captainballs
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Sep 21, 2004
- Messages
- 9,954
Introduction
I want to post the rather interesting and layered emails I've been receiving, which are part of a simple (yet elaborately sold) example of fraud, that some people may not be aware of.
It is interesting that I have received these emails a couple years after watching a dateline special that outlines the mechanism of this fraud. The basic mechanism is as follows: give me money so that I can give you the larger amount of money. But the way in which the scheme is marketed is quite interesting and hardly obvious at first unless you can spot it from hello, like I could. It starts so benign to the untrained eye.
Given the trend that the emails follow (I have baited the emailer with simple messages such as "go ahead" and "continue" out of sheer academic curiosity as to the tactics used), a desperate person in need of cash may miss the landmines included in the long questionnaire (that's right, a questionnaire).
Many people may also believe that this is a simple attempt at identity theft after the third email. They would be wrong, as the thieves involved in these schemes are after an even more brazen goal: money from you to them voluntarily.
Context
I'm about to graduate college and my CV/resume is circulating in many places, including recruiting websites around the world. Also, I am in a financially desperate situation, something these guys may or may not be aware of.
Email #1
Assalamu Alikum [insert my real name],
I am xxxxxxxxx, there is an important issue that I would be needing your urgent and personal help and assistance in. I am writing to formally get your attention and approval, before giving you a detailed load down of what I intended to champion with you.
I hope that you will give this message the urgent attention that it is needed.
Thank you for your maximum co-operation in anticipation.
xxxxxxxxx
My immediate thoughts
I actually figured out what this was immediately, based solely on this email, simply because I have been thinking rather intensely after seeing the dateline special about how exactly these schemes would start.
My Reply #1
Sounds interesting. Let me know how I can help.
Email #2
Att: [insert my real name],
Thank you so much for your response. Let me introduce myself once more, am Barrister xxxxxxxxx . I am married and a father of four aged 54, a senior advocate in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Here is exactly what I needed you to help me to do, also the reason why I contacted you personally.
I want you to personally assist me to safeguard a reasonable sum in your country or any other place where you are familiar with for a productive investment. The funds were generated through a legal means by my late client, but due to some issues between my late client and some officials, I am mandated to make this transfer and the onward investment on my own.
The fund in question is in a Financial Institute, and it is due to be transferred, but the major problem I have been facing for quite a long time now is finding a capable person who will help me to make the transfer without betrayal, and also negotiating some areas of lucrative investment down there in your country and honest heart.
For the legal ramifications be rest assured on that, this is my operational field for I do know the entire loop holes involve and will handle them with great professionalism.
This was the major reason that drew my attention to contact you personally for an assistant regarding the execution of this project. I will give you all the necessary information you would require to know regarding this project when I receive go ahead’ from you.
Best Regards
Name:xxxxxxxxx
Address: Suban Jaya Pj Housing Estate Block 5 flat 6
Location: Suban Jaya
Country :Malaysia
Phone: xxxxxxxxx
Fax xxxxxxxxx
My immediate thoughts
Suspicions confirmed. This guy is going to ask to transfer a large sum of money into one of my accounts, but when the rubber meets the road it's going to turn out that he needs a few thousand bucks to clear his imaginary client's account.
My Reply #2
Go ahead.
Email #3
[insert my real name],
Thank you once more for your interest and willingness to assist and
partner with us in this project.
This project though has a lot of interests and benefits both for you and
also for the family of my late client, but it requires an unsolicited and
undivided attention.
Before I proceed to what it entails that you do, I would like to know a
few of your personal data and information.
1. I would want to know if having a substantial amount of money amounting
to Millions of Dollars in your country would raise an "EYE BROW" from any
Individual, agents, or government representative.
2. Also, I would like to know if you have a good business, or a financial
background to back up this fund "IF" and "WHEN" it is been transferred
into your custody in your country.
3. Do you have an operative "EXTERNAL" account in any country other than
your country of origin and residence?
4. Do you have access to any offshore banking facility?
5. Do you have any other alternative means of receiving funds except
through the traditional means of fund transfer?
