A Despicable Version of the Nigerian Scam

Oh man, just when I thought I'd seen everything, this one popped up in my e-mail!

Can you Assist me!

Monday, January 18, 2010 1:40 PM
From: "Capt.Ruddy Howard"

To: undisclosed-recipients
Hello my friend, I am Capt.Ruddy Howard with the United Nations troop in Afghanistan, on war against terrorism.

Based on the United States legislative and executive decision that we must evacuate Iraq immediately for Afghanistan, Now we are in Afghanistan military base and I will be redeployed back to my country military base soonest, come next year 2010,

Our mission is to help beef up terrorist targeted states, mostly the United States and the European Union on the war against terrorism.

On the other hand, I want to inform you that I have in my possession the sum of 10.2 million USD, which I got from crude oil deal here in Iraq. I deposited this money with a Red Cross Agent informing him that we are making contact for the real owner of the money and it is under my power to approve whoever comes forth for the money.

I want to invest the money in a good business as soon as I am redeploy, anyway you will advice me on that since I am not a businessperson. I am an American and an intelligence officer for that so I have a 100% authentic means of transferring the money through diplomatic courier service .

I just need your acceptance and all is done. Where we are now we can only communicate through our military communication facilities that are secured so nobody can monitor our emails, then I can explain in details to you. I will only reach you through email, because our calls might be monitored, I just have to be sure whom I am dealing with.

If you are interested, please send me your personal mobile number so I can call you for further enquiries when I am out of our military network. I am writing from a fresh email account so if you are not interested do not reply to this email and please delete this message, if no response after 3days I will then search for someone else. I wait for your contact details so we can go into action.

In less than 5days, the money should have been in your position and I will come over for my money. I will give to you 30% of the sum and 70% is for me because I know that nothing goes for nothing I hope I am been fair to you.

Alternative Email Address: ruddyhoward@aol.com

Regards, Capt.Ruddy Howard

Now, as always I have no fear of publishing this clown's e-mail address. This is a very creative version of the latest Nigerian scam. However, check this out:

• An American military man stealing "10.2 million USD"? OK, first, he'd write it as 10.2 million. No need for USD.
• Next, he's going to contact me via military channels? Are you CRAZY?
• Note the usual assortment of bad grammar and punctuation.
• Why me?

Give him my personal cell phone number? What? THINK NOT!!

What a bunch of BULL DROPPINGS! This is just a despicable version, using the guise of a US military officer to try to scam you out of your hard earned money.

The scammers get more and more creative every day so just keep your eyes open, your mouth shut, and don't believe everything (anything) some stranger tells you. Even if you read it on the Internet.

Even if it was me.

I WON!

Yes, yes, yes, I WON!

I got the e-mail today!

I'm so excited! [NOT]

BULL DROPPINGS! I didn't win Jack****!

Check this scammer's e-mail out:

IMPORTANT NOTICE
Fondazion Di Rome,ITALY
http://www.fondazionedivittorio.it

The Foundazion di Rome, would like to notify you that you have been chosen by the board of trustees as one of the final recipients of a cash Grant/Donation for your own personal, educational, and business development. The Fondazione Di Rome, established 1977 by the Multi-Million groups and now supported by the Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS), United Nations Organization (UNO) and the European Union (EU) was conceived with the objective of human growth, educational, and community development.

To celebrate the 28th anniversary program, The Rome Foundation in conjunction with the Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS), United Nations Organization (UNO) and the European Union (EU) is giving out a yearly donation of US$100,000,000.00 (One Hundred Million United States Dollars) to 100 lucky recipients. These specific Donations/Grants will be awarded to 100 lucky international recipients worldwide; in different categories for their personal business development and enhancement of their educational plans. At least 15% of the awarded funds should be used by you to develop a part of your environment. This is a yearly program, which is a measure of universal development strategy.

Based on the random selection exercise of internet websites and millions of supermarket cash invoices worldwide, you were selected among the lucky recipients to receive the award sum of US$1,000,000.00 (One Million United States Dollars) as charity donations/aid from the Rome Foundation, ECOWAS, EU and the UNO in accordance with the enabling act of Parliament. (Note that all beneficiaries email addresses were selected randomly from over 100,000 internet websites or a shop's cash invoice around your area in which you might have purchased something from).

You are required to fill the form below and email it to our Executive Secretary below for qualification documentation and processing of your claims. After contacting our office with the requested data, you will be given your donation pin number, which you will use in collecting the funds. Please endeavor to quote your Qualification numbers (N-444-7858, E-800-67) in all discussions.
FULL NAMES:_________ADDRESS: __________CITY:_____
STATE:_____________ ZIP:____________COUNTRY_________
SEX:_______________AGE:__________________
MARITAL STATUS:_________________OCCUPATION:________
E-MAIL ADDRESS:____________TELEPHONE NUMBER:__________
===========================================

Executive Secretary- Adrianno Fabio
Email: fdvadrianofabio@yahoo.it

All information is strictly confidential and will only be used for the purpose to which it is been requested.

