anders.com: extortion

anders.com: extortion

an exercise in extortion

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extortion services run amuck
by anders brownworth

rogue groups working in nigeria have hit on a unique way to leverage their country's somewhat lawless nature to bilk unsuspecting foreigners into forking over our hard earned capital. here's how it works: they send you an email promising you a percentage cut of some dollar figure in the millions if you will just let them transfer the exorbinate ammount into your bank account. the poor sap, thinking he is lucky for having been picked at random out of a cast of litterally millions to act as custodian of untold millions, gladly responds with his bank account number. after the conversation stalls a bit, our fearless naieve friend is asked to fly to nigeria on his own dime to complete the transaction on behalf of the nigerian who supposidly can't do much of anything because he or she is being watched. just as you would guess, our unsuspecting friend is kidnapped, robbed and heald for whatever ransom can be had.

it seems that this operation is becoming a bit more streamlined these days. even after countless webpages covering these "419 scams" surface from the highest authorities, there seems to be no end to it. i'm convinced that they bulk mail millions of addresses, and bulk respond to the responses that come in saying "we'll have our lawyer set the transaction up for you".

here are my slightly humorous experiences:

from them to me:

From: <m_abacha_20@desertmail.com>
Subject: URGENT
To: "Anders Brownworth" <anders at evantide.com>, <m_abacha_20@desertmail.com>
X-Mailer: CommuniGate Pro Web Mailer v.3.5.6
Date: Fri, 22 Mar 2002 m_abacha_20@desertmail.com wrote:

ATTN: SIR,

I am Dr. Mrs. Mariam Abacha, wife of the late Nigerian Head of state,
General Sani Abacha who died on the 8th of June 1998 while still on
active service for our Country.

I am contacting you with the hope that you will be of great assistance
to me, I currently have within my reach the sum of 20million U.S
dollars cash which I intend to use for investment purposes.

This money came as a result of a payback contract deal between my
husband and a Russian firm in our country's multi-billion dollar
Ajaokuta steel plant.

The Russian partners returned my husbands share being the above sum
after his death. Presently, the new civilian Government has intensified
their probe into my husbands financial resources which has led to the
freezing of all our accounts, local and foreign, the revoking of all
our business licenses and the arrest of my First son.

In view of this I acted very fast to withdraw this money from one of
our finance houses before it was closed down. I have deposited the
money in a security company in Europe (with a coded name) with the help
of very loyal officials of my late husband. No record is known about
this fund by the government because there is no documentation showing
that we received such funds.

Due to the current situation in the country and government attitude to
my family, I cannot make use of this money, thus I seek your help in
receiving these funds and pay into your account for the family safety.

On your consent, or e-mail via the under isted contacts immediately for
further discussion nd clarification. Bearing in mind that you may
assist me, l have decided to part with 10% of the total sum.

Please if intrested contact me on the above e-mail address.

Regards

Dr. Mrs. Mariam Abacha
_________________________________________
Download mersal and add me as a friend :)
http://www.arabia.com/mersal/english

from me to them:

From: "Anders Brownworth" <anders at evantide.com>
Subject: Re: URGENT
To: m_abacha_20@desertmail.com
Date: Thu, 21 Mar 2002 23:22:00 -0500 (EST)

dr. abacha,

you contacted me last summer. how is it that you come across even more
money this time? i don't like to be kidnapped and held for ransom by
idiots you know.

by the way, i'll be in nigeria next summer if you would like to do your
extortion thing then. i'll try to remember to drop you a line.

-a

___________________________________________________________________________
anders brownworth
http://www.anders.com/

"a protocol droid might be useful. fit him with a restraining bolt!"

from them to me: (ha ha ha!)

From: <m_abacha_20@desertmail.com>
Subject: THANKS FOR YOUR REPLY
To: "Anders Brownworth" <anders at evantide.com>, <m_abacha_20@desertmail.com>
X-Mailer: CommuniGate Pro Web Mailer v.3.5.6
Date: Fri, 22 Mar 2002 04:39:48 +0000

From: Dr. Mrs. Mariam Abacha

To: Anders Brownworth

Dear Sir,

I want to thank you for your rapid reply to my proposal to you. Indeed
I really appreciate your concerned interest to help on this matter.

