So I got an interesting Email...

SidSid Corwid of the Free Join Date: 2003-01-28 Member: 12903Members, Constellation
<div class="IPBDescription">From the Bank of Africa!</div>I have no idea what possessed me to do this, but one day in my inbox (codename: Spamcatcher), I found an interesting letter from some bank accountant in Africa, who wants to give me... MILLIONS OF DOLLARS! Wow, can you believe that? <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />

This is what he wrote:
(Please note: you do not have to read it all... just skim through this junk).


> >From: "kabo uago"
> >Reply-To: kabo_uago1953@yahoo.com
> >Subject: VERY VERY URGENT
> >Date: Fri, 01 Dec 2006 09:42:21 +0000
> >Dear Friend,
> >
> >I am the head of Accounts and Audit Department of Bank of Africa,
> >Ouagadougou . I decided to contact you after a careful thought that you
>may
> >be capable of handling this business transaction which i explained below;
> >
> >In my department we discovered an abandoned sum of $13.5m US dollars
> >(Thirteen million, five hundred thousand US dollars). In an account that
> >belongs to one of our foreign customer who died along with his entire
> >family in 2000 in a plane crash.
> >
> >Since we got information about his death, we have been expecting his next
> >of kin to come over and claim his money because we cannot release it
>unless
> >somebody applies for it as next of kin or relation to the deceased as
> >indicated in our banking guidelines but unfortunately we learnt that his
> >supposed next of kin(his son and wife) died alongside with him at the
>plane
> >crash leaving nobody behind for the claim .
> >
> >It is therefore upon this discovery that I and other officials in my
> >department now decided to make this business proposal to you and release
> >the money to you as the next of kin (We want to present you as his
>busines
> >asociate )to the deceased for safety and subsequent disbursement since
> >nobody is coming for it and we don't want this money to go into the Bank
> >treasury as unclaimed Bill.
> >
> >The Banking law and guideline here stipulates that if such money remained
> >Unclaimed after seven years, the money will be transferred into the Bank
> >treasury as unclaimed fund. The request of foreigner as next of kin in
>this
> >business is occasioned by the fact that the customer was a foreigner and
>a
> >Burkinabe cannot stand as next of kin to a foreigner .
> >
> >We agree that 30% of this money will be for you as foreign partner, in
> >respect to the provision of a foreign account, 10 % will be set aside for
> >expenses incurred during the business and 60% would be for me and my
> >colleagues. There after I and my colleagues will visit your country for
> >disbursement according to the percentages indicated.
> >
> >Therefore to enable the immediate transfer of this fund to your account
>as
> >arranged,you must apply first to the bank as next of kin of the deceased
> >customer. Upon receipt of your reply, I will send to you by fax or email
> >the text of the application. I will not fail to bring to your notice that
> >this transaction is hitch free and that you should not entertain any atom
> >of fear as all required arrangements have been made for the transfer.
> >
> >I expect that you contact me immediately as soon as you receive this
> >letter.
> >
> >Hoping to hear from you immediately.
> >
> >Yours faithfully,
> >DR .Kabo Uago.
> >Accounts & Audit Department ,
> >Bank of Africa
> >
> >Nb.also give me your telephone and fax numbers for easy comunication with
> >you.


Meh. Just another spam message. And it seems that this accountant cannot spell very correctly... but maybe English is supposedly not his first language. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink-fix.gif" /> (And it also turns out that the bank of Africa uses Yahoo mail accounts...) So, wanting to be cocky and quickly dispatch this guy from bothering me, I simply replied with:

>Sid wrote: Oh my gawd! I am like, so
>totally rich!

A simple arrogant message on my behalf.

But... strangely enough, he decided to respond. However, this message seemed pretty cookie-cutter to me.
It just felt like a simple "reply copy".


