|
||||||
| You've had them, I've had them and hopefully you delete them. I'm talking about those scamming letters from some African dictatorship country pleading for assistance to liberate Millions of dollars from the country. What do you get from it - a percentage (normally about 10%) of the funds. Sounds too good to be true ? Well it is - wake up and smell the coffee. Last updated Wednesday 2nd April 21:35 Go directly to a page... Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 DEAR MR. STEVE THOMPSON, THANK YOU FOR THE REPLY OF MY MAIL OF YESTERDAY. I HAVE SOPKEN WITH MR. CHARLES THIS AFTERNOON AND HE I WILL WANT YOU TO LODGE THE MONEY INTO YOUR ACCOUNT PLEASE INFORM ME WHEN THEY CONTACT YOU. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR EFFORT SO FAR. MRS. M. ABACHA
|
From Mrs Abacha - with a strange subject title of Mrs Abacha ? I can expect a call shortly no doubt.
Yeh - right. Would you do this ? |
|||||
|
Fri 21st March @ 13:57 Surprise suprise - theres a message on my "temporary" telephone number. It starts off all pleasant and very English sounding. Unfortunately its not very clear and the company sounds like Globnet or something like that. Certainly did not sound like the company I'm awaiting my call from. Its easy to listen to him go back to his African dialect so much so that the name he leaves me is a bit vague...Thomas Brine / Brime , Br something... I've got a number to call him back and guess what - its a mobile in Spain . +34 xxxxxxxx (Now that would be telling). I'll phone him later on this afternoon. I'll have to see if I can get a wav file of the phone message. |
|||||
Fri 21st March 16:30 Well I've called Thomas.....it took three attempts for him to answer his phone - not very professional is it. His last name is Blair - yeh right. What the chances of an African living in Spain having a Scottish surname ? Highly unlikely. After the intial conversation over who I was - and who he was he knew all about my package which given that he's working for a so called Global security shipping company he didn't use any reference numbers nor did he have any verification of who I was. We got down to the business - the package has cleared customs this morning or would have done but because it was declared as Diplomatic package it has diplomatic charges payable to the customs. Woohoo we finally get down to it - those charges are €19,500 (Euros) which equates to about £13,149. I enquired about payment of this money and who it should be to - for instance to they take American Express? Can you guess what the answer will be? No they prefer payment in cash - hang on a minute the Spanish customs won't take a credit card, nor a bankers draft, nor a personal cheque for payment of fees but they will take a whack of cash. Am I the only one to think this is just a tad fishy. Now if you're like any normal person (like me - I certainly don't have that kind of money just lying around. Anyway I pointed out to him that he's too late for anything to happen this week as the British high street banks being what they are (They're like the scamming Africans it's just that they do it "officially") they're closed for the week and the first time I'll have access (to the fictious money) is on Monday morning, I then have to get it converted into Euros and then I have to get a flight to Madrid so I won't be ready for business until Tuesday morning. I've also asked him to provide details on where his offices are so that I can book a hotel nearby. Of course his offices are in central Madrid - which narrows it down to an area about the size of Maidstone. I cheekily ask him for a recommendation of a hotel in Madrid where I can stay - he say's he'll get back to me. I've also asked him to make a reservation at the hotel of his choice for me on Monday evening. I'll give him a call tommorow afternoon to advise on my travel plans (which I'm sure he'll arrange to have his henchmen to meet me as I come off the plane.) He's also given me his email account details (another one for being reported to abuse@yahoo.com) Why do these so called global companies not have their own email servers.. Remember I'm looking for ideas on what to send him when we finally finish this...send them to me here
|
||||||
Friday 21st March 2003 18:45 Mrs Abacha, I finally spoke with the shipping companies rep (Thomas Blair) this afternoon after several attempts to return his call. The consignment is in Madrid where it has all but cleared customs but remains uncleared at this time due to customs fees payable since the consignment was shipped as Diplomatic cargo. These fees total 19,500 Euros which works out as about £14,000 pounds. The cost of these fees surprises me since I was led to believe that all shipping and clearance costs had previously been paid by you in country. I would check at your end that the money that you paid did include the complete end to end customs and clearance fees. I've advised him that if we need to pay that amount of money (in cash!!) it will not happen this weekend. The earliest I could possibly travel to Madrid would be Monday afternoon if all goes well. Thought you'ld like to be kept informed. Best Regards to your family. |
