Email Scams
I'm always surprised when people fall for these, but while most people just delete scam emails, a small percentage aren't yet worldly wise enough and get drawn in. A scam email is usually some sort of request for your help in liberating a great deal of money and typically claiming to come from someone in a position of power but who needs help to act quickly. In return they offer you a share of the loot. Sounds great but don't be deceived. Normally you are required to send a few thousand pounds/dollars/euros to enable the "real money" to be freed up. If you fall for this you'll send your money and account details (never do that) and then wait for the million or two to appear in your bank account. Sadly it will never come and you'll find no trace of your influential friend.
Here's an example of an email scam letter I have received:
From: bello ahmed [bello_ahmed234@hotmail.com]
Sent: 28 October 2005 05:55
Subject: Engr.Ahmed
Dear Sir
It is my great pleasure in writing you this letter on behalf of myself and my colleagues. Your particulars were given to me by a member of the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Aviation (FMA) who was at the Federal Government Delegation to your country during a trade exhibition.I have
decide to seek a confidential cooperation with you in the execution of the deal described hereunder for the benefit of all parties and hope you will keep it as top secret because of the nature of this business.
Within the Ministry of Petroleum Resources where I work as a Director, Project Implementation and with the cooperation of Four other top officials, we have in our possession as overdue payment bills totalling thirty Three Million, four hundred and eighty thousand U.S. Dollars (US$33,480,000.00) which we want to transfer abroad with assistance and cooperation of a foreign company (individual) to receive the said fund on our behalf or a reliable foreign non-company account to receive such fund.
In account represented some percentage of the total contract value executed on behalf of my Ministry by a foreign contracting firm which we the official over-invoiced. Though the actual contract cost have been paid to the original contractor, leaving the balance in the tune of the said amount which we have in principles gotten approval to remit by TelegraphicTransfer (T.T) to foreign bank account you will provide. Since the present Government of Nigeria is determined to pay every foreign Contractors all debts owes so as to maintain good relationship with Foreign Governemt and non-Government Financial Agencies, we have decided to include our bills for approvals with the cooperation of some officials from the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN).
We are seeking your assistance in providing a good company's account or any other offshore bank account into which we can remit this money by acting as our main partner and trustee or acting as the original contractor. This we can do by swapping of account and changing of beneficiary and other forms of documentation upon application for claim to reflect the payment and approvals to be secured on behalf of our company.
This processes being internal arrangement with the departments concerned. I have the authority of my partners involved to propose that should you be willing to assist us in the transaction, Your share of the sum will be 30% of theUS$ of the US$33,480,000.00 Million dollars, 69% for us and 1% for taxation and miscellaneous expenses.The business itself is 100% safe, on your part provided you treat it with secrecy and confidentiality. Also your area of specialization is not a hindrance to the successful execution of this transaction.
I have reposed my confidence in you and hope that you will not disappoint me. While we wait for your urgent reply. Thanks for your co-operation.
Engr. Bello Ahmed
It never fails to amaze me when I hear of people being taken in by emails like this. I know we'd all like to suddenly end up a lot better off but that shouldn't stop us asking questions like "so, how did this guy find out about me? Who else has he asked? Why does he really need me?" and so forth.
If you'd like to see another of these sort of emails, click here.
Anyhow, you've now been warned, please just delete any email which arrives from someone you don't know offering you vast riches (or anything else for that matter).
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