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© Copyright 2002, Jim Loy
This is a well-known email scam:
DR DONALD CHUKWU,
PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL,
DEAR SIR,
I AM WRITING THIS LETTER TO SEEK YOUR HELP IN THE CONTENT BELOW.I AM DR DONALD CHUKWU, THE SON OF FORMER ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF IN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA. LATE MAJOR GENERAL MIKE CHUKWU, WHOSE SUDDEN DEATH OCCURED ON JUNE 1998.
I GOT YOUR PARTICULARS FROM A DISCREET SEARCH FROM THE INTERNET .ALSO I HAVE NO DOUBT ABOUT YOUR CAPACITY AND GOOD WILL TO ASSIST US IN RECEIEVING INTO YOUR CUSTODY { FOR SAFETY} THE SUM OF US$23MILLION WILLED AND DEPOSITED IN MY FAVOUR BY MY LATE FATHER.
THE MONEY IS KEPT WITH A FINANCE HOUSE, MEANWHILE, THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT HAS ON ASSUMPTION OF OFFICE SET UP A PANEL OF ENQUIRY TO PROBE THE FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES OF MY LATE FATHER WITH A DECISION TO SEIZE ALL HIS ASSETS RESPECTIVELY. THE INVESTIGATION TEAMS HAVE SUBMITTED THEIR REPORT,PRESENTLY SOME CASH ASSETS HAVE BEEN FOUND AND SEIZED.I WAS ADVISED BY MY FATHER'S FRIEND TO MOVED THE MONEY URGENTLY INTO OVERSEA ACCOUNT OF A TRUSTED PERSON WITHOUT DELAY, FOR SECURITY REASON. THE GOVERNMENT HAD EARLIER PLACED FOREIGN TRAVEL EMBARGO ON ALL OUR FAMILY MEMBERS AND SEIZED ALL KNOWN LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL OUTFITS OF OUR BUSINESS EMPIRE. THE SITUATION HAS BEEN SO TERRIBLE THAT WE ARE LIVING ON THE ASSISTANCE OF WELL WISHERS.
PLEASE, I EXPECTED YOU TO BE TRUSTWORTHY BECAUSE THIS MONEY IS THE LAST HOPE OF MY FAMILY AND I BELIEVED YOU WILL NOT BETRAY US.I HAVE ARRANGED WITH THE FINANCE HOUSE TO EFFECT COMPLETE LODGMENT OF THIS MONEY INTO YOUR ACCOUNT WITHIN TWO WEEKS OF THE RECEIPT OF YOUR RESPONSE.THEY HAVE EQUALLY GUARANTEED 100% RISK FREE AND SMOOTH TRANSFER.
I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR QUICK RESPONSE.
BEST REGARDS
DR DONALD CHUKWU,
How can this be a scam? He asks for no money (yet), and he hopes that I will be trustworthy. I guess the main idea of this scam is that they will ask for a small fee (hundreds of dollars, maybe thousands) to help with the transaction somehow. And of course, I WILL get nothing in return. I have received many dozens of similar emails. Incidentally, on the Internet, typing in capital letters is called "shouting."
I see that these scams have led to great loss of money, kidnapping, and even death, although violence is probably rare. Money is what these people are after.
Some of these scams (also called "419 scams") claim to be from Nigeria, others claim to be from other African nations (rarely other continents). Most ask me to share some slightly dirty money. They don't ask for money until later. These people sometimes claim to be in great danger, and they have gone to a lot of trouble in searching you out. And now you get free money. They may supply documentation (copies of legal documents, passports, etc.). But how can they trust you? You will eventually be asked to send money (maybe hundreds of dollars, maybe thousands), to insure that you are honest, or to insure that this transaction works, or to at least insure that you share the risks. And you may be asked to meet them in Nigeria, or some other country, or in the USA. You should maybe pay their travel expenses (they are going to all this trouble in order to make you rich). Why didn't you show up? You did? There must have been some mix-up. Or maybe there was a meeting, I don't know. They are accruing expenses, and they still don't know if they can trust you; so send money. The deal's about to fall through, and it is your fault, because you are just stringing them along, and their futures (and lives) are now at stake; so please please send some money. And remember, they will make you rich. Eventually, you may pay a lot of money, and get nothing in return, except wisdom.
I received the following email from the International Web Police:
Thank you very much for submitting your Crime Report to our website. Unfortunately, there isn't anything we can do at this time pertaining to what has been officially labeled the "419 scam/frauds, or Nigerian Scams. The Unites States government is taking an active interest in catching these people, and pressing charges against them. I have forwarded your email to the USSS, and below attached articles where you can go read up on the scams and links where you can send any future letters you may receive.
Again, thank you for contacting the International Web Police, and please do not hesitate to contact us again if we can assist you in the future.