|
|||||
Fri, 21 Mar 2003 11:34:47 -0800 (PST) DEAR MR. STEVE, THANKS FOR THE INFORMATION. I AM HAPPY THAT THE CONSIGNMENT/MONEY HAS BEEN OFFCAURSE I PAID FOR THE AIRLIFTMENT TO STANDARD TRUST MR. CHARLES TOLD ME THAT HE HAS TRIED TO CALL YOU ON MY BEST FOR YOUR FAMILY THIS WEEKEND MRS. ABACHA |
Of course you can relax your little mind. Off course - isn't that a golfing term ? Who bloody works like that - you're having a single company transport goods across the globe you pay at one end and its done. Its a bit like UPS turning up on your door to say give me more money as I've delivered this to you. Bollox. Customs fees yes( normally on the value of the equipment) but how do you value diplomatic goods - Customs are not supposed to open them without good cause. I've checked with my contact who's in Port Harcourt (not that far from Lagos) and there has not been any rain for a while. |
|||||
Sat 22 March 15:00 Thomas, As discussed yesterday - I've made a booking to arrive Madrid late afternoon to allow me sufficient time to visit the bank (hopefully). I've attached my confirmation email from Easyjet. Booking Reference : Y5M9P9 The Payment Total reflects the amount charged to your credit card.
Any Your Itinerary Details London - Gatwick Terminal N To Madrid - Spain Madrid - Spain To London - Gatwick Terminal N Passenger Details : One - Mr S. Thompson Baggage allowance is 1 Piece per person
It's my first time in Madrid - can you suggest what I should see on such a short break ? Looking forward to concluding our transaction. Regards |
This is actually an old booking reference I had from British Airways adapted to look like it came from Easyjet.
The price is right which I didn't think was too bad given how late I'm booking it.
No way would I make from my local bank (which by the way is useless) to Gatwick to allow for a one hour check-in time.
We'll see if he does this as you normally have to give a credit card as security as part of the booking. |
|||||
Sunday 23rd March 10:00 Mrs Abacha, I've been awaiting hotel confirmation details from the clearing company in Madrid - my contact there, Thomas promised he would send hotel confirmation prior to my departure (its nice to know where you're going when you get into a taxi) to enable me to provide contact details for my company and also to enable them to send me some documents for my review. Given the current climate with the war and the travel restrictions that all companies seem to be implmenting my organisation will not allow me to travel without providing confirmed details on where I will be whilst out of the country. My company wish to check that all travel plans are valid and I'm actually going to where I say I am (a bit over sensitive if you ask me but I can see their point). I've send Thomas details of the flights I've booked and asked twice now via email to provide the details. I've tried calling him but I get a message that advises "the phone is either switched off or out of service". Given that my company were actually letting me have a couple of days off for "personal" reasons I must really oblige them by letting them know where I will be. I cannot therefor travel until they are happy with my destination (hotel). I'll keep you advised. Regards
|
Since its the weekend and it's generally quite I thought I'd keep uptodate with my original contact. I don't really want to "travel" unless they've made the booking.
I'll spin it out for as long as possible.. |
|||||
Monday 24th March 13:00 I called Thomas Blair to give him the update that the bank had problems of getting sufficient amount of Euros to hand that it means that I've missed todays flight but I'll make tommorows :) Yeh Right. Thomas advises that he's unable to make a booking at the hotel since it must be done by the person who's needing the room (complete bollox). I'll try and change his mind later.. 15:00 I had a phone call on my "official" telephone number and they left a message - well they would have too - its about 50 miles from my current location. Charles of Nigerian solicitor fame called to say that he had not heard from me - well I didn't send it to him but I kept his client (Mrs Abacha) informed. Charles it seems is having problems with his computer and was worried he'd heard nothing. I filled him in on whats happening and that I think that the Security companies approach of not making a booking for a hotel which they obviously use on a regular basis is very unprofessional. Strangely enough he agrees with me and that he thought they would have made the reservation. I asked what happened to his kids picture (my daughter would love to see it) - its seemingly not his scanner thats wrong but its the computer that is wrong. They cheeky bugger then has the audicity to ask when I return from Madrid that I could buy him a laptop and send it to him via DHL. - Of course I would for my good friend Charles..
