Advance fee fraudsters continue to net the unwary.

2007

Emails, letters and faxes such as the the ones below still hold some allure for people wishing to "get rich quick". They are all fraudulent, and should be ignored. They all follow the same theme as the examples below, enticing victims to assist in the removal of large sums of illicit money from a foreign country. Even responding to such messages can be dangerous. The examples are prefaced by a list of the latest purported senders of such fraudulent messages and letters. Purported senders' names might be similar or identical to real people, but the signatures are false.

However, some recipients of such fraudulent approaches are fighting back, with often hilarious results: 419eater

See also the Alerts section

Examples below:

Dear Sir,

Greetings to you and your family. I want you to read this mail with a compassionate heart and understanding that any action you take is geared towards rendering humanitarian assistance to a man who is in distress with his family. My name is Mr. Milton Teahjay, a Liberian and former Deputy Minister of Information under President Charles Taylor former Liberian President.

I was responsible for the diamond deals with the RUF rebel group of Sierra Leone. I was handling the diamond sales on behalf of President Taylor who in turn supplies ammunition to the rebels. This is what the international community and United Nations code-named: Conflict Diamond. It was while I was discharging this duty that I diverted the sum of US$ 11,000,000.00 (ELEVEN Million United States Dollars) for myself. I deposited the money with a bank in Europe in my wife's name (NOT SWISS BANK) from prying eyes in SWISS BANK/FINANCE COMPANY and traveled back to my country where I continued with my duties. I informed President Taylor that the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSL) seized the diamond consignment and made report to the United Nations. Though I never returned back to my country, because some how Mr. Taylor got wind of the information that I siphoned the money from the sale proceed of the Diamond.

My aim is to look for a trusted foreign partner outside to help me move the fund out for investment. It is based on my decision to move the fund out for investment that I am contacting you to assist me in taking the funds to your country .All you need do is to open a bank account through which the money will be lodged before transfer into your nominated Bank account. I am willing to compensate you with 15% of the total sum for your assistance and want to let you understand that the future of myself and family depends solely on this money .In this transaction confidentiality is very essential for us to achieve our goal. It is important that you maintain utmost good faith and trust .You must also not circumvent the transaction in any way.

In conclusion I will like you to understand that you shall bear no risk whatsoever in this business and as such there is nothing for you to be afraid of.

I await your swift response to this email.

Milton Teahjay
 

From The Desk of: Mr Sola Cole
The Branch Manager,
Stallion Bank Nig Ltd,
Idumota branch,
Idumota,Lagos.

Dear Friend,

This letter may come to you as a surprise due to the fact that
we have not yet met. The message could be strange but real if you pay some attention
to it. I could have notified you about it at least for the sake of your integrity. Please
accept my sincere apologies. In bringing this message of goodwill to you, I have to say that
I have no intentions of causing you any pains.
I am Mr Sola Cole, Branch Manager, Stallion Bank Nig Ltd.
I managed to get your contact details through the Internet myself. Time is of
importance and I am desperately looking for a person to assist me in this confidential
business.A British oil consultant/contractor with the Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation, Mr. Brad Fridel Sergio made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit on
January 6, 1999, valued at US$2.5Million (Two Million Five hundred Thousand
Dollars), for twelve (12) calender months in my
branch. Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification to his
forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we
discovered from his contract employers, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation that
Mr. Brad Fridel Sergio died from an automobile accident. On further investigation, I
found out that he died without making a WILL, and all attempts to trace his next of kin was
fruitless.

I therefore made further investigation and discovered that
Mr. Brad Fidel Sergio did not declare any kin or relations in all his official documents,
including his Bank Deposit
paperwork in my Bank. This sum of US$2.5million is still
sitting in my Bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the
end of each year. No one will ever come forward to claim it. According to Nigerian Law, at
the
expiration of
4 (four) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Nigerian Government
if nobody applies to claim the fund.
Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a
foreigner to stand in as the next of kin
to Mr. Brad Fridel Sergio so that the fruits of this old man's
labor will not get into the hands
of some corrupt government officials. This is simple, I will
like you to provide immediately
your full names and address so that the attorney will prepare
the necessary documents and
affidavits that will put you in place as the next of kin.
We shall employ the service of two
lawyers for drafting and notarization of the WILL and to
obtain the necessary documents and letter of probate/administration in your favor for the
transfer. A bank account in any
part of the world that you will provide will then facilitate
the transfer of this money to you as
the beneficiary/next of kin. The money will be paid into
your account for us to share in the ratio of 60% for me and 40% for you.

There is no risk at all as all the paperwork for this
transaction will be done by the attorney
and my position as the Branch Manager guarantees the
successful execution
of this transaction. If you are interested, please reply immediately
via the private email address
below;

(Email address withheld by UnjustIS)

Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more
details and relevant documents that will help you understand the transaction.

