If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. You can also follow me on Twitter or make me your friend on Facebook. Thanks for visiting!
Having mentioned that some messages do target languages other than English, I have to adjust my statement on how the scams are run a little.
Looking at the title a lot of people would have no idea where or what “Côte d’Ivoire” actually is. This the French name for the Ivory Coast, which is in West Africa. Being it was a French colony, French is still used in daily life there. The map shows other areas where French is spoken in Africa.
This means that any French speaking person answering a scam message written in French, can be “served” by an African who speaks the language fluently. This is an alternative which would only apply to the French language and maybe Portuguese, as these two languages are spoken on the African continent.
———- Forwarded message ———-
From: <rana_adams@centrum.cz>
Date: 2008/5/3
Subject: MOI CHER.
To: unlisted-recipients
MOI CHER.
Permettez-moi de vous informer de mon désir de l’entrée dans le rapport d’affaires avec vous. je ne dois pas hésiter ŕ me confier ŕ vous pour ces affaires simples et sincčres.Je suis RANA ADAMS seul fill du défunt M. et MME ADAMS AMANI. que mon pčre était un négociant trčs riche de cacao ŕ abidjan, la capitale économique de la Côte d’Ivoire,mon pčre a été empoisonné ŕ la mort par ses associés d’affaires dans une de leurs promenades en voyage d’affaires. Ma mčre est morte quand j’étais tout bébé et depuis lors, mon pčre m’a pris si spécial.
Avant la mort de mon pčre, dans un hôpital privé ici ŕ abidjan,il m’a secrčtement appelé sur son chevet et m’a dit qu’il a la somme de Un millions mille Dollars Americain ( US$1,000,000) qu’il a deposer ŕ une banque ici ŕ abidjan a mon nom en tant son seul fill donc l’heritier en le déposant la banque. Il m’a également expliqué que c’était en raison de s richesse qu’il a été empoisonné par ses associés d’affaires. Que je devrais chercher un associé étranger dans n’importe quel pays de mon choix oů je transférerai cet argent pour le d’investissement tel que la gestion des biens immobiliers ou la gestion
d’hôtel.
je cherche honorablement votre aide des maničres suivantes (1) pour fournir un compte bancaire dans lequel on transférerait cet argent.(2)pourservir de gardien de ces fonds puisque j’ai seulement 24ans (3) pour faire l’arrangement pour que Je venions dans
votre pays pour continuer ma’éducation et pour obtenir notre papiers de résidentes dans votre pays.
D’ailleurs monsieur, je suis disposé ŕ vous offrir 10% de toute la somme en compensation pour votre effort/imput aprčs le transfert réussi de ces fonds en votre compte nommé outre-mer et 5% pour les autres depenses.En outre, vous indiquez vos options pour m’aider et je crois qu cette transaction serait conclue dans quatorze (14)
jours sivous acceptez m’aider.
Contacter moi ici (rana_adams2001@yahoo.fr)
j’attends urgemment votre reponse
Merci que Dieu vous beise
sincerement
Mademoiselle RANA Et ROMEO ADAMS
My personal comments on 419, Nigerian, Lottery, Transfer Agent other online scams. All of the e-mails posted here are fraudulent or scam e-mails. If you get one, delete it. Believe me, it’s not worth the trouble answering it.
Of course, Franca Donna is just a fictive name, just like so many others used for these scams
———- Forwarded message ———-
From:mrsfrancadonna02@sogou.com
Date: 2008/4/16
Subject: Dearest Friend PLEASE READ CAREFULLY AND GET BACK TO ME.
To:
Dearest Friend, PLEASE READ CAREFULLY AND GET BACK TO ME.
I crave your indulgence at this mail coming from somebody you have not know before. I decided to do this after praying over the situation. You should please consider the transaction on its content and not the fact that you have not known me before. I need not dwell on how I came by your contact information because there are many such possibilities these days.
