Introduction
A co-worker received a Nigerian scam e-mail and decided to respond and see how long he could drag out the correspondence. The following six weeks of correspondence were more amusing than anyone could have expected. If you enjoy this, there is a lot more at 419eater.com.
Global Politician reports, "roughly 1% of the millions of people who receive these e-mails and faxes are successfully scammed. Annual losses in the United States total more than $100 million, and law enforcement officials believe global losses may total over $1.5 billion."
If you receive an e-mail like this from Barrister John Williams, it is a scam, either delete it or waste his time.
Correspondence by week
- 2004-09-19 -- Beginning of the correspondence
- 2004-09-26 -- Barrister John Williams asks for money, Reggie talks about his religion
- 2004-10-03 -- Reggie tells stories and Barrister John Williams sends his "Certificate of Call to the Bar"
- 2004-10-10 -- Reggie tries to send the money with Certificate of Cash unsuccessfully, then he tries to get Barrister John Williams to send a picture
- 2004-10-17 -- Brutus Ray gets involved
- 2004-10-24 -- Form TF 91120, the Spongebubba Official Transfer of Funds form, and the exciting conclusion
Week of 2004-09-19 - Week 1
From: regencyng@tiscali.fr
Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2004 4:31 AM
To: regencyng
Subject: The Late Mr Allan BodineDear Bodine,
I am Barrister John Williams (SAN) Solicitor and Notary Public. I am the Personal Attorney to Mr Allan Bodine who is a National of your country, who used to work with shell development company in Nigeria.
On the 21st of April 2000, my client,his wife and their only son involved in a car accident along Sagamu/Lagos Express Road.
Unfortunately, they all lost their lives in the event of the accident, Since then I have made several enquiries to locate any of my clients extended relatives and this has also proved unsuccessful.
After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over the Internet, to locate any member of his family but of no avail, hence I contacted you. I contacted you to assist in repartrating the money and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposits were lodged.Particularly, the Bank where the deceased had an account valued at about 6.5 million dollars. Conseqently,the bank issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within a short time.
Since I have been unsuccesful in locating the relatives for over some years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you share the same surname so that the proceeds of this account valued at US6.5 million dollars can be paid to you for both of us to share the money; 70% to me and 25% to you,while 5% should be for expenses or tax as your government may require.
I have all necessary legal documents that can be used`to back up the claim. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.Please get in touch with me through my email : j_williams22000@yahoo.com to enable us discuss further.
Yours Faithfully
Barrister John Williams LLB,BL(London)
Principal Partner(Regency & Associates Chambers)
From: Reggie Bodine
To: Regency Williams
Dear Mr. Williams,
I am sorry to hear about Mr. Allan Bodine and his family. I am an honest person and would not normally accept this money, but it sounds like you have done a thorough search for any living relatives. I would be happy to help per the agreement you specified.
Sincerely,
Reggie Bodine
From: Regency Williams
Sent: Wednesday, September 22, 2004 2:57 AM
To: Reggie Bodine
Subject: The Way ForwardDear Friend Reggie Bodine,
I received your mail.I truely understand your explanations.Based on the fact that you share the same last name with the late Mr Allan Bodine and I am the personal lawyer to the late Mr Allan Bodine,I have most of his personal data's that will enable us facilitate the claim.
Upon your determination to assist me to the successful conclusion of this transaction.I will submit your name to the Global Investment Bank Ltd as the Next Of Kin to late Mr Allan Bodine and advise the bank to immediately start the necessary process to effect the transfer to your account.
I will also provide you with the copy of (WILL) and Death Certificate of late Mr Allan Bodine to enable you forward to the Global Investment Bank Ltd if they requested for it.
I will try my best and use every legal means within my capability to ensure that this transaction was handled and achieved legally because as a legal practicioner,I will not like to be involved in any illegal transaction that will put any of us into problem.
I will also advise you to handle this transaction with utmost secrecy and confidentiality due to the nature.Please kindly confirm your position in this regard because I will like us to conclude this transaction in the spirit of honesty.
You are advised to forward the following informations to me to enable me submit to the Global Investment Bank Ltd as the NEXT OF KIN to late Mr Allan Bodine.
These are:
1 . Your full name
2 . Your contact address
3 . Your private telephone & fax numbersI am sending to you as attached below the copy of my international passport for identification purposes to prove my determination and honesty to work with you.You can also forward your identification to me for my perusal as well.I have also explained to you about the need to keep this transaction very secret.
