got from your countrys chamber of commerce and industry.
I am madam Beatrice Zongo the wife of the late Dr Michael Zongo the then former financial adviser to the ex-Sierra-Leonine Military head of state who was killed when the regime was overthrown by the West
African Peace keeping force(ECOMOG).
I am presently living in republic of Cote d?Ivoire with my son and Daughter after escaping from home with
the help of a fisherman who ferried us out to Abidjan
Cote d' Ivoire.
My husband has US$22Million in an international bank here in Ivory Coast. This money was paid from the contract awarded
to him by the former Government of Sierra Leone.
Since the present Government declared that all the assets of supporters of the former Government of Major John P. Koroma should be frozen, therefore I need your assistance to claim this money out from the Bank and
transferred to any account you may be interested to nominate.
Having contacted a reputable international lawyer here in Abidjan to help us out, He will be Paid 0.1% of the total sum for his service after the transfer.
Here a top personal at the bank has advised us to seek in confidence any reliable
person or firm whom we could trust and transfer this money into his account for further investment since our bread winner is dead.
Secondly, we may end up losing the entire fund if we apply for the payment in our name.
This is a business I want both of us to handle and it remains top secret since our future Depends on this fund.
We are prepared to compensate you with 10% of the total sum while 5% will be for expenses you may incur during the process of transfer is over.
If you are capable of assisting us , send the following information which would enable the Attorney to Write a letter of claim in your name , That your name, full address, telephone/fax numbers respectively.
Do not hesitate to reach me with the above e-mail, As soon as I receive your positive response, I will give you more details as regards the transaction. Awaiting for your kind response.
Madam Beatrice Zong
---------

[Cecil Lee]

This site exposes such e-mail fraud:-
http://www.crimes-of-persuasion.com/Nigerian/abacha.htm
From the 419 Coalition web site are these tips:
The Five Rules for Doing Business with Nigeria
1. NEVER pay anything up front for ANY reason.
2. NEVER extend credit for ANY reason.
3. NEVER do ANYTHING until their check clears.
4. NEVER expect ANY help from the Nigerian Government.
5. NEVER rely on YOUR Government to bail you out.
More examples of a con scam:-
-- SCAM LETTER --
From: Dr. Morgan Abu
Subject: Request For Assistance.
Date: Thu, 21 Mar 2002 08:29:29 +0100
REQUEST TRANSFER ASSISTANCE.
I AM DR MORGAN ABU, THE CO-ORDINATOR OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA CONTRACT
REVIEW PANEL OF THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION(NNPC).
SOMETIME AGO, A CONTRACT WAS AWARDED TO A CONGLOMERATE OF FOREIGN COMPANIES BY MY
COMMITTEE ON BEHALF OF NNPC, THE CONTRACT WAS OVER INVOICED TO THE TUNE OF US$24.5
MILLION. THIS WAS DONE DELIBERATELY, THE OVER INVOICING WAS A DEAL BY MEMBERS OF MY
COMMITTEE TO BENEFIT FROM THE PROJECT, WE NOW DESIRE TO TRANSFER THIS MONEY WHICH IS
PRESENTLY IN A SUSPENSE ACCOUNT OF THE NNPC IN THE DEBT RECONCILIATION COMMITTEE (DRC)
INTO AN OVERSEAS ACCOUNT WHICH WE EXPECT YOU TO KINDLY PROVIDE FOR US.
BENEFITS:
FOR PROVIDING THE ACCOUNT WHERE WE SHALL REMIT THE MONEY, YOU WILL BE ENTITLED TO 25%
OF THE MONEY, 70% WILL BE FOR ME AND MY PARTNERS, WHILE 5% HAS BEEN MAPPED OUT FROM
THE TOTAL SUM TO COVER ANY EXPENSES THAT MAY BE INCURRED BY US DURING THE COURSE OF
THIS TRANSACTION, BOTH LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL EXPENSES.
