Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking: Consumer Alert - Email Scams
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Email Scam Alert
 
Should you receive a form of the below emails, it is probably a scam. DISB recommends 1) not responding, 2) reporting it through FTC's online complaint form, and then 3) deleting it.


From: Linda Okoba [SMTP:linkoba_2002@yahoo.com]

Subject: ASSISTANCE

ATTN : The president

Mrs Linda OKOBA
Abidjan- Côte d'Ivoire

Dear sir,

It is a pleasure to acquaint you with this proposal for the purpose of investment in your company. I am the wife of late king PAUL OKOBA whom was a personal confidant to the arrested war-lord (Mr FODAY SANKOH of SIERRA-LEONE) before the arrest of Mr FODAY SANKOH, my late husband left SIERRA-LEONNE with one big trunk box, which contain the total sum of USD $28,7 m (twenty eight million seven hundred thousand dollars) and one big trunk box of alluvial gold dust 1 ton 240 kg of 24 karat to Abidjan Côte d'Ivoire and deposited this consignment at a private security company here in Abidjan.

Unfortunately he died in the heat of the crisis, when Mr FODAY SANKOH was about to be arrested, I am presently here in Abidjan with my son AKEEM OKOBA SEEKING FOR A RELIABLE and trust worthy individual or company to transfer this said amount of money to his / her account for safe-keeping, until when we eventually leave Abidjan to meet individually in his or her country.

Base on our ignorance of the business world, we actually need your assistance hoping that you are honest and trust worthy to render your assistance. Your efforts in assisting us would not be underestimated, we will offer you 20% of the total sum of USD $28,7 m and 5% interest for any expenses spent at the time of this transaction.

Please as soon as you receive this message, you should endeavour to send me a message through my e-mail box

For more detail and clarification hoping for your immediate respond. God Bless you

Thanks
Best regards

Mrs. Linda OKOBA (HRH)

Note:

a)to move this funds out of this country, this are the necessary things needed, your bank account including the bank telephone and the fax , telex numbers.
b) Your private telephone and fax number for confidential communication.
c) Your company name and your resident address.


From: assan200 [mailto:assan200@voila.fr]

Subject: RESPOND ASAP

Dear Sir,

Let me first apologise to you for any mbarrassment this mail might cause you. I am DR ASSAN BELLO , a cousin to the Vice Presidentof the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alhaji Atiku) and Executive Director of SADIQ PETROLUEM LTD.I have decided to contact you for this business proposal based on the mutual understanding I know that can exist between us, having known that people of your Country are trustworthy.

Since May 1999 when the new Government came to power,large sums of money have been recovered from our past military leaders who siphoned money from Nigeria and deposited it in offshore accounts in Europe,America,Asia and some parts of Africa, for their own selfish benefits. This happened during the military regime,Now we are under a democratically elected government. This fund was among the money recovered and seized by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Hence, my elder cousin (Alhaji Atiku Abubakar) the Vice-President of Nigeria is in charge of all off-shore accounts seized and retrieved from our past military leaders.Therefore, we urged you to assist us provide a very vital offshore account, where the sum of US$25,000,000.00 (Twenty Five Million) US Dollars will be transferred for safe keeping.

Presently, this money is in a foreign Country I cannot mention now.Please note that other information will be detailed to you on the receipt of your reply. My elder cousin and I have agreed to give you (the account owner)for this transaction 30% of the total amount remitted while 60%is for me and Cousin Atiku, for the purchase of foreign investments, with your assistance after the money have been disbursed, while 10% is for expenses both of us will incur.

Note, I have been mandated by my elder cousin to handle this deal with you, due to his position in the Nigerian Government as the second citizen. Therefore, if my proposal satisfies you, kindly contact me via my e-mail address and enclose your phone and fax numbers for urgent confidential discussion.Your letter of acceptance indicating your personal telephone and fax numbers to enable us move ahead.

Besides, this transaction is risk-free and hoped to last 7 (seven) banking days upon my elder cousin Alhaji Atiku Abubakar's authorisation.I thank you for your expected co-operation.

God Bless you.Best Regards.

