CYBERBULLYING AND WHAT IT IS

CYBERBULLYING AND WHAT IT IS:


Gone are the days when a child’s home was a refuge from playground or neighborhood 

bullies. The Internet is the new playground, and there are no off-hours. Tech-savvy 

students are turning to cyberspace to harass their peers using a new method of bullying

—cyberbullying, which is willful and repeated harm (i.e. harassing, humiliating, or 

threatening text or images) inflicted through the Internet, interactive technologies 

or mobile phones. There is no escape from those who are being cyberbullied— kids can 

be bullied anytime, anywhere. 

Get the Discussion Started: 
Information you can glean from your child’s online use will help to ensure a safer 

online environment for your child. 

Ask your child: 

• Are your profiles set to private?
• Would it be easy for someone to track you down?
• How many online “friends” do you have?
• What kind of information do you consider safe? Unsafe?
• Have you posted anything that you wouldn’t want your school assembly to see?
• What messages do your pictures and postings portray?
• Have you been contacted by a stranger?
• Have your friends ever put themselves at risk? If so, what did you do about it?
• Have you ever said/posted anything online you wish you could take back?
• Has anyone ever hurt your feelings by anything they posted about you online?

Forty three percent of teens aged 13 to 17 report that they have experienced some sort 

of cyberbullying in the past year! 


Cyberbullying Tactics Gossip:

Posting or sending cruel gossip to damage a person’s reputation and relationships with 

friends, family and acquaintances Exclusion: Deliberately excluding someone from an 

online group;

Impersonation: Breaking into someone’s email or other online account and sending 

messages that will cause embarrassment or damage to the person’s reputation and affect 

his/her relationship with others;
 
Harassment: Repeatedly posting or sending offensive, rude, and insulting messages;

 
Cyber-stalking: Posting or sending unwanted or intimidating messages, which may 

include threats;
 
Flaming: Online fights where scornful and offensive messages are posted on 

websites, forums, or blogs;
 
Outing and Trickery: Tricking someone into revealing secrets or embarrassing 

information, which is then shared online;

Cyber-threats: Remarks on the Internet threatening or implying violent behavior, 

displaying suicidal tendencies. 



What can parents do?

Do not erase or delete messages from cyberbullies. Your children do not have to read the

messages they receive from bullies, but they (or you) do need to keep messages as

evidence. To report cyberbullying, it is important to save as much info as you can. 

The more you save, the easier it will be to track down the people that are bothering 

your child. (Save the email, email address, date and time received, copies of all 

relevant emails, screenshots, etc.). And parents should use software to block bullies 

if they encounter them through chat or IM and use privacy settings on social networking

pages. Tell your children they do not have to accept any Cyberbullying victims experience

online activity that is meant to intimidate, threaten, tease or harm them or anyone else.

Giving bullies the same negative effects as attention is exactly what they want, so 

ignore them as those bullied “offline.” 

Encourage your children to talk to you if anybody says or does something online that 

makes them feel some cases, school violence or uncomfortable or threatened.

Stay calm and keep open lines of communication with your children. Make sure you or 

your children tell their school if the bullying is school related or involves another 

student. If you or made public online for an your children are threatened with harm, 

contact your unlimited audience to view. 

Watch out for warnings signs, such as reluctance to use the computer, a change in 

your child's behavior and mood, or reluctance to go to school. 

Tell your children to guard their contact information. Children should assume that 

people will use the information on their profile to cause them harm. Tell your 

children that they should not put anything online that they wouldn't want their 

worst enemy to find out about. Remind your children that the people they befriend 

online have open access to all of their posted content and information and they can 

forward or use any of that information against them. 

Remind your children that those who bully want to make their victims feel as if there 

is something wrong with them, but victims should know that there is nothing wrong with 

them; it is the bullies who have the real problem. 

-Birdy

Home Invasion Robbery

It's Time To Protect Your Family with a Security Plan

 

The Home Invasion

One of the more frightening and potentially dangerous crimes that can occur to a family is a home invasion robbery. A home invasion is when robbers force their way into an occupied home, apartment or hotel room to commit a robbery or other crimes.  It is particularly frightening because it violates our private space and the one place that we think of as our sanctuary.

Home invasion is like the residential form of an automobile carjacking and it's on the rise. Like the crime of carjacking, most police agencies don’t track home invasions as a separate crime. Most police agencies and the FBI will statistically record the crime as a residential burglary or a robbery. Without the ability to track the specific crime of home invasion, little can be done to alert the public as to the frequency of occurrence in their community or devise a law enforcement plan of action to control it.

The Criminal Profile

Residential burglars work mostly during the day and when a residence is more likely to be unoccupied. Most burglars work alone and tend to probe a neighborhood looking for the right residence and the right opportunity. Alarm signs and decals, bars on windows, strong locks and doors, big dogs, and alert neighbors can sometimes deter burglars. Also, burglars will avoid a confrontation and will usually flee when approached. Most burglaries do not result in violence unless the criminal is cornered and uses force to escape.

Home invasion robbers, in contrast, work more often at night and on weekends when homes are more likely to be occupied. The home invader will sometimes target the resident as well as the dwelling. The selection process may include a woman living alone, a wealthy senior citizen or a known drug dealer, for example. It is not unheard of for a robber to follow you home based on the value of the car you are driving or the jewelry you are wearing. Some home invaders might have been in your home before as a delivery person, installer or repair vendor.  Home robbers rarely work alone and rely on an overwhelming physical confrontation to gain initial control and instill fear in you. The greatest violence usually occurs during the initial sixty seconds of the confrontation and home invaders often come prepared with handcuffs, rope, duct tape, and firearms. Some in-home robbers appear to enjoy the intimidation, domination, and violence and some even claim it’s a "rush."

Dangerous Trends

The act of committing a home invasion is escalating much like carjacking. The reason for the increase seems to follow a similar pattern. Much like automobiles, the traditional commercial targets for robbers like convenience stores and fast-food restaurants have hardened themselves against criminal attack and have reduced available cash. Technology has allowed commercial establishments to install affordable video surveillance systems, silent alarms, and other anti-crime deterrent devices.  A residence, by comparison, is now a more attractive choice.

Home invaders know that they won't have to overcome alarm systems when the home is occupied or be worried about video cameras and silent alarms. Unlike robbing a retail store, home invaders expect privacy once inside your home and won’t have to deal with the police suddenly driving up or customers walking in. Once the offenders take control of a residence they can force the occupants to open safes, locate hidden valuables, supply keys to the family car, and PIN numbers to their ATM cards. Home invaders will try to increase their escape time by disabling the phones and sometimes will leave their victims bound or incapacitated. It is not unheard of for robbers to load up the victim’s car with valuables and drive away without anyone in the neighborhood taking notice.

The Method of Operation

The most common point of attack is through the front door or garage. Sometimes the home invader will simply kick open the door and confront everyone inside. More common is when the home invaders knock on the door first or ring the bell. The home invader hopes that the occupant will simply open the door, without question, in response to their knock. Unfortunately, many people do just that.

Home invaders will sometimes use a ruse or impersonation to get you to open the door. They have been known to pretend to be delivering a package, flowers or lie about an accident like hitting your parked car. Once the door is opened for them, the home invaders will use an explosive amount of force and threats to gain control of the home and produce fear in the victims. Once the occupants are under control the robbers will begin to collect your valuables.

Some home robbers have been known to spend hours ransacking a residence while the homeowners are bound nearby watching in terror. Some robbers have been known to eat meals, watch TV, or even take a nap. A major fear is that the robbers might commit more violence like sexual assault or even murder. Some robbers have kidnapped and forced a victim to withdraw cash from their ATM machine or take them to their small business to rob it as well.

Some Prevention Steps

The same tactics used to prevent daytime burglaries will go a long way to preventing forced entry home robberies. If you can delay a home invader at the point of entry then you have a chance of deterring them or have time to call the police. A solid core door, strong locks with reinforced strike plates, and reinforced window devices will stop most forced entries. Some homeowners build safe rooms inside their home to allow them to retreat or escape the violence while giving them valuable time to call the police.

The weakest home security link is the home occupant who fails to lock doors or windows or who will open the door without question at the sound of a knock. The best defense against home invasion is education and planning. Parents should hold a family meeting to discuss how to answer the door when someone knocks. Another important topic is how to act should your home or family be invaded. Once you know how home robbers work, you can effectively prevent most occurrences.

Remember these important security steps:

• Install solid core doors, heavy duty locks, and window security devices 
  
  
• Lock all doors, windows, and garages at all times 
  
  
• Use four three-inch screws to secure heavy duty lock strike plates in the door frame 
  
  
• Use the door peephole BEFORE opening the door 
  
  
• Use your porch light to help you to see clearly outside 
  
  
• Never rely on a chain-latch as a barrier to partially open the door 
  
  
• Never open the door to strangers or solicitors 
  
  
• Call the police if the stranger acts suspicious 
  
  
• Alert your neighbors to suspicious solicitors 
  
  
• Hold a family meeting to discuss home security plans 
  
  
• Set the home perimeter alarm at night, if you have one
  

-Birdy

HOME INVASION AND FAMILY SURVIVAL TIPS DURING THE INCIDENT

Imagine this scenario: After a long week at work, you are finally able to relax at home with your spouse and two teen-age daughters. You’re in your living room watching TV with your spouse. Your daughters are in their own rooms doing…whatever. Because both of you have worked hard for many years, you are now able to live more comfortably in what you thought to be a safe community.
At 9:00 PM you hear a knock on the door and your spouse gets up to answer the door. After the door is unlocked you hear a sudden outburst as two strange young men burst through the door and into your living room. As the door crashes open, you see your spouse is being punched and beaten to the floor. Before you have time react you are overcome by physical force and threats of harm to you and your family. The two men are brandishing guns and are shouting obscene threats and commands simultaneously as they push you onto the couch. One of the men quickly searches the house for other occupants while the other stands guard over you.
Your mind is racing. Will we be killed? Will these attackers beat us or molest our daughters? The level of terror and anxiety is enormous and will cause victims to sometimes act irrationally. Some will freeze and become incapacitated from fright. Others will instinctively resist and try to fight back. Others will run away if possible. Psychologists have labeled this phenomenon as the “fight or flight syndrome.” The first thirty seconds are the most critical to your family’s survival.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Most people have never pondered this question for themselves or with their family. How will I react under similar circumstances? How will my family react independent of me? How will we react together? How you naturally react depends on many factors: your sex, age, physical condition, culture, personality, how you process information, how you react under extreme pressure, special training, skills, and past experience in responding to aggression. Most people don’t know for sure how they will respond to a personal crisis until it occurs. Many are surprised afterwards by their behavior as having been heroic, calm, cowardly, or stupid.
Would you try to overpower the invaders? Would you go for your gun? Would you try to activate an alarm? Would you try to escape and call for help? Would you comply with their demands and hope they don’t hurt you? Would you allow them to tie you up? Would you allow them to take a family member away from the home? Would you risk death to save your family from harm?
The response possibilities are endless, but most fall into three general response possibilities. You can resist the assault; comply with all commands; or you can try to stay calm, wait, and resist, comply, or flee as the scenario evolves. One thing is clear, there is no one single correct response to a life-threatening home invasion scenario. The choice is personal, based on your own assessment of your physical and mental capabilities and your belief as to the level of eminent danger.
Sometimes fighting and screaming works, especially if there are neighbors who will intervene or call the police. It makes no sense to risk fighting if you are physically incapable of doing so effectively. Total compliance sometimes works. The invaders might leave you unharmed and just leave. However, compliance may increase the duration of the invasion and therefore increase the potential for molestation. You need to thoughtfully consider how you or your family members might act under the circumstances and plan accordingly.

WHAT WORKS

Having a family and neighborhood plan is essential. If you develop a home security plan and talk about it with your family and neighbors, the chances of acting appropriately and getting help are greatly improved.
Prevention works best. Harden your home or apartment with strong doors and locks and three-inch screws in the lock strike plate and door hinges. See my web page on home security tips for more details. Use a wide-angle peephole and instruct everyone in your family not to open the door to strangers. Chain latches are ineffective as a barrier, so use your peephole to look outside before opening the door. Be suspicious of someone claiming to be making a delivery that you did not order or use other tricks to get you to open the door. Fortification of rear doors, sliding glass doors, and garage doors are also important. This gives you the necessary time to phone 911, sound audible alarms, or arm yourself.

LOCAL ALARMS

Audible alarm sirens can prevent home invasion...if they are set. Alarm systems can be designed so that perimeter door and window sensors are activated while the home is occupied. The alarm can be set to instantly go off upon unauthorized entry. Be prepared to give a prearranged duress password to the alarm company if they call. Most alarm panels have an emergency panic button that will function much like a 911 call and will instruct your alarm monitoring company to call the police. Alarm company lawn and window signs help advertise that your house is wired and capable of getting a response from the police. These alarm signs and decals offer good deterrence value and may cause the robber to select another victim.

AUTOMATIC PHONE DIALERS

Automatic dial telephones, that can call 911 in speakerphone mode, can be effective in getting police assistance. If a home invader breaks in you may have just a split second to push the 911 direct-dial button on your telephone. If you dial in speakerphone mode the police dispatcher can listen in on what is going on in the room. Every telephone in your home should be programmed with this feature and all family members should be instructed how to make this emergency call. Your home address will automatically pop up on the police dispatcher screen and an officer should be dispatched even if the phone wire is cut. All 911 hang-up calls are supposed to be investigated by the police because of this type of scenario.

HAVE AN ESCAPE PLAN

If someone in the household can escape and call for help, the home invaders will have lost their advantage of having privacy and time. To some, running away from your family in crisis is distasteful, especially to men or women with children. However, the alternative might mean being handcuffed or tied-up or otherwise incapacitated and left to watch in horror as your family is molested. If you have a plan for escaping, make sure you include were to run and what to say. Sometimes a radical escape measure pays off, in life and death circumstances, like diving through a plate glass window, jumping from a balcony or climbing onto the roof. Although you might sustain minor injuries you must weigh them against your chance of survival with the assailants.
Home invaders will sometimes threaten harm to children to get adults to comply with their demands. But at the same time, children are often overlooked as potential rescuers and sometimes are not as well guarded. If the opportunity presents itself, a trained child can dial 911, activate an alarm panic button, or escape to the neighbor’s house to summon the police. If they are capable, they should do it.

NEVR STOP TALKING

Keeping a cool head is important, even in dire circumstances. If you can keep your wits about you one can increase their options by waiting for the right moment to act. Always be thinking and re-evaluating the situation as it evolves. At first there may be no chance for escape, but after a while you may see an opening. Fighting may not be wise, however the attackers may let their guard down once you appear to comply. If you decide to strike a blow, do it fast, suddenly, and forceful to the nose, eyes, or throat without concern for the damage you might inflict. While the assailant is momentarily stunned, make your escape. Don’t stand there waiting to throw more punches or gather family members. You might ask, won't that cause them to harm me for sure? Maybe, if they catch you. This is an option that must be considered. Sometimes hours into the siege, an opportunity arises where you can hit the automatic dial on the telephone or alarm panic button without being seen. Always be looking for that chance.

WHAT DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK

Screaming and shouting is the easiest and most natural thing that almost everyone can do. Screaming can alert savvy neighbors to call the police or the noise alone may scare off the home invaders. However, home invaders know this and will be prepared to make you stop screaming, by force, if necessary. One of the first threats you will hear is, “if you scream I’ll kill you.” If you can’t escape, but are out in public, scream your head off. Scream things like, “call 911.” Visit with your neighbors so they know that you have a family plan and teach them how to react when you need help.
Handguns and pepper spray can provide a means of self-defense in a life-threatening situation. Homeowners have successfully defended their families in the past from home invaders using such weapons. However, sometimes homeowners have lost their weapons to home invaders because they couldn't get to them in time to use them. Most chemical sprays are tucked away somewhere and many handguns are kept unloaded or locked up to prevent children from getting their hands on them. During a home invasion, you cannot always count on your ability to get to these weapons before being injured yourself. Ordinary household products can work in self defense. Chemical fire extinguishers work great to disorient the robber.
Fighting with the intruders sometimes works, especially if you have some training and are physically fit. But for most, fighting doesn't work because the victim was pre-selected for their lack of fight capability. In a life-threatening situation there are no rules for fighting in self defense. The idea is not to stand toe-to-toe and duke it out. All you need is one incapacitating blow to the nose, eyes, or throat to allow time to get out of there and call for help. Take a self-defense class together with your family so all can learn the proper techniques and can practice the procedures. A practiced technique has a better chance of being used effectively in a crisis.
Faking illness doesn’t always work especially in the home. Most home invaders don’t care about your welfare anyway. Faking illness might work in public or while being transported or while fighting off molesters, but don’t count on it as you only choice. You must decide in advance which technique to use depending on your acting skills.

