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© 2004 by Rick Altman. All Rights Reserved.
ALL OF YOU HAVE RECEIVED ONE, WE’RE
SURE. The email with the subject
of “Very Urgent Investment Transaction,”
the entire letter in upper case, and the
gist being the wealthy person who has
died and left tens of millions of dollars
in a foreign bank account. In order to
access it, a foreigner needs to help and
said help is good for a 50-50 split. That
share of the approximately $15 million
is realized for a small fee, to be paid
up front, of course.
When we received one of these recently, we just couldn’t resist. Inspired by the people at www.whatsthebloodypoint.com, who practically make a living out of this sort of thing, we decided to play along with it. What follows is our chronicle of correspondence between Prince Jim Udu West and Theodore Fumpleroy.
Do we not have better things to do with our time? Well, yes. Are we not ashamed of ourselves for stooping to their level and for trying to cause trouble? Let us remember that these money scammers are criminals, pure and simple. And hey, we have gotten a monthly article out of the charade.
We won’t bother to enter [sic] designations all over the place; just know that this is all verbatim, typos, fractured English and all...
From: PRINCE JIM UDU WEST [mailto:jim222@asurfer.com]
Sent: Saturday, May 15, 2004 2:09 PM
To: write_to_us@altman.com
Subject: VERY URGENT INVESTMENT TRANSACTION.
DEAR PARTNER,
IN ORDER TO TRANSFER OUT ( TWENTY SIX MILLIONU.S.DOLLARS) FROM OUR BANK. I HAVE THE COURAGE TO LOOK FOR A RELIABLE AND HONEST PERSON WHO WILL BE CAPABLE FOR THIS IMPORTANT TRANSACTION. BELIEVING THAT YOU WILL NEVER LET ME DOWN EITHER NOW OR IN FUTURE.
I AM PRINCE JIM UDU WEST.THE AUDITOR
AND COMPUTING MANAGER UNITED BANK OF AFRICA
[U.B.]. THERE IS AN ACCOUNT OPENED IN
THIS BANK IN 1980 AND SINCE 1990 NOBODY
HAS OPERATED ON THIS ACCOUNT AGAIN, AFTER
GOING THROUGH SOME OLD FILES IN THE RECORDS,
I DISCOVERED THAT IF I DO NOT REMITT THIS
MONEY OUT URGENTELY,IT
WILL BE FORFEITED FOR NOTHING.
THE OWNER OF THIS ACCOUNT IS MR GAVIN
LADHAMS A FOREIGNER AND THE MANAGER OF
PETROL CHEMICAL SERVICE, A CHEMICAL ENGINEER
BY PROFFESSION AND HE DIED SINCE 1980.AND
THEN,SINCE 1990, NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT THIS
ACCOUNT OR ANYTHING CONCERNING IT, THE
ACCOUNT HAS NO OTHER BENEFICIARY AND MY
INVESTIGATION PROVED TO ME AS WELL THAT
HIS COMPANY DOES NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT
THIS
ACCOUNT AND THE AMOUNT INVOLVED IS (U.S.$26,000,000.00).
I WANT TO TRANSFER THIS MONEY INTO A
SAFE FOREIGN ACCOUNT ABROAD BUT I DON'T
KNOW ANY FOREIGNER, I AM ONLY CONTACTING
YOU AS A FOREIGNER BECAUSE THIS MONEY
CAN NOT BE APPROVED TO ANY LOCAL BANK
HERE BUT CAN ONLY BE APPROVED TO ANY FOREIGN
ACCOUNT BECAUSE THE MONEY IS U.S DOLLARS
AND THE FORMER
OWNER OF THE ACCOUNT IS MR GAVIN LADHAMS
AND HE WAS A FOREIGNER TOO.
YOU ARE THE ONLY PERSON THAT I HAVE CONTACTED FOR THIS INVESTMENT FOR NOW. SO PLEASE REPLY URGENTLY.
WHEN THE TRANSFER IS APPROVED AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE IS ALOCATED OVERSEAS,THROUGH THE OFFSHORE PAYING DELEGATE FOR FINAL CLEARANCE AND SIGNING OF THE PAYMENT REALEASE FORM BY THE BENEFICIARY, I WANT US TO SEE AT THE OVERSEA PAYING CLEARANCE OFFICE FACE TO FACE OR SIGNING OF THE ORIGINAL BINDDING AGREEMENT TO BIND US TOGETHER SO THAT,WE CAN RECEIVE THIS MONEY INTO A FOREIGN ACCOUNT OR ANY ACCOUNT OF YOUR CHOICE WHERE THE FUND WILL BE REMITTED.
I NEED YOUR CO-OPERATION TO MAKE THIS
WORK FINE, BECAUSE THE MANAGEMENT IS READY
TO APPROVE THIS PAYMENT TO ANY FOREIGNER
WHO HAS THE CORRECT INFORMATION TO THIS
ACCOUNT,WHICH I WILL
GIVE TO YOU WHEN SURE OF YOUR CAPABILITY
TO HANDLE SUCH AMOUNT IN STRICT CONFIDENCE
AND TRUST.