6. Can you travel out of your country for this transaction if It requires
that you must travel?
7. How old are you and what do you do for a living?
8. Do you have any form of identification that you can forward across to
me for record purpose?
All these questions are meant for us to know exactly how best to effect
this transfer so that it would be safe, and secured both for you, us and
the fund in question.
Be reminded that everything regarding to this fund and its transfer has
been taken care of, and all we need is your co-operation and maximum
attention.
The first thing we require of you is to assist us in any way or means
possible to safeguard this transfer as soon as possible to your country or
any other country that you are familiar with, this include but not limited
to,
(a) Giving us an account where this fund could be transferred to,
(b) Travelling to meet with the personnel anywhere if and when necessary.
(c) Assisting the family of my late client to clear any demurrage or
payment needed for this transfer if necessary.
(d) Giving us all the needed investment information that you might have
access to.
(e) And finally assisting us in investing this fund when it is finally
transferred to you in your country of origin.
We are willing to offer you a reasonable amount that we are yet to agree
if you accept to assist.
What we are thinking of is to offer you a 20% share of the total amount or
equivalent share amounting to 20% of the total sum in any business or
venture that the fund will be channeled to if and after the fund has been
transferred to you in your country or any country of your choice.
Please do get back to me with your comments and remarks to these
questions, and do not hesitate to ask me anything for further
clarifications in any thing whatsoever you would like to know regarding to
this fund, myself, or my late client.
I am banking on your willingness to support, assist and partner with us in
this project.
I hope that this message would be sufficient for your purposes.i will let
know other necessary things you need to know and how much is involed.
Best Regards
Name: xxxxxxxxx
Address: Suban Jaya Pj Housing Estate Block 5 flat 6
Location: Suban Jaya
Country :Malaysia
Phone: xxxxxxxxx
Fax xxxxxxxxx
My immediate thoughts
Even if this by now sounds silly to more informed readers, it should be apparent by now that these tactics will work on someone and have worked before. The questions are a well-crafted mix of marketing, landmines, and long-shot attempts to get this fraud jumping ahead into the right direction. Notice also that the emails don't show the fraud's entire hand, even after the third email, and they also don't request any specific dollar amounts from the victim, yet. I guarantee people fall for this trap.
My reply #3
Dear Sir,
After reading your questions I can give you positive answers to all. With regard to identification and account information, I propose we meet in person to discuss these matters. This is a sensitive situation, therefore it will be safer for both of us if matters are conducted in person.
I offer you my services at a cheaper price (and with more added benefits) than you proposed due to my sympathy for the situation. As a show of good faith, I am prepared to offer a relatively large sum upon our meeting to clear any encumbrances on your deceased client's account. You may feel free to use this money not only as a means of clearing these encumbrances, but also to cover any travel costs associated with our meeting. In return, I only ask for 7% of the total amount transferred into my account as a fee. I cannot in good conscience accept the huge amount of money you offered me, so please accept this more fair set of circumstances.
Recently, I have become monetarily successful by trading derivative securities. The quantitative methods that I use will also be useful as a means of finding appropriate investments for the large sum of money involved in this transaction. To be clear, I am an educated investor and I am willing to help you in this transaction as well as any future transactions.
Now I have some terms which must be agreed upon for this situation to comply with my personal risk tolerance. At our meeting, you must have in your possession 10% of the amount I propose to offer you to clear your client's account. I will never take possession of your money, but seeing it in your hands will make me comfortable that this is a legitimate deal. This money must be in cash. After you have proven your solvency and legitimacy by showing me (but not giving me) the 10%, I will initiate the full transfer of my offer by any means you prefer. Afterwards, when you clear your client's account with these funds, we can talk about further investments over a glass of champagne.
Please contact me with your thoughts and I can proceed to tell you how much I am willing to offer to clear your client's account encumbrances.
...
Just sent it a second ago, will update to see how they respond to this. In case you couldn't tell, what I am presenting them with is a situation that completely parallels the scheme they are using. I haven't misrepresented myself in any material way, though, unlike these guys.