WHAT YOU SHOULD NOT DO

Don’t ever try to pull a weapon on an armed perpetrator who has you covered with a handgun unless you feel it’s your last chance. Don’t ever agree to be transported somewhere else like to an ATM machine or other location unless you feel it's a life or death decision. The second crime scene is almost always more violent than in your home. If you have a choice, never agree to be tied-up, handcuffed or be placed in the trunk of a car because it takes away most of your self defense options. Don’t ever follow an intruder once they leave your home. Leave that for the police. Don’t fight over property loss, it can be replaced…your life cannot.

-Remember Safety First! Your personal property can be replaced, you life cannot, if you are given a choice between losing your property or losing your life, I'd suggest that you let them have your property first.

-Birdy.

Carjacking is Robbery: Part 2
By: Birdymckee

Carjacking is the violent form of motor vehicle theft. It is a serious threat to our personal safety because the thief uses force and fear to rob our car from us. Sometimes the car owner or other occupants are kidnapped during a carjacking, and if lucky will be dropped off nearby unharmed. The worst case scenario occurs when you are transported to a secondary crime scene, which is usually more dangerous than the original confrontation. Those not so lucky victims have suffered other crimes like rape, aggravated assault, and even homicide.

Since the mid-1980s, carjacking has captured the attention of the media with reports of these sudden and violent attacks. Carjackers have unknowingly driven off with infants still in the backseat of the car, leaving behind a screaming and emotionally distressed parent. Other drivers have been violently pulled out of their seats and left lying on the road, terrified by what just occurred. The crime of carjacking can be traumatic to our everyday lives because it creates fear in the common act of driving a car. Victims of carjacking have reported being unable to drive a car again while others required months of therapy. Others have become so hypersensitive, that embarrassing and dangerous situations have arisen in response to their fear when someone unwittingly approached their car on foot.

HOW CARJACKING GOT STARTED:
Carjacking has always been around, especially in large metropolitan cities, we just rarely read about it. The crime of carjacking "took off" in the 1980s after the media published stories of bizarre situations and the violence associated with the crime. The media coined the phrase "carjacking" and the crime of auto theft took on a new identity. After a rush of publicity, other criminals "copied" the crime of carjacking. These copycat criminals must have said, "Hey, I can steal any vehicle I want without damaging it, I get the car keys, and I can rob the owner too. What a concept!"

Another reason carjacking got started is because of the sophistication and prevalence of new anti-theft devices and alarm systems. New car alarms and steering wheel locking systems made it tougher on the auto thief.

Chip-integrated ignition switches, engine cutoff devices, and stolen vehicle locators are now more common in cars. Unfortunately for us, poorly motivated and unskilled car thieves have adapted by becoming more violent to get the cars they need and don't think twice about using force against us.


Sometimes criminals will carjack a vehicle for use in another crime like armed robbery or for a drive-by shooting. These carjackers prefer to have a set of car keys and not have a visibly smashed window or damaged ignition switch that can be easily spotted by the police. This class of car thief is the most dangerous because they are usually heavily armed and are not concerned with your welfare.

HOW OFTEN DOES A CARJACKING OCCUR:
National carjacking statistics are not available. However, the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) made a telephone assessment of 221,000 households from 1996-2006 to gain an understanding of the extent of the carjacking problem. The biggest problem of tracking carjacking incidents is current police agency reporting practices. Most criminal codes have not adopted this new crime type nor do they track it statistically. Most police jurisdictions charge the crime of carjacking as a robbery since force or fear was used to steal the vehicle directly for the owner. Many police agencies record multiple charges like aggravated robbery, auto theft, assault, battery to one event but usually only the first charge (robbery) gets indexed and statistically tracked. Some jurisdictions charge the crime of carjacking as only an auto theft since a vehicle was stolen.

Since the crime of carjacking is not indexed in the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports, it is unlikely that we will soon see a national statistic on frequency that is generated from police reports. What we have to work with is the NCVS telephone survey as the source of our data.

From the study of 1996-2006, the NCVS learned that each year 49,000 carjackings and attempts occur in the United States. About half of the reported carjackings were failed attempts. Of the completed carjackings, 92% had weapons where only 75% were armed during the failed attempts. Unfortunately, this statistic tells us that carjackers must be armed to be taken seriously by victims. A handgun was the weapon of choice followed by a knife. Males were responsible for 97% of the carjackings and attempts and were usually carried out by either one or two perpetrators.

WHERE DOES CARJACKINGS HAPPEN:
Carjacking can occur anywhere, but is largely a big city problem like traditional auto theft. Carjacking occurs most often in a busy commercial area where cars are parked and when the owner is entering or exiting the parked vehicle. Most carjackings or attempts (65%) occur within five miles of the victim's home. The carjacker wants the keys readily available and the car door unlocked for a quick getaway.

Carjackers tend to rob lone victims more often (92%), for obvious reasons. According to the NCVS, men were victimized more often than women, blacks more than whites; Hispanics, more than non-Hispanics; and divorced, separated, or never married more than married or widowed. This trend is not surprising given the fact that younger single males tend to take more chances and go to higher risk locations than do married persons. It is unclear whether household income or the value of the vehicle is a criterion in carjacking as the statistics are spread throughout the income levels. However the $35,000 to $50,000 income range had a slightly higher carjack victim frequency

Surprisingly, the NCVS study indicates that 64% of the daytime carjackings were actually completed, while less than half of those at night were completed. This may be reflective of who is being victimized and who is out at night. About 62% of all carjacking victims took some form of action to defend themselves or their property. Victims were injured about 20% of the time in completed carjackings and about 16% during attempts. Although the statistics aren't clear, each year about 27 homicides are reported related to auto theft. Also interesting is that 100% of the completed carjack victims called the police, whereas only 57% called to report an attempt carjacking. This variable in reporting is probably related to the desire to get their property back and for insurance purposes.

Popular carjacking locations are parking lots, shopping centers, gas stations, car washes, convenience stores, ATMs, hotels, valet parking, fast-food drive-thru, and outside of retail stores. Close proximity to a freeway onramp is a desirable escape factor from the carjackers prospective. A risky, but popular location for the carjacker is a roadway intersection with a stoplight. A carjacker will jump out of another vehicle, pull open your unlocked drivers’ door, and force you to get out. The type of carjacking allows for a quick escape but increases their risk of being followed by other drivers armed with cell phones. There have been incidents where well-meaning citizens got into a high-speed chase following carjackers and ended up being victims themselves.

The "Bump" and The “Carjack”
Another copycat scheme used by carjackers is to bump your car from behind to get you to pull over and stop. We have all been trained to always stop following an auto accident to exchange license and insurance information. What a perfect scenario for a carjacker!

The carjacker, and his accomplice, will follow the intended victim to a suitable location with good escape routes and few witnesses. The carjacker will crash into the back of your vehicle at low speed and "bump" you with enough force to make you believe a traffic accident had just occurred. Beware of the Good Samaritan. Typically, the drivers of both vehicles pull over, stop, and get out discussing the damage. At this point the carjacker robs you of your vehicle, its’ contents, and drives away. The carjacker's car gets driven away by the accomplice. Hopefully you won't be injured during the exchange.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
Carjacking of parked vehicles depends on the car owner being inattentive to their surroundings. Carjackers, like street robbers, prefer the element of surprise. Most victims say they never saw the carjacker until they appeared at their car door. To reduce your risk of being carjacked, I have listed some common sense steps below:

*Always park in well-lighted areas, if you plan to arrive/leave after dark;

*Don't park in isolated or visually obstructed areas near walls or heavy foliage;

*Use valet parking or an attended garage, if you're a woman driving alone;

*As you walk to your car be alert to suspicious persons sitting in cars;

*Ask for a security escort if you are alone at a shopping center;

*Watch out for young males loitering in the area (handing out flyers, etc);

*If someone tries to approach, change direction or run to a busy store;

*Follow your instincts if they tell you to walk/run away to a busy place;

*As you approach your vehicle, look under, around, and inside your car;

*If safe, open the door, enter quickly, and lock the doors;

*Don't be a target by turning your back while loading packages into the car;

*Make it your habit to always start your car and drive away immediately;

*Teach and practice with your children to enter and exit the car quickly;

*In the city, always drive with your car doors locked and windows rolled up;

*When stopped in traffic, leave room ahead to maneuver and escape, if necessary;

*If you are bumped in traffic, by young males, be suspicious of the accident;

*Beware of the Good Samaritan who offers to repair your car or a flat tire. It's okay to get help, just be alert;

*Wave to follow, and drive to a gas station or busy place before getting out;

*If you are ever confronted by an armed carjacker don’t resist;

*Give up your keys or money if demanded without resistance;

*Don’t argue, fight or chase the robber. You can be seriously injured;

*Never agree to be kidnapped. Drop the cars keys and run and scream for help;

*If you are forced to drive, consider crashing your car near a busy intersection to attract attention so bystanders can come to your aid and call the police;

*AND, Call the police immediately to report the crime and provide detailed information.

-Birdy

HOME SECURITY FOR THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS

Home Security For the Christmas Holidays:
-Birdy

Christmas holidays are a special time when families and friends come together to celebrate the season. It is also the time of year where families and friends are most generous and practice the tradition of gift giving. It should be a joyous and happy time for all of us.
Unfortunately for us, home burglars view the holiday season a little differently. For them, it is a time of opportunity to burglarize your home for cash, credit cards, and all the new gifts of small electronics, computers, jewelry, and easily sold valuables.

Here are a few tips of what they look for when shopping for a house to burglarize. These tips will help you enjoy the holidays without incident:

Burglars look for an easy entry with good escape routes. Don’t openly display your Christmas tree and gifts in the front window so it’s easily visible from the street. It’s too tempting for them to smash the window and grab the wrapped packages.

Burglars look for occupancy cues like outdoor lights burning 24 hours a day, piled up newspapers, or advertising flyers hanging on the door knob. Use an inexpensive light timer when you are away and ask a neighbor to keep the front of your home clean of papers and debris.

Burglars know to look for the hidden door key near the front entrance. Don’t hide spare keys under rocks, in flowerpots, or above door ledges. Instead give the spare key to a trusted neighbor.

Burglars prefer to enter through unlocked doors or windows. Sliding windows that are not secure can be seen from distance. One holiday problem can occur when exterior Christmas light extension cords are run inside through a window and prevent it from being secured. Hire an electrician or handyman to install an inexpensive exterior outlet for your holiday lights.

Don’t post your family name on your mailbox or on you house. A burglar can call directory assistance to get your telephone number and call your home while in front of your house to confirm that you are away.

Don’t leave descriptive telephone answering machine messages like, “You’ve reached the Wilson’s… We’re away skiing for the Christmas holidays… Please leave a message.” Burglars love to hear that they have plenty of time to break in and completely ransack your home, don't be shocked by this thought process; a Burglar wants and needs only time to investigate all your nook and crannies to discover what will be taken and what will be left. If you are away from your home for "Christmas," it is, I'm afraid, an open invitation for all the thieves to enter your residence and take whatever they want.

After Christmas day, don’t pile up empty gift boxes from your new computer, DVD player, or stereo receiver on the street for the garbage man. Burglars appreciate knowing that you have expensive gifts inside for them to steal. Break them down or cut them up to conceal the items better. After a lucrative burglary, the chances of being burglarized again are increased so that they can steal the new replacement products.

Last, but not least, fortify your home by installing solid core doors, heavy duty locks, longer screws in the lock strike plates and door hinges, and install secondary security devices on all accessible sliding windows.

Remember the safer you are, the safer your family is. Think it out, if you were a burglar what would you be looking for or what would your be looking at, then make your corrections. If something just don't look right, it is better to correct it now, rather than wait for someone else to correct it for you.

-Birdy

Phishing Scams: Internet Identity Theft

Phishing Scams: Internet Identity Theft
-Birdy

IDENTITY THEFT:

PHISHING is a scam and a form of identify theft. It is used by a cyber-thief to steal your good name and credit rating. The term phishing is a clever variation on the word “fishing.” The idea of the scam is that bait is thrown out with the hopes that someone will be tempted into biting.

THE DEFINITION OF PHISHING:
Phishing (fish´ing) (n.) according to Webopedia: is the act of sending an e-mail to a user falsely claiming to be a legitimate enterprise in an attempt to scam the user into surrendering private information that will be used for identity theft. The e-mail directs the user to visit a Website where they are asked to update personal information, such as passwords, credit card, social security, and bank account numbers, that the legitimate organization already has. The Website, however, is bogus and set up only to steal the user’s information.

ID THEFT IS A GROWTH INDUSTRY
Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the world. According to the National Cyber Security Alliance, one in four Internet users have received phishing scams and 70% were fooled by them. In 2003 we saw a proliferation of the phishing scams where users received e-mails supposedly from eBay or another major company claiming that the user’s account was about to be suspended unless they clicked on the provided link and updated their financial information. It is relatively simple to make a bogus Website look like a legitimate company site by mimicking the HTML code. The phishing scam is counting on people being tricked into thinking they were actually being contacted by eBay and were subsequently going to eBay’s site to update their account information. By spamming large groups of people, the “phisher” counted on the e-mail being read by a percentage of people who actually had listed credit card numbers with eBay legitimately.
The number and sophistication of phishing scams sent out to consumers is continuing to increase dramatically. Direct economic losses in the United States alone totaled over $574 million in 2004, according to the Federal Trade Commission. If not curbed, these crimes have the potential to make the Internet so untrustworthy that electronic commerce might slow considerably. While online banking and e-commerce is very safe, as a general rule, you need be careful about giving out your personal financial information over the Internet. Be suspicious of any e-mail with urgent requests for personal financial information because it’s probably a scam..

HOW TO AVOID PHISHING SCAMS:
Phishers typically include upsetting or exciting (but false) statements in their e-mails to get people to respond immediately.

Phishers typically ask for personal information such as usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, social security numbers, etc.

Phisher emails are typically NOT personalized. Valid messages from your bank or e-commerce company generally have your correct name

Be wary of e-mail! Never click on any link to a bank, eBay, or other merchants. Instead, open a browser (not just a new window) and type in the URL yourself.
When in doubt, call the institution using the number listed in the phone book, not one provided in the e-mail or link
Avoid filling out forms in e-mail messages that ask for personal financial information

Practice good computer hygiene. Don't click on attachments. Run both anti-virus and anti-spy-ware applications. Firewall and privacy protection software are also a good idea. Update this software, as well as your operating system, on a regular basis.

Encrypt it or shred it. Use a cross-cut shredder (makes confetti, not long strips which are too easily reassembled) or burn documents containing personal information. Do not store PINs on your computer; lock them up or encrypt them.

Ensure that you're using a secure Website when submitting credit card or other sensitive information via your Web browser. Check the beginning of the Web address in your browsers address bar - it should be "https://" rather than just "http://"

Regularly check your bank, credit and debit card statements to ensure that all transactions are legitimate

Order credit reports on yourself yearly and review them carefully. (These are often available for free. Visit www.privacy.ca.gov for information.)

Report "phishing" or “spoofed” e-mails to the following groups:
Forward the phishing email to: reportphishing@antiphishing.com

Forward the phishing email to the Federal Trade Commission at spam@uce.gov

Notify the Internet Fraud Complaint Center of the FBI by filing a complaint on their website: www.ifccfbi.gov/

How to Identify and Avoid Scams
-Birdy

Scam and con artists are more prevalent than ever before because of the advent of the internet. It is far easier today to anonymously reach out and trick someone into relinquishing private information or access to bank accounts. Since our society has evolved into a credit-based culture, identity theft has taken on a whole new meaning. With just a few strokes on the computer keyboard, a person can unwittingly provide all the personal identifiers necessary for someone to steal their identity and good name. Other scams may temp you with offers of millions in unclaimed foreign funds or a rich inheritance that can be yours if you can be coached into paying a never-ending list of transaction fees first.
Outlined in the following articles below shows how to identify and avoid becoming a victim of these scams:

Internet & Telephone Solicitations

INTERNET & EMAIL SCAMS:
You receive an e-mail verifying that your credit card account has been charged $453.29 for online purchases at www sexymama.com. If you have questions you are instructed to call toll-free telephone number. Of course you never made such a purchase and cannot wait to call to complain about the charge. The only problem is that the number you are supposed to call is in the Caribbean or in the Middle East and is not toll-free. Sometimes you will get put on hold or have to listen to a long recorded message while the meter is running at an exorbitant international rate. One guy got charged $45 for a four minute phone call. Most credit card companies will not send you an e-mail message. Also, be leery of dialing area codes unfamiliar to you.

