incidents

This page illustrates aspects of the 'Nigerian Advance Fee' or '419' scam.

It covers -

• unbeatable offers ... or simply unbelievable
• it's a miracle
• dead souls

     unbeatable offers

Some of the unbeatable offers we have received over the past two years include messages from -

Joseph Kwabenna, Director of Ghana Commercial Bank (US$35m)

Michael Owusu, supposed manager of the International Commercial Bank Ghana, variously offering an embezzled US$1.8m ("a noble transfer"), US$12.5m deposited by Concorde crash victim Andreas Schranner and US$17m from a car crash victim. His 'widow' Doris has US$9.5m; Kofi Owusu has a mere US$3.5m but sister Atu in the same bank has US$35m from Mr Schranner. Ahmed Owusu, in the same job as Michael, has $17.5m from Schranner and US$12.5 and US$3m from car crash victims, along with US$2.55m from an "accounting error". Patrick Mankou in Benin has US$12m from Schranner. Mark Stephens has US$250m. Victor Hadida has US$26m. Arthur Barnes has US$26.5m. Dr Brown Smith has US$30m. Peter Wagner has US$18m; Susan Long has US$36m ...

Mariam Abacha, widow of the late Nigerian President - "I have been thrown into a state of utter confusion, frustration and hopelessness by the present civilian administration" - variously offers US$60m, US$32m, US$30m and US$35.3m out what she boasts is US$900m (or US$450m or US$700m, depending on the phase of the moon) not yet recovered by the government

Maryam Abacha, widow of ditto (variously US$50m, US$35m, US$53m, US$14.7m, £12m)

Williams Sani, agent for Mariam Abacha (US$35.8m), lamenting that the Abacha family "has been loosing [sic] a lot of money as a result of greedy government officials who are bent on dealing with the family" ... rather than merely bent.

Alhaji Mohammed Abacha, son of the President has US$64m or US425m. Elsewhere he wants to invest US$100m. Abacha lawyer Philips Ajay has US$75m.

Suha Arafat, widow of former PLO leader Yasser Arafat, has been "thrown into a state of antagonism, confusion, humiliation, frustration and hopelessness" - presumably because she can't decide whether she has US$12m, US$21m or US$117m

Jessica Savimbi, widow of General Jonas Malheiro Savimbi, is looking for a "Foriegn Bussiness Partner" to help her spend US$5.5m in her "suspence account"

Sgt. Michael Terry, of US 1st Armored Division in Iraq (US$12m in unmarked notes from Saddam Hussein). Ghanian customs official Alhaji Malam Yakubu has intercepted "two (2) gigantic trunk boxes" from Saddam - "it was more like a dream". Ibrahim Sabawi Hassan escaped to Thailand with US$16m from Saddam but, oops, then lost his family in the tsunami

Jeffery Ogbodoswo, son of chair of Liberian Gold & Diamond Mining Co (US$15.3m)

Mary Kabila, widow of President-for-Life Kabila, has US$2.7m, son George has US$27m and Mary Kabila, only daughter of late Laurent Kabila has US$24.5m "Let me quickly assure you that this transaction is 100% risk free"

Zakharov Serguei, aide to Mikhail Khodorkovsky (US$423m). Khoren Pnjoyan, Khodorkovsky's "Personal/ Corporate Legal Adviser", has a mere US$45M

Elizabeth Witt, with US$45.5m from the Liberian Embassy in Zambia, wants an organisation or individual to dispose of her supposed loot on "orphanages, widows, propagating the word of God and to endeavour that the House of God is fully maintained". As she is writing from her death bed wouldn't be simpler to just hand the money back? Caroline Solange Haafkens has the same aims for her US$8.6m

Mrs Jeanmary Mombo, ailing widow of Archdeacon Johnson Mombo of Cote d'Ivoire, with US$3.5m for "orphanages, helping the widows, propagating the word of God and to endeavor that the house of God is maintained"

ailing widow Elizabeth Bine of the Solomon Islands has US$5m in a Cote d'Ivoire bank for "an orgarnisation or a reliable person that will use this fund for orphanages, widows, propagating the service of humanity and to endeavor that the less privilleged homes is maintained". Her sister Elizabeth Mbine, also ailing, has the same US$5m.