15:30 Email sent to Thomas in Madrid and Copied to Charles in Lagos.... Thomas, After the delays with getting the money exchanged into Euros from UKpounds I've rescheduled the flights till tommorow morning on the first flight I can get from Gatwick. Details from the confirmation email from British Airways are below. === Passenger details : Mr S. Thompson A passport with at least one months validity is required to travel. Confirmed Fare Quote Details ==== I spoke this afternoon with Charles Nwachukwu (Nigerian contact) who agrees with me that his understanding that from a professional point of view the security company should have made the booking at the hotel will obviously all expense associated with it chargeable to my credit card. I'm tied up on personal business this afternoon so will be unable to contact hotel to make the booking. It would be much appreciated if a booking at the hotel (single room would be fine) in my name. If you need anything to confirm this please let me know. What are the plans for meeting tommorow ? Can you send your office address to me and I'll just jump in a taxi after I arrive and freshen up. Or if your office is close to the hotel I may just walk but given the amount of money I'll be carrying it may be safer to take a taxi. I'll be checking my emails later this evening when I get home for
the latest information. Best Regards
|
What its all about...
Think of it...You're travelling to Spain, got £14,000 in Euros in your bag and all you have is the telephone number (mobile) of the guy who you're dealing with - would you go - don't be bloody stupid of course you wouldn't but the cash blurs your vision...and people do....
Cut and pasted from the BA website...
Let see if he'll fall for it.
Still no company address or anything - lets see what he responds with. I'll be checking them all night.... |
|||||
Monday 24th March 2003 20:30 Good evening mr Steve, thank you for your mail this is the hotel informations bellow HOTEL ATLANTICO MADRID. GRAN VIA 38- MADRID TEL---- 34 915226480 FAX--- 34 915310210 you can contact them and make your resavition as soon as you arrive in madrid call me and give me immedatily thank you. my regards to you, thomas blair |
Obviously didn't take the hint. Its only a three star hotel and I still don't have any contact information on how to find him.
Time for another note I feel this time to the solicitor guy (Charles) to express my concerns.(Now remember that Charles PC was dead) - Lets see if he get this one...
|
|||||
Monday 24th March 2003 20:51 Charles, I'm asking for some assistance here - I feel rather uneasy about dealing with Thomas from Global Network Security. My reasons for this are two fold. I've asked twice for him to book me into the closest hotel to Global Networks Securities office. This evening I get an email advising me to book it myself. This is not very professional and is not very customer focussed for what is supposed to be a Global organisation. I've made it clear that I will be picking up the hotel room expenses myself (obviously) but it seems that Global Security (or Thomas) do not wish to assist their clients. He now advises that I should just call the hotel when I arrive in Madrid - what do I do if they are full which brings me to my second point. If the hotel was full I would need to know where I'm supposed to be going - I've asked repeatedly that he provide me with details of Global Securities offices so I am travelling with more that just a telephone number to call when I get there. I would have expected to be provided an appointment at a scheduled time to which I would have travelled. As you can see two glaring issues which need addressing immediately. I believe you may have dealt with Thomas in the past so I'm asking you to contact him on my behalf as he obviously does not want to listen to his client. As it stands I have a briefcase full of Euros in my house this evening which I'm expected to travel to Madrid to call someone where it will be sorted out from there. This is not a very professional business transaction and something that causes me unease. I need two things before I commit to catching BA's flight tommorow
at lunchtime. I hope you'll understand that these items are relatively simple to fix. Since I'm travelling in the morning I will be checking email during the morning. Best Regards to you and your family. Steve
|
Note to the "solicitor" to see if he's got any weight with Thomas
Lets see if Thomas will indeed make a booking
I've done this once to Kazakhstan but thats a different story...
Got any ideas for random phrases to be dropped into the conversation. Things like...The French are worldly reknowned for their fine taste in cuisine....send them here |
|||||
Tuesday 25th March 09:15 I had voice mail message from Thomas Blair asking me to give him a call.... I also had this appear : Tuesday 25th March 11:15 Attn: Steve Thompson Dear Sir, Since my saver system is bad i have go to a public I want to advice you to make your hotel reservation If thomas provided you with the hotel information I If you get this mail before leaving UK you can call Charles
|
Yes of course I will...