I would like to introduce myself as Mrs. Franca Donna, of Repulic of Benin, widow to Late Mr.Sheik Donna (for Consular of the benin embassy in Madrid,Spain.I have been recently been daigonosed of Cancer of the Pelvics. I am writing from my sick bed in a CHINESE HOSPITAL here in Benin Republic.
There is this consignment (containg US$29.5Million cash, in US$100 bills) my husband deposited with a security company, here in Cotonou,Republic of Benin of which I am the next of kin. With my health condition and because my husband and I have no children, I am looking for a credible person to whom I will pass the right of next of kin. This person will apply to the company and request, from them, the procedure towards retrieving the consignment from them.
This is on the condition that you will take 25% of the fund for yourself, 5% used for expenses, while you will use the remaining 70% for the less previlege people in the society. This is in fulfilment of the last request of my husband: that a substantial part of the fund be used to carter for the less previleged.
If this condition is acceptable to you, you should contact me immediately with your full names and contact information so that I will send you all the documents that the company gave to my husband when the consignment was deposited. So that you will contact the company directly, and demand from them the procedure towards retrieving the consignment from their company.
I cannot predict what will be my fate by the time you will recieve the fund, but you should please ensure that the fund is used as i have described above, I look forward to hear your response at this Email:(mrs_francadonna01@yahoo.com).
Best Regards
Mrs. Franca Donna. ________________________________
Hoorah, I am going to get a check over 6.5 Million GB pounds!
If you believe the WHO sends out money with no strings attached, I have to disappoint you.
This is a scam e-mail and there will be no check in the post.
———- Forwarded message ———- From: world health organisation <worldhealth@who.us> Date: 12.12.2007 01:17 Subject: As Predicted: WORLD HEALTH ORG (Have you received the 6.5, million GB Pounds).. To: undisclosed-recipients
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION Head Quarter: Geneva, Switzerland File Number: EMRO/07/FT1127 Clearance Number: WHO1000909 FBI Clearance Number: FBI9001801
Anders Nordström Assistant Director-General - WHO Email: whorganization@us.com
Esteemed Client
Please, be informed that the parcel of a certified cheque of (6.5, million GB Pounds) left the World Health Organization Head Quarters on 8th of November for your address, it is important we know when you get the parcel, so as to know when to invite you for the Winners Dinner Night on the 22nd of December, 2007. If the parcel is not received then get back to us for more details of transfer. Please, be informed that the Organization is aware and acknowledge the fact that you are a very responsible PERSONNEL we believe and hope you’ll utilize these funds for it’s main purpose: to help the less privileged.
We understand the gravity of your work and how it takes most of your time; we hope you will create just little time to help the less privilege. Please contact the licensed and accredited agent assigned to you below for more details of the funds. You are advised to be steadfast in getting the funds, the award has not been made public yet as it is only available to particular persons where you happen to be one.
If you are unable to work for the WHO, be kind enough to return the cheque.
Anders Nordström Assistant Director-General - WHO Email: whorganization@us.com
NOTE: Your Privacy is Important to the World Health Organization. Employees of the World Health Organization are Prohibited from disclosing any information you provide, except as provided by Law. No Personally Identifying Information (such as your name, address or phone number) will ever be captured by visiting our Web pages, unless you voluntarily choose to provide it. The National Association of State and Provincial Lotteries recently alerted the World Health Organization and every other online organization to get clearance number before having any online promotions or Awards, as there are too many scams going on online. So if by chance you received or you have received any mail of such do not be reluctant to ask for the Clearance number, they are always 10 digits both alphabetical and numerical numbers take note. You will find our clearance number on top of this page. We hope and will believe that you will use this opportunity to show how you can help the less privileged, you were chosen because we know and accept the fact that you are liable enough to handle this. We also believe you will use it as an opportunity to show how you care about the less privileged, so do all you can to claim this award and ensure you help the less privilege. If there is anything you will have to do to make sure this award meets its purpose we will most appreciate it.
This message is intended for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient or the employee or agent responsible for delivering this message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited.
If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately and delete this message and all its attachments. Thank You.
