The Scam

This past week I passed up a chance to make more than $5.6 million and help a Liberian banker pocket more than $8 million.

Perhaps some one else will come to this banker's rescue while at the same time earn a big reward.

This whole scenario began when I glanced through the faxes at the office and one grabbed my attention.

Although it was addressed to no one in particular, the writer said it was an "urgent and very confidential business proposal." That pholks, was more than enough to trigger the "this is a scam" alert in my small but still functional brain. However, I just had to read on and see just how stupid this sender hoped I, or anyone else, might be.

Consider the following, which is the body of the faxed message from the alleged manager of the Tradevco Bank in Monrovia, Liberia, and judge for yourself: "

On June 6, 1999, an American mining consultant/contractor with the Liberia Mining Corporation, Mr. Ron Williams made a numbered time (fixed) Deposit for twelve (12) calendar months, valued at US $14,200,000.00 (FOURTEEN MILLION, TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND US DOLLARS) in my branch.

Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his contract employers, the Liberian Mining Corporation that Mr. Ron Williams died from an automobile accident. On further investigation, I found out that he died without making a (WILL) and all attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless. I therefore made further investigation and discovered that Mr. Ron Williams did not declare any kin or relation in his official documents, including his Bank deposit paper work in my Bank. This sum US $14,200.00 is still sitting in my Bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. No one has ever come forward to claim the fund. According to our Liberian Law, at the expiration of 5 (five) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Liberian government if nobody applies to claim the funds. Consequently, my proposal is that I would like you to stand in as the next of kin to Mr. Ron Williams so that the fruits of this old man's labor will not get into the hands of some corrupt government officials.

"This is simple, I will like you to provide immediately your full name and address so that an Attorney will prepare the necessary documents and affidavits that will put you in place the next of kin. We shall employ the service of an accredited Attorney for the drafting and notarization of the WILL and to obtain the necessary documents and the probate/administration in your favor for the transfer. A bank account in any part of the world which you will provide will then facilitate the transfer of this money to you as the beneficiary/next of kin. The money will be paid into your account for us to share in the ration of 60% for me and 40% for you. There is no risk at all as the paper work for this transaction will be done by the Attorney and my position as the branch manager guarantees the successful execution of this transaction."

Of course there certainly would be some "good faith" money which the sucker would have to get to the letter writer before he or she would get any money. You pholks know the rest.

Just for kicks, I checked the Internet and found tons of materials dealing with this issue including www.scamorama.com which, among other items, offers "The Lads From Lagos" featuring dozens of scams following the same basic premise. Included are lots of responses from pholks having fun with these letters. According to Scamorama, variations of the plan include letters from sons of dead military officers, sons of a dead farmer, dead bank customers, a reformed murderer and various others.

According to Scamorama, which has compiled an impressive collection of these letters, some of the same "dead" bankers, CEOs, etc., have shown up in a number of scams. It was noted that apparently some of these dead people didn't learn their lesson the first time and were killed or died two, three or even more times.

Anyhow pholks, consider this a reader alert. For more information and ways to avoid being scammed, please hurry and send me $87.98 by June 1. Money orders and cashiers checks only.

And make them payable only to me.

---

The above stories are the property of The Valley Voice Newspaper and may not be reprinted without explicit permission in writing from the publisher.