Scammers That Want Us to Become Their Relatives, Adopt Them, and Find Them Housing

Just received this email from a scam artist; supposedly, a college student that has horrendous writing skills.

I found this to be one of the more amusing scam letters and thought that I would share it, and, of course, give the scam artist 15 minutes of fame in perpetuity. What always puzzles me the most is why these scammers from Africa always have millions of U.S. dollars in metal boxes or in bank accounts or held at security companies. Why don't these scammers have millions of dollars in their own currency? Of course, all of this is fake, but some innocent people become victims of these scammers.

Why would someone that doesn't know me give me such personal information -- because it isn't real, and scammers want you to feel sorry for them. Of course, those that get involved are looking to make a fast buck too. Do not get taken advantage of.

Do not fall for these letters or respond to them. Delete them from your email box.

From maima bestman Fri Jul 11 09:53:53 2008
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From: "maima bestman"
Subject: i wish to be your family member. please read this.
MIME-Version: 1.0
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Respected dear,

Sorry for this on notified email. As a matter of fact, I wish to contact you because I wish to do this transaction with a complete neutral person. I decided to do this because I wish to keep the secret of my success from everybody who knows me or my family.

In brief introduction, I am Miss maima bestman Tutu. A Ghanaian university student. I am the daughter of a very popular gold and bauxite miner in Ghana who died close ten months ago. My dad was a polygamist married to five women. I am the sole daughter from my mother who is from Belgium among 24 other children from his other women.

My mum is a banker and was my late father?s banker. After the death of my father, and the family shared everything according to tradition, I got nothing because I am a woman and the 22nd child in the family.

My mother just called me to reveal to me that she kept secret an account of my late father containing a fixed deposit of twenty five million united state dollars ($25,000,000.00.) she has instructed me to look for a very reliable person who can help me outside this country in receiving this fund and investing it wisely.

I wish to go into estate developments and insurance company. I also wish that you help me buy a five bedrooms mansion with all social amenities of not more than $1,000,000.00. I will be coming to complete my school in your country and you will help me secure residence permit.

With all this assured, I wish to give you 14% of my money. Your comments are welcome.

Waiting to hear from you urgently.

Miss Maima Bestman Tutu.

Typical Scammer Email Stating Funds Have Been Recovered

Do not be tricked by email messages similar to the one below. No one writes to you blindly stating that funds stolen from you have been recovered. The email message is utter nonsense.

Always be leery of communications with misspellings, grammatical mistakes, and typographical errors.

Delivered-To: always.the.nekkid.truth@gmail.com
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Message-ID:
Date: Mon, 26 May 2008 15:22:31 +0100
From: "EU Anti-Fraud Watch" Add Mobile Alert
Reply-to: david-eu-taxoffice@excite.com
Subject: EU Anti-Fraud (Urgent Message) We Have Capture Some of Scamers
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ATTENTION VICTIMS OF SCAMS!!!

Complements of the season!

I am David Jackson of the EU Fraud watch team. This panel was set to look into recent fraudulent activities and scam victims in the past five years within Africa and Europe.

We wish to inform you that we have received several complain about victims of several Internet scams and suspicious activities going on at the some Blacklisted Banks through the internet fraud watch operatives at the World Bank level.

we recovered some huge amount of funds from internet scamms from Africa and Europe and Aisa.The fraud money recovered was deposited in world bank,Your lost money we be giving to you atfer the investiagation by world.

However, your name, email address and other related details appeared with some of the detail retrieved from some of our prime suspect now in our custody as follows.

The Fraudulent officers of the Barclays Bank and Government officials are still at Large alone with some remote cells working in Africa called EFCC.

This commission have re-confirm this information with World Bank and IMF financial crime list, which has agree to further investigate the genuineness of the transaction.

I will need you to contact me with all the relevant information to aid our investigation and uphold justice.

As soon as i hear from you. You will be further advised on what to do in other to recovery any money lost or make further claims.

I hope to hear from you soonest.

Thanks for your cooperation.

Sincerely yours,

David Jackson
(Director) Field Operation
EU Fraud Watch/Tax Authentication Team
8 Storey's Gate
London SW1P 3AT
EFCC Nigerian Abuje office
Tell:+234-7055762274
Uk Tel: +44-7031906684
Email: david-eu-taxoffice@excite.com

Email Messages from a Scammer Posting on Autotrader.com

The following email messages were forwarded by a person that was interested in a vehicle being advertised on Autotrader.com. His radar went up as soon as the scammer mentioned eBay's Vehicle Purchase Protection Program. eBay and Autotrader are not affiliated with one another, and eBay DOES NOT operate any type of escrow service.

If you're going to buy a vehicle through the Internet, make sure that you can see the vehicle, test drive it, and bring it to a mechanic. Do not send money via Western Union or Moneygram to people that you do not know.

***VEHICLE LEAD***

The following lead was generated from Autotrader.com's website.

