Blog suspended! My explanation.

(1/26/09) An explanation:

After I wrote the entry below, the freeze on the blog was lifted. Cant be too careful, I guess. But in the interum our fine friends in ... where ever they are... had fallen silent. No surprise, I guess. I hope they find a better way to support their families, gotta be tough in Nigeria these days! All the best to you, and them, and to you if you are them! We ARE all one, remember?

-DP

* * * *

Im new to blogging, so maybe Im not aware of something important here. If so, I apologize! My new blog is suspended, and if I have violated the rules or been misleading (I suspect that IS the complaint) then Im perfectly willing to end it - dont want to cause harm for sure. I am posting here due to my inability to find a way to talk with blogger, hoping that asking for review and this post will do for "dialogue".

I got an email, obvious phishing with all the trappings: promise of big money from the IMF/World Bank (with incorrect use of numerals making it unclear HOW big), gotta pay up front – or else travel to W Africa to collect, slight alteration of the name of a prominent individual, imaginary threat of usurpation of identity/funds by a third party.

I found it all relatively amusing and thought: "Ill respond, and post the thread on a blog - expose the hoax and have a little harmless fun for all." If thats not so fun, or dangerous to someone, Im sorry - please take it down.
Sincerely,
Dexter Payne

OK, I got a little hot-headed

Hey, I just received an email from my friend in England and in it was this message he received in September:

Sep 18 2008, 03:54 PM



Hello Beneficiary

This is to officially inform you that your Inheritance/Contract fund that due to you, which is not yet paid to you because you did not fulfilled the obligation given to you in respect of your payment. The INTERNATIONAL MONTARY FUND in conjunction with the European Union, The United States Gorvenment and World Bank for the sole purpose of resolving pending transfer has compensate you with US$1.100,000,00. This amount is directed in cash credit to code FBB/009793576430 at the owner of this email address.

For security reasons your email address was choose to send it instead of your name.The bank made us to know that one Mr David Chop has contact them for the payment of the fund to him as the rightful beneficiary to the fund. Here comes the big question, (DID YOU AUTHORIZED MR DAVID CHOP TO RECEIVE THE MONEY ON YOUR BEHALF WITH THIS ACCOUNT DETAILS IN CHINA?) Account Number 7222111482600000209, Account Name David Chop, Bank Citic Bank, Swift code. ULSBIE2D. IBAN number. IE78ULSB98533083313083.

If yes, advise the bank to pay him. But if No, Contact the director Financial Bank Benin Dr Augustine Ekene through Email draugustineekene@live.fr with your full contact information to resolve and reprogram your information and release your fund to you. 1,Your full names -----------, Your present home address ----------------, Your direct phone number ------------------, Your current occupation ----------------, Your Age --------------- and Marital status ----------------.

Because of the double claim the authority advised that you come to Benin Republic or you secure affidavit of fact from court, if you can not come because of personal reasons. Due to the dubious character of the past officer at the bank, the document will cost you $195. Contact the bank with your code FBB/009793576430 and the fee, your entitlement valid will be release to you. If you did not take any action immediately, in the next couple of days they will release the money to him.

Thanks
Madam Ngozie Iwuala



Now, I am not normally a skeptical person - Im very trusting when I have a good feeling about someone, and I had a real good feeling about Ngozie, or Ngozi, or whatever her real name is. After all, Minister of Finance... so what if she occasionally forgets to spell her own name right. Nobody is perfect, right?

But in the first place, this letter to my friend has all the same numbers as the letter to me. The same for Mr Crop. yes. But also the same acct code# for me as for my friend? Is this some kind of form letter your bank sends out to all people it owes money to? Frankly, Im offended and a little hurt that you would do such a thing to me.

But then you add insult to injury: you want to charge me almost $400, and yet you only charged him $190! What, you think Im some kind of stupid guy? I might be stupid, but Im not dumb!!! The least you can do is be equitable in your attempt at extortion! If you cant explain these things, please dont bother writing back to me. I am very busy. And I would like some assurance from Madam Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

Oh, and by the way, I know that my email account says different, but my true name is BENNY FISCH I.R.E. and I would appreciate being addressed correctly.

