Spammer Requests You Send Personal Data to Help Them Flee the Country

Either this spammer has an extremely small mailing list or they’re really trying to sell the story that their life is in jeopardy and they desperately need help in order to escape.

Over the last few days, the following email has arrived in my inbox over 5 times. Yes, FIVE times – each email is exactly the same and bears the “VERY URGENT” subject line, which my Norton spam filter always takes the courtesy of changing to read “[Norton AntiSpam]-- SPAM --VERY URGENT”.

Inside, the phisher feeds some sob story about how their life is in the hands of the “undisclosed recipients” that the email was sent to and offers a 30% cut on an undisclosed amount of money that is described to be “quite large.”

All you have to do is send over a butt-load of your personal information. Right.

Here’s the email:

From: Adil Adil adilibrahim200171@yahoo.com.ph
Reply-To: Adil Adil adil.ibrahim1@hotmail.com
To: undisclosed recipients: ;
Subject: VERY URGENT

Dear Friend,

How are you doing today, hope fine?

We are from Libya north Africa, following the fall of our Government we fear the New Government leader will kill us, we have tried to escape to any nearby country, This requires a private arrangement though the details of the transaction will be furnished to you if you indicate your interest in this proposal.We have all the legal documents to back up the transaction, besides we have worked out the modalities to ensure smooth and risky free transfer.We are willing to offer you 30% of the money, the fund in question is quite large in a security company in Ghana, we are looking for Business Representative to help us secure the fund and invest them pending when everything is normal, our big boss created this problem, now we all is on the run to secure oneself and life, kindly help me out. I will offer you 30% and if you are interested kindly send Full Name and your mobile phone number and your home address, occupation and country and age with your id card and you can reach me with my private E-mail address: adil.ibrahim1@hotmail.com

Waiting for your response?

Thanks

Adil Ibrahim

Recipients of this email should NOT respond to this email or provide any of the personal information requested by the scammer.

Instead, you are encouraged to report the email to SpamCop or the FTC prior to deleting it. Be sure that you include the full email headers when reporting it.

Hopefully the authorities will be able to pinpoint the internet crooks behind the spam and bring them to justice.

Until then, don’t feed the phishes!

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Image Copyright (c) 123RF Stock Photos. Altered by Marquisa.

Spammers Pretend to Be from Bank of England, Offer 10.5 Million Dollars

It never ceases to amaze me that people are still falling for email scams, especially when there are so many warnings out there urging you to avoid them.

Still, I imagine the reason people fall for phishing scams is likely due to the fact that they’re hoping for the off chance that they really will have millions of dollars deposited into their account by some stranger from another country. Or perhaps they’ve just had a moment of insanity.

Either way, internet crooks will continue to pump out phishing emails, hoping that someone will bite. Scammers are currently using $10.5 million dollars with the back story that it’s for a contract payment as bait.

Honestly, would you fall for this?

From: Bank of England [mailto:vtmbemt@yahoo.com.ph]
Sent: Wednesday, November 16, 2011 4:52 AM
Subject: Bank of England

Bank of England
Thread needle Street
London EC2R 8AH
ENGLAND U.K
Tel:+447035953708
Fax:+4477860607727 EX 832
Email:vtbankplc1@skymail.mn

IMMEDIATE CONTRACT PAYMENT:MAV/UK/MIN/011

We apologies for the delay of your payment and all the inconvenience that we might have indulge you through. However we are having minor problems with our payment system ,which is inexplicable and has held us stranded and indolent,not having the aspiration to devote our 100% assiduity in accrediting foreign contract payments.We apologies once again from the records of outstanding contractors due for payments with the British government,your name was discovered as next on the list of the outstanding contractors who have not yet received their payments.

This payment is being processed and will be released to you as soon as your es respond to this letter.Also note that from my record in my file you rout standing contract payment is $10,500,000.00 (ten million five hundred thousand united states dollars)

Kindly RE-CONFIRM TO ME THE FOLLOWINGS (A)YOUR FULL NAME (B)TELEPHONE /FAX#(C)YOUR FULL BANKING DETAILS FOR IMMEDIATE TRANSFER (D)HOME ADDRESS.

As soon as this information is received your payment will be wired to your nominated bank account directly from BANK OF ENGLAND.

Thanks for your understanding hope to have your response shortly.

I am looking forward for your urgent reply on this Email: vtbankplc1@skymail.mn

Yours faithfully,

..........................................
DR STEVEN OWEN
Control Officer, Foreign Payment Dept
Bank of England

If the horrific butchering of the English language isn’t a big enough sign that this email wasn’t sent from a Bank of England official, here are a couple more red flags that will help convince you:

1. The email was sent from vtmbemt@yahoo.com.ph – why is an alleged bank official emailing you from a free Yahoo! account with a Philippines extension?


2. In the email, you’re instructed to respond by emailing a completely different address, vtbankplc1@skymail.mn, which is based in Mongolia (that's new).


3. You’re asked to send confidential information via email, including your banking details. I’ve never known any bank that does this, but it’s something scammers often do.