Sweepstakes
You've Just Won $25,000! Or you are told that you just won a boat, a car, or something else "valuable." So goes the pitch. But if you're asked to pay before you get your prize, it's a scam. Often these outfits claim the money is for shipping, taxes, or something like that. But legitimate companies rarely require any payment or purchase up front.

Travel Scams
Two Weeks in Hawaii for $350! Maybe it's a "certificate" for a bargain vacation. Claims of inexpensive travel are easy to believe, because real bargains are available if you shop carefully. Check out all travel offers with a reputable travel agency. If they want your money right away, before you can think the offer through, odds are it's a scam.

Gemstones
Invest in Gemstones with Low Risk and Great Return! Usually, you must rely on the seller and phony "grading certificates" or "appraisals" for information about what these investments are worth. Often, however, they're not worth the money you've paid and they have little resale value.

Recovery rooms
Been Ripped Off? We'll Get Your Money Back! These "recovery rooms" get the names of people who have been defrauded in other scams and then call, claiming to be federal attorneys or agents who can get your lost money back-for a fee. When the federal government sues scam artists, there is never a charge to consumers to return any money recovered.

Business Opportunities
Earn Big Money with Vending Machines! Or claims wealth by operating some other type of business that the promoter claims will produce big returns. These outfits promise all the support you need, and they may tell you to call others who have done well with their program. Too often the assistance is nonexistent and the references are "shills" who actually work for the company. Once consumers invest their money, they may learn that there is no market for the business. If the business is a franchise, special disclosure rules apply. These disclosures give some useful background on the company, including substantiation for any earnings claims the marketers make.

Telephone Solicitations
Do you often donate money or items to a good cause? You may think you are donating to a good cause, but often the telephone calls are from crooks. In many cases, these scam artists claim to be collecting on behalf of the police or the highway patrol officers. It's important to give money to charitable causes, but take all necessary steps to make sure the charity is legitimate. Get a phone number or better you look it up in the directory. Call the number at different hours to see who answers.

Advance Fee Loans
We Can Get You a Loan!... even if you have bad credit. These scams involve promises that, for an advance fee, you will get the loan you need. But then the paperwork stall begins and the loan never comes. Someone who knows nothing about you, but promises to get you a loan and demands money up front, is probably running a scam.

Toner Rooms
We're Your Office Supplies Company and We Have a Great Deal! Prices are going up soon, so place your order now. These scam artists ship low-quality goods at high prices and try to bully companies into paying for them. Typical come-ons involve sales of copier toner, copy paper, cleaning supplies, and light bulbs. If your company receives unordered goods, don't pay. But do complain.

Work at Home Plans
Earn Thousands of Dollars a Month Working at Home! Claims that you can earn a significant income working at home rarely can be supported. Very often, there is a "catch." Check these claims out carefully before sending any money. If it were possible to make the amounts claimed, the scammers would be doing the work themselves instead of engaging in fraud.

Credit repair
Remove Damaging Information from your Credit Report. These scam artists claim they can get truthful information removed from your credit report for a fee. Not true. Accurate information can be reported for five to 10 years. If your report has errors, you can get it corrected at no cost to you through the credit reporting agency. In addition, nonprofit organizations can help you rebuild your credit at no cost.

The FTC has published free consumer brochures on each of these scams. They describe in a little more detail how the scams work, and offer tips for recognizing and avoiding them. Copies of the brochures are available from the FTC's Public Reference Branch, Room 130, 6th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580; 202-326-2222; TTY for the hearing impaired 202-326-2502.

Nigerian Advanced Fee Scam
An unsolicited letter from Nigeria arrives purporting to be from a high government official or officer of the Nigerian National Oil Company asking if your company can help him (or them) move tens millions of dollars from a contract "overpayment" out of Nigeria. In return for the help, they offer to let you keep multi-millions of dollars. All you have to do is give them all your financial information and an "advance fee" to pay for transfer costs. You will never see your "advance fee" again if you fall for this one.

See also Nigerian Money Transfer Scam, version 1 and Nigerian Money Transfer Scam, Version 2

This scheme has been going on at least since the 1980s. Local authorities seem to be helpless to stop this fraud, as it is based in Nigeria or another West African country where the legal systems are either corrupt, inept or controlled by dictatorship. The only recourse you have is to press your national and local governments to withhold business and investment from the countries sheltering this fraudulent scheme.

The Bank Examiner Fraud
Someone posing as a bank official or government agent asks for your help (in person or via the telephone) to catch a dishonest teller passing counterfeit money. You are to withdraw cash from your account and turn it over to them so the serial numbers can be checked or the money marked. You had your money over to be examined and it is switched or you are told that it is evidence and you are given a receipt. You are promised a reimbursement check and thank you letter in the mail that never comes.

The Pigeon Drop
A couple of strangers will discover a wallet with a large sum of money or other valuables near you. They say they'll split their good fortune with you if everyone involved will put up some "good faith" money while the con man exchanges the goods for cash. You turn over your good-faith cash, and you never see your money or the strangers again.

The Pyramid Scheme
Someone offers you a chance to invest in a up-and-coming company with a guaranteed high return. The idea is that you invest and ask others to do the same. You get a percentage share from each investor you recruit. They are supposed to recruit others, and so on. When the pyramid collapses (either the pool of new investors dries up or the swindler is caught), everyone loses, except the person at the top.

Charity Scheme
Scam artist advertise fake charities using similar names to those of well know legitimate charities. Good examples are using the name of National Cancer Society to cause confusion with the legitimate American Cancer Society to obtain your donations or the National Heart Institute to cause confusion with the American Heart Institute. If you call telephone information for 800 numbers you can obtain the names and phone numbers dozens of fake charities who try to scam away your dollars.

Yellow Page Advertising Scheme
The solicitation from an alternative business directory may have the appearance of an invoice. It may bear the "walking fingers" logo and feature the name "Yellow Pages." It also may falsely suggest that the publisher is affiliated with your local telephone company or with another bona fide Yellow Pages publisher you recognize. Further, the solicitation may lead you to believe that your business already has been listed in the telephone directory and you are now being billed when, in fact, you are only being solicited for placing an ad.
Typical language used on the ad solicitations, such as "present listing information;" "prompt payment is necessary to guarantee ad placement in the directory;" "renewal payment stub;" and "directory listing renewal invoice" also may appear on Yellow Pages invoices. This adds to the confusion.

Examine the piece of mail you have received and determine whether it is a solicitation or an invoice. If it is a solicitation, you should see a disclaimer required by the U.S. Postal Service. It states, THIS IS NOT A BILL. THIS IS A SOLICITATION. YOU ARE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO PAY THE AMOUNT STATED ABOVE UNLESS YOU ACCEPT THIS OFFER. But whether you see this solicitation disclaimer or not, be wary.

Scams Nigerian: Advanced Fee 419 Internet Fraud:

What follows is the exact e-mail text of a variation of a Nigerian Advanced Fee Scheme designed to separate you from your money. Read it carefully to see exactly what is being offered and what is not. The con men will attempt to get some sucker to front many thousands of dollars to buy the special solution that will clean the defaced money. I have heard from a man from the mid-west who flew to Amsterdam and paid $50,000 in good faith to get access to the millions offered. He claims to have been shown many 100 dollar bills covered in grease that would come clean after soaking in a special solution. The con artists even allowed the victim to change a few bills in a bank to prove that they were real. After being convinced (scammed), the Nigerians wanted the victim to pay $20,000 more in additional fees to complete the transaction and before transferring the millions. This is one of those offers that sound too good to be true...because it's a scam. They rely on your greed or financial desperation to hook you and draw you in. Don't fall for it.

Secret Service
The Secret Service calls these scams the "419 Advanced Fee Schemes" after the Nigerian Penal code fraud section. If you have been victimized by one of these schemes, please forward appropriate written documentation to the United States Secret Service, Financial Crimes Division, 950 H Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20223, or telephone (202) 406-5850, or contact by e-mail. If you have received a letter, but have not lost any monies to this scheme, please fax a copy of that letter to (202) 406-5031.

E-Mail received: This is a scam...don't fall for it!
I am Mrs. Maryam Abacha, the widow of the late Gen. Sanni Abacha former Nigeria Military Head of State who died mysteriously as a result of Cardiac Arrest. Since after my husband's death my family is under restriction of movement and that not withstanding, we are being molested, policed and our Bank Accounts both here and abroad are being frozen by the Nigerian Civilian Government. Furthermore, my living eldest son is in detention by the Nigerian Government for more interrogation about my husband's assets and some vital documents following the resent discovery of my husband's Swiss Bank Account in which the huge sum of US$700 Million and DM450 Million was logged. I therefore, decided to contact you in confidence through my lawyer Barrister Sule Kamal, since I have been able to move out the sum of US$30 Million Dollars somewhere abroad.
All the money are secretly defaced and are sealed in two metal Boxes for security reasons. Due to my experience in the hands of people. I have decided to do this with a totally new but trustworthy person who can keep this matter confidential. This is very important to me. It is to my consent here that my lawyer and I decided to personally appeal to you seriously and religiously for your urgent assistance to move this money into your country where I believe it will be safe since I cannot leave the country due to the restriction of movement imposed on the members of my family by the Nigerian Government. You can contact me through my lawyer s email address above and I shall get all document relating to the consignment changed to your name before delivery. Barrister Sule Kamal will on receipt of your response arrange with you for a face-to-face meeting outside Nigeria in order to liaise with you towards effective completion of this transactions. However, arrangements have been put in place to move this money out of the country in a secret vault through a security company, and as soon as you indicate your interest, my lawyer shall send you the Air-Way Bill of the luggage and other related document so that you can help to claim the luggage. Conclusively, we have agreed to offer you 25% of the total sum while 75% is to be held on trust by you for us until we can decide on a suitable business investment in your country upon our freedom. Please reply urgently and treat with absolute confidentiality and sincerity.
BEST REGARDS,
ARIAM ABACHA

Scams: Nigerian Version 2

Nigerian Internet Scams
What follows is the exact e-mail text of another variation of a Nigerian Advanced Fee 419 Scheme designed to separate you from your money. Read it carefully so you can see how this multi-phase con will tempt some greedy people. The con men will attempt to get some sucker to front many thousands of dollars or provide a bank signature card to the con men so they can extract your money. After being convinced (scammed), the Nigerians will want the victim to deposit $25,000, for example, to open an account in Nigeria (to avoid suspicion of the bank) before transferring the alleged millions into it.
Other variations require the victim to pay a never ending list of advanced fees for money storage, transfer fees, or taxes before the funds can be transferred. This is one of these offers that sounds too good to be true...because it's a scam. They rely on your greed or financial desperation to hook you and draw you in. Don't fall for it. Unfortunately, this scam has worked many times and has been active for ten years. The Secret Service and Nigerian governments are well aware of these scams but to-date has not been able to do anything about it.
The Secret Service calls these scams the "419 Advanced Fee Schemes" after the Nigerian Penal code fraud section. If you have been victimized by one of these schemes, please forward appropriate written documentation to the United States Secret Service, Financial Crimes Division, 950 H Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20223, or telephone (202) 406-5850, or contact by e-mail. If you have received a letter, but have not lost any monies to this scheme, please fax a copy of that letter to (202) 406-5031.

E-Mail received
This is a scam...don't fall for it!
From the desk of: Mr Sani Mohammed
NATURALLY THIS LETTER WILL COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE SINCE WE HAVE NOT MET, EXCUSE ME FOR THE EMBARRASEMENT THIS LETTER MIGHT CAUSE YOU.PLEASE PERMIT ME HOWEVER TO INFORM YOU THAT I AM A MEMBERS OF THE CONTRACT AWARDING COMMITTEE (CAC) WITH THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION (NNPC). WE ARE MAKING THIS CONTACT WITH YOU BASED ON SATISFACTORY INFORMATION GATHERED FROM THE FOREIGN TRADE OFFICE OF THE NIGERIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. I HAVE NO REASON TO DOUBT YOUR HONESTY AND CREDIBILITY HENCE I MADE THIS PROPOSAL TO YOU.
AS A MEMBER OF THE CONTRACT AWARD COMMITTEE IN MY MINISTRY, NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND WITH MY POSITION, WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE AN OVER-INFLATED AMOUNT OF US$50,000,000.00 (FIFTY MILLION, UNITED DOLLARS ONLY), ON A CONTRACT THAT WAS AWARDED BY MY MINISTRY SOME TIME LAST YEAR.
HOWEVER, THE ORIGINAL CONTRACTOR HAS BEEN PAID THE SUM US$144,000,000.00 LEAVING THE OVER-INFLATED AMOUNT OF US$50,000,000.00 FOR ME AND MY COLLEAGUES AS AGREED, RECENTLY IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE DEATH OF OUR FORMER HEAD OF STATES, LATE GENERAL SANI ABACHA, THE NEW GOVERNMENT UNDER HER FOREIGN POLICY PROGRAMME INITIATED DEBT RECONCILIATION COMMITTEE WHICH HAS SCHEDULED THIS FUND FOR PAYMENT AT THIS QUARTER, HENCE WE NEEDED YOUR CO-OPERATION BY PROVIDING AN ACCOUNT AND COMPANY ADDRESS TO BE PRESENTED TO MY MINISTRY AS THE SISTER COMPANY TO THE ORIGINAL COMPANY FOR THE CLAIM OF THE US$50,000,000.00.
ALL WE NEEDED FROM YOU IS YOUR COMPANY NAME, PRIVATE TEL-FAX NUMBERS AND BANK ACCOUNT INFORMATION IN, WHICH THIS FUND WILL BE TRANSFERRED INTO.WE INTEND TO SHARE THE FUND AS FOLLOWS: 30% FOR YOU AS THE ACCOUNT OWNER, 60% FOR ME AND MY COLLEAGUES AND THE BALANCE 10% FOR YOUR EXPENSES AND OUR EXPENSES IN THE COURSE OF THIS TRANSACTION. WE SHALL BE ABLE TO FINALIZE THIS TRANSACTION WITHIN 14 WORKING DAYS ONCE WE HAVE YOUR COMPANY NAME AND YOUR BANK ACCOUNT INFORMATION TO BE SLOTTED INTO THE CENTRAL COMPUTER FOR THE CLAIM AND APPROVAL OF THIS FUND.PLEASE KEEP EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS TRANSACTION CONFIDENTIAL TO YOURSELF AND YOU SHOULD BEAR IN MIND THAT SUCH BUSINESS OF THIS MAGNITUDE REQUIRES FINANCIAL INVOLVEMENT, AS WE SHALL JOIN HANDS TOGETHER. AWAITING YOUR RESPONSE TO THIS BUSINESS PROPOSAL ON THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS *****@###### IMMEDIATELY ON RECEIPT OF THIS MESSAGE.
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
Mr. Sani Mohammed

This is a scam...don't fall for it!

Scams Sierra Leone: Advanced Fee 419 - Version 3

What follows is the exact e-mail text of yet another variation of the Advanced Fee Scheme designed to separate you from your money. Read it carefully to see how people become tempted. The tale is always about some tragic circumstance where the government is corrupt or the family is in crisis and they are reaching out to only you...in a world of millions. Does that make sense? The con men will attempt to get some sucker to front $25,000, for example, to open an account in Nigeria before depositing their alleged millions into it.
Like all the African scams, these con artists will want to get personal information from you including your banking and financial details in order to allegedly affect the money transfer. Sometimes the telephone number presented to call is a toll number (like a 900 number) where you pay the fees to them. Usually the con men will present a never ending list of advanced fees to be paid for storage, bribes etc before the money can be transferred. This is one of these offers that sound too good to be true...because it's a scam. They rely on your greed or financial desperation to hook you and draw you in. Don't fall for it. Unfortunately, many people of been victimized by this approach to get rich quick or solve a financial crisis.

The Secret Service calls these scams the "419 Advanced Fee Schemes" after the Nigerian Penal code fraud section. If you have been victimized by one of these schemes, please forward appropriate written documentation to the United States Secret Service, Financial Crimes Division, 950 H Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20223, or telephone (202) 406-5850, or contact by e-mail. If you have received a letter, but have not lost any monies to this scheme, please fax a copy of that letter to (202) 406-5031.

