The scam E-Mails

If only they would learn how to phrase in English before they tried to rip us off it would be a little more plausible.
You only need to read the first paragraph to see it was written by someone with limited command of the language.

This is the fourth one i have had from the FBI this week, should i panic http://bestsmileys.com/panic/3.gif

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Anti-Terrorist And Monitory Crime Division.
Federal Bureau Of Investigation.
J.Edgar.Hoover Building Washington Dc

Dear Beneficiary,

Series of meetings have been held over the past 7 months with the secretary general of the United Nations Organization. This ended 3 days ago. It is obvious that you have not received your fund which is to the tune of $850,000.00 due to past corrupt Governmental Officials who almost took the funds to themselves for their selfish reason and some individuals who have taken advantage of your fund all in an attempt to swindle your fund which has led to so many losses from your end and unnecessary delay in the receipt of your fund.

The National Central Bureau of Interpol enhanced by the United Nations and Federal Bureau of Investigation have successfully passed a mandate to the current president of Nigeria his Excellency President Good luck Jonathan to boost the exercise of clearing all foreign debts owed to you and other individuals and organizations who have been found not to have receive their
Contract Sum, Lottery/Gambling, Inheritance and the likes. Now how would you like to receive your payment? Because we have two methods 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 $3,000 per day from any ATM machine that has the Master Card Logo on it and the card have to be renewed in 4 years time which is 2015. Also with the ATM card you will be able to transfer your funds to your local bank account. The ATM card comes with a handbook or manual to enlighten you about how to use it. Even if you do not have a bank account.

Check: To be deposited 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 and would be mailed to you via USPS. Because we have signed a contract with UPS which should expire by June 22nd 2011 you will only need to pay $450 instead of $620 saving you $170 So if you pay before June 22nd, 2011 you save $170 Take note that anyone asking you for some kind of money above the usual fee is definitely a fraudster and you will have to stop communication with every other person if you have been in contact with any. Also remember that the fee required is $450.00 nothing more! Nothing less! And we guarantee the receipt of your fund to be successfully delivered to you within the next 48hrs after the receipt of payment has been confirmed.

Below are few list of tracking numbers you can track from USPS website to confirm people like you who have received their payment successfully.

Name: Donna L. Vargas: UPS Tracking Number: EO 989 255 511 US (www.usps.com)
Name: Rovenda Elaine Clayton: UPS Tracking Number: 873944886796 (www.fedex.com/us)

Note: Everything has been taken care of by the Federal Government of Nigeria, The United Nation and also the FBI and including taxes, custom paper and clearance duty so all you will ever need to pay is $450.

To effect the release of your fund valued at $850,000.00 you are advised to contact the Financial Secretary of our correspondent transfer bank in Africa (MR. Patrick Osas) through phone or email contact below:

MR. Patrick Osas (FINANCIAL SECRETARY)
Central Bank of Nigeria
Central Business District,
Cad astral Zone, federal
Capital Territory,
Nigeria.

Financial Secretary Mr. Patrick Osas Tel (+234-802-933-1021)
Email: centralbank024@mail.com

You are advised to contact him with the information as stated below:

FULL NAMES: _____________________
FULL ADDRESS: _____________________
HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER: _____________________
CELL PHONE NUMBER: _____________________
OFFICE PHONE NUMBER: _____________________
PREFERRED PAYMENT METHOD _____________________(ATM / Cashier Check)

Upon receipt of payment the delivery officer will ensure that your package is sent within 48 working hours.

Yours sincerely,
Miss Donna Story
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
From the desk of Robert S. Mueller III
Private email: robertmueller001@washingtondc.usa.com
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20535

Note: Do disregard any email you get from any impostors or offices claiming to be in possession of your ATM CARD, you are hereby advice only to be in contact with Patrick Osas of the CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA who is the rightful person to deal with in regards to your ATM CARD PAYMENT and forward any emails you get from impostors to this office so we could act upon and commence investigation.

 

This is certainly an old one.
I Googled Donna Story FBI and there are many results, here is an example and it's basically the same as yours

@ Fraudwatchers, 4 May 2009
http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=28439

 

That's actually so poorly written it made my brain hurt a little to read it. Yet thousands of people fall for these things every week...I don't get it.

 

One word Sarge "greed". They deserve it in my book, I even read about a priest falling for this and losing the church's money several times as 'something gummed up' and they ask for more money. *sigh*

There is a long story around where they got scammed instead and the scammer had to get a tattoo and providing pictures of the procedure so that the fictitious church had to see that first to believe his devotion to them before sending any money. Classic con!:-D

 

Bill, is your real name Ben E. Ficiary? :-D

Really, anytime I see Nigeria, I just know it is the real deal.

 

I know someone who fell for a scam. It wasn't the typical email scams. It was through the telephone and they would use the TTY/TDD (Phone for the deaf.) It was my boss and he never used a computer much so didn't understand that they was using all forms of communication. Long story show someone in Texas wanted 100 Pioneer 6 disc cd changers. They were willing to pay full price, shipping blah blah. I tried to talk him out of it and even showed him similar scams on the net. They sent a check for 50% in good faith. Yep... he shipped the cd changers and the check was bogus. Problem was he deposited the check making him get into legal trouble. End of the day he was out about $7500 to Pioneer plus the bad blood with the bank.

As far as the pictures: http://www.419eater.com/html/hall_of_shame.htm greed will drive people to all lengths.

 

I had a hard time convincing someone the other day that the FBI or any law enforcement officer would not make first contact via email.

If the law is looking for your help and you don't answer their email, they'll find you. Be safe, don't answer, let them find you.

 

If yu have time to sit and read some of those stories of the scammers getting scammed, they are quite hilarious. :-D

 

You got that right! I used to work in a credit card environment for many years and *Nigeria* was a dirty word already in the eighties.