A lot of you may have noticed that I have not been posting any scam e-mails since April of this year. To explain, I do this in my spare time and earn my money doing other things.
Doing these “other things” has prevented me from posting on a regular basis, as I would like to. I shall endeavor to change that in the future.
On a different note, I just had a look at my archives. Lo and behold! There are 1109 scam e-mails that been received on my various accounts since April!
Most days I get between 5 and 10 of them a day, but during the summer there was a low period with maybe 2 to 3 coming in daily. I reckon on that increasing as we get closer to the Christmas season.
This is certainly not the number which used to sent in the past. There were some years where over 4000 scam mails were received. That is not counting copies which were sent by readers.
I don’t believe that means the 419 and lottery types scams are drying up. My impression is that some scams may not be working as well as they have in the past.
Unfortunately, there still enough people on our planet who have never heard of anything of scams like this before. So, it might be getting harder to get hold of potential victims, but I don’t believe this will deter the various crooks from stopping their campaigns. It’s just too easy!
The transfer agent scam is run by groups in Asia, eastern Europe, Russia and, of course, Africa. It is often used as the backend of phishing scams.
———- Forwarded message ———- From: JERRY CHOW Date: Jan 29, 2007 10:59 AM Subject: TAO ANDS WANG SPECIAL WORK OFFER To: undisclosed-recipients
I am Jerry Chow ,the human resources co-ordinatior of TAO AND WANG ASSOCIATES Hong kong,we deal in all kinds of raw materials arts and craft which we export into America/Canada/Europe.We have been doing business in your country for the past 2years. We are searching for company representatives who can help us to recieve money from our customers.Customers will make payments through you as our payment officer. It is on this note that we seek credible individuals/corporate bodies to act as our representative in your country.You do not have any financial obligation on your part. Note that, as our representative, you will receive 10%(ten percent) of any payment made by our customers through you.Please, to facilitate the conclusion of this offer if accepted, do send me promptly by email the following: (1)Your full names, (2)Contact address, (3)cell Phone/fax numbers, (4)Occupation and 5)Age send it to taowangassociates@yahoo.com.hk LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU
This one wants to assure you that you do not pay any cash "upfront". That’s what I call reassuring.
What "Roland" fails to tell you is, if you decide to "sign up" with them that you will definitely be charged with cheque and other types of fraud, because you will be the one who cashed the money in.
Sure you may have done it in good faith, but try and prove that when you are in court.
——– Original Message ——– Subject: Be Our Company Rep!! (10-Apr-2006 5:41) From: roland_wessel201@yahoo.co.uk To: unknown@192.168.2.100
Dear Partner,
We are very much aware of scams going on all over the Internet and as
such we are assuring you that at no time will you be required to make
any upfront payments of your personal funds to us for whatever reasons,
we are legitimate entrepreneur seeking for a trustworthy foreign
partners.
Top of the day to you.Let me crave your indulgence to introduce myself
to you, I am Roland Wessel president/founder of STAR ENERGY GROUP
PLC, we are OPEC members who deal on crude oil and raw material and
export into the Canada/America and Europe.I will want to solicit for
your assistance to helpcollect a cheque that is due for payment to me
for services and supplies i rendered.
Please if you are willing to assist, i will want you to furnish me with your
particulars, so as to enable me give you further details. Please, you have
to be an honest and trusted person, as more payments will be made
through you in the course of this transaction.And more so you will be
entitled to 10% of every payment that you are able to receive for us
from our customers.
Please contact us for more information via email (
roland_wessel201@yahoo.co.uk) with the below in formations filled out.
NAME: ……………………….
MAILING ADDRESS:………………..
AGE: …………………………
STATUS:……………………….
STATE/COUNTRY:………………….
TEL/FAX NUMBERS:………………..
CELL PHONE:…………………….
COMPANY NAME: …………………
OCCUPATION: …………………..
NAME OF YOUR BANK:………………
We look forward in working with you.
