Free the Spectrum
Note about Spam/Scam, added Feb. 25, 2005: Because of the mysterious ways of Google, this blog entry seems to be turning up when people are looking for information about various spam offers involving transferring huge amounts of cash into your bank account. There are lots of comments to this post about that.
Here’s the short version: These are among the oldest and best known scams on the Internet. They are prepetrated by professional criminals who send out millions of these offers every day hoping that you will end up giving them your bank account information. The spammers then transfer all the money from your account. You have no way of getting it back because, after all, you authorized them to make the transfer.
So, when you thought it was too good to be true, you were exactly right.
Do NOT engage with these folks. The scammers got your name off of some list of email addresses and don’t know anything about you. Nevertheless, these are not nice or reasonable people. They are criminals. In fact, The US State Department reports that 25 Americans gullible enough to go abroad to meet with these scammers have been murdered or disappeared. (Don’t be alarmed. To them you’re just an email address on a list of millions. On the other hand, don’t get on a plane to go pick up money from them.)
It does no good to write back to them to tell them they ought to be ashamed or that you’re not going to fall for it. That only tells them that your email address works. They’re mass mailers. They don’t care about what you think. They just want to get your bank account information. Instead, set up your spam filter to trash their messages. (I’ve been getting several of these messages a day for over ten years.)
Here are two Wired articles you might find helpful: One Two.
Now back to the original post…
DarwinMag online just published a column of mine that tries to explain the open spectrum issue to idiots like me. Here’s part of it:
There are three types of benefits from opening the spectrum: short term, long term and deep term.
Short term, we will see a sudden breaking free from wireless gridlock: New bandwidth available everywhere. New local radio stations. Wireless connectivity among appliances in the house. Innovations wherever action at a distance or ubiquitous access makes sense.
Long term, Dewayne Hendricks (founder of The Dandin Group and a member of the FCC’s Technological Advisory Council) says that we’re in the position Marconi was in 100 years ago when wireless communications were first invented. We can’t begin to imagine what’s possible, including — and Hendricks is serious about this — Star Trek-style transporters before this century is out.
Deep term, the unleashing of wireless connectivity will eat away at one of our last remaining social dependencies on broadcast media. Right now, if you want to broadcast you have to get permission from the Feds and you have to have lots of dough. We end up with a society that sits on a couch, facing forward, listening to what people with money have to say. Our freedom is defined by the channel changer nearby. With open spectrum, a bottom-up conversation can begin over the ether, helping to make participatory democracy real.
I also link to David Reed’s page on Open Spectrum and Dan Gillmor‘s helpful column on the topic.
Categories: Uncategorized dw
You all seem to think this scam comes from one creep using various names. Most likely they come from a bunch of “barristers.” these worthless crumbs are evidently using a platen or model letter and changing the names of the victims (to the same as your surname) and their own. They either buy the original “prototype” letter or they get a commission from the one they direct you to. that is if they are sending out thousands of phishings and hoping for a few bites. I sometimes answer them and sign barrister Yussuq Maadeeq, or Goffuq Youssef.
hey i got this email the other day from benson anthony claiming to work for the african development bank and hes trying to get me to give him my bank account details so he can deposit $10 million into my account,i kracked up laughing when i read it.he even scanned down his passport and his bank id card and emailed them to me but they are probably fake aswell.
KELVIN
Subject: I need your urgent response
Hello
I am contacting you on business transfer of a huge sum of money from a
deceased account. Though I know that a transaction of this magnitude
will make any one apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring you that
all will be well at the end of the day. i decided to contact you due to
the urgency of this transaction.
PROPOSITION;I discovered an abandoned sum of US$5,500,000.00(Five
Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) in an account that
Belongs to one of our foreign customers Mr Kurt Kahle who died along
with his entire Family in the AF4590 plane crash. You can check it out
here.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm.
Since his death, none of his next-of-kin or relations has come forward
to lay claims for this money as the heir.the bank cannot release the
funds from his account unless someone applies for claim as the next-of-
kin to the deceased as indicated in our banking guidelines.Upon this
discovery, I now seek your permission to have you stand as a next of
kin to the deceased as all documentations will be carefully worked out
by us for the funds (US$5,500,000.00) to be released in your favor as
the beneficiary’s next of kin. It may Interest you to know that I have
secured from the probate an order of madamus to locate any of deceased
beneficiaries.