VEHICLE INFORMATION

Make: Toyota
Model: Camry
Year: 2007
Price: 12700
Mileage: 9140
Body Style: Sedan
Color: White
Cylinders: 6 Cylinder Gasoline
Transmission: Automatic
Doors: Four Door
Stereo: Unavailable
VIN: 4T1BK46K37U537107

Description: It is a 2007 (new body style) with less than 9,000 miles, always garaged. This XLE has the 3.5 liter V-6 engine with dual exhaust and 6 speed automatic transmission currently used in the Lexus, but uses regular unleaded. I average 28 mpg in local driving, 32 mpg highway. The color is super white with no dings; the interior is tan leather; the windows have been professionally tinted legally dark by Sun Toyota, where I bought it in February 2007. Oil changes were done at 3800 miles and 8100 miles. It has always been in Florida since I bought it new and has never been in an accident. Never smoked in and no pets, or kids. The JBL premium stereo has a six in-dash CD and Bluetooth which connects your cell phone automatically to the sound system, talk hands free, and voice activated dialing. Also has alloy wheels with no scratches or curb rash; and has Toyoguard which is paint sealant, roadside assistance, and vin number etched windows. Still has plenty of factory warranty for your piece of mind. Comes with all manuals, keys, and Toyota mats and trunk mat

------- Original Message Follows -------
From: Alan Rosenlicht [alanrosenlicht@gmail.com]
To: INTENTIONALLY DELETED
Subject: Re: Owner 62388151: AutoTrader.com: Vehicle Lead 2007 Toyota Camry
Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:39:54 -0700

Hi

Thank you for your interest in my car. It is in perfect condition, no technical or cosmetical problems. It has no scratches and has never been involved in an accident. This car was always garaged. I assume you already know the price from the AutoTrader site.

The sale will be conducted through eBay, for the protection of both of us. If you have any questions regarding the car please e-mail them to me. I can also send you more pictures. If you like the car and you want to buy it, contact me and we will discuss the terms.

Alan

----- Original Message -----
From: INTENTIONALLY DELETED
To: Alan Rosenlicht [alanrosenlicht@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, April 10, 2008 7:36 PM
Subject: Re: Owner 62388151: AutoTrader.com: Vehicle Lead 2007 Toyota Camry

If you can please email me more pictures of the interior and a close up of the tires for tread. I will be going on a short vacation this weekend and will be back Monday April 15th.

From: Alan Rosenlicht [alanrosenlicht@gmail.com]
To: INTENTIONALLY DELETED
Subject: Re: Owner 62388151: AutoTrader.com: Vehicle Lead 2007 Toyota Camry
Date: Fri, 11 Apr 2008 01:59:21 -0700

Hi INTENTIONALLY DELETED,

Please see the attached pictures. I want to tell you that I am not selling this car for profit or due to financial problems. All I can say is that some recent events in my life made me change my perception on certain things, things I've considered important in the past. Therefore, all the funds obtained from this sale will be donated to a children foundation.

I am currently on a trip for UNICEF in Europe. I will not be able to meet you to show you the car, but I am available for any information you may need. Feel free to e-mail me, I check my inbox very often. I have already included the car into the eBay Vehicle Purchase Protection, so I would like to use this program for the transaction.

Here is how the process works:

- you give me your shipping address,
- I start a transaction on eBay Motors,
- they send you the payment instructions,
- you send the money into eBay trust account,
- they confirm me that they received the funds,
- I ship the car,
- you receive the car and approve them to pay me,
- they send me the money.

You'll receive the car papers along with the car. They will hold the money until the car is delivered to you, with properly executed title. You will have 5 business days for inspection. If the car is not like described you will have to ship it back at the end of the 5 business days on my expense, but I am sure that you will love it.

In order to move forward I will need your full name and address. EBay will get in touch with you with further details and instructions.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Alan

An Email Message from a Craigslist Scammer

A word to the wise ... purchase vehicles locally. See them in person, test drive them, and have mechanics check them out before you enter into an agreement to buy a vehicle. DO NOT buy a vehicle sight unseen.

Do not fall for a scam like this. Although eBay owns a percentage of Craigslist, that is its only affiliation. Craigslist deals cannot be consummated through eBay. eBay does not offer an inspection period to buyers, and eBay does not hold money in escrow for sellers.

Think about it! Craigslist posts are free ... why would a legitimate seller that has posted a vehicle for sale on Craigslist want to pay eBay a hefty listing fee? The only possible reason is to scam the buyer. Take control. Do your homework. Do not give your money to a thief!

From: S W
Sent: Monday, April 7, 2008 9:36:02 AM
Subject: 2003 Corolla

Hello and sorry for my delay, I`m Sgt. Robert Simpson. This 2003 Corolla is in perfect working condition. This vehicle engine runs very, very smooth. No electrical problems on this beauty. This detailed vehicle makes the exterior looks like it just came off the assembly line. The car has 76200 miles. VIN Number: jtdbr32e130038947

Options:
KEY LESS ENTRY
POWER WINDOWS
CD
POWER DOOR LOCKS
POWER STEERING
POWER MIRRORS
AIR CONDITIONING
AM/FM RADIO
LE
2 WHEEL DRIVE
AIR BAG
4 CYLINDER 1.8 LITER
Transmission: Automatic

Here are the pics of the car.

As I know that my current situation is pretty special I want the deal closed only through eBay Motors Vehicle Purchase Protection (VPP) in order for you to be 100% protected. You will make the payment to eBay and they will hold the money until you receive the car. ONLY AFTER you receive the car and you inspect it (for 10 days) eBay will release the payment to me; in this way we are both protected.

Anyway I am sure that if you will don't be satisfied about the car I will surely find another buyer in your area and there will be no need for you to ship the car back. I am located in London, United Kingdom and I was sent here to improve the military relationships between USA and UK. One month ago, my wife moved here with me and brought the car with her but now we have to sell it back in the United States because we can't register it here; it has US specs and everything, and registering it here in Europe will take for ever.

My final price on it is US 2,960 $. If you will take it for this price, I am willing to handle the shipping. It will be shipped from here by plane with US Air Military Cargo so it will not cost me anything. You will get it to the nearest airport in your area and then it will be trucked forward to your place. You will receive the car in about 3 max 4 business days. Please get back to me asap if you decide to buy, and include in your e-mail your full name and address where you want it shipped so I can start the deal with eBay. You will receive all the transaction payment and shipping details from them.

Best Regards,

Robert Simpson

Americans, whether they live in the United States or abroad, do not place the dollar sign ($) after the dollar amount.