>From: kabo uago
>To: Sid
>Subject: DETAILS CALL ME
>Date: Sun, 3 Dec 2006 01:48:06 -0800 (PST)
>
>Dear Friend,
> Thank you for responding to my proposal after a very short time of
>sending you this proposal .
>I want you to know that if you are serious towards this transaction, we are
>going to make a success. The problem is not calling, i only wants us to
>pull our resources together to ensure that we make sucess.
>
>You have to know whether you have the capacity to receive this money when
>transferred to your account but my concern is for you to maintain absolute
>confidentiality and have it at the back of your mind that financial
>expenses is involved.by tomorrow i will be sending you my photo so that you
>will know i am. so i want you to send your photo,phone number and your
>personal data tomorrow within 48 hrs of this mail,because there is know
>time left before the bank contacts you and also after receiving your mail,
>i will be sending the bank application which you will fill and send it back
>to for crooss examinig before sending it to bank.
> Be sure that you have no risks to fear about.
>
>The gurantee is that I am working in the same bank and will also serve as
>an insider on your behalf.
>I am sure also that no one is coming later to ask you whether you are the
>real next of kin or not because I studied every thing before contacting you
>and moreover, I cannot involve myself to danger in the same bank where I am
>working.
>I see this as an opportunity for me to be great and I want you also to be
>honest with me after the fund has been transferred to your account.
>
> I want you to know that you were not the person I had in mind before
>sending out my message but another person that bears similar name like
>yours who was formerly living in my country but I couldn't get his email
>address when I searched for it and in place I got yours. From the way you
>have answered me, I have the belief you are honest.
>
> I need you to send to me quickly the account informations (banking
>coordinates) where you will like the fund be transferred to so that I will
>use the informations to fill an application which will be submitted to the
>bank secretly on your behalf by me. After submitting the application on
>your behalf, the bank will contact you directly after receiving the
>application but you must not let the bank know that I am the one that
>informed you about it to avoid suspicions.
>
> You are also to send your telephone /fax numbers to me so that I will
>equally use them in filling the application because I dont know yet which
>medium the bank will use in contacting you after submitting the
>application.
>You need to expedite actions because we about conducting our second quater
>revision of files in my bank and if there is no claim for this fund, other
>people may discover the fund during our next audit.
>
> I want you also to call me once you receive this message for more
>acquaintances in case there is any thing you never understood so far.
> My private telephone number is 00226 70 33 30 31.If you call me and get
>my son on the line, ask him to connect me on the line.
>Dont be afraid because I am here to give you all the guidelines required.
>I want you to tell me more about yourself also.
>I have some questions for you.
>
>1. Where are you .?Are you married and of what age are you?
>2. what do you do for a living?
>3. Are you ready to assist me honestly in this transaction?
>4. Are there things you want to ask me?
>5. I need you to tell me whether you are capable of receiving this amount
>or not when transferred.6 What is age? 7Are a woman or a man?
>For me, I am a married man with two kids and has worked in this same bank
>for over seventeen years.
>Give me the above needed information to enable us get started.
>I am expecting you to call me for more clarifications.
>Best Regards,
>Dr Kabo..


Oh, so he's a doctor now?
Alright. That was unexpected. But nevertheless, I played along. Now, this is getting interesting...


Sid <krazy_kanuk_22@hotmail.com> wrote:

1. Where are you .?Are you married and of what age are you?
>I Live in Abuja, Africa, I am married with my Life Partner, Hubgal. Age 27.
2. what do you do for a living?
>I work on a dairyfarm, and in my free time I design dresses with my Life
>Partner.
3. Are you ready to assist me honestly in this transaction?
>I am, I have so many ideas for new dress designs, and having a larger
>budget would greatly aid my cause.
4. Are there things you want to ask me?
>No, you have covered yourself very clearly.
5. I need you to tell me whether you are capable of receiving this amount or
not when transferred.
>I am. I have over-seas bank accounts on three different continents.
6. What is age?
>You already asked that.
7. Are a woman or a man?
I'm both and neither. Not only do I lack the income from me and my Life
Partner's farm, but I also need more funds to pay the medical bills from my
operation.

Your aid is greatly appreciated, comrade.


Now, in question #1 I said I lived in "Abuja" - which is one of the main cities around Africa. Obviously, he did not pick up on that little part, heh.

So, I just recently received this:


"Dear friend,
Call me at 00226 70333031 for more clarification before i send you the application.
Dr Kabo"


Now, I'm in a bit of a rut. I'm not sure where to go from here, heh. I could try calling collect... or respond with a super witty message (with the help of some NS forum-goers). Or, I could try defrauding him by asking such questions as "Why does the bank of Africa use Yahoo mail accounts?"

Oh, NS forum goers, what should I do? (Suggestions are appreciated, and so are messages that I should respond with. The best reply that you come up with, wins! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />)

P.S. I don't suppose there's a program out there that can analyze telephone numbers?

Comments

  • Lt_PatchLt_Patch Join Date: 2005-02-07 Member: 40286Members
    liek totally f***in' rich <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" />

    there's gotta be something out there that will give you an approximate area for a phone number.

    doo eeeet <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" />
  • TyrainTyrain Join Date: 2003-01-03 Member: 11746Members
    edited December 2006
    Checking <a href="http://www.kropla.com/dialcode.htm" target="_blank">International Dialing Codes</a>, 00226 seems to be <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burkina_Faso" target="_blank">Burkina Faso</a>.

    So his number is at least not fake.