4. If you really were owed such a large amount, why would they email you versus calling or sending an official letter via snail mail? Something just doesn’t sit right.

Now that you know this email is junk, you have the following options:

• Report the email to Spam Cop (include the headers).


• Report the email by forwarding it to the FTC at spam@uce.gov (include the headers).


• Simply ignore the email and delete it.

Photo Credit: Tracy O

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419 Scam Email Threatens to Send Your 10 Million Elsewhere If You Don't Respond

In the latest attempt to hook people into a 419 scam, cybercrooks are sending out phishing emails claiming that the Central Bank of Nigeria is ready to release ten million dollars to someone else if you don’t step up and send the correct banking details.

The email is supposedly sent by a gentleman named Mr. Chika Agunna, who signs off as the “Pay-Master General” of the Central Bank of Nigeria and includes the fake bank account information that the funds will be released to if you don’t reply with a variety of personal information.

The message reads:

From: Central Bank of Nigeria (chikaagunna@yahoo.com.ph)
Subject: Re: Payment instruction to credit your account

From:Mr.Chika Agunna,
Pay-Master General
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
International Operations/Foreign funds
Debt Reconciliation/Payment,
Attention:Beneficiary,

Re: Payment instruction to credit your account with the sum of US$10,000,000.00???

This is to notify you that your over due contract funds has been gazetted to be Released,via key telex transfer (KTT) direct wire transfer to you by the Senate house committee for foreign over due fund transfer. Meanwhile, a woman wrote to my office few days ago with a letter,claiming to be your True representative.All Over Due Inheritance/contract Funds winner prize have been recalled to Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Both Africa and Asia and USA, Europe.

Here are her information's

BANK: JPMORGAN CHASE & CO. - LA1-1908

ADDRESS: 2911 W. 70TH STREET, SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA, U.S.A., 71108 Account Name:Elizabeth Rose Tolson ROUTING NO: 065400137 ACCOUNT NO: 752649939 SWIFT CODE: CHASUS33 PERSONAL BANKER: MICHAEL COOPER

Please, do reconfirm to this office, as a matter of urgency if this woman is from you So that the Bank will not be held responsible for paying into the wrong account Name. Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been approved and accredited by the Federal Ministry Of Finance and the Senate House committee for foreign over due fund,to pay all foreign Over due inheritance funds and contract to respective original beneficiaries this Last quarter Payment of the year 2011.Base the meeting held with the new Governor and board of directors of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on 20/10/2011

Meanwhile, you are advice to get back to my office immediately with the requested details to enable us have your correct details to wire your fund:

Send your reply to this email address(bnkchina[at]w.cn)

1.Your First/Middle & Last Name:
2.Your Full Office or Residential Address:
3.Your Original Country of Origin:
4.Age/Sex/Marital Status:
5.Position Held in Office:
6.Present Occupation:
7.Office Telephone/Fax:
8.Residential Tel/Fax & Mobile Line:
9.Banking Details:
10. The Official Amount Owed To You:
11. The Country Where you are expecting your claim from:
12.A certified Copy of your international passport or any scanned

However, we shall proceed to issue all payments details to the said Elizabeth Rose Tolson, if we do not hear from you within the next seven working days from today.

Your Sincerely,

Mr.Chika Agunna

Pay-Master General
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
International Operations
Debt Reconciliations/Payment

Of course, this phishing email carries all of the typical characteristics of a 419 scam, making it easy for people to avoid falling for it.

Characteristics of a 419 Scam Email

• Email is riddled with poor grammar use and spelling errors.


• Sender is offering a large amount of money from a foreign bank – the Central Bank of Nigeria, no less!


• Sender uses a free Yahoo! email address. Don’t you think that a bank official would use an e-mail address under the bank’s domain name?


• They’ve created a false sense of urgency so you’re likely to scramble in order to send the information they seek so that you don’t miss out on the “great opportunity.” At that point you’ll realize you’ve made a huge mistake only after you’ve made it.

What Should I Do if I Receive a 419 Scam Email?

If you receive this 419 scam email, it’s recommended that you:

• Do NOT respond to the 419 scammer and do NOT give them any personal information or money.


• Report the scam email to SpamCop.


• Flag the email as ‘Spam’ or ‘Junk’ in your e-mail client to help prevent future 419 scams from reaching your inbox.


• Delete the email.

Photo Credit: aresauburn

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The Famous Nigerian Scam: Still Making Scammers Rich

It seems the world-famous Nigerian Scams – also known as 419 Scams – are still going strong.

While deleting the handful of Nigerian scam emails that arrive in my inbox on a daily basis, I can’t help but wonder, “How can people still fall for this scam? “

Nigerian Scams - Coming to an Inbox Near You

Nigerian scams have been around for decades and typically offer the victims an "easy" way to earn loads of money.

Whether it’s a banker that wants to invest in your business right after you send them money for the contract, a work-at-home offer that consists of nothing more than “receiving payments from customers” (see: fraudulent check cashing), a lottery win that require that you pay a fee first, or perhaps a rich widow on the brink of death that wants to leave you her money once you send her cash for a lawyer – the overall concept remains the same. You send money first and then you realize you’ve been tricked later.

