Nigerian Scam: “The bussness magnet” variant
Posted April 21st, 2008 by Murray @ ulblog
Filed under: Email Scams, False
Tags: 419 scam, email, email scam, nigerian scam, scam, variant
Okay, so maybe I’m a little odd, but for some reason I can’t help thinking it’s going to be a good day when I discover that someone has forwarded a new variant of an urban legend or superstition or scam email to me.
So, oh yes, imagine my excitement when I discovered two new variants in my inbox this morning! [1]
Both are courtesy of Barry Williams, Lord Imperial Ruler Of The Australian Skeptics [2] and writer of the excellently skeptical Barry Williams Blog.
As Barry points out in his original email about the “bussness magnet” specimen:
Yet another one, but I did like this bit:
INTRODUCTION: I am celine boba 21years old and the only daughter of my late parents Chief and Mrs. Andani boba My father was a highly reputable busnness magnet-(a Cocoa Merchant) who operated in the capital of Ivory Coast-Cote d’Ivoire during his days.
While the full email is typically riddled with translation errors, there really is something charming about the idea of a “business magnet”, as opposed to a “business magnate”, which is the idea I suspect the writer was attempting to convey.
I love the image of a business person trying to walk down the street, struggling along because bank managers and real estate developers and investment brokers are stuck all over him or her due to the horrible effects of business magnetism! Arrggh! NoooOOoo!
The rest of the email is pretty much what you’d expect from a Nigerian Scam — sudden death, buckets of money, a need for someone ‘abroad’ [3] to help with various transactions, please send your details and so on.
And now for the complete email itself:
From: celine boba celine_bob9@yahoo.ca
Date: 16 April 2008 2:50:28 PM
To: celine_bob9@yahoo.ca
Subject: Dear Faithful,
Reply-To: celine.bobba@yahoo.fr
Dear Faithful,
Good a thing to write you. I have a proposal for you-this however is not mandatory nor will I in any manner compel you to honour against your will. I know this proposal will come to you as a surprise because we have not met before either physically or through correspondence. I believe is the wish of God.
INTRODUCTION: I am celine boba 21years old and the only daughter of my late parents Chief and Mrs. Andani boba My father was a highly reputable busnness magnet-(a Cocoa Merchant) who operated in the capital of Ivory Coast-Cote d’Ivoire during his days.
It is sad to say that he passed away mysteriously in France during one of his business trips abroad on the 12th. Febuary 2002. Though his sudden death was linked or rather suspected to have been masterminded by an uncle of his who travelled along with him at that time.
But God knows the truth! My mother died when I was just 4years old, and since then my father took me so special. Before his death 12/2/ 2002 he called the secretary who accompanied him to the hospital and told her that he has a private letter for me in my wardrope and his about his deposit, but he never told the lady about the money, instead he said family asset and it was when i got the note i discovered it was all about his money at the sum of Sixteen Million, Seven Hundred Thousand United State Dollars.(USD$16.700,000.00) which he deposited as a family asset with a security trust company.
He further told the pastor of the church where he use to worship that he had deposited a family valuables with a security trust company and it is in my name as his only hair apparant in a written note and also to the security company as well. Though, he never disclose to anybody about the content as money; but make this clear in a private note and kept it in my possession that the content is money so that I can be careful and wise in handling the claim, so he said.
I am just 21years old and a university undergraduate and really don’t know what to do. Now I can not lay my hands on the fund because he left an instruction with the Security Company that the Consignment will only be moved abroad upon my provision of foreign partner. Who will take delivery of the Consignment (1 Trunk Box) on my behalf. This is because I have suffered a lot of set backs as a result of incessant political crisis here in Ivory coast.
The death of my father actually brought sorrow to my life. My Dear, I am in a sincere desire of your humble assistance in this regards. Your suggestions and ideas will be highly regarded. Now permit me to ask these few questions:-
- Can you honestly help me?
- Can I completely trust you?
- What percentage of the total amount in question will be good for you after the money is in your account?
I want to use this opportunity to assure you of your security on this transaction now and in future. The transaction is 100% risk free. Provided you can give us a very strong assurance and guarantee that my share will be secured. Please remember to treat this matter as very confidential.
Please, Consider this and get back to me as soon as possible.
May the almighty God bless you,
Yours faithfully. celine boba
What a brilliant variant! Many thanks to Barry for sending it through. I’ll post his other specimen a little later in the week.
Until then, much warmth!
Murray By Moonlight
Footnotes:
| 1. | I didn’t actually jump up and down and clap my hands, if that’s what you’re imagining, but I definitely did smile and also possibly did rub my hands together and say, “Aha! The game’s afoot!”, or something equally silly. |
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| 2. | I think his official title is “Executive Officer”, but I like my version better. |
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| 3. | That’s you, in case you’re not paying attention. |
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