E-Mail received
This is a scam...don't fall for it!
FROM: MR. Halid Nebo
Tel: 225 **65 **1 ( Ivory Coast)
Dear Sir,
Before reading my proposal, please note that it is not one of those funny letters from Africa. This is a genuine deal that you stand to benefit from. This transaction is about cash, and it's in the amount of Sixteen Million United States Dollars (USD $16,000000.00).
I am Mr. Halid Nebo from Sierra Leone. Before now l didn't have any problem, until l lost my father two years ago. He was a big time diamond dealer, his business was flourishing until the United Nation placed embargo on diamonds from West Africa. When the embargo was enforced, my father started having problems with bank transactions in respect of making deposits and receiving payments for diamonds purchased by his customers. Because of the problem he started storing cash in the house. One morning, he left as usual with his men to the diamond mining area of Sierra Leone. While there, they were attacked by rebels; during the attack, my father was shot. He did not die, he was rushed to the hospital where the bullets were removed. My dad returned home after a few days feeling well and okay.

But two months later, my father became sick. His situation deteriorated so much that he couldn't carry on with his work anymore. One day, he told me to prepare myself that we have to go to a Security Company in Ivory Coast to deposit the USD$16,000,000.00 for safe keeping. At the Security Company in Ivory Coast, my father deposited the funds as a bonded shipment and he declared it as family personal effects. My father made me the beneficiary of the deposit. In the agreement signed with the Security Company, my father instructed them not to release the deposit to me the beneficiary, until l am 35 years of age. Not too long we returned from Ivory Coast, my father died. After the burial rights, my late father's brothers came to the house accusing my mother of masterminding my father's death in order to inherit his wealth. With this accusation, they drove my mother and her children (my sister and l) away from the house. They did not allow us take anything out of the house. We then went to my mother's family house to live there. My mother went through everyday in sorrow, little did we know that she could take her own life. We returned to the house one day to meet her on the ground dead; she committed suicide. It was really painful. After this period, things became very difficult for us, so l decided to travel to Ivory Coast to meet with the director of the Security Company to see if l can get the deposit released since my father is dead.

Meeting with the director, he told me that he feels sorry about my father's death and everything we have suffered, including the death of my mother. But he can not go against the agreement reached with my late father. He said there is only one area in the agreement that l can explore. He said contained in the agreement, is a portion were my late father stated that, I the beneficiary (myself) has the right to nominate another beneficiary if l so desire, but the beneficiary must be a European or American, and the beneficiary must be at least 40 years old.

It is in view of this that l am writing you. Please see how you can help me; l would like to nominate you as the beneficiary. I and my sister needs money to take care of ourselves. We want to travel to the United states to live there. If you would help me, please contact me as soon as possible (Tel. 225 **65 **1). Also let me know what your fee would be. When calling, dial the numbers exactly as stated.

Thank you and God bless,
Halid Nebo


Scams Lome Togo: Advanced Fee 419 - Version 4
What follows is the exact e-mail text of yet another variation of the Advanced Fee Scheme designed to separate you from your money. Read it carefully to see how people become tempted. The tale is always about some tragic circumstance where the government is corrupt or the family is in crisis and they are reaching out to only you...in a world of millions. Does that make sense? The con men will attempt to get some sucker to travel to Africa or Europe and front $25,000 to open an account before depositing their alleged millions into it. Like all the African scams, these con artists will want to get personal information from you including your banking and financial details in order to allegedly affect the money transfer.

Sometimes the telephone number presented to call is a toll number (like a 900 number) where you pay the fees to them. Usually the con men require that you pay a never ending list of Advanced Fees in order to receive the money that never arrives. This is one of these offers that sound too good to be true...because it's a scam. They rely on your greed or financial desperation to hook you and draw you in. Don't fall for it. Unfortunately, many people of been victimized by this approach to get rich quick.

The Secret Service calls these scams the "419 Advanced Fee Schemes" after the Nigerian Penal code fraud section. If you have been victimized by one of these schemes, please forward appropriate written documentation to the United States Secret Service, Financial Crimes Division, 950 H Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20223, or telephone (202) 406-5850, or contact by e-mail. If you have received a letter, but have not lost any monies to this scheme.

E-Mail received: This is a scam...don't fall for it!

PERSONAL AND STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
DEAR SIR:

I am Mrs FATOU NSAKKA Ivorien widow with an only son DANIEL NSAKKA. My husband was the chief security officer to the ousted President Henry BEDIE of Cote d'voire. During the over throw of 24th December 1999, my husband was among the people that were killed by the military. Since after his death, I ran away with my only son, I do hereby wish to ask for your assistance in urgent business transaction that requires absolute honesty and secrecy.

Although I did not in any way disclose to my friend the details of this my proposal due to confidential nature of this transaction. By virtue of my husband's position. The former President(BEDIE) gave him US 20.000.000.00 Dollars (Twenty million US dollars) cash in US100.00 dollars bill stacked in a box when he got information that the militaries were planning to over throw him. Immediately my husband was confirmed dead, I made away with this box with my only son so that we can not be reached by Mr BEDIE.

I have really been waiting for a more suitable time and opportunity to contact you concerning this transaction. Right now, the money is in a safe place, I deposited it with a security company for safe keeping. I am using this opportunity to seek for your assistance to move this money to your country, to be invested on behalf of my only son.

For this business to be concluded immediately, all you need to do is to arrange to meet with me and my son where this box is been lodged, open an account in your name, pay in the whole money after clearing and transfering it to your chosen account. We can't do that on our own because we don't have account else where, moreover, we don't have any business to cover-up that is why we needed your assistance. I am ready to offer you 30% of the total sum and give you the full power to manage the remaining 70% on behalf of my son.

Contact my son DANIEL NSAKKA where we are curently staying in a sister's house in LOME-TOGO. This money we deposited it in the best security company in LOME-TOGO.

Upon conclusion of arrangement, we shall forward to you the certificate of deposit, and the phone and fax number of the security company for confirmation immediately you recieve this e-mail message or call me at this number (002XX-02-XX-86) Please I want us to finish this business as quikly as possible.
Yours faithfull MRS FATOU NSAKKA

This is a scam...don't fall for it!

Scams African Internet : Lome Togo Nigeria Sierra Leone

Below is a sample collection of very similar sounding African Advanced Fee scams hoping to lure someone into handing over hard-earned money. There are hundreds of variations on the same theme since it has been in play for about ten years. All these scams have a similar hook as if there is a training school or organized management for these scammers. Most of the scams involve tempting the victim first with promises of millions of dollars and then setting the hook by handing over official looking documents representing vast sums of money stored in some security facility. The bite comes when they want you to pay the accumulated storage fees, transfer costs or taxes before starting the money transfer that never arrives.

The list of additional charges never seems to end until you are cleaned out. Oftentimes they want you to open up a bank account in countries like Holland, London, Canada or Amsterdam with various scenarios on how they will separate you from your money. There are many versions of how they will get you to pay advanced fees. The Secret Service calls these scams the "419 Advanced Fee Schemes" after the Nigerian Penal code fraud section.

If you have been victimized by one of these schemes, please forward appropriate written documentation to the United States Secret Service, Financial Crimes Division, 950 H Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20223 or telephone (202) 406-5850 or contact them by e-mail. If you have received a letter, but have not lost any monies to this scheme, please fax a copy of that letter to (202) 406-5031.
Even though these scams seem ridiculous on their face,the federal government receives several e-mails every day from someone who was victimized or has a relative who has lost thousands of dollars. Please, DO NOT fall for these get rich quick schemes. Ask yourself: does it sound reasonable that a third-world citizen would possess all these millions, and out of all the people in the World they picked YOU off the Internet to enrich?

My advice is to not respond to these e-mail inquiries and simply hit the delete key. By responding, even for fun, you are validating your e-mail address, which will surely be sold to others. Government is well aware of these e-mail scams but so far seem powerless to stop them. The best you can do for now is to notify the U.S. Secret Service and the ISP of the offending scam artist to seek removing them from their service.

Actual E-mail Examples

dear sir, i have been reading about the scams, i myself have recieved an email from lome-togo, this man claims hes a lawyer, and that he has been looking for relatives of a named person for two years, but had no luck, so he looked through the directories and found me, he says i am the new beneficior of ten million us dollars, me having 30 percent after completing the transaction, i have given my address, phone number and bank details over to this person. he has not asked me for any money, i recieved an approval letter from a named finance company, is this not real? they said an offshore bank would be in touch with me within the next couple of days, i do not have any money to give them, i am on benefits and a single mum with three children, so why have they picked on me, i have been phoning africa nearly every day, which will be a fortune on my phone bill when it comes, why do these people do this, i feel as if my life has been destroyed, even though i didn't hand any money over, i had made so many plans for me and my children. why are these people so cruel, i am so glad that i read your scam page. what can i do now that i have given out my bank details. can they touch any money in my bank, i dont get very much as it is, please help....

Greetings,
I have received all kinds of Documents showing that I have money in the Central Bank of Nigeria. The person or person's who have supposedly set this thing up. Say's he is involved in the Government of Nigeria. The Bank is ready to transfer my money to my account.

There is an attorney by the Name of Celestine Ugbekile of Celestine & Celestine I don't know if he is who he says he is. I don't know if there is a bank named Central Bank of Nigeria. I don't if the person who contacted me is who or what he claims to be. He has told me over and over don't tell anyone about this I don't want to get into trouble and lose my position with the government.
Now I am to come up with funds covering Fees and Taxes that have collected over the years. I am supposed to pay it in the next few hours. and the money will be in my account by morning.

I have talked with a man from Lagos and Accra for over a month now and he wants me to come to Accra and help him and his sister to come home to America with me. He has 18 million dollars which he has sent authentic looking documents transferring it to my name and states that once we are here I am entitled to 20% of this for helping him and his sister come here. They talk with me on the phone and sound so sincere. He has a man from "Trustee International" which is supposed to be a private security company handling this account of his late father and that is why he couldn't have it until he is 30 and he is only 26 and that is where I come in. This "Security International" representative has assured me that they are recognized by the UN, etc., and are kept confidential so they can handle these matters without attention from outside world. He also states that I must have $15, 000 US to pay for security while there and for transfer of money to a local bank to be put in transit account and then wired to American account. I told them I have no money since start of this talk of my coming to help them and I assure them I only wanted to see him and his sister be happy and free if that is the case. He is now supposed to have US $4, 000 and I have to come up with the rest. I am a house wife of a small dairy farmer and I do not have this kind of money, but they think I can come up with it, I guess. What do I do? Being I have good rapport with them, is there a way to catch them? Are any of these people really real? Is he and his sister real? He says that the trustee representative has all the arrangements made for them to come to America with me when I come back. If this is a scam like I have read about on your site, I don't think that's very nice and I want to know what I can do to possibly catch these people if they are not real. Please answer my mail as soon as possible. I would be very grateful.
Sincerely yours, J.L.

Greetings,
My names is Rev. XXXXXXXX and received an email scam from LOME-TOGO. Thanks to friends of mine in California who came across your website and the scam information, it has saved us future heartaches and major disappointments. They even went as far as having actual certificates of documents faxed to me to come to their country to claim the 27.7 million dollars. If it would help your efforts to keep the public informed, I can send all of the emails I've received from this lady who calls herself ( Mrs. Brown ) to you. This is really amazing...
Thanks a million.....
Rev. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

I am very happy that the payment has been approved in your name and all documents is in place to effect this payment without any further delay. According to the Minister, you are required to go to Canada with the following requirements
1) Photocopy of your ID.
2) $ 16,000 USD official payment for Stamp Duty Charge and tax inheritance.
3) 2 passport Picture
I wait for your confirmation.
Yours,
Oscar.
Hi I think a friend of mine may have or is presently being scamed. he was dealing with this lawyer in africa named steve martin who was to transfer 7.2 million dollars to him, it was an inheritance from a uncle who died in a plane crash in africe. he has sent over 10,000 dollars for lawyer fees and opening the account fees. After all of this was done the money was suppose to be transfered into his account but now it is suppose to be done from spain. first they gave us this magnum finance and security bank where the maoney is supose to be at, but when i called spains information for the number directly they said they never heard of this befor. Then we were given another name prudence banking and finance spain also did not have the a bank in this name. my friend is still dealing with these individuaks I hope the FBI can possible catch them please e-mail me back with what we should do. The lawyers name is steve martin in africa and jeff hauruna in spain what also didnt strike me as correct was when they used cell phones.
 
Thanks for your e-mail, together with your mutual understanding towards this my proposal. I suggest that you should go through my clarification for more understanding.

Anyway you are to forward your private informations, like private phone and fax number, your personal address for the changing of the ownership of the consignment in the security company in London and immediately your informations is receive by me, and I fax them to the security company in London. i will travel immediately to London to wellcome you and once they fax the legal documents that will enable you stand for the claims of this fund you will come immediately to London to meet me in person for the transaction. and once we clear the money from the security company we will open a bank in one of the London bank in your name so that we will transfer the money straight to your personal account in country. also we will travel together to your country for the sharing and for the investment of the money. nice to meet a partner like you. call me for more information over this transaction on my private line 00228 90xxxx. hope to hear from you as soon as possible.
God Bless.
George Nyerere.

Thanks for your urgent reply to my e-mail, to be sincere with you i dont just wake up and start writing to you. i was in deep spirit, after my three days of fasting and prayer to confirm your name. and the lady that introduce your mail to me, who works in the in the togo lais chambre of commerce and industry, who is a tourist that has a diplomatic passport, i personaly did not disclose this transaction to him because i don’t want to do any mistake. and i will like us to work with one spirit like a family to hatch out this transaction. also my God never disappointted me even for one day. and i believe that you are the right person which my God introduce to me.

You see, what i want you to do for me is to come to London as my father's business partner, who will stand and sign for the release order of this money, which was deposited as a consignment in the security company. And every legal documents that will enable you stand for the claim of this consignment will be forwarded to you from London. and i am assuring you that this transaction is hundred percent risk free. and i have map out 10% from the original amount for every expensses that will incure in this transaction like transportation bill, telephone bill, hotel bill or any other necessary expensses that may rise during the process of this transaction.


Dear,
i have finalised with my family before I forwarded my proposal to you. and they are all in full surport of you. so you are to forward to me your private phone and fax number, with your personal address or company. so that i will fax them to the security company in London for the change of the ownership of the consignment. before you will prepare to come and meet me in London. hoping that you will not disappoint me. waiting to hear from you. also bearing in mind that this transaction require utmost secreat and confidentials till the money is cleared and transfered to your personal account in your country. call me on my private line for more clarification,00228 90XXXXX.
God Bless.
Mr. George Nyerere

I received an e-mail from a Dr. Kester Kadiri, (e-mail - "cr panel' cr_panel@mail.com this pretained to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. It started out that he wanted to transfer $25,500,000.00 to my checking account. Than wanted me to send 4 laptop computers and a number of expensive watches as gifts. He would give me $5,500,000.00 if I would allow him to use my account. Next he requested $9,200.00, when I stated I did not have that kind of money he requested $5,000.00. I have again informed him that I still do not have that kind of money and that I am a working person. He asked if I ever had a company in my name. I told him it used to be JL Computers and where I had once had this company. It was only a personal company where I provided computers for use at my work place as there were none there. I had to have a company name inorder for them to pay me for the use of my personal computers. I have not used this company name for the past10 years or more. The letter with the heading NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION Ref # NNPC/PED/75644/Vol-1/2001
 
Dated 5/23/02 - Signed by a DR I T Obsanajo, Group Managing Director NNPC, the second letter is Ref: FMF/AK/03229 dated 6/3/02. heading Debt Reconciliation Committee - The Presidency, Federal Republic of Nigeria. RE: Transfer of Funds for contract NO: NP/PED/9763/PH-REF31C/99. This letter requests $9,200.00 for processing and for the siging of a contractors Final Fund Release. This letter is signed by Alhaji Suleman Dangote, Chairman 3/6/02. On 5/28/02 I received another letter with the same heading - e-mail address

drc_chairman2002@presidency.com. This letter recommends I contact a DR. Clement Isong (SAN), C.I.Isong, Orji & CO, 33 Toyin Streer, IKEJA-LAGOS, Telephone 011-234-1775-4890 - Fax # 011-234-1759-9278. This letter had attached a form called FMF/RX-15 form that I was to complete and send to this atttorney. And I was to have the $9,200.00 within 5 working days of this letter or I could lose my money. Now, I did not consider the money mine, and I am not that greedy. So I talked to my banker who instantly stated that I would not have to pay to receive money that was rightfully mine and that this appeared to be a scam. A copy of a certificate of incorporation was made. It is headed - Corporate Affairs Commission - NO: RC73455DRS, Certificate of Incorporation Foreign Contractors. States this is to certify that JL Computers has been registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission in accordance with the Company & allied Matteres Decree of 1990, as a Limited Liability Company, Category "A". Issued his 14th Day OF August 1997. Than a form - NIGERIAN PETROLEUM CORPORATION, Reg NO: NNPC/PED/6707/95 - Certificate of Registration, Supplies & General Contracts

Subject: URGENT ASSISTANCE NEEDED.
Date: Mon, 31 Dec 2001 01:50:04 -0800 (PST)
MR.GEORGE NYERERE
LOME-TOGO
TEL:00228 90XXXXX.

