The Nigerian Scam is still alive

Posted on January 3, 2021 by The Old Wolf

Oh, those unclaimed trunks of money…

In my spam box six days ago:

Steven Owen
Deputy Director Of Finance,
(Administration,Operations)
Richmond International Airport
1 Richard E Byrd Terminal Dr,
Richmond, VA 23250, United States
Email: stevenowen.005office@gmail.com

I have very vital information to give to you, but first I must have your trust before I review it to you because it may cause me my job,so I need somebody that I can trust for me to be able to review the secret to you.

I am Mr. Steven Owen,(Deputy Director Of Finance & Administration) here at the Richmond International Airport, Virginia.
During my recent withheld package routine check at the Airport Storage Vault, I discovered an abandoned shipment from a Diplomat from Africa and when scanned it revealed an undisclosed sum of money in a Metal Trunk Box weighing 210kg approximately $25,500,000.00 ($25.5M) The consignment
was abandoned because the Contents of the consignment was not properly declared by the consignee as “MONEY” rather it was declared as personal effect to avoid interrogation and also the inability of the diplomat to pay for the United States Non Inspection Charges which is $4,500USD. On my assumption the consignment is still left in our Storage House here at the Richmond International Airport, Virginia till date. The details of the consignment including your names, your email address and the official documents from the United Nations office in Geneva are tagged on! !! the Trunk box.

However, to enable me confirm if you are the actual recipient of this consignment as the assistant director of the Inspection Unit, I will advise you provide your current Phone Number and Full Address, to enable me cross check if it corresponds with the address on the official documents including the name of nearest Airport around your city. Please note that this consignment is supposed to have been returned to the United States Treasury Department as unclaimed delivery due to the delays in concluding the clearance processes so as a result of this, I will not be able to receive your details on my official email account. So in order words to enable me cross check your details, I will advise you send the required details to my private email address for quick processing and response. Once I confirm you as the actual recipient of the trunk box, I can get everything concluded within 48hours upon your acceptance and proceed to your address for delivery.
The Requested Information is to ensure that no mistake or error is occured and should be forwarded in the manner stated below:

Your Full Name:…….
Your Complete Address:…..
Name of City of Residence:…..
Closet Airport to your City:……
Direct Telephone Number:…..

Lastly, be informed that the reason I have taken it upon myself to contact you personally about this abandoned consignment is because I want us to transact this business and share the money 70% for you and 30% for me since the consignment has not yet been returned to the United States Treasury Department after being abandoned by the diplomat so immediately the confirmation is made, I will go ahead and pay for the United States Non Inspection Fee of $4,500 dollars and arrange for the box to be delivered to your doorstep Or I can bring it by myself to avoid any more trouble but you have to assure me of my 30% share.

I wait to hear from you urgently if you are still alive and I will
appreciate if we can keep this deal confidential. Please get back to
me via my private Email (stevenowen.005office@gmail.com) for further directives:

Best Regards
Mr.Steven Owen

The email came with a form to fill out, which clearly was never completed:

These are just as fraudulent now as they were during the days of the fax machine. NEVER send money or private information to these scumbags. Delete their emails and move on with your life. There is no money waiting for you, and if you communicate with these people you stand to lose money or your identity or both.

The Old Wolf has spoken.

Dear Beneficiary

Posted on January 3, 2019 by The Old Wolf

I often post scam emails that I get, but this one came to a friend and I saw it show up at his virtual home on Facebook. Posting it here just as a reference in case anyone gets something similar and wonders if it’s real.

It’s not. It’s a scam. Don’t answer. Serously. You could lose every penny you have.

Dear Beneficiary,
I hope that this correspondence is received with the urgency and expediency required.It has come to the notice of the Board of Trustees of the Federal Reserve Bank here in Washington, D.C. that your present inheritance claims application being handled by the Remitting Bank in Nigeria is experiencing some man made irregularities. To this effect, it has become necessary for the Board of Trustees to assign trained Fund Transfer Specialists from the United States to resolve and regularize your fund release with immediate effect.

We at Deborah L. Hayes & Corporate Affairs have been duly consulted by the FRB Board of Trustees. We have been fully informed about how the staffs of the remitting bank has been taking advantage of you by telling you to pay unnecessarily exorbitant charges which will only make your fund payment a long drawn out process.
Due to this development, we have been assigned to step into the immediate processing of your fund transfer to enable your funds to be transferred to you within the shortest possible time. To implement this, you are to get back to us immediately without needing to pay all the huge sums of monies that are being demanded from you by the previous handlers at the remitting bank.
All processes to have your funds paid to you immediately through the CBN’s Liaison Remittance Office in New York have been initiated to cut out unnecessary costs.
You are advised to treat this communication with the urgency and seriousness required as the Board of Trustees of the Federal Reserve Bank has mandated us to resolve this fund payment within the next three working days independent of the office of the Remitting Bank in Africa.

Furthermore,you are hereby advised to pay no further fees or charges to the Remitting Bank in Nigeria as they shall no longer be handling your payment process.
We shall await your immediate correspondence with your direct telephone numbers to my private email address at (deborahhayes11111@gmail.com) for re-confirmation so that we may conclude your payment immediately.
Yours Sincerely,
Deborah L. Hayes
Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs

It surprises me that scam emails of this nature continue to be a thing. The only reason they continue is that they must, somehow, inexplicably, be profitable. I guess if there are people stupid and evil enough to make a living this way, there must be people stupid and gullible enough to send them money. But if posting things like this can save even one person from being taken advantage of, the effort is worth it.

The Old Wolf has spoken.

Send now, $115 through Western Union or Money Gram!

Posted on September 17, 2015 by The Old Wolf

As soon as you see the words “Nigeria,” “Western Union,” “MoneyGram,” or anything else that has to do with sending your hard-earned money to Africa, run the other way and don’t look back.

While these letters may seem repetitive, I post them here in case anyone who is considering acting on these scams does a Google search. If I can keep a single person from losing their funds to these scumbags, it will have been worth it.

From: Info Desk <ndlea1@yahoo.com>

Subject: RE: We have completed the Automated Access code number program.

To: edcsservices@hotmail.com

From the desk of: Dr (Mrs) Sarah Alade,

Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Plot 33, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Way CBD, Cadastral Zone, Abuja, FCT

Attn: Beneficiary

We have completed the Automated Access code number program.

All we need now is for an attorney from our legal department to sign and we shall give you the access code and the program which your bank or our accredited paying bank near you will use to access the escrow using the password and your will get your funds.

Truly, everything is ready to go. It would cost you US$115.

The US$115 is to obtain the authorization and legal signing fee of the accredited attorney from our legal department, who will sign to enable us give the release codes to either JP Morgan Chase & Co., Bank of America or BB&T Corporation to enable them access the escrow and pay the first $500,000 installments to you through check, draft or cash.

Due to nefarious activities of our corresponding banks and agents, we went into processing, management and online portal services pact with some banks in US.

We presently have three claimants in Georgia (U.S. state) and New York, one is from White Plains and 1 is from Ellijay.

We set up a secured escrow which can be accessed by and domiciled in JP Morgan Chase & Co., Bank of America or BB&T Corporation for the purpose of these transactions.

Once the claimant satisfies the rule, the authorization and legal signing by the Central Bank of Nigeria accredited attorney done, we will give remittance order/authorization to either JP Morgan Chase & Co., Bank of America or BB&T Corporation depending on proximity to the client. Then either JP Morgan Chase & Co., Bank of America or BB&T Corporation will access the escrow using the PIN and password, then update the programmed funds from the escrow and pay it to the client in $500,000 installments through check, draft or cash even through local wire transfer depending on the choice of the beneficiary.

The US$500,000 is to bypass bureaucratic bottlenecks and unending money laundering quagmire and brouhaha.

Send now, $115 through Western Union or Money Gram to:-

Receiver: Adamu Ahmed

Address: Plot 33, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Way Central Business District, Cadastral Zone, Abuja, FCT

Question: Place

Answer: FCT

Thanks, and we regret any inconveniences you might have passed through.

Yours sincerely

DR. (MRS) SARAH ALADE,

DEPUTY GOVERNOR, CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN)

Scamming Scum

Posted on August 5, 2015 by The Old Wolf

The boys from Benin, like the Lads from Lagos, never seem to give up.

Subject: MTCN: 3784757648 Amount: $5000.00

From: DAVID JOHNSON <foreignpayments19497@gmail.com>

To: undisclosed-recipients:;

MR DAVID JOHNSON
Payment Director
West Africa zonal office,
Western Union.

Ministry of Finance,

WELCOME TO WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER THIS MAIL IS ONLY FOR THE
OWNER OF THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS:

Below is the information of your first payments $5000 Dollars sent to
you today. But unfortunately, the managing Director of this department
called us this morning and
reported that you have not paid the required fee $100 which you are
supposed to pay earlier for the purchasing and updating of your
transfer files but we have
already sent out the payment out but not yet been putting on your name
as the receiver. You will be receiving $5000 daily until your total
amount of funds $520,000
is fully paid to you.

Since you are finding it difficult to get the $100 we have decided
that you are to go ahead and pay whatever you have out of the total
fee $100 required. But
remind you, no amount below $50 will be accepted so we expect you to
pay whatever amount from $50 and above. You are to pay what ever you
have and we will activate your
mtcn number and direct the transfer to your name as the receiver.

