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How does this scam work? "JOINT VENTURE"

K

Kev

Lifer
Cliff's notes: the guy wants to send $75 million cash, in $25 million increments, in disguised packages which he wants me to pick up in Holland (I pretended I was interested so I could try to see how it works, and maybe mess with him a little). I get 20%.

Read the full 2 emails if you dare. Oh and give me some ideas on how I can mess with this guy

Email #1
BARRISTER ADEOLA FOLA
FOLA & CO..
ATTORNEYS/LEGAL PRACTITIONERS.
NIGERIA.

DEAR,

COMPLIMENTS OF THE SEASON. GRACE AND PEACE AND LOVE
FROM THIS PART OF THE ATLANTIC TO YOU. I HOPE MY LETTER DOES NOT
CAUSE YOU TOO MUCH EMBARRASSMENT.AS I WRITE TO YOU IN GOOD FAITH
BASED ON THE CONTACT ADDRESS GIVEN TO ME BY A FRIEND WHO WORKS AT THE
NIGERIAN EMBASSING YOUR COUNTRY. PLEASE EXCUSE MY INTRUSION INTO YOUR
PRIVATE LIFE.

I AM ADEOLA FOLA,I REPRESENT MOHAMMED ABACHA, SON OF
THE LATE GEN.SANI ABACHA, WHO WAS THE FORMER MILITARY HEAD OF
STATE IN NIGERIA. HE DIED IN 1998. SINCE HIS DEATH, THE FAMILY
HAS BEEN LOSING A LOT OF MONEY DUE TO VINDICTIVE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
WHO ARE BENT ON DEALING WITH THE FAMILY.

BASED ON THIS THEREFORE, THE FAMILY HAS ASKED ME TO
SEEK FOR A FOREIGN PARTNER WHO CAN WORK WITH US AS TO MOVE OUT
THE TOTAL SUM OF US$75,000,000.00 (SEVENTY FIVE MILLION UNITED
STATES DOLLARS),PRESENTLY IN THEIR POSSESSION. THIS MONEY WAS
OF COURSE, ACQUIRED BY THE LATE PRESIDENT AND IS NOW KEPT
SECRETLY BY THE FAMILY.

THE SWISS GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY FROZEN ALL THE
ACCOUNTS OF THE FAMILY IN SWITZERLAND, AND SOME OTHER COUNTRIES WOULD
SOON FOLLOW TO DO THE SAME. THIS BID BY SOME GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS TO DEAL WITH THIS FAMILY HAS MADE IT NECESSARY THAT WE
SEEK YOUR ASSISITANCE IN RECEIVING THIS MONEY AND IN INVESTING IT ON
BEHALF OF THE FAMILY.

THIS MUST BE A JOINT VENTURE TRANSACTION AND WE MUST
ALL WORK TOGETHER.SINCE THIS MONEY IS STILL CASH,EXTRA SECURITY
MEASURES HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO PROTECT IT FROM THEFT OR SECURE,
PENDING WHEN AGREEMENT IS REACHED ON WHEN AND HOW TO MOVE IT INTO
ANY OF YOUR NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNTS.I HAVE PERSONALLY WORKED OUT
ALL MODALITIES FOR THE PEACEFUL CONCLUSION OF THIS
TRANSACTION.

THE TRANSACTION DEFINITELY WOULD BE HANDLED IN PHASES
AND THE FIRST PHASE WILL INVOLVE THE MOVING OF US$25,000,000.00
(TWENTY FIVE MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS).

MY CLIENTS ARE WILLING TO GIVE YOU A REASONABLE PERCENTAGE OF THIS
MONEY AS SOON AS THE TRANSACTIONIS CONCLUDED. I WILL,
HOWEVER, BASED ON THE GROUNDS THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH
US AND ALSO ALL CONTENTIOUS ISSUES DISCUSSED BEFORE THE
COMMENCEMENT OF THIS TRANSACTION. YOU MAY ALSO DISCUSS YOUR PERCENTAGE
BEFORE WE START TO WORK.