It will be interesting to see how these professional criminals respond.
I want to post the rather interesting and layered emails I've been receiving, which are part of a simple (yet elaborately sold) example of fraud, that some people may not be aware of.
It is interesting that I have received these emails a couple years after watching a dateline special that outlines the mechanism of this fraud. The basic mechanism is as follows: give me money so that I can give you the larger amount of money. But the way in which the scheme is marketed is quite interesting and hardly obvious at first unless you can spot it from hello, like I could. It starts so benign to the untrained eye.
Given the trend that the emails follow (I have baited the emailer with simple messages such as "go ahead" and "continue" out of sheer academic curiosity as to the tactics used), a desperate person in need of cash may miss the landmines included in the long questionnaire (that's right, a questionnaire).
Many people may also believe that this is a simple attempt at identity theft after the third email. They would be wrong, as the thieves involved in these schemes are after an even more brazen goal: money from you to them voluntarily.
Context
I'm about to graduate college and my CV/resume is circulating in many places, including recruiting websites around the world. Also, I am in a financially desperate situation, something these guys may or may not be aware of.
Email #1
Assalamu Alikum [insert my real name],
I am xxxxxxxxx, there is an important issue that I would be needing your urgent and personal help and assistance in. I am writing to formally get your attention and approval, before giving you a detailed load down of what I intended to champion with you.
I hope that you will give this message the urgent attention that it is needed.
Thank you for your maximum co-operation in anticipation.
xxxxxxxxx
My immediate thoughts
I actually figured out what this was immediately, based solely on this email, simply because I have been thinking rather intensely after seeing the dateline special about how exactly these schemes would start.
My Reply #1
Sounds interesting. Let me know how I can help.
Email #2
Att: [insert my real name],
Thank you so much for your response. Let me introduce myself once more, am Barrister xxxxxxxxx . I am married and a father of four aged 54, a senior advocate in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Here is exactly what I needed you to help me to do, also the reason why I contacted you personally.
I want you to personally assist me to safeguard a reasonable sum in your country or any other place where you are familiar with for a productive investment. The funds were generated through a legal means by my late client, but due to some issues between my late client and some officials, I am mandated to make this transfer and the onward investment on my own.
The fund in question is in a Financial Institute, and it is due to be transferred, but the major problem I have been facing for quite a long time now is finding a capable person who will help me to make the transfer without betrayal, and also negotiating some areas of lucrative investment down there in your country and honest heart.
For the legal ramifications be rest assured on that, this is my operational field for I do know the entire loop holes involve and will handle them with great professionalism.
This was the major reason that drew my attention to contact you personally for an assistant regarding the execution of this project. I will give you all the necessary information you would require to know regarding this project when I receive go ahead’ from you.
Best Regards
Name:xxxxxxxxx
Address: Suban Jaya Pj Housing Estate Block 5 flat 6
Location: Suban Jaya
Country :Malaysia
Phone: xxxxxxxxx
Fax xxxxxxxxx
My immediate thoughts
Suspicions confirmed. This guy is going to ask to transfer a large sum of money into one of my accounts, but when the rubber meets the road it's going to turn out that he needs a few thousand bucks to clear his imaginary client's account.
My Reply #2
Go ahead.
Email #3
[insert my real name],
Thank you once more for your interest and willingness to assist and
partner with us in this project.
This project though has a lot of interests and benefits both for you and
also for the family of my late client, but it requires an unsolicited and
undivided attention.
Before I proceed to what it entails that you do, I would like to know a
few of your personal data and information.
1. I would want to know if having a substantial amount of money amounting
to Millions of Dollars in your country would raise an "EYE BROW" from any
Individual, agents, or government representative.
2. Also, I would like to know if you have a good business, or a financial
background to back up this fund "IF" and "WHEN" it is been transferred
into your custody in your country.
3. Do you have an operative "EXTERNAL" account in any country other than
your country of origin and residence?
4. Do you have access to any offshore banking facility?
5. Do you have any other alternative means of receiving funds except
through the traditional means of fund transfer?
6. Can you travel out of your country for this transaction if It requires
that you must travel?