I WOULD REQUIRE:
A. NAME AND ADDRESS OF COMPANY/BENEFICIARY
B. YOUR BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER, BANK ADDRESS AND INFORMATION.
C. IT IS NOT NESESSARY THAT THE ACCOUNT SHOULD HAVE MONEY IN IT. IT SHOULD JUST BE IN
EXISTENCE AND YOU SHOULD HAVE 100% CONTROL OVER IT.
THE ABOVE INFORMATION WOULD BE USED TO MAKE FORMAL APPLICATIONS AS A MATTER OF
PROCEDURE FOR THE RELEASE OF THE MONEY FOR ONWARD TRANSFER TO YOUR ACCOUNT. IT
DOES NOT MATTER WHETHER OR NOT YOUR COMPANY OR YOU PERFORMED CONTRACT PROJECTS
OF THE NATURE DESCRIBED HERE, THE ASSUMPTION IS THAT YOU WON A MAJOR CONTRACT AND
SUB-CONTRACTED OUT TO OTHER COMPANIES. MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, BIG TRADING COMPANIES OR
INDIVIDUALS OF UNRELATED FIELD WIN MAJOR CONTRACTS AND SUB-CONTRACTS IT OUT TO MORE
SPECIALISED FIRMS FOR EXECUTION OF SUCH CONTRACTS.WE HAVE STRONG AND RELIABLE
CONNECTIONS AND CONTACTS AT THE DEBT RECONCILIATION COMMITTEE (DRC) AND THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE (FMF) AND WE HAVE NO DOUBTS THAT ALL THIS MONEY WILL BE RELEASED AND TRANSFERED IF WE GET THE NECESSARY FOREIGN PARTNER IN THIS TRASACTION. THEREFORE, WHEN THE BUSINESS IS SUCCESSFULLY CONCLUDED, WE SHALL THROUGH OUR SAME CONNECTIONS WITHDRAW ALL DOCUMENTS USED FROM ALL THE CONCERNED GOVERNMEN!
T MINISTRIES FOR 100% SECURITY.
WE WANT THIS MONEY TO BE TRANSFERED TO THE OVERSEAS ACCOUNT WHICH YOU ARE GOING TO
KINDLY PROVIDE FOR SAFE KEEPING PENDING WHEN WE WILL DETERMINE HOW WE WANT OUR
PORTION OF THE MONEY, ALL EXPENSES REGARDING THE ACCOUNT OPENING IF NOT ALREADY IN
EXISTENCE SHALL BE BORNE BY YOU, ALL EXPENSES ARE HOWEVER REIMBURSEABLE AS ALREADY STATED ABOVE ON CONCLUSION OF BUSINESS.
PLEASE, CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY THROUGH FAX OR E-MAIL TO ASCERTAIN YOUR INTEREST IN
DOING US THIS FAVOUR, SO THAT IF YOU ARE NOT, IT WILL ENABLE ME SCOUT FOR ANOTHER FOREIGN PARTNER TO CARRY OUT THIS TRANSACTION. FORTUNATELY, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, PLEASE SEND THE REQUIRED INFORMATION MENTIONED THROUGH MY DIRECT FAX NUMBER: 234 1 7590371 OR E-MAIL
AT ANY TIME OF THE DAY. FOR MORE DETAILS ON THIS TRANSACTION, SEND ME A FAX OR E-MAIL ME.
IF YOU WILL BE OF ASSISTANCE, I WILL SURELY APPRECIATE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR KINDNESS IN GIVING ME THIS ASSISTANCE
SINCERELY YOURS,
DR. MORGAN ABU,
-- MORE DESPERATE SCAM --
From: abacha@private.as
Subject: business proposition
Date: Sun, 24 Mar 2002 18:29:44
Attn: Dear
It is my humble pleasure to write you this mail Irrespective of the Fact that you do not know me.
Forgive me for the rather unorthodox way of contact, However I got your Contact through a consulting firm, Here in the United Kingdom, However the intention of this proposal was not made known to them.
