The individuals listed below aren't just spamming idiots; they are dangerous bastards, predators trolling the Internet for prey, killers (very literally) looking for their next victim. The scam they are perpetrating — and it is a scam — is generally referred to as a "4-1-9" crime because of the associated section & paragraph numbers of the Nigerian penal code (most of this crap comes from Nigeria). If you hear from these bastards, you have NOT been contacted by a special representative of former members of the Nigerian government — you HAVE been contacted by scam artists who, since the late 1980s, are responsible for bilking people out of over $80 million in just the USA, as well as untold millions more from individuals in other countries... and at least one American, and possibly as many as three Europeans, have been murdered while participating in this scam! This is serious business: if you receive ANY communications (email, fax, letter, or phone call) from anyone who claims you have been selected as someone who can help move money out of Nigeria (or the Congo or other nearby nations), contact the U.S. Secret Service IMMEDIATELY! For addresses, phone numbers, and more information on this highly dangerous scam, check the Secret Service website at http://www.secretservice.gov/alert419.shtml

SPECIAL NOTE, MARCH 2002: The FTC is currently requesting that people who receive spam scams like this forward a copy to uce@ftc.gov; they're collecting them all and trying to prosecute the senders. Please forward all the mail headers; it should make it easier for them to track the messages.

      Date: Thu, 22 Mar 2001 23:59:57
      From: Timothy Banya 
   Subject: Money For Investment

Note: This spam allegedly comes from "Maj. Timothy Banya, the commander and head of the Secret Unit in charge of Diamond dealing for the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) of Sierra-Leone." The good Major is caught in a bad situation — he's afraid the government will reneg on a recent deal and he'll lose his $12,500,000.00 worth of diamonds, and if I invest some money in this bank account he's set up, he promises he'll be glad to give me a share of his diamond money... <sigh> This is an old, and well-known, scam run out of Nigeria (with a few other African countries thrown in once in a while). His account has already been reported to the proper authorities...

   banya2000@email.com

      Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2001 04:48:29
      From: "Amobi Nzelu, Esq." 
   Subject: Partnership

Note: I don't know if I should laugh or cry, but two copies of this piece of crap showed up within two seconds of each other right after the one listed above. The only difference is that the spammer is now claiming to be "Barrister Amobi Nzelu, the legal adviser to Mr. Mohammed Abacha, the heir apparent to the estate of the late Head of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, late General Sani Abacha." (Now ain't that a mouthful!) This version of the scam — still in Nigeria, folks — has him urgently looking for partners who can help move part of $40 million out of Nigeria to protect it from evil forces in the government... but what I don't understand is that the partner (who supposedly will be rewarded with 30% of the recovered funds) has to deposit his own money in a special bank account... Like they say, there's a sucker born every minute... and the sender of this spam has been reported to a number of interested authorities.

   Barrister Amobi Nzelu
   AMOBI@ADEXEC.COM

      Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2001 08:47:30 +0000
      From: benson kabo 
   Subject: VERY URGENT AND PRIVATE.

Note: They're ba-a-a-ck... This time the murderous assholes are being fronted by someone claiming to be "a civil adviser currently working with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation" — who promptly launches into the same crapola about needing to move money out of the country. (If they have to move their money, why do I have to put my money into their bank account?)

   DR. BENSON KABO
   telephone (in Nigeria): 234-1-7750933; password is "APPLE"
   bensonkabo1962@eudoramail.com

   Subject: URGENT PLEASE
      Date: Sun, 14 Oct 2001 06:11:07 +0200
      From: dennis_ubong46@excite.com
        To: <>

Note: I'll just include the assholes' text here:
"DENNIS UBONG
LAGOS-NIGERIA
DEAR FRIEND
PRIVATE PROPOSAL
A very good day to you. We have an immediate business proposal that involves $ 26,400,000. (Twenty Six Million,Four Hundred, Thousand.United States Dollars) which we will like to invest under your custody. Please, do not hesitate to send me a response intimating me of your interest. Once I receive a message from you notifying me of your interest, the details of the transaction/the terms and condition of sharing regarding the business would then be brought to your knowledge. Your urgent response will be highly appreciated and will swiftly bring us to the commencement of the transaction. We hope to conclude this transaction within 10-14 working days. Do not forget to contact me on the receipt of this message via my email address. And please you have to be a bit confidential as regards this pending transaction. I would also need you to send to me your confidential Telephone/Fax numbers and an alternate email address if the one used in reaching you is not confidential enough , This would be needed for the transaction. I urgently await your response.
Best Regards,
Dennis Ubong

   (none given)

Oh, looky here — another asshole trying to steal money from me! Here's the idiocy in all its sick glory...

Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2002 10:13:47 -0500 (EST)
From: Abdulkarimi A. Brume 
To: abdulbrume_dj@yahoo.com
Subject: Please Assist My Client

TEMPLARS LAW FIRM
BARRISTERS & SOLICITORS.
The Octagon, 564 A.J.Marinho Drive, V.I.Annexe.
P.O.Box 66564 Victoria Island Lagos, Nigeria.


ATTN:SIR/MADAM

I AM ABDULKARIMI A. BRUME (ESQ), I REPRESENT MOHAMMED
ABACHA,SON OF THE LATE GEN. SANI ABACHA, WHO WAS THE
FORMER MILITARY HEAD OF STATE IN NIGERIA. HE DIED IN
1998. SINCE HIS DEATH, THE FAMILY HAS BEEN LOOSING A
LOT OF MONEY DUE TO VINDICTIVE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
WHO ARE BENT ON DEALING WITH THE FAMILY.
  BASED ON THIS THEREFORE THE FAMILY HAS ASKED ME TO
SEEK FOR A FOREIGN PARTNER WHO CAN WORK WITH US AS TO
MOVE OUT THE TOTAL SUM OF US$36,000,000.00 ( THIRTY
SIX MILLION UNITED  STATES DOLLARS ), PRESENTLY IN
THEIR POSSESSION. THIS MONEY WAS OF COURSE, ACQUIRED
BY THE LATE PRESIDENT AND IS NOW KEPT SECRETLY BY THE
FAMILY. THE SWISS GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY FROZEN ALL
THE ACCOUNTS OF THE FAMILY IN SWITZERLAND, AND SOME
OTHER COUNTRIES WOULD SOON FOLLOW TO DO THE SAME.
  THIS BID BY SOME GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO DEAL WITH
THIS FAMILY HAS MADE IT NECESSARY THAT WE SEEK YOUR
ASSISITANCE IN RECEIVING THIS MONEY AND IN INVESTING
IT ON BEHALF OF THE FAMILY.
  THIS MUST BE A JOINT VENTURE TRANSACTION AND WE MUST
ALL WORK TOGETHER. SINCE THIS MONEY IS STILL CASH,
EXTRA SECURITY MEASURES HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO PROTECT IT
FROM THEFT OR SEIZURE, PENDING WHEN AGREEMENT IS
REACHED ON WHEN AND HOW TO MOVE IT INTO ANY OF YOUR
NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNTS. I HAVE PERSONALLY WORKED OUT
ALL MODALITIES FOR THE PEACEFUL CONCLUSION OF THIS
TRANSACTION. THE TRANSACTION DEFINITELY WOULD BE
HANDLED IN PHASES AND THE FIRST PHASE WILL INVOLVE THE
MOVING OF $18,000,000.00(EIGHTEEN MILLION, UNITED
STATES DOLLARS ). 
 
MY CLIENTS ARE WILLING TO GIVE YOU A REASONABLE
PERCENTAGE OF THIS MONEY AS SOON AS THE TRANSACTION IS
CONCLUDED. I WILL, HOWEVER, BASED ON THE GROUNDS THAT 
YOU ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH US AND ALSO ALL
CONTENTIOUS ISSUES DISCUSSED BEFORE THE COMMENCEMENT
OF THIS TRANSACTION. YOU MAY ALSO DISCUSS YOUR
PERCENTAGE BEFORE WE START TO WORK. AS SOON AS I HEAR
FROM YOU, I WILL GIVE YOU ALL NECESSARY DETAILS 
AS TO HOW WE INTEND TO CARRY OUT THE WHOLE
TRANSACTION.
PLEASE, DO NOT ENTERTAIN ANY FEARS,AS ALL NECESSARY
MODALITIES ARE  IN PLACE, AND I ASSURE YOU OF ALL
SUCCESS AND SAFETY IN THIS TRANSACTION.
 
PLEASE, THIS TRANSACTION REQUIRES ABSOLUTE
CONFIDENTIALITY AND YOU WOULD BE EXPECTED TO TREAT IT
AS SUCH UNTIL THE FUNDS ARE MOVED OUT OF THIS COUNTRY.
 