Send it to this information below:

Name:__________Joe Mba
Address:________Cotonou/ Benin Republic
Text Question____Transfer?
Answer_____________Yes

Please any amount you send let us know but remember any amount below
$50 will not be accepted. Send us the payment informationâ€™s
immediately after you send it.

HERE IS THE MONEY TRANSFER DETAILS MADE TO YOU!!!

MTCN: 3784757648
Sender’s First Name: CLARENCE
Sender’s Last Name: CORASS
Test Question:Color
Answer: Blue
Amount: $5000.00

Don’t expose this numbers to anybody else. If you need to check the
transfer online to see that the money is posted online for
you:https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=BJ
Note that the money detail given to you does not bear your name as the
receiver yet. As soon as we receive the fee from you, we will
immediately activate your
mtcn# and put your name as the receiver. Please take note; you need to
go along with your passport ID or Drivers license when you need to
pick up the transfer
okay.

We look forward to hearing from you. Contact me with this Email (
wudpt5@gmail.com)

REGARDS,
MR DAVID JOHNSON
WESTERN UNION BENIN -TRANSFER AGENT

This personal email, sent to “undisclosed recipients,” is certainly tempting. Okay.

So many things wrong with this, but sadly some people will fall for it.

In case you were wondering, it’s a scam. It’s always a scam. As soon as anyone mentions Western Union or Send Money, you can be sure it’s a scam.

Don’t fall for this. Ignore any such emails. Please.

The Old Wolf has spoken.

A Letter from the “Assistant Secretary of State.”

Posted on June 19, 2015 by The Old Wolf

Please us with this email again! Right, folks – the Bureau of Consular Affairs is going to use a foxmail address. For the love of all that’s holy, never respond to an email like this. If you do, you’re handing your hard-earned money to fleabitten African scammers. YES, THIS IS A SCAM. Yes, I’m SHOUTING!

From: Assistant Secretary of State Roberta Jacobson <Anderson@gamma.ocn.ne.jp>

Subject: Assistant Secretary of State Roberta Jacobson,

To: undisclosed-recipients:;

Bureau of Consular Affairs

Washington, DC 20520
Greeting from USA Embassy,

Attn Dear Citizens! Please us with this email again ( homelandsecurity20@foxmail.com )

This is to notify you that your consignment has been in our custody we are waiting for you to comply with our instructions before your package delivery will be effected to your delivery address. We have been waiting for you to contact us regarding your consignment box which Courier Company suppose to deliver to you which is on hold by USA Home Land Security Department Bureau and requesting for clearance certificate which will be obtain from the origination of the consignment box before it will be released. As a result of you not comply within duration given by Benin Government that is the reason the consignment box was diverted to treasury but the government of American have decide to make the world happy by been willing to release the package consisting of a Bank Draft Total sum of $ 3.5millions usd written with your name as the beneficiary within 4 hours immediately you secure the clearance certificate today.

After the Meeting Held by Our board of Director Which WAS Concluded That the Delivery of your Consignment to your address MUST BE Complete within 4hrs upon your Comply to Our requirement Which IS by sending the sum of $ 155.00Usd to enable the origin Obtain the needed certificate and your consignment for onward delivery to your house immediately without any further delay we decide to contact you because we confirm some offices are trying to deceive you.

Note that your consignment box has been arrived in US embassy and waiting to receive clearance certificate before the gate pass is given. Mean while you are advice to reconfirm the below information upon contacting us to avoid delivery to wrong person.

1, Full name:
2, Address:
3, Occupation:
4, Cell-Phone:
5, Nearest Airport:

Once you notify us with the Above Information include with the $ 55 payment we Will release your Consignment to you. Note That you Are expected to pay only $ 155.00Usd for Clearance certificate and you Are to pay it to Benin Republic as the origination of the Consignment box in favor of: Ofor Eze as Our accountant officer in Benin Republic Send the $ 155.00Usd through Western Union or Money gram once you receive this mail with the Information Below for IMMEDIATE release of your Consignment box,

Receiver name: Ofor Eze
Country .. Benin Republic
city .. Cotonou
question: Yes
Answer: Yes.
Amount necessary. $ 155.00usd

Once you send the money, try to notify us with the MTCN for easy pick up and for immediate action on the release of your consignment.

Please treat this as matter of urgency .Note that any uncliam consignment will be return to the Courier Company after 3 days for final divertion as a result of failure to comply with our instruction and claim your consignment which arrived from Africa to our local airport here in USA.

So you are urgently advise to comply with our demand so that we will release your consignment we are working for the best of America citizen.

Treat with dispatch,
Yours Faithfully,
Assistant Secretary of State Roberta Jacobson,
FROM UNITED STATE OF AMERICA
Call +19189363447
Email: homelandsecurity20@foxmail.com

The Lads from Benin are still busy. They may be from Lagos, too – one can never tell where these drones are operating from.

Here’s my response to this one:

All I can hope is that emails like this raise their blood pressure enough to precipitate a massive stroke…

The Old Wolf has spoken.

From INTERPOL? No, I don’t think so.

Posted on March 26, 2015 by The Old Wolf

Another scam email from Benin. These boys are busy.

Subject: FROM THE DESK OF MR. MICHAEL DEEN International Police Interpol USA

From: INTERPOL POLICE <interpolgeneralofpoliceforce@gmail.com>

To: undisclosed-recipients:;

FROM THE DESK OF MR. MICHAEL DEEN

International Police Interpol USA

Urgent Attn:

OFFICIAL NOTICE: this is to notify you that Series of meetings have been held over the past (1) Week now with the Secretary General of the United Nations Organization United State of America, which ended 2 days ago. It is obvious that you have not received your fund which is now in the amount of $11,000,000.00 USD (Eleven Million United States Dollars) as a compensation award to you, due to past corrupt Governmental Officials who almost held your fund to themselves for their Selfish reasons and some individuals who have taken advantage of your fund all in an attempt to swindle your fund which has led to unnecessary delay in the receipt and so many losses from your end.

The National Central Bureau of Interpol enhanced by the United Nations and Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI USA/ IMF International Police Interpol USA, have successfully finalize to boost the exercise of clearing all foreign debts owed to you who have been found not to have received their Compensation Awards. Now, how would you like to receive your payment? Because we have two Method of payment which is by Check or by ATM card?

ATM Card: We will be issuing you a custom pin based ATM card which you will use to withdraw up to $5000.00 USD (Five Thousand Dollars) Per day from any ATM Machine that has the Master Card Logo on it and the card have to be renewed in 3 years time which is 2017. Also with the ATM card you will be able to transfer your funds to your Local Bank Account. Even if you do not have a Bank Account, the ATM card comes with a Handbook or Manual to Enlighten you about how to use it.

Check: A cashier check will be issued in your name and you will deposit it in your Bank for it to be Cleared within three Working Days. your payment would be sent to you via any of your Preferred Option above and would be Mailed to you Via UPS, because we have Signed a contract with UPS which Should expire (29TH) of March. 2015, You will only need to Pay $41.00 Honestly, I have confirmed that this is the Devil Work after all the Effort you made and thing are becoming so more Difficult well, I must confess that you have tried so much because it is not easy I know how much you have send in other to get this done please, do some thing over this to avoid Had I know because, the United State of America Government USA, will come into this Matter very soon and your Compensation Funds will be Transfer into the United State of America Government Account.

Take note that you will have to Stop Communication with every Other person if you have been in contact with any. Also remember that all you will ever have to spend is $41 Dollars nothing more! Nothing less! And we Guarantee the receipt of your fund to be successfully delivered to you within the next 48hrs after confirmation receipt of UPS fee of $41 Dollars). Note: Everything has been taken care of, including Taxes, Custom Paper and Clearance Duty. So, all you will ever need to pay is $41 Dollars.

secondly, you should know that Argument or delay can not do any thing or solve this problem if you can not find solution to solve this matter by trying your possible best for the final conclusion of this Transaction and send only $41.00 Right Away it means that i have no Other Option than to make down my Report. Note that you have been advice to urgently proceed to the Western Union or Money Gram and send the only required fee of $41 Dollars to our Branch payment Receiver Agent EMMA OBADI, COTONOU /BENIN, and get back to us with the MTCN.

RECEIVERS NAME: EMMA OBADI
COUNTRY/CITY: COTONOU / BENIN
AMOUNT TO SEND $41.00 DOLLARS ONLY.
TEXT QUESTION: IN GOD
ANSWER: WE ALWAYS TRUST
M.T.C#……..

Kindly get back to us as well with the MTCN and also be advice to reconfirm your full Delivery Address to avoid any Wrong Delivery of package. Apply Your Claims Promptly: For immediate release of your fund valued at $11,000,000.00 USD (Eleven Million United States Dollars) to you, you should contact our correspondent.

Your Full Name:________________________________
Your House Address:_________________________
Home/Cell/Phone Number:___________________
Choose ONE Preferable Payment Method (Visa ATM Card OR Cashier Check):_____________

Your package will be sent to you within 2 working Days upon confirmation receipt of UPS fee of $41.00 Dollars. We are so sure of everything and we are giving you a 100% Money back Guarantee if you do not Receive payment/package within the next 48hrs after you have made the payment for Shipping.

Thanks and God Bless You

Regards

MICHAEL DEEN
Chief Investigation Unit Department
International Police Interpol USA

You can safely ignore any email addressed to “undisclosed recipients.” It’s not to you. It’s a mass-mailing
INTERPOL will never contact you from Benin. There’s ample evidence that people from Nigeria and Benin have been collaborating with these scams for over a decade.
NEVER send money to strangers anywhere, in Africa or the US or anywhere else, via Western Union, MoneyGram, or Green Dot Money Pak Card. Ever. Just don’t.