I WILL USE MY POSITION AND INFLUENCE
ON OTHER STAFFS TO EFFECT THE LEGAL APPROVALS
AND ONWARD TRANSFER OF THIS MONEY TO YOUR
ACCOUNT WITH APPROPRIATE CLEARANCE FROM
FOREIGN PAYMENT DEPARTMENT. WITH ASSURANCE
THAT THIS MONEY WILL BE INTACT PENDING
MY PHYSICAL ARRIVAL TO YOUR COUNTRY FOR
THE SHARING
AND OTHER INVESTMENT.
AT THE CONCLUSION OF THIS INVESTMENT, YOU WILL BE GIVEN 50% OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT. I AM WAITING FOR YOU URGENT RESPONS.
THANK
PRINCE JIM UDU.
Date: Sat, 15 May 2004 07:59:09 -0700
(PDT)
From: "Theodore Fumpleroy" <fumpleroy@yahoo.com>
Subject: Urgent Investment Transaction
To: jim222@asurfer.com, jim_200@mail8.com
Dear Prince West --
I will help you in your endeavor to transfer
this account to a U.S. bank. My brother-in-law
and uncle are both bankers, so I have
a lot of experience in these sorts of
transactions...and I could use the share
of the proceeds.
Theodore Fumpleroy
Los Angeles, CA
From: "prince jim udu west" <jim_200@mail8.com>
To: fumpleroy@yahoo.com
Subject: AWAIT YOUR URGENT REPLY
Date: Mon, 17 May 2004 09:08:35 GMT
Dear Theodore Fumpleroy.
Thanks for your response and willingness
to help me in this transaction.I want
you to understand that this transaction
is 100% risk free, and my only concern
now is the security of my own share of
the money when transfered into your
account.I wiil come over to your country
for sharing as soon as the money is transfered
to your account because i will like to
invest my own share in your
country.I also want to tell you that nobody
knows about this money except me and you,and
you should not let anybody to know about
it untill we conclude everthing,because
of security reasons.
What I mean here is, can I trust you?
you know the amount involved and this
is my life. If I can trust, then lets
proceed with the actualising of the transaction.
1: I want to let you know that i need
a reliable account details from you where
the fund will be to transferred. If you
can be fast, The transfer can be concluded
under 7 banking days.
2: With the account information, I will start to process the Foreign Payment Approval in your favour from the Federal Ministry of Finance.
3: Once the fund is approved for transfer in your favour, you as the foreign beneficiary will be required to sign the Final Fund Release Order in person in the presence of the management of the bank here.
Send to me as a matter of urgency the
underlisted to
enable me to change some certain things
in our bank.
send me:
1. YOUR FULL NAME.
2. YOUR OCCUPATION
3: DATE OF BIRTH
4. THE BANK DETAILS WHICH WILL BE USED
FOR THE
TRANSFER.( A credit account balance is
ok for the
transfer)
5. YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS.
6. YOUR PICTURE.
7:YOUR PHONE/FAX NUMBERS.
Finally, call me with my private tel number:
234-xx-35411697.
I am happily married with four children.
MY OFFICE ADDRESS IS : UNITED BANK OF
AFRICA PLC.
71 CROWDER STREET ABUJA, NIGERIA.
Further details awaits your urgent response.Please
you should send your details to me as
soon as you get this mail so that i will
call you to explain everything to
you.Please always reply me with this new
email address as it is very confidential
to me. NOTE:Send your informations to
me as soon as you.
Prince Jim
Date: Tue, 18 May 2004 06:47:29 -0700
(PDT)
From: "Theodore Fumpleroy" <fumpleroy@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: AWAIT YOUR URGENT REPLY
To: "prince jim udu west" <jim_200@mail8.com>
Good morning, Prince Jim!
I am eager to begin this exciting transaction
with you. Call me Hot Toddie; everyone
does. I had a long talk with my uncle,
Gordon Fardgas (the one who is a banker,
as I was telling you about), and he had
a very good idea about how we can make
this transaction go even more smoothly
and without any tax liability whatsoever.
Here in the USA, we would have to pay
taxes on every dime that we collect from
this inheritance. He says you would have
to also, but I don't know how much the
tax laws are enforced in Nigeria.
Anyway, my information is as follows:
-------------------
Theodore Fumpleroy
1380 South Tennison Ave. [The
address of a Round Table Pizza]
Los Angeles, CA 90025
I just had cosmetic surgery, so any photo
I have taken right now won't look much
like me. Give me about four days so that
my face can heal. There are two questions
that I want to ask you:
1. I assume that to make this transaction
happen, there are fees that we pay up
front. What is the total amount of that
fee? It's okay if you have to estimate.
2. Are you able to travel outside of Nigeria?
I ask these two questions because, again,
I have an idea that could make this transaction
even more lucrative. I eagerly await your
reply, Prince...!