AS SOON AS I HEAR FROM YOU, I WILL GIVE YOU ALL
NECESSARY DETAILS AS TO HOW WE INTEND TO CARRY OUT THE WHOLE
TRANSACTION.PLEASE, DO NOT ENTERTAIN ANY FEARS, AS ALL NECESSARY
MODALITIES ARE IN PLACE, AND I ASSURE YOU OF ALL SUCCESS AND SAFETY IN
THIS TRANSACTION.

PLEASE, THIS TRANSACTION REQUIRES ABSOLUTE
CONFIDENTIALITY AND YOU WOULD BE EXPECTED TO TREAT IT
AS SUCH UNTIL THE FUNDS ARE MOVED OUT
OF THIS COUNTRY.

PLEASE, YOU WILL ALSO IGNORE THIS LETTER AND RESPECT
OUR TRUST IN YOU BY NOT EXPOSING THIS TRANSACTION, EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT
INTERESTED.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.

THANK YOU.

TRULY YOURS,

BARRISTER ADEOLA FOLA [ESQ]
Click to expand...

Email #2
BARRISTER ADEOLA FOLA ESQ
FOLA`S & CO
ATTORNEYS/LEGAL PRACTITIONERS
NIGERIA

DEAR KEVIN,
I MUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST TO ASSIST THIS TRANSACTION,
WHICH SHALL BE BASED ON MUTUAL RESPECT, HONESTY AND ABOVE ALL, THE FEAR
OF GOD.
I WANT TO BELEIVE THAT YOU ARE SINCERELY READY TO ASSIST US,
AS WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE THIS BUSINESS. WE ARE PREPARED TO HAVE
ENTIRE CONFIDENCE IN YOU TO DO THE BUSINESS WITH ALL HONESTY AND TO
GIVE US OUR SHARE OF THE MONEY WHEN IT IS FINALLY TRANSFERRED TO YOU.
WE WISH THAT YOU HAVE SUCH CONFIDENCE IN US, AND BELEIVE THAT WE ARE
CAPABLE AND THAT ALL EFFORTS YOU WILL PUT IN THE TRANSACTION WILL NOT
BE IN VAIN.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT WE ADOPT A CODE NOW THAT WE ARE READY TO DO THIS
DEAL. OUR CODE IS "193". ANY MESSAGE I SEND TO YOU MUST CARRY THE CODE
AND IF I CALL YOU OR YOU CALL ME, YOU MUST ALWAYS BE THE ONE TO ASK ME
OF THE CODE BEFORE YOU DISCUSS ANYTHING WITH ME. THE REASON FOR THIS IS
TO ENSURE IT IS I YOU ARE DEALING WITH, TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE
CONFIDENTIAL NATURE OF THIS TRANSACTION.

AS YOU ARE NOW AWARE, I REPRESENT THE ABACHA FAMILY WHO ARE PRESENTLY
BEING HOUNDED BY THE CIVILIAN ADMINISTRATION OF PRESIDENT OLUSEGUN
OBASANJO. THIS VICTIMIZATION IS PERCEIVED AS TRANSFERRED AGGRESSION AS
THE LATE GENERAL SANNI ABACHA FOR COUP PLOTTING ONCE JAILED PRESIDENT
OBASANJO. BANK ACCOUNTS OF THE ABACHA FAMILY BOTH IN NIGERIA AND
FOREIGN COUNTRIES SUCH AS SWITZERLAND, BRITAIN, FRANCE, GERMANY
ETC.HAVE BEEN FROZEN ALL IN A BID TO FRUSTRATE THEM.