You can always contact me on my private telephone number:00234-8023536167 for further details. Yours urgent response will be very much appreciated.I will advise you to always contact me through this e-mail:regency_associates1@yahoo.com for further correspondence.
Yours Faithfully
Barrister John Williams LLB,BL(London)
Principal Partner(Regency & Associates Chambers)
From: Reggie Bodine
To: Regency Williams
Dear John,
Here is the info that you have requested:
full name: Reggie Bodine
address: XXXX XXXXX XXXXX XX Arlington, TX XXXXX
private telephone: XXX-XXX-XXXX
I don't have easy access to a fax machine. I hope this doesn't cause a problem.
I have a few questions that I would appreciate if you could answer:
1. Will I be obligated to pay taxes on the money I receive to the country of Nigeria?
2. If any relatives to Mr Allan Bodine are discovered at a later date can they make claims against this money?
3. My wife thinks this sounds too good to be true. I have explained that I am helping you secure the money before the bank or country of Nigeria confiscates it. Do you have any advice on what to say to her about this transaction?
Sincerely,
Reggie
From: Regency Williams
To: Reggie BodineDear Friend Reggie,
I receive your mail with your full contact informations required for the conclussion of our transaction.I am happy to inform you that I have submitted your name and contact informations to the Global Investment Bank Ltd today as the NEXT OF KIN to late Mr Allan Bodine.
The management of the Global Investment Bank Ltd told me today that their office will soon contact you . They also noted that the Board Of Directors of their bank will invite me in due course to come and testify on your behalf that you are the true NEXT OF KIN to late Mr Allan Bodine and also stand and sign as your guarantor before they will commence the necessary process for the release of the inheritance claim to you.
I wish to inform you that I am now expecting their invitation to enable me testify on your behalf.Please you are advised to feel free with any information you will receive from the Global Investment Bank Ltd.I will also advise you to refer to me any information you receive from the bank to enable me advise you accordingly and give you the adequate answer and the way forward.
I truely understand your questions and I am aware of the need to explain every thing to you in details.
1- I am aware that we will be required to pay some taxes here in Nigeria according to provisions of the constitution.I do not know how much this tax will be but I will try my best to handle the expenses but if their is any need to seek your financial assistance,I will let you know.
2- I will like to assure you that no relative of Mr Allan Bodine will come up later to make claims against this money because I am the personal attorney to the late Mr Allan and I am in position of the necessary informations that will help for such claim.
3- The reason you gave your wife about this claim is okay.You should understand that your case with your wife is a husband and wife issue which I believe that you as the husband knows your wife very well and you will be in the best position to know the best way to handle your wife and your family affair.I will only advise you to let your wife understand that this claim should be treated with utmost secrecy to enable us achieve the success because if their is any rumour about this claim to the hearing of the bank officials,they will confiscate the account.
Be assured that this transaction is a life time opportunity for both of us to improve our lives and families in many ways as I will like us to handle this transaction in a brotherly manner.You should understand that I am a constitutional lawyer and as a legal practicioner,I have concluded every arrangement with the bank on how to release the inheritance claim to you.
I have tried calling you but your phone was not responding.Please kindly allow your phone to be open or you can feel free to contact me on my private telephone number:00234-8023536167 for further details.
Yours Faithfully
Barrister John Williams LLB,BL(London)
Principal Partner(Regency & Associates Chambers)
From: Reggie Bodine
To: Regency Williams
Dear Friend John,
I have to apologize for you not being able to reach me by phone. I found out my wife had our phone disconnected after I told her about our transaction. She is not a very trusting person and did not think I should proceed with this. My wife grew up in an orphanage and has had some terrible experiences in the past. I believe this is why she doesn't trust very many people. She made me promise not to talk with you over the phone. I am hoping we can carry this out primarily through email, mail, wire transactions, etc... I will not tell her about any further correspondence between us.
I appreciate the hard work you have been doing to move this forward. It sounds like you have substantial experience in this area and I'm sure everything will proceed smoothly. I'm looking forward to the Global Investment Bank Ltd contacting me. I will keep you informed of any correspondence I have with the bank.
I know that you want to improve life for your family. I also want to improve my family's life and help others if I can. I have 3 children: Shania - 12 years old, Brutus - 10 and Deion - 5. Unfortunately, Deion was born with only one nostril. This is a very rare deformity, but occasionally can happen. I have exhausted all my medical benefits for surgeries to help fix Deion's condition and would like to get enough money to complete the work the surgeons have performed on him to correct his appearance. I have been praying for an opportunity to come along like this and I feel very fortunate now.
