Smartgambler comment:
Also known by other names and not really a gambling scam, but one you will probably encounter at some point. This genre of scams has been doing the rounds for so long now in much the same format that it seems incredible that anyone is still falling for it. However, the fact that it is still being perpetrated indicates that this is the case. The only saving grace is that anyone being conned by it is themselves of dubious moral fibre, since what the letter suggests is clearly illegal. Here is one of hundreds of actual examples received by us as e-mail spam.
----- Original Message -----
From: Timothy Eze <timoezei@yahoo.com>
To: contact us. <quapi@primus.com.au>
Sent: Saturday, September 08, 2001 9:13 AM
Subject: PRIVATE MEMO
PRIVATE MEMO
FROM: ENGR. TIMOTHY EZE
TEL: 234-1-7758054
FAX: 234-1-7594679
E-mail: timoezei@yahoo.com
LAGOS-NIGERIA. 7th. September, 2001.
Dear Friend,
My letter may come to you as a surprise. I am a subscriber
to the World Industrial Reporter from where I collected
your name and address in the International buyer's
guide section. I am Engr. Timothy Eze, a Director
General in the Federal Ministry of Mines & Power
(FMMP). I am the secretary to the Management Tender's
Committee (MTC) of the Ministry.
In a turn Around Maintenance (TAM) exercise in one of our parastatal a couple of months ago by Foreign contractors, we (the MTC members) were able to over -invoice the contract fees to the tune of US$35 M (Thirty Five million United States dollars). The main contractors have been paid off completely. We now want this floating sum of US$35M, which is now in the ministry's account to be paid into a foreign account. Unfortunately, none of us in the committee own a foreign account since as public servants we are not allowed to run foreign accounts.
My colleagues (Chairman and other members) have mandated me to source for an account owner in an overseas bank where this money can be lodged. The choice person must be honest and versatile in business, as we shall be presenting him as though he executed a certain contract here in this ministry several years ago. We shall then use our various post and positions in the Government to influence the processing of this claim.
MODE OF SHARING: We have agreed that when this fund is transferred into your account, the chairman and the other members of this committee shall come over there to discuses the funds as following; 30% to the account owner (that is you), 65% to the MTC members and 5% to settle any expense incurred by both parties during the process of the transaction. This transaction is strictly confidential and risk free. The officials of (FMMP) involved are highly placed Nigerians. Kindly notify me urgently of your acceptance to this proposal so that we can set the ball rolling. It is expected that this transaction will last for 14 days from the time we get your acceptance letter through our fax: 234-1-7594679 or telephone call on: 234-1-7758054 or via e-mail.
What we do propose here is not uncommon in Nigeria. Our past and present leaders have been siphoning public funds in this way. That is why we now see this chance as an opportunity of a lifetime, which we cannot afford to lose. Upon your response we shall write you a more elaborate mail/fax message educating you on your role in this deal and the way we intend going about the actualization of this objective. We shall also be explaining more about the source of this fund and why we choose you as partner in this deal.
So sir, please do get back to us immediately even if you are not interested to enable us know if we should continue with our negotiations or not. I am waiting for your urgent phone/fax/mail messages with respect to this proposal.
Thanks,
Timothy Eze.
Further Smartgambler comment:
No, thank you Timothy, for generously agreeing to part with some of your millions in ill-gotten loot. We particularly liked the bit, "The choice person must be honest and versatile in business". Somewhat more of the latter than the former, obviously!
Would it be mischievious of us to suggest that any Smartgambler readers so inclined might like to ring that number reverse charge (call collect) to discuss the proposal?
New twist to the Nigerian Scam...
This has extra pathos thrown in as the principal has suffered at the hands of a repressive regime. (His father did benefit from the regime to the tune of US $21 million though, whilst pursuing his human rights activism.)
-----Original Message-----
From: Emmanuel Dada [mailto:emma_dada@lycos.com]
Sent: Sunday, May 19, 2002 12:48 AM
To: guywest_at_ozmium_dot_com_dot_au
Subject: Personal
Dear Sir,
REQUEST FOR URGENT ASSISTANCE
I am the eldest son of the late Henri Dada Kabongo
(a foremost human rights activist in the Democratic
Republic of Congo). My father died in March 2000 as
a result of the inhumane treatment meted out on him
while in prison by the government of Laurent Kabila.
However, it is particularly important to mention
here that before the death of my father, he was a
successful businessman and his business empire
includes real estate, exportation, and consultancy
services which cut across Africa. He was able to accumulate
enough money both in local and foreign
currencies through his business empire. In fact, he
was at one time rated among the first five richest
Congolese businessmen by one of the leading business
magazines in my country. His entire business has been
on the upward trend over the past ten years, bringing
his net profit during the period under review to Twenty
one million U.S dollars ($21,000,000). This of course
does not include his assets which are already running
into millions of dollars.
Having said all this, there was a twist in my father’s
success story
following his confrontation with the government of
Laurent Kabila who has been quite high-handed and
dictatorial in his policies and day-to-day running
of the affairs of the Congolese people. My father
being a human rights activist, criticised his government
in both local and international newspapers. This infuriated
him and he clamped my father in jail until he died
in March last year due to ill health.
Fortunately, before the arrest of my father, his attorney acting upon his instructions, transferred the sum of Twenty one million U.S dollars ($21,000,000) from his local banks to a security firm overseas. He did this for fear of this accounts being frozen by the government. Following my father’s death, my entire family decided to seek political assylum in Lome-Togo, as the eldest son of my late father and according to our tradition in Africa I have now inherited all my father’s wealth. Considering the present face-off between Kabila and my family, I was then advised by my father’s attorney (presently my attorney) to seek the assistance of someone based in your country to receive the amount in question being ($21,000,000).
Since I have the intention of relocating my family there with the aim of settling down there and investing I have decided to give you 10% of the total amount involved and I have also set aside 5% for any expenses that might be incurred in the course of this transaction. To finalize this transaction you will have to contact me via my e-mail address (emma_dada@lycos.com). further discussions will be centered on how and when we shall be meet after the fund is in your account. I shall expect you to keep this transaction confidential due to the present circumstance of my family and I urgently await your response.
Yours faithfully,
Emmanuel Dada
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