David Ajilo, accountant with South African Department of Minerals & Energy (US$26.5m)

Adamu Yazid, Managing Director of Prudent Bank, Nigeria, with US$10m from tsunami victim Haryanto Tomo. He had earlier found US$150m while Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Nigerian Central Bank

Robert Bada, the "personal assistance" to former Liberian President Charles Taylor (US$183m). He'd previously found US$25m

Benedictus Kadzamira-Banda, son of former Malawi president Hastings Banda (US$37m)

Patrick Berger of unnamed Swiss bank, (US$21m of funds from dormant accounts created by Holocaust victims)

Rosy Porter, Bank of Bermuda official, with a mere US$62.7m from a 2005 Tsunami victim

Mohammed Ubah, financial consultant of Senegal (US$35m)

Robert Ford, ex-Zimbabwean farmer with US$18.4m in Spain ("I wouldn't want to take a risk because this funds is all that I and my mother is depending upon for the rest of our lives. We want to be prudent with these funds" ... so prudent that he approaches total strangers

Patrick Otofe, proclaiming "though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool", offers a share of US$2.5m from the estate of an aircrash victim. He was converted to the path of righteousness by Rev Benny Hinn, just like Zola Maxwell (with US$5m)

Mrs Noye Ibekwe, Nigerian widow seeking to preserve US$25m from "wicked relatives" after "loving, caring and hard working businessman died unfortunately in a ghastly auto crash" - presumably better than being stomped by a hippo or devoured by a crocodile

James Moyo, Zimbabwean farmer, whose dad kindly left him US$18.5m "in a metal box with a private security company here in Johannesburg". The metal box presumably also contains a packet of magic beans and the recipe for Coca-Cola. Fosta Bongani - writing with "due respect and heartful of tears" - has US$14.6m from dad in his metal box in Johannesburg, Michael Ndlovu Matongo has US$8.5m

Anita Dankata of the Ivory Coast has US$9.5m in another box. She reports that "The death of my father actually brought sorrow to my life" and asks "1. Can you honestly help me? 2. Can I completely trust you?". Can she indeed?

Chief Tafa Balogun, former Inspector-General of the Nigeria Police Force, wanting to launder US$50m. "Please keep this very confidential; we can't afford any more political problems/scandal!" The Nigerian EFCC announced in July 2005 that it had recovered Naira17.7bn from Balogun. His sone Tunde offers you a cut of his US$12m

Maryann Ngoga, supposedly an 18 year old Liberian refugee in Senegal, has US$20.5m looking for a good home. Indeed, she wants to move into your home "if you are God fearing and honest" and get the nod from "the Reverend Father who is our refugee camp coordinator".

Ano Wayas, chair of the contract award committee of the South African Gold & Natural Resources Ministry has US$28.6m. Just around the corner "Chief Dr. Thomas Nelson" of the South African Department of Mining & Natural Resources has US$45.5m and Chief Dr Perry T Nelson has either US$45m or US$45.5m. Dr Bode Lawrence of the Nigerian Ministry of Mining & Resources has US$30.5m from a Bulgarian contract. Funde Bogani of the SA Department of Minerals & Energy has US$21.7m for you to invest, lamenting that a few years ago he - o horror - was ripped off to the tune of US$21.43m

Miss Nancy Koruma of Sierre Leone has a more diverse portfolio: 500 kilos of gold dust, 1,900 carats of diamonds and US$11m cash. Another letter - with the usual "due respect and heartful of tears" - is more confused: she's only got the gold dust and now describes herself as "Miss nancy koruma, the first son [sic] of col. mathew koruma"

Hironobu Saito, supposed younger brother to the very versatile but unfortunate Saito Akihiko, "a diplomat, a former member of the French Foreign Legion who worked for a British security firm, and an oil contractor" who was "awarded a contract by ADNOC for the supply of oil drilling equipment on January 2004. He executed this contract successfully but during the period of payment he ran into a serious problem with The Ansar al-Sunnah Army". Bad luck seems to run in the Saito family: his baby brother is now rich beyond the dreams of avarice but, alas, is "currently undergoing serious treatment over cases of chronic gastritis, lungs cancer and currently I am in a critical state in the hospital".

Barrister Samuel Uzor was Personal Attorney to Mark Williams, who - with his wife and their only son - was "involved in a car accident along Accra / Kumasi express road" on 21 April 2002, leaving US$21 million. Another Uzor client was Mark Ramdas, who just happened to experience a dreadful car accident (with wife and their only son) on the very same day on the Accra/Kumasi express road. He left US$28.3m. Uzor represented Morris Thomson - miraculously recovered from his multiple deaths in the Alaska Airline crash? - who also expired on the same road at the same time, leaving US$23.5m

     it's a miracle

Taking note of the offers in your inbox (or merely googling to see offers made to other people) shows that some spammers have miraculous powers. Others are merely forgetful about their names or how much loot they have discovered.