Very sincerely yours,
Your Friend Reggie
From: Regency Williams
To: Reggie BodineDear Friend Reggie,
Thanks for your mail.I am very happy to understand your explanations.As a matter of fact,I am indeed very sorry to note about the health condition of your child (Deion) and her surgery experience.This has improved to me about your kindness and as well to protect the funds (Inheritance) after the successful transfer to your account.
First of all,I will like to re-assure you that this transaction is nothing to be related or compared as illegal as your wife may think due to her past experience according to your explanation.You should understand that I am a constitutional lawyer by profession and as a legal practicioner,I will not involve myself in any transaction that can be considered illegal or contrary to the rule of law.
I will like you to understand that me as the personal attorney to the late Mr Allan,I am the only person in position to provide every evidence to the Global Bank about your true relationship to the deceased.Frankly speaking,I have been invited once by the Global Bank to testify before the board of directors about your real relationship with my late client which I have done successfully.
I only advised you to keep this transaction at the bottom of your heart so that we will have no distraction along the process by any body.This is the main reaon why I demanded for the secrecy of this matter.Let me know once you hear from the bank to enable me advise you accordingly.
Thanks a lot for your kind attention and your interesting explanations because after my enquiry from the bank officials,I confirmed that the inheritance claim can be released to you within 7 working days upon the provision of the necessary documents to the bank.
May God bless you for your kind understanding.
Yours Faithfully
Messrs John Williams LLB,BL(London)
Principal Partner(Regency & Associates Chambers
From: Reggie Bodine
To: Regency Williams
Dear John,
Thank you for the additional information you have provided me. I was also nervous about this transaction, but I am feeling much better about it now. With your experience in constitutional law and as a legal practicioner I know you will be able to conduct this transaction honestly, smoothly and legally. My wife, Bunnie, seems to have calmed down now and hasn't spoken to me about this matter anymore.
Thanks for sympathy you showed for my daughter Deion, named after my mother Deion Sanders Bodine, and her condition. Deion's dream is to swim in the Olympics someday. The doctors have advised against her swimming until additional surgeries allow her to breathe normally. I'm very excited about this opportunity and I know the only person I can share this information with right now is you. My family and I have dreams and I can't wait to see their faces when I tell them I can finally make this happen for them. Shania would like a pony. Brutus wants to star in motion pictures like his idol Peter North. Bunnie would like to open a gourmet grocery store for pets. My dream has always been to open a ski resort near my hometown of Lubbock, Texas.
I am also interested in your family and what dreams you have for them and yourself. If you feel this is too personal to share, I will understand. I am just excited about us both having this opportunity to make our family's life much better.
Thank again for your efforts. I look forward to your next correspondence.
Your Friend,
Reggie
From: Global Investment Bank Ltd [mailto:globalinvestmentbank@BankersMail.com]
Sent: Friday, September 24, 2004 3:24 AM
To: Reggie Bodine
Subject: Re-Release Of Your Inheritance ClaimSir,
We received your contact informations from Barrister John Williams in respect of your late uncle Mr Allan Bodine. We are sorry for the death of your uncle Mr Allan Bodine who has been our good customer until his sudden death.
The Board Of Directors of our bank has also invited Barrister John Williams to come and testify on your behalf that you are the true Next Of Kin to our late customer Mr Allan Bodine because we have been trying several times to contact you or any of your family member but all in vain.
We write to inform you that we are ready to co-operate with you to ensure that we release your uncle's (WILL) to you in accordance with the rule of law.Please you are advised to provide us with the Certificate Of Deposit as a proof of your relationship with our late customer Mr Allan Bodine.We wait to receive the above information from you to enable us facilitate the release of your inheritance claim to you without further delay.
Regards.
Mr Raymond Briggs
for:Management.
From: Reggie Bodine
To: Global Investment Bank Ltd
Dear Mr Raymond Briggs,
I appreciate your sympathy for my late Uncle Allan. Please refer all legal and financial matters to Barrister John Williams. Thank you again for your efforts in this matter.
Sincerely,
Reggie Bodine
From: Reggie Bodine
To: Regency Williams
Dear John,
I was contacted by the bank and wanted to forward my response to you. It looks like everything is going smoothly. Thanks again for your efforts.
Sincerely,
Reggie