7. How old are you and what do you do for a living?
8. Do you have any form of identification that you can forward across to
me for record purpose?
All these questions are meant for us to know exactly how best to effect
this transfer so that it would be safe, and secured both for you, us and
the fund in question.
Be reminded that everything regarding to this fund and its transfer has
been taken care of, and all we need is your co-operation and maximum
attention.
The first thing we require of you is to assist us in any way or means
possible to safeguard this transfer as soon as possible to your country or
any other country that you are familiar with, this include but not limited
to,
(a) Giving us an account where this fund could be transferred to,
(b) Travelling to meet with the personnel anywhere if and when necessary.
(c) Assisting the family of my late client to clear any demurrage or
payment needed for this transfer if necessary.
(d) Giving us all the needed investment information that you might have
access to.
(e) And finally assisting us in investing this fund when it is finally
transferred to you in your country of origin.
We are willing to offer you a reasonable amount that we are yet to agree
if you accept to assist.
What we are thinking of is to offer you a 20% share of the total amount or
equivalent share amounting to 20% of the total sum in any business or
venture that the fund will be channeled to if and after the fund has been
transferred to you in your country or any country of your choice.
Please do get back to me with your comments and remarks to these
questions, and do not hesitate to ask me anything for further
clarifications in any thing whatsoever you would like to know regarding to
this fund, myself, or my late client.
I am banking on your willingness to support, assist and partner with us in
this project.
I hope that this message would be sufficient for your purposes.i will let
know other necessary things you need to know and how much is involed.
Best Regards
Name: xxxxxxxxx
Address: Suban Jaya Pj Housing Estate Block 5 flat 6
Location: Suban Jaya
Country :Malaysia
Phone: xxxxxxxxx
Fax xxxxxxxxx
My immediate thoughts
Even if this by now sounds silly to more informed readers, it should be apparent by now that these tactics will work on someone and have worked before. The questions are a well-crafted mix of marketing, landmines, and long-shot attempts to get this fraud jumping ahead into the right direction. Notice also that the emails don't show the fraud's entire hand, even after the third email, and they also don't request any specific dollar amounts from the victim, yet. I guarantee people fall for this trap.
My reply #3
Dear Sir,
After reading your questions I can give you positive answers to all. With regard to identification and account information, I propose we meet in person to discuss these matters. This is a sensitive situation, therefore it will be safer for both of us if matters are conducted in person.
I offer you my services at a cheaper price (and with more added benefits) than you proposed due to my sympathy for the situation. As a show of good faith, I am prepared to offer a relatively large sum upon our meeting to clear any encumbrances on your deceased client's account. You may feel free to use this money not only as a means of clearing these encumbrances, but also to cover any travel costs associated with our meeting. In return, I only ask for 7% of the total amount transferred into my account as a fee. I cannot in good conscience accept the huge amount of money you offered me, so please accept this more fair set of circumstances.
Recently, I have become monetarily successful by trading derivative securities. The quantitative methods that I use will also be useful as a means of finding appropriate investments for the large sum of money involved in this transaction. To be clear, I am an educated investor and I am willing to help you in this transaction as well as any future transactions.
Now I have some terms which must be agreed upon for this situation to comply with my personal risk tolerance. At our meeting, you must have in your possession 10% of the amount I propose to offer you to clear your client's account. I will never take possession of your money, but seeing it in your hands will make me comfortable that this is a legitimate deal. This money must be in cash. After you have proven your solvency and legitimacy by showing me (but not giving me) the 10%, I will initiate the full transfer of my offer by any means you prefer. Afterwards, when you clear your client's account with these funds, we can talk about further investments over a glass of champagne.
Please contact me with your thoughts and I can proceed to tell you how much I am willing to offer to clear your client's account encumbrances.
...
Just sent it a second ago, will update to see how they respond to this. In case you couldn't tell, what I am presenting them with is a situation that completely parallels the scheme they are using. I haven't misrepresented myself in any material way, though, unlike these guys.
It will be interesting to see how these professional criminals respond.
Last edited:
