Generals from Nigeria & Priests from Siberia

[Lois Gilbert]

I think we should take a poll - which is the better scam


Subj: Greets you from Siberia a family of orthodox priest Pivovarov Vladimir Aleksandrovish!
Date: 3/30/2003 1:53:26 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: syqhkxa@scams

Dear sirs and ladies!
Greets you from Siberia a family of orthodox priest Pivovarov Vladimir Aleksandrovish.
I ask you to send us old children's things (which you already want to throw out in a garbage basket): clothes, footwear, and, also, products of a feed(meal), other household things.
I have the large hope, that this letter will be answered by(with) the kind people. If you do not have children (there are no old children's things), send, please, this letter to yours familiar, which can render us the help.

The monthly budget of our family of 6 thousand roubles (190 dollars). In Russia it is the good income for two men (official minimum for life). But in our family eight men. The Russian standard of poverty for family from eight men - 24 thousand roubles per one month (800 dollars).

To all superfluous for our family of a thing we shall distribute by a beggar through our temple.
Let there will be with you a God.
Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Our address:
Priest (Rev.) Pivovarov Vladimir Aleksandrovish
654034, Kemerovskaya obl., Novokuznetsk, Sovetskaya pl.,1. The Transfiguration cathedral (Spaso-Preobrazenski sobor).
Russia.

scams@nvkz.kuzbass.net
http://ortho-chorus.narod.ru/sps_e.htm (NEW)



BANK OF MOSCOW ,
LENINA, 41 ,
NOVOKUZNETSK , 654034 ,
(7 ) (384) 3370530 .

Funds sent for
Vladimir Aleksandrovish Pivovarov
NOVOKUZNETSK, Russia
I can receive your gift, if I know about translation of money the following data:

Your Money Transfer Control Number [MTCN] is:
Date of Order:
Amount Sent:
Sender (Name and post address):

Probably, it will be more convenient to you to transfer a gift to the account in the American or European currency:

My bank account USD currency:
Bank of beneficiary: Novokuznetsk Branch of Bank of Moscow, account: 30301840400000000045 with the Bank of Moscow, (Moscow),
SWIFT Code MOSWRUMM, account 400 920 190 with The CHASE MANHATTAN BANK New York, SWIFT Code CHAS US 33;
Funds sent for
Vladimir Aleksandrovish Pivovarov,
passport 32 02 762802 (September 27 2002), account 42301840700450012663.

My bank account European currency:
Bank of beneficiary: Novokuznetsk Branch of Bank of Moscow, account: 30301978000000000045 with the Bank of Moscow, (Moscow),
SWIFT Code MOSWRUMM, cor.account 499/08124139/00/888 with DRESDNER BANK AG, Frankfurt/Mein, SWIFT Code DRES DE FF;
Funds sent for
Vladimir Aleksandrovish Pivovarov,
passport 32 02 762802 (September 27 2002), account 42301978500450012670.

My family has hope, that this letter will not die on your computer, and will be transferred " from hands in hands " on electronic mail.


OR

Subj: Info
Date: 3/23/2003 7:01:52 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: rtommy@anfmail.com
To: rtommy@anfmail.com
Sent from the Internet (Details)

__________________________________________

RAPHAEL TOMMY & CO
SOLICITOR/ADVOCATE, SENIOR ADVOCATE OF NIGERIA (SAN)
TEL/FAX: 234-1-7593796
EMAIL: rtommy@scams
Date: 23-03-03

DEAR SIR,

RE: URGENT BUSINESS ASSISTANCE


I am Barrister Raphael Tommy, a member of Nigeria Bar Association
(NBA). Your contact reached me through the World Business
Encyclopedia. Hence, I made up my mind to introduce this business to
you in confidence for the mutual benefit of both of us.

The sum of USD45M (Forty five Million United States) was lodged into
a security company here in the Country by the late Head of State
(GEN.SANI ABACHA) for safekeeping. This money was lodged in security
Vaults / boxes and labeled as personal belongings and as such
the security company does not know the true content of the boxes. This
Money was originally meant to be used for his political campaign.
Because I was his family Attorney as such he confided in me with the
relevant document papers relating to this deposit before he died of
cardiac arrest.

As a matter of fact we have concluded all arrangement with an offshore
Security Company to move this money as a consignment through diplomatic
means to their offshore affiliated office where you will be required to
put claim to the consignment as the bonafide beneficiary of the
consignment. You should know that this business is safety and 100%
risk-free as it does not involve drug money or Terrorist fund.

If you are interested to carry out this transaction with me, 20% will
be for you for your assistance, 5% for general expenses, and 75% for
us. You are required to send by e-mail immediately your Full name and
Address, which I will use to draft an agreement that will guide and
Protect both of us in this transaction also, which will be used to
Effect the change of ownership of the consignment to your name as the
Beneficiary of the consignment.

Also send me your Telephone and Fax numbers for easy communication.

Once you notify me your willingness by sending the above
Requirement. This transaction will be concluded within 7
(Seven) working days.

I will be waiting for your urgent reply. You can reach me on my fax:
234-1-7593796 or my alternative E-mail: rtommy@scams.com


Yours Faithfully,

Barrister Raphael Tommy (SAN)

[Dennis Gonzalez]

Lois, I'm afraid that some of our JC colleagues may decide to help the Siberian priest...is there any way you can cover up the e-mail and electronic funds transfer info? I think there will be someone who will not understand the word "scam". It happens every day to people we know.

PS - the name of the priest "Pivovarov" I think, means something like "beer drinker".

[RainyDay]

I vote for the Nigerians. Better grammar.

[Dr Dave]

Easy, Dennis! People foolish enough to respond to this kind of stuff have probably already been separated from their cash.

I, too, prefer the Nigerian version, because it maintains its tone of official authority throughout. Even the dimmest of dim-bulbs has to wonder how this poor peasant ekeing out a living on the Steppes has all these bank accounts.

[Sergio Zamora]

Nigeria is better written, but it goes for broke - it's big-time long con - we're talking millions. That alone should be enough to shy most people away. Also, it works on your greed, and when you're blinded by greed it's easier to sucker you. Because the stakes are so much higher, you don't need to find as many suckers. But the same scale also makes it more risky in terms of getting caught.

Siberia is poorly written, but it works on exactly the opposite emotion than Nigeria - it works on your desire to want to do good. The damned thing is brimming with pathos. It's possible that is' just a setup job for a longer con, but I doubt it. Of course, the aforementioned logic of a poor Siberian peasant having access to the internet shatters is completely, but let's face it - anyone with the modicum of intelligence necessary to make such a deduction is obviously not the target audience.

My vote goes to Siberia, though it would improve tremendously if they did a bit more editing and they sharpened their con a bit more - like explaining how this poor Siberian guy got his letter on the internet.

[Jazzooo]

"Your contact reached me through the World Business
Encyclopedia. "

Right there, my alarms go off--I'm not about to split my 20% with my contact, dammit!

Wait...I don't HAVE a contact.

[Lois Gilbert]

What's really funny is the Siberain came to Ron Jackson@jazzcorner.com - Ron is one our JC residents: Ron Jackson (http://ronjackson.com)


The nigerian one or versions thereof, are listed somewhere on the net as the greatest internet scams. The priest one is scarey cause you think of these hungry children running around in the cold of Siberia with no shoes.... HOWEVER, it's facinating that neither of them have an email address associated with the country I think it .ni and .ru

Hotmail in Nigeria and Siberia....

PS Dennis I'll do as you suggest

Hold up - isn't kuzbass.net a bass site.... just kuz... couldn't resist

[Douglas]

The last Nigerian scam I got was from one Mrs. Abacha. Yeah right, it is very likely my name was in that dictator's address book.

Dennis is on the money, pivovar is Russian for brewery.

[Chris A]

Received this today. At first I thought it was a message from the DEEP...

FROM: BARRISTER BENSON OLOYE
LEGAL PRACTITIONER.
NIGERIA

COMPLIMENTS OF THE SEASON. GRACE AND PEACE ANDLOVE FROM THIS PART OF THE ATLANTIC TO YOU. I HOPE MY LETTER DOES NOT CAUSEYOU TOO MUCH EMBARRASSMENT AS I WRITE TO YOU IN GOOD FAITH. BASED ON THECONTACT ADDRESS GIVEN TO ME BY A FRIEND WHO WORKS AT THE NIGERIAN EMBASSY IN YOUR COUNTRY. PLEASE EXCUSE MY INTRUSION INTO YOUR PRIVATE LIFE.

I AM BARRISTER BENSON OLOYE, 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 , 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$75,000,000.00 ( SEVENTYFIVE 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 NOMINATEDBANK 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 US$25,000,000.00( TWENTY FIVE 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.

ENDEAVOUR TO RESPOND THROUGH THIS MY CONFIDENTIAL EMAIL ADDRESS:

bensonoloye@rediffmail.com

I LOOK FORWARDS TO WORKING WITH YOU.

THANK YOU.

TRULY YOURS

BARRISTER BENSON OLOYE

[Brian Olewnick]

Mmmm.....necessary modalities.....

[patricia]

I have received the Nigerian one, but have yet to get the Siberian one.
Thank goodness I have no money or I'd be splitting it and sending some to both. ;)

I'm not amazed that it works and is making money for these gomers. After all, people send tons of money to TV Evangelists.

The difference here, that I can see, is that it plays on our greed and naivite, a safe bet these days.