Frank Fishbone P.I.
So this is the first contact:
******************
Dear [Name deleted]
Good day to you
My name is Irvin Shawn I am an American soldier, serving in the
military with the 1st Armored Division in Iraq. I and my superior
moved funds belonging to Saddam Hussein, the total is $25,000,000.00
(Twenty Five million US dollars) this money is being kept safe in a
security company. Click on this link to read about even that took
place here
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2988455.stm
Basically since we are working for the government we cannot keep these
funds, we have decided to look for someone to help us keep this funds
this is why I have contacted you, so you can keep it for us in your
safe account or an offshore account.
We will divide the total funds in three ways, since we are three involved
in
this. You will take 30%, and 30% will be for me, and my superior will take
30%. 10% will be kept aside for expenses. This business is
confidential, and it should not be discussed with anyone.
There is no risk involved whatsoever. If you are interested i will send
you
the full details, my job is to find a good partner that we can trust
and that
will assist us.
Can i trust you? When you receive this letter, kindly send me an e-mail
signifying your interest including your confidential telephone/fax
numbers to [email address]
Respectfully submitted
Sgt. Irvin Shawn
******************
I responded with an email requesting that I take
over negotiations on his behalf. No answer after 24 hours, so a reminder:
******************
Irvin, did you receive the email I sent you yesterday? My contact has now received the THIRD invitation from you, and is anxious that he might miss this golden opportunity.
Please reply soonest.
Regards
Frank Fishbone
******************
Meanwhile, I set up the bank accounts.
No sweat.
All sorted. Now to get our sergeant to ante up his stake.
That's if he responds.
Nice one. He did, on day 4. Shame about the Caps Lock..
******************
DEAR ALI MAKHBIMakhbi / FRANK FISHBONE
GOOD DAY TO YOU AND THANKS FOR YOUR REPLY, ALL T{HAT IS REQUIRED OF YOU IS TO HELP RECEIVE THESE FUNDS IN YOUR PERSONAL ACCOUNT, AND FOR Y{OU TO HELP WITH BANKING AND INVESTMENT.
I WILL LIKE TO INFORM YOU THAT THE FUNDS ARE AVAI{LABLE WITH ME HERE IN CASH. WE HAVE HELD UNTO THE FUNDS A IN SAFE PLACE FOR
SOME TIME N{OW PLEASE CHECK ON THE LINK BELLOW SO YOU CAN READ ABOUT EVENTS THAT TOOK PLACE HERE.
{HTTP://NEWS.BBC.CO.UK/2/HI/MIDDLE_EAST/2988455.STM
WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT IS USING THESE{ FUNDS TO UNDO THE WRONGS OF THE WORLD, AS I INTEND TO GIVE A SIGNIFICANT SHARE OF MINE
TO C{HARITY. AS I AND MY COLLEAGUE INTEND TO RETIRE AND START A NEW LIFE.
I WILL LIKE TO KNOW Y{OUR ABILITY TO HANDLE THESE FUNDS, AND HAVE YOU HANDLED SUCH AMOUNT OF CASH IN THE PAST?{ AND DO YOU
HAVE BANK ACCOUNT THAT CAN HOLD THE FUNDS? ALL THAT IS REQUIRED OF YOU IS TO PR{OVIDE BANKING FACILITY AND FOR YOU TO HELP US
WITH INVESTMENT.
I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND T{HAT WE HAVE COVERED ALL LOOP HOLES AND THE FUNDS CANNOT BE TRACED TO YOU OR US. WE ARE PERFE{CTING
ALL ARRANGEMENTS TO HAVE THE FUNDS MOVED OUT OF HERE SAFELY. SO YOU SHOULD HAVE NO FE{AR OR WORRIES. I WILL KEEP YOU INFORMED
AS SOON AS ALL IS SET.
I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO TE{LL ME MORE ABOUT YOUR SELF,
I) YOUR FULL NAME AND MARITAL STATUS
II) AGE AND RELIGI{ON
III) OCCUPATION
IV) YOUR ADDRESS
V) PRIVATE PERSONAL TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS
I EXPE{CT YOU QUICK REPLY, AS SOON AS I HEAR FROM YOU, I WILL GIVE
YOU MORE DETAILS, PLEASE{ KEEP VERY CONFIDENTIAL.
THANK YOU
SGT. IRVIN SHAWN
******************
Better explain some of that. I'd emailed the guy previously that I'd been passed on this opportunity by one "Ali Makhbil" who was too chicken to follow it up.
His email was sent encrypted at my insistence, which might explain why it's kinda mangled. Could be that he's an illiterate peasant, but hey, let's be charitable.
Reply follows.
******************
Hello Irvin
I understand the need for secrecy, which is why I have insisted that all communication between us is by encrypted email. You must understand that there are very strict laws in the UK regarding transfers of large amounts of cash, and I have no wish to spend many years in prison. Under no circumstances will I give my contact details by telephone, fax or plain text email. I hope you understand this.
To answer your questions about me:
1) Name/Marital Status: Frank Fishbone. Single but looking (Why do you need to know this?)
2) Age: Over 18 Religion: United Reformed Church of the Enlightened Lobster.
3) Occupation: Saggermaker's Bottom Knocker.
4) Address:(Accomodation address) r/o SexySuziesPhotorama, 1, Oil Drum Lane, Chelsea, London, UK
5) Phone/Fax: Like I said, not for publication.
Let me assure you that I have the ability to handle large sums, and I have set up two separate off shore accounts to take care of the transfers. You will also need to set up an account with one of these to initiate the transfer, but if you are not able to do this, I will arrange for an agent to handle that on your behalf. Please let me know at the outset if this is acceptable to you, so that we do not waste each other's time.
The accounts are with
a)First National Bank of Rockall
b)Opfugopwe Standard Consolidated Merchant Bank
Hope to hear from you soon
Take very good care
Frank Fishbone
******************
Another silence for 2 days. Then he comes up with this:
******************
DEAR FRANK/ALI GOOD DAY TO YOU SIR WERE YOU ABLE TO ENSCRIPT THE PREVIOUS MESSAGE
I SENT YOU? IT IS SAFE FOR US TO COMMUNICATE VIA THIS EMAIL JUST LIKE THIS, IF
WE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS TO ENSCRIPT. I NEED TO KNOW IF YOU ARE STILL INTERESTED
AND CAPABLE OF HANDLING THIS TRANSACTION AND IF NOT PLEASE LET ME KNOW SO I CAN
LOOK FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO HELP US, AS TIME IS NOT ON OUR SIDE AND WE HAVE TO ACT
FAST TO MOVE THESE FUNDS OUT OF HERE. WAITING FOR YOUR QUICK REPLY. THANK YOU
SIR SGT. IRVIN SHAWN
******************
Not just another timewaster, surely? Or maybe he can't hack his own decryption.
I mean, it's hardly rocket science - the code he chose even shows up in the source
code of his own email, for pity's sake. They don't make villains like they used
to. Anyway, replied with copy straight off..
At last, he's cracked his own code.
******************
THANKS FOR YOUR EMAIL; I HAVE SINCE BEEN ON A SPECIAL DUTY, AS WE ARE ON ALE{RT
BECAUSE OF THREATS FROM INSURGENTS HERE. I AM MAKING ARRANGEMENTS ON THE BEST
POSSIBLE ME{ANS TO HAVE THIS FUNDS MOVED, AND AS SOON AS ALL IS SET, I WILL LET
YOU KNOW.
I AND MY C{OLLEAGUE IN THIS, INTEND TO START A NEW LIFE, AFTER THE FUNDS
HAVE BEEN MOVED TO YOU, WE WI{LL APPLY FOR AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE FROM
THE US ARMY, BUT WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL I{N ALL WHAT WE DO, TO AVOID SUSPICION.WE
HAVE COVERED ALL LOOP HOLES ARE THERE ARE NO TRACE{ TO US OR THE FUNDS, AS MUCH
AS WE DESPERATELY NEED YOUR HELP, I ALSO NEED AN ASSURANCE T{HAT AS SOON AS YOU
RECEIVE THE FUNDS, YOU WILL NOT RUN AWAY WITH ALL THE FUNDS WHEN IT GE{TS TO
YOUR ACCOUNT, I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND MY FEARS AND WORRIES. THIS IS AMOUNT REASONS
WHY I{ WANT OT KNOW MORE ABOUT YOU AND ALSO HAVE YOUR CONTACT DETAILS,
BECAUSE I WILL HAVE TO MOVE{ THIS FUNDS TO YOU WHILE WE ARE STILL HERE IN COMBAT.
I AM AFFRAID I CANNOT CONTINUE THI{S TRANSACTION WITH YOU IF YOU DO NOT ANSWER
ALL MY QUESTIONS ASKED IN MY PREVIOUS EMAIL. THI{S IS MY TELEPHONE NUMBER BACK
IN THE STATES BEFORE I WAS DEPLOYED TO COMBAT HERE{ 612-[xxx-xxxx](USA). YOU
HAVE MY ASSURANCE THAT THIS DEAL IS CONFIDENTIAL.
WE INTEND TO INVE{ST OUR SHARE IN
PROPERTIES AND STOCK, PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU IDEA IS AND WHAT EXPERIE{NCE
YOU HAVE AS REGARDS TO INVESTMENT.
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU KEEP THIS TRANSACTION
VERY SE{CRET, AS SOON AS I HEAR FROM YOU, I WILL GIVE YOU MORE DETAILS AS TO
HOW WE WILL HAVE THE{ FUNDS MOVED TO YOU.
THANK YOU
SGT. IRVIN SHAWN
******************
Hey now buster, just wait a cotton pickin' minute. I'm the
control freak in this. I tell you how it'll go down....
******************
Hello Irvin
Just to assure you that I am serious about this, I will forward you details of the accounts that I have set up as soon as I receive the confirmation that the deposit of $1000 which I have deposited in the Opfugopwe Standard Chartered merchant bank has cleared.
You will also need to deposit the same (or more if you wish) amount in that bank so that transactions can begin. When your account is running, you will be able to start the transfer of the larger amounts to your account at that bank, and from there, the total amount can be transferred to a joint account which I have set up with the First National Bank of Rockall. This joint account will require BOTH of our signatures (or electronically submitted codes) before cash may be withdrawn. That way, you can rest assured that your cash will remain safe. It would be impossible for me to take the cash and run, as you can see.
You will have your own ideas on how to invest your share of the cash, as do I, and no doubt your colleague also. While the money is lodged at the FNBR, there will be no interest paid, but on the other hand, neither will there be bank charges to pay.
Do take care of yourself
Stay safe
Frank
******************