This post is going to be the longest post on this blog.  The reason is that I am using this to post copies of all of the emails that I receive from scammers wanting me to "help" them transport vast sums of money into the U.S. in exchange for a heafty reward for my services...a.k.a. the Nigerian 419 scam.

First off I have to say that these people are very creative, so I have to give them that.  But, if you read what each of these tyes of emails say, they essentially follow the same pattern.  Some big shot you've never heard of in some other country died and left a pile of money behind to some poor soul who's since then been imprisoned in their house and needs you to help them move the money offshore.  Or a financial agency in charge of a trust fund contacts you as the "next of kin" of one of their clients after all attempts have been made to find a living relative.  One of my favorites (as you can see below) is a U.S. Army soldier who just happened to be there when Saddam Hussein was captured, and found millions of dollars in his hideout that they have yet to completely turn over to the authorities, and he wants you to help him find a "safe place" to store it until he gets home.  They even go as far as including links to legitimate news articles that supposedly back their claims.

It's sad that people fall for these scams, but it is a very well-known reality that it happens.  I personally know of a lady in Indiana, PA who has fallen victim to these scams.  She has litterally lost hundreds of thousands of dollars over the last 8 years because she refuses to believe that these people are frauds, and thinks that she is actually going to get some of the money that she is supposedly a beneficiary of.

You may be sitting there thinking "What kind of idiot would fall for this?", but I assure you that it is very easy to fall for once you're in so far.  I have personally seen the cycle, and can vouch that it is a vicious cycle to get out of once you're in.  The first message comes in the form of one of the below letters.  The catch is that you have to pay for "documentation" or "certificates of clearance" that they don't mention in the initial letter.  The fees are relatively small, but sometimes can be $1000.00 or more.  When you tell them that you don't have that kind of money, the fees eventually become smaller after they generously offer to pay for at least half, sometimes more, and only ask you for a small protion.  Once you pay that fee, you are told that the money is on it's way.  However, at the last minute the money falls victim to customs officials.  You now need to pay for a document stating that the money is not part of a drug ring or landering outfit.  Again the fee can be high, but is offset by your new found friend, and you only have to send, let's say $200.  So you send that, and again the money is on it's way.  But before it gets here a new fee surfaces, which stops the delivery.  By this time you're in for a few hundred dollars and just want to get your money back.  But the only way to do so is to pay this "last fee" and all will be well.  By then you realize that you've fallen victim to a scam, but now it's too late.

Once you realize you've been taken, things drop off for a while.  Then one day you receive another letter stating that you've been taken, but an agency wants to help you retrieve the money that you lost, and bring justice to the situation.  You've already been to the police who told you that they can't do anything because it would be impossible for them to track the crooks down.  Once again you put your faith into someone you don't know in hopes that they can make you whole again.  Everything seems to be going good until once again the "agency" needs money to do something, and asks you to foot the bill in exchange for the promise that you will be reimbursed quickly.  And so starts the cycle all over again until you finally realize that you've lost your entire life savings, and have nothing to show for it.  You're embarrassed to tell anyone for fear of what they'll say, so you retreat to your own little place to deal with it as best you can.

This is how it starts, and that's how it ends...every single time.  And as you read these think of how many times you've heard the story, and how many emails you've read along the same lines.  You may have fallen victim yourself and not even realize it, or be willing to admit it.  But I assure you that you will lose a lot more than you will ever gain if you don't put an end to it now.

The following are actualy emails that I've received.  i will post more as they some in.

Received 12/6/11

Hello,

I am Col Jon Newman , US Army serving in the 3rd Infantry Division in Iraq, I am desperately in need of assistance and I have summoned up courage to contact you. I have a proposal for you.

In 2003, I and my men found over $600 million in Saddam Hussein's hideout in Baghdad, we sent some back to the Iraq government after counting it in a classified location, but we also kept some behind for ourselves. Some of the money we shared among ourselves worth over $200million, and I have kept mine for a while here in a very secured place since then, just like many others, but now our new president Obama is making plans on pulling us out of Iraq.

You can view the link below to verify my statement.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2988455.stm

My share is 10million, you will receive 20% of the money, all you need do is to find a safe place where you can keep the box till we leave Iraq. Get back to me immediately.