I am Mr Abba Abacha son of MRS. MARYAM
ABACHA, the former first lady and wife of the late GEN. SANI ABACHA, the former head of state and Commander in chief of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
My mother (MRS. M. ABACHA), has as a result of the trust and Confidence she has in me mandated that I search for a Reliable and trustworthy foreign partner, who Will help receive some funds, which we had in cash
Totalling US$45m (Forty Five Million United States Dollars Only) into a personal, company or any Reliable foreign bank account for safe keeping for a Short period of time, since our family bank accounts Within and outside the country have all been Frozen by the authorities. (I would refer you to the
Website of TELL WEEKLY MAGAZINE: http://WWW.tell.org. Of November 23, 1998 page 25, for further information About these monies and the ABACHAS) And
http://www.onlinenigeria.com/abacha.asp
http://www.mg.co.za/mg/news/2000may1/10may-abacha.html
http://www.mg.co.za/mg/africa_archive/nigeria_archive.html
http://www.mg.co.za/mg/news/99oct1/13oct-nigeria.html
This money in question has however, been carefully Kept in defaced form and deposited with a security Company .You may therefore be required to travel to any Of the branches to collect the money on behalf of my Family for safekeeping.
It may also interest you to know that my mother (MRS. ABACHA) and some of our family members have, since the inception of
The present democratic government, been placed under Partial house arrest, with their international Passports withdrawn pending the resolution Of current fund recovery face - off between them and
The present RTD GEN. OBASANJO led Federal Government, Which from all indications will not exceed this year.
We have decided to offer anybody who will be willing To render this tremendous assistance 20% of the total Sum, while 5% shall be set aside for incidental Expenses.
Note that this transaction involves no risks
Whatsoever, as you will have no dealing with my Country, Nigeria. Rather, you will deal directly with The security company, which is based where the money Is right now.
Let me have your confidential Tel/Fax Numbers and also A contact address in response to this proposal. That would enable me to send you some of my pictures and id
I shall let you into a complete picture of this Mutually beneficial transaction when I have received Your anticipated positive reply. This matter should be Treated as urgent and confidential. This is very
Important.
Best Regards,
Abba Abacha
24/03/02

[Cecil Lee]

This "same guy" must be desperate! Sending all the various money making stories.
His other emails relating to Nigeria were blocked by our servers..
Hmm.. Nigeria... seems to give that country a bad (really bad) name!
He decided to `capitalise' on other `well known' CON games....
--- Just came in ----
From:
Dr. peter bello
Subject:
Date: Wed, 3 Apr 2002 21:18:40 +0100
THE DESK OF:
DR PETER BELLO(PRINCIPAL AUDITOR) NIGERIAN
NATIONAL PETROLLEUM CORPORATION (NNPC) LAGOS, NIGERIA
ATTN: DIRECTOR
COMPLIMENT OF THE DAY TO YOU. I WISH TO EXTEND THIS MUTUAL BUSINESS PROPOSAL
TO YOU WITH THE HOPE THAT YOU WILL GLADLY ACCEPT. I AM THE PRINCIPAL AUDITOR OF THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION. A POST I HAVE HELD FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS. IN THE COURSE OF DISCHARGING MY DUTY
LAST YEAR, I DISCOVERED THAT SOME GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IN THE PAST, COMMITTED
SOME IRREGULARITIES IN THE FORM OF OVER-INVOICED CONTRACT VALUES WHICH
EVENTUALLY GO INTO THEIR PRIVATE BANK ACCOUNTS. WHAT INTEREST ME MUSTAND
FOR WHICH REASON I AM WRITING YOU IS THIS PARTICULAR CONTRACT WHICH WAS AWARDED