I do foresee the surprise this letter will bring to you as it comes from a stranger. But rest assured as it comes with best of intentions. However,i got your contact through a small paper containing your contact e-mail address given to by a Lady at the Togolies Chamber of Commerce and industries. But after due consideration from your profile, I became aware and assured of your credibility of handling this trust and my future. Thus, after my humble decision to solicit for your understanding and co-operation in this transaction, as it will be beneficial to all of us involved.
 
My name is Mr.George Nyerere, from Tanzania. I am the son of the Late President of Tanzania JULIUS MWALIMU NYERERE, who died about two years ago. My father used his position then to make for himself and us some fortune. My father died after a protracted illness. I was studying overseas when my father died and I was forced to return for the funeral. His attorney notified me and my family about my father's Will with his chambers. When I was going through the will, I discovered that my late father had used his position then to make some money, which he brilliantly transferred and deposited it with a Security Company in London. He deposited this consignment as valuables. The Security Company does not know that this consignment contains cash money, except the attorney and me.
 
The amount is FOURTY-FIVE million United States Dollars (USD $45 MILLION). However, my aim of contacting you is to help me and take this sum into your nominated account in your country or any other part of the world. Secondly, you will also help me look for a profitable investment overseas because I don't have knowledge of international investments. As a result of my present situation, I won't be able to conclude this transaction alone. If you are interested in helping me out, try and contact me with the above phone number.
strictly confidencial
OFFICE OF THE ACCOUNTANT
CONTRACT AWARDING COMMITTE
ECOWAS HEADQUARTERS
LOME, REPUBLIC OF TOGO
TEL.00228 91XXXXX.

Dear; Donna
Forgive my indignation if this message comes to you as a surprise and if it might offend you without your prior consent and writing through this channel. I am Dr. usman, The DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, Contract Awarding Committee of the ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES ( ECOWAS) with Headquarters in Lome, Togo. I got your information in a business directory from the Togolaise Chamber of Commerce and Industries when I was searching for a reliable, honest and trustworthy person to entrust this business with. I was divinely inspired and motivated to pick your contact from the many names and list in the directory.
This fund was a residue of the over invoiced contract bills awarded by us for the supply of hard/softwares, phamaceauticals/medical items, light and heavy duty vehicles, apparels and other administrative logistics etc for the ECOMOG in Sierria-Leone and Liberia during the Peace Keeping Projects.
This DEAL was deliberately hatched out and carefully protected with all concerned. As the DIRECTOR OF FINANCE of CAC, I arranged and over invoiced the contract funds supplied by different companies from different countries during the crisis. It was my consensus to seek the assistance of a willing foreigner who will come for the claims of the money which was deposited as a cosignment in the security company in Togo.

SO, by virtue of my posiition as the DIRECTOR OF FINANCE of CAC, i transfered four trunk boxes which was deposited with the security company in Togo. The content of these is fourty-five million united states dollars (us$45m).
I need a trustworthy foreigner like you that will assist me to a logical conclusion of benefit earnestly, all i need from you is to stand before the security company and sign as my foreign business partner to enable you claim the money and pay it into your bank account.

Based on the laws and ethics of employment, we as civil servants working under this organisation, are not allowed to operate a foreign account. This is the more reason why i needed your assistance to come and stand as my foreign business partner who will stand and sign for the release order of this money which was deposited as a consignment in the security company. that can sustain this fund for safe keeping and my future investment with your comprehensive advise, assistance and partnership in your country.

I have however agreed, to compensate your sincere and candid effort in this regard with 30%(percent) of the fund after the transfer in your account and 10% (percent) will be set aside for any expenses both local and international, telephone bill etc. will be settled from this percentage, while 60% (percent) will be for me. This transaction will be successfully concluded within 7 days if you accord me your unalloyed and due cooperation. You should provide the followings;

YOUR NAME OR COMPANY`S NAME WITH COMPLETE ADDRESS,
YOUR PRIVATE TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS. FOR THE
CHANGING OF THE BENEFICIARY OF THE CONSIGNMENT IN THE
SECURITY COMPANY IN LOME.

Upon the receipt of this informations, the documents will be forwarded to you from Togo, for security reason. As a practice of all organised (sensitive) and conspired DEALS, i solicit for your unreserved confidentiality and utmost secret in this business.

I hope to retire peacefully and lead a honourable business life afterwards. There are no risks involved. If this deal interest you, call me immediately for more details on my private/confidential telephone
number.00228 91XXXXX.
With regards.
Chief.Gambo Dasuki.

MY DEAR FRIEND,
I CEASE THIS OPPORTUNITY AT THIS MOST PAINFUL MOMENT OF MY LIFE IN A MIXED FEELINGS OF TEARS OF JOY AND PAINS.

AM MR ETUK WILLY, A CAMEROUNIAN COCOA FARMER BASED IN GHANA. I AM CHAIRING A NON SUCCESSFUL NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION FOR THE FIGHT AGAINST THE MOST PAINFUL
PLAGUE TO HUMAN RACE AIDS. I HAVE BEEN A PATIENT NOW FOR THE PAST 6 YEARS AND DOCTORS TOLD ME THAT I WILL DIE IN 9 MORE DAYS TIME FROM TODAY.

I HAVE INVESTED OVER LOCAL CURRENCY EQUIVALENT OF $3.8M USD IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THIS DECEASE.UNFORTUNATELY ALL THIS FUND SO HAVE BEEN WIDELY MISUSED BY VARIOUS COMMITTEES ENTRUSTED WITH THIS FUNDS.

NOW SINCE I HAVE LOST MY ONLY SON AND MY SWEET HEART (WIFE) TO THIS SAME ILLMENT I HAVE DECIDED TO USE ALL AT MY DISPOSAL TO FIGHT IT.TO THIS EFFECT I HAVE EARN-MAPPED OUT THE WHOLE FUND IN MY BUSINESS ACCOUNT WITH ECOBANK INTERNATIONAL LOME TOGO IN ACCOUNT NUMBER eco4934109.Valued with interest at $9.3M,TO THIS FIGHT.

SINCE THE FORMER FUNDS WERE MISMANAGED BY PEOPLE AROUND ME HERE, I PRAYED AND FASTED WITH THE HELP OF SOME OF THE PASTORS IN OUR CHURCH HERE OVER THE CASE AND THERE WAS A REVELATION AND INSTRUCTION THAT I SHOULD GO INTO AN UNKNOWN LAND AND MAKE SOMEONE THE PILLAR OF THIS MISSION.

THEN IN ORDER TO GET A TRUSTED A FELLOW I WENT INTO ANOTHER ROUND OF PRAYERS IN WHICH I WAS ASKED TO GO TO THE NET AND SELECT FIVE ADDRESSES PRAY OVER THEM AND ENTRUST THE FUND TO THE ONE I WILL BE DIRECTED TO. SO I DID AND I AM HERE REQUESTING FOR THE FOLLOWINGS FOR A SPEEDY RELATIONSHIP BEFORE MY DEATH.

1.EXERMINE YOUR SELF THAT YOU WILL NOT SELL THIS TRUST.
2.SPEND ONLY 10% OF THE FUND FOR YOUR PRIVATE USE ONLY.
3.PRAY ALL NIGHT OVER IT.

AFTER ALL THIS I WILL INTRODUCE YOU TO THE SECURITY & DEPOSIT FINANCE TRUST COMPANY WHERE I HAVE ALREADY DEPOSITED ALL MY FUNDS IN A TRUNK-BOX AS A FAMILY TREASURE FOR SECURITY REASON AND ALSO TO MY LAWYER SO AS THE FUND WILL BE ENTRUSTED TO YOU AS MY NEXT OF KIN FOR THE CHAMPIONING OF THIS COURSE.
NOTE: THE SECURITY COMPANY DOES NOT KNOW THE REAL CONTENT OF MY TRUNK-BOX BECAUSE IT WAS DEPOSITED AS MY FAMILY TREASURE NOT MONEY FOR SECURITY REASONS. PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF THIS POINT OKEY.

MAY GOD BLESS YOU AS YOU TOUCH THE LIFE OF OTHERS AMEN.
PLEASE, I WILL LIKE IT IF YOU CAN CALL ME IN THE HOSPITAL ON THIS NUMBER (+228-90XXXXX) AND ASK OF ME OR MATRON. HELEN EGOBIANSO, ONE OF THE SENIOR NURSES TAKING CARE OF ME HERE IN THE HOSPITAL WARD.
BROTHER

MR ETUK WILLY
THANKS TO A PIECE OF INFORMATION I GATHERED ABOUT YOU THROUGH THE TOGOLAISE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES, ALTHOUGH I DID NOT ALLOW THEM TO BE AWARE OF THE DETAILS OF MY BUSINESS ENQUIRIES BECAUSE OF THE CONFIDENTIALITIES I REQUIRE IN THIS RISK FREE BUSINESS

I AM DR. COLLINS MARTIN,THE MANAGER OF THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT OF ECO BANK TOGO HEAD OFFICE IN LOME TOGO.RECENTLY,WE DICOVERED AN ABANDONED HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY VALUED AT US $16,000,000,00.(SIXTEEN MILLION U.S.A(DOLLARS THAT BELONG TO ONE OF OUR NUMEROUS CUSTOMER WHO DIED IN A PLANE CRASH IN AUGUST 1997,DURING THE PERIOD OF OUR INVESTIGATION WE DISCOVERED THAT THE DECEASED DIED ALONG WITH HIS FAMILY, LIVING NOBODY BEHIND TO COME FOR THE CLAIM.

THE BANKING LAW HERE STIPULATES THAT IF SUCH MONEY REMAIN UNCLAIM FOR SIX YEARS IT WILL BE PAID INTO THE BANK TREASURY AS AN UNCLAIMED BILL.SINCE SUCH ARRANGEMENT HAS BEING TAKING I DECIDED TO CONTACT WITH MY E-MAIL FOR URGENT REPLYREASON. A TOGOLAISE CAN NOT STAND AS A NEXT OF KIN TO AFOREIGNER. IT IS UPON THIS DISCOVERY THAT I AND MY COLLEAGUES IN THE DEPARTMENT LIASE TO CONTACT YOU TO DO THIS BUSINESS WITH YOU. WE HAVE IT IN MIND TO GIVE YOU 30% OUT OF THE TOTAL SUM, IF THIS PROPOSAL MEETS YOUR INTEREST,URGENTLY REACH ME THROUGH THE ABOVE STATED FAX NUMBER TO ENABLE ME GIVE YOU THE SPECIMEN OF THE APPLICATION THAT YOU WILL FILL AS A NEXT OF KIND TO THE DECEASED ACCOUNT OWNER AND SUBMIT TO THE BANK DIRECTOR FOR HIS URGENT ATTENTION AND DIRECT PAYMENT TO YOU. FURTHER INFORMATION WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU AS SOON AS I RECEIVE YOUR FAX, E-MAIL, PLEASE DO MAIL ME, CALL ON OR FAX ON THE ABOVE WRITTEN TELEPHONE NUMBERS FOR MY NOTIFICATION. ANTICIPATING YOUR URGENT REPLY.
BEST REGARDS
DR.COLLINS MARTIN
 
15th JANUARY, 2001.
Dear Friend & Partner,
Following up to your response, i must express on behalf of my client (Mohammed) and myself our profound gratitude for your last reply. We choose you because we are looking for a capable partner who can open the door to off-shore market for our funds and help us invest our share in profitable investment such as real estate, property investment or any other varable venture.

I thank you most heartily for taking interest in my proposal to you. I have contacted Mohammed himself and we have once more deliberated on the possibility of doing the business with you, we are exercising great discretion so not to fall into wrong hands.

I would need personal assurance from you that you are going to be fair, cooperative and straight forward with me. What I really need is a tested and competent associate who will handle the fund for me when it is finally paid to him, I pray that I find such a person in you. Meanwhile, under no circumstances shall you divulge any information which you receive under this transaction to a third party; you have to make it a private deal between you and me. You must treat this project with utmost secrecy, apparent honesty and sincerity for security reasons. Note that this transactions is 100% risk-free. My assurance as a legal adviser is that your role is risk-free and the confidence of your capability and reliability in the prosecution of a transaction of this magnitude requires maximum trust and good faith

Firstly, however it is important that you understand how we intend to carry out this transaction to our mutual conclusion. Base on my first e-mail massage to you, these fund (US$24.5Million) is presently deposited in a private security and finance company as an official consignment belonging to a foreign affiliate and put in a crate marked as antique. Thus, the content was disclose to the security firm as precious materials (Gold and Diamond).

It is important to note that this same security company has been helping my client's father (Late Gen. Sanni Abacha) while he was alive and his colleagues to move funds and items of this nature to Europe and other part's of the world without them necessarily knowing the actual content. However, they are ready to listen to us at this stage because of the long time trust, pleasant and professional relationship that they have maintained with my client's late father.
My friend, you must understand that because of the sensitive nature of this transaction, we must ensure that this transaction is 100% safe now and in the future, and also abide strictly and religiously within all laid down procedure and the transfer wil also pass through all international transfer laws and regulations.

All that i want you to do is to act as the beneficiary to this shipment. Every necessary documents that is required are right now in my possession. I will provide you with the original copies of the following documents to enable us achieve this aim.

(1)The Certificate of Deposit which was issued when the initial deposit of the consignment was made.
(2) A Power of Attorney and the C of O (Change of Ownership) which will enable the security firm to recongnise you as the new rightful beneficiary.
(3) The airway bill will also be provided to you.

