Beware - SCAM emails (Part Two)

by Tonny Clifton

Part Two - "Incredible Opportunities"

In the previous part we discussed the "security issues" scam email. Now it is time to look at another "hit" - mails, which claim that you have an incredible opportunity which should not be missed.
They can be simple spam, saying that you can buy product X only now for only $xx.xx or you will regret a whole life. Althought those email also contain untrue statements we will keep them away and point our attention onto dangerous scams. These are such scams which can lead you to loose money or be a vitim of identity theft.

There are 2 main categories of such emails, but you should keep your eyes widely open for any similar letters which can come to your mailbox.

1. Multimillion Transactions
This category is known also as "The Nigerian scams" as many of these mails come from Nigeria.
These are mails from a person, explaining that they are very rich, but because of the current political situation in their country, they are not free to use their money. They will ask you to transfer several millions USD into bank in your country, promissing you that you will get incredible percentage of the money.
Here is an example of such an email:

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Dear Sir,

First, let me start by introducing myself as MRS SUSAN SHABANGU, a mother of three children and the Deputy Minister of Safety and Security since 29th April 1996 to date under the auspices of the President of South Africa MR THABO MBEKI.
After due deliberation with my children, I decided to contact you for your assistance in standing as a beneficiary to the sum of US$30.5M ( Thirty Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only) You can view my profile at my website www.gov.za click on, Contact Information, , then click on Deputy Minister, and finally, click on Safety and Security and read about me. THE PROPOSAL, After the swearing in ceremony making me the Deputy Minister of Safety and Security, my husband Mr. Ndelebe Shabangu died while he was on an official trip to Trinidad and Tobago in 1996.
After his death, I discovered that he had some funds in a dollar account which amounted to the sum of US$30.5M with a security and finance institution in South Africa of which I will divulge information to you when I get your full consent and support to go for a change of beneficiary and subsequent transfer of the funds into you a comfortable and conducive account of your choice.
This fund emanated as a result of an over-invoiced contract which he executed with the Government of South Africa. Though I assisted him in getting this contract but I never knew that it was over-invoiced by him. I am afraid that t

he government of South Africa might start to investigate on contracts awarded from 1990 to date. If they discover this money in his bank account, they will confiscate it and seize his assets here in South Africa and this will definitely affect my political career in government. I want your assistance in opening an account with bankers through my banker so that this fund could be wired into your account directly without any hitch. As soon as the fund gets to your account, you are expected to move it immediately into another personal bank account in your country.
I will see to it that the account is not traced from South Africa. As soon as you have confirmed the fund into your account, I will send my eldest son with my Attorney to come to your country to discuss on business investments. For your assistance, I am offering you 20% of the principal sum which amounts to US$6,100.000.00 (Six million One Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only) However, you have to assure me and also be ready to go into agreement with me that you will not elope with my fund. If you agree to my terms, kindly as a matter of urgency send me an email. Due to my sensitive position in the South African Government, PLEASE DO NOT CALL ON THE OFFICE LINE, BECAUSE OF THE SENSITIVITY OF THIS TRANSACTION EXCEPT OF THE ABOVE DIRECT LINE. I prefer you send me email than call. All correspondence must be by email to my private email address, {E-mail-susanshabanguA1@netscape.net} If you want to speak with my Banker, that is fine and okay by me. You will have to send down you private telephone /fax number so that Ii can forward it to him to reach you from time to time this is for security reasons. Please I do not need to remind you of the need for absolute Confidentiality of this transaction must succeed. If you do not feel comfortable with this transaction, do not hesitate to discontinue.

Thanks for your anticipated co-operation and my regards to your family.

Yours faithfully,


MRS. SUSAN SHABANGU
Deputy Minister of Safety & Security,
South Africa.
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What is wrong here? For many people it could be obviously, but those who are not very experienced with the net scammers can easy believe. Lets see the signs:

- How did they find your email? Why exactly you? Do you believe that someone will find oyu on the net and trust to transfer 30 MILLIONs of dollars?! No way, not today
- They want to give you 20%!!!! Why? If i were just to make a transfer for someone i could be happy with a thousands bucks, why would they want to give me 6 millions?

What can happen to you?
- Most probably you will be asked to transfer some "small amount" (probably several hundred bucks) so they can "arrange" some documents
- There is always a risk that they can compromise your bank account in some way
- There is a risk of identity theft if you send them some private info!

So, the best is just not to reply such emails. Do not let the greed throw you into troubles. There is no probablity that this email is true - it is 100% scam.


2. Lottery Prizes

These mails are similar to the ones above. Instead of a person, this time staff from some online lottery will conrtact you, saying that you win few millions and asking you to give them your bank account.

Why not to believe?

1. There is no lottery which will contact you by email to tell you about such a big prize
2. If you have not participated, there is no chance to win
3. You can always check the website of that lottery if such exists and see if there is something real. If this is some well known lottery you can contact them to undesrtand that the scammers have just used your name.

Again, you are under risk of identity theft or will be asked to send some "small" amount for "arrangements".

Remember: No one in this world is giving money away easy. Especially when we talk about millions. Don't believe that someone will write you a mail to send you few millions bucks.

Published at Jul, 07 '05 ; read 773 times;

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