C.E.O Mr.Roland Wessel Star Energy Group plc
Star Energy Group plc. 1st Floor 5 Lower Belgrave Street London SW1W 0NR United Kingdom
This e-mail is exactly how I received it. Somewhere along the line they are wishing a "Happy New Year". That shows you how simple these scams are.
Copy and send. Copy and send.
——– Original Message ——– Subject: EASTER WINNING NOTICE FOR YOU/PL (03-Apr-2006 4:02) From: ukwinningnotice@katamail.com To: xxx@xxx.xxx
Hurray!!!
2006 WINNING NOTICE FROM: THELOTTERY COORDINATOR, INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT
Dear Recipient,
RESULTS FOR APRIL 2006 CATEGORY "A" DRAWS Congratulations to you as we bring to your notice, the results of The Category "A" draws of TRIPPLE WINS INTERNATIONAL GAMES. We are happy to inform you that you have emerged a winner under the APRIL LUCKY DRAWS First Category, which is part of our promotional draws.
The draws were held prior to your notification. Participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 4,000,000names/email addresses of individuals and companies from Africa, America, Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, Middle East, and New Zealand as part of our International Promotions Program.
You/Your Company, attached to ticket number IL252/03/78 with serial number IL25278NL drew the lucky numbers 10, 11, 19,20,23,1 (6), and consequently won in the Category "A. You have therefore been awarded a lump sum pay out Fifteen Million Euros (15,000,000.00) in cash, which is the winning payout for Category “winners. CONGRATULATIONS!
Please contact the claims agent email address below as soon as possible for the processing of your prize money. For due processing and remittance of your prize money to a designated account of your choice. NOTE: For easy reference and identification find below your reference numbers. Note that you are to forward this email to the Mrs. Cherry Rings (Claims Agent) for your prize claim processing. REFERENCE NUMBER: REF: IL/03/357856256/NL Congratulations once again from all our staff and Thank you for being part of our promotions program.
Sincerely,
Williams Chester
UKLOTTERY PROMOTION FINANCIAL UNIT DIRECTOR/CONTROLLER FIRST SECURITIES AND TRIPPLE WINS INTERNATIONAL GAMES, UNITED KINGDOM BEDFORD HILL, BALLAM SW 12 ENGLAND.
N.B.ANY BREACH OF CONFIDENTIALITY ON THE PART OF THE WINNERS WILL RESULT TO DISQUALIFICATION.PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MAIL BOX, YOU ARE TO CONTACT YOURS CLAIMS AGENT FOR FURTHER PRIZE CLAIM PROCEDURE
HAPPY NEWYEAR!!! Hurray!!!
2006 WINNING NOTICE FROM: THELOTTERY COORDINATOR, INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT
Dear Recipient,
RESULTS FOR APRIL 2006 CATEGORY "A" DRAWS Congratulations to you as we bring to your notice, the results of The Category "A" draws of TRIPPLE WINS INTERNATIONAL GAMES. We are happy to inform you that you have emerged a winner under the APRIL LUCKY DRAWS First Category, which is part of our promotional draws.
The draws were held prior to your notification. Participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 4,000,000names/email addresses of individuals and companies from Africa, America, Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, Middle East, and New Zealand as part of our International Promotions Program.
You/Your Company, attached to ticket number IL252/03/78 with serial number IL25278NL drew the lucky numbers 10, 11, 19,20,23,1 (6), and consequently won in the Category "A. You have therefore been awarded a lump sum pay out Fifteen Million Euros (15,000,000.00) in cash, which is the winning payout for Category “winners. CONGRATULATIONS!
Please contact the claims agent email address below as soon as possible for the processing of your prize money. For due processing and remittance of your prize money to a designated account of your choice. NOTE: For easy reference and identification find below your reference numbers. Note that you are to forward this email to the Mrs. Cherry Rings (Claims Agent) for your prize claim processing. REFERENCE NUMBER: REF: IL/03/357856256/NL Congratulations once again from all our staff and Thank you for being part of our promotions program.