    You know, you could always just write an email to the <a href="http://www.cba.co.ke/index2.php" target="_blank">Bank of Africa</a> and ask if there is a whatever he calls himself with that number. How about that?
  • Lt_PatchLt_Patch Join Date: 2005-02-07 Member: 40286Members
    i got one better, i've got the town ;p

    Koupéla (Burkina Faso)
    +22670<i>XXXX</i>
  • TyrainTyrain Join Date: 2003-01-03 Member: 11746Members
    edited December 2006
    <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koup%C3%A9la" target="_blank">Koupla</a>

    "Koupla is a city in Burkina Faso, lying east of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ouagadougou" target="_blank">Ouagadougou</a> (137 km)"

    "I am the head of Accounts and Audit Department of Bank of Africa,
    > >Ouagadougou ."

    At least they put some effort into this <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink-fix.gif" />

    Edit: Ouagadougou is the capitol of Burkina Faso.

    Here I go again: <a href="http://419.bittenus.com/SalifAli/index.htm" target="_blank">http://419.bittenus.com/SalifAli/index.htm</a>

    At least I learned what the capitol of Burkina Faso is and where that damn county lied <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" />
  • MelatoninMelatonin Babbler Join Date: 2003-03-15 Member: 14551Members, Constellation
    edited December 2006
    if anyones interested I might post an insane email I was recently privvy to, that was sent to a variety of people from the Metropolitan police in the UK, to the Whitehouse, and details a vast conspiracy against a gentleman who believes himself to be known throughout the world.

    it would make a great short film.

    heres a sneak peak
    <!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->A conversation over the phone with my father. Just a few sentences.

    Me "Well I'mm More Biblical. Eu are calling me Jericho".

    Father "You should follow Islam. Don't move away from Islam. Otherwise people will Kill you".

    Me "don't worry dad no one in the whole of Europe, America or, China is going to kill me. Even if they did I would just get back up".

    Father "I will Kill you".


    Then the penny dropped my own father is against me. So how the hell any Pakistani can claim to be my relative is beyond me. He is the only link I have to Pakistan. Infact, I am shocked these people are going foreward claiming my finances when I have insisted that no one represent me but myself.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->



    as for this email, I couldnt read past the first line before my scam warning prevented further investigation.
  • SidSid Corwid of the Free Join Date: 2003-01-28 Member: 12903Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1584662:date=Dec 5 2006, 05:43 PM:name=Tyrain)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tyrain @ Dec 5 2006, 05:43 PM) [snapback]1584662[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Checking <a href="http://www.kropla.com/dialcode.htm" target="_blank">International Dialing Codes</a>, 00226 seems to be <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burkina_Faso" target="_blank">Burkina Faso</a>.

    So his number is at least not fake.

    You know, you could always just write an email to the <a href="http://www.cba.co.ke/index2.php" target="_blank">Bank of Africa</a> and ask if there is a whatever he calls himself with that number. How about that?
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->


    Good idea!

    <!--quoteo(post=1584672:date=Dec 5 2006, 05:55 PM:name=Melatonin)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Melatonin @ Dec 5 2006, 05:55 PM) [snapback]1584672[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    if anyones interested I might post an insane email I was recently privvy to, that was sent to a variety of people from the Metropolitan police in the UK, to the Whitehouse, and details a vast conspiracy against a gentleman who believes himself to be known throughout the world.

    it would make a great short film.

    heres a sneak peak
    as for this email, I couldnt read past the first line before my scam warning prevented further investigation.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->


    Oooh, sounds interesting.
  • MerkabaMerkaba Digital Harmony Join Date: 2002-01-24 Member: 22Members, Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester
    I too get such letters to my mail account (my yahoo ones) quite frequently, saying someone rich has died tragically and that the money is sitting in their account and they just need XXX amount from me, etc etc.
  • RPG_JssmfulhudRPG_Jssmfulhud Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 4006Members
    edited December 2006
    These are the 419 letters, or Nigerian Advance Fee Scam letters. They are extremely wide-spread and arrive at just about any e-mail address. If you want nothing to do with them, just ignore them.

    However, a lot of people are fighting these scammers back and are playing them at their own game - not scamming, but lying. They make up stories, characters and situations with which they manipulate and humiliate these scammers (but never take any real money from them) until finally letting them go.

    You have two choices here. Either ignore all the further mails and he/she will just stop mailing you after some time. Or - you can have fun with this scammer.

    If you want to select the latter option, please be aware of something: these people are criminals. Although it is unlikely they will come calling on your doors, there are a few simple rules you must always follow:
    - Never give out ANY of your personal details or the details of someone you know. Everything you send to him should be fake or publicly known (IE. banks, etc.)
    - Use an e-mail host that hides the originating IP and headers. While most scammers are not too computer-savvy, there's still a chance one of them will get either suspicious or angry enough to check you out. And if that happens, he might get to know your general location.
    - If you do decide to call them (by the way, all the phone numbers they will give WILL be real, as they want to talk to you to lure you in further), use an untracable phone (pre-pay phones without an owner, etc.).

