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419 Scam – The dying merchant scam
In this variant of the "419" Advance Fee fraud the scammer claims to be a rich man, often a merchant who is now dying of esophageal cancer. The country varies, often it's Dubai or another Gulf country or the UK. Enclosed pictures supposedly showing the sender in hospital were actually copied off the website of an esophageal cancer patient in the USA who kept a web diary until he passed away in 2005. It's sickening how the scammers even use the memory of dead people for their crimes! Usually when we manage to trace the source of the scam emails, it turns out to be from Nigeria or another country in West Africa. It's the familiar advance fee scam: You (the victim) are to receive millions of dollars for essentially doing very little. Eventually you will be asked to wire thousands of dollars to a total stranger posing as a lawyer or a security company or another intermediary claiming to control that money. If you do that, you will lose the money sent and will never see the promised but non-existent fortune. The female equivalent of the "dying merchant" scam is the "dying widow" scam.
We have received numerous variants of the following scam: Example #1:
From: <p_duke@virgilio.it> Sending network - an ISP in Nigeria. The merchant in Dubai turns out to be a Nigerian in Lagos. inetnum: 62.56.236.0 - 62.56.236.255
netname: CIDR-HYPERIA-1
descr: Internet service provider
country: NG
admin-c: AA3273-RIPE
tech-c: RS2188-RIPE
status: ASSIGNED PA
notify: lir@ipplanet.com
mnt-by: AS12491-MNT
changed: lir@ipplanet.net 20040629
source: RIPE
route: 62.56.128.0/17
descr: IP Planet Network Ltd
origin: AS12491
mnt-by: AS12491-MNT
changed: lir@ipplanet.net 20041128
source: RIPE
person: Alhaji Abubakar
address: 27, Saka Tinubu street
address: Victoria Island
address: Lagos
address: Nigeria
phone: + 234 1 2626320
e-mail: abua@hyperia.com
nic-hdl: AA3273-RIPE
notify: lir@ipplanet.net
changed: lir@ipplanet.net 20040629
source: RIPE
person: Rahul Sawant
address: 27, Saka Tinubu street
address: Victoria Island
address: Lagos
address: Nigeria
phone: + 234 1 2610256
e-mail: rahuls@hyperia.com
nic-hdl: RS2188-RIPE
notify: lir@ipplanet.net
changed: lir@ipplanet.net 20040629
source: RIPE
Example #2: This example is typed up in the classic "ALL CAPITAL LETTERS" style, full of typing mistakes and uses a Nigerian PHP-Nuke installation for sending bulk email. From: "scotmartins" <scott_martins1@excite.com> Example #3:
Dear Friend,Headers: Received: from [218.191.194.174] (helo=67.162.165.84) by mailserver with smtp (Exim 4.43) id 1Coc42-0003zM-Fi for emailaddress; Wed, 12 Jan 2005 07:33:09 +0100 Received: from smtp.secureserver.net (smtp.secureserver.net [64.202.166.12]) by mx1.datagrama.net with esmtp; Jan, 12 2005 6:16:55 AM -0700 From: foiFOUAD ABBAS ALWANI <Fouad101pvt@netscape.net> To: emailaddress Subject: URGENT HELP ! gbkb Sender: foiFOUAD ABBAS ALWANI <Fouad101pvt@netscape.net> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2005 07:33:05 +0100 X-Mailer: MIME-tools 5.503 (Entity 5.501) The sending network (IP 218.191.194.174) is in Hong Kong, probably an open relay...