Sorry Charles but its always on answering mode (well after 4 rings anyway).
Yeh - course I will Regid - is that a word - how can a "global" company behave funny at times to their clients. He know's Thomas has provided me with the information - What is calling Lagos going to help me with...I think its about time to start winding this one up... They still don't want to book the hotel do they ?
|
|||||
Tuesday March 25th 13:15 Thomas, I've got some concerns over the professional attitude of Global Network Security to provide the client (thats me) with the service I would expect when dealing with an organisation such as your own. I've got two concerns which is causing me to have second thoughts on this transaction. I've already sent a note to Charles my Nigerian solicitor expressing my concerns over your organisations business methods and await his feedback. I've repeatedly asked for you or your organisation to organise a local hotel for me. Something which is simple to organise and which I will be paying. Now you inform me to call the hotel upon my arrival in Madrid - and if the hotel is full - where else do I go ? I have no idea in which area of town your offices are located. I've repeatedly asked for its address so I can get there to complete the transaction to no avail. I certainly do not like the idea of carrying £14,000 in a case around Madrid, it was bad enough having that sort of money in the house last night let alone in a new country with different surroundings. Until these two simple items are addressed and I see a more professional approach by your organisation I will delay my trip to Madrid. As I've said I need confirmation from the hotel that a room is booked in my name and secondly you furnish me with the address and a map if possible how to find out Global Security Networks. I await your call or email. Regards |
Lets see how he takes this....
How hard is it to book a hotel ? Gimme, gimme, gimme...all I want is the address.
|
|||||
| Well he never called but he did however provide the following... | ||||||
Tue, 25 Mar 2003 06:28:45 -0800 ( This must be about 2pm) Good afternoon mr Steve, i am surprise that you sounding this way i gave you the hotel informations to contact them about your arrival time already this morning our secretary contacted them to inform them about your arrival this afternoon and they resaved a room for you, is just for you to arrive in the hotel reciption and tell them your name and they will check their computer immedatily they will give a room. reconfirm your time of arrival so that we can get intuch with them back to change the booking. bellow is my office adress upon your arrival give me a call the secretary will come and bring you from the hotel to our office due to you does not know your way in madrid. i am sorry for any inconvinience this may have cost you thank you. adress in madrid, C/SOTO HIDAGO E 28042 MADRID SPAIN. BEST REGARDS, THOMAS BLAIR |
I've phone the hotel about 20 minutes ago and they do indeed have a reservation for Steve Thompson arriving today - woohoo. Try it for yourself if you want call the hotel today (Tues 25th March).
We now have and address - which is here. As you will see it's not exactly as they described in the city centre - its actually right next door to the airport. Bloody liars. |
|||||
Mr. Steve, I called the Standard Trust Company here in Lagos and I want to beleive that you know that you are trying to Some times I am very slow in responding to your mail I know that you are trying to be very cautious due to Is thomas the only person you can talk to in the I will be waiting for your call. Charles |
And from my goof Solicitor friend I have the following....
Going for the soft spot here.... Personal - I'll make it personal - you're trying to con me out of thousands of pounds and I should not make it personal...
Probably too busy scamming other people... I've told you before - its always on answering mode. Oh yeh - and what are you - some sort of Guardian angel... |
|||||
Tuesday 25th March 19:20 CMY DEAR BROTHER STEVE, I GOT A MAIL FROM MR. CHARLES THIS EVENING INFORMING PLEASE MY BROTHER CAN'T YOU MAKE THE ARRENGMENT BY PLEASE MR. STEVE MY BROTHER, YOU KNOW THAT MY FUTURE MR. CHARLES TOLD ME THAT YOU DON'T PICK YOUR CALLS AND CAN YOU CALL MR. CHARLES THIS NIGHT OR TELL ME WHEN HE AWAITING YOUR URGENT REPLY WHILE YOU SENT MY REGARDS MRS. ABACHA |
Oh dear it seems that word of mouth has got around... Whats this brother bit.
Yes I could but it was slightly more fun having you and your cohorts doing it for me.
Brother again...oh dear - I wonder if my Mum and Dad know about their daughter....
I do pick up my calls - it's a bit hard when the phones ringing 50 miles away.