Col Jon Newman

Let's think about this one.  A soldier who was there when Saddam Hussein was found was able to hide $200 million in confiscated funds from both the Iraqi and U.S. governments, and he wants me to help him get his share of it out of the country before he's deployed home........RIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT.  So did he dig a hole in the middle of the dessert to bury the money in his "secure place", and if so why didn't anyone see him, and how is he planning on getting it to me.  Furthermore, how does he know that I wouldn't take the money and run, or turn him into the government?  He has no clue who I am, yet he's going to entrust me not to rat him out and do the same thing he did.  And I'm supposed to fall for this one?  C'mon guys, you can do better than this.

Received 12/6/11 

STANDARD CHARTERED BANK UNITED KINGDOM.
Head Office., 1 Aldermanbury Square
London, EC2V 7SB UK
TEL / FAX: +447045738159

Dearest Customer,

RE: INSTRUCTIONS TO CREDIT YOUR OVERDUE PAYMENT

The management of The Standard Chartered Bank United Kingdom writes to inform you of your long over due payment that has been lying waiting in the treasury department of the British Colonized Country ( NIGERIA ) is now been Programmed to the standard Chartered bank United Kingdom for immediate Transfer because of May fraudsters, Scammers & Duper's Nigerian's are be Involve their self's.

Dearest note that the British Government with the European Authorities have to guarded their self's together to make sure all the Nigerian's Foreign Contractor's has be passing through Pain's since year's back in the hands of this Nigerian's fraudsters, Scammers & Duper's to Programmed the Contract Payment to our Bank as the ( British's Colonized ) Nigerian's as we have power over them.

With regards to the approval of your Personal information’s received and confirmed by the Legal Department of the Standard Chartered Bank United Kingdom; you are hereby directed to contact Standard Chartered Bank United Kingdom for immediate release of your contract over due payment. The management has authorize Standard Chartered Bank United Kingdom, so you are also advice to further the below information for final verification.

Reconfirm your Bank details as follows;

1. CELL/PHONE NUMBERS:
2. AGE AND CURRENT OCCUPATION:
3. A COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION:
4. CONTRACT/CLAIM AMOUNT:
5. YOUR BANK NAME:
6. YOUR BANK ADDRESS:
7. YOUR ACCOUNT NAME:
8. YOUR ACCOUNT NUMBER:
9. YOUR SWIFT CODE:
10. YOUR HOME ADDRESS:
11. YOUR CONTRACT NO:

You are therefore authorized to reconfirm to the telex department of the Standard Chartered Bank your complete Personal Information’s to enable us carry out your transfer accordingly.

THIS IS THE FULL INFORMATION'S OF OUR BANK.

Headquarter: London, UK

Key People: J P Morgan Managing Director ( Board ) John W. Peace (Chairman), Peter A. Sands (CEO) Company Type: P. (LSE: STAN, SEHK: 28800, OTCBB: CBFF, NSE: STAN)

Head Office: 1 Aldermanbury Square, London, EC2V 7SB
Phone: +44 (70) 4573 8159
SWIFT (BIC): SCBLGB2L
Founded: 1858
E-mail: standardcharteredbank_unitedki@ymail.com

Contact the Bank as soon as possible now as to help your self since the British Government is involve on this your Over Due Contract Payment in Nigerian.

Thank you, for your understand and patience.

J P Morgan
Managing Director ( Board )
John W. Peace (Chairman), Peter A. Sands (CEO) {STCBL}

This is a classic.  So a European bank, which is supposed to be a professional entity, is handling overpayments "because of May fraudsters, Scammers & Duper's Nigerian's are be Involve their self's."  Does that sentence make one bit of sense?  Can you honestly say that you believe that any reputable organization would allow such blatent lack of proper grammer and spelling, especially when the English criticize us so heavily in some of our dialects?  This letter was obviously written by someone who's native language is NOT english, and not sent by a company (or anyone for that matter) who proof reads their work.  Furthermore, the banks email account is a ymail.com, a free email service....really?  And they want me to send all of my personal information to the?  And yes people actually fall for this.

Received 12/6/11

Hello,

I am Alecia Cathy i live in Paper Marchant Industry, a subsidiary of Paper Industry 3412 OLD Trafford Road Manchester City and i got your contact on my Personal search of the person i want to will my money to you. Please i willed The remaining money in my account to you, that is the only money left in my Account right now. Something in me told me that you are the right person That can execute this dream for me before i will pass away.