ASSAN BELLO


 

From: Mustapha Muhammed [mailto:musta_mm1@cheerful.com]

Subject: Urgent Business Proposal

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL

SIR,

WE ARE SENDING THIS LETTER TO YOU BASED ON THE INFORMATION WE GATHERED FROM THE FOREIGN TRADE LISTINGS IN THE OFFICE OF THE NIGERIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY. WE BELIEVE THAT YOU WOULD BE IN A GOOD POSITION TO HELPUS IN OUR BID TO TRANSFER THE SUM OF THIRTY MILLION, EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS (US$30.8M) INTO A FOREIGN ACCOUNT. WE ARE MEMBERS OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE FOR BUDGET AND PLANNING OF THE NIGERIA NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION, THIS COMMITTEE IS PRINCIPALLY CONCERNED WITH CONTRACT APPRAISALS AND APPROVAL IN ORDER OF PRIORITIES AS REGARDS CAPITAL PROJECT OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA.

WITH OUR POSITIONS, WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY SECURED FOR OURSELVES THE SUM OF THIRTY MILLION,EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS (US$30.8M). THIS AMOUNT WAS ACCUMMULATED THROUGH UNDECLARED WINDFALL FROM SALES OF CRUDE OIL DURING THE GULF WAR. WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU IS TO PROVIDE A SAFE ACCOUNT INTO WHICH THE FUNDS WILL BE TRANSFERRED SINCE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ARE NOT ALLOWED BY OUR LAWS TO OPERATE FOREIGN ACCOUNT. IT HAS BEEN AGREED THAT THE OWNER OF THE ACCOUNT WILL BE COMPENSATED WITH 20% OF THE REMITTED FUNDS,WE SHALL KEEP 70% WHILE 10% WILL BE SET ASIDE TO OFFSET ANY EXPENSES INCLUDING TAXES THAT MAY BE INCURRED BY BOTH PARTIES IN THE COURSE OF THE TRANSACTION.

IT MAY INTEREST YOU TO KNOW THAT TWO YEARS AGO A SIMILAR TRANSACTION WAS CARRIED OUT WITH ONE MR. PATRICE MILLER, THE PRESIDENT OF CRAINE INTERNATIONAL TRADING CORPORATION AT NUMBER 135, EAST 57TH STREET, 28TH FLOOR, NEWYORK. 10022 WITH TELEPHONE (212) 308-7788 AND TELEX NUMBER 6731689, AFTER THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN BOTH PARTNERS IN WHICH HE WAS TO TAKE 5% THE MONEY WAS DULY TRANSFERRED INTO HIS ACCOUNT ONLY FOR US TO BE DISAPPOINTED ON OUR ARRIVAL IN NEW YORK AS WE WERE RELIABLY INFORMED THAT MR. PATRICE MILLER WAS NO LONGER ON THAT ADDRESS WHILE HIS TELEPHONE AND TELEX NUMBERS HAVE BEEN REALLOCATED TO SOMEBODY ELSE. THIS WAS HOW WE LOST US$27.5M TO MR. PATRICE MILLER.

THIS TIME AROUND WE NEED A MORE RELIABLE AND TRUSTWORTHY PERSON OR A REPUTABLE COMPANY TO DO BUSINESS WITH, HENCE THIS LETTER TO YOU. SO IF YOU CAN PROVE YOURSELF TO BE TRUSTWORTHY AND INTERESTED IN THIS DEAL THEN WE ARE PREPARED TO DO BUSINESS WITH YOU. WHAT WE WANT FROM YOU IS THE ASSURANCE THAT YOU WILL LET US HAVE OUR SHARE WHEN THIS FUND IS TRANSFERRED INTO YOUR ACCOUNT. IF THIS PROPOSAL SATISFIES YOU, PLEASE E-MAIL YOUR RESPONSE SO THAT WE CAN ADVICE YOU ON THE MODALITIES OF THIS TRANSACTION. ALL MODALITIES OF THE TRANSFER HAVE BEEN WORKED OUT AND ONCE STARTED WILL NOT TAKE MORE THAN 14 WORKING DAYS WITH THE ABSOLUTE COOPERATION OF ALL CONCERNED.

DUE TO THE NATURE OF THIS TRANSACTION , I WOULD LIKE YOU TO CALL ME IMMEDIATELY ON MY PRIVATE LINE: 234-803-3228149. PLEASE KINDLY FORWARD ANY CORRESPONDENCE TO MY PRIVATE E-MAIL ADDRESSES: I AWAIT YOUR URGENT RESPONSE AND CONSIDERATION. THIS TRANSACTION IS 100% SAFE. PLEASE TREAT AS URGENT AND VERY CONFIDENTIAL. GOD BE WITH YOU AS I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR REPLY.

YOURS FAITHFULLY,

AHLAJI MUSTAPHA MUHAMMED.