With the presentation of the above documents, the shipment shall be delivered to you without hesitation. As soon as we claim the consignment, a professional banker will join us to assist in the area of lodging and transfer. This is a man in charge of all IMF and the world bank loans that comes to my country. He will assist us to open an off-shore account here in Amsterdam where the fund will be deposited before it can be gradually transfer to your nominated account wherever you may desire. We are going to need 2 working days to execute and conclude the first part of this business transaction and the clearance of the consignment and the transfer of the fund to your bank account. We only need your trustworthiness, honesty and your preparedness to execute this transaction with us. Thanking you once again on behalf of my client, i would want to assure you that this is just the beginning of a long lasting business reletionship with us. You should call me immediately on my direct telephone line 31 612 6XXX XXX when you get this massage for more briefing regarding this business transaction and also forward your telephone and fax number
Hope to hear from you in ernest. God bless you.
Yours Truly,
Barr. Gani Soyinka

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
SIR,
WE ARE SENDING THIS LETTER TO YOU BASED ON THE INFORMATION WE GATHERED FROM THE FOREIGN TRADE OFFICE OF THE NIGERIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY. WE BELIEVE THAT YOU WOULD BE IN A GOOD POSITION TO HELP US IN OUR BID TO TRANSFER THE SUM OF THIRTHY MILLION, EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS (US$30.8) INTO A FOREIGN ACCOUNT. WE ARE MEMBERS OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE FOR BUDGET AND PLANNING OF THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL RESOURCES
THIS COMMITTEE IS PRINCIPALLY CONCERNED WITH CONTRACT APPRAISALS AND APPROVAL IN ORDER OF PRIORITIES AS REGARDS CAPITAL PROJECT OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA.WITH OUR POSITIONS, WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY SECURED FOR OURSELVES THE SUM OF THIRTHY MILLION, EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS (US$30.8M). THIS AMOUNT WAS ACCUMULATED THROUGH UNDECLARED WINDFALL FROM SALES OF CRUDE OIL DURING THE GULF WAR. WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU IS TO PROVIDE A SAFE ACCOUNT INTO WHICH THE FUNDS WILL BE TRANSFERRED SINCE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ARE NOT ALLOWED BY OUR LAWS TO OPERATE FOREIGN ACCOUNT. IT HAS BEEN AGREED THAT THE OWNER OF THE ACCOUNT WILL BE COMPENSATED WITH 20% OF THE REMITTED FUNDS,WE SHALL KEEP 70% WHILE 10% WILL BE SET ASIDE TO OFFSET ANY EXPENSES INCLUDING TAXES THAT MAY BE INCURRED BY BOTH PARTIES IN THE COURSE OF THE TRANSACTION.
IT MAY INTEREST YOU TO KNOW THAT TWO YEARS AGO A SIMILAR TRANSACTION WAS CARRIED OUT WITH ONE MR. MILLER, THE PRESIDENT OF XXXXXX INTERNATIONAL TRADING CORPORATION AT EAST 57TH STREET, 28TH FLOOR, NEW YORK. 10022 WITH TELEPHONE (212) 308-XXXX AND TELEX NUMBER 673XXX, AFTER THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN BOTH PARTNERS IN WHICH HE WAS TO TAKE 5% THE MONEY WAS DULY TRANSFERRED INTO HIS ACCOUNT ONLY FOR US TO BE DISAPPOINTED ON OUR ARRIVAL IN NEW YORK AS WE WERE RELIABLY INFORMED THAT MR. MILLER WAS NO LONGER ON THAT ADDRESS WHILE HIS TELEPHONE AND TELEX NUMBERS HAVE BEEN REALLOCATED TO SOMEBODY ELSE. THIS WAS HOW WE LOST US$27.5M TO MR. PATRICE MILLER.
THIS TIME AROUND WE NEED A MORE RELIABLE AND TRUSTWORTHY PERSON OR A REPUTABLE COMPANY TO DO BUSINESS WITH, HENCE THIS LETTER TO YOU. SO IF YOU CAN PROVE YOURSELF TO BE TRUSTWORTHY AND INTERESTED IN THIS DEAL THEN WE ARE PREPARED TO DO BUSINESS WITH YOU. WHAT WE WANT FROM YOU IS THE ASSURANCE THAT YOU WILL LET US HAVE OUR SHARE WHEN THIS FUND IS TRANSFERRED INTO YOUR ACCOUNT. IF THIS PROPOSAL SATISFIES YOU, PLEASE E-MAIL YOUR RESPONSE SO THAT WE CAN ADVICE YOU ON THE MODALITIES OF THIS TRANSACTION. ALL MODALITIES OF THE TRANSFER HAVE BEEN WORKED OUT AND ONCE STARTED WILL NOT TAKE MORE THAN 14 WORKING DAYS WITH THE ABSOLUTE COOPERATION OF ALL CONCERNED.
THIS TRANSACTION IS 100% SAFE. PLEASE TREAT AS URGENT AND VERY CONFIDENTIAL. GOD BE WITH YOU AS I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR REPLY.
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
DR. JAMES KOJO.

I am Brigadier-General Bibiola Waritimi(RETIRED); Residential Address-Plot 150 Wuse Zone 2, FCT, Abuja, Nigeria.
I am contacting you courtesy of an address listing which I obtained from your Embassy/High Commission in Abuja, Nigeria; THIS IS NOT A SPAM MAIL, and I appeal to you to exercise a little patience and read through my letter, and I guarantee you will not have wasted your time.

As you are probably aware, Liberia, a West African Territory was embroiled in a protracted civil war for many years. This war of attrition eventually attracted Worldwide attention because of the suffering of both the many warring parties which constantly changed alliances and allegiances, and the innocent civilian refugees. There were allegations of much atrocities committed and many human rights abuses.

Nigeria, under the leadership of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (retired Head of State of Nigeria), appealed to the United Nations for help. The later encouraged Nigeria to mediate between the many protagonists. Nigeria subsequently put together the coalition of 16 member Economic Community of West African States(ECOWAS), and the regional PEACE KEEPING FORCE KNOWN AS ECOMOG was born! I was privileged to be the first inaugural Nigerian Field commander of the Peace keeping force, and I immediately moved into the camp site at the outskirts of Monrovia, the capital city of Liberia to take my command.

The peace keeping exercise was a total success , and eventually the rebel, Samuel Doe was captured and the many lesser war lords contained. Eventually Mr. Charles Taylor, whose faction was recognized by ECOWAS was helped to establish an acceptable overnment; peace was restored; and the rest is history.
During the final onslaught which resulted in the capture of Samuel Doe, the campaign was meticulously planned and executed flawlessly; Samuel Doe's Headquarters was seized by my men, and much ammunition as usual were recovered; However, 5 large trunk boxes were also recovered and I immediately ordered them taken to my quarters because there were rampant cases of pilfering and outright looting by the Soldiers (the Soldiers came from different Countries and sometimes discipline was hard). When I examined the Trunk boxes, I got a shock! They were stacked full of 100 Dollar bills! To my inexperienced eye, I estimated that the boxes must contain over 50 Million Dollars! I was faced with an instant dilemma. I dared not declare this discovery to the Military High command; the money would promptly disappear into private pockets of the Military high brass. I immediately swore my ADC to secrecy and decided to transport the boxes into Nigeria. I used my powers to requisition a Hercules Military Transport AirPlane under my Command and airlifted the boxes to Abuja, Nigeria. Needless to say, Our Aircrafts and military equipment/property do not undergo Customs checks
Accordingly I immediately took the trunk boxes and deposited them in a safe deposit box belonging to Bullion Security Company Nig. Ltd., located at Abuja. Of course no one knows the content of these boxes and I simply listed "VALUABLES" in the deposit form and I paid the storage charge of 2,500.00 USD per annum. The date was January, 2009.

I deliberately waited for the right political climate to move this money abroad for investment purposes. The time is now right because a properly elected Civilian Government is now in charge of Nigeria. I need your help because I am a highly visible personality, and any attempt by me to transfer this money to a foreign Country will fail. Also the law in Nigeria does not allow serving or retired Military Personnel to own/operate foreign Bank Accounts in their name. I have therefore thought out a perfect and 100% risk free method of transferring this money abroad, with your help. It is simple.

(1)You will provide one or more Bank A/Cs into which all the money will be wired (2)The Bank of origin, that is the, FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA,PLC where the wire transfer will be done will provide all the paperwork documentation, including the certificate of origin in order to avoid money laundering charges by the RECEIVING BANK. This is vital to avoid the money being seized by Government Agencies on arrival at your Bank Accounts).Also in view of the unfortunate incident at New York and Washington in America, it is vital that this money should not be seen as terrorist money or as being transferred to terrorists. (3)You will then come to Nigeria for a 2 / 3 day visit; on your arrival, we will then take the money to FIRST BANK of NIGERIA PLC and wire the money to your Bank ACCOUNT(S); My Banker has advised me that in transferring large volume money, it is best to use offshore (Bank Haven) Banks like the Cayman Islands where the tax incidence is zero or negligible.(4) After the wiring of the money, I will travel with you abroad to collect my share of the money which is 70%; You will keep 30% of the money for yourself (5)You could help me to invest my share of the money.

(This is optional)

If you are interested in helping me, please reply immediately, giving me your phone and fax numbers and I will give you further details ; we will then establish a game plan to achieve our aim. Please bear in mind that as far as you are concerned, this transaction IS NOT ILLEGAL and we will NOT ENTER INTO ILLEGALITIES AT ANY STAGE OF THE TRANSACTION TO TRANSFER THIS FORTUNE ABROAD; EVERYTHING WILL BE TRANSPARENT, LEGAL AND PROPER; This is the word of a military officer. Thank you,
Brig-Gen. Bibiola Waritimi

(URGENT FUND TRANSFER)
(RE: TRANSFER OF ($ 152,000.000.00 USD)ONE HUNDREDAND FIFTY TWO MILLION DOLLARS

Dear sir,
We want to transfer to overseas ($ 152,000.000.00 USD) One hundred and Fifty two million United States Dollars) from a Prime Bank in Africa, I want to ask you to quietly look for a reliable and honest person who will be capable and fit to provide either an existing bank account or to set up a new Bank a/c immediately to receive this money, even an empty a/c can serve to receive this money, as long as you will remain honest to me till the end for this important business trusting in you and believing in God that you will never let me down either now or in future.

I am Mr,Kingsley Emy, the Auditor General of prime banks in Africa, during the course of our auditing I discovered a floating fund in an account opened in the bank in 1990 and since 1993 nobody has operated on this account again, after going through some old files in the records I discovered that the owner of the account died without a [heir] hence the money is floating and if I do not remit this money out urgently it will be forfeited for nothing. the owner of this account is Mr. Allan P. Seaman, a foreigner, and an industrialist, and he died, since 1993. and 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 Allan P. Seaman until his death was the manager Diamond Safari [pty]. SA.

We will start the first transfer with fifty two million [$52,000.000] upon successful transaction without any disappoint from your side, we shall re-apply for the payment of the remaining rest amount to your account, The amount involved is (USD 152M) One hundred and Fifty two million United States Dollars, only I want to first transfer $52,000.000 [fifty two million United States Dollar 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 person here, without valid international foreign passport, but can only be approved to any foreigner with valid international passport or drivers license and foreign a/c because the money is in us dollars and the former owner of the a/c Mr. Allan P. Seaman is a foreigner too, [and the money can only be approved into a foreign a/c. However, we will sign a binding agreement, to bind us together
I got your contact address from the Girl who operates computer, I am revealing this to you with believe in God that you will never let me down in this business, you are the first and the only person that I am contacting for 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 to build confidence and to sign a binding agreement that will bind us together before transferring the money to any account of your choice where the fund will be safe. Before we fly to your country for withdrawal, sharing and investments.

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, upon your positive response and once I am convinced that you are capable and will meet up with instruction of a key bank official who is deeply involved with me in this business. I need your strong assurance that you will never, never let me down. With my influence and the position of the bank official we can transfer this money to any foreigner's reliable account which you can provide with assurance that this money will be intact pending our physical arrival in your country for sharing. The bank official will destroy all documents of transaction immediately we receive this money leaving no trace to any place and to build confidence you can come immediately to discuss with me face to face after which I will make this remittance in your presence and three of us will fly to your country 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 obtain all legal approvals for onward transfer of this money to your account with appropriate clearance from the relevant 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 through my email address.
yours truly,
KINGSLEY EMY.

Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation
7 Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, P. M. B.
12701, Lagos.
Office Of The Presidential Contract Review Panel
Chairman: DR SMITH ESANI
Confidential Fax: 234-1-75XXXXX
Confidential Tel: 234-1-759XXXXX
Attn: The President/CEO

Dear Sir,
Proposal for Transfer Assistance
I am making this contact with you on behalf of my colleagues and I after the satisfactory information we gathered from the Nigerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

We are members of the Presidential Contract Review Panel on foreign debt. We are contacting you as a trustworthy individual, into whose account we intend
to transfer some funds.

Presently, we have in our possession, instrument of payment for US$10M (Ten Million U.S. Dollars), This amount arose from over-invoicing of some supplies and engineering works contracts which had been financed by the Petroleum Trust Fund. The Contractors have been paid in full for contracts executed. The fund are therefore free to be transferred overseas without any risk whatsoever.
Due to the nature of accrual of these funds, it has to be applied for by a foreign individual ororganisation, and payment can only be made into a foreign account: Hence this contacts is necessary to accomplish this deal. We are willing to compensate you with 20% of the amount for providing the account and all other relevant assistance to enable us accomplish this, 5% will be used for the reimbursement of all expenses that will be incurred by both parties during the course of this financial transaction; the remaining 75% is for my associates and I.

We shall require from you the following urgently, by fax or email:
1. Your name, contact address, telephone and fax numbers.
2. The name and full address of your organization or company.

My colleagues and I have had fruitful discussions with relevant top officials of both the Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF) and the Debt Reconciliation Committee (DRC) and they have agreed to co-operate in the transfer. An application for funds transfer will be made at the appropriate ministries in favour of you, the beneficiary. Thereafter you will be officially regarded as having executed the contract for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation for which payments is being made. This process makes the operation legal according to the laws of the federal republic of Nigeria.

Please, treat this transaction as strictly confidential, we are civil servants who would not want our names tarnished, bearing in mind our positions. Because of cross interference of telephone calls in nigeria do ask my security code pciii before speaking to the person that pick up your call and do not go through the international telephone operator of (AT&T) when lines are busy at any time in the course of this transaction. Always dial direct. it is difficult to get telephone access to Nigeria. So you must persist when the telephone says "subscriber not available" or the number does not exist"; these responses are always given when there is no access. thanks for your anticipated co-operation, while I await your timely
response.
Yours faithfully,
DR SMITH ESANI
NB: Please reply through e-mail for confidentiality

Dear Francisco,
I acknowledge with thanks the reply to my proposal earlier forwarded to you. I also understood the content for me to call you on the phone number you forwarded to me.

Please if you are to assist me in the transaction, do indicate on email first, I will definitely call you later but the problem is that Nigeria has a poor telecommunication problem due to the recent bomb blast in the military cantonment. Our ministry is using temporary telephone line for now until we fix a new line.

Francis, you are going to act as a foreign contractor whom I will pay this money (US$20.5M). All modalities about the transfer shall be completed by me and I will give you all information, that is, when the contract was awarded and completed, the ministry that awarded the contract and how much was involved. I know all these and I shall supply you with information about the contracts so that we get the fund transferred into your account.

I want you to also introduce to me any lucrative investment to venture into, because as soon as the fund is transferred to your account, I shall prepare to come to your country for investing it together with you.

Francis, please tell me if you can handle this for me, but know that this business is 100% risk-free. I am the Chairman of the Contract Award and Payment and as such have all it takes to transfer this fund. This business is also not a new thing because many prominent Nigerians do transfer funds which they get from Govt. coffas to abroad countries. This is my luck and chance to survive on my own because I will be resigning my appointment with the NNPC as soon as we finalise this business.

I promise you to please assist me and I will reward you and also build an everlasting business relationship with you.

If you have any more question about this, please feel free to ask me through e-mail, I am the only one having access to this email box, but do not call me on phone even if I give you my phone number because somebody may pick it up in the office and start asking you the purpose of calling. I will forward my private/confidential phone number for you to call me so that we discuss the possibility of this transaction.
Thank you very much and God Bless.
Yours friend,
DR. EMMANUEL SALEH
CHAIRMAN,
CONTRACT AWARD & PAYMENT COMMITTEE
NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION (NNPC).
 
Attn: Francisco,
Thanks for the telephone conversation ,You can reach me on my telephone numbers 234-1-2xxxxx or 234-80xxxxxx. I await your response soonest.
Thank you.
Regards,
Oscar Olisa.

I am already call this number and Oscar Answered, and the first think he ask me was my bank account number. I hang up and I decided to investigate and I find your web page and also more informacion about this scam, this is horrible, how many people already felt in this situation. Anyway I just want to share this with you.
Francisco

 Sir,
First, I must solicit your strictest confidence in this transaction. This is by virtue of its nature as being utterly confidential and top secret. I came to know of you in my private search for a reliable and reputable person to handle this confidential transaction, which involves the transfer of a huge sum of money.

I am the Attorney to Mohammed Abacha whose father Lt. Gen. Sani Abacha died sometime in 1998 in mysterious circumstance as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. My client who is still in detention for fraudulent activities, which he committed during his fathers reign desperately, needs a foreign partner into whose account he will transfer the sum of $32m USD (Thirty-two million united states dollars).

This money is safely deposited in a security company here in Lagos before his detention. My client whose family properties have been seized and bank accounts frozen by the present Civilian Government cannot afford to loose this money, which he hopes to start a new life whenever he is released from detention. We have agreed to offer you 30% of the whole money, 60% for us and 10% for any eventual expenses. There is no risk involved in this transaction. Every arrangement has been concluded with the security company that as soon as you give me your positive response to this request, the money will be moved out of the country within 3-5 days.

Waiting to hear from you.
Please reply to xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
BARRISTER ROTIMI WILLIAMS

24th April 2002
Kabul, AFGHANISTAN

Dear Sir,
My name is Dennis Longe of the foreign legion special forces commando currently on covert search and destroy mission in the mountainous wastelands of Eastern Afghanistan impenetrable domicile of the dreaded Taliban Al Qeada terrorist network. Last week, my group of 4 agents' successfully overran a hard drug processing enclave and recovered a sum of US$36 million, which no doubt are proceeds from the illegal trade used for funding terrorist activities. We have since deposited this cash in a security luggage office in Kabul capital city. We do not intend to surrender this booty to our sector commandant for obvious reasons and we cannot take out the consignment from Afghanistan physically by ourselves as it is against military ethics.

