Doubtful anyone here would be naive enough to fall for this new Internet con game, but according to the FBI there have been a bunch of people cleaned out by a couple of fairly savvy African gangs and (not to be outdone) the con is even being picked up by some US and European gangs.
So let your more naive relatives and friends know about the scam.
I've pasted the text of the kind of email these con artists spam out hoping to find a few people gullible enough to buy the pitch and contact them and then give them their bank routing information.
Per the pitch, the person (con man) seeking help will arrange to transfer $50+ million to the person (sucker) giving their banking info and the poor soul seeking the help will split it with them. Of course, in reality the scammers electronically clean our the person's bank account and disappear into the night.
It's a great con - it relies on both the sucker's naivity and personal greed with just enough of a soap opera component so that the sucker can believe (if we wants to) that he's helping someone while at the same time taking part in what would be a highly questionable transaction if it were actually true.
Here's the text - I've seen several of these in slightly different forms and minor twists to the story:
ATTN: SIR
This business proposal to you is strictly
confidential, with due respect. Sorry at this
perceived confusion or stress you may have receiving
this letter from me, Since we have not known ourselves
or met previously. Despite that, I am constrained to
write you this letter because of the urgency of it.By
way of self introduction, I am Mrs. Joy Kobe, the wife
of late Brigadier - Gen.Maxwell Kobe former ECOMOG
ARMY COMMANDER [West African peacekeeping force in
Sierra Leone] who died in the Sierra Leone civil
disturbance [War]. My three daughters and I are
trapped in obnoxious custom and traditional norms.
We have suffered maltreatment and untold hardship in
the hands of my late husband's family, simply because
I did not bear a male child [heir apparent] for my
late husband. By tradition, all that my late husband
had, [wealth] belongs to his brothers/family. And
myself is to be remarried by his immediate younger
brother which I vehemently refused. They have taken
all that I suffered with my husband to acquire
including treasures, houses and his bank particular
seized by them. I wanted to escape to the United State
of America [USA} with my children on exile, but again
they conspired and stole my international passport and
other traveling document to further frustrate me.
Thank God, two weeks ago, I received Key Text Code
[KTC} from a Security & Finance Company abroad, that
my late husband deposited U.S
$51.2 Million cash with this company. It has therefore, become very necessary
and
urgent to contact someone, a foreigner like you to help me receive/secure these
funds
overseas in a reliable bank Account (presumably an empty Bank
Account, if available) and to help invest it on our
behalf as well, while we find a way of getting out to
meet with you in your country.
These funds are kept on an "OPEN BENEFICIARY MANDATE"
with the Security Company to avoid detection, seizure
or diversion. I have had several telephone discussions
with the Assistant Director of the security company,
who has express willingness to help me on meeting the
company's demands. This is why I have
contacted you to help save my children and I, receive
these funds on our behalf. But, you would need to give
me sufficient assurance that if you help me, you would
not divert the funds. My children and I have resolved
to give you 30% of the total sum. This is all my
children and I have got to live on.
Please, I have reposed my confidence in you and hope
you will not disappoint me. I look forward to your
urgent response, including your private phone / mobile
No and also your fax no for easier communication.
NB: The secret codes (e.g Pin No., Secret Access Code)
for this fund are safely kept with me which I can give
you as soon as you express desire to help me.
Stay blessed.
mrs joy kobe
PLEASE FOR SECURITY REASON REPLY THROUGH MY PERSONAL
EMAIL ADDRESS BOX(joykobe2222@lycos.com)THANK YOU.
THIS IS MY ATTORNEY CONTACTS
PHONE....234-8033214911.
FAX....234-1-7595955
So let your more naive relatives and friends know about the scam.
I've pasted the text of the kind of email these con artists spam out hoping to find a few people gullible enough to buy the pitch and contact them and then give them their bank routing information.
Per the pitch, the person (con man) seeking help will arrange to transfer $50+ million to the person (sucker) giving their banking info and the poor soul seeking the help will split it with them. Of course, in reality the scammers electronically clean our the person's bank account and disappear into the night.
It's a great con - it relies on both the sucker's naivity and personal greed with just enough of a soap opera component so that the sucker can believe (if we wants to) that he's helping someone while at the same time taking part in what would be a highly questionable transaction if it were actually true.
Here's the text - I've seen several of these in slightly different forms and minor twists to the story:
ATTN: SIR
This business proposal to you is strictly
confidential, with due respect. Sorry at this
perceived confusion or stress you may have receiving
this letter from me, Since we have not known ourselves
or met previously. Despite that, I am constrained to
write you this letter because of the urgency of it.By
way of self introduction, I am Mrs. Joy Kobe, the wife
of late Brigadier - Gen.Maxwell Kobe former ECOMOG
ARMY COMMANDER [West African peacekeeping force in
Sierra Leone] who died in the Sierra Leone civil
disturbance [War]. My three daughters and I are
trapped in obnoxious custom and traditional norms.
We have suffered maltreatment and untold hardship in
the hands of my late husband's family, simply because
I did not bear a male child [heir apparent] for my
late husband. By tradition, all that my late husband
had, [wealth] belongs to his brothers/family. And
myself is to be remarried by his immediate younger
brother which I vehemently refused. They have taken
all that I suffered with my husband to acquire
including treasures, houses and his bank particular
seized by them. I wanted to escape to the United State
of America [USA} with my children on exile, but again
they conspired and stole my international passport and
other traveling document to further frustrate me.
Thank God, two weeks ago, I received Key Text Code
[KTC} from a Security & Finance Company abroad, that
my late husband deposited U.S
$51.2 Million cash with this company. It has therefore, become very necessary
and
urgent to contact someone, a foreigner like you to help me receive/secure these
funds
overseas in a reliable bank Account (presumably an empty Bank
Account, if available) and to help invest it on our
behalf as well, while we find a way of getting out to
meet with you in your country.
These funds are kept on an "OPEN BENEFICIARY MANDATE"
with the Security Company to avoid detection, seizure
or diversion. I have had several telephone discussions
with the Assistant Director of the security company,
who has express willingness to help me on meeting the
company's demands. This is why I have
contacted you to help save my children and I, receive
these funds on our behalf. But, you would need to give
me sufficient assurance that if you help me, you would
not divert the funds. My children and I have resolved
to give you 30% of the total sum. This is all my
children and I have got to live on.
Please, I have reposed my confidence in you and hope
you will not disappoint me. I look forward to your
urgent response, including your private phone / mobile
No and also your fax no for easier communication.
NB: The secret codes (e.g Pin No., Secret Access Code)
for this fund are safely kept with me which I can give
you as soon as you express desire to help me.
Stay blessed.
mrs joy kobe
PLEASE FOR SECURITY REASON REPLY THROUGH MY PERSONAL
EMAIL ADDRESS BOX(joykobe2222@lycos.com)THANK YOU.
THIS IS MY ATTORNEY CONTACTS
PHONE....234-8033214911.
FAX....234-1-7595955
