My mother-in-law posted a classified ad for an old computer on a local website, and someone tried to scam her. I told her to play along. The scammer mailed us a check, and I even spoke to him over the phone—eventually, I grew bored of the charade and ended it. Maybe he’ll think twice next time.
To: My mother-in-law
From: Ade Doyin (adegoodbuyer@yahoo.com)
Hello, I am Mr Ade from switzerland i saw your advert Computer on the internet and i was persuaded and intrested so i am willing to purchase your goods so pls kindly get back to me with your last price of it but for now i am reciting in africa for a business trip pls kindly get back to me with your last price and if the goods are still for sale. Thanks you. Mr Ade….
To: Ade Doyin (adegoodbuyer@yahoo.com)
From: My mother-in-law
Hello, The computer is still for sale for $400.00. The shipping to Switzerland airmail 4 to 10 days would be $160.00. Parcel post 4 to 6 weeks $60.00. To S. Africa airmail 4 to 10 days would be $200.00. Parcel post 4 to 6 weeks would be $89.00. Thank you.
To: My mother-in-law
From: Ade Doyin (adegoodbuyer@yahoo.com)
Thanks for the mail .i will like you to know i am okay with the last price so i will like you to know that as regard the shippment i will like you to know that i have a personal shipping agent who will come for the pick up as soon as we seal up this transaction so all i need from you is your trust cos i want you to know that i will be sending you a certified cashier check through my client in the USA in the amount of $4,000 which will be for both the shipping and your own money $600 to africa.so all i will like you to do is as soon as the check clears in your bank is to hold out your own funds and send the balance to my shipping agent who is presently in africa too through money gramm so he can come for the pick up in your location.if this is okay by you i will like you to provide me your full name and full address and your phone number so i can forward it to my client who will issue you the check. Thank you . Ade.
To: Ade Doyin (adegoodbuyer@yahoo.com)
From: My mother-in-law
Hello, This sounds good. My address is xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and telephone is xxx-xxx-xxxx.
To: My mother-in-law
From: Ade Doyin (adegoodbuyer@yahoo.com)
Hello, Thanks for your contact information i will like you to know that you will be geting the Cheque by next week so what i will like you to do is as soon as you get it is to mail me so i can give you the name and adderess where to wire the balance to my shipper in africa so thank you and get back to me asap. Mr Ade…………. T
To: Ade Doyin (adegoodbuyer@yahoo.com)
From: My mother-in-law
Hello, I will let you know when the check arrives.
To: My mother-in-law
From: Ade Doyin (adegoodbuyer@yahoo.com)
hi, i wanted to find out if you have seen my mail.i will like to hear from you. i hope by know you would have gotten the check,i will like you to send me a mail so that i will be sure you have it and on how you will send my account officer the balance so that he will be able to pay for the shipping so that pick up will be done in time and i will also like you to have done all the paper work that will be given when the pick up is done. Once more my account officer’s name and address is below. NAME:TOSIN-FALAE ADDRESS:32,ADEBAYO STREET IKORODU LAGOS NIGERIA. thanks. ade
To: Ade Doyin (adegoodbuyer@yahoo.com)
From: Me posing as my mother-in-law
Dear Mr. Ade Doyin (if that is your real name),
This morning I took your check of $5000 to my bank. Unfortunately, the officers of the bank had serious concerns about a check of that size.
I myself, must admit, that I too, was concerned about the check. You listed in your email of June 11, 2003 that you would be sending me a “certified cashier check through my client in the USA in the amount of $4,000.” The check that I received, though, was for $5000 and was sent via FedEx from Poyle, Great Britain. Also, the address used by your account officer in Nigeria (32,ADEBAYO STREET IKORODU LAGOS NIGERIA) is listed on a list of addresses used by scammers.
My bank was concerned that:
- The address listed for Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. (the payor on the check) was “1729, H. Street northwest, Washington DC, WA 20006” which is different from the standard American way of listing business addresses. Specifically, (a) that no comma should appear after the street number, (b) that “northwest” should be capitalized as “Northwest, (c) that Washington DC is itself a territorial division of the United States and thus does not need an additional state code, (d) the state postal code that you listed “WA” is on the other side of the country from Washington, DC and no reputable business would make such a mistake.
- The address of the bank upon which the check was drawn was also listed in a manner totally inconsistent with addressing standards.
- The bank routing number listed on the check does not match the routing code printed at the bottom of the check.
- The font used on the check in the date, payee and address fields does not match the font used in in the amount fields.
- The check stock is of the quality that can be easily purchased in any local office supply store, which does not seem to match the caliber of the issuing organization.
My bank, after subsequent tests, confirmed that the check was indeed fraudulent. They stated that this type of fraud belongs to a category known as the “419 Fraud.”
They have given me the following references about the scam: 1, 2, 3, 4
I have, as the bank requested, forwarded all of the relevant information about this case, including the fingerprints and DNA of “Tom” (which the FBI obtained from the check) to the FBI, the Treasury Department, the US Secret Service, Yahoo (your email provider), AT&T, the Nigerian State Police, the Nigerian High Commission in the UK, Scotland Yard, Interpol, Polye Constabulary, the 419 Coalition, Ambassador Jeter at the US Embassy in Nigeria and The Department of Homeland Security.
The Secret Service has also requested that I ask you for your name, address and telephone number. You may fax this information directly to the US Secret Service Task Force in Washington, DC at 202-406-6930 or 202-406-5031 because after this attempted fraud, I have no desire to speak to you again.
If you attempt to contact me via telephone, again, the FBI has requested that I obtain your telephone number via caller id so that their agents in Lagos might locate you in order to have a conversation with you.
Since it appears that you were never interested in actually purchasing the computer, I have sold it to another party.
In case you are confused—I have a strong desire to travel to Nigeria to kick your ass myself.
Free on July 27th, 2007 at 10:24 am
Interesting