Please observe utmost confidentiality, and rest assured that
this transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require your
assistance to invest my share in your
country.

Awaiting your urgent reply via my email address.

Thanks and regards,

Mr Sola Cole.

Greetings.

May I take the liberty to introduce myself as Mr. Chen Quanyong, Bank Manager of a
reputable bank in Taipei, Taiwan and I have an urgent and very confidential proposal for
your review and consideration.

Just before the last financial quarter of banking operations, I was able to discovered a
certain Fixed Deposit for twelve calendar months made by a certain foreign individual,
valued at a sum that is quite impressive. I made several frantic efforts and investigations and discovered that the
depositor died in an automobile accident and he died without making a WILL, all attempts
to trace any of his relatives was fruitless as he did not declare any next of kin or relations in all his
official documents, including his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank. This sum and the
interest has being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year at the rate of 19% per annum
comes to a collosal sum.

The need for a foreign assistance becomes crucial as a next of kin to the depositor is
earnestly being searched for and I cannot acquire the funds in my name. I have already
developed a foolproof, legal and totally risk free transaction through which the fund can be transferred
to your nominated bank account within a very short time after due documentation and
authentication process. The strategy is to use my position and influence as the Bank Manager to present
you as a next of Kin and beneficiary of the funds as I shall arrange all documentation to
support this claim and I shall grant approval for the transfer of the funds into your nominated Bank
account.

The required assistance is perfected to be 100% risk free and I want to assure you that I
have concluded all local modalities for the successful completion of this transaction, and I
am sure the funds can arrive your nominated Bank account within 7 - 10 working days from when you
agree to assist me and for this, the money will be paid to you by any means of your choice
for us to share at a ration we shall both agree on..

Please reply immediately via the private email address above and endeavour to give me a
private telephone/fax number (stating country and city codes) through which I can
communicate with you in confidence as the need for secrecy is great to this transaction. I expect your urgent
response; no matter your decisions to enable me know what next to do. Please pardon my
discretion, I shall be more detailed as we progress.

Regards,
Mr. Chen Quanyong
Taipei, Taiwan.

I Beg You .

With all sincerity and humility i am Jewel Taylor,the wife of the
deposed President of Liberia, Fomer African colony of the United
states Of America.

I write you this proposal based on the fact that i need your aid
to relocate to a safe haven my husbands personal funds and
effects namely 2kg weight of Diamond stones and 14 gold bars with
$2.4 Million USD,all deposited in a safety deposit box in a
financial institution which will be later disclosed to you upon
your offer of acceptance.

The lives of myself and my children are at risk ever since my
husband engaged himself in this rebel of a thing in my country
which later saw him as the president of my country.
We have currently been offered political assylum in the Federal
Republic Of Nigeria by its President,Olusegun Obasanjo,which will
confine us to its shores for the rest of my lives.

I have been guranted safety by the United states Government and
that of the Nigerian Government by a meeting held with both
Presidents,President George Bush Of the united States and that of
the Nigerian President on the 10th of July 2003 at the just
concluded Leon Sullivan Summit Held In Nigeria..

What you may hear of my husband should you decide to verify may
not be of a good report but he has learnt his lesson the hard way
and what i do now i do for the sake of my two daughters and son
whom i pray to God in order not for them to suffer for the sins
of their Father.

I am prepared and willing to consider your price for aiding me in
this matter and will welcome your conditions to the best of my
abilities.

We are just settling down in Nigeria as we got here on the 11th Of August
2003,in view of this i will give you a number in which i can be reached
once we get all things on ground as i will not want to give you a number which
i did not obtain myself for security reasons.

View this site to see a picture of me:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2963086.stm

I look forward to your prompt response.

Yours Sincerly,
Jewel Taylor.
 

CHINA TRUST COMMERCIAL BANK,
NAN KAN BRANCH, TAIWAN,
REPUBLIC OF CHINA.

I am Mr.Yi  Yu Ming, Bank Manager of China Trust Commercial Bank, Nan Kan
branch,
Taiwan, R.O.C. I have urgent and very confidential
business proposition for you.

On June 6, 1998, a British Oil consultant/contractor with the Chinese Solid Minerals
Corporation, Mr. Smith Lawrence made a numbered time
(Fixed) Deposit for twelve calendar months, valued at US$30,000,000.00 (Thirty Million
Dollars) in my branch. Upon maturity, I sent a routine
notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder
and finally we discovered from his contract employers,
the Chinese Solid Minerals Corporation that Mr. Smith Lawrence died from an automobile
accident. On further investigation, I found out that he
died without making a WILL, and all attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless.

I therefore made further investigation and discovered that Mr. Smith Lawrence did not
declare any kin or relations in all his official documents,
including his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank. This sum of US$30,000,000.00 is still
sitting in my Bank and the interest is being rolled over
with the principal sum at the end of each year. No one will ever come forward to claim it.
According to Laws of Republic of China, at the
expiration of 5 (five) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Chinese
Government if nobody applies to claim the fund.

Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as the next of kin
to Mr. Smith Lawrence so that the fruits of this old
man's labor will not get into the hands of some corrupt government officials. This is simple, I
will like you to provide immediately your full names
and address so that the attorney will prepare the necessary documents and affidavits that
will put you in place as the next of kin. We shall
employ the services of an attorney for drafting and notarization of the WILL and to obtain
the necessary documents and letter of
probate/administration in your favor for the transfer. A bank account in any part of the world
that you will provide will then facilitate the transfer
of this money to you as the beneficiary/next of kin. The money will be paid into your
account for us to share in the ratio of 90% for me and 10%
for you.

There is no risk at all as all the paperwork for this transaction will be done by the attorney
and my position as the Branch Manager guarantees
the successful execution of this transaction. If you are interested, please reply immediately
via the private email address above. Upon your
response, I shall then provide you with more details and relevant documents that will help
you understand the transaction. Please send me your
confidential telephone and fax numbers for easy communication.

Please observe utmost confidentiality, and rest assured that this transaction would be most
profitable for both of us because I shall require your
assistance to invest my share in your country.

Awaiting your urgent reply via my email address.

Thanks and regards,

Mr Yi  Yu  Ming.
 

And here is another, this time from TOGO.

FROM MR PUFFIN  DANIEL
AUDITING AND ACCOUNT UNIT.
FORIEGN REMITTANCE DEPT.
UNION TOGOLAISE DE BANQUE LOME TOGO,
LOME-TOGO.
 

STRICTLY AND CONFIDENTIAL,
 
I am MR PUFFIN  DANIEL the director in charge of
auditing
and account section  UNION TOGOLAISE DE
BANQUE,LOME-TOGO.With due respect and regard,I have
decided to contact you on a business transaction that
will be very beneficial to both of us at the end.  

During our investigation and auditing in this bank, My
department came across a very huge sum of money
belonging to a deceased person, who  died on EgyptAir
Flight 990 plane crash of 31st october 1999. No body
was recovered from the crash site.

This is the website.
(link removed by UnjustIS - it is merely a list of passengers on the flight)

This fund has been dormant in his account with my Bank
without any claim of the fund that is in our custody
neither from his family or relation before our
discovery to this development.

Although personally, I keep this information secret
within myself and partners to enable the whole plans
and idea be Profitable and successful during the time
of execution.
 
The said amount was US$7M (SEVEN MILLION UNITED
STATEDOLLARS. As it may interest you to know, I got
your impressive information through internet when I am
serching for a good and trust person who will help me
to finalize this issue.
 
Meanwhile all the arrangement to put claim over
this fund as the bonafide next of kin to the
deceased,get the required approval and transfer this
money to a foreign account has been put in place an
directives and needed informations will be relent to
you asap to you as soon as you indicate your interest
and willingness to assist us and also benefit your
self to this great business opportunity.
 
In fact I could have done this deal alone, but because
of my position in this country as a civil servant, we
are not allowed to operate a foreign account and would
eventually raise an eye brow on my side during the
time of transfer because I work in this bank.

This is the actual reason why it will require a second
party or fellow who will forward claims as the next of
kin with affidavit of trust of oath to the Bank, and
also present a foreign account where he will need the
money to be re-transferred into on his request as it
may be after due verification and clarification by the
 correspondent branch of the bank where the whole
money will be remitted from to your own designated
bank account.
 
I will not fail to inform you that this transaction is
100% risk free.On smooth conclusion of this
transaction, You will be entitled to 25%of the total
sum as gratification,while 5% will be set aside to
take care of expenses that may arise during the time
of transfer and also telephone bills, while 70% will
be for me and my partners.
 
Please, you have been adviced to keep this top secret
as we are still in service and intend to retire from
service,and after we conclude this deal with you.I
will be monitoring the whole situation here in this
bank until you confirm the money in your account. and
ask us to come down toyour country for subsequent
sharing of the fund according to percentages
previously indicated and further investment, either in
your country or any country you may advice us to
invest in.
All other necessary information will be sent to you
when I hear from you.

I suggest you get back to me as soon as possible,
Stating your wish in this transaction.

Yours faithfully,

Mr.PUFFIN  DANIEL,
UNION TOGOLAISE DE BANQUE LOME TOGO.
 

Don't fall for it. As with all fraudulent propositions the only winners are the promoters. Even responding to such approaches can be dangerous to your life! The people operating these scams are criminals, often organised, and they are ruthless in their pursuit of your money.

Please, please, PLEASE don't contact UnjustIS to bleat about having fallen victim to a scam such as the above, or even to enquire as to whether it is genuine. You will not get a reply.