THE US$75M PRESENTLY ENVISAGED FOR TRANSFER IS ALL THE ABACHA FAMILY
HAS LEFT. LIKE I MENTIONED IN MY FIRST LETTER TO YOU, I DID SAY THE
FUNDS ARE IN
CASH, AND FOR THIS REASON AND CONSIDERING THE PRESENT ORDEAL BEING
UNDERGONE BY THE ABACHA FAMILY; THIS FUND CANNOT BE PAID INTO A BANK,
BECAUSE IF THE GOVERNMENT KNOWS ABOUT IT, IT IS BIG TROUBLE. SO FOR
THIS REASON, THE FIRST BATCH OF US$25M HAVE BEEN ARRANGED AND SECURELY
SEALED IN TWO TRUNK BOXES, CRATED AND THEN DEPOSITED WITH A SECURITY
COMPANY
READY FOR SHIPMENT ABROAD VIA DIPLOMATIC COURIER SERVICE SO AS TO MAKE
IT IMMUNE TO CUSTOM AND OTHER BUREAUCRATIC CHECKS AT THE PORTS. THE
REASON FOR THIS IS BECAUSE IT IS THE ONLYWAY THE FUNDS CAN BE
TRANSFERRED WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. THE OFFICIALS OF THE SECURITY COMPANY
HAVE BEEN INFORMED THE CRATES CONTAIN AFRICAN WOOD CARVINGS.
IMMEDIATELY I RECEIVE YOUR INTENTION TO COOPERATE, I SHALL GIVE
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE SHIPMENT OF THE CONSIGNMENT VIA DIPLOMATIC COURIER
TO THE SECURITY COMPANY OFFICE IN AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND WHERE YOU WILL
PRESENT YOURSELF TO TAKE POSSESSION OF THE TRUNK BOX CONTAINING THE
CASH. MIND YOU, THE CONSIGNMENT IS CODED, NO ONE MUST KNOW OF ITS TRUE
CONTENT. THE OFFICIALS OF THE SECURITY COMPANY HAVE BEEN INFORMED THE
TRUNK BOXES CONTAIN AFRICAN WOOD CARVINGS. PLEASE TAKE NOTE.
IT IS AFTER THE FUNDS ARE SUCCESSFULLY IN YOUR POSSESSION THAT WE WILL
HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DISCUSS TYPE AND TERMS OF INVESTMENT WE WILL USE
OUR SHARE FOR.
MY DEAR FRIEND, I HOPE YOU APPRECIATE ALL OUR SECURED ARRANGEMENT IN
ODER TO MAKE SURE WE ACHIEVE A 100% HITCH-FREE AND MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL
TRANSACTION WITH YOU AS OUR LIVES AND THAT OF OUR FAMILIES ARE INVOLVED.
HAVING PUT IN OVER 20YEARS OF MERITORIOUS SERVICE AS AN ATTORNEY IN MY
COUNTRY, ANYTHING THAT WILL TARNISH MY IMAGE MUST BE AVOIDED IN ORDER
NOT TO BE LABELLED ECONOMIC SABOTEUR. THEREFORE, I IMPLORE YOU TO KEEP
EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS BUSINESS STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL UNTIL THE FUNDS
HAVE BEEN TRANSFERRED.
I HAVE DISCUSSED WITH MY CLIENT AND WE HAVE RESOLVED TO OFFER YOU 20%
OF TE TOTAL FUNDS I.E. FOR EVERY TRANSFER OF US$25M, YOU SHALL RECEIVE
U$5M.
SO BASED ON THE ABOVE, IT IS IMPORTANT YOU COMMUNICATE WITH ME TO LET
ME KNOW WETHER OR NOT YOU ACCEPT TO DO THIS BUSINESS WITH US. ON THE
EVENT THAT YOU CANNOT ASSIST US DO THE BUSINESS, I BEG YOU TO STILL
KEEP OUR
CONTACT AND EXISTENCE OF THIS FUND A SECRET.I WILL REQUIRE YOU TO MAKE
AVAILABLE TO ME YOUR CONFIDENTIAL TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS. AFTER MY
RECEIPT OF THIS, I WILL THEN GO AHEAD TO GIVE YOU MY CONFIDENTIAL
TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS.