Sincerely,
Williams Chester
UKLOTTERY PROMOTION FINANCIAL UNIT DIRECTOR/CONTROLLER FIRST SECURITIES AND TRIPPLE WINS INTERNATIONAL GAMES, UNITED KINGDOM BEDFORD HILL, BALLAM SW 12 ENGLAND.
N.B.ANY BREACH OF CONFIDENTIALITY ON THE PART OF THE WINNERS WILL RESULT TO DISQUALIFICATION.PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MAIL BOX, YOU ARE TO CONTACT YOURS CLAIMS AGENT FOR FURTHER PRIZE CLAIM PROCEDURE
HAPPY NEWYEAR!!! Hurray!!!
2006 WINNING NOTICE FROM: THELOTTERY COORDINATOR, INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT
Dear Recipient,
RESULTS FOR APRIL 2006 CATEGORY "A" DRAWS Congratulations to you as we bring to your notice, the results of The Category "A" draws of TRIPPLE WINS INTERNATIONAL GAMES. We are happy to inform you that you have emerged a winner under the APRIL LUCKY DRAWS First Category, which is part of our promotional draws.
The draws were held prior to your notification. Participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 4,000,000names/email addresses of individuals and companies from Africa, America, Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, Middle East, and New Zealand as part of our International Promotions Program.
You/Your Company, attached to ticket number IL252/03/78 with serial number IL25278NL drew the lucky numbers 10, 11, 19,20,23,1 (6), and consequently won in the Category "A. You have therefore been awarded a lump sum pay out Fifteen Million Euros (15,000,000.00) in cash, which is the winning payout for Category “winners. CONGRATULATIONS!
Please contact the claims agent email address below as soon as possible for the processing of your prize money. For due processing and remittance of your prize money to a designated account of your choice. NOTE: For easy reference and identification find below your reference numbers. Note that you are to forward this email to the Mrs. Cherry Rings (Claims Agent) for your prize claim processing. REFERENCE NUMBER: REF: IL/03/357856256/NL Congratulations once again from all our staff and Thank you for being part of our promotions program.
Sincerely,
Williams Chester
UKLOTTERY PROMOTION FINANCIAL UNIT DIRECTOR/CONTROLLER FIRST SECURITIES AND TRIPPLE WINS INTERNATIONAL GAMES, UNITED KINGDOM BEDFORD HILL, BALLAM SW 12 ENGLAND.
N.B.ANY BREACH OF CONFIDENTIALITY ON THE PART OF THE WINNERS WILL RESULT TO DISQUALIFICATION.PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MAIL BOX, YOU ARE TO CONTACT YOURS CLAIMS AGENT FOR FURTHER PRIZE CLAIM PROCEDURE
These people must have a sense of humor. This one even warns you of scams or fraudulent e-mails. Some even say "This is not a scam!"
Richard Umlazi, the so called attorney, is using a mobile phone and he is reachable on weekends! Hardly surprising I would say.
——– Original Message ——– Subject: Congratulations! Award Notification Letter (01-Apr-2006 17:41) From: national_lottery_sa0@yahoo.co.uk To: national_lottery_sa0@yahoo.co.uk
SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL LOTTERY Customer Service /Foreign Claims Dept Ref: ZA/2031/8161/06 Batch: R3/A312-59
AWARDS NOTIFICATION
We are pleased to inform you of the announcement today, 10th March 2006, of winners of the SOUTH AFRICAN/INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY PROGRAMS, held on 4TH March 2006 as part of our promotional draws.
Participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 2,500,000 email addresses of individuals and companies from Africa, America, Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, Middle East, and New Zealand as part of our electronic business Promotions Program. You qualified for the draw as a result of you visiting various websites we are running the e-business promotions for. You/Your Company, attached to ticket number 100-309-7482, with serial number 513-10! Drew the lucky numbers 5, 9, 12, 29, 40, 59, + 76, and consequently won in the Second Category.
You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of US$1,950,000.00 in cash, which is the winning pay out for Second category winners. This is from the total prize money of US$13,650,000.00 shared among the seven international winners in the Second category,
CONGRATULATIONS!