Please be aware that presently my movement is being restricted because
I am still placed on house arrest by this present Government probing me
about my late husband acquired wealth during his regime in office as
head of state to our country. At the moment my phone calls are being
monitored, otherwise I would have arranged that we speak on phone.
Hence, I have contacted my lawyer whom I have now mandated to handle
the entire project with you.

I hope in the next few days they will contact you. Kindly keep me
inform also about the developments.

Hope to hear from you soonest.

Yours sincerely,

Dr. Mrs. Mariam Abacha.
_________________________________________
Download mersal and add me as a friend :)
http://www.arabia.com/mersal/english

that was aparently the last of it. i haven't gotten a response yet, so i guess i'm out of favor with these guys once again. i'm not complaning.

so here I am years later and still getting the same emails. i've seen everything from every major player in africa and even some in russia, but this time, however, i'm seeing fools trying to use mikhail khodorkovsky. first of all, this guy is too high profile for a 419 scam. what gives? are people actually falling for this?

from them to me: (i'm long tired of responding to these morons so i didn't respond)

From www-data@sisaketedu1.go.th Tue Oct 25 14:47:50 2005
Return-Path: 
Delivered-To: my real address
Received: (qmail 24975 invoked from network); 25 Oct 2005 09:47:49 -0500
Received: from unknown (HELO sskedu1-s2.sisaketedu1.go.th) (202.8.85.110)
  by 0 with AES256-SHA encrypted SMTP; 25 Oct 2005 09:47:49 -0500
Received: from www-data by sskedu1-s2.sisaketedu1.go.th with local (Exim 4.50)
	id 1EUQ1v-0004bO-2A; Tue, 25 Oct 2005 21:43:59 +0700
To: 
Subject: Good Day
From: MR OLSOM BEGHART 
X-Priority: 3 (Normal)
CC: 
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
X-Mailer: RLSP Mailer
Message-Id: 
Date: Tue, 25 Oct 2005 21:43:59 +0700
Status: R
X-Status: 
X-Keywords:                  

Name:OLSOM BERGHART
Email:olsom_begs_111@yahoo.fr

Dear friend

I am Mr. Olsom Berghart a personal treasurer to Mikhail Khodorkovsky 
the Richest man in Russia and owner of the following 
companies: Chairman CEO: YUKOS OIL (Russian Largest Oil 
Company) Chairman CEO:Menatep SBP 
Bank (A well reputable financial institution with it’s Branches all 
over the world) 
SOURCE OF FUNDS:

I have a profiling amount in an excess of US$100.5M, which I seek 
your Partnership in accommodating for me. You will be rewarded 
with 4% of The total sum for your partnership. Can you be my partner 
on this? INTRODUCTION OF MY SELF As a personal consultant to him, 
authority Was handed over to me in transfer of money of an
American oil merchant For his last oil deal with my boss Mikhail 
Khodorkovsky.

Already the funds have left the shore of Russia to an European private 
Bank where the final crediting is expected to be carried out. While I 
was on the process, My Boss got arrested for his Involvement 
in politics by financing the leading And opposing political parties
 (the Union of Right Forces,Led by Boris Nemtsov, and Yabloko, a 
liberal/social democratic party Led by Gregor Yavlinsky) which
 poses a treat to President Vladimir Putin Second Tenure as Russian 
president. You can catch more of the story on This website: 

http://www.yukos.com
http://news.ft.com/cms/4bb9612a-d254-11d8-b661-00000e2511c8.html
http://www.hoovers.com/yukos/--ID__53700--/free-co-factsheet.xhtml
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4105663
http://newsfromrussia.com/main/2003/11/13/51215.html
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050531/ap_on_bi_ge/russia_khodorkovsky  

YOUR ROLE: All I need from you is to stand as the beneficiary of the 
Above quoted Sum and I will re-profile the funds with your 
name, which will enable The European bank transfer the sum to you. I 
have decided to use this Sum to relocate to American 
continent and never to be connected to any Of Mikhail Khodorkovsky 
conglomerates. As Soon as I confirm your readiness to conclude the 
transaction with me, I  Will
provide you with the details.
Thank you very much

Regards
Olsom Berghart (Mr)

NOTE; For confidetiality reply to my private email
olsom_begs_111@yahoo.fr

___________________________________________________________________________
Mail sent from WebMail service at PHP-Nuke Powered Site
- http://yoursite.com

good times... good times. hey, anyone want to be rich? these guys have an offer for you. :)