Please note that these donations/Grants are strictly administered by Economic community for West African States (ECOWAS), European Union (EU), under delegated powers from the United Nations Organization (UNO). This means that your qualification number will be reffled to know the organisation (ECOWAS or EU) that will handle your payment. You are to keep this whole information confidential until you have been able to collect your donation, as there have been many cases of double and unqualified claim, due to beneficiaries informing third parties about his/her donation.

Finally, all funds should be claimed by their respective beneficiaries, no later than 15 days after notification. Failure to do so will mean cancellation of that beneficiary and its donation will then be reserved for next year?s recipients. On behalf of the Board kindly, accept our warmest congratulations.

Regards.
Mr. Alessandra Ceasar
(Foundation officer)

Let me tell you, I get this garbage all the time. Why would someone pick ME over some other person out there on the Internet? Why? Because they think I'm a sucker!

Bad news for them, I'm not. And don't you be a sucker either!! If you get some crazy ass e-mail saying you won, listen my friend, the best thing you can do for yourself is hit the "DELETE" button!

I Want To Buy Your Stuff!

OK, look, Mom has her little hustle thing going on. I buy stuff cheap from gov't sources and then sell them on craigslist and/or eBay. I buy super cheap, I sell cheap enough that it's still a great deal for the buyers.

Now, there are some hassles involved when you sell on craigslist. There's the hit and run e-mailers, they e-mail you all hot and bothered, they MUST have this item. Then you never hear from them again. Next level of CL flakiness is the "I'm on my way right now with the money." OK... Two weeks later, you're still waiting [NOT]. Today I even got an e-mail from someone wanting to know if I'd deliver the item to him--without even offering to reimburse me for gas. [Think NOT!]

And then, there's another whole level of scam going on. Despite all warnings, this is a common response to online classified ads:

Hello,

I am interested in the immediate purchase of your item placed on Craigslist and I will like to ask few questions before I proceed on the purchase.

1 :- Is the item available for sale ?

2 :- What is the condition of the item ?

3 :- Do you accept a cashiers check as mode of payment?

4 :- Where is the item located ?

5 :- What is the final price of the item ?

6 :- Will you be able to send more pictures to see how it look likes ?

7 :-Will you allow my Shipper come to your house for the pick up of the item cos I don't want you to worry yourself about the shipping of the item.?

8 :- Will you be able to wire the Shipping fess via western union money transfer to my shipper cos the total payment which include the shipping charges and some other commissions needed to get the item to its destination would be issued altogether on the check?

9 :- If accepted kindly get back to me with your full name and contact address including your phone number so that my client can mail out the check right away?

Thanks
Regards

Edwin James

I'd laugh, but this is too sad. I call BULL DROPPINGS on this "buyer"!

Now, FYI, I have no fear in posting this name, because I'm quite sure that this is not a real name. This "buyer" is getting ready to try to rip me off!

Anytime someone e-mails you and wants to send you money via check, money order or cashiers check and then you're supposed to give someone else part of the $$, it's a guaranteed ripoff. Yes, I know you waited a week and your bank said the check had cleared.

Sadly, in another couple of weeks or a month, your bank will pull ALL of the money back out of your account and you'll be the one being investigated for bank fraud and forgery.

Yes, the check is no good. On top of that, you sent off part of the money via wire transfer or Western Union to someone else.

No, the bank won't protect you. No, the Feds won't protect you. No, the Post Office won't protect you.

So, don't be a sucker! If you get an e-mail offering to buy your stuff and you give part of the money to a "shipper" or some other crazy variation of this scam, DON'T DO IT!!

And if someone does seen credible and you do decide to ship an item, accept USPS money orders ONLY and then take them straight to the Post Office to cash them. There's tracking numbers on them and the computer will know if they're good and how much they were originally made out for. Don't put them in your bank! Take them to the Post Office ONLY!!

Remember, the scammers will keep doing this until people get smart and stop falling for it. Don't be a sucker, be a smart consumer!

The IRS Has A Refund For You!!

Yup, came right in my e-mail yesterday.

The IRS has found some extra money for me, and all I had to do was send an e-mail with my personal information (the link was conveniently provided to me) and I'd get my refund ASAP.

DANG, do these clowns think I fell off the turnip truck?

First off, the IRS will NEVER admit they owe you money. Come on, people, think!! Since when do the Feds give up a nickel without a mass of extra paperwork, at least an hour of your time, and an argument?

PULEEZE, I call BULL DROPPINGS on this e-mail.

It's just some cousin of the poor Christian woman who's dying of cancer and wants to send you all of her money, if you'll just give her your bank account information. Or the guy that wants to buy your car/furniture/electronics and he'll be happy to send you a money order plus shipping -- all you have to do is send the shipper's fee over to his thief-in-law...

In EVERY case, I can promise you that you'll end up owing the bank a bunch of money, whether it's having your account stripped clean with ACH withdrawals, or when they back that fake money order out of your account.

Don't be a fool out on the Internet! Just because someone says it's true, doesn't mean it is!

In fact, doubt me too.

But be warned, if you ignore me, you will be sorry....

IRS Website: www.irs.gov