TO A FOREIGN CONTRACTOR, IT WAS OVER ESTIMATED BY THE TUNE OF US$ 5M (FIVE MILLION U.S.DOLLARS). THIS CONTRACT HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND COMMISSIONED AND THE CONTRACTOR FULLY PAID, BUT THE US $ 5M OVER ESTIMATED VALUE OF THE CONTRACT IS STILL LYING AT THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN). BECAUSE OF THE HASTE WITH WHICH THE LAST GOVERNMENT WAS REMOVED FROM OFFICE, THESE MEN HAS NO CHANCE TO COLLECT THIS MONEY BEFORE LEAVING THE OFFICE. BUT AS A RESULT OF UPDATED PAYMENTS ADVISE AT THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN), IT HAS BEEN AWAITING
TRANSFER TO A FOREIGN ACCOUNT. IN MY REPORT, I RECOMMENDED THAT THIS MONEY SHOULD BE PAID BUT ON THE CONDITION THAT THE CONTRACTOR SHOULD BE INFORMED. MY RECOMMENDATION WAS ACCEPTED AND I HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE GO-AHEAD ORDER TO GET IN-TOUCH WITH THE FOREIGN CONTRACTORS, BUT SINCE THE CONTRACTOR
HAS BEEN FULLY PAID FOR THE JOB HEDID, I WANT TO DIVERT THIS MONEY TO ANOTHER FOREIGN ACCOUNT. HAVING DONE ALL THE NECESSARY
GROUND WORK, THIS MONEY IS IN MY POSSESSION AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD FOR A TRUST WORTHY
PERSON INTO WHOSE PRIVATE OR COMPANY'S ACCOUNT THIS MONEY WILL BE TRANSFERRED
INTO. I WISH TO RETIRE FROM SERVICE AFTER THIS TRANSACTION AND GOINTO BUSINESS IN YOUR COUNTRY THROUGH YOU AS MY AGENT. YOU ARE THEREFORE REQUESTED TO KINDLY ALLOW ME TOTRANSFER THIS MONEY INTO YOUR ACCOUNT PRTHAT I CAN WITHS DRAW THIS MONEY WHEN I WANT TO. UPON THE TRANSFER OF THIS
MONEY, 65% OF THE TOTAL SUM WILL BE FOR ME AND MY COLLEAGUES WHILE 30% SHALL BE FOR YOU THE ACCOUNT OWNER AND THE REMAINING
5% SHALL BE SET ASIDE TO REFUND EXPENSES MADE IN THE COURSE OF THI TRANSACTION. BE ASSURED THAT THIS BUSINESS IS RISK-FREE BUT THE KEYWORD IS THE CONFIDENTIALITY
DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE TRANSACTION AND MY POSITION IN THE MINISTRY.
KINDLY TREAT AS URGENT AND CONTACT MEIMMEDIATELY THROUGH MY E-MAIL ADDRESS,
YOU WILL BE FULLY DETAILED WHEN I HEAR FROM YOU. YOUR BANKING PARTICULARS,
I.E ACCOUNT NUMBER, TELEX, BENEFICIARY, AND YOUR PRIVATE TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS ARE VITAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THIS TRANSACTION FOR
UPDATING AND REMITTANCE PROTOCOL.
BEST REGARDS
DR PETER BELLO
(Added by Cecil: " THE CON MAN " )

[Cecil Lee]

No end to such letters:(
Attention:
I presume this email will not be a surprise to you.
Am an engineer with the ministry of mineral resources and energy in south Africa and also a member of the contract awarding committee of this ministry under the south
Africa government.
Many year ago, the south Africa government asked this committee to awards contracts to foregn firms, in which myself and two
of my partner are leader of the committee, with our good position in this committee, we over involved this contract to the tune of of us$21,500,000:00, to be benefited by me and two other of my partner that are in charge of this contract awarding
committee in this ministry.
Now, that the contracts value has been paid off to the actual contractor that executed this job, All we want is a trusted
foreign partner like you that we shall front to claim this over involved sum.
Upon our agreement to carry on this business transaction with you, the said fund will be share as follow, 75% will be for myself and two others of my partner, 20% will be for you for using your bank account, 5% will be set aside for any expenses that might be incurred by us and you in the process of the document and other formalities that will
justify you as the rightful owner of this said fund.
You should bear in mind that you will be required to put head together with us, and give this business transaction moral and financially support it required to be successful.
If you are interested and financially capable in handly this business transaction, Kindly reply us through this email address (theoruffy@netscape.net Alias the con-man!) for more details and to let you know what is required of this business transaction to be successful.
Also we request your private and office phone number to open communication
with you.
Your faithfully,
Oni Theo