Sincerely,
Ben E. Fish I.R.E

Atention ___________

SOMEBODY LOVES ME - I GOT A LETTER! AND THEY EVEN LOOKED AT MY EMAIL ADDRESS AND GOT MY NAME. WOW!


westernunioninfo@netcourrier.com wrote:

Western Union® Welcome to Western Union
Send Money Worldwide

Attention ________________

We are happy to inform you that after the due verification on this matter by the directors, your $1.100,000,00 was approved for payment to you. It was conclude that you will receive $90,000 daily at $9,000 each. The sum of $9,000 was sent to you but due to the double claim on this fund the payment of $9,000 was stopped, and the authority is demanding for AFFIDAVIT OF FCAT from high court Benin or you come down to Benin in person and sign for the final release of the money to you.

Meanwhile because of the profit we will make if we transact the business with you, we have decide that our lawyer will assist you obtain the Affidavit of fact from the high court to avoid you hiring a lawyer. So you have two option to execute your transaction,chose one and get back to us
1, Do you want to come here? 2, Do you want to obtain the Affidavit of fact from high court? The cost is $387.

You are advise to stop contact with any body or firm that contact you regards to your fund for security reasons and to avoid another impostor like Mr David. For more informations call +229 98 64 88 31 Contact person Dr Augustine Ekene.

Awaiting Yours Sincerely Dr Godwin Uzoma Phone +229 98 64 88 31
Fex +229 2132 4246
www.westernunion.co.uk
Western Union Payments
Western Union® Welcome to Western UnionPhone:+229 98 64 88 31
Send Money

Hello Doctor!

All these distinguished people, my my! Whatever happened to Ngozie Iwuala, or was her name Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala?

I was really impressed by her on the IMF/World Bank press conference. And I like doing business with the World Bank. That would actually be my preference. No flakey Citigroup stuff, you know what I mean? And, since I know she is high in the government there, I would be confident in the proceedings. Plus I have people in Nigeria.

But Benin is another story. I know no one, except you. And, no offense, but I dont know you. One cant be too careful these days, and frankly Ive heard of people going to far away places in Africa for money like this... and disappearing forever!

The good thing is that if you can get that much money so easily from Nigeria to Benin, you can probably get it here pretty easily, too. Which is good because I dont have the money to go there. In fact, I dont have the money for your lawyer. So I guess you can just take his fee out of the first $9000 for the Affidavit, about $400. In fact give him $1000, a little extra for his trouble. Of course, after the first $90,000 (thats the first day, right?) Ill be happy to travel to Benin, but right now I cant really afford it. And Im sure the IMF and World Bank both have offices in this country. So there should be no problem making the transfer.

And actually, I need it rather quickly, because my creditcard is overdrawn and the local bank is foreclosing on my house next week. At least it seems a real possibility, so you see, the $90,000 per day could come in real handy about now. Of course, the good thing about being out of work is that Ill have lots of time to spend all my new money, once the mortgage is all squared away.

Please consider this letter my authorization to proceed with the Affidavit of fact, you can tell Augustine Ekene to go ahead. Once the first check is cleared, then the $400 should be reimbursed – and the lawyer should be amply rewarded, say $600 just to keep even numbers. If all goes well, there will be enough to make worthwhile fr you as well.

Of course, Im still fine with doing business with Mr David Perry, or rather, David Chop. If he has a way to get the cash, as you indicated in the last letter, then it might really be best to go ahead with him as a partner and he can bring me the cash. It would save me a lot in taxes, so Id glady give him 50% for his trouble. Anyway you have options!

Sincerely,
Benificiary

This could be you!

INTRO

OK, foolish, I know, but this time I couldnt resist. And I admit I was inspired the other day by a guy who carried on for weeks with an ID phishing scammer, teasing and pimping them at the same time. All in all, very entertaining. How many times have you wanted to write back to one of these offers of millions?

I will never forget the first "sweepstakes winner" email I got. I was completely taken, my heart was pounding: "Me? I won? Whoa boy, what will I do with it all? Dont forget what happens to people who win big - it doesnt go well for them!" Fortunately, I came to my senses before getting in too deep. Something smelled funny. I got wise. Ah, sweet ignorance!