YOUR IMMEDIATE RESPONSE WILL BE APPRECIATED.

TRULY YOURS,

BARRISTER ADEOLA FOLA "193"
Click to expand...
 
bored at work

and trying to figure out how he tries to screw people out of their money. this scheme doesn't involve giving them your bank account like other ones do
 
There's a web site somewhere (forgot the link) where a guy goes through almost the entire thing with the Nigerian. I think in the end, they request a Credit Card number and/or your back account number. They proceed to milk it dry.

Quote from Snopes.com

Here's how it works: Letters (or, nowadays, e-mail messages) postmarked from Nigeria (or Sierra Leone, or the Ivory Coast, or almost any other foreign nation) are sent to addresses taken from large mailing lists. The letters promise rich rewards for helping officials of that government (or bank, or quasi-government agency or sometimes just members of a particular family) out of an embarrassment or a legal problem. Typically, the pitch includes mention of multi-million dollar sums, with the open promise that you will be permitted to keep a startling percentage of the funds you're going to aid in squirreling away for these disadvantaged foreigners. If you're not saying "scam" by now, you should be. Should you agree to participate in this international bail-out, something will go wrong. Paperwork will be delayed. Questions will be asked. Officials will need to be bribed. Money from you -- an insignificant sum, really, in light of the windfall about to land in your lap -- will be required to get things back on track. You pay, you wait for the transfer . . . and all you'll get in return are more excuses about why the funds are being held up and assurances that everything can be straightened out if you'll just send a bit more cash to help the process along. Once your bank account has been sucked dry or you start making threats, you'll never hear from these Nigerians again. As for the money you've thrown at this, it's gone forever.
Click to expand...
 
wow, you actually got ahold of them? I've never been able to do it.

But weird, this one is not so obvious. I mean it's obviously a scam, but not how it works. Maybe they kidnap you and hold you for ransom.

edit: nevermind, i saw where they want a bank account. they just scrape out all the cash.
 
Sooner or later, you'll end up paying "taxes" or "duties" or "paperwork fees" or "legal fees" or whatever to get the packages into the country.

Of course, these will have to be PRE-paid.

Keep stringing him along and see what happens.
 
FTC.gov

And the U.S. Department of State cautions against traveling to the destination mentioned in the letters. According to State Department reports, people who have responded to these "advance-fee" solicitations have been beaten, subjected to threats and extortion, and in some cases, murdered

If you receive an offer from someone claiming to need your help getting money out of Nigeria - or any other country, for that matter - send it to the appropriate U.S. officials. If the offer comes via email, forward it to the FTC at uce@ftc.gov. If it arrives via fax, fax it to the U.S. Secret Service at 202-435-5031.

 
yeah I wouldn't try to piss these guys off...they aren't like some pencil-neck spammer, but part of a big organized crime network. I am willing to bet some have been killed state-side over this and it was just thought to be a random murder.

They will eventually get an account # or something from you...most people have been conditioned to not respond to answer anything that asks for the information up front. They are getting more clever now, maybe even exchanging jokes and off-topic banter to win your confidence, only asking in the end for just a little 'help' with the transaction or even saying they don't want any account info, but they need you to come in person and that a visa is not needed for Nigeria (it is and a huge offense). The victim feels safe being that it will all be handled face to face and the worst that could happen is losing airfare to Nigeria....however, once there without a visa you've screwed the pooch 🙂
 
How come you get offered $75 million and the one I just got tonight only offers me $35 million? Am I getting ripped off? I want to respond to the $75 million person.

My letter:

-----Original Message-----
From: Gerald Levin [mailto:levingerald@yahoo.com]
Sent: Saturday, June 28, 2003 12:15 AM
To:
Subject: HELLO


Dear Sir,

I am Gerald Levin, a native of Cape Town in South
Africa and I am an Executive Accountant with the South
Africa Department of Mining and Natural Resources.
First and foremost, I apologize using this medium to
reach you for a transaction/business of this
magnitude, but this is due to Confidentiality and
prompt access reposed on this medium. Be informed that
a member of the South Africa Export Promotion Council
(SEPC) who was at the Government delegation to your
country during a trade exhibition gave your enviable
credentials/particulars to me. I plea to seek a
confidential co-operation with you in the execution of
the deal described Hereunder for the benefit of all
parties and hope you will keep it as a top secret
because of the nature of this transaction.