Nigerian scams are referred to as "419 scams"  as the number “419” refers to the article of the Nigerian Criminal Code dealing with fraud (Chapter 38 – “Obtaining Property by fake presences; Cheating”). The "advanced fee scam" alias is more obvious since, well, the victims often have to pay up-front fees to acquire whatever funds or prize they're being promised.

Nigerian Scam Victims Often Pay a Hefty Price

While most of us are aware of the 419 scams, it's variants and the financial damage they can wreak upon our bank accounts, others somehow missed the memo and have suffered a great loss as a result.

Earlier this year, news hit that a woman paid £80,000 – that’s $120,000 USD – to a U.S. soldier she had fallen for on a dating website before she realized he was nothing more than Nigerian conmen.

A man in the UK was duped in 2009 by another Nigerian fraudster posing as a friend on Myspace who always seemed to be in need of money. He lost a total of £130,000 ($200,000 USD).

Then there was the story back  in 2008 where a woman shelled out $400,000 to the crooks that told her a deceased relative left behind $20 million & that she had to help both the US and Nigerian government keep out of terrorists hands.

With stories like these in the headlines, it’s a wonder how folks continue to fall for these scams!

The total number of Nigerian scam victims and amount of money lost has never been clear. A report from a few years back stated that the total money lost exceeds $41 billion and the scams had an annual 5% growth rate.

Don't Become the Victim of a Nigerian Scam

Spotting a Nigerian scam isn’t necessarily hard, especially if it’s coming via email.

Common characteristics of Nigerian scam emails:

• Suspicious looking sender addresses.  419 crooks often use freemailer domains or a domain that’s obviously not affiliated with the company they’re claiming to be from.


• Poor, broken English. This is a common trait for spam as a whole and Nigerian scam emails are not exempt from this characteristic.


• No websites/domains are mentioned. The only exception is when the scammer includes an article on a political event to build credibility.


• A subject line written in all caps. It’s almost as if they feel they must shout in order to grab your attention.


• Money is always the primary focus. They may say that they want to give you money, but in all honesty they just want yours.

The 419 scams I often receive are the investment/banking ones. Some of which urge me not to think they’re a hoax, as you’ll see below:

From: MR. RANDY CODY [randycody5@att.net]
Sent: Sunday, September 18, 2911 8:14 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: RE: MR. RANDY CODY,

RE: MR. RANDY CODY,
INVESTMENT MANAGER
PRIVATE & VERY SAFE

TONBRIDGE,
KENT TN11 9DZ,
UNITED KINGDOM.

I wish to inform you that this letter is not a hoax mail and I urge you to treat it serious. We want to transfer The 52,000,000.00 (Fifty Two Million GBP) to any safe account with your honest assistance. I have every possibility for the accumulated proceed to be paid in your favour and then both of us will share the value equal percentage Can I trust you on this?

Although, necessary steps has been made regards to this issue confidentially with key Bank Personnel?s and they have agreed to help if I found honest and capable person to handle this transaction to enable us transfer the value Asset out from UK.

I guarantee that this will be executed under a concrete special arrangement that will protect us from any breach of law. I will not fail to bring your notice that this transaction is total hitch-free and you should not entertain any fear because good arrangement has been outlined for successful conclusion.

If you are willing and capable to handle this business with me in full confidence & trust, please do not hestitate to Reply me back

I look forward hearing from you.

Warmest Regards.

MR. RANDY CODY,

INVESTMENT MANAGER

Offering millions of British Pounds seems to be common in 419 scam emails -

From: Mr. Bahaa Raslan [raslan1@videobank.it]
Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2011 2:16 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: RE: INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP PROPOSAL.

FROM: Mr. Bahaa Raslan.
Union Bank Of Switzerland(UBS)
Liverpool - UK.

Good Day,

TRANSFER OF £28,500,000.00 MILLION TO YOUR ACCOUNT.

I am a banker. I work in the credit and accounts Department as the Head of Banking and Treasury. This is an investment/partnership business proposal which I believe, will be of mutual benefit to both of us.

I need your co-operation to transfer the above mentioned sum £28,500,000.00 (Twenty Eight Million Five Hundred thousand British Pounds Sterling) out of United Kingdom to your account. I am confident that you will give your consideration to this proposal and response positively within a short period of time. I am available to discuss this proposal with you and to answer any questions you may have in regard to this fund.

As soon as you give your positive response to this proposal, I will not hesitate in sending you the details information of this business.

This transaction is 100% RISK FREE.

I look forward to discussing this opportunity further with you.

Sincerely,

Mr. Bahaa Raslan.

If you ever receive a Nigerian scam email, NEVER EVER SEND THEM MONEY!

As you can tell, Nigerian scams are often built to tap into human greed. Well, as the saying goes: if something appears too good to be true, it probably is. Seriously, what are the odds of you actually receiving the money some stranger offered you? From another country. After you give them YOUR bank account information.

That being said, your only logical options are to delete it or report it.

Don’t bother replying to the scammer. It never turns out the way you hoped.

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