| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"Therion Ware" |
| Date: |
13 Jul 2004 05:40:53 AM |
| Object: |
OT: Nigeria 419 Scammer Scammed! |
Wasn't someone here leading a 419er on? Here's a story that might
amuse!
Turning the tables on Nigeria's e-mail conmen
By Dan Damon
BBC, London
Mike is a "scambaiter," dedicated to fighting back against those who
send out the notorious 419 e-mails, promising untold wealth to anyone
gullible or naive enough to disclose their bank details.
Mike asked us not to use his full name because he's dealing with some
heavy cross-border criminals.
His group of volunteers at 419eaters.com use their computer skills to
fool the scammers, to disrupt their crimes, and to have some fun at
the scammer's expense.
Every day, millions of people get e-mails like this:
Dear Sir/ Madam,
I am fine today and how are you? I hope this letter will find you in
the best of health. I am Prince Joe Eboh, the Chairman of the
"Contract Award Committee", of the "Niger Delta Development Commission
(NDDC)", a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation
(NNPC).
NDDC was set up by the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha who
died on 18th June 1998, to manage the excess revenue accruing from the
sales of Petroleum and its allied products as a domestic increase in
the petroleum products to develop the communities in the Niger Delta
Oil producing areas. The estimated annual revenue for 1999 was $45
Billion US Dollars...
And of course, if you were only willing to help the writer siphon some
of it off, a few of those many millions could be yours.
Painted breast
Mike told me how he baited the writer of the e-mail above, Prince Joe
Eboh.
"I'm sure he's not a prince at all," Mike says. "He contacted me with
a standard 419 [so-called after a section of Nigeria's legal code]
scam.
I have been troubled recently after the death of a dear friend of
mine, Minnie Mowse
'Father Hector Barnett'
"I tried to turn it round by saying I worked for a church and we
couldn't do any business with people who are not of our faith."
Mike sent a response in the name of Father Hector Barnett of the
Church of the Painted Breast.
Dear Sir,
I would dearly love to help you. If you ever decide to join our faith
then of course I could help you both with my experience and financial
support. I wish you well in your endeavour my brother.
Yours, Father Hector Barnett
"Now I knew the guy would write back and say: 'Well, can I join your
faith?' and indeed he did," says Mike.
Dear Father Hector,
If joining your faith is what it takes to help me of course, I am
ready to join you. I'm from a good Christian family. I will do
anything you want me to do in the faith. Don't forget that I have to
transfer the money to your account as urgently as possible. Send me
your account details. I hope to read your mail soon.
Prince Joe Eboh
'War-paint'
Dear Joe,
Our ministry was founded in 1774 by a wonderful lady by the name of
Betsy Carrington. She spent many of her first preaching years in
Kenya, spreading the holy gospel amongst the local people there. She
was the first person male or female to promote Christian texts and
beliefs to the Masai warrior tribe.
The most famous account is when as a test she had to remove the top
part of her clothes and paint the top half of her body and breast with
the red Masai war-paint as a gesture of faith and belief to them so
that they would accept her and trust her. She was almost immediately
accepted by them and was one of the most trusted westerners known at
that time.
As a qualification to enter the Holy Church of The Order of The Red
Breast, all followers must go through the initiation procedure that
Miss Carrington made so famous. I have attached a photograph of four
of our young inductees going through the procedure.
Please use this picture to enable you to make the same marking on
yourself. I have also attached a small picture showing the design in
more detail. I look forward to welcoming you into our membership my
brother.
Father Hector Barnett Financial Development - Holy Church of The Order
of The Red Breast.
'Processing fees'
Using image software, Mike made up an "initiation" picture. And Prince
Joe duly carried out the induction and e-mailed back a photo of
himself in the properly sanctified state.
Dear Brother Hector,
I want to thank the Almighty God himself for the opportunity I have to
be a member of this great church The Holy Church Of The Painted
Breast. I'm looking forward to establishing a branch of the Church
here. But I'll like us to finish everything about the business
proposal, which I sent to you earlier...
"He then tried to hit me for $18,000 for processing fees for
transferring millions," Mike says.
He wrote back as Father Hector, saying that the church had plenty of
money, but there was a withdrawal fee of $80.
"I persuaded him to send me the $80, which he did, inside a birthday
card, by courier," Mike says.
He and his volunteers give any money they get from these reverse
stings to a children's charity in the north of England.
Exporting snow
Father Hector of the Church of the Painted Breast then entered a
troubling period of religious uncertainty.
Dear Joe,
This is your good friend Hector Barnett. Please do not be alarmed that
I am contacting you from a different e-mail address. I will explain
what has happened.
The guy obviously thought he was going to get $18,000 so easily, he
was blinded by his own greed
Mike
I have been troubled recently after the death of a dear friend of
mine, Minnie Mowse. She was a very, very dear friend indeed, and her
death affected me greatly and started to make me question my faith. I
have decided to leave the church and join a travelling circus.
I have already made two very good friends, and tomorrow I will be
starting my circus training with them...
Prince Joe then began receiving e-mails from another "Reverend" of the
Church of the Painted Breast worried about the disappearance of Father
Hector and $18,000 from church funds.
Joe already knew from Hector's increasingly eccentric e-mails that he
had put the money into a business exporting snow to Siberia.
Lottery winnings
Despite that, Prince Joe still hasn't given up, even though he's $80
down. The e-mail exchange between the probably fake prince and the
obviously fake church continues.
At the same time, the scambaiters are running several other such
stings.
I asked Mike why these people who are themselves scammers can't spot
an obvious scam.
"I think it operates in much the same way as it does with real
victims. Greed clouds their judgement. The guy obviously thought he
was going to get $18,000 so easily, he was blinded by his own greed.
"Which is what happens to those who fall for the 419 scams; they just
see all these millions."
This would all be funny if it wasn't for the millions of dollars being
stolen and probably put into drugs or other criminal activities.
Mike and his friends send all their e-mail exchanges to the police in
the UK, Nigeria and to the FBI - he says they've had no response. And
even warning the victims does no good. Most of them don't want to
believe they're being scammed.
The latest e-mail scam concerns lottery winnings you didn't know you
had.
If you're tempted, just remember Prince Joe who's still sending
e-mails saying he's sticking to his promise and saying the daily
prayer: "When all above seems a great test, Get on down with the Holy
Red Breast."
Dear Father,
When I said the prayer this morning, something like a fountain went
down my system making me to feel strong & happy. I have spent money to
process all the necessary documents for the transfer of this fund.
What remains now is the registration of your name as the contractor
who executed the contract.
Yours, Joe.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/africa/3887493.stm
Published: 2004/07/13 07:56:50 GMT
© BBC MMIV
.
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