Be careful out there and protect your loved ones.

The Old Wolf has spoken.

Followup to the Irish Lottery scammer

Posted on April 13, 2014 by The Old Wolf

I mentioned a scam email from a Nigerian scammer earlier, and decided to yank their chains a bit. In the process, I discovered that these Lads from Lagos were a bit more inventive than the rest of their crowd.

So I wrote to “Mr. Stephanie Hughston” (is that anything like a Boy Named Sue?) just to see how they played their game.

To: transfer-online@ntwstbonline.co.uk

From: [redacted]

Subject: Contact Mr. Stephanie Hughston Re: Irish Prize

To whom it may concern:

I have been requested by Mr. Thomas Parker, online coordinator for the Irish Lottery, to contact you regarding the claim of my prize of €700,000, which is most wonderful. Please forward further details. I have included my data for your convenience.

Sincerely yours,

Wolfington X. Analemma

Here’s what came back:

From: NATWEST BANK ONLINE <transfer-online@ntwstbonline.co.uk>

To: [redacted]

Subject: RE: Contact Mr. Stephanie Hughston Re: Irish Prize

Attention: Wolfington X. Analemma,

Compliment of the day to you from RBS Bank, we are here to serve you better. I am Mr. Stephanie Hughston, the Operations Executive/ Officer at NatWest Bank of London. We are in receipt of your demand draft approval from IRISH NATIONAL IRELAND/UK for the transfer of your prize amount with effective, safe and secure service. This bank has been instructed by the Irish National Lottery Anniversary Department, to transfer the sum of €700,000.00 EUROinto an account in your name, in which your funds (BANK DRAFT) will be deposited to enhance further transfer to your local bank account into your Country.

Meanwhile Wolfington X. Analemma You may give us a call during working hours for brief explanation via communication sequel to this funds transfer from this great Institution. Where finding Banking at its best. You may call my direct line for easy communication.   <+447010089271>

We are mandated by the IRISH NATIONAL IRELAND/UK to transfer the sum of €700,000.00 EURO, which was indicated by Head office (Irish National Lottery Board Ireland/UK.) to receive from this bank. Note however that payment will be transferred into a temporary online OFFSHORE Domiciliary bank account with us, which we enable you transfer the funds online into your local bank account in your Country . You will be free to ascertain a limited confirmation on this account and amount as it appears. More so in view to your e-mail to us, Irish National Lottery Board has issued out your fund particulars, origin certificate forwarded to our association head department of the NatWest Bank Plc by the Company Board for fund release which has been received by the Bank. This means that you have being officially cleared for fund release by the Verification Department at the headquarters of the NATWEST Bank Plc.

To begin the Final step of the funds transfer process, which is the Payout of your funds as the legitimate beneficiary worth €700,000.00 EURO, with regards to this; you will have to set up an online temporary account for your winning prize online transfer to your local bank account in your Country.

ACCOUNT TRANSFER FORM
First Name________________
Last Name _______________
Residential Address_______________
Country Of Residence______________
City_____________
State________________
Zip Code________________
Valid Telephone Number________________
Office Telephone Number_______________
Date Of Birth ______________

NOTE: A SCAN COPY OF ANY OF YOUR IDENTITY CARD IS ALSO REQUIRED (PASSPORT OR DRIVER LICENSE)

   You are required to fill and send the form above to this office as soon as possible. On the above instructions, we solicit your co-operation to enable us dispense our duties and obligations swiftly. Thanking you in anticipation for your cooperation. Accept our felicitation and your immediate response is expected. We await your response. We thank you for your trust in our Banking System.

Thank you for your patronage.
Have a nice Day.

NATWEST BANK UK
London Branch Address:
45 Fulham Broadway,
London, UK,
United Kingdom
Telephone:  +44 701 008 9271
Branch Banking Timing
Monday-Friday: 09:00 – 17:00
Saturday: 09:00 – 12:30
Sunday / Bank Holiday: No Banking

If this guy’s from London, I’m from Madagascar. The English is typical Mugu-ese, which is no surprise – and of course, the phone prefix is (44 70) which goes to somewhere else in the world. I send the requested information, along with a bogus driver’s license.

To: Mr. Wolfington X. Analemma

From: Mr Nashit Khan
Ref: Online Account Opened,Proceed with transfer online!

Attn: Mr. Wolfington X. Analemma

Dear Client,
Sir/Madam,

Thank you for contacting the NatWest Banking Institute London , At NatWest we seek to delight all our customers.Your questions and comments are important to us. Your mail has been received.

I would like to say congratulations once again as your new account has been successfully set-up and credited. This is a notification to inform you that your account has been created/setup online from our transfer department to enable you transfer your funds to your nominated account online.

Please Note that you have a temporary Offshore Domiciliary account, the reason is because you are not our full client banking with us and because your account opening was free.

All temporary users must transfer their funds within two weeks,for this account is a temporary account. if it exceeds two weeks,your account will be inactive and can’t access statement of your account.

To Avoid this, all transfer must be made on time.
Here are the details of your Offshore Domiciliary account. You are required to Log into your internet Online Banking.
Here are the procedures to log in:

1: Click Here

Then click on ” Click here to enter “
2: When the Pop up Window Display please enter your Account Number and Pin.

ACCOUNT NO: 0777121047

PIN : 949

If this procedures are followed orderly,you won’t find it difficult to Log in. After you have successfully log into your account, you are to click of transfer and wait while a new page opens for you to input your bank account receiver details and click on transfer to proceed for your online transfer.

On the above instructions, we solicit your co-operation to enable us dispense our duties and obligations swiftly. Thanking you in anticipation for your cooperation. Accept our felicitation and your immediate response is expected. We await your response

We thank you for your trust in our Banking System. Do have a wonderful day as we look forward to providing you with all the best of our service. We await your swift response in other for we to proceed with your transactions.

Have a nice Day.
Regards,
Mr. Stephanie Hughston
NATWEST BANK UK
London Branch Address:
45 Fulham Broadway,
London, UK,
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 701 008 9271
Branch Banking Timing
Monday-Friday: 09:00 – 17:00
Saturday: 09:00 – 12:30
Sunday / Bank Holiday: No Banking

Just as a point of interest, notice that it’s hard to tell if the email is from Stephanie Hughston or Mr. Nashit Khan. I followed the indicated link, and got the following screen:

Clicking on the appropriate link I am taken to an official-looking popup:

which, when I have entered the “data” they provided me, sends me to another website:

Wow, it really looks like they’ve deposited a bunch of money into this account. Most of the Nigerian scammers don’t go to the trouble of setting up phony websites like this. At any rate, I click on the “transfer money” link and I get this:

with an official-looking progress bar, but then this happens:

Well, they didn’t mention anything about a “COT Code,” so I dutifully contact my “account officer:”

Greetings,

I have done as you recommended, however when I attempt to make the transfer I am presented with a screen that asks for a COT code. Please advise how to proceed.
-Wolfington X. Analemma

And back comes the “money shot:”

From: Mr. Stephanie Hughston
To: Mr. Wolfington X. AnalemmaRef: COT Code requirement by NatWest Bank.

Attn: Mr. Wolfington X. Analemma
Dear Client,
Sir
Compliment of the day to you.

Thank you for contacting the NatWest Banking Institute London , At NatWest we seek to delight all our customers.Your questions and comments are important to us. Your mail has been received, and we are pleased to inform you that we have received approval for the transfer of (€700,000.00 EURO) to your local nominated bank account. Sequel to the information of your files in our system and the immediate need of transfer of funds to your account.

The remittance department of the NatWest Banking Institute London hereby write to inform you that, Your transfer of funds would only be fully transferred to your account immediately the cost of handling charges/Transfer is been paid by you as the beneficiary of the funds as deposited with our bank. We shall provide you with the code as soon as you pay for its cost.

Sir, COT code is known as (COST OF TRANSFER ), It is a code that is given by the Head Department of NatWest bank to complete your online transfer of funds into your local bank account in United State . The Cot code charged for your online funds transfer into your local bank account is (€645 EURO).

Mr. Wolfington X. Analemma, the COT code will be release to you sooner we confirm your payment for cot code charge. Sir, I would like to speak with you upon acknowledgement of this email for Instruction on how to make payment for your cot code charges or via email for the payment instruction.

Note that your total amount has been insured to its real value as the funds have been deposited with a cover premium insurance bonded draft and as such funds cannot be deducted. This is in accordance with Article 44 Sub Section 144 of the England banking commission regulations as amended in the 1999 constitution. This is to protect clients and to avoid Misappropriation of funds.

On the above instructions, we solicit your co-operation to enable us dispense our duties and obligations swiftly. Thanking you in anticipation for your cooperation. Accept our felicitation and your immediate response is expected. We await your response.We thank you for your trust in our Banking System.

We await your swift response in other for we to proceed with your transactions.
Have a nice Day.
Regards,
Mr. Stephanie Hughston

When I asked how this “COT Code” is to be paid, this was the response:

To: Mr. Wolfington X. Analemma
From: Mr. Stephanie HughstonRef: COT Code requirement & Payment Instruction.

Attn: Mr. Wolfington X. Analemma
Dear Client,
Sir/Madam,
Compliment of the day to you.