Your fund is now deposited with the paying bank, waiting for further instruction from your claim agent UMLAZ ATTORNEY CHAMBER, for an immediate disbursement to you.
Due to the mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep this award strictly from public notice until your claim has been processed and your money remitted to your account.
This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming or unscrupulous acts by participants of this program.
We hope with a part of your prize, you will participate in our mid year (2006) high stakes US$1.3 billion International Lottery.
To begin your claim, please contact your claim agent immediately;
MR.RICHARD UMLAZI UMLAZI ATTORNEY CHAMBER 3RD FLOOR,STANDARD BANK GALLERIES 70 ELOFF & MARKET STREET JOHANNESBURG 2000 SOUTH AFRICA. Tel/Fax +002783 33 21829 Email:legal_chamber02@yahoo.co.uk
For due processing and remittance of your prize money to a designated account of your choice. Remember, you must contact your claim agent not later than 15th April, 2006.
After this date, all funds will be returned as unclaimed.
NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your reference and batch numbers provided below in every one of your correspondences with your claims agent.
REFERENCE NUMBER: ZA/2031/8161/06 BATCH NUMBER: R3/A312-59 Congratulations once again from all our staff and thank you for being part of our promotions program.
Sincerely,
MRS.MARIA DU TOIT PROMOTIONS MANAGER SOUTH AFRICAN LOTTERY PRIVATE BAG X50 AUCKLAND PARK 2006 SOUTH AFRICA.
N.B. Any breach of confidentiality on the part of the winners will result to disqualification. Beware of scams, do contact directly with your claims agent. For further information about our program you can visit www.lotto.co.za
There has been a definite increase in the so-called Agent or Representative scams. This is hardly surprising considering the amount of people having living on a minimum wage or social security these days. A lot of people are looking for ways to earn extra cash, without having to work extra long hours. That’s the kind of person this type of e-mail is targeting.
Just this last weekend, a documentary on German TV showed a similar case. The story was the following: The "Agent" was required to store packages for a foreign company. They would receive payment per package. They showed a fictional family did not suspect a thing could be wrong with this.
Of course, soon after the family signed up as an Agent they started receiving packages with all sorts of multimedia and computer products. They diligently checked the goods and stored them in their apartment.
Some time later the packages were picked up by a Russian, who spoke no German. Up until this point the couple had not received any payment. The Russian gave them a notebook instead of money.
A couple of days later the police called on the couple and arrested them for commodity fraud.
Here’s a Chinese variation on this theme:
——– Original Message ——– Subject: PARTNER NEEDED!!!!!!! (18-Mrz-2006 20:39) From: liu_chan_2006@yahoo.com.hk To: xxx@xxx.xxx
Dear Intended partner.,
On behalf of China HuaMao Arts & Crafts Organisation, it? our pleasure to introduce to you our new sales/marketing initiative as we are world leading producer and export of artificial arts and crafts. The company maintains a comprehensive database of inter-national trade in artificial arts and crafts, we export into Canada/America and some parts of Europe.
We are surfing for genuine and honest agents who are capable of sales and marketing of our goods and services in what ever location they are. Our motive is to start off from collections of outstanding accounts owed by various customers willing to make out payments now after which agents shall be promoted to sales/marketing section of this programme based on their credibilities/accountabilities of accounts collected/retrieved.
Please if you are interested reply by email with your phone/fax number and your full contact addresses and note ,there is no obligation whatsoever.
A remuneration can be worked out for your services as our overseas representative. We anticipate your earliest response in this regard.
Mr.Liu Chan CEO HuaMao Arts & Crafts No.46 Shangnan Road, Shanggan Town Minhou County Fujian,China
Tags: African Continent, Array, Avant, Centrum Cz, Ces, Cher, CôTe D Ivoire, De Cacao, French Colony, French Language, French Message, French Name, Ivory Coast, Languages Other Than English, Lt, M Et Mme, Promenades, Rana, Scams, Target Languages, West Africa, Wikipedia 
Entries (RSS)