PLEASE, YOU WILL ALSO IGNORE THIS LETTER AND RESPECT
OURTRUST IN YOU BY NOT EXPOSING THIS TRANSACTION, EVEN
IF YOU ARE NOT INTERESTED. I LOOK FORWARDS TO YOUR
EARLY REPLY.

THANKS FOR YOUR COOPERATION.

SINCERELY YOURS, 

ABDULKARIMI A. BRUME (ESQ).

Oh, waitaminit... I just re-read the last couple of paragraphs... you mean I wasn't supposed to notify the authorities about this well-known scam? Oh, well... <g>

Oh, joy! ANOTHER asshole trying to steal money from me! Here's the crapmail...

Subject: RE:REPLY ASAP.
   Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 09:57:23 -0500 (EST)
   From: ben okon 
     To: benokon118@yahoo.com


ATTN: TO INTERESTED PARTY (INDIVIDUAL/COMPANY/CEO'S)

DEAR SIR/MADAM,

I SOLEMNLY WISH TO USE THIS MEDIUM TO CRAVE YOUR
INDULGENCE TO A STRICTLY BUSINESS VENTURE THAT WOULD
REQUIRE A HIGH LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING, TRUST,
WILLINGNESS, COMPETENCE AND CONFIDENCE TO TRANSACT, AS
IT DESERVES TO ATTAIN SUCCESS.
MEANWHILE, THIS PROPOSAL MAY HAVE GOTTEN TO YOU BY
SURPRISE OR OTHERWISE BUT THE BASIC REASON FOR
CONTACTING YOU WAS BECAUSE OF YOUR STATUS AS AN
INTERNATIONAL PERSONALITY AND PERHAPS AS A FOREIGN
PARTNER TO EXECUTE THIS DEAL.

INOTHERWORDS, FOR GOOD UNDERSTANDING, YOUR CONTACT WAS
DISCRETELY SOURCED FOR AMONG OTHERS BY VIRTUE OF YOUR
ASSISTANCE/INVOLVEMENT AS A FOREIGN 
CONTRACTOR---UPON DUE ARRANGEMENTS, TO RECEIVE THE SUM
OF USD $10M (TEN MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS)
SCHEDULED FOR PROJECT SUPPLIES.

IN A BRIEF INTRODUCTION, I AM MR. BEN OKON, I AM AN
ACCOUNTANT WORKING WITH THE NATIONAL PROJECTS
COMMISSION (NPC) OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF
NIGERIA.THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA NORMALLY
RECEIVES ASSISTED LOANS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION (IDA): ON QUARTERLY BASIS
(YEARLY), UNDER THE AUPICES OF THE INTERNATIONAL
MONETARY FUND (IMF) FOR ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT CAPACITY
PROJECTS (EMCAP). PART OF THIS LOAN FROM THE
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION IS NORMALLY
ALLOCATED TO MINISTRIES FOR UP-KEEP AND PROJECTS. 

SO, MY COMMISSION RECEIVES THE SAID AMOUNT BASED ON
THIS FACT BUT I AND MY COLLEAGUE WHO IS AN AUDITOR
DECIDED TO STRIKE A DEAL BY SOURCING FOR SOMEONE FROM
THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO RECEIVE THE
AFOREMENTIONED AMOUNT AS LOAN TO EXECUTE THE PROJECT
SUPPLIES. AS GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, WE CANNOT APPLY FOR
THE CONTRACT BECAUSE THE CODE OF CONDUCT FOR CIVIL
SERVANTS RESTRICTS US FROM SO MANY FACILITIES SUCH AS
OWNING AND OPERATING A FOREIGN/DOMICILIARY ACCOUNT.