Thank you for contacting the NatWest Banking Institute London , At NatWest we seek to delight all our customers.Your questions and comments are important to us. Your mail has been received and the content was well understood.

The remittance department of the NatWest Bank,United Kingdom hereby write to inform you that, Your transfer of funds would only be fully transferred to your account immediately the cost of handling charges/Transfer is been paid by you as the beneficiary of the funds as deposited with our bank. We shall provide you with the code as soon as you pay for its cost.

The cost of handling charges for your transfer of funds is €645 EURO . This cost of handling charges must be paid without delay to enable the speedy transfer of your funds to your Account. Find below the amount to make for the transfer of funds to your account:

Sum Total: €645 EURO

Sequel to your email, the total payment of €645 EURO should be paid via the nearest Money Gram outlet close to you. You are to pay a total €645 EURO only. This cost of handling charges/transfer must be paid without delay to enable the speedy transfer of your funds to your Account upon applying the cot code online . Find below the amount charge for cot code to enable the speedy release of funds to your account :

This payment for the COT is to be made out to the account department agent of our Money Gram receiving Unit, here in London,. She is the bank’s Account Officer by the Money Gram transfer Service from overseas customers only.
Please you are advices to make the payment to;

ACCOUNT AGENT DETAILS:
Name of Receiver: MRS. KATE JEFFERSON
Address: LONDON WC2A 2AE,
UNITED KINGDOM.

You are require to get back to us with the information below after payment.

1. Name of Sender ………
2. Address of Sender ……..
3. Total Amount Sent ……….
4. Reference Number . (REF 8digit)………….

NOTE: A SCAN COPY OF YOUR MONEY GRAM PAYMENT SLIP SHOULD BE ATTACHED VIA EMAIL TO THIS OFFICE FOR REFERENCE PURPOSE.

The Money Gram service provides a flexible means of sending funds overseas and also we make such transaction in our bank, and has been specially designed to meet your business needs in terms of cost and speedy Payments are sent using an electronic bank-to-bank transfer. which is suitable for both urgent and less time critical payments and enables the secure transfer of funds from the United Kingdom to overseas beneficiaries. When we receive the above payment information we shall immediately dispense our duties by releasing the cot code to complete your transfer into your Nominated bank as applied online for your transfer.

On the above instructions, we solicit your co-operation to enable us dispense our duties and obligations swiftly. Thanking you in anticipation for your cooperation. Accept our felicitation and your immediate response is expected. We await your response.We thank you for your trust in our Banking System.

Note: Give me a call as soon as your payment is done and provide details as requested respectively. We await your swift response in other for we to proceed with your transactions.

So now we’re back to the regular protocol. “Send us money via Western Union.” If I have not repeated this advice enough throughout this blog, here it is again: NEVER DO THIS. It’s always a scam. I told the drone I’d send him the money later that day. A couple of days go by, and I get this from him:

To: Mr. Wolfington X. Analemma
From: Mr. Stephanie HughstonRef: COT Code requirement & Payment Instruction.

Attn: Mr. Wolfington X. Analemma
Dear Client,
Sir/Madam,
Compliment of the day to you.

Thank you for contacting the NatWest Banking Institute London , At NatWest we seek to delight all our customers.Your questions and comments are important to us. Your mail has been received and the content was well understood.

Sir, what is the status of your payment as earlier promised?.

NOTE: A SCAN COPY OF YOUR MONEY GRAM PAYMENT SLIP SHOULD BE ATTACHED VIA EMAIL TO THIS OFFICE FOR REFERENCE PURPOSE.

The Money Gram service provides a flexible means of sending funds overseas and also we make such transaction in our bank, and has been specially designed to meet your business needs in terms of cost and speedy Payments are sent using an electronic bank-to-bank transfer. which is suitable for both urgent and less time critical payments and enables the secure transfer of funds from the United Kingdom to overseas beneficiaries. When we receive the above payment information we shall immediately dispense our duties by releasing the cot code to complete your transfer into your Nominated bank as applied online for your transfer.

On the above instructions, we solicit your co-operation to enable us dispense our duties and obligations swiftly. Thanking you in anticipation for your cooperation. Accept our felicitation and your immediate response is expected. We await your response.We thank you for your trust in our Banking System.

Note: Give me a call as soon as your payment is done and provide details as requested respectively. We await your swift response in other for we to proceed with your transactions.

Have a nice Day.
Regards,
Mr. Stephanie Hughston

He’s wondering where his money is. Sometimes, as you have seen before, I’ll send him a bogus MTCN and scan of a Western Union receipt just to see how many times I can get him scurrying back to Western Union to pick up non-existent funds, but this time I feel like it’s time to pull the plug.

To: NATWEST BANK ONLINE <transfer-online@ntwstbonline.co.uk>

From: [redacted]

Subject: Status of Payment

Cc:

Oh, did you actually think I was going to send you some money? I’m sorry I won’t be there to see the disappointment on your face. I’ve had fun wasting your time and getting your hopes up.You are a liar, a scammer, and a criminal. May Olumba Olumba Obu send black powder, disease and death to you and every other 419 onioburu.

Dem no born you reach, mugu – u no fit comot face, just skip along.

And their response?

cricket… cricket… cricket…

Once again, be careful out there. This one was well-crafted enough (despite the bad English, which amazingly some people won’t pick up on) to fool vulnerable or ill-informed individuals. Protect and educate your loved ones against this kind of douchebaggery.

The Old Wolf has spoken.

A conversation with Mr. Zhang Yong, a Chinese Scammer

Posted on September 16, 2013 by The Old Wolf

As I have done before, I have had some fun wasting a scammer’s time.

Lesson No. 1 – Don’t mess with retired people: we have the time to make your life miserable.

Blue text: My communications with the scammer

Green Text: My commentary

Here is the first email I received from “Mr. Zhang Yong.”

Mr. Zhang Yong <concretelady@insightbb.com> (email address no. 1)

I business have a proposal of you

Well, and what?

Mr.Zhang Yong <ymr.zhang@msn.com> (email address no. 2)

MR.ZHANG YONG
BANK OF ASIA (CHINA)
Bank of China Tower,
1 Garden Road,Hong Kong,Chin

Attention: Please

I am Mr Zhang Yong the manager Audit & Accounts dept. in Bank Of Bank of Asia (China) I am writing to request your assistance to transfer the sum of $9,300,000.00 (Nine Million, Three Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) into your accounts.The above sum belongs to our deceased customer late Mr. Hamadi Hashem Ahelbarra from Iraqi who died along with his entire family during the war in a bomb blast that hit his home at Mukaradeeb and since then the fund has been in a suspend seaccount.My purpose of contacting you now is this: My bank during the last executive board meeting resolved that if by the end of this year and there is no beneficiary to the said account, the account will be confiscated and the fund sent to the bank treasury and this is where I am interested in and wants you to come in:I want you to come in as the Next of Kin/Beneficiary to this account. I have all the titled documents to back your claim and as the Manager of this branch, it is in my power to carry out any form of verification on the beneficiary of the said fund and process the fund wire without any problem. I want you to know that this is legal, 100% risk free as all the titled documents would be changed to your name as the new beneficiary of the said funds, and the fund wired to any bank account you wish to have it wired to.

Please note we shall share in the ratio of 60% for me, 40% for you. When the fund finally gets to your nominated bank account.Thank you so much for your prompt reply to my mail. First let me state once again that I have been prompted to trust you and will depend on you to show me maximum trust, confidentiality and above all follow my instruction strictly. As you will understand the transaction is 100% success assured in as much as you follow my instructions, within a period of 5 banking days we will finish all the documentary aspect of this transaction and money transferred.I will demand that you give me the privilege to handle the whole issue with my professional experience and position. I have to at this point ask for your sincere confidentiality, please assure me this and keep to it that the next person to you do not know about this transaction as we have to keep it highly confidential. You should know that I am working with the bank and a manager in that matter hence my position and job will be at risk should anybody know from your end.The basic requirement here is that as you will know I do not want to let my bank know I am behind the transfer so all our communications will be restricted to email. I want to make something clear to you, the fact that I am the manager Audit of this branch does not guarantee the security of this transaction, whatever we are doing must be done under a very high level of confidentiality. We must pretend we do not know each other, you must never mention my name to any staff of my bank during and after this transaction. This is for our security and safety of this transaction.The issue of documentation is no problem; I will handle that as soon as we commence the transfer process. I reside in the banking quarters here in Huayuanshiqiao,Shanghai (China),and would want us to meet but our meeting will be under a very high surveillance to avoid being seen together until this is over. My bank has some secret security officers that monitor my movement as senior bank executive and I must play safe to avoid being interrogated. I am an American by birth and was transfer here in China from our head branch in Hong Kong. I am ready for this deal to be accomplished and I wish so from you. My bank will have this approved since everything about this deposit is with me and the fund in my branch.On no account must you discuss this with anyone; whatever you want to ask me please do that by email and I will answer you immediately. The fund would be transferred through a more secured telegraphic wire transfer means with evidence proving the genuine source of the fund and you as the legitimate beneficiary of the fund and no government agency can stand against it. With my experience as a banker in financial matters, I will handle this.Please get back to me today with the above stated information so that I will be able to extract the deposit agreement and then make official application of the claim in your name and submit it to the board that meets once every week. As soon as I receive your assurance along with the information above, I will advice you on what next to do. For any question you may want to ask please send it to me by email, I am very ready to answer them. I am guaranteed that they will give the approval instantly as the money is in my branch. I do not want to write so much on the procedure so that you will not be confused but I inform you that it is simple and fast. I will be waiting to hear from you today, respond to me today if you can so we can proceed with information below..

Your Full Name……………………….
Your Sex…………………………….
Your Age……………………………
Your Address…………………………
Marital Status…………………..
Your Occupation……………………..
Your Personal Mobile Number………………..
Your Personal Fax Number…………………..Your Prompt response to this letter will be appreciated.

Thanks
Zhang Yong

MR ZHANG YONG <rtiberio@embarqmail.com> (email address no. 3)

Did you get my proposal

Dear Mr. Zhang Yong:

I have received your proposal. I have studied it carefully. Here is the information you requested:

Your Full Name…………..Wolfington X. Analemma…………..
Your Sex…………..Male……………….
Your Age………….55………………..
Your Address…………850 Bryant St., #525 San Francisco, CA 94103………………

Marital Status………Single…………..
Your Occupation………..Investment Banker……………
Your Personal Mobile Number……415-553-0123…………..
Your Personal Fax Number……….415-553-0778………….

(Note that these are phone numbers and addresses for the San Francisco Police Department.)

MR. ZHANG YONG <ymr.zhangi@live.com> (email address no. 4)

MR.ZHANG YONG
BANK OF ASIA (CHINA)
Bank of China Tower,
1 Garden Road, Hong Kong, China

Dear Wolfington X. Analemma,

Thank you very much for your response, Like I said before, due to this issue on my hands now, it became necessary for me to seek your assistance, I appreciate the fact that you are ready to assist me in executing this project, and also to help me in investing my money in your country. You should not have anything to worry about. I will do everything legally required to ensure that the project goes smoothly, it shall pass through all Laws of International Banking.
Having resolved to entrust this project into your hands, I want to remind you that, it needs your commitment and diligence. If you work seriously, the entire matter should be over in a couple of few days. There is no cause for you to be on Red-alert but to act in accordance with my instructions.

READ THE FOLLOWING AND GET BACK TO ME:

Firstly, I would like to know the type of occupation that you do and how old you are (age). You should note that this project is a Capital intensive. This is why I have to be very careful. I need your total devotion and trust to see this through. I know we have not met before, but I am very confident that we will be able to establish the necessary trust that is needed to execute this project. I am now in contact with a foreign online bank. The money would be transferred out of my bank with your details as the next of kin, to the foreign online bank, as this would conceal the Transactions from my Bank and other Government authorities. I am undertaking the necessary measures to enable us complete our Transaction without it be traced back to us. So you should listen to my instructions and follow them Caution. You have to know that I cannot transfer this money in my name as my bank will be aware that it is from me and that is void you would fill.

I will obtain a certificate of deposit from my bank; it will be issued in your name. This will make you the bonfire owner of the funds. After this, the money will be banked online for both of us.
We can then instruct the bank to transfer our various shares into our respective home bank accounts. I will also perfect the documentations with the assistance of my attorney to give the project the legal right.

I will need you to send me a copy of any form of your identification (Driver’s license or International passport)the way I just sent you my own also, Please I also want you to send your picture with your family picture so that we both can be fully trusted in the Blood Just for me to trust you because I don’t want us to talk on phone to avoid trace..

I want to be sure that I am transacting with the correct person. As soon as I get these from you, I will commence the paper work.
I hope you will understand why I need all these. The money in question is big and I want to ensure that I know you well before I proceed to give you all the details to commence the project.
I have attached copies of my identification so that you can as well know who you are dealing with. I have also attached my family picture so that you can know them better.

I am a married man with a lovely wife and 3 children and I am more than glad to execute this beneficial transaction with you.

I have instructed my attorney to carry on with the paper work and I was notified that the certificate of deposit which will make you the original beneficiary of the funds, when it is prepared. As soon as I receive the certificate of deposit from my attorney, I will send it to you to sign and return.
Please get back to with your requested Identification copy.
So at this junction, I will keep you updated as soon as I hear from my attorney.

Ensure that you keep this project confidential; do not discuss it with anybody, because of the confidential nature of this project and my work.
Please reply soonest.

Kind Regards
Zhang Yong

Here are the photos and documents that Mr. Scammer attached:

Dear Mr. Zhang Yong,

Thank you for your information. I have attached a family picture and my California Driver’s license for your perusal.

My real name is Christian D. Sanders – I use Wolfington X. Analemma on the internet to avoid fraud, but I feel confident now in giving you my actual name.

I am 55 years old, and I work as an investment banker in the San Francisco office of Goldman Sachs

I look forward to your communication.

-CDS

Hey, if he can use stock photos, so can I. I photoshopped in a face that I have typically used for these scammers.

MR.ZHANG YONG <mr.zhangy@yahoo.com.hk> (email address no. 5)

Dear Partner.

Thank you very much my dear partner. I want to quickly appreciate the copy of your picture identity to me and inform you that I’m very serious about what I intend doing in your country. You have really gotten my confidentiality in you. I can now deal with you without entertaining any fear of whether you will run away with the deposited funds when it finally enters your account.

I am very happy that you are willing to assist me in securing the deposited funds that is presently in our vault here in my bank. I honestly want to trust you as I will do everything possible for us to have a better life to live with this money we are about to share.

I have every information’s that will make you the true inheritance of these funds but you will do me one thing, to have everything done in secret without telling or informing any person until the money gets to us.

I will want us to invest the money in a venture that will profit both of us. I may also relocate to your country to avoid suspicion from my bank’s officials here in China. I will provide you detailed information of the modalities involved in completing this transaction within (5) working days. Be aware that this transaction is very safe and 100% risk free and as such I expect you to put in all your efforts in this transaction so that we can transfer the 9.3 million out of my bank to you without any problem. For your information, I will like to make you understand the nature of this transaction will not encourage the state of unserious partner if you can afford the expenses involve during the time of collection or transfer (I mean its will cost you little at the point of collection from your end), kindly let me know if you are ready to proceed with me in this transaction, I am very sure the expenses will not be much. The attorney’s charges and the paper work will be taken care off by me.

You are to please assure me that the funds will be safe with you when it is transferred to you because I am planning to resign as soon as we complete this transaction, if you decide to run away with the funds there is nothing I can do than to leave all my life here in China after retirement this is because you have assured me to assist me that is why I am resigning. And also you are going to let me know the way of life of your people, their culture, tradition and more so that I can start imagining myself leaving already with you. However, I want to quickly find out from you if your account is big enough to take the 9.3 million that is coming to you, and how costly is a house in your country, as this will give me a guard line in making up my plans of coming to join you up. You will need to help me get a place where I and my family will be putting up as soon as the funds get to you.

I really want to go into partnership with you but you will have to advise me and pre-informed me on a venture that is very profitable as soon as you can so that I will be ready here and be equipping with the type of business I am coming to do in your country. You do not seems to know what both of us are about to going to gain, I have planned everything out for you to secure the funds and we will have this funds in your possession without any problem but you will still have to spend a little at the point of collection that is exactly how it see now.

I have called my attorney to prepare the documents that we make you the real depositor of the said funds in my branch, as soon as he gets that done I will let you have a look at it and you will
have to sign the deposit receipt and send it back to me, then I will deposit it to my bank for then to release the funds to you, Please do not swing me over after you have receive these funds.
Meanwhile, I will furnish you with the processes as time goes on.

Should you have any question, kindly let me know.

Kind Regards
Zhang Yong

It will be good to proceed as you have suggested. My bank is prepared to receive the funds.

-CDS

MR.ZHANG YONG <mr.zhangy@yahoo.com.hk>

Thank you very much for the kind hearted email and that you are willing to help me carry out this project of mine and i promised you that you will never regret the you replied my email and accepted my proposal.

I am in receipt of your mail and the words in the contents made me happy that I finally got the right person for my proposal. As you have stated in your email that all monetary assets pertaining to this venture are confidently secure and that you are going to search for a business that will profit both of us. I will so much appreciate if you could start searching for a very nice four bed house with a very big garden located in a quiet environment conducive for learning.
In my last email to you, I make you understand the nature of this transaction will not encourage the state of un-serious partner if you can afford the expenses involve during the time of collection or transfer (I mean its will cost you little at the point of collection from your pocket), kindly let me know if you are ready to proceed with me in this transaction, I am very sure the expenses will not be much.

The attorney’s charges and the paper work will be taken care off by me.

Please note: The officials from our correspondent bank in Asia,India where our funds will be transfer to with your name as the new beneficiary to the inherited funds we ask you to open an offshore account (that is a dollar account) with them because our funds is in U.S dollars so you must be advised to create an offshore account of that kind so that our funds can have a foundation for

transfer to you and this is what i meant by (I mean its will cost you little at the point of collection from your pocket) in my last email and this is all i request from you now that both of us are about going to execute this project I would advise that you must have to keep it yourself alone, the wise man in this kind of proposal must be very discreet. I want us to enjoy the funds in peace, it is very good that it is only me here in my bank that knows about this transaction and as such we will not have any problem as far as you follow my instructions.
I will be here to advise you when we get to that stage may while my attorney is still working on the document needed to effect the transfer and make the deal legal.

Your 100% assistance will definitely make my plans work out. Please let us put our heads together as a team and rejoice at the end. The attorney charged me $172,000 to carry out the transaction but
i have already paid $122,000. I am looking for a way to borrow the balance money to make up the attorney charges for the documentation that will make you the real owner of the funds, as i do not want to bother you with that at all.
I will send you the documents from my attorney shortly as soon as i get it from him.

Cheers,
Kind Regards
Zhang Yong

I am waiting for your documents.

-CDS

MR.ZHANG YONG <mr.zhangy@yahoo.com.hk>

My dear friend and partner,

I have received the Certificate Of Deposit and affidavit of ownership of funds that will make you the original beneficiary of the funds from my attorney right now and I have attached both to this mail. I will appreciate you to sign at the bottom were you have beneficiary signature for both. Please i will appreciate you to do that ASAP and send back the Certificate to me the way I have sent it to you.

Please I’m counting on you, do not swing me over after the successful transfer of this funds to your account because if you do, all my dream in life will be chattered as you know i will be resigning from my bank work as soon as the funds is be transfer out.

On receipt of the signed certificate of Deposit from you, i will transfer the funds {9.3 million dollars} out of my bank with your details as the beneficiary of the funds to the corresponding security financial bank in India. As soon as the funds get to the financial India, The bank will be in touch with you, either via phone or email, to let you know that they have your funds and also ask you how you wish to receive your funds from them and do please note that the 5th June 2001 was the day the said funds was deposited in my bank branch here in China.

Be rest assured that everything has been legally taken care of with the help of my attorney. Do get back asap with the documents to me.

Thank you.

Zhang Yong

So he attached these lovely official documents for me to complete and sign.

Dear Mr. Zhang Yong,

Please find attached the documents you requested, which I have signed. Per your previous request, I also recommend this delightful property for your consideration:

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/2-Valdez-Ave_San-Francisco_CA_94112_M11795-46797?row=85

I await your further details.

(I fill out the documents with bogus information and send them back to him.)

MR.ZHANG YONG <mr.zhangy@yahoo.com.hk>

Dear Partner,

Congratulations my partner.
As regards our transaction, I have successfully transferred the funds {9.3 million dollars} out of my bank with your details as the beneficiary of the funds to the corresponding bank(Hsbc Bank India). The Hsbc India, they will be in touch with you soon either via phone or email, to let you know that they have your funds and also ask you how you wish to receive your funds. And also below is their contact email:

Contact person:
Hsbc Bank India
Name:Kumar Das
Email: customercare@hsbconline.co.in
info@hsbconline.co.in
Tell: +919711175796
+918527648609

I will suggest you quickly write an email to them saying my name is …, I was told the money i had Inherited was transferred to your bank with (REF NO: Hs70/49/2076). I’m emailing you to find out if my inheritance was transfer to your bank or not and also you will know how to contact me when you need to transfer the money to my bank account.
I will be waiting to hear from you that Hsbc India, INDIA have received the funds on your behalf and the home you send the picture to me is very nice and please transfer the funds to your account on time so i can buy it and move in.

Do have a nice day.
Thank you.
Zhang Yong

Greetings.

I was told the money I had inherited was transferred to your bank with (REF NO: Hs70/49/2076). I’m emailing you to find out if my inheritance was transferred to your bank or not and also so that you will know how to contact me when you need to transfer the money to my bank account.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

-Christian D. Sanders

Welcome To Hsbc Bank India <customercare@hsbconline.co.in>\

No-34 Central Market, Sector-2 ;
West Avenue Road, West Punjabi Bagh,
New Delhi 110026,India

Website: http://www.hsbconline.co.in/1/2/homepage/

Tell: +919711175796
+918527648609

Dear Customer: Christian D. Sanders,

MANDATE FROM BANK OF (CHINA) TO EFFECT TRANSFER OF NINE MILLION, THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS TO YOUR ACCOUNT WITH REF NO: Hs70/49/2087.

We have indeed received signal from our affiliate in China, instructing us to release Entitlements to the tune of Nine Million, Three Hundred Thousand United State Dollars to you as the ultimate beneficiary.

You are very welcome to the HSBC BANK INDIA, we are happy to have you as our customer. We actually have different types of accounts with various facilities attached and as an offshore customer, you are requested to choose from the list of accounts we have and each have its minimum opening deposit which you have to send to us before an account can be properly set-up for you. You would find the Account Opening Form attached to this mail, fill and return to us either through email attachment. As soon as we receive these information with the Opening Initial Deposit from you as well as the choice of Account you wish to open with us. We shall go ahead to set-up account for you. Your urgency in opening of this account will depend on when we received these requirements from you. Find attached, Account Opening form, Download, print and fill it out then resend it back to us.

(Note the weasel words to ensure that I know I have to send money. They have the balls to talk about “Banking Ethics”.)

It would interest you to know that Your Funds with us does not have a “Proper Account or Foundation” and Deduction from your Funds to Open the account in your favor would serve as a Violation of the Banking Ethics enacted by the Bank of Asia (BOA) which serves as the Regulatory Body of all Financial Institutions here in Asia. In order to avoid Strict Sanctions, We sincerely advise that you pay the Account Opening Fee which would also be CREDITED to your Account once you have Access. As for the Account that could be good for you, we advice you take the Offshore Account which most Non INDIA residence have with us. This Account allows you make payment online and transfer funds online without being subjected to questioning. We advice you act fast as we do not have Authority to keep this funds more than expected.

Furthermore, it should be noted that using your funds to open an account with us does not mean that the money goes to your local account. This is like an initial deposit made into a new account with us to make it active after which we will pay in your borned deposited funds of 9.3 million dollars into the account you are about to have with us and then, you can Initiate a Transfer to your local account in your Country.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us by Engaging your Phone across to us or sending us your questions via our email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Note: Do scan a copy of your international passport or driver’s license along side when returning the form.

Best Regards,
International Transfer Department Hsbc India
Copyright © 2013. All rights reserved
Hsbc Bank INDIA(HBI) International Remittance System.
——————————————————————————-

Confidentiality Note:
The information contained in this message is confidential and/or privileged. This message is intended to be read only by the person named above. The unauthorized use, disclosure, copying or alteration of this message is strictly prohibited. If you are not the addressee, (or responsible for delivery of the message to the addressee), please notify the originator by return message and destroy the original message immediately.

To whom it may concern:

Please find attached your Account Opening Form as requested.

Sincerely yours,

-Christian D. Sanders

(Here’s where they get down to the nitty-gritty. “Send us the money via Western Union.”)

Welcome To Hsbc Bank India <customercare@hsbconline.co.in>

No-34 Central Market, Sector-2 ;
West Avenue Road, West Punjabi Bagh,
New Delhi 110026,India

Website: http://www.hsbconline.co.in/1/2/homepage/

Tell: +919711175796

+918527648609

Dear Respected Customer:Christian D. Sanders,

MANDATE FROM BANK OF EAST ASIA (CHINA) TO EFFECT TRANSFER OF NINE MILLION, THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS TO YOUR ACCOUNT WITH REF NO: Hs70/49/2087.

You are welcome to Hsbc Bank Of India. We are pleased to be at your service. We are Regulated and Stipulated by the Financial Service Authority (FSA), the financial institutions that govern all financial activities in the Asia,India.This bank is in receipt of your offshore account set-up. It might interest you to know that we have already updated our record. Your account will be activated 4hours on confirmation of your payment.

Furthermore, it should be noted that using your funds to open an offshore account with us does not mean that the money do not go to your local account. This is like an initial deposit made into a new account with us to make it active after which we will pay in your borned deposited funds of 9.3 million dollars into the account you are about to have with us and then, you can Initiate a Transfer to your local account in your Country with our online transfer details which will be sent to you once your account is activated

For prompt disbursement of your inheritance funds, payment for Offshore Account can be effected via Western Union Money Transfer for speed and convenience sake you are to locate the nearest Western Union Money Transfer close to you and make the required payment to the name of our receiving accounts officers.

NOTE: Payment should be addressed to this bank with instructions given below to account receiving officer :

RECEIVER’S NAME: Maduneme Christian Anthony
RECEIVER’S ADDRESS: No-34 Central Market ,West Avenue Road, New Delhi 110026.India
RECEIVING AMOUNT:930.12 US DOLLARS

After you have made the payment, You are required to send to us a scanned copy of your Western Union customer payment slip/receipt to enable our account officer confirm your payment. Also You Can Send The Following Information via Email as they appear on the Payment Slip:

Senders First Name.
Senders Last Name.
Sender Address.
MTCN(Money Transfer Control Numbers).

We look forward to serving you better.

Best Regards,
Mr. Kumar Das
Chief Operation Officer Hsbc Bank India
Copyright © 2013. All rights reserved.

Hsbc Bank INDIA(HBI) International Remittance System.
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Confidentiality Note:
The information contained in this message is confidential and/or privileged. This message is intended to be read only by the person named above. The unauthorized use, disclosure, copying or alteration of this message is strictly prohibited. If you are not the addressee, (or responsible for delivery of the message to the addressee), please notify the originator by return message and destroy the original message immediately.

(I thought I’d prolong the agony a bit more, and see if I could waste a bit more of their time.)

Dear Mr. Das,

You have 9.3 million dollars of mine sitting around in your bank, earning interest for you rather than for me. Please apply some of that interest toward the creation of my account. Even at an effective rate of 1% per annum, that’s over $1,000 in the four days since you have notified me that the funds are available. This should be quite sufficient for the establishment of the offshore account. Please let me know when this has been accomplished. Thank you.”

Sincerely yours,
Christian D. Sanders

(Unfortunately, I heard nothing back from either one of them for a day or so.)

Dear Mr. Zhang Yong,

I have received two communications from HSBC in India. They are requesting an inital deposit of over $900.00 to set up an account there. I responded thusly:

“You have 9.3 million dollars of mine sitting around in your bank, earning interest for you rather than for me. Please apply some of that interest toward the creation of my account. Even at an effective rate of 1% per annum, that’s over $1,000 in the four days since you have notified me that the funds are available. This should be quite sufficient for the establishment of the offshore account. Please let me know when this has been accomplished. Thank you.”

I have since not heard back from them. Can you please contact them and let them know that they should move forward with this transaction?

Sincerely,

-CDS

MR.ZHANG YONG <mr.zhangy@yahoo.com.hk>

Well i contacted the bank and only to know that you gave a police phone no and you are not ready for this transaction so i ask them to stop the transfer as i will look for someone to help me out.

(Evidently he actually tried the phone number I gave him, and was connected with the San Francisco Police Department. Oh noes!)

(Well, game over.)

Dear Mr. Zhang Yong,

I’m impressed. Most scammers don’t actually try calling the phone numbers. But I have had a lot of fun wasting your time – I’m only sorry I couldn’t get you scurrying to Western Union a few times with bogus MTCN numbers. You should be ashamed of yourself, and try doing honest work for a living instead of stealing from others, 小兔崽子. You and all your kind are 大象爆炸式的拉肚子. 你给我滚.

PS – don’t forget every scrap of information I provided you was just as bogus as your ignorant scam.

Up yours.

My followup message to the “bank”, just in case this was a separate accomplice

I had a lovely conversation with Mr. Zhong Yang today, in which I told him that he was a pile of steaming elephant dung, and a scamming criminal.

The same goes for you, whoever you are – but in all likelihood you’re the same person, so take your repulsive scam and [censored censored censored.]

I enjoyed wasting your time.

with great disrespect,

Christian D. Sanders (also a false name, just in case you were wondering.)

How productive is this? Well, not very – but every second these drones spend messing with me is time they can’t use trying to scam other victims, who might actually be foolish/greedy enough to send them money.

For the love of whatever you consider holy, do not deal with drones like this, and make sure your vulnerable loved ones don’t either.

The Old Wolf has spoken.

Tweaking a Scammer

Posted on July 19, 2012 by The Old Wolf

This appeared in my mailbox the other day, and made me laugh:

Attn: Benjo X. Daiben
An (ATM Card Number;4278763100030014) has been accredited to you,The ATM
Card Value is 2.5 Million United State Dollars. Reply For More Details
Mr.Alex Udo

What’s funny is that this is a name I used to respond to another scammer months and months ago. Benjo (便所) “convenience place” is the Japanese word for “toilet”, and “daiben” (大便) or “large convenience” is their term for “excrement.” It was amusing enough to get this that I thought I’d have a bit of fun with this guy. So I responded,

Wow, exciting! Let me know how to get this!
-bxd

Aaaand, he’s hooked!

Attn: BenjoYour email was found in the Central Computer among the list of unpaid contractors, inheritance next of kin and lotto beneficiaries that was originated from Europe, Africa Asia Plus Middle east, Americans among the list of individuals and companies that your unpaid fund has been located to the UNITED TRUST Your email appeared among the beneficiaries, who will receive a part-payment of your contractual sum of The ATM we cannot go into transfer the is why we want to move it through ATM Card
Card Value is 2.5 Million United State Dollars and it have been approved already for monthâ€™s we have startedFor more direction and instruction on how to receive your fund. Kindly furnish us with below information:

1. Your Full Name:
2. Address:
3. Country:
4. Age:
5. Occupation:
6. Cell phone Number:
7. Next Of Kin:
8. Home Equity (Yes/No):

Mr.Alex Udo

Well, he wants my information so I had better send him some.

Dear Mr. Udo,Here is the information you requested. Please send me my ATM card at once, I can really use this because my medical bills from when I lost my legs are overwhelming me. Two bears, a big one and a little one, attacked me to get at a picnic basket I had with me in Jellystone National Park. It was terrible. I am in great pain, and this money will help me a lot.

Sincerely,

Benjo X. Daiben

1. Your Full Name: Benjo Xavier Daiben
2. Address: 750 Bryant St. #513 SanFrancisco, CA 94103
3. Country: USA
4. Age: 67
5. Occupation: Retired Forest Ranger
6. Cell phone Number: 415-744-3090
7. Next Of Kin: Sgamwyr Y Lysnafedd (my best Welsh for “Scammers are Scum”)
8. Home Equity (Yes/No): Yes

Next I get this back from him:

I receive your information I want to let you know that the pin code will be ready by tomorrow and we have to insure this ATM CARD because the card contains huge amount of money can you come down here by yourself and pick the card because there is two documents you need to sign here before releasing this card to you because we donâ€™t want to make any mistake please do and get back to us because first thing tomorrow morning I will start the process do and get back to me
Mr.Alex Udo

Come down here? He hasn’t even told me where he is.

Dear Mr. Udo,Come down where? Where are you? I indicated that I lost both my legs, I am in a wheelchair and it is very hard to travel. Is there any other way to get these documents?

Sincerely,
Benjo X. Daiben

Notice that he doesn’t give a rat’s south-40 that he’s dealing with an allegedly handicapped individual who is hard pressed for money. These drones would sell their grandmothers if they could get a buck out of the deal.

Attn: BenjoI have contacted a lawyer here who will help you sign all the important documents for releasing of your ATM CARD and insurance which contains huge amount of money the lawyer changer you $1750.00 for all his work but he said that you are going to pay him half so that he will start his work first thing tomorrow morning after you received your package you will pay the balance $875.00 what you are going to send now is $875.00 after his work you will pay he the balance of $875.00

Let me know as soon as you send the changers now to able him to start his work first things tomorrow morning

Receivers Name:Steve Onyejekwu
City: Cotonou
Country Benin Republic
Test Question Yes………………..
Answer:Me………………………….
Control Number (MTCN) ……………………….
Address of the sender…………………………..
Amount you send $875.00
Senders Name ………………………………..

Mr.Alex Udo

Notice that his grammar has gone to Hell. I’m supposed to send “changers”? I assume he means “charges.”
He also claims to be in Benin.
Well, better send him some “money.”

Dear Alex,Money has been sent. Here’s the data (Please note I changed the test question and answer to make sure that only your lawyer can collect the money)

Receivers Name:Steve Onyejekwu
City: Cotonou
Country Benin Republic
Test Question: Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego?
Answer: Póg mo thóin (That’s Irish Gaelic for “kiss my ass”)
Control Number (MTCN) 1741939872
Address of the sender: 750 Bryant St. #513 San Francisco, CA 94103
Amount you send $875.00
Senders Name: Benjo X. Daiben

Please have your lawyers draw up the papers immediately.

Sincerely,
-BXD

Good, he’s got my information. Uh oh, could there be a problem?

Attn:BenjoI receive the information you sent but the MTCN is not correct please check the MTCN very well or you attach the western Union copy please do it now and get back to me because lawyer is waiting to able him conclude his work so that everything will move fine

Mr.Alex

He’s gone to Western Union once. (WU = +1).
The MTCN (Money Transfer Control Number) is not correct? What a huge surprise.

Dear Alex,This is terrible. I’m sorry for the inconvenience – San Francisco was plagued with terrible power outages and storms yesterday, and the Western Union office had big computer problems. I had to visit the office again today, and they were very sorry for the difficulties. They had to give me a new MTCN, which is 1741 9399 85.

The other data for the transaction remains the same.

Sincerely,
Benjo X. Daiben

I receive this next.

Attn: BenjoI receive the MTCN i will get back to you as soon as the lawyer conclude

Alex

Off he trots to Western Union again, happy as a camel in a desert.

Attn: BenjoI want to let you know the MTCN is not correct please attach the western union copy and send it to me because the MTCN you just change is match please correct this problem and send to me correct MTCN now because the lawyer is waiting to able him start his work do and get back to me with correct MTCN
Mr.Alex

Whoops. Looks like there has been another error. Gosh.
He’s gone to Western Union twice. (WU = +2).

Oh, that’s right. I forgot to send him a scan of the transfer document. But let’s keep him busy a little while longer:

Dear Alex,I’m sure the MTCN is correct. My scanner is broken, I must go to the local copy shop to have the Western Union form scanned. I will attach it as soon as I have done this. I’m quite concerned about this because I have paid the money to Western Union and I don’t want it to be lost.

Sincerely,
Benjo X. Daiben

And, he’s getting anxious.

Attn: BenjoI receive your mail please try and make sure you attach the western union copy today because I want first thing tomorrow morning everything will be conclude so that lawyer will start his work .so far you send the money through western union with information I give to you the money is save just get the copy of the western union for me so tomorrow everything will be conclude.

Try all you can to make sure you correct everything today because the lawyer suppose to start his work today because of the delay we have today for the wrong MTCN that is why he did not start the work today please try all you can to make sure everything is correct today first thing tomorrow morning everything will be done

Thanks I am waiting

Mr.Alex Udo

So I sent him a scan of my documentation. Of course, it’s full of nonsense information.

Dear Alex,I have had the Western Union form scanned, and am attaching it now. Please read the MTCN carefully because this is what was given me by the agency office, and they still have my money. I don’t want anything to go wrong with this transaction, because I really need these funds.