Please contact the bank manager whose name and address i will give you as Soon as you reply this mail. My bank will help you transfer this money that I have willed to you. Right now i am in the hospital emailing you with my Lap top computer and i will tell you my story as soon as i hear from you.

Thank you for your understanding,

Alecia Cathy Bill
God Bless

So what exactly is her dream that she wants me to execute, because I don't think I read that part.  And since she already willed her last remaining money to me, shouldn't I hire an attorney over there to see that everything is taken care of, or was the attorney willed to me to?  I feel bad that she's in the hospital, and apparently she has no friends or family because she's emailing me from her death bed, so I guess that makes me special.  But not special enough to hear her story until I respond back to her.  I'm just happy to know someone who has 2 first names as her full name, but I'm not just sure which to call her...Alecia, Cathy, or Bill...the mystery shall never be solved.  Just like the mystery of why she doesn't understand how to properly capitalize or punctuate words in a sentence as she's writing it, which makes it just that much more interesting in reading her letter.  But I guess I should cut her a break since she is a dying woman, and probably isn't in the right mindset.

Received 11/13/12

Hello, This letter might come as a surprise to you especially since we have never met or had a discussion before, basically this message might sound strange but it is factual in reality if only you care to know, The truth is that I should have notified you through a more confidential means, (even in the least to respect your integrity) please accept my humble apologies if I have caught you unaware, I frankly do not mean any harm in passing my message.

I am a Project Manager with the United Nation Development Program Asia pacific (UNDP) I am also the concerned principal with contract appraisal and the approval of contracts in order of priority in regards with capital projects of the (UNDP) here in the Asia pacific. With my position as the principal director of operations,I have successfully secured the sum of Twenty eight million five hundred thousand dollars (US$28.5M) the amount was accumulated from over invoices. To this effect I decided to contact you and ask for your assistance, to enable us work together and I am willing to compensate you with 25% of the total amount upon a successful conclusion to this transaction.

Finally the confidence and trusted repose on you cannot be over emphasized; therefore you are to keep this deal to yourself completely confidentially. Your reputation will be highly protected in this transaction. I shall be pleased to have a personal phone number where I can personally contact you, while looking forward to a successful business relationship with you.

YOURS FAITHFULLY,

MR.GORDON ANGUS

Again, the classic letter that you get from someone you've never met who wants to share with you a percentage of an unreasonable amount of money, expecting "Confidentiality". If this doesn't throw up a red flag, then you almost deserve to get taken by this scam.

Received 11/27/12

Hello Sir.,

I am Mr. Aiman Hamid,

You will ask yourself why am sending you this shot note or feel this is one of the spam mails you do receive but I want you to read this note and BELIEVE in me when I tell you what I send to you is real and I have documents to show the proof. I am from Indonesia a friend to Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi which you know too well, I do help him pay out all his funds he does send out to me to move out into other account but this is the first account I want to move the money of to you thats why am contacting you to assist me I need a partner to come claim this fund as his assistant I have the name of the real assistant but that will not be a problem I am in control of the document and I can do a change of name to your name to claim this funds and we share this money 50/50 its a good deal but if you feel this is a scam pls do not contact me I need someone with mind to make money, we partner up and move out this funds as family someone I can trust transfer.

He has transferred into our Companys account the sum of $550 million USD I am the only one that can make this money payable to any one I feel I can trust and work with as a partner. I dont want you to think or feel that this is a scam if you feel its a scam pls do not contact me back but if you can trust me and work with me we will get this money out and we will take this money for 50/50% if your okay with that.

This money is with the Bank here in Bank Central Asia, Indonesia (B.C.A) Look all I need do from my side is to make a change on the name and put your with all of your information and when the money is been transferred we will go by it 50/50%.

If you really think you can do this with me do reply me back and lets start work now and also if you need any information do feel free to ask me more.

From Aiman Hamid
Contact cell +447031981477

Thanks so much for your reading my mail.
God bless you as you read it and want to partner with me.

This just has **SCAM** written all over it... literally. If it's not a scam, why does he continue to mention it throughout the message that it's not a scam? Once again the grammar leaves much to be desired. If he has control of all of that money then he needs to take courses in proper English so that he can at least form a valid sentence. Apparently this message has been going around for quite some time because the last time I checked Gaddafi died in October 2011. So if he's still telling this guy what to do, I think he may need some "professional" help