Be Net Aware

The scammers seem to work in waves, some days I have a load of bank phishing attempts and others a lot of 419 scams, and at the moment it seems to be the turn of the 419.

I always find it amusing when they refer to “me” as reliable and trustworthy or words to that effect when they are trying to convince me to do something totally unethical. Given that they ask for a photo I take it they are going for identity theft as well as trying to con money for a “bank transfer costs”

From: Robert Maurice [mailto:robmau13@msn.com]
Subject: Read and understand.

Bill & Exchange Manager!

Bank of Africa Annex,

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

Firstly’ I must solicit for your confidence in this transaction; this is by virtue of its nature as being utterly confidential. Although I know that a transaction of this magnitude could make anyone apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring you that all will be well at the end of the deal. I have decided to contact you due to the urgency of this transaction, however let me start by introducing myself properly to you. I am “

Mr. Robert Maurice” Manager of Bill & Exchange department at Bank of Africa Annex here in Ouagadougou-Burkina Faso.

I discovered your credentials and email contact in my private search through the internet for a reliable and reputable person who will handle this confidential Project which involves transfer of a huge sum of money to a Foreign Account and it requires maximum confidence to execute this Project. I feel quite safe dealing with you in this important business through this medium, though this medium (Internet) has been greatly abused, I choose to reach you through this medium because it still remain the fastest medium of communication. This correspondence is unofficial and private, and it should be treated as such.

HERE IS THE PREPOSITION;

A Foreigner who met his untimely Death in Thailand Plane Clash was banking with us at the Bank of Africa Annex here in Ouagadougou; as at the end of September 2007 he had a closing balance worth of $14,500.000.00 (Fourteen Million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars).After going into deep investigations/verifications i had discovered that HASSAN died on Sunday 16th September 2007, in a plane clash. For more details & information please visit: (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6997381.stm).

Bank of Africa annex now expect the beneficiary to come for the claim of the fund but a lot of effort had been made without success, the perceived possibility of not been able to locate any of the depositor next of kin is due to he had no wife neither he had a child, base upon this fact i have decided to contact you so you can stand as the next of kin and beneficiary to our deceased customer fund since nobody is coming for the claim of the fund, and i don’t want this fund to go into our country treasury as unclaimed fund, that is the major reason why i contacted you, due to the law imposed by the British prime minister GORDON BROWN  in world press conference on the 6th of December 2005, at 12:18 GMT, for more information about the prime minister decision on dormant account visit: http://news.bcc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4017381.stm

Why i need you to stand as the next of kin to our deceased customer fund, it is because you are a foreigner and the late depositor of this fund was a foreigner, i want you to understand that all information for you to apply for this fund to enable Bank of Africa annex release the fund to you and also to prove that you are the next of kin to our deceased customer fund is available, so now i seek your permission to stand as the next of kin to this fund, because it is due to your acceptance to partake in this transaction that will enable things work out smoothly, 40% will be for you and 50% for me why 10% will be set aside for any expenses that occurs before the release and transfer of the fund into your account.

I will furnish you with every necessary information you will use in applying to the bank for the release and tranfers of the fund,  please do not make undue of the trust that i have bestowed in you, if it is acceptable by you from your heart don’t hesitate to provide me with this requires” Your Picture, Your direct telephone number, Home address, and your Occupation, awaiting to receive your positive response.

Best regards,

Mr. Robert Maurice.

Direct from my junkmail folder comes yet another Nigeria 419 scam

From: mschwar4@gmu.edu [mailto:mschwar4@gmu.edu] On Behalf Of Joseph Uzambe
Sent: 06 August 2009 19:48
To: Undisclosed recipients:
Subject: Next of Kin Claim

Attention

First I must solicit your strictest confidence in this transaction and I pray that my contacting you will be given genuine approval considering the fact that we don’t know each other before. I wish to use this opportunity to introduce myself to you. I am Joseph Uzambe, I am writing to inform you of my desire to invest, and to buy a house in your country.

I am the first son of John Uzambe who was the former Diamond Board Director of Sierra-Leone. My father was attacked by the R U F rebels on his way to Lucia a northern part of Sierra-Leone and my father sustained injuries and he died three days later.

Before he died he revealed to me about the two boxes containing $15 million US dollars, which he deposited with a security company in Ghana for safe keeping. My father did not disclose the content of the boxes to the security company. To avoid the officials from raising eye brows.

Presently I and my brother are here in Ghana to notify the security company of the claims, and we are staying here as Asylum.

Therefore I want you to lecture me on how best we can invest this money in your country, because my father told me that it is dangerous to invest in Africa to avoid suspicions, and due to market instabilities coupled with economic and political situation facing Africa for your assistance myself and my brother have agreed to offer you 30% of the total amount of the money as your commission.

We have all the vital documents covering the deposit and the ownership which I can send to you.

Note, I have never disclosed this transaction to anybody apart from you. So please keep it very confidential.

Joseph Uzambe

Tel: +233 24 0488 422