The U.S. Secret Service is taking this seriously and has set up a special task force to deal with it called 419 (this is section of the Nigerian penal code which deals with fraud). An article I read said to forward the email to: 419.fcd@usss.treas.gov . However the USSS website says that if you have received a letter, but have not lost money, that you should fax the letter to: (202) 406-5031. The page with information on this is:
Here are some typical scenarios:
1. Over-invoice: Someone has cheated our government (usually it is a contract that our government overpaid because of some scam), either me (the person sending you email) or someone else, and we would like to keep it hidden in your bank account. Rarely, you may not be told where this money came from; I (as an auditor) may have merely discovered it in a hidden bank account. Here is an example:
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
DR.OLU FEMI.
DIRECTOR, ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT,
NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION (N.N.P.C)
[deleted]ATTN:PRESIDENT/CEO,
TRANSFER OF $28,600,000:00 (TWENTY-EIGHT MILLION SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND U.S. DOLLARS) ONLY.
I got your contact from the Nigerian Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Following this and other investigations resulting in a good recommendation. We have decided to contact you to help us with the legal Transfer of US$28,600,000.00 (Twenty-Eight Million Six hundred Thousand United States Dollars). The amount stated above resulted from an over-invoiced contract executed for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (N.N.P.C.) for which the contractors have been fully paid. Because this money was part of the overall contract sum amounting to close to (US$100,000,000:00) that has been completed.
The said amount has remained dormant and floating in our Apex Bank. Therefore, we will raise supplementary documents to enable us transfer into an account that is yet to be nominated. We need a foreign partner, because as civil servants, the code of conduct does not allow us to operate foreign bank accounts. Hence we solicit for your assistance, we are requesting you to provide us with the help for the safekeeping of this money until our arrival in your country to collect our share and decide on investment possibilities of this money which you may advice,
For your assistance in this transaction, we have unanimously agreed to offer you 25% of this money, 5% will be used in settling any incidental expenses that may arise after the fund must have been transferd to your nominated bank account and the remaining amount will be for us. To enable the prompt transfer of this money, kindly send to us your personal details, contact information & bank details in full.
We look forward to hearing from you and thanking you for your anticipated cooperation and consideration in the above subject matter. Please be informed that we would appreciate the handling of this transaction in a confidential manner. We sincerely advise that you contact us on the above Telephone and fax numbers to maintain the confidentiality of the business. Sending e-mail will be appreciated.
Yours sincerely,
DR.OLU FEMI.
2. I need to get my money out of the country: My late husband or father has left me a ton of money (we won't discuss how he got it). The government is going to confiscate it when they find it, and maybe they will kill me. Please help me. A variation on this is that I may be a lawyer (barrister or solicitor, they don't seem to know the difference) representing the heir. This may be from any number of African or middle eastern countries. The example at the top of this article is an example of this.
3. Lottery scams: I have won a lottery, and they just need to send me the money (it was hard to turn that down, even though I never entered any lottery). My guess is this: You've won millions of dollars. Then they find out that you never entered. Shame on you for leading them on like that. They are tempted to blow the whistle on you for trying to defraud them like that, you crook. But they will keep their mouths shut, and give you the millions of dollars besides, if you will slip them a little bribe, maybe a few thousand (or maybe a few hundred, as they will be willing to negotiate with you) dollars. You may suggest to them that they send the millions first, then you can afford to pay the bribe. But they now know that they cannot trust you, you crook, so it is money up front please. And, will they ever send you the millions of dollars?
Here is one of the lottery ones (can you win a lottery that you never entered?):
E.A.A.S Lottery Headquarters:
Customer Service
580 N. Tenth Street
Sacramento, CA 85914
Euro - Afro American Sweepstake Lottery
an Affiliate of Foundmoney International
Arena Complex Km 18 Route de Rufisque
I.P.P Award Dept.
Dakar, Senegal.
Ref: EAASL/941OYI/02
Batch: 12/25/DC34
Date: 02-11-18WINNING NOTIFICATION:
We happily announce to you the draw of the Euro - Afro American Sweepstake Lottery International programs held on the 15th of November 2002 in Dakar Senegal. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: B9564 75604545 188 with! Serial number 97560 drew the winning: 49/54/26/17/35, which subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category.
You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of US$500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) in cash credited to file KPC/9080118308/02.This is from a total cash prize of US $ 25 Million dollars, shared amongst the first Fifty (50) lucky winners in this category.
Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European booklet representative office in Europe as indicated in your play coupon.
In view of this, your US$500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) would be released to you by our bank.
Our European agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your funds as soon as you contact him. All participants were selected randomly from World Wide Web site through computer draw system and extracted from over 100,000 companies. This promotion takes place annually.
For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claims is processed and your money remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize. This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous elements. Please be warned.
To file for your claim, please contact our fiduciary agent:
Dr. George Golesis King
Foundmoney Int.
[deleted]
Please be informed that all winning must be claimed on or before 19th December 2002, as unclaimed funds would be transferred to 2003 sweepstake.
To avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please quote your reference/batch numbers in any correspondences with us or our designated agent.
Congratulations once more from all members and staffs of this program. Thank you for being part of our promotional lottery program.
Sincerely, Ms. Peggy Williams
Dakar, Senegal Zonal Coordinator.
See Lottery Scams for more examples.
4. Please pose as this man's next of kin: This rich American petroleum worker died in an automobile accident, and there is no next of kin. He may share your last name, but maybe not. Here is an example:
ATTN: PRESIDENT/CEO,
It is my humble pleasure to write this letter irrespective of the fact that we've not met.
First, let me start by introducing myself properly to you. I am Mr. Lawrence Ubah, Manager, Bill and Exchange of the Foreign Remittance Department, Eko International Bank Plc. I am writing you this letter to ask for your support and co-operation to carry out a transaction. We discovered an abandoned Sum of US$14Million ( Fourteen Million U.S Dollars ) in an account that belonged to one of our foreign customer who died in November 1997 in a plane crash in Lagos, Nigeria. Since this development, we have made fervent effort advertising for his next of kin or any close relation to come forward to claim this money, but nobody came to apply for the money. The management under the influence of our chairman and board of directors, are making arrangement for the fund to be declared "UNCLAIMABLE " and then be subsequently transferred to the Federal Government Reserves.
In order to avert this development. Myself and some of my Trusted colleagues in the Bank, now seek for your permission to have you stand as the next of kin so that the fund (USD$14M), would be subsequently transferred and paid into your bank account as the beneficiary next of kin. All documents and proves to enable you get this fund will be carefully worked out from my table and I will perfect every documents to be in accordance to the banking laws and guidelines hence you have nothing to worry about for we are assuring you a 100% risk free involvement.
All we required from you is to open a local bank account in your name here in Lagos where the money is to be deposited, before onward transfer to your designated account in your country. We have agreed that 30% of the money will be for you, 10% for expenses incurred while 60% will be for me and my colleagues. If you are going to help me, indicate by replying this letter, putting in your contact address, your direct telephone and fax numbers.
I await your immediate reply to enable us start this transaction in earnest. You can reply through this my private e-mail address [deleted]. Once I receive your reply, I will send you the text of application for immediate application of claim. If this proposal is fine by you, then kindly get to me immediately via this confidential email address only [deleted] furnishing me with your most confidential telephone, fax and email, so I can forward to you the relevant details of this transaction and keep the confidentiality needed in this business.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation.
Best Regards,
Mr. Lawrence Ubah.
5. We would like to invest in your business: This is a variation of some of the above scenarios. The source of the money may have been a scam (over-invoicing), or inheritance, or whatever. Instead of asking you to hold the money for them, they prefer to invest it. You don't even need a business for them to invest in; just pretend.that you own a business.
National variations:
Nigeria: Most of these involve over-invoicing by employees of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Others may ask you to pose as someone's next of kin. Others may claim to be from the Abacha family, asking you to deposit their money.
Zimbabwe: Rich farmers (many described as "the most popular black farmer") have been murdered, and their families want you to deposit their money. A few other people also want you to deposit their money.
Zaire (Democratic Republic of Congo): Members of the Sese-Seko family (including several wives of late president Mobutu Sese-Seko) want you to deposit some of their money. A few other people also want you to deposit their money.
South Africa: Government officials have huge amounts of money (through one scam or another) that they want you to deposit.
Sierra Leone: Various rich people (or their heirs) fled during the violent overthrow of the government, and they want you to deposit their money.
Ivory Coast: Members of the Guei family (most claiming to be General Robert Guei's only surviving son) want you to deposit their money. Others want you to deposit their money.
Angola: Various rich people (or their heirs) fled the civil war in Angola, and they want you to deposit their money (usually from diamond sales).
Iraq: Various rich people (including looters) have fled the war in Iraq, and they want you to deposit their money.
Other countries: Some email claims to be from other countries. Each such email has its own peculiarities.
My collection: Now here are a great many samples that I have received. This scam can be roughly classified in the following ways:
I also received this email from someone who received a Nigerian email. It seems that the scam was adjusted to conform to his last name:
I received an E-Mail from one "Barirster Phillip Okon" who claims to be the personal attorney of a deceased family bearing my last name and who claims there is 9mill about to be declared "unserviceable" by the Nigereian Finance House(?) because he is unable to ascertain any family members entitled to take his clients' estate assets. He is offering me 40% to pose as "Next of Kin." I don't think I have any relatives that were working for Chevron in Nigeria on 4/21/99 ( the cover story date of the accident when my Nigerian relatives met their maker) so it doesn't smell right. What say you?
I told him it certainly sounded familiar.
I thought that this scam was becoming so widespread that soon almost everyone will know about it, and that these people would have to come up with something very different, but the scam and spam goes on. I wish there was a way to burn these people (and other senders of Spam), by costing them money or putting them in jail. If I were a hacker, I might send them thousands of anonymous emails, but that might swamp their Internet providers' (who are innocent bystanders) computers, and that is illegal.