Thank you.

Benjo X Daiben

Now let’s see if he can collect his “funds.”

Attn: BenjoHow are you doing I received the form you sent to me but we are still having problem with the MTCN NUMBER please brother to make everything easy please go back to the office and pick the money back and go to another Western Union office or Money Gram to send this $875.00 because Lawyer supposed to start his work today it is all this delaying is delaying Lawyer please do it fast as soon as you wake up and make sure you send the INFORMATION CORRECT because we need to get everything done today and lawyer promise to me that he will make sure that all the important documents is ready first thing tomorrow as soon as he receive the $875.00 today please try all you can to go and pick the $875.00 today and go to another place and send it please do fast because I want get everything done and have rest of mind

Use this information below to resend the $850.00 as soon as you wake up now

Receivers Name: Nkechikwulu C. Raphael
City: Cotonou
Country Benin Republic
Test Question Good ………………..
Answer:yes ………………………….
Control Number (MTCN) ……………………….
Address of the sender…………………………..
Amount you send $875.00
Senders Name ………………………………..

Mr.Alex Udo

He’s gone to Western Union three times. (WU = +3).

Interesting. Now he’s changed the receiver’s name. Does he want $875.00 or $850.00? In addition, he’s been sending each email twice or three times, with different subject lines, like “use this name now Nkechikwulu C. Raphael” or “VERY URGENT” or “PLEASE GO BACK THERE AND PICK THE MONEY.”

So, we effectuate another “transfer”.

Dear Mr. Udo,I am getting very worried. It was very hard to get my money back from Western Union, they claimed it had been picked up already. I had to show them your emails as proof that you had not collected it. I have now sent you $875.00 twice, and I have spent additional $50.00 on the transfer fees. I have attached a scan of the Western Union form, please note I have written down the number correctly:

1179 364 327

I hope your lawyer can now do what is necessary to get me this ATM card which I so desperately need.-Benjo X. Daiben

Notice I’ve given him a new MTCN, but I’ve also left off the city and country. Heh heh heh.

Attn: BenjoI received the MTCN but it is late here now first things tomorrow morning I will call the lawyer so that he will start his work please take noted nobody pick the $875.00 here western Union supposed to give you the money back but all is well by tomorrow everything will be done as soon as we conclude everything by tomorrow

Mr.Alex Udo

By now he’s thinking he’s really going to get $875.00 from me. Tomorrow morning he will be disappointed once again.

Attn: BrotherMy brother there is something I want you to do now please I want you to change password of this your email ID now (ccdesan@comcast.net) because I this cover that there is some people who is monitoring your id please change the password now because I am going to send your pin code as soon as lawyer conclude by tomorrow and I donâ€™t want anybody to know your pin code please change your password now please please and make sure you send to your telephone number so that I will call you as soon as the pin code is ready please make sure you change your PASSWORD NOW NOW PLEASE and

Delete the information you just sent to me now from your inbox and sent mail for the safety of the information you just send to me now please do it fast

Alex

He’s happy, he thinks he’s going to get rich from some dumb, greedy American. Now he’s calling me “Brother”. This bit about changing my password is peculiar, apparently it’s just a red herring. But he sent it three times, with these subject lines: “CHNAGE YOUR PASSWORD NOW, ” “VERY URGENT,” and “CHANGEYOUR PASSWORD FAST.” Very considerate of him, but we need to waste a bit more of his time.

Dear Alex,I’m not sure why you need me to change the password on my email account. It’s virtually uncrackable – it would take a hacker 193 trillion years to break into it (and that’s a real number, not just made up.)
My email account here is certainly of no concern to anyone else.Looking forward to receiving the card and my PIN number as soon as possible!

-Benjo X. Daiben

Ah, he’s just looking out for my interests. I’m touched.

Attn; BenjoThank you very well for your update the reason why i said that because i Don’t want anybody to know your pin code because it suppose to be secret i will update you as soon as lawyer conclude his work by tomorrow

Alex

My goodness. We just seem to be having all sorts of problems with this transaction, don’t we?

Attn: Benjo

How are you doing today? my brother I am going into difficult because of your ATM CARD because I bring myself out to help you but you are put things in a difficult please you the $875.00 sent there is a mistake in the country I told you that city is Cotonou country is Benin Republic and you did not write it western union refuse to pay the $875.00 to us because you did not put country where the money is going other information is correct just go and put city and country

City: Cotonou
Country Benin Republic

Please do fast because lawyer is waiting if not because of all this delaying now the processing of your ATM CARD supposed to be done since yesterday please do and get back to me please call me in this number as soon as you correct the error +23480 680 36172

Please do and get back to me because I want everything to be done today

Mr.Alex Udo

He’s gone to Western Union four times. (WU = +4).
Ah. Notice the country code 234. That’s Nigeria. As if I had any doubts… He’s noticed that I left off the city and country. Also wants me to call him. Sent this message 3 times.

Dear Alex,

I am very sorry for the error, I was just so excited to get this ATM card that I missed putting the country and city on the form. The Western Union agent was very nice at this office and allowed me to make the correction without any other fee, and the MCTN number is now 1179 364 329

Please, please, I hope this is the last correction because I need this money very badly, my wheelchair just fell apart and I have to drag myself around with wooden crutches which are very uncomfortable.

Sincerely,

Benjo X. Daiben

PS: My telephone number is (415) 315-2400 please call me when everything is done so I know that this money is coming.

I’ve given him the phone number of the San Francisco Police Department, just in case he really decides to call, but that’s very unlikely.

Attn: Benjo

Is like you turn this like child play please I am very busy man just to send $875.00 since two days now you are sending wrong information call the western now let them give to you correct MTCN because I am in the western section now them said that the MTCN you sent is wrong please correct it now and get back to me I am waiting now I am still in there now waiting for you to correct it now

Mr.Alex

He’s gone to Western Union five times. (WU = +5). He’s starting to get pissed. Well, let’s ramp things up again and see if I can get him to send me a little money instead.

Alex,

I am starting to wonder if there is something funny about this transaction. I have been to Western Union four times now – the MTCN is what the agent wrote down on the form – that’s why I sent you a scan, so there would be no mistake. Maybe there is not a good Western Union connection between the United States and Benin Republic. I have $875.00 in the Western Union system, are you telling me the money has not come out at your end? Where is the money I gave to Western Union?

I am losing my trust in this transaction, but I really need this money you promised me so I will keep working at it.

The only way I can be sure that the connection between Benin and the USA is working properly is for you to send me a small amount of money – let’s say $5.00, or even just a single dollar – to make sure that things are working properly.

Receivers Name: Benjo X. Daiben
City: San Francisco
Country USA
Test Question: Did it work?
Answer: Amadan (Irish Gaelic for “fool”)
Control Number:
Address of the sender:
Amount you send $5.00
Senders Name:

If this transfer succeeds then I will know there is no scammery going on, but honestly speaking I am afraid I am going to lose my money, which I have very little because of all the medicine I need to buy, and my wife and kids are sick too, so please help me get this money which is promised. I need that ATM card.

Sincerely,
Benjo X. Daiben

Nope, he’s not going to bite on that one, but he’s quite put out.

Attn: Benjo

What is meaning of this I told you that I am in western union now western union between Benin and USA is you are the one making all this mistake please if you real know that you want this lawyer to get everything done by tomorrow please send the correct MTCN to me because I am waiting for you now to able him to start work first thing tomorrow morning so by Saturday I will ship your ATM CARD to you by Monday I will send your pin code to your secret you know nobody suppose to know your pin code it is your secret correct the MTCN now and get back to me before today runs down please

Mr.Alex

Well, I’ve got things to do so it’s time to pull the plug.

Dear Alex:

I have sent you to Western Union five times now. I hope you have enjoyed the trips. This gives me a Scammer Score of +5, which is pretty good. I’d keep going, but I haven’t any more time to waste on an ONIOBURU like yourself.

Everyone in the USA knows about you 419 scammers; your Nigeria 234 country code; and the massive cesspool of corruption that Nigeria has become. I have really, really, really enjoyed wasting your time. I’m only sorry that I can’t have you thrown into a rat-infested prison where you deserve to be.

Dem no born you reach, Mugu. U no fit comot face, just skip along. Olumba Olumba Obu send you his finest black powder, no return to sender, not for me.

Hasta la vista, Maye!

Benjo X. Daiben.

(PS: ask a Japanese friend what my name means, I designed it especially for Scammers like you.)

Various Nigerian insults complete the exchange. How strange, he hasn’t responded.

Now, I’ll be the first to admit that this wasn’t terribly nice, but it’s rare that one gets the chance to troll a criminal, one who would otherwise be using their time stealing real money from real people, regardless of how greedy or foolish his victims may be. I have a particular axe to grind with fraudsters, because my elderly mother was so badly victimized by this kind of human refuse. And more on that to come later.

Be careful out there. If you have elderly loved ones, or those who might not be as computer-smart as you are, please warn them about this kind of douchebaggery. It’s crazy out there.

The Old Wolf has spoken.

Playing in the World Game

As One

Tag Archives: 419

The Nigerian Scam is still alive

Dear Beneficiary

Send now, $115 through Western Union or Money Gram!

Scamming Scum

A Letter from the “Assistant Secretary of State.”

From INTERPOL? No, I don’t think so.

Followup to the Irish Lottery scammer

A conversation with Mr. Zhang Yong, a Chinese Scammer

Tweaking a Scammer