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Author Topic: Scam Alert
Leo Enticknap
Film God

Posts: 7474
From: Loma Linda, CA
Registered: Jul 2000


 - posted 01-21-2002 03:47 PM      Profile for Leo Enticknap   Author's Homepage   Email Leo Enticknap   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I've just received the following 'offer I can't refuse'...

quote:
From: "DR, BAWA SANI" <bawasani@hotvoice.com>
Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2002 07:29:20
To:ldge@u.genie.co.uk
Subject: (STRICTLY PERSONAL)

INDEPENDENT HOUSE, LAGOS, NIGERIA.

Attention : Dear Friend

We have an immediate business proposal that involves US$ 25, 123,000 (Twenty-Five Million, One Hundred and Twenty-Three Thousand United States Dollar),which we will like to invest under your custody for Investment Purpose in your country, with you as our Expertriate Partner.

Please, do not hesitate to contact me, so as to discuss with you the details of the transaction and the terms and condition of sharing regarding the business.

Your urgent response will be highly appreciated and will swiftly bring us to the commencement of the transaction. We hope to conclude this transaction within 10-12 working days.

Do not forget to contact me on the receipt of this mail on the above e-mail address. And please you have to maintain absolute confidentiality as regards this pending transaction.

I urgently await your response.

Best Regards,

DR, BAWA SANI


Has anyone else had one of these? The reason I ask is that my email address above, which is the one you'll see if you click on 'who?' above my name, is an address I use only for listservs and bulletin boards. I have another one for personal emails, the idea being to maintain one address that won't attract junk mail.

Given that this email refers to a sum in US dollars, it seems to be targeted at Americans. Besides this board, I subscribe to one other US-based listserv: I've checked privately with two other people on it, and they haven't received a message like this. Of the other listservs I subscribe to, one is operated from France and the other in the UK.

So - just curious, does our Nigerian friend seem to be targeting Film-Tech, or have I been singled out for a special privilege?!

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Richard Fowler
Film God

Posts: 2392
From: Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA
Registered: Jun 2001


 - posted 01-21-2002 04:29 PM      Profile for Richard Fowler   Email Richard Fowler   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Ahh we see at least one a week....there is at least three different stories.....they only need a few people a year to fall for it and get fleeced.
I was part of a project 20 years ago in Nigeria in a "white elephant" hotel/convention center/cinema and dealing with some of the local sub-contractors was a very slow and hair raising process.
Richard Fowler
TVP-Theatre & Video Products Inc. www.tvpmiami.com

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John Pytlak
Film God

Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000


 - posted 01-21-2002 04:32 PM      Profile for John Pytlak   Author's Homepage   Email John Pytlak   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I've received several like it in the past, but none recently. I trash them immediately, and never open any attachments. The Kodak firewall also catches quite a few before they get to me, and I just get a notice that they have been rejected for either being spam or containing viruses.

User groups and UseNet Newsgroups provide scammers and spammers plenty of e-mail leads. I prefer being a real person to those on the many groups I participate in, so I avoid using pseudonymns or anonymous e-mail addresses, which unfortunately puts my real name on more unwanted lists.

Scams and spams go with the territory. Just trash them and ignore them.

------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Cell: 716-781-4036 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion


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Randy Stankey
Film God

Posts: 6539
From: Erie, Pennsylvania
Registered: Jun 99


 - posted 01-21-2002 05:18 PM      Profile for Randy Stankey   Email Randy Stankey   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
For especially heinous ones you can forward them to abuse@yourISP. They may ignore it and nothing will happen but if they get enough complaints, or if it is patently illegal (or against the rules of the service) they will eventually take action against the perpetrator. (If they can figure out who it is.)

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Ken Layton
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1452
From: Olympia, Wash. USA
Registered: Sep 1999


 - posted 01-21-2002 06:21 PM      Profile for Ken Layton   Email Ken Layton   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I've seen that email also. It is a scam and the perpetrator should have his nuts cut off!

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Paul G. Thompson
The Weenie Man

Posts: 4718
From: Mount Vernon WA USA
Registered: Nov 2000


 - posted 01-21-2002 07:12 PM      Profile for Paul G. Thompson   Email Paul G. Thompson   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I just delete that stuff when I get it. I don't even bother to open or read it. It might also be full of virus programs.


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Bob Maar
(Maar stands for Maartini)


Posts: 28608
From: New York City & Newport, RI
Registered: Feb 2001


 - posted 01-21-2002 09:29 PM      Profile for Bob Maar   Author's Homepage   Email Bob Maar   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Leo, I received an identical letter signed by the same person early in December. It was sent to the web server at Neumade.com and marked for my attention.

I did not answer, simply tossed in the circular file.

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Leo Enticknap
Film God

Posts: 7474
From: Loma Linda, CA
Registered: Jul 2000


 - posted 01-22-2002 10:03 AM      Profile for Leo Enticknap   Author's Homepage   Email Leo Enticknap   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Unlike virus writers, who sometimes program their viruses to forge the message header to an address which does not exist, I would have thought that it should be theoretically straightforward to catch this guy. The email address he gives has to be 'live' or else he'd have no way of making contact with potential victims. Of course ISPs in Nigeria might not be too fussed about checking the bona fides of people they sell e-mail accounts to, but even so it should be possible to trace the dial-in.

What all this suggests is that this criminal knows for certain that no-one can be bothered to catch him. And that he lives in the bit of Nigeria which has not adopted Sharia law, or else someone would have taken up Ken's suggestion by now!

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Adam Martin
I'm not even gonna point out the irony.

Posts: 3686
From: Dallas, TX
Registered: Nov 2000


 - posted 01-22-2002 10:49 AM      Profile for Adam Martin   Author's Homepage   Email Adam Martin       Edit/Delete Post 
Hotvoice is a Hotmail-type of free email service based out of New Jersey. If you consider his message to be spam or junk mail, then he is in violation of the terms of service for that site and should forward the message to postmaster@hotvoice.com .


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Jerry Chase
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1068
From: Margate, FL, USA
Registered: Nov 2000


 - posted 01-22-2002 11:43 AM      Profile for Jerry Chase   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
If you want to learn more about this scam that will be around for a long time, look here.

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Leo Enticknap
Film God

Posts: 7474
From: Loma Linda, CA
Registered: Jul 2000


 - posted 01-22-2002 05:02 PM      Profile for Leo Enticknap   Author's Homepage   Email Leo Enticknap   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Thanks Adam & Jerry - I've forwarded the email both to Hotvoice and to the National Criminal Intelligence Service as suggested on the website link provided by Jerry.

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Gerard S. Cohen
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 975
From: Forest Hills, NY, USA
Registered: Sep 2001


 - posted 01-22-2002 06:17 PM      Profile for Gerard S. Cohen   Email Gerard S. Cohen   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Leo, this reminds me of the time someone attempted to appropriate
my identity, applying for credit cards and loans in three states.
I was advised to call the three major credit rating companies, who
put a 7-year security freeze on such applications, requiring special permission by me should I really want future credit.
I called several banks involved and learned the applications came from
a Nigerian ring (penmanship gave them away). All fraudulent applications using my name and S.S.# were denied anyway (they had the wrong date of birth.) I suspected a theatre employee filched my name,
since the same thing happened to another projectionist in a sister theatre.
A friend received a letter very similar to yours. Please let us know
the response to the action you are taking.

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Leo Enticknap
Film God

Posts: 7474
From: Loma Linda, CA
Registered: Jul 2000


 - posted 03-15-2002 06:24 AM      Profile for Leo Enticknap   Author's Homepage   Email Leo Enticknap   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
This gets better and better. Here's the latest version I've just had...

quote:
From: "SCOTT OGUN" <scottogun@lycos.com>
To: <ldge@u.genie.co.uk>
Subject: Transaction
Sender: "SCOTT OGUN" <scottogun@lycos.com>
Date: Fri, 15 Mar 2002 11:56:35 -0800
Reply-To: "SCOTT OGUN" <scottogun@lycos.com>

It is my humble pleasure to write this letter irrespective of the fact that you do not know me. However, I came to know of you in my private search for a reliable and trustworthy person that can handle a confidential transaction of this nature in respect of this, I got your contact through an uprooted search on the internet. Though I know that a transaction of this magnitude will make any one apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring you that all will be well at the end of the day.

Let me start by first introducing myself properly to you. I am Scott Ogun, I work in a bank at the private banking sector. A foreign customer of my bank died under mysterious circumstances in a air crash, until his death five years ago, He had a closing balance of USD$20.5M (Twenty Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) which the bank now unquestionably expects to be claimed by any of his available foreign next of kin. Or, alternatively be donated to a discredited trust fund for arms and ammunition at a military war college here in Nigeria. The banking ethics here does not allow such money to stay more than six year, because the money will be recalled to the bank treasury as unclaimed after this period. The bank will now have the right to do as they please with this money.

Fervent valuable efforts made by my Bank to get in touch with any next of kin (he had no known wife and children) has been unsuccessful. The management under the influence of our chairman and board of directors, are making arrangement for the fund to be declared "UNCLAIMABLE " and then be subsequently donated to the trust fund for Arms and Ammunition which will further enhance the course of war in Africa and the world in general.