"Joshua Xavi" (joshua@www.hismercies.com / xavijoshua@web.de) Sending network (IP 216.250.221.15): NET-216-250-221-0-1Received: from [62.253.229.242] (helo=www.fastband-internet.com) by mxeu6.kundenserver.de with ESMTP (Nemesis), id 0MKsUu-1CwjfK0ZH4-000334; Thu, 03 Feb 2005 17:17:10 +0100 Received: from www.hismercies.com (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by localhost (8.11.6/8.11.6) with ESMTP id j13FbgV24657; Thu, 3 Feb 2005 15:37:42 GMT From: "Joshua Xavi" <joshua@www.hismercies.com> To: joshua@hismercies.com Reply-To: xavijoshua@web.de Subject: charity Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2005 15:37:42 +0000 Message-Id: <20050203154117.M32328@www.hismercies.com> X-Mailer: Open WebMail 2.40 20040818 X-OriginatingIP: 216.250.221.15 (joshua) MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 X-SpamScore: 0.000 Dear Friend, As you read this, I don't want you to feel sorry for me, because, I believe everyone will die someday. My name is Mr. Joshua Xavi merchants in Dubai, in the U.A.E.I have been diagnosed with Esophageal cancer. It has defiled all forms of medical treatment, and right now I have only about a few months to live, according to medical experts. I have not particularly lived my life so well, as I never really cared for anyone(not even myself) but my business. Though I am very rich, I was never Generous, I was always hostile to people and only focused on my business as that was the only thing I cared for. But now I regret all this, as I now know that there is more to life than just wanting to have or make all the money in the world. I believe when God gives me a second chance to come to this world I would live my life a different way from how I have lived it. Now that God has called me, I have willed and given most of my property and assets to my immediate and extended family members as well asa few close friends. I want God to be merciful to me and accept my soul so, I have decided to give alms to charity organizations, as I want this to be one of the last good deeds I do on earth. So far, I have distributed money to some charity organizations in the U.A.E, Algeria and Malaysia. Now that my health has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do this myself anymore. I once asked members of my family to close one of my accounts and distribute the money that I have there to charity organization in Bulgaria and Pakistan, they refused and kept the money to themselves. Hence, I do not trust them anymore, as they seem no t to be contended with what I have left for them. The last of my money which no one knows of is the huge cash deposit of eighteen million dollars $18,000,000,00 that I have with a finance/Security Company abroad. I will want you to help me collect this deposit and dispatched it to charity organizations. I have set aside 10% for you and for your time. God be with you. Joshua Xavi.
OrgName: Easynet Concepts Inc
OrgID: EASYNE-1
Address: 101 Ogunlana Drive Surulere
Address: Largos,
City:
StateProv:
PostalCode:
Country: NG
NetRange: 216.250.221.0 - 216.250.221.255
CIDR: 216.250.221.0/24
NetName: EASYNET
NetHandle: NET-216-250-221-0-1
Parent: NET-216-250-192-0-1
NetType: Reassigned
Comment:
RegDate: 2001-06-20
Updated: 2001-06-20
TechHandle: SM1438-ARIN
TechName: Mgbendi, Sylvanus
TechPhone: 234-1-8044918
TechEmail: sylva@easynetlinks.com
OrgTechHandle: SM1438-ARIN
OrgTechName: Mgbendi, Sylvanus
OrgTechPhone: 234-1-8044918
OrgTechEmail: sylva@easynetlinks.com
My dear friend, I have received your mail and i must first of all show my appreciation ,over the fact that you have given heed to the entreaty of a dying man. Like i had told you in my previous mail, i lived a very reckless life when it mattered most. All i thought about was my various investments,it is that same care free attitude that is going to cost me a lot now. When i discovered this ailment, it dawned on me that i had been living a very vain life.Then the need to affect the lives of those in need became very paramount in my thoughts.This appears to be a case of mercy after death as i no longer have the strength to do those things i used to do when i was still very full of life. My dear friend , in my resolve to actualise my dying wish, i have been able to support charity to a very large extentaround the middle east and europe.Then my health became a sorry tale, that at this particular point in time, i live at the mercy of various drugs and operations which certainly can not remedy anything.My close family members are however not happy with the way i have disbursed everything of mine to the motherless babies and the less priviledged.That was why they failed to help me actualise my dream of supporting charity. They held for themselves the funds i made available