Hot Toddie
[Normally, the scammers take a long and circuitous route to the point where they tell you what funds to send; we wanted to cut right to the chase and so we treated the notion of paying a fee as trivial.]
Date: Wed, 19 May 2004 04:22:25 -0700
(PDT)
From: "princ jim udu west" <prince_jim200@yahoo.com>
Subject: ALWAYS REPLY ME WITH THIS NEW
EMAIL ADDRESS.
To: fumpleroy@yahoo.com
DEAR Theodore Fumpleroy,
THANKS FOR THE EMAIL SENT TO ME, AS I WAS HAPPY HEARING FROM YOU, NOW, AS HAVING RECEIVED YOUR FULL DETAILS AS ASKED, I WILL BE MOVING FOR THE APPLICATION OF CLAIMS ON YOUR BEHALF WITH THE CONCERNED QUATERS [??] AS TO SEEK FOR THE APPROVALS TO YOUR BEHALF, PLEASE CALL ME FOR US TO TALK MORE, AS REGARDS TO THIS TRANSFER, WHICH WE SHALL ALL BENEFIT FROM. FINALLY, PLEASE BE ASSURED THAT THIS TRANSFER IS LEGAL AND RISK FREE, AS WE WILL HAVE NO PROBLEM, AS ALL I NEED FROM YOU, IS TO FOLLOW MY DIRECTIONS, AS TO A FREE AND SAFE TRANSFER, AS WITH MY POSITION HERE, WE WILL HAVE NO PROBLEM.
AS TO EXPENSES, I WOULD NOT KNOW, BUT I KNOW THAT IT WILL NOT COST MUCH, PLEASE CALL ME AS SOON AS THIS MAIL IS RECEIVED.
THANKS,
PRINCE JIM.
Date: Fri, 21 May 2004 00:08:38 -0700
(PDT)
From: "Theodore Fumpleroy" <fumpleroy@yahoo.com>
Subject: The Transaction
To: "princ jim udu west" <prince_jim200@yahoo.com>
Hello, Prince --
I tried to call you on the number you
gave me, but I think that my telephone
service does not allow access to the exchange
used by your country.
I did not understand some of the things
you said in your last email:
I WILL BE MOVING FOR THE APPLICATION OF
CLAIMS ON YOUR BEHALF WITH THE CONCERNED
QUATERS, AS TO SEEK FOR THE APPROVALS
TO YOUR BEHALF.
I do not know what a quater is or what
it means to seek for the approvals to
your behalf.
You say that you do now know what the
expenses are. I would presume that the
transfer fees would be no less than $500
in US currency, right? Again, I have an
idea that would really turn this transaction
into a great thing. Please ask your banking
institution for an estimate of the transfer
fees that you would need me to share with
you. I don't need an exact amount...
Hot Toddie
Date: Fri, 21 May 2004 08:19:41 -0700
(PDT)
From: "princ jim udu west" <prince_jim200@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: The Transaction
To: "Theodore Fumpleroy" <fumpleroy@yahoo.com>
DEAR Theodore Fumpleroy ,
THANKS FOR THE EMAIL SENT TO ME, AS I
WAS HAPPY HEARING FROM YOU, NOW, EVERY
OTHER FEES HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF, AS
THE ONLY FEES NEEDED IS 8,900$, THEREFORE,
YOU SHOULD BE SENDING THIS IMMEDIATELY,
VIA WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER, AS FOR
THE ATTORNEY TO COLLECT THE MONEY AND
MAKE THE STAMP DUTY FEES
IMMEDIATELY.
THANKS,
PRINCE JIM.
Date: Fri, 21 May 2004 13:44:58 -0700
(PDT)
From: "Theodore Fumpleroy" <fumpleroy@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: The Transaction
To: "princ jim udu west" <prince_jim200@yahoo.com>
Prince, I've got a better idea...
Are you able to travel at all -- like
to Morocco, Spain, or Tunisia? My brother-in-law
and I have been doing a bit of research
into this terrific opportunity. The tax
laws of those three countries are much
friendlier to inheritances. If we took
care of this transaction in one of those
places, we would make a lot more money,
and I would be willing to pay you more
for the effort. I propose this:
1. We will open an account in one of those
countries, maybe in Madrid or in Casablanca.
We will make sure to give you the account
number so you can make the deposit.
2. We meet in that city. My plane fare
will not be cheap, but it will be worth
it.
3. I will hand-deliver to you a cashier's
check of not $8,900 but $18,900. That
is just about how much we would save by
doing this there in Madrid, Casablanca,
or a city nearby.
4. I'll give you the account information
and return home.
5. You transfer the inheritance to the
holding account, and as soon as the money
clears, we will prepare a wire transfer
or a cashier's check for your share.
How does this sound? We are very excited
over here!!
Theodore
[How far would he go with his scam? Could we dangle an additional carrot before him and get him on a thousand-mile journey? We tried to make it as enticing as possible.]
