I decided to respond to the Nigerian spam I received yesterday. Don’t worry, to ensure the spammer can’t confirm he had a real email address, I set up a brand new one on HotMail and changed a few words of my reply. The entire text of my reply is below.
Oh, he sent 3 copies of the spam to my Yahoo! mail boxs, and 3 copies to an old email address (ie hasn’t been used in 3 years) on one of my main domain. Text and headers of the emails are the same (except there is a tiny variance in the Subject: header).
And I got a reply!!!
My reply to the spammer:
To : jerry.duruibe@email.ro
Subject : Re: Pilchard, UrgentAttn: Mr Duruibe
Many thanks for your email. I do believe that
I may be related to the Mr. Albert Pilchard
(you client) as my late grandfather did mention
he had a long-lost brother who had a son
called Albert (and had had two children) – but
he hadn’t heard from them for a couple of years:
perhaps this is why. Unfortently, I cannot check
with him as he passed away at the start of last
year aged 87.If I am related to your client, and as stated, I
do believe I may be – what assistance would you
require to help repatriate the cash and property?Yours,
Richard Pilchard.
Needless to say, my last name isn’t Pilchard, and while I only have one surviving grandfather – I have never seen the other in my life as he died many many years ago.
Around 12 hours later – he sent me the following reply:
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Message-Id:
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Return-Path: jerry.duruibe@email.ro
X-OriginalArrivalTime: 13 Nov 2002 15:11:43.0499 (UTC) FILETIME=[F9C105B0:01C28B26]From : Jerry Duruibe
Subject : Rich Pilchard, Application Of Claim. Forward Immediately
Date : Wed, 13 Nov 2002 17:12:12 +0200Dear Rich Pilchard,
Thanks for your return email.
How are you again? I really want us to accomplish this as soon as possible and
so I would want you to know me better and also give you a brief detail of the
situation. I am an attorney with OLISA AGBAKOBA and Associates with our
chambers at No: 21 Onibudo Street Victoria Island -Lagos Nigeria. Telephone:
234-1- 7757913 Fax: 234-1-4400157.The funds are deposited City securities Ltd Nigeria. Being the fact that this
is cash deposit of US$7.8m the security company could declare it unclaimed and
confiscate it. That is why we are in desperate need of your assistance and co-
operation in this matter.Due to the time constraint as contained in the certificate of the deposit, I am
compelled to seek your assistance to claim the deposit as his next of kin
bearing the same last name with late Mr. ALBERT PILCHARD and family since the
expiration of the validity (including ownership) of the deposit expires in few
weeks time.I am permitted by the testament of the deceased will to appoint suitable person
(s) to inherit his estate, so there is ABSOLUTELY no risks attached but as not
to lose it to the security company we wish to appoint you pending our ability
to locate the real family of the deceased.I have substantial documents to authenticate these issues but due to the
delicate and sensitive nature of the documents, I can only fax them to you ONLY
upon your full expression of your commitment to this claim you should please
understand my situation.Below is a text copy of a letter of application that you will send to the
security company immediately for the release of this deposit. Please give us
more personal information about yourself, your address, phone, fax number, your
business age, marital status etc. These are to give us more understanding of
whom we are working with.Your soonest response would be greatly appreciated.
Best regards,
Jerry Duruibe Esq.
================================================================================
APPLICATION OF CLAIM.*PLS INCLUDE YOUR FULL CONTACT SO THAT THEY CAN RESPOND ACCORDINGLY*
THE HEAD OF OPERATIONS
CITY SECURITIES LTD,
10 IDITA STREET,
APAPA- LAGOS. Date:
EMAIL: citysecurities@financier.com
FAX: 234-1759-1303
Dear Sir,
APPLICATION FOR CLAIM OF BOX NUMBER B-GA19391/97Based on the recent contact between us and Mr. JERRY DURUIBE ESQ of OLISA
AGBAKOBA and associates. Personal attorney to my late relative Mr. ALBERT DOTTO
formerly working with Shell Development Company in Nigeria. Who died with his
entire immediate family in 1998 in a car accident, we wish to claim the above-
mentioned box number he deposited with your Company. Deposit Certificate number
CSLVD/007342219 deposited on the 15th day of October 1997.To this regard, we request your detailed procedure for this claim. We shall
provide all necessary claims document and his vault keys. We shall also present
copies of his original WILL to further authenticate our claims.Your prompt response to this request would be most highly appreciated.
Thanks and anticipating your soonest response.
Best regards,
Rich Pilchard.
For The Pilchard Family.
Note the name ‘DOTTO’ I highlighted. Where’s that name come from then? :)Apart from that, he hasn’t noticed that I changed the surname of the reply: so either he’s representing quite a few people (this ‘DOTTO’, my own surname ‘Pilchard’ etc etc) or he is a big time spammer. Yep – it’s probably the latter.
I notice that in the text of the reply that he wants me to send to this ‘security company’ (which, if the 411 Nigerian scam is anything to go by, is probably himself) it says “We shall provide…his vault keys.” and “copies of his original WILL“. I’ve got neither (as I am, currently, a fictional person 🙂 ). I wonder how Jerry Duruibe Esq. is going to deal with this small problem?
Oh, citysecurities@financier.com is actually a free email address from Mail.Com. And whilst there IS a “City Securities Ltd” in Apapa, it isn’t on Idita street.