Anyway, this is an actual email sent to me. I know, we all get them every day. But this one somehow caught my fancy. Kind of a nice storyline twist. And I love the almost usurped name. Its the name of a very astute Nigerian Minister, who is engaged in sticking up for her country (and it's neighbors) against the big money, oil, WTO, etc. And, hey, do any of you guys notice the problem we have in Africa with HIV?

So, anyway, I answered. If they write me back, I promise to post. As if I have the time for such foolishness! Of course, if Joe Chop comes through with the cash...

Yours truly,
Beneficiary




Madam Ngozie Iwuala wrote:
> Hello Beneficiary
>
> This is to officially inform you that the INTERNATIONAL MONTARY FUND in conjunction with the European Union, The United States Gorvenment and World Bank for the sole purpose of resolving pending transfer has compensate you with US$1.100,000,00. after the draw through your email. This amount is directed in cash credit to code WUMT/009793576430 at the owner of this email address.
>
> For security reasons your email address was choose to send it instead of your name.The bank made us to know that one Mr David Chop has contact them for the payment of the fund to him as the rightful beneficiary to the fund. Here comes the big question, (DID YOU AUTHORIZED MR DAVID CHOP TO RECEIVE THE MONEY ON YOUR BEHALF WITH THIS ACCOUNT DETAILS IN CHINA?) Account Number 7222111482600000209, Account Name David Chop, Bank Citic Bank, Swift code. ULSBIE2D. IBAN number. IE78ULSB98533083313083.
>
> If yes, advise the Western Union Bank to pay him. But if No, Contact the director Western Union Bank Benin Dr Godwin Uzoma through Email westernunioninfo@netcourrier.com with your full contact information to resolve and reprogram your information and release your fund to you. 1,Your full names -----------, Your present home address ----------------, Your direct phone number ------------------, Your current occupation ----------------, Your Age --------------- and Marital status ----------------.
>
> Contact the western union bank with your code WUMT/009793576430 and your entitlement valid will be release to you. If you did not take any action immediately, in the next couple of days they will release the money to him.
>
> Thanks
> Madam Ngozie Iwuala
>
>
>
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------
> Find the home of your dreams with eircom net property
> Sign up for email alerts now http://www.eircom.net/propertyalerts

Ngozie Iwuala, what a great name!

Almost like Ms. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Minister of Finance from Nigeria. Is that you - just forgot how to spell your name? Hmmm! If that is you, I got to watch you on http://www.imf.org/external/mmedia/view.asp?eventID=193 in the press conference in Dubai five years ago. Fascinating!

It was a while back when they made you Managing Director of the World Bank - congratulations on that! Guess you have had your hands full, cause you havent been in the news much for a year or so. I sure hope everything is alright.

I have always wanted an account with the International Monetary Fund, seems that is the way to go if you travel at all, and it sounds like I might be travelling a lot more in the very near future! Anyway, its great to hear that the IMF is finally getting off their duff (no offense, Madam!) and out of the business of worldwide economic slavery. That was a sordid agenda, imho, and the "new world order" always seemed kinda upside-down to me.

Good to see that theres been some sort of epiphany up there in the big office, and that you are finally just giving the extra dough to poor deserving Americans like me, instead of spending it to insure that the Third World will always work at below subsistence wages for the Bushies and the Rockyfellers of the world. Just curious, what made you change? You guys had a pretty tight racket there for a while, why give it up? Or did you get orders from Obama? I bet that's it, Barrach made you do it. Good for him! Ill send him a check, once you make my deposit. Tell him its in the mail.

I only mention these things because you sound like you have similar political views to mine, coming from the first democracy in Africa. It IS heartening to know there are people with your keen understanding in government in Africa, since there seems to be a deficit of such people in my government. Weird that you forgot how to spell your name...

Meanwhile, I digress. To answer your question:

David Chop? I have never heard of this guy! I am guessing he is one bad dude - cut him OFF! Or else tell him that he can collect as long as he brings half to me, in cash. Actually, that would be ideal. Then I would not have to bother with all the pesky tax stuff! If you are in touch with him, tell him the party is over - I am onto his dirty tricks, but that I think he sounds like a resourceful character and I would like to reward him - make him an offer he cant refuse. He should email me right away.

By the way, do you know the singer Bola Abimbola? Hes from Nigeria too, and I played in his band for a while.

I remain at your service,
Benificiary (the owner of this email address.)