In order to avert this negative development. I now seek for your permission to have you stand as the next of kin. So that the fund (USD$20.5M), would be subsequently transferred and paid into your bank account as the beneficiary next of kin I am assuring you a 100% risk free involvement. Your share would be 40% of the total amount. You should not entertain any fear as all modalities for fund transfer can be finalized within five banking days, after you apply to the bank as the next of kin.

If this proposal meets your approval, then kindly contact me immediately via my e-mail furnishing me with your most confidential telephone, fax and e-mail, so I can forward to you the relevant details of this transaction. reply to scottogun1@winmail.com.au

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation.

Respectfully submitted.

Mr. Scott Ogun

N.B (If you have received this email in error, please accept my apology. If you no longer wish to receive email from me, please do not reply. Your request will be honored).


What will the next one be? A request from Robert Mugabe to help him get his frozen assets out of Europe, perhaps?


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Mark Lensenmayer
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1605
From: Upper Arlington, OH
Registered: Sep 1999


 - posted 03-15-2002 07:13 AM      Profile for Mark Lensenmayer   Email Mark Lensenmayer   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
This scam has hit worldwide, and has cost people billions of dollars.

This website has information on this:
http://home.rica.net/alphae/419coal/

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Leo Enticknap
Film God

Posts: 7474
From: Loma Linda, CA
Registered: Jul 2000


 - posted 06-28-2002 04:53 AM      Profile for Leo Enticknap   Author's Homepage   Email Leo Enticknap   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Here's the latest one...

quote:

From: "AKU" <cemaku@ecplaza.net>
To: <ldge@u.genie.co.uk>
Subject: URGENT & CONFIDENTIAL
Date: Fri, 28 Jun 2002 04:52:55

ATTN: DEAR SIR, REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE. I AM MRS CECILIA MARK AKU WIDOW OF LATE MARK ISHAYA AKU, MINISTER OF SPORTS AND YOUTH IN NIGERIA WHO DIED ON 4TH MAY 2002 ON A PLANE CRASH. I HAVE BEEN
INFORMED BY MY FAMILY ATTORNEY BARRISTER JAMES MOSES THAT MY LATE
HUSBAND DEPOSITED TWO TRUNK BOXES OF MONEY IN A SAFE KEEPING COMPANY
AMOUNTING THIRTY-FIVE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES
DOLLARS US$35,500,000) IN HIS FAVOUR. THE ATTORNEY NOW ADVISE, I SHOULD SEEK IN CONFIDENCE A FOREIGN PARTNER WHO CAN STAND AND RETRIEVE THESE BOXES AND BE TRANSFERRED FOR DISBURSEMENT AS
DIRECTED BY MY LATE HUSBAND IN HIS WILL.

IT HAS BEEN RESOLVED THAT 20 % WILL BE YOUR SHARE FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE FOR THIS PURPOSE AND ANY OTHER ASSISTANCE YOU WILL GIVE IN THAT REGARD, 10 % HAS BEEN SLATED FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR ALL
LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL EXPENSES WHICH MAY BE INCURED IN THE TRANSFER
PROCESS . FINALLY 70 %WILL COME TO MYSELF AND CHILDREN AND A GOOD PART OF THIS SHALL BE DIRECTED TOWARDS EXECUTING HIS WILL WHICH IS TO BUY SHARES AND STOCKS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES TO SECURE HIS CHILDREN’S FUTURE. TO FACILITATE THE CONCLUSION OF THIS TRANSACTION, IF ACCEPTED, DO SEND TO ME PROMPTLY BY E-MAIL. THEFOLLOWING: FAX
AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS THROUGH WHICH YOU WILL BE CONTACTED PROMPTLY
WHENEVER YOUR ATTENTION AND ASSISTANCE MAY BE REQUIRED, SO THAT MY
ATTORNEY CAN REACH YOU. PLEASE NOTE THAT I HAVE BEEN ASSURED THAT THE
TRANSACTION WILL BE CONDUCTED WITHIN TWO (2) WEEKS UPON MY RECEIVING OR HEARING FROM YOU THE ABOVE LISTED INFORMATION.. HOWEVER, YOU MAY NEED TO GIVE ME SUFFICENT ASSURANCE THAT YOU WILL NOT SIT ON THIS FUND WHEN IT FINALLY GETS TO YOU .

PLEASE GIVE THIS MATTER A PROMPT AND QUICK REPLY. PLEASE YOU WILL NEED TO DISCUS WITH MY FAMILY ATTORNEY BARRISTER JAMES MOSES
TOWARDS THE EFFECTIVE COMPLETION OF THIS TRANSACTION. BEST WISHES. CECILIA AKU


Hmmm... they seem to be getting more and more inventive. According to the 2001 Whitaker's Almanack, the Nigerian sports minister was indeed a Mark Ishaya Aku. If he did die earlier this year leaving a widow, I wonder what she thinks of this.

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