I hereby solicit your assistance to enable me ship this money to your safe custody pending the expiration of our current regional anti-terrorist exercise. It may interest you to know that modalities have been perfected to move this funds to you through a security courier agency as soon as you respond in the affirmative, indicating your interest and capability to handle this transaction. We will thus send you the shipment waybill, so that you can help claim this luggage on behalf of me and my colleagues. Needless to say the trust reposed in you at this junction is enormous, we are willing to offer you an agreeable percentage of this funds.

Finally, I believe that I have been very concise and sincere in my representation to you and I look forward to consummating this transaction with you, but most importantly do acknowledge receipt of this mail using my email for further clarification on the modus operandi.
Awaiting your prompt response.
Yours Truly
Sgt. Dennis LONGE

Hello,
My 21 year old son has a businesses and he received an unsolicited email asking him to go to Holland and transport 16 million dollars out of the country for a lady and her son in Sierra Leon. This couple say they want to give him 20% of the money for his help. I am his mom, I see it as a scam and I am worried for his safety. He says it is different to the Nigerian scams posted. He won't listen to reason. I will give you the details as I know them and if you have been notified of a similar case could you please let me know.
(1) This money and its transaction is supposedly legal (not dirty money).
(2) This "Christian" family made the money in the diamond business.
(3) The father put it securely in Holland but then died.
(4) The mother and son have no way to get this money out.
(5) They want to come to Canada and invest this money in a business (agriculture) for this they need my son's advice. ( after he retrieves the money)
(6) He is to keep this information quiet. (not widely known)
(7) They will give him all the necessary documents and transaction phone numbers
(8) Time is running out so my son must decide quickly (it's been a week so far)
(9) She refers to him as " my dear"
(10) He must pay $2000 when he gets to Holland in order for the company to hand over this parcel containing the money.
(11) He must open up a bank account in Holland in his name to deposit the money. ( I think?)
(12) They would like him to write a letter of support for them to come to Canada with the money that they will ultimately invest.
(13) They trust that he is not going to take all the money once he gets the parcel from storage.
(14) They would do this themselves but they have no money...it is in Holland.
There is more and at this point I would ask you if you have stopped laughing yet but I am concerned that he will try to follow this through. We see so much devastation in places like Africa. This couples situation seems possible but highly unlikely. I am concerned that if he goes to Holland he will be robbed or worse... When I comment on the "suspicious facts" he has an excuse for it. Says he'll check the bag before paying any money and if it is all a scam he'll have a nice holiday in the Netherlands. I ask him if this is before or after they've robbed and shot him.
I am hoping that if he sees other letters like his than he will know it is a scam for sure.
Thank you for your help,

Scam with AIDS Hook and Adoption Spin
Your first reaction to this mail will be total rejection, scare and may be unbelief, owing largely to the atrocities people commit these days. But this mail comes from a devastated, sorrowful and emotional ladened soul that needs compassion from a kind and good spirited person to wipe away my tears, perhaps when I am gone beyound this sinful world.
I do not want this issue to be treated as an international subject, therefore, with due respect and apology, I want you to handle it very descreetly, confidentially and with utmost secrecy. For the sake of my children,who are the cardinal focus of this mail; for their future survival and to avoid embarrassment, I do not want our family name to be advertised or publicly discussed. Please, treat it as such and keep it permanently private. If you would not be in the position to co-operate, please, forgive me for disturbing your peace. Ignore and delete this message. I plead in the name of God.
My purpose of writing to you is to seek your assistance to handle and manage my late husbanb's financial assets and take adequate care of our young children, Duncan,12years and Jennifer, 8years. They are both studying in the American International School, Accra in Ghana. My name is Geneva Murphy Billings. I am an American, a widow of circumstance, married to a Swedish Engineer and business tycoon. My husband died in a plane crash while travelling to London to diagnose and seek medical attention for a sickness that defied medical treatment.
Presently, I am diagnosed to have a third degree HIV virus and therefore suffering a terminal sickness of ACQURIED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROMME - AIDS -. I may die any moment but wish you to assist in keeping the family name and circle alive. This mail is written for me by the matron of this hospital as I am too week to engage in any other physical endeavors. Documented proofs for confirmation, on request, could be provided.
I have entrusted the sum of US$12,000,000.00 (Twelve Million Dollars), the accrued savings and life insurance gratuity of my late husband, with the custody of a Finance and Trust Company. It is handled by a Lawyer. See contacts below. I want you to liaise with the Lawyer and recover the money for your prudent care, management and safe keeping. Use it to secure travelling papers for my children to leave Ghana and train them as your adopted children. I place no conditions on your management except taking good care of my children.
(Contact): XXXX@yahoo.com
 (1) Taiwo, Olajumoke & Associates
New-Haven Chambers, Lome-Togo
Tel: (228)948 5186
E-mail: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX@consultant.com
(2) Magnum Trust and Finance Inc.
Madrid, Spain.
Tel: (34)XX 505 1376

At the moment and till I die, my correspondence with you will be through this e-mail. I may have the opportunity to speak with you while on my sick bed. You should contact the Lawyer to do the change of ownership from my name into your name and identity to enable you collect the money from the Finance and Trust Company in Spain. This is the only condition that will give you the right of ownership and full beneficiary status. I want this transaction to be handled with dispatch before I give up the ghost.
I will appreciate it the more if you give me your reply no matter your state of mind, negatively or positively, it is alright.
Thanks and God bless.

Geneva Murphy.
NEW-HAVEN CHAMBERS
241 RUE, RIMAS, RIGATU
LOME-TOGO.
TEL: (228) XX8-51-86
FAX: (228) XX2-11-49
To: SHARON BXXXX
Dear Mrs. BXXXX,
RE: GENEVA MURPHY BILLINGS.

We write to confirm the knowledge of the above named client. We are her solicitors and are in possession of her will and the order to bequeath the will to whomsoever she would instruct us. The documents of possession are in our custody. It is also her wish that the benefactor will adopt her two children.
I may not know her reasons of contacting you by e-mail. This could be addressed to her. I guess it must be because of her weak nature as a result of her pronounced illness. She wanted you to contact me so that I could work with you to transfer her belongings to your care and management.

You should reach her for authority to start wth the paper work.

Thanks.
for:TAIWO,OLAJUMOKE & CO
TAIWO A. KAFAROU
SENIOR ADVOCATE OF TOGO
SENIOR PARTNER.

I am Donald Opia 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$8,000,000.00 (eight 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$8,000,000.00 is still sitting in my Bank and thinterest 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 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 labour 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, which will put you in place as the next of kin. We shall employ the service of an Attorney 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:donaldXXX@lycos.com. Thanks and regards.

MR. Donald Opia
I am so sorry that I had not seen this before now. It would have save me a lot of trouble and heart aches. I would not be in the condition that I am now in. I hope other people get to read your web site before they too are taken for their hard earned money by these smart talking people. They make promises that is never going to be kept, but I did wake up when after all my money was gone and they stopped talking when I told them that there was not way to get any more money. They have now changed their e-mail address, or they want answer it, Please DO NOT print my name or e-mail address
These examples are scam...don't fall for them!
 


Scams African Internet : Version 5: A Religious Twist

African Internet Scams
Below is an actual dialog of a religious version of the African Advanced Fee scam hoping to lure someone of faith into handing over hard-earned money. Some creative scammers search the Internet looking for religious websites and hope that using a religious approach will pay off for them.

There are hundreds of variations on the same theme. All these scams have a similar hook as if there is a training school somewhere for scammers. Most of the scams involve hooking the victim first by tempting the victim with millions of dollars and then reel them in by handing over official looking documents representing vast sums of money stored in some security facility. The bite comes when they want you to pay the accumulated storage fees, transfer costs, bribes or taxes before starting the money transfer that never arrives. There are many versions of how they will get you to front earnest money.

Even though these scams seem ridiculous on their face, I receive several e-mails every week from someone who been taken or has a relative who has lost thousands of dollars. Please, DO NOT fall for these get rich quick schemes. Does it sound reasonable that so many third-world citizens would possess all these millions to hand over to YOU?

My advice is to not respond to these e-mail inquiries and simply hit the delete key. By responding, even for fun, you are validating your e-mail address, which will surely be sold to others. The Federal government is well aware of these e-mail scams but is powerless to stop them. The best you can do for now is to notify the U.S. Secret Service and ISP of the offending scam artist to seek removing them from their service.

The Secret Service calls these scams the "419 Advanced Fee Schemes" after the Nigerian Penal code fraud section. If you have been victimized by one of these schemes, please forward appropriate written documentation to the United States Secret Service, Financial Crimes Division, 950 H Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20223, or telephone (202) 406-5850, or contact by e-mail. If you have received a letter, but have not lost any monies to this scheme, please fax a copy of that letter to (202) 406-5031.
Actual E-mail Examples
The e-mails posted below are left largely intact (spelling, grammar, etc) except for removing names of victims and telephone numbers.
Remember these are samples are scams...do not fall for them!!!

This is e-mail # 1
DEAR BELOVED,

CALVARY GREETINGS IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. I AM DEACON KINGSLEY AKO, RETTIRED MANAGING DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR GENERAL OF MINISTRY OF AVIATION AND A MEMBER OF REDEEMED PILLER OF FIRE MINISTRY. BASICALLY A PRAYER AND DELIVERANCE MINISTRY.

DURING A PRAYER AND FASTING SESSION IN MY MINISTRY I DEMANDED FROM OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST TO GIVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO REDEEM MY LIFE AND PURIFY WHAT REMAINS
OF MY WEALTH . GOD DELIVELY REVEALED TO ME TO INVEST IN HIS KINGDOM THROUGH YOU AND YOUR MINISTRY /CHARITY ORGANISATION.

YOU SHOULD IMMIDIATLY CONTACT ME WITH MY E-MAIL ADDRESS. THE WAY JESUS MINISTERED TO ME, THE FUNDS WILL BE ESPANDED.

REMAIN BLESS
DEACON KINGSLEY A.

e-mail # 2......
DEAR BELOVED
THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSE AND YOUR WILLINGNESS TO
THIS GREAT CALL OF GOD TO DO HIS WORK. I AM A MAN OF 64YEARS OF AGE AND I AM MARRIED TO MY LOVELY WIFE ELIZERBETH, I HAVE THREE CHILDREN AND FIVE GRAND CHILDREN, WE ALL WORSHIP IN VICTORIOUS ARMY MINISTRY.

I KNOW YOU WILL BE SUPRISED TO RECEIVE MY MAIL BUT REMEMBER THE BIBLE SAYS, THE BLESSING OF GOD COMES SUPERNATURALY AND IT IS THROUGH DEVINE FAVOUR. AFTER I RECEIVED INSTRUCTION FROM GOD TO USE THIS FUNDS TO DO HIS WORK,I PRAYED TO GOD FOR DIRECTION AND HE HAS BEEN DIRECTING ME.I TOLD GOD THAT I WANT A MINISTRY, AN HONEST MAN WHO WILL SPEND THE FUND FOR THINGS THAT WILL GLORIFY HIS NAME.

I CAME ACCROSS YOUR ADDRESS IN THE INTERNET AS I WAS BROWSING THROUGH A CHRISTIAN SITE, I TOOK INTEREST IN YOUR MINISTRY, I FASTED AND PRAYED OVER IT AND THE SPIRIT OF GOD DIRECTED ME TO SOW IN YOUR MINISTRY.THIS REVELATION CAME AFTER MY CONVERTION FROM A MUSLIM TO A CHRISTAIN I RECEIVED CHRIST AND I FOUND OUT THAT A SINNER HAS NO PLACE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD.I NEVER HAD REST OF MIND, I SEEKED GOD FOR FORGIVENESS AND HE REVEALED TO ME THAT I WILL ONLY HAVE REST OF MIND IF I SERVE HIM WITH ALL I HAVE AND HE WILL BLESS BE MIGTHILLY IS HENCE RECIVED CHRIST THAT I REALISED THE MEANING OF GOING TO HEAVEN.I NEED TO MAKE HEAVEN,I DONT WANT TO PERRISH IN HELL FIRE.

AS MY LEVEL OF CHRISTAINITY WAS INCREASING,I UNDERSTOOD THAT THE WEALTH OF SINNERS ARE ACQUIRED FOR THE JUST.GOD OPENED MY EYES TO THE BOOK OF ECLESIASTES 6, VERSES 1&2. READ THIS SCRIPTURE AND YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD THAT GOD GAVE THE GRACE TO ACQUIRE WEALTH YET GOD DID NOT GIVE THEM THE GRACE TO ENJOY THE WEALTH. I HAPPENED TO FALL INTO THE SAME CATHEGORY NOW IT IS THE WISH OF GOD. WHEN GOD REVEALED TO ME TO USE MY WEALTH TO DO HIS WORK, I UNDERSTOOD THAT GOD WAS TESTING ME LIKE HE TESTED ABRAHAM AND OTHER MEN OF GOD.ABRAHAM NEEDED CHILDREN AND GOD ASKED HIM TO USE HIS ONLY SON FOR SACRIFICE, ABRAHAM WAS FAITHFUL.HE OBEYED AND GOD MADE HIM FATHER OF MANY NATIONS.

I HAVE DECIDED TO SOW 70% OUT OF THE TOTAL SUM INTO YOUR MINISTRY, THE REMAINING 30% I WILL INVEST INTO ANY CHRISTIAN RELATED BUSINESS IN YOUR COUNTRY. THIS FUND ($20,MILLION USD) IS IN SECURITY COMPANY HERE IN NIGERIA. THIS SECURITY COMPANY, GLOBAL TRUSTS SECURITY COMPANY, IN COLABORATION WITH "DIPLOMATIC EXPRESS COURIER SERVICES" HELPS IN THE SHIPMENT OF VALUABLE GOODS OUT OF THE COUNTRY THROUGH A DIPLMATIC MEANS, HEREBY THE FUND PACKAGED IN CONSIGNMENT AND DELIVERED TO THE RECIPIENT. THEY HAVE AFILIATE OFFICES ALL OVER EUROPE. I WOULD HAVE USED WIRE TRANSFER BUT DUE TO A MEMO SET BY THE FINANCE MINISTER TO THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA TO FORWARD ALL FOREIGN PAYMENT FILE TO HIS OFFICE FOR VERTING, OF WHICH IT WILL NOT FAVOUR US THAT WAS WHY I CHOOSED TO USE THIS DIPLOMATIC, PROCESS TO SEND THIS FUNDS OUT OF THE COUNTRY IN ORDER TO AVOID UNNECESSARY QUESTIONS OR RAISING OF EYE BROWS EITHER FROM MY GOVRENMENT OR FROM YOUR OWN GOVERNMENT.
WE NEED TO MOVE THIS FUNDS OUT OF THIS COUNTRY WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME FROM NOW, I WILL NEED YOU TO IMMEDIATELY SEND ME THE PATICULARS I REQUESTED FROM YOU, YOUR FULL NAME YOUR FULL ADRESS YOUR TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS. THE FUNDS IS ALREADY PACKAGED IN CONSIGNMENTS AND READY FOR SHIPEMENT, THESE INFORMATIONS IS REQUIRED BY THE SECURITY COMPANY SO THAT THEY WILL START UP ALL THE NECESSARY PROCESS ON HOW THE FUNDS WILL GET TO YOU. BE INFORMED THAT AS SOON AS THIS FUNDS IS IN YOUR POSESSION, I AND MY FAMILY WILL BE JOINING YOU IN YOUR COUNTRY.
I WILL APRECIATE IF YOU CAN CALL ME ON THIS NUMBER 234-80-3XXXXXX SO THAT WE CAN DISCUSS AT LENTH. I WILL AWAIT YOUR URGENT RESPONSE.

REMAIN BLESSED.
KINGSLEY

e-mail #3.........
DEAR BELOVED,
I AM COMING OVER TO AMERICA WITH FAMILY WHEN THE FUND GETS THERE AND THE PURPOSE FOR US TO SHARE THE TESTIMONY TOGETHER. DO SEND ME THE NECESSARY INFORMATION REQUESTED BY THE SECURITY COMPANY TO ENABLE ME MAKE A PROPER
ARRANGEMENT ON HOW THE FUND WILL LEAVE AFRICA.