and went as far as even trying to terminate my life when the hour(though very short )has not come.All relationship with me has been severed ,and they are of the opinion that the last of my fortune has been spent.Incidentally, the sum of twenty four million dollars(united states) lies in a security company in Europe , and well packaged in a consignment. That is the last i have here on earth after my medical bills have been estimated and all expenses paid pending when i shall be no more.These funds i wish to entrust to you , to help propagate the works of charity where ever your location is.By so doing, i would need your utmost sincerity and honesty to carry the venture along successfully. It would be required of you to furnish me with your full names and address,telephone and fax numbers , to enable me put a letter to the security company, making you the eligible beneficiary to the funds with them. Once this is done,you shall make arrangements with them on how the funds would be transfered to your location.I beg of you to deal with me honestly and render me your assistance to the fullest of your capacity.you would be helpng a dying man.Most importantly you would be touching the lives of a huge number of people.I hope i would be able to count on you while i wait impatiently for the time to come.My bones are slowly cleaving to my skin.I hope to hear from you as soon as possible. Warmest Regards, Larry Moore This is my very confidential email,i check everytime from my labtop.i expect further correspondence to be through this chann Message headers: Received: from [81.199.108.12] by web26408.mail.ukl.yahoo.com via HTTP; Wed, 23 Feb 2005 00:13:26 GMT Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2005 00:13:26 +0000 (GMT) From: larry moore <lar_moore75@yahoo.co.uk>
Sending ntwork (IP 81.199.108.12):
inetnum: 81.199.108.0 - 81.199.111.255
netname: CIDR-INTERCELLULAR-1
descr: Intercellular Nigeria Ltd
country: NG
admin-c: YA95-RIPE
tech-c: YA95-RIPE
status: ASSIGNED PA
mnt-by: AS12491-MNT
source: RIPE # Filtered
person: Yakubu Adamu
address: 5th Floor, UBA House 57
address: Marina, Lagos
address: Nigeria
phone: +234 14704387
fax-no: +234 12643014
e-mail: akintolad@intercellular-ng.com
e-mail: adamuy@untercellular-ng.com
nic-hdl: YA95-RIPE
source: RIPE # Filtered
"Mr Robert Heritage / Robert Mark" From: Mr.reobert heritage From: steve Bastiaan <steveb2222@shuf.com> To: steveb2222@shuf.com <steveb2222@shuf.com> Sent: Tue, 28 Jun 2005 09:17:13 -0700 Subject: from steve Dear Friend, I am Steve Bastiaan,a merchant in Dubai, in the U.A.E.I have been diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer which was discovered very late, due to my laxity in carrying for my health. It has defiled all forms of medicine, and right now I have only about a few months to live, according to medical experts. I have not particularly lived my life so well, as I never really cared for anyone not even myself but my business. Though I am very rich, I was never generous, I was always hostile to people and only focus on my business as that was the only thing I cared for. But now I regret all this as I now know that there is more to life than just wanting to have or make all the money in the world. I believe when God gives me a second chance to come to this world I would live my life a different way from how I have lived it. Now that God has called me, I have willed and given most of my properties and assets to my immediate and extended family members and as well as a few close friends. I want God to be merciful to me and accept my soul and so, I have decided to give arms to charity organizations and give succour and confort to the less priviledged in our societies, as I want this to be one of the last good deeds I do on earth. Now that my health has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do this my self anymore. I once asked members of my family to close one of my accounts and distribute the money which I have there to charity organization and to the less priviledged but they refused and kept the money to themselves. Hence, I do not trust them anymore, as they seem not to be contended with what I have left for them. The last of my money which no one knows of is the huge cash deposit of ten million dollars($10M) that I have in Europe for safe keeping. I will want you to help me collect this deposit and disburse it to some charity organizations and to the less priviledged. Please send me a mail to indicate if you will assist me in this disbursement.I have set aside 10% for you for your time andpatience. You can e-mail me at:steve_b4444@uymail.com While I await to hear from you, may God be with you and your entire family. Remain blessed, steve Bastiaan.
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