Mrs Joy Anu, a born-again Christian afflicted with cancer and a stroke, has cleverly managed to be simultaneously married to two diplomats of two African states in different cities at the same time. Praise the lawd and pass the contribution?

She is the widow of "Dr Kazeem Anu, who worked with Kuwait embassy in Nigeria for nine years before he died in the year 2003. We were married for eleven years without a child". The late Dr Anu supposedly left her US$12m. Dr Waziri Anu "worked with Kuwait Embassy here in Cotonou, Republic of Benin for nine years before he died in the year 2001. We were married for eleven years without a child". He left her US$19.6m.

Perhaps she is related to Ben Smith, who manages to have the same address in Cotonou while holding positions in Nigeria, Mauritius and Benin that have allowed him to offer US$30.3m, US$50m and US$12.5m. Benard Smith - "a top government officials with the ministry finance on public accounts" in Mauritius - has trouble spelling but can put his paws on US$55m.

Mrs Theophilus Uwaoma - whose husband rests in the bosom of Christ - variously has US$9m, US$25m, US$8m or US$15m for worthy causes. Her confusion about the amount is understandable, considering that her husband managed to die in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2005.

Louisa Estrada, wife of former Philippines President, has US$21.5m - "all modalities are put in place and it is a risk free transaction. I'm trusting you as a God fearing person who will not sit on my life saving fund". As Loi C Estrada she has US$30m after her husband faces "the mysterious charge of plunder which might lead to death sentence". Mrs Luisa Pimentel Estrada has US$37m - "our telephone lines have been bugged. For this reason, telephone conversation will not be an ideal means of communication".

Larry Moore, ailing Bulgarian merchant resident in Dubai, offers to share US$4.2m. He is also an ailing English merchant in Dubai with US$28.5m, Larry Moore in London with US$7m and as Sir Larry Moore of Dubai has US$12m.

The late Mr Cosban variously left US$112m, US$30m, US$18m in "a reputable bank" after he died "from an automobile accident with his entire family" in 1999, 1998 and 2000.

Richard Kofi Addo, Regional Manager of the Takoradi branch of Barclays Bank of Ghana, indicated in 2005 that he was 52 years old and had discovered an unclaimed US$28.85m. Six months later he was only 42 years old - perhaps he'd been using miracle anti-aging cures that he'd found via spam - and had US$55.02m.

Tom Munir was supposedly killed by a car bomb on 14 September 2004 and again on 14 April and 20 April 2005, each time leaving US$13m.

Barrister Paschal Welsh of Brompton Chambers wants to unload US$7.5m from the estate of the late Dr Paul Jeff Carpenter. So does the dyslexic barrister Frank C Williams of Jones & Shanley Solicitors. Dean Smith, at another address used by Welsh, has US$20m.

Roslin Nuhan, only daughter of former Liberian supremo Issac Nuhan Vaye, has US$5.2m. Faith Nuhan has US$15m. Rita Nuhan (also an only daughter) has US$5.5m. Christopher Nuhan has US$21.5m. Suzana Nuhan has US$21m; as Suzana Nuhan Vaye she has US$21.5m plus "large quantities of diamonds". The dyslexic Mathew Nuhan has US$4.7m

     dead souls

Scammers can play a contemporary version of dead souls, with a reuse of names and bodies in a way that would make Zelig blush.

John Jasper of ABSA Bank for example offers US$15.5m from Gerald Welsh, who supposedly died in an Alaska Airlines crash. Lawyer Larry Wood offers US$5.34m from Welsh, who was clever enough to also die in Egyptian Airlines Flight 990. David Brimley has US$12.5m from that crash. Tom Smith has US$15m, Owen Kings has US$19.5m, Alex Cole has US$15m and US$9m, Jake Williams has US$27.9m, Fadiga Ndiaye has US$9m, Kofi Mensa has US$45.5m, James Robert has US$12.6m, John Stevens of the South African Reserve Bank has US$20.5m, Julius Ojeh Iwegbu has US$25m, grieving daughter Princess Evans G Welsh has US$45.8m, Oboh Thompson has US$53m, Charles Vernon has US$10.34m, Micheal Ipenza has US$12m. Vincent Price has £5.5m from Selah Adams of the 990 crash.