    Otherwise, pretty much anything goes, although there's a general rule not to send them too well made photoshops of passports and other documents, which they might and will reuse for their other victims.

    Again - they are criminals, so be sure to protect yourself first, then think of the fun you can get out of them. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
  • SidSid Corwid of the Free Join Date: 2003-01-28 Member: 12903Members, Constellation
    I'll have to plot something juicy before striking back at him, hmm... thanks for the ideas! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink-fix.gif" />
  • ThaldarinThaldarin Alonzi&#33; Join Date: 2003-07-15 Member: 18173Members, Constellation
    Set up a new bank account with minimal amount of money and give those details over. That way you don't lose.
  • BlackMageBlackMage [citation needed] Join Date: 2003-06-18 Member: 17474Members, Constellation
    it's really funny when you ask them to prove that they're not automated spambot-type things (ask for pictures of them doing silly things)
  • SidSid Corwid of the Free Join Date: 2003-01-28 Member: 12903Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1585390:date=Dec 7 2006, 01:41 PM:name=Black_Mage)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Black_Mage @ Dec 7 2006, 01:41 PM) [snapback]1585390[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    it's really funny when you ask them to prove that they're not automated spambot-type things (ask for pictures of them doing silly things)
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Good idea! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" />
  • Cold_NiTeCold_NiTe Join Date: 2003-09-15 Member: 20875Members
    I wish there was a way to counter scam him.
  • RPG_JssmfulhudRPG_Jssmfulhud Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 4006Members
    But there is. Lots of ways. Now this is not the site to discuss all the possibilities, but lots of scam baiters have managed to ship useless junk to the scammers (while the scammers thought they would get their laptops and other electronics for free, IE. scammed), like bricks and old, non-working computers. The scammers had to pay a fortune for DHL shipping, since they've sent it on their behalf.

    Getting pictures of the scammers doing silly things is also very fun. If you give them a clue that you are JUST about to send them large amounts of money, they will do practically anything (truth) to do your bidding. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
  • TalesinTalesin Our own little well of hate Join Date: 2002-11-08 Member: 7710NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators
    I highly suggest that anyone who receives a letter like this read through <a href="http://www.419eater.com" target="_blank">419eater.com</a>, an awesome webpage about the history of the Nigerian 419 scam (which this is) as well as information on how to be a 419-scambaiter relatively safely, or read about people's past exploits in scambaiting.

    I particularly enjoy the <a href="http://www.419eater.com/html/joe_eboh.htm" target="_blank">Tale of the Painted Breast</a>, but they have tons of scammed pictures, interactions, and general get-backs .
  • Sephiroth2kSephiroth2k Join Date: 2002-04-21 Member: 481Members, Constellation
    You are SO lucky to be given this opportunity! I've never gotten one of those e-mails but I would LOVE to be able t mess with them lol.
    They ARE criminals, but they are limited to basically a single computer room with like 50 other scammers in it..
    Mess with them to the extreme!
    They are extremely gullible so tell a good story and they'll beleive anything. Say something like your life partner needs a medical operation and that money would be very useful. That should warrent a decent size correspondance with this guy lolz...

    You are SO lucky to be given this opportunity! I've never gotten one of those e-mails but I would LOVE to be able t mess with them lol.
    They ARE criminals, but they are limited to basically a single computer room with like 50 other scammers in it..
    Mess with them to the extreme!
    They are extremely gullible so tell a good story and they'll beleive anything. Say something like your life partner needs a medical operation and that money would be very useful. That should warrent a decent size correspondance with this guy lolz...
  • SidSid Corwid of the Free Join Date: 2003-01-28 Member: 12903Members, Constellation
    Wow, what a great site. XD
  • SidSid Corwid of the Free Join Date: 2003-01-28 Member: 12903Members, Constellation
    Alright, I'm in a bit of a rut. I need some help with a reply. Suggestions, people! o:

    >From: kabo uago <kabo_uago1953@yahoo.com>
    >To: Pat G <krazy_kanuk_22@hotmail.com>
    >Subject: CALL ME
    >Date: Fri, 8 Dec 2006 00:00:34 -0800 (PST)
    >
    >Dear Pat,
    > I thank you so much for your kind question. kindly call me for more clarification.
    > Waiting to hear from you.
    > Dr Kabo.
    >
    >Pat G <krazy_kanuk_22@hotmail.com> wrote:
    >
    >Sir, how do I know that you are not one of those automatic Email robots that
    >I keep hearing so much about?

    Stupid hotmail and keeping my name! "Pat" is a shortened version of my real name, d'oh! Stupid hotmail...

    So my lame attempt to get him to prove something just lead him into trying to get me to call, once again.
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