Within the Department of Mining and Natural Resources
where I work as an Executive Accountant and with the
cooperation of two other top officials,we have in our
possession as overdue payment bills totaling
thirty-six million ,Five Hundred Thousand U. S.
Dollars ($36,500,000.) which we want to transfer
abroad with the assistance and cooperation of a
foreign company/individual to receive the said fund on our
behalf or a reliable foreign non-company account to
receive such funds. More so, we are handicapped in the
circumstances, as the South Africa Civil Service Code
of Conduct does not allow us to operate offshore
account hence your importance in the whole
transaction.

This amount $36.5m represents the balance of the
total contract value executed on behalf of my
Department by a foreign contracting firm, which we the
officials over-invoiced deliberately. Though the
actual contract cost have been paid to the original
contractor,leaving the balance in the tune of the said
amount which we have in principles gotten approval to
remit by Telegraphic Transfer (T.T) to any foreign
bank account you will provide by filing in an
application through the Justice Ministry here in South
Africa for the transfer of rights and privileges of
the former contractor to you.

I have the authority of my partners involved to
propose that, should you be willing to assist us in
this transaction that is 100% hitch free, your share
of the sum will be 25% of the $36.5million, 70% for us
and 5% for taxation and miscellaneous expenses. The
business itself is 100% safe, on your part provided
you treat it with utmost secrecy and confidentiality.
Also your area of specialization is not a hindrance to
the successful execution of this transaction.
I have reposed my confidence in you and hope that you
will not disappoint me.
Endeavor to contact me immediately through my alternative e-mail address(lgerald@financier.com) whether or not
you are interested in this deal. If you are not, it
will enable me scout for another foreign partner to
carry out this deal I want to assure you that my
partners and myself are in a position to make the
payment of this claim possible provided you can give
us a very strong Assurance and guarantee that our
share will be secured and please remember to treat
this as very confidential because, we will not
comprehend with any form of exposure as we are still
in active Government Service and remember once again
that time is of the essence in this business.
I await in anticipation of your fullest co-operation.

Yours faithfully,

Gerald Levin.
Click to expand...
 
LMFAO! Somebody get me a towel for my screen. 😀 😀 😀
3. There are only two established facts: (i) you actually sent me $3.00 (HA!); and (ii) you are without doubt the dumbest criminal on the planet. Consider your chain jerked.

4. This second point is worth dwelling on given its incomprehensible magnitude. I cannot believe how incredibly stupid you are. I mean rock-hard stupid. Dehydrated-rock-hard stupid. World-class, A-1, top of the heap, triple whopper with cheese, supersized stupid. So stupid that it goes way beyond the stupid we know into a whole different dimension of stupid. One-of-a-kind, global, universal, intergalactic stupid. You are trans-stupid stupid. Meta-stupid. Stupid collapsed on itself so far that even the neutrons have collapsed. Stupid so dense that no intellect can escape. Singularly, extraordinarily, incredibly, bewilderingly stupid. Blazing hot mid-day sun on Mercury stupid. You emit more stupid in one second than our entire galaxy emits in a year. Quasar stupid. Your life is a monument to stupidity. I am breathless that anyone or anything in our universe can really be this stupid. You are a primordial fragment from the original big bang of stupid. Some pure essence of a stupid so uncontaminated by anything else as to be beyond the laws of stupidity that we know. A behemoth, a leviathan, a colossus of stupidity.
Click to expand...
I'm beginning to think he means it. 😛

For more real info on these "offers," see Google results for search parameters, 419 and scam.
 
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