Louis Akintola has US$29.5m from the same Welsh, who expired in a car accident. Stanly Welsh - "I must confess my agitation is real, and my words is my bond" - has a mere US$7m. Rose Welsh has £10m "for the down trodden and the less privileged in the society", having been guided to your email address through "divine word of wisdom from above ... because you are blessed and you have been chosen to do mighty works for the Almighty". Will John has US$5m from Gerald Welsh, expiring in the "earthquake and tsunami-ravaged Indonesian province of Aceh". Ben Tony of Togo appears to have the same US$5m, as does Eric James of HSBC. James has US$7m from Paschal Welsh, apparently reborn at Brompton Chambers in time to offer a share in Paul Jeff Carpenter's estate.

We recurrently encounter other supposed unbeatable offers from the estates of victims of the Alaska Airlines Flight 261 crash.

For Morris Thompson these include

Alex Camara of UBS (US$20.5m)
James Smith at Barclays (US$50m)
Cheung Pui of Hang Seng Bank (US$24m and £5m)
Johnson Adotey of Ghana Bank (US$12.5m)
Paul Megene (US$14.5m)
Paule Megene (US$27m)
Franklin Edom (US$5m)
Stephen Abban (US$12.5m)
Dr David Foffi of Banque Internationale Pour L'Afrique (US$15m)
Rev John Padila (£20m)
Preston Udongo of Fidelity Bank (US$10.5m)
Dr Martins Ali of African Union Development Bank (US$15m)
Vincent Ada of African Development Banque Lome-Togo (US$14.5m)
Mustapha Saleh Eldeen of National Bank of Abu-Dhabi (US$45.5m). His cousin Mustapha Saleh Al Eldeen has only US$25m)
Akeem Williams of Eco Bank, Benin (US$8.3m)
John Ugo of Lagoon International Bank (US$5.5m)
Nuel Thomas of HSBC Bank (US$19.5m)
Tunde Fowler of Chartered Bank (US$13m)
Professor Charles Soludo of the Central Bank Of Nigeria (US$17.5m). Two months later the offer was up to US$95m
Dr Rufus Goodman of Union Bank (US$22.6m). His colleague Osusu Donard offers US$5.62m
William Abafe of Citibank (US$19.5m)
Ben Kalu of Standard Chartered Bank (US$19.5m). Kalu moonlights at HSBC, where he's found US$8.5m
Dandy Nwevo of Togo (US$6.7m)
Thomas Graham of HSBC Bank (US$20.5m)
Mr Jonaly of Merit Bank (US$20m)
Henshaw Wilson of Natwest (US$22.5m)
Henschaw Wilson of Natwest (variously US$17m, US$11m and US$22.5m)

For Peggy Stockley

William Oboh of Fidelity Trust (US$17.5m)
William Oboh of HSBC (US$11m)
Kezia Thomas of Chartered Bank (US$15m)

James Smith, apparently a bit confused, offered US$20.5m from Thompson Morris. Jackson Jafah has US$16.5m from Morris.

Ansar J Mensah offers US$5m from his late father, a cocoa merchant of Accra. Ansar Mensah Jr variously has US$21.5m, US$25.1m and US$10m from his late father, who managed to die from liver cancer in 2002, 2003 and 2004. His sister has US$15m.

Wang Qin of Hang Seng Bank has US$20.5m from Iraqi General Ibrahim Moussa. Cheung Pui of a different branch of the same bank has US$24.5m. Darlington Abino (same bank, different branch) has US$20.5m, as does his colleague Beij Khan. Barrister Claire Cassar of Malta has US$20.5m (which would presumably surprise the real Claire Cassar, a noted telecommunications lawyer). So does Smith Turner of Barclays bank and Juan Antonio Blanco of the Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria.

Sarah Yusuf, widow of the "Sheik Mohammed Yusuf" is 62 years old, suffering from cancer of the breast and wants to dispose of US$10m to worthy causes. Her late husband was

killed during a civil unrest by muslim fanatics in the nothern Nigeria. We had a son who was also killed in a cold blood during the unrest.

The age of miracles is not past, because she was simultaneously married to

Mr.Abd al-Qaadir Yusuf, a saudi arabian based business man in Nigeria ... It's a sorrowful thing to say that he died in a fatal motor accident alongside with our only son on the 19th of may 2004, while cominig back from a business meeting. (God knows best).

He left her US$10.5m but, alas, she was recently "diagonised of liver cancer" (apparently not a problem, because "My soul has found a resting place in the handsome bossom of the lord").

     next page  (orphans and tsunamis)