Please acknowledge receipt of this message in acceptance of our mutual
Business Endeavour by furnishing me with the following;
1. Your name and address
2. Direct Telephone and fax numbers
3. Occupation
These requirements will enable me file letter of claim to the
appropriate Departments for necessary approvals in your favor before
the transfer can be made. I shall be compensating you with 45% on final
conclusion of this project,5% for expenses that might be incured in
this transaction while the rest shall be for me. If this proposal is
acceptable by you, please response immediately to my alternative email
address [email protected]
Best regards,
Kelvin Greham
SO I RESPONDED TO HIM THAT I’M NOT GAME FOR ILLEGAL ACTIVITY.
kelvin”
Date: Wed, 10 Jan 2007 05:32:09 -0500 (EST)
Good day sir,
Thanks for your respond to my mail, well it is true that this transaction may sound so strange and unbelievable to you as you received my mail, this is due to we have not known each other earlier before now in life, but I am giving you all the assurance that this transaction is real and this funds ($5,500,000.00) will be transferred into your account as your inheritance fund as soon as you comply to all my instructions and directives.
The reason why I contacted you is because our late customer Engr. Kurt Khale is a foreigner and only a foreigner can stand as the next of kin. However, the only information you may need in this legal transaction if you are really interested to handle it with me, is to apply to the management of STANDARD TRUST BANK PLC for the claim of this funds as the next of kin to our deceased customer (Mr. Kurt Khale) which I will send to you in my next mail the text of application for you to fill your personal and bank information’s on it and fax it to the bank management for their approval, as it is the condition of service of the firm to release any of their deceased customer’s funds in their bank immediately the next of kin to any our late customer’s forward an application claim to them for their inheritance fund.
In this regard i will be giving you all the necessary information’s that the management of the bank may need from you before they can transfer these funds in your name as soon as you fax the text of application to their office.
Furthermore, I will like you to bear it in mind that this transaction is 100% risk and hitch free, and what I only need from you is trust, sincerity and your maximum co-operation for us to achieve this goal. Please I will like to know much about you, just to be rest assured that I know the person I am going to deal with in this transaction, if you are a responsible person that can keep this fund safe in your bank account at the end of this transaction.
I will give you 45% of the total fund 50% for me and 5% for expenses that might be incurred during this transaction. I will like to know your full name, contact address age, marital status, occupation, direct telephone number for easy communication. You can contact me through my direct telephone number for more details.234-803-548-4789.I am waiting for your urgent reply to this mail to enable us commences this transaction fully.
Best regards,
Kelvin Greham
SOUND FAMILIAR TO ANYONE?!!!!
Dear Sir/ Madam,
Good day, Firstly, I apologize for sending you this sensitive information via e-mail instead of a Certified mail/Post-mail. This is due to the urgency and importance of the information. Hence, this letter to you. I humbly crave your indulgence to read this e-mail with all seriousness of purpose devoid of any doubt in your mind because this project is based on Trust, Confidentiality and Sincerity of purpose in order to have an acceptable meeting of the minds.
I am Barrister Ramsey Madu, a solicitor at law. I am the Personal Attorney to Engr.Michael knupp, who lived in Nigeria for some 8 years, and who was until his demise my client based on engagement entered into with my chambers in 1998. Late Michael who is hereafter referred to as my client passed on April the 21st,2003, in a fatal car accident.
All occupants of the vehicle including his immediate family unfortunately lost their lives. I contact you to secure your assistance in claiming his estate which includes sums of money left behind by him (Michael) to forestall confiscation and possible declaration of his account as non-serviceable by the bank in which this money were deposited.EcoBank WestAfrica Plc where my late client had an account for a value of 10 million dollars has issued me with notice to provide the Next of kin, or have the funds confiscated and declared abandoned.
I seek your consent to present you as the Next of kin of the deceased so that the lodgments of this account valued at 10 million dollars can be transferred to you by legitimate inheritance provisions as my client’s Next of Kin. This sum of money can thereafter be mutually disbursed by an agreed percentage All legal documents to back up your claim as the deceased Next of Kin, will be available by my chambers as witness to your status as bonafide inheritor.
I therefore solicit your honest cooperation to enable us see this enterprise to finality. I reassure you that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
I will like you to furnish me with the following informations.
Your full names
Mailing address
Phone / fax numbers
Age
Sex
Occupation
Please get in touch with me via my private email address:([email protected]), to enable us discuss more elaborately.
Best Regards,
Ramsey Madu
I JUST RECIEVED THIS EMAIL JAN.13 AND I ALMOST FELL FOR IT. THANKFULLY I CHECKED OUT THIS “RAMSEY MADU” AND FOUND OUT IT WAS ALL A FRAUD
i meet this girl in australia and she was talking to this guy and was tring to get me to call him and tell him she was my soon to be wife
she also said that it was her father that had died and the articles say there children died. i thought it was funny when i looked this up and told her about it she quit emailing me and upset that i did not beleive her so what ever you do look it up before you email this lawyer he is a jack a@#
This is a scam and I hope no one answers back. Be careful of losers like this.
Check it out and don’t be fooled. If it’s too good to be true then it is.
Greetings, I am Barr. Charles Brown, the personal attorney to late Mr Mark Michelle, a French National. On 3rd January 2001, Mr Mark Michelle and his wife with their three children were involved in an auto crash, all occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since then, I have made several enquiry with his country’s embassy to locate any of his extended relatives, this has proved unsuccessful. I decided to personally contact you with this business partnership proposal to assist me in repatriating a huge amount of money left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the finance house where this huge deposit was lodged. The deceased had a deposit valued presently at $18,000,000.00 (Eighteen Million United States Dollars) and the bank has issued me a notice to provide his next of kin or beneficiary by will otherwise have the account confiscated. Having been unsuccessful in communicating any of my late client relatives for over two (2) years now, I am now seeking your consent to present you as the next of kin/beneficiary to the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at $18 Million US Dollars can be paid to you. Already, I have worked out modalities for achieving my aim of appointing a next of kin as well as transfer the money abroad for us to share in the ratio of 50% for me and 35% to you and we shall collectively donate 10% to the Tsunami relief course while 5% will be set aside for any incurable expenses both local and international. Your urgent response will be highly anticipated and appreciated.
I received This letter today:
Email : [email protected]
From : Attorney Eric Thompson.
Phone: [011] 234 802 067 9252
Attn : Trusted Deal.
Dear Williams,
Good day, Firstly, I apologize for sending you this sensitive information via e-mail instead of a Certified mail/Post-mail. This is due to the urgency and importance of the information. Hence, this letter to you. I humbly crave your indulgence to read this e-mail with all seriousness of purpose devoid of any doubt in your mind because this project is based on Trust, Confidentiality and Sincerity of purpose in order to have an acceptable meeting of the minds. I am a fourty four(44)years old established Lawyer. One of my clients was late Engr. Michael Williams (Now deceased) hereinafter shall be referred to as “My Client”.
Six years ago, My Client successfully executed a contract for the Federal Government of Nigeria worth US$14.3 million dollars. A part payment of USD6.million dollars was paid to my client, while the balance of USD8.3 million Dollars was still unpaid before my client died in a ghastly Car crash. However, all my efforts to locate the possible next of kin proved abortive. Untill his sudden demise, He was not married and was 44years old. NOW THE CRUX OF THIS E-LETTER is that the Federal Government is fully paying all contractors who have successfully executed their contracts. My client is among those due to be paid in this second quarter payment schedule. As his personal attorney before his sudden death, I have been officially notified and instructed to forward particulars of my client’s next of kin so that he/she can be paid the outstanding USD8.3 Million dollars.
I know he did not leave any valid WILL because he died inte-state. This funds will therefore be paid to whosoever I present to the government or his bank as the possible next of kin . In a nutshell, I intend to channel this funds to the account of a clever but reliable person who upon successful payment of the money will earn 50% while 50% will be for me. Your nationality does not matter as all modalities have been perfected and put in place to pay whoever I present as the next of kin.
This transaction will take about 8 working days only to conclude as soon as you indicate your interest. For prompt action, contact me urgently by email through ([email protected]) I shall role out the modalities for the actualisation of this project as soon as I receive your response. Please, do accord this transaction the confidentiality it deserves.
Best Regards,
Eric Thompson. (Principal Partner)
NB: You don’t have to be a blood relative of my client to claim this inheritance. Pls reply so that I can elucidate on how to proceed next. Please Reply via my alternative email address: [email protected]
First email
ATTN: Schlueter
I am Barrister Frank.T.Adeyomi at law. I am the personal Attorney to Mr. Robert Schlueter, a national of your country, who used to work with shell development company in Nigeria and as well a one time secret agent in transferring of money overseas for the Late head of state of Nigeria {Late Gen.Sani Abacha}.
Before his death on the 21st of April 2004 my client, his wife and their three children were involved in a car accident along sagbama express road in which all occupants of the motor died}. My client {ROBERT} deposited a CONSIGNMENT as family belongings {i.e. jewelries} the sum of $10m in a Security company here in Nigeria for himself, with the hope of transferring it to his country as soon as he is on leave.
Since his death I have made several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives this has also proved unsuccessful.
After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you. I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they get it confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Security Company where this huge deposit were lodged.
Particularly, the Security Company where the deceased had a CONSIGNMENT valued at about 10million dollars has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the CONSIGNMENT confiscated within the next ten official working days. since then I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2years now I therefore seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you have the same last name so that the proceeds of this CONSIGNMENT valued at 10million dollars can be delivered to you and then you and me can share the money. 40% to me and 60% to you, I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make.
All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
Reply me immediately you access this mail.
Best regards,
Barrister Frank.T.Adeyomi
I emailed back questioning the fact that the bank is using a yahoo email “for humors sake and to see what he would say…”
ATTN: Ehren Schlueter,
Thank you for your mail, I am happy to have associated with somebody like you to make sure that this transaction is a reality. This transaction will be concluded within the specified time if you will take this transaction as your personal business.
One thing you should understand is that I am an attorney to the deceased Mr. Robert Schlueter, like I told you, I tried to locate the next of kin to Robert Schlueter but all proves abortive that was why I contacted you, hence you bear the same last name with my late client.
Send me your full contact address, fax and telephone number to enable me send across to you the certificate of deposit which was issued to my late client Robert Schlueter when he deposited the money with the security company and the death certificate which we received when he died at the hospital. I will write an application to the global security company on your behalf for the release of the fund; preferably you can write an application direct to the global security company for the release of the fund belonging to your deceased relation Robert Schlueter. The global security company email address is: [email protected] and the telephone number is 234-70-27951632: ATTN: Bright Obi.
Please your constant communication to me will be highly accepted to enable me furnish you on every day to day activities of this transaction. Like I earlier told you, Robert Schlueter who happens to be your relation that died in a motor accident, and I have tried to locate the next of kin but all proves abortive that was why I contacted you. Every arrangement for the claim of this fund has been finalized. What I need from you is your seriousness and dedication to handle this fund once it is at your custody.
Note, both parties will take care of all the expenses that we are going to insure in this an section, because god knows what I have involved financially to make sure that this transaction get to this stage.
Please let confidentiality be our motor hence it is only a fool that can disclose the source of his or her success to the public.
Thank you for your understanding. Please always communicate me on my confidential numbers, 234-80-32138960. Keep this transaction secret until we receive this money from the security company and share it according to agreed ratio.
I am waiting to hear from you. Below are attached copy of my international passport copy and my call to Barr certificate for your perusal. Please I don’t want you to expose this transaction until this money enters into your account.
Barrister Frank.T Adeyomi
234-80-32138960
Next email I sent him a link telling him the web address of this bank and that I would contact it to see if the funds are real…. Though I don’t think they are. :P
ATTN: Ehren Schlueter,
This is not about giving me money or playing games. It is our fulfilling our responsibilities to make sure that we complete our endeavors successfully. For a Security Company to use yahoo for email address I don’t understand, the must important thing is for the money get to your custody.
As I did mention, you and I have to do all we could to make sure that we do not renege in this matter considering the satisfactory progress I have made so far.
I wait your quick response.
My Regards,
Barrister Frank.
As everyone can see these are prefab emails its very evident to notice all of the grammar errors. A layer that can’t type British English which is very common over were he is how odd…
From: Barrister John Ibe
Williams chamber’s Lagos Nigeria
Tell Number:+234 80589 570 62
Dear Sir,
This letter is not intended to cause any embarrassment in whatever
form, rather it is intended to contact your esteemed self, following the
knowledge of your high repute and trustworthiness. Firstly, I must
solicit your confidentiality. I know that a proposal of this magnitude will
make anyone apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring you that it is
made in good faith and will be of mutual benefit.
I am barrister John Ibe Esq., the personal attorney to Mr. Mark MINOR,
herein after referred to as my client, a national of your country, who
used to work with Shell Petroleum Development Company in Nigeria. My
client and his entire family were involved in a fatal motor accident,
which unfortunately claimed their lives, along the Sagamu express road,
sparing none of the occupants of the vehicle.
I have since then made several enquiries to your Embassy, in a bid to
locate any relation of my client, and these efforts of mine have not
been productive. I then decided to trace his last name over the Internet,
and came across your name that is why I have contacted you to assist me
in securing the money and property left behind by my client before
they are declared as unclaimed and unserviceable by the bank where they
have been lodged for safekeeping.
I am particularly interested in securing the funds lodged with the Bank
, totaling