No I won't call....
|
|||||
Tuesday 25th March 2003 20:10 - Via Voicemail
Charles calls, my phone is engaged but he's been trying to call me - can I call him Wednesday 26th March 2003 06:58
Charles calls again - its early in the morning...perhaps he'd thought he'd wake me up to answer the phone. Can I call him urgently he's read my note and would like to speak to me urgently. Oh I do wish he'd stop calling me Mr Steve...Mr Steve...
|
I'll let them stew for a period of time.
|
|||||
|
|
It would be at this point that mIcrosoft would decide to change the way that you log on to Hotmail. Its screwed up my account. I can't get access to see what Mrs Abacha and Charles have sent me. Microsoft have been emailed and are working on it. Charles has called twice (6pm last night.) Ooooo just to get access to the hotmail system.... |
|||||
Wed, 26 Mar 2003 10:32:28 -0800 (PST) DEAR BROTHER STEVE, I SENT YOU A MAIL YESTERDAY UPTILL NOW I HAVE NOT SEEN WHAT IS REALY GOING ON? ARE YOU STILL WAITING FOR THE I AM VERY NERVOUS AND WORRIED, PLEASE TRY AND TALK TO MRS. ABACHA
========== Meanwhile Charlse also sends a note... Thu, 27 Mar 2003 00:56:36 -0800 (PST) Attn: Steve Thompson Dear Steve, I got your mail of yesterday but could not reply you The company is a trusted company in handling this kind backing out of this transaction now will not be for You should understand the reason for using this We decided to use this subterranean company {Standard I do not agree with you that the choice of going to Let me know your final decision on this matter. My regards Charles Nwachukwu
|
Saturday afternoon and I get access...finally but is it too late... Have I found god ? Doubt it... I looked in the garage and if he was there he was doing a good job of hiding..
Yeh - right... |
|||||
| Saturday 29th March 15:51 Mrs Abacha, Apologies - I've been unable to get access to my email account (Microsoft changed it so that I had to use .net passport to login but it wouldn't). All my contact telephone numbers were in my inbox. Charles did phone me but I missed his call and he never left a number to call him back so I've been frantically trying to locate his or the security company telephone number to no avail. Just 5 minutes ago I've got access to my email account and therefore the numbers. I see Charles has written I will reply to him. APologies for this inconvenience Steve |
As soon as I got access to my hotmail account I sent this to Mrs Abacha (her money)
Liar
|
|||||
Saturday 29th March 16:00 Charles, Apologies for not being in touch - I had serious problems getting into my email account - Microsoft changed them all to net passport logins but mines screwed up. They have been working on it since Thursday trying to get me access. I've just got access about ten minutes ago. All your contact numbers as well as the ones for the security company were there so I could not call you nor them. I missed your message on Thursday / Friday just and you did not leave call back numbers for you so I've been frantically trying to locate your numbers. I even tried international directory enquiries for yourself and the security company to no avail. Getting back to the matter at hand - damn right I was pissed at their attitude, their cavalier approach to customer services is not what you expect from an international security company. Its the sort of attitude you expect from an Australian trailer company at an exhibition but thats a different story. I still wish to proceed with completing this transaction not only for my sake but also Mrs Abachas health. I would like to complete this by Tuesday at the latest as having this amount of money at home is not good for my health. I'm about to try and make contact with Thomas and I'll keep you advised. Best Regards to you and your family. p.s. any news on the picture of your children ? |
||||||
Attn: Steve Thompson Dear steve, Given the current situation,I have made arrengement He will be leaving Lagos by 11.45 pm tomorrow to His name is Anthony Bassey. Expecting your response or call. My regards Charles |
Yeh - right - this will be a ploy to make me feel guilty. Do you think I feel guilty. Not a bloody bit..
There is no way he would get an exit visa from Nigeria that quickly. I wonder if Shirley's brother will sound anything like Thomas Blair. |
|||||
Charles, Thank you for this assistance. I'll await Antony's contact, we're out and about this weekend at friends but I would like to travel to Madrid on Monday and conclude this transaction by Tuesday. I will await Antony's contact and trust that he will handle the Security companies liasion. I'm feeling happier about this arrangement now that we have some sensible people who understand doing business properly rather than an Australian salesman. Regards |
|
|||||