THE INFORMATION ARE;
YOUR PASSPORT NUMBER.
YOUR PRIVATE TEL/ FAX NUMBER,
YOUR CORRESPONDENCE ADRESS.
I WILL BE WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU ON PHONE.
YOU CAN CALL ME ANYTIME ON MY CELL PHONE.
234-80-33XXXXXX

GOD BLESS YOU.
KINGSLEY.

e-mail #4........
DEAR BELOVED,
GREETINGS IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, DO NOT THINK I HAVE ANY OTHER MOTIVE OF TAKING THE MONEY BACK OR EXCPECTING ANY RETURNS FROM YOUR CHURCH, THAT IS WHY I SAID 30% OF THE TOTAL SUM WILL BE FOR MYOWN USAGE. AND I WILL LIKE TO STAY IN FLORIDA OR CALIFORNIA FOR A BRITHER LIFE, AND IF YOUR FAMILY IS GOING TO ENGLAND FOR ANYTHING THEY ARE VERY FREE.

I ALSO WISH TO INFORM YOU THAT THE ONLY MONEY I HAVE WITH ME IS $10,000.00USD FOR NOW IS WHAT WE BUDGETED FOR OUR TICKET WHEN THE VISA IS OUT.

THE ONLY MEANS I CAN SEND THIS MONEY IS WITH THE AID OF THE SECURITY COMPANY THAT IS WHY I AM USING THEM, MOREOVER YOU CAN NOT SEND OUT MONEY THROUGH BANK OVER HERE UNLESS YOU HAVE A CERTIFICATE AS AN INTERNATIONALTRADER AND EVEN THE WESTERN DO NOT SEND OUT, BUT THEY CAN RECEIVE. FOR THE CONSIGNEMT TO COME OVER TO YOUR COUNTRY IS THE ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN YOU AND THE SECURITY COMPANY
BECAUSE MY SHIPINGS FEE ENDS IN HOLLAND, THAT IS WHERE YOU WILL CONTACTED FOR PICK UP OF THE CONSIGNMENT.

BELOVED I HAVE SEEN MONEY ALL LIFE TIME BUT I WANT TO BE CLOSE TO THE LORD SO THERE IS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. GOD BLESS YOU, AWAITING FOR YOUR RESPONSE.

KINGSLEY
==================================
The appropriate email response:

> Dear Kingsley,
> It was nice talking to you a few minutes ago but it was difficult for me to understand you so I thought it best to e-mail you. I do need to have some answers to some questions before this process is started.
>
> 1. why not just come to America? Why do you need me in this process?
>
> 2. Where will you live when you get to America?
>
> 3. I need to make sure you understand that my family will be leaving for England one month after the money arrives.
>
> 4. How will you send the money? You say you can't wire the money but specifically how will the money be sent? Cash? Western Union?
>
> 5. When you get to America, how will you live? I assume you have additional funds above the $20 million with which you will be able to live here.
>
> 6. If I give you the address to my home office in Florida, how long would it take to get the consignment here?
>
> I know you are anxious to get out of Nigeria and to get this process started but you must understand it's not everyday someone offers to give my ministry $14 million. I will have to get approval from my home office before any movement can be made on my part.
>
> Like I said before, if this is a "God thing" nothing can stop it. If it's NOT a "God thing" I don't want any part of it.
>
> God bless
>
> >e-mail #5
> >
> >DEAR BELOVED,

> >I AM COMING OVER TO AMERICA WITH FAMILY WHEN THE FUND GETS THERE AND THE PURPOSE FOR US TO SHARE THE TESTIMONY TOGETHER. DO SEND ME THE NECESSARY INFORMATION REQUESTED BY THE SECURITY COMPANY TO ENABLE ME MAKE A PROPER ARRANGEMENT ON HOW THE FUND WILL LEAVE AFRICA.

> >THE INFORMATION ARE;
> >YOUR PASSPORT NUMBER.
> >YOUR PRIVATE TEL/ FAX NUMBER,
> >YOUR CORRESPONDENCE ADRESS.
> >I WILL BE WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU ON PHONE.
> >YOU CAN CALL ME ANYTIME ON MY CELL PHONE.
> >234-80-3XXXXXX
> >GOD BLESS YOU.

> >KINGSLEY.

e-mail #6
DEAR BELOVED,

GREETINGS IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, WE ARE HAVING A COOL MORNING OVER HERE WATCHING THE FIFA SOCCER WORLD CUP. ACCORDING TO YOUR QUESTION, YOU WILL BE REQUIRE TO COME OVER IN HOLLAND AND AS LONG AS I AM SUBMITTING YOUR NAME AS THE BENEFICIARY OF THE CONSIGNMENT THERE IS NO WAY YOU CAN APPOINT ANOTHER PARTY.

FOR THE SECURITY COMPANY IN HOLLAND TO BRING THE CONSIGNMET TO AMERICA WILL BASE ON YOUR NEGOTIATION WITH THEM AND I BELEIVE THAT WILL BE POSSIBLE.

I ALSO WISH TO INFORM YOU THAT THE MONEY IS IN CASH, 100 DOLLAR BILL ALL ROUND AMERICA USD. AND YOUR FLORIDA OFFICE INFORMATION WILL BE OKAY FOR THAT. BELOVED, TO BE SINCERED WITH YOU IF AT ALL THE SECURITY COMPANY IN HOLLAND WILL SHIP THE FUND TO YOUR COUNTRY I DO NOT KNOW HOW MUCH THEY WILL CHARGE FOR SHIPMENT. BECAUSE I HAVE ALREADY PAID THE SUM OF $18.000.00 USD
 FOR SHIPMENT THAT IS FROM AFRICA TO EUROPE.I HAVE ALSO CONCLUDED WITH THE NDLEA AND THE CERTICATE CLEARANCE HAS BEEN ISSUED, IT AMMOUTED TO THIS BECAUSE OF ITS
DIPLOMACY. MEANING THE CONSIGNMENT SHOULD NOT BE OPEN FROM ANY ORDER. I WILL WAITING FOR YOUR URGENT RESPONSE
GOD BLESS YOU.
KINGSLEY.

Now for the e-mails sent to him................
Dear Kingsley,

I am a man of integrity and would use any funds for the intended purpose: ministry in England.

Because of this integrity you must understand my curiosity regarding your proposal. You mentioned you need to move the funds out of Nigeria as soon as possible. This causes me to question why? Also, my finances are handled out of my mission's base in Florida. All funds would need to be sent to Florida. They would then be distributed to me. And the mission's agency attorney would need to review this arrangement.

Also in question is your statement regarding you and your family coming to America. I would ask for what purpose you would be coming to America. Should this arrangement take place, we would be leaving for England as soon as possible.

$20 million is a lot of money that could be used to spread the love of Jesus around the world. My wife and I were discussing your proposition and, to be honest, wondered if this is possibly a fraud. But we also discussed what it would mean to the ministry if it is true. I admit I have misgivings about this but on the other hand, my God is able to "do exceedingly abundantly more than I could ask or think".

We have a saying here in America, "If it seems too good to be true, it probably is". If this is a "God thing" it will happen and all will be blessed. If this is NOT a "God thing" I wouldn't want any of the money.
Please e-mail me with any more information.
God bless

message # 3......

Dear Kingsley,
I was thinking this morning before going to church, that if you are using your money, which God said to give to a ministry, for personal benefit that may not be the best of motivations / attitudes.

In other words, if you expect to get something back, ie. new home in America, in exchange for your gift to my ministry then you may not be giving with the right intentions. Gifts to God must be non conditional. We give to God because we love him and because it's scriptural. We don't give to get.

 If you are to be here in America God will work it out. If my ministry is to have your funds God will work it out.

 To be honest with you, we desperately need funding. We've been trying to get to England for one year now and the fund raising is difficult. But I don't want to step outside God's will.

 If you are interested in an address where you can send non-returnable donations you can go to my website. It's not much of a website but it's a beginning. The address is XXXXXXXX

Please let me know how you plan to handle this situation.
God bless you and your family and I pray God's will be done in your lives, be it in America or in Nigeria.

message # 4 I sent him...........
 Kingsley,
Thanks for writing back. I have a couple other questions for you.
 1. You say your fee for the security company ends in holland. Would I have to make the pick up in Holland?
 2. I do have a contact in Holland who may be able to make the pick up for me. Is that possible?
 3. Would it be possible for the security company in Holland to ship the consignment to me here in America?
 4. When I receive the consignment from the shipping company, in what form will the funds be. A bank note or check?
 5. Does the shipping company need my information or is the information of my home office in Florida sufficient. My home office could probably make the arrangements with the shipping company.
 6. Do you know how much the fee would be for the shipment from Holland to America?
 God bless you

DEAR BELOVED,
GREETINGS IN THE NAME OF THY LORD, I WISH TO INFORM YOU THAT THE CONSIGNMENT HAS LEFT FOR HOLLAND THIS MORNING SO CALL ME FOR MORE DETAILS.

GOD BLESS.
KINGSLEY
Message #5

 kingsley,
I know this is a fraud. One thing you said in an earlier e-mail about going to hell is not just a story. Be sure your sin will find you out. What will it profit you to gain much wealth then die and go to hell.

I even feel sorry for you. Thinking that money will gain you happiness. I do wish you had been muslim and converted to Christianity. I wish this whole thing had been true. Not for the money my ministry would have gained but that your soul would be secure in Jesus. But as it is, your denial of Jesus will gain you judgment and hell. I will pray for you.

Here is another version from a disgruntled scammer:

Thanks for your page of scams. I Have had the one from Mr Etuk whatever he calls himself. I was sceptical from the first having had others, but there was some information that was just possible so I went along with it until it showed itself for what it was. Now instead of just letting the matter drop I get this:
DEAR SR. FRANCIS,

I am not happy how you kept silence concerning this mission ,Do you think indeed that this mission is a childs play and even if you don't have the fee required for this affidavit ,Is that what will make you to relent while you realy claimed to me that you are a born again and now you don't want to help a sick person with your Godly mind.

Let me tell you SR.FRANCIS, Please you should count every thing regards to this mission off from scan because i did not involve in scan when i am 100% healthy talkless of now i am at point of death. Please i am seriousely trying as much as i can to race the fee required for the affidavit on your behalf. The only thing i want you to do for good interrest of this mission is for you to write to the law firm and inform them that you are arranging to forward to them what they require for the services so that i will put more effort to come up with this fee for the affidavit because i have prayed and prayed but still God is directing me to you as the one that will champion this mission of my life in a good faith. Please do this immediately and call me for more advise and directives.
In conlussion ,I have told you with all my heart that the whole depositing documents will be forwarded to you for proper confirmation upon secureing of this affidavit and i will also like every thing to be legal for my safety and yours ,So please don't be discouraged because of this fee ,I will put more effort to get this fee on your behalf for the affidavit and for you to believe that indeed i can never mislead a child of God because i know that i will not go scolt free.

DO THIS IMMEDIATELY AND CALL ME AS I DIRECTED ,I AM WORRIED.
FROM GREAT MIND OF MR ETUK COLLINS.

Yours,
Sr Francis

These examples are scams...don't fall for them!


Identity Theft Facts : The Fastest Growing Crime Worldwide
Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the World. Approximately, 11.8 million Americans (one in twenty adults) have been victimized by identity theft as of April 2003, according to research by Star Systems. Credit card numbers, driver’s license numbers, social security numbers, date of birth, and other personal identification can net criminals thousands of dollars in a very short period of time. Most often, identity thieves will obtain your personal identification numbers and obtain credit in your name by having credit cards, goods or services delivered to their address or mail drop. Since the bills for charges incurred are sent to the thief's address, not yours, you will be unaware that debt is mounting up in your name until the collections department tracks you down. By then your credit report will already be riddled with late payment histories and show many accounts in collections. As you can imagine the credit reporting bureaus will be reluctant to change negative credit without proof that you didn't create the bad credit.

Types of ID Theft
Identity theft can take many forms. An illegal immigrant may use your social security number (SSN) and date of birth (DOB) for employment purposes or to obtain a birth certificate. Imagine the confusion that can be created when the IRS wants to know why you didn't declare the extra income reported to them caused by someone using your name and social security number. Sometimes personal identification numbers are sold over and over to hundreds of individuals who in turn attempt to obtain bogus credit in your name or establish utility services and run up the bills. Sometimes arrested criminals will use false names, DOBs, and SSNs that belong to another. Innocent persons have discovered that they have criminal records because of a misused ID. See how easy it is for you to explain to family, coworkers or friends that you are mistakenly arrested for an outstanding criminal warrant.

Restoring Stolen Identity
Identity theft can take months and sometimes even years to detect and can take about the same time to correct the damage. According to the California Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG) and the Privacy Rights Clearing House, victims of identity theft spend an average of 175 hours and $808 in out-of-pocket costs (not including attorney fees) to fix their wrecked credit problem. Identity theft can significantly traumatize anyone because it is unnerving to know (or not know) the extent of the damage to your name, credit or reputation. There have been cases reported where it has taken victims years to restore their credit and good name, and had problems being able to cash checks, obtain loans or even rent an apartment.

Preventive Steps
Run a credit report on yourself to see if there are any unknown credit inquiries or unauthorized accounts

Reconcile your check and credit card statements in a timely fashion and challenge any purchases that you did not make

Limit the number of credit cards you have to reduce exposure, and cancel any inactive accounts

Destroy all unused pre-approved credit card and loan applications. The mailbox thief only has to fill them out and redirect the return address to start using your credit

Never give any important number out like from your drivers license, credit card, bank account, date of birth or social security number to anyone you don’t know over the telephone

Minimize exposure of your drivers’ license number, date of birth, social security number, and credit card numbers. If the numbers are requested for check cashing purposes, ask if the business has alternative options such as such as using a check-cashing card

Safeguard your credit, debit, and ATM card receipts and shred them before disposing of them

Shred your bank statements and any tax documents when you dispose of them
Before disposal, shred paycheck stubs and W-2 forms that contain your social security number and often your name and address. This is a common way for dumpster divers to obtain important identification

Scrutinize your utility and subscription bills to make sure the charges are yours

Destroy all checks immediately when you close a checking account. Destroy or keep in a secure place, any courtesy checks that your bank or credit card company may mail to you

Memorize your passwords and personal identification (PIN) numbers. Keep your PIN numbers somewhere that only you know

Don’t give out your PIN or write them on your credit cards or ATM cards
Keep a list or photocopy all credit and identification cards you carry with you, including front and back, so that you can quickly call the issuers to inform them about missing or stolen cards

Don't give away too much personal information on your family web site. Full names, date of births, and address is too much information to post. By obtaining your "place-of-birth," the identity thief can possibly get your duplicate birth certificate

Protect your mother's maiden name, especially when using family tree tracers and genealogy service web sites. Maiden names are often used as passwords to access accounts over the telephone

Never leave your purse or wallet unattended, at work, at restaurants, at health fitness clubs, in your shopping cart, at church or at social gatherings. Never leave your purse or wallet in open view in your car, even when locked

If You Become a Victim
Report the incident to the police immediately. If you know where your identification was stolen, that would be the correct police jurisdiction to report it to. Insist on being given a police report number a get a copy to encloses in correspondence with credit agencies

Report all stolen cards to the issuers immediately and request that new card numbers. Always respond to written credit card receipt notifications received in the mail

Notify your bank in the event that your checks are stolen and request that your account be closed

In order to prove your innocence, be prepared to fill out affidavits of forgeries for banks, credit grantors, and recipients of stolen checks. They are joint victims with you and may suffer a financial loss

Be prepared to work with retailers who have been victimized by someone using your name to help mitigate their losses, if necessary

If you know the abuser, report them to the Federal Trade Commission
Go online to social security administration if someone is using your social security number to establish credit or new accounts. If SSN fraud is suspected, call the SSA Hotline: (800) 772-1213

Obtain copies of your credit report periodically to see if there are any unknown credit lines in your name. Credit reports costs less than $10. All three major credit reporting agencies in the United States have toll free telephone numbers. Equifax (888) 532-0179; Experian (800) 311-4769; Trans Union (800) 680-7289. Each agency has a consumer fraud division. Call them.

Report suspected fraud to the credit reporting agencies and request that your account be red flagged with a fraud statement posted at the top of your report to all three credit reporting agencies. This will stop future credit from being issued until you are contacted and will remain in place for seven years or until you cancel the request. These agencies will also help clear up negative information on the reports due to fraud.

-Birdy