Date: Sat, 22 May 2004 10:56:30 -0700
(PDT)
From: "princ jim udu west" <prince_jim200@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: The Transaction
To: "Theodore Fumpleroy" <fumpleroy@yahoo.com>
DEAR Theodore Fumpleroy ,
THANKS FOR THE EMAIL SENT, ANYWAY, I AM BEGINGING TO SEE THAT YOU ARE NOT SERIOUS, AS TO HANDLE THIS DEAL, AS I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHAT AND YOUR SUGGESTION IS ALL ABOUT. I WILL STOP EVERY PROCESS, WHICH ARE BEEN DONE TO YOUR NAME, AS REGARDS TO THIS CLAIMS.
THANKS,
PRINCE JIM.
[Darn, maybe we went too far...]
Date: Sat, 22 May 2004 21:02:11 -0700
(PDT)
From: "Theodore Fumpleroy" <fumpleroy@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: The Transaction
To: "princ jim udu west" <prince_jim200@yahoo.com>
Prince Jim, I have tried to call you,
but I have repeatedly gotten a "circuit
unavailable" message. But more importantly,
what in heaven's name has given you the
impression that I am not serious? My brother-in-law
and I are VERY serious. So serious, in
fact, that we are willing to fly halfway
across the world in order to meet you,
serious enough to open an account in a
foreign country, and serious enough to
add $10,000 to the fee in order to make
this transaction worthwhile to you. What
ever gave you the impression that I am
not serious??
You say that you cannot understand what
my suggestion is about, so I will state
it again:
1. We meet in a country that you are able
to travel to. I suggest Spain or Morocco.
2. I give you a cashier's check for $18,900
and then return to the United States.
3. You deposit the inheritance in an account
that I have set up.
4. I wire half of the funds to you once
it is there.
What part of this do you not understand.
It all seems perfectly clear to me...
Theodore
Date: Sun, 23 May 2004 07:32:37 -0700
(PDT)
From: "princ jim udu west" <prince_jim200@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: The Transaction
To: "Theodore Fumpleroy" <fumpleroy@yahoo.com>
DEAR Theodore Fumpleroy ,
THANKS FOR THE EMAIL SENT TO ME, AS I
WAS HAPPY HEARING FROM YOU, PLEASE, YOU
SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A CLAIMS,
WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN APPLIED FOR THE
APPROVALS ON YOUR BEHALF, WHICH WE ARE
EXPECTING TO HAVE BY MONDAY, BEEN TOMORROW,
WHICH AS SOON AS RECEIVED, A COPY WILL
BE SENT TO YOU, WHILE THE ORIGINALS SENT
TO THE BANK ON YOUR BEHALF. SECONDLY,
YOU SHOULD AS WELL UNDERSTAND THAT I CANNOT
TRAVEL OUT, AS I HAVE TO BE HERE, AND
ENSURE THAT THIS FUNDS IS WIRED OUT TO
YOUR ACCOUNT, BEFORE TRAVELLING, THEREFORE,
AS SOON AS WE ARE ABLE TO GET THE APPROVALS
BY TOMORROW, YOU WILL BE SENDING THE MONEY
IMMEDIATELY VIA WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER,
AS TO MAKE THE
PAYMENT FOR THE FEES REMAINING, FOR THE
FINAL ENDORSEMENT TO BE RECEIVED, AS FOR
THE FUNDS TO BE WIRED OUT OUTRIGHTLY.
THANKS,
PRINCE JIM.
Date: Sun, 23 May 2004 11:46:23 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Theodore Fumpleroy" <fumpleroy@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: The Transaction
To: "princ jim udu west" <prince_jim200@yahoo.com>
Okay. I like my idea better but I guess
we'll do it your way. Tell me where to
send the Western Union telegram and how
much to send and we'll take care of it
this week.
Todd
Date: Mon, 24 May 2004 03:58:15 -0700
(PDT)
From: "princ jim udu west" <prince_jim200@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: The Transaction
To: "Theodore Fumpleroy" <fumpleroy@yahoo.com>
DEAR Theodore Fumpleroy,
THANKS FOR THE EMAIL SENT TO ME, NOW, THE APPROVALS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED, AS IT IS WITH ME NOW, AS ALREADY THE ORIGINALS HAVE BEEN SENT TO THE BANK ON YOUR BEHALF, NOW, THE FEES REMAINING IS $8,900, AND YOU SHOULD SEND IT IMMEDIATELY VIA WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER WITH THE NAME AS GIVEN BY THE ATTORNEY:
BARRISTER UDEICHI LAWRENCE,
OBINNA CHAMBERS,
NO 1 AKWUKE CLOSE, FESTAC TOWN.
ABUJA.
PLEASE GO THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER, AND SEND THE MONEY, AND SEND THE CONTROL NUMBER/TEST QUESTIONS OF THE MONEY SENT. HAVE A NICE DAY.
PRINCE JIM.
PLEASE, I WANT TO TALK WITH YOU OVER THE
PHONE.
Date: Mon, 24 May 2004 09:42:24 -0700
(PDT)
From: "Theodore Fumpleroy" <fumpleroy@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: The Transaction
To: "princ jim udu west" <prince_jim200@yahoo.com>
Two questions, Prince:
1. Who is Barrister Udeichi Lawrence?
Why is he receiving this money? I would
be more comfortable sending this money
to you. I trust you!
2. I'm thinking that I would use part
of my share of the inheritance to invest
in a business there in Nigeria. Do you
think that $50,000 USD would be enough
to start a business there? Of course,
soon I'll have much more to invest, but
that is the amount that I could afford
to spend right now, and I might as well
start planning for that now.
Theodore
Date: Tue, 25 May 2004 02:56:23 -0700
(PDT)
From: "princ jim udu west" <prince_jim200@yahoo.com>
Subject: URGENT
To: "Theodore Fumpleroy" <fumpleroy@yahoo.com>
DEAR Theodore Fumpleroy ,
THANKS FOR THE EMAIL SENT TO ME, AS I
WAS HAPPY HEARING FROM YOU, WELL, YOU
ARE FREE TO SEND THE MONEY TO ME, BUT
LIKE YOU KNOW THAT I CONTRACTED AN ATTORNEY
WHO IS REPRESENTING YOU HERE, AS TO HANDLE
THIS CLAIMS, AND HE IS THE ONE WHO WILL
BE MAKING THE
PAYMENT ON YOUR BEHALF, BESIDES, WHOEVER
THE MONEY IS BEEN SENT TO , DOES NOT MATTER,
THEREFORE, PLEASE SEND IT TO THE ATTORNEY
AS ASKED, FOR THIS REMAINIGN FEES TO EB
PAID, FOR THIS FINAL ENDORSEMENT TO BE
RECEIVED. HAVE A NICE DAY.
PRINCE JIM.
Date: Tue, 25 May 2004 14:26:48 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Theodore Fumpleroy" <fumpleroy@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: URGENT
To: "princ jim udu west" <prince_jim200@yahoo.com>
Prince, I have one small request. Do you have a digital camera or
a scanner? I would like for us to exchange photos. Doing business
over the Internet can be so impersonal, and as we are about to exchange
a large sum of money, I would like to see if we can make things
a bit more familiar. Also, as I stated earlier, I intend to reinvest
a lot of this inheritance back in your native country. Are there
pig farms in Nigeria? I think that would be a good thing to pursue.
Can you please send me a digital photo of yourself? Then I'll do
the same...
Theodore
[No response for over a day; sounds like a good time to panic...]
Date: Wed, 26 May 2004 22:43:31 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Theodore Fumpleroy" <fumpleroy@yahoo.com>
Subject: Photo of you?
To: "princ jim udu west" <prince_jim200@yahoo.com>
Prince, are you able to send me a photo? I'm waiting anxiously...
Theodore
[Still no response. Better change the tone...]
Date: Thu, 27 May 2004 07:57:37 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Theodore Fumpleroy" <fumpleroy@yahoo.com>
Subject: It's okay, you don't have to
To: "princ jim udu west" <prince_jim200@yahoo.com>
Prince, did I scare you away with my request for a photograph?
It's okay if you don't have a photo to send me. Please don't stop
writing me just because of that. Instead, maybe you can just tell
me a bit about yourself, and if you want, I'll still send you a
photo. You know, $8,900 is a lot of money to spend on someone you
just met, and I just want to know a bit more about the person I'm
doing business with. That's all...
Theodore
Date: Thu, 27 May 2004 10:52:37 -0700 (PDT)
From: "princ jim udu west" <prince_jim200@yahoo.com>
Subject: URGENT
To: "Theodore Fumpleroy" <fumpleroy@yahoo.com>
DEAR Theodore Fumpleroy ,
THANKS, AS I ONCEMORE ATTACH HERE MY INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT, AND
WHEREBY IT IS NOT OKAY BY YOU, THEN, I WILL HAVE TO LOOK FOR A RELIABLE
PERSON TO CONTINUE THIS TRANSFER, AND HAVE YOUR SHARE TAKEN, AS
I AM BEGINING TO SEE THAT YOU DO NOT WANT TO HELP OUT IN
THIS TRANSFER.
HAVE A NICE DAY.
PRINCE JIM.
[Is he beginning to lose patience? Can't quite tell — wonder how much further we can string him out...]
Date: Thu, 27 May 2004 20:40:36 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Theodore Fumpleroy" <fumpleroy@yahoo.com>
Subject: Photo Exchange
To: "princ jim udu west" <prince_jim200@yahoo.com>
Not only am I totally excited about doing my part of the transfer,
I am sending you one of my favorite photos. It is really silly,
because I just won a jackpot of over $15,000 and then I wandered
off to the beach and started giving the money away to anyone I saw.
Would you like to see some PowerPoint slides that include photos
of my family, too? I have several of my Aunt Girdie and Uncle Dashpot,
and it's only a 12MB download. Can I please send them??
You are a very handsome man and I am honored to be doing business
with you! You see, this is why I wanted us to do this; now I am
more excited than ever to go forward. And speaking of which, I need
your advice: What would be a good business in Nigeria for me to
invest in? Before the inheritance money becomes available, I have
about $55,000 US to spend and I could see you as a general manager
of a business there. I was thinking about pig farming, but maybe
you have a better idea. What do you think?
BTW, just curious: if you have a passport, then you could travel
to another country. Are you sure you don't want to set up a meeting
in Morocco or in Spain? To invest the $55,000 in a Nigerian business,
I would need to set up an account trustee and you would be the perfect
person to do that. What do you think, Prince?
Theodore
Date: Fri, 28 May 2004 04:12:45 -0700 (PDT)
From: "princ jim udu west" <prince_jim200@yahoo.com>
Subject: URGENT
To: "Theodore Fumpleroy" <fumpleroy@yahoo.com>
DEAR Theodore Fumpleroy ,
THANKS FOR THE EMAIL SENT TO ME, AND THE PHOTOS SENT, NOW, PLEASE SEND THE MONEY FOR THE STAMP FEES, FOR THIS TO BE CONCLUDED, FOR THIS FUNDS TO BE WIREDOUT. HAVE A NICE DAY.
PRINCE JIM.
[Better start getting down to business now...]
Date: Fri, 28 May 2004 07:59:17 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Theodore Fumpleroy" <fumpleroy@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: URGENT (very urgent)
To: "princ jim udu west" <prince_jim200@yahoo.com>
Dear Prince --
I just returned from my bank where I tried to send you the funds
via Western Union, as we agreed. However, the bank did not have
all of the information that it needed, and when the teller asked
me for it, I did not know it either. Here is what they say I need:
- Routing Number
- Security Destination Code (required since 9/11)
- Country Identification Expression
I tried to call you from the bank (I was able to get through from
the phones there) but it was in the middle of the night for you
and nobody answered).
If you are able to get that information for me, I will try again.
Or remember, my offer still stands to meet you in Morocco or in
Madrid with $18,900 and we can do this in person, where we won't
need any of the above information.
Theodore
Date: Sun, 30 May 2004 04:56:05 -0700 (PDT)
From: "princ jim udu west" <prince_jim200@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: URGENT (very urgent)
To: "Theodore Fumpleroy" <fumpleroy@yahoo.com>
DEAR Theodore Fumpleroy ,
THANKS FOR THE EMAIL SENT, NOW, TO SEND WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER, YOU DO NOT NEED SUCH DETAILS, AS ALL YOU NED IS THE NAME AND ADDRESS/COUNTRY, WHERE THE MONEY WILL BE PICKED. PLEASE, I DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING, BUT IF YOU WANT THE MONEY TO BE SENT BY ACCOUNT, THAT IS BANKTOBANK, THEN, I CAN SEND TO YOU AN OFFSHORE ACCOUNT, FRO YOU TO SEND THE MONEY THERE IMMEDIATELY, AND SEND THE TRANSFER SLIP, AS SOON AS THE MONEY IS SENT. HAVE A NICE DAY.
PRINCE JIM.
I ALSWAYS GET CONFUSED, THAT YOU COMPLAIN THAT MY PHONE IS NOT WORKING, PLEASE WHEREBY YOU CAN'T GET ME, SEND ME YOURS, AS TO CALL YOU, AND TALK WITH YOU.
[The more experienced reverse-scammers set up temporary telephone numbers so that they can actually talk to the scammers. We didn’t quite have the nerve to try that, so we will have to continue to sidestep any requests to communicate by telephone.]
Date: Mon, 31 May 2004 21:24:35 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Theodore Fumpleroy" <fumpleroy@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: URGENT (very urgent)
To: "princ jim udu west" <prince_jim200@yahoo.com>
Prince, the best number to reach me on is 323-663-8301. I will
make the Western Union transfer tomorrow when the banks open. Today
is a holiday...
Theodore
[Thank you once again, Round Table Pizza parlor...]
Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 06:47:18 -0700 (PDT)
From: "princ jim udu west" <prince_jim200@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: URGENT (very urgent)
To: "Theodore Fumpleroy" <fumpleroy@yahoo.com>
DEAR Theodore,
THANKS, AS I JUST CALLED THE LINE, WHICH WAS RINGIN NO REPLY, PLEASE CALL ME, AND SEND THE DETAILS OF THE MONEY SENT, AS SOON AS IT IS WIRED VIA WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.
THANKS,
PRINCE JIM.
Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 09:39:47 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Theodore Fumpleroy" <fumpleroy@yahoo.com>
Subject: The money is transfered!
To: "princ jim udu west" <prince_jim200@yahoo.com>
Prince, it's done!
I just got back from the bank, and we wired the money! It's my first
time ever sending a wire transfer and I have to say it was very
exciting. I'd like to do it a few more times. The minimum amount
you can wire is $50 -- can I send you $50 more??
I am so excited about becoming your business partner. I've never
met a prince before. What type of prince are you? Do you come from
Nigerian royalty? Is your father the king, or your mother the queen?
Do you get to sleep with satin sheets or drink orange juice from
the royal sippie cup?
When can we meet? And can I get your autograph for my kids??
Theodore
Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 09:45:18 -0700 (PDT)
From: "princ jim udu west" <prince_jim200@yahoo.com>
Subject: URGENT
To: "Theodore Fumpleroy" <fumpleroy@yahoo.com>
DEAR Theodore Fumpleroy ,
SEND THE CONTROL NUMBER/TEST QUESTIONS PLEASE IF THIS
MONEY HAS BEEN SENT.
THANKS,
PRINCE JIM.
[Hmm, having visited WesternUnion.com for the first time, we do see references to a control number and to a test question. We were tempted to "mistakenly" send him .89 instead of $8,900, but we would have to divulge our real identity (can't open a Western Union account with a fake name like you can a Yahoo email account), not to mention pay a $15 fee.]
Date: Wed, 2 Jun 2004 00:00:36 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Theodore Fumpleroy" <fumpleroy@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: URGENT
To: "princ jim udu west" <prince_jim200@yahoo.com>
I sent the funds to the BARRISTER UDEICHI LAWRENCE, using the address you gave me.
I was given the following Money Transfer Control Number:
WJ5-742-XBV-904
I was asked to provide a test question: What is your favorite sport?
I answered "tennis
It seemed to go just fine from my end. Please let me know when
we can begin discussing my opening a pig farming business there
in your country and naming you the general manager.
Theodore
Date: Wed, 2 Jun 2004 03:34:11 -0700 (PDT)
From: "princ jim udu west" <prince_jim200@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: URGENT
To: "Theodore Fumpleroy" <fumpleroy@yahoo.com>
DEAR Theodore Fumpleroy ,
THANKS AGAIN, WELL, I HAVE SEEN THAT YOU ARE A HOPELESS MAN, AND A MAD MAN, AS YOU ARE NOT A SERIOUS MAN. F--- OUT IMMEDIATELY.
THANKS,
PRINCE JIM.
[Laughing Out Loud! First he thanks us, then cusses at us, and then he thanks us again. So we might be at the end of our rope here...]
Date: Wed, 2 Jun 2004 06:36:59 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Theodore Fumpleroy" <fumpleroy@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: URGENT
To: "princ jim udu west" <prince_jim200@yahoo.com>
What are you talking about? I have been completely earnest and
sincere with you from the beginning. Why are you using profanity
against me now? What have I done to anger you?
Did I not do the Western Union telegram correctly? It sure seemed
as if I did. Please tell me what is the matter and I will fix it.
You should be more respectful of those who have tried to work with
you; I might have made a mistake, but I do not deserve to be sworn
at.
[We'll see if some hurt feelings get a bit of mileage...]
Date: Wed, 2 Jun 2004 07:54:58 -0700 (PDT)
From: "princ jim udu west" <prince_jim200@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: URGENT
To: "Theodore Fumpleroy" <fumpleroy@yahoo.com>
DEAR Theodore Fumpleroy ,
THANKS FOR THE EMAIL SENT, AS ANYWAY, I WAS NOT HAPPY ON RECEIVING THE EMAIL SENT TO ME BEFORE, THAT WAS WHY I TALKED THAT WAY, AS THE WHOLE SITUATION, SEEMS THAT WE HAVE BEEN PLAYING. NOW, THE DETAILS GIVEN WHICH IS :
Money Transfer Control Number: WJ5-742-XBV-904
What is your favorite sport? Tennis
THIS IS INCORRECT, AS CONTROL NUMBER MUST BE IN FIGURES, AND IT MUST BE TEN DIGIT NUMBERS, THEREFORE, EITHER SCAN THE SLIP OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY SENT, OR LOOK FOR THE REAL CONTROL NUMBER, AND SEND, FOR THIS TO BE FINALIZED IMMEDIATELY.
THANKS,
PRINCE JIM.
ALSO, I WILL LIKE TO TALK WITH YOU OVER THE PHONE PLEASE,
[Still got him going. Might as well play the hurt feelings card a bit longer...]
Date: Wed, 2 Jun 2004 09:34:30 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Theodore Fumpleroy" <fumpleroy@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: URGENT
To: "princ jim udu west" <prince_jim200@yahoo.com>
This whole situation has become very distressing to me. Prince,
you should take a moment and see it through my eyes:
1. Instead of paying you $8,900, I propose to pay you $18,900. You
tell me no.
2. I suggest a $55,000 investment in a business there in Nigeria,
with an offer to make you the general manager, with an annual salary
likely to be in excess of $75,000. I have successfully started similar
businesses in eight other countries (including Kenya), so I know
what I'm talking about. You say that you are not interested in even
hearing the details.
3. I offer to fly all the way to your continent to meet you. You
say you cannot.
4. Then when I make one little mistake with Western Union (a service
I have never used before), you get so frustrated as to swear at
me.
It should be clear to you from our correspondence that money is
not nearly as important to me as building relationships. Frankly,
I have more money than I will ever know what to do with, so when
opportunities like this come along to be able to start new businesses,
I become excited about them. I'm trying to create something that
will make several hundred thousand dollars for both of us and you're
getting mad at me over a little wire transfer mistake.
I need your promise that you will never use language like that with
me again. It upsets me greatly.
Date: Wed, 2 Jun 2004 12:20:01 -0700 (PDT)
From: "princ jim udu west" <prince_jim200@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: URGENT
To: "Theodore Fumpleroy" <fumpleroy@yahoo.com>
DEAR Theodore Fumpleroy ,
THANKS FOR THE DETAILED EMAIL SENT TO ME, AS I HAVE ALREADY APPOLIGIZED THE WAY I SOUNDED TO YOU, AS IT IS DUE TO THE PRESSURE ON ME.
NOW, I AGREE TO ALL YOUR BUSINESS, BUT MY MAJOR AIM NOW, IS FOR
THE FUNDS TO BE WIRED OUT, AFTER WHICH, WE WILL NOW HAVE A ROUND
TABLE DISCUSSION, ON HOW BEST AND ALL THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
KINDLY PLEASE SEND THE CONTROL OR THE SLIP, AS FOR THIS MONEY TO
BE COLLECTED, AND THE PAYMENT MADE.
HAVE A NICE DAY.
PRINCE JIM.
Date: Wed, 2 Jun 2004 21:20:02 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Theodore Fumpleroy" <fumpleroy@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: URGENT
To: "princ jim udu west" <prince_jim200@yahoo.com>
I'm no longer 100% certain that this is the right thing to do. I conduct business in order to establish relationships, not to make money. You don't seem to value our relationship as much as you value my money...at least that's the way it feels to me now.
Now I wonder if it wouldn't be better for me to find some other investment to spend my $55,000 on. An investment that is worthy of my time and attention and that can be conducted with mutual respect.
Either that or you'll need to convince me that you're that person. Right now, Prince Jim, I'm not so sure...
[This is now like holding a feather in your hand—it's about to blow away any minute now...]
[No response for almost 36 hours...]
Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2004 23:16:31 -0700 (PDT)
From: "princ jim udu west" <prince_jim200@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: URGENT
To: "Theodore Fumpleroy" <fumpleroy@yahoo.com>
DEAR Theodore Fumpleroy ,
THANKS FOR THE DETAILED EMAIL SENT TO ME, AND I WILL AGAIN ALREADY APOLIGIZE TO YOU FOR THE PRESSURE TO ME.
PLEASE GIVE US ONE MORE CHANCE. I PROMISE TO VALUE FOR BESIDES YOUR MONEY. THIS PAYMENT HAS BEEN THE WORK OF MY ENTIRE LIFE AND IT HAS BEEN MUCH PRESSURE.
PLEASE THINK OF HOW YOU CAN BEST WORK TO ME AND I WILL BEHAVE BETTER.
HAVE A NICE DAY.
PRINCE JIM.
]This really feels like the end of the line. I wonder if we should succumb to the guiltiest pleasure of them all...]
[Left him hanging all of Thursday. I think it's time...]
Date: Fri, 4 Jun 2004 20:33:02 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Theodore Fumpleroy" <fumpleroy@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: URGENT
To: "princ jim udu west" <prince_jim200@yahoo.com>
Prince, thanks for your email. As you suggested, I have been thinking about how I can best work with you, and I think I know exactly what that might be. Furthermore, I have a fair amount of experience with it, because actually, I've been working you for the past two weeks.
The amazing thing is that you really and truly thought that I had even the slightest notion of paying you one lousy penny. That's hysterical! It was pretty funny the path I led you down and the way in which I made a total fool out of you. But really, Prince, it's even funnier that you actually thought you were going to receive money from me. Imagine that...I, a law-abiding citizen, paying you, an obvious fraud and swindler.
And I'll tell you what is even funnier, Prince Jim. I wish I could see the look on Barrister Udeichi Lawrence's face when the African division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation shows up at his doorstep with international extradition papers and an arrest warrant. After all, he didn't do anything wrong; you just used his name as the person to receive the money. Unless...oh, wait a minute...that wouldn't be your real name, would it? It's not possible that you were so stupid as to use your real name as the recipient...no, nobody could be that dumb.
Ha ha ha...well, that was a most delightful two weeks. Thank you very much for providing so much entertainment. Oh, and one more thing...
Have a nice day...
[Imagine our surprise upon discovering that the email account for prince_jim200@yahoo.com has been closed...]
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