The mother of all Nigerian scams
The following email was forwarded to me by a friend. As Nigerian scams go, it is a thing of beauty, don’t you think? And despite the scammers’ continuing inability to master the English language, the closing sentence is a masterpiece: Making the world a better place.
From: koffi annan
Subject: SCAMMED VICTIM YOUR $900,000 .00 USD COMPENSATION.
To: SCAMMED VICTIM YOUR $900,000 .00 USD COMPENSATION.
REF/PAYMENTS CODE: 02007 $900,000,00.USD.
DEAR BENEFICIARY,
This is to bring to your notice that We have been having a meeting for the passed 7 months which ended 2 days ago with the former secretary to the UNITED NATIONS. On this faithful recommendations, I want you to know that during the last U.N. meetings held at COTONOU, Republic of Benin, it was alarmed so much by the world in the meetings on the lost of funds by various individuals to scams artists operating in syndicates all over the world today. In other to compensate these victims, the U.N Body is now paying 221 victims of this operators $900,000,00.USD
Each in accordance with the U.N recommendations. Due to the corrupt and in-efficient Banking Systems in Federal Republic of BENIN, the payments are to be paid by the U.N REPRESENTATIVE here in BENIN Dr. John Michael as under funding assistance by United Nation body. Benefactor will be cleared and recommended for payment by U.N REPRESENTATIVE. According to the number of applicants at hand, 184 Beneficiaries has been paid, half of the victims are from the United States, we still have more 37 left to be paid the compensations of $900,000,00.USD each. Your particulars was mentioned by one of the Syndicates who was arrested as one of their victims of the operations, you are hereby warned not to communicate or duplicate this message to him for any reason what so ever as the U.S. secret service is already on trace of the other criminals. So keep it secret till they are all apprehended. Other victims who have not been contacted can submit their application as well for scrutiny and possible consideration.
You can receive your compensations payments via, DRAFT/CHEQUE PAYMENTS. You are advised to contact Dr. John Michael U.N REPRESENTATIVE in BENIN, as he is our representative in BENIN, contact him immediately for your Cheque/International Bank Draft of $900,000,00.USD This funds are in a Bank Draft for security purpose, so he will send it to you and you can clear it in any bank of your choice. Therefore, you should send him your full Name and telephone number/your correct mailing address where you want him to send the Draft to you.
Contact Person: Dr. John Michael
Email Address: john_michael@yahoo.cn
Tell: +229-98165794
Thanks and God bless you and your family. Hoping to hear from you as soon as you receive your payment. Making the world a better place.
Regards,
Mr. Koffi Annan
Former Secretary (UNITED NATIONS).
SCAMMED VICTIM/REF/PAYMENTS CODE: 02007 $900,000,00.USD
What a scream. There’s a very funny book on this subject, a novel that reads like a documentary account, called “Delete This at Your Peril,” in which the protagonist, an elderly Scottish pub-crawler, actually replies to email scammers and turns the tables on them, or at least tries to.
Alternatively, U.S. government bailout money, which you have been found to be qualified for, is now available; Simply contact your local Barrack Obama-Democratic Party representative at 888-987-6543 for details. Be sure and have your social security no. handy, a current credit card no. for security validation, and your bank account no. for efficint direct deposit. Yes we can!
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I just hope that my In-laws don’t receive that scam in their e-mail,because i can guarantee that they will fall for it. Last year they fell for a scam about some guy named “Leo Wanta” who supposedly was at one time a U.S. ambassador during the Reagan years,and who claims to be the person most responsible for the downfall of the Soviet Union,and who supposedly has “trillions” in a swiss banc account that he made from shorting the Russian dollar when the soviet union collapsed.
I believe they sent that guy money to help his attorney fees to free up the all that money with a promise to get a few millions in return. They fell for it and they also got a few of their friends involved in that scam.
Whats really sad is that it wasn’t a few weeks after i convinced them that it was a scam and to quit sending that scam artist anymore money,they were all excited about an e-mail they received in which they were promised millions if they helped some Nigerian prince with his attorney fees to free up his billion dollar inheritance. Unbelievable.
May the Butterfly of Happiness …
Actually, I would disfavor prosecution of the sender of this particular item on the premise that anyone who actually falls for it deserves to be scammed.
I might be able to do it myself, because just yesterday I learned I may have one five million dollars from a magazine subscription company.
the scariest part is that with your full name, tel # and address, they can essentially get your entire credit profile and then begin the hacking into specific accounts. the mother of all data points is your checking account of course, the ease with which scams can drain it, is uncanny. here’s my latest received attempt:
“Pls re-confirm that you received the uklottery winning notice by replying with your name/address so as to furnish you with the details on how you won and the delivery of your winnings to you.”
there has been a sharp rise in this stuff which i attribute to the decline in pirate activity off the horn of africa…..lol
It’s the kind of thing Kofi Annan might well send, being himself a crook; however, I doubt he would misspell his name.
Yes, the United Nations fits right in there, doesn’t it? Actually, Nigerian scams amuse me too. What I like most about them is the way that they are entirely predicated on the greed of the recipient.
Interesting. I received the SAME email except mine was from Ban Ki-moon instead!
Love the site. Keep up the great work.
Jeff (JRed)
Look Up Fellowship