IN THE NUTSHELL, WE WANT YOU TO ASSIST US AS A
CONTRACTOR TO CLAIM THIS FUND FOR THE PROJECT
SUPPLIES. ONCE WE REACH AN AGREEMENT, WE SHALL ARRANGE
FOR YOU TO APPLY TO THE AUTHORITIES FOR THE CONTRACT
AND NOTWITHSTANDINGLY, ALL THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTATION
TO PROVE YOUR ENTITLEMENT TO BE AWARDED SUCH CONTRACT
SHALL BE PROVIDED TO YOU FOR YOUR PERUSAL. THIS DEAL
IS ABSOLUTELY RISK FREE AND STRAIGHT FORWARD AS WE
SHALL PROVIDE YOU WITH ALL THE NECESSARY DETAIL TO
CLAIM THE MONEY AND FINALLY, WE SHALL WORK OUT THE
POSSIBILTY OF POSING (BY FILING ALL THE DOCUMENTATION)
TO THE AUTHORITIES THAT YOU HAVE ACTUALLY EXECUTED THE
CONTRACT AND THEREFORE YOU DESERVE YOUR PAYMENT WITH
RESPECT TO THE CONTRACT FUND. THIS CAN BE ACHIEVED
THROUGH ALL THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTATION THAT WE (MY
COLLEAGUE AND I) SHALL PROVIDE IN YOUR FAVOUR AS THE
TRUE BENEFICIARY/CONTRACTOR ELIGIBLE FOR THE PAYMENT.
ALL WE DEMAND FROM YOU (IF ONLY YOU ARE WILLING TO
COOPERATE WITH US) IS ABSOLUTE CONFIDENCE AND GOOD
UNDERSTANDING TO CLAIM THIS MONEY. WE SHALL COMPENSATE
EACH OTHER ONCE YOU'VE CONFIRMED THE TOTAL MONEY IN
YOUR DESIGNATED BANK ACCOUNT. HOWEVER, I LOOK FORWARD
TO MEET YOU FOR INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN YOUR
COUNTRY IN AREAS OF GOOD BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES BASED
ON YOUR ADVICE: AFTER SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION OF THIS
DEAL. 

AT THIS POINT, I WOULD REQUIRE FROM YOU, YOUR CONTACT
DETAILS SUCH AS YOUR TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBER, YOUR
BANKING DETAILS, YOUR COMPANY DETAILS (IF ANY) AS WELL
AS YOUR FULL NAME AND ADDRESS.

I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU SOON FOR DETAILED
EXPLANATION ON HOW TO EFFECT THE CLAIMS.

BEST REGARDS,
MR. BEN OKON

__________________________________________________
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Send FREE video emails in Yahoo! Mail!
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Funny how it comes from a Yahoo! accoutn... and SpamCop reports that the "videomail" account is actually under investigation now...

Ooh, looky — another ass!

Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 11:28:28 -0500 (EST)
From: dako zulu 
To: dako_zulu@yahoo.com
Subject: URGENT  BUSINESS  ASSISTANCE

MR.DAKO ZULU
JOHANNESBURG SOUTH AFRICA
Tel:+27 829 731 799
Fax:+27 833 702 425


ATTN:  LEV


I foresee the surprise this letter will bring to you
as it comes from someone with no previous contact or
business relationship.  Please consider this as a
desperate plea from someone in dire need of help and
with best of intention for both of us.  Your address
got to me courtesy of a business journal at the World
Trade centre in Johannesburg, South Africa and after
due consideration from your profile I assured of your
credibility and trust hence I decided to contact you.

I am Dako Zulu from Republic of Sierre Leone, my
father served as the defense Chief Adviser the ousted
Head of State, Major Paul Koromah till 1998.  He was
in charge of procurement of Arms and Ammunitions.

But as the war progress it became apparent that we
will loose to the Government troops who were heavily
armed and barked by the West African forces (Ecomog)
he quickly made some arrangements to safe guard the
future and life of his family and to establish himself
in a animation purchased to the turn of US$25M (Twenty
Five Million United States Dollars) when the money
disbursed he received the (US$25M) which he locked in
the family safe.

Two months later he resigned from the military
services and escaped with his family and the money
stashed in safe deposit box to South Africa.  We were
granted temporary political asylum with restricted
rights so he could not open a bank account or a
business enterprise.  However he succeeded in
depositing land documents and precious stones later my
father died and was buried in South Africa.  I am here
in South Africa with my sick mother and my younger
brother.

My aim of contacting you is to help me in transferring
the money into your nominated account and to help me
engage in a profitable business investment in your
country.  I will offer you 25% commission of the total
fund for your assistance and services and will also
offset 5% for the expenses due for the transferring of
the fund.

This business needs utmost trust and confidentiality
from you and its risk free business.  All the
modalities for a smooth and successful transaction
have been arranged, if you are interested in this
proposal please contact me immediately for further
details and include your private telephone and fax
number in your reply.

Best regards and God bless you.



DAKO ZULU



__________________________________________________
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