5 Comments
This is a major big time scam. I had an uncle who actually was in the oil business and went to Africa sometime ago. I too like most of my family am in the oil business. I thought that maybe this could actually be my uncle. It turns out that the sender does not have the keys to the vault and the identification and documents he sends you are fake. They get your contact information and someone supposedly from city securities calls and wants you to western union money (to pay for the vault that has to be destroyed because they don’t have the keys). They want you to send money to their cashier directly and NOT to the city securties office. They want you to send them about $3000 and they suggest you use your credit card and send it NOW. Even before they establish that you are indeed a relative or have a legtimate claim. This is a big Scam. Do NOT send any money there is no box and there is nothing for you to gain but to be $3000 poorer. I just hope no one is foolish enough to send these crooks money!
I was just looking for maritime materials when I ran into these correspondences between one Jerry Duruibe who claims to be a Nigerian lawyer and from the Chambers of Olisa Agbakoba and a foreigner
I am glad this foreigner is intelligent and smart and unlike other rapacious, greedy and grabbing foreigners who have fallen prey to the guiles of illiterates, miscreants and hoodlums like Mr. Duruibe, who masquerade as decent Nigerians.
Though I left Nigeria for Canada 6 months ago, I still believe that the law firm of Olisa Agbakoba & Co is still situate at Apapa, in the Maritimes. Olisa Agbakoba & Co is a renowned Maritime law firm in Nigeria.
Please tell greedy foreigners who are interested in making money the easy way to beware of these bad boys.
I would just like to say that this whole thing is a big scam. I have recieved a death certificate, Will, Vault key replacement request etc.. from these idiots. The names they used are Philip Clark, Kimberly Enyi, and Ogauirri Welinton. Please do not waste your time with these idiots. This is all a big scam!!!!!
I have been getting the same type of e-mails from two different people. They use the same phone and fax #’s you listed here. I have copied there latest e-mails
Thanks,
Jon
Original Message
From: DUKE ALEX
To: Jon
Sent: Thursday, July 17, 2003 5:34 AM
Subject: PLEASE SEND THE APPLICATION LETTER TODAY.
Dear Jon
Thank you for your mail. well i am very greatful that you want to assist me get this money out so that the Bank will not confisicate the money.well you have to send me your full name so that i can get all the documents in your favour. and also call me on my number so that i can discussed with you 234-1-7757913.
I have also send you an application text you will send to the security company where the money is currently deposited now. But please what ever response they gave to you send it back to me so that i will know the kind of documents they will need for the claim of the money.
I want tell you that thier is no risk involued that every thing will be documented by me and i will send it to you.and also as soon as you have received the money will we go into joint venture business with you in your country. But at this stage of this business you have to keep it very confidencail untill the money get to your Bank account.please to avoid time wasting send the application form today and get back to me on my.
Below is the application letter.You can send it to them by mail or fax today.
—
APPLICATION YOU WILL SEND TODAY TO CITY SECURITY LIMITED.
THE HEAD OF OPERATIONS
CITY SECURITIES LTD,
10 IDITA STREET,
APAPA-LAGOS.
Email Address:citysecurities@financier.com
FAX NUMBER :234-1-4400157.
Dear Sir,
APPLICATION FOR CLAIM OF BOX NUMBER B-GA19391/97
Based on the recent contact between us and Dr Duke Alex
Mr. Mark Jon jjurta, formerly working with an oil exploration company in Nigeria, who died with his entire immediate family in a 1998 ghastly air crash involving an ADC airline from PortHarcourt to Lagos, accident.
I wish to claim the above-mentioned box number he deposited with your company. Deposit Certificate number CSLVD/007342219 deposited on the 15th day of October 1997.
To this regard, we request your detailed procedure for this claim. We shall provide all necessary claims documents and his vault keys.
Your prompt response to this request would be most highly appreciated.
Thank You,
Thanking you,
Regards,
INDICATE YOUR FULL NAME HEAR.
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#2…
Your mail has been received, thanks for your concern
over my recent predicament.
Listen carefully these fund is being package in two
trunk boxes, and deposited in an Italian posta
diplomatic security company in Nigeria, which the
security company does not know the content of the two
trunk boxes.
This fund was registered as a personal effect
(Precious stone), which will be delivered to Italy as
family valuables through diplomatic courier coverage
in Italy where the security company have their head
office. All you need to do is to appear before the
diplomatic security company with the relevant
documents, which I will perfect in your name to
confirm you as the next of kin to my late client.
For the safety of this business, you will not attend
to any mail that comes to you regards to this effect
because, they are lots of barristers that want to reap
where they do not sow.
Meanwhile, all i need from you to perfect the said
documents is your contact address, phone and fax
number, with all these, the delivering document will
be simultaneously perfected in your name, the
diplomatic security coverage are ready to deliver but
no contact has been giving to them as the bonofied
owner of the consignment.
As soon as the documents is been prepared in your
name, you will now contact the Italian office for
confirmation as to when to prepared for collection,
the contact in Italy will be included in the document
that will be sent to you so as to enable you contact
the officer in charge before going to Italy, please
get back to me immediately, the particulars are needed
for prompt action.
I want to let you know that i am a highly reputable
man in my society and will never involve my self in
any rubbish act.
open the attachment below and see my identity as a
member of the bar association of Nigeria, this
business has to be kept secret and confidential before
the federal government noticed that such cash is about
to leave the country .
I am awaiting your urgent response.
Regards
Barrister Chriss Dada
Chriss Dada & associates
Phone–234-8033051986
i received the same emails from so-called nigerian spam lawyers. exactly the same scenario was what you’ve all written. watch out for these names: Anthony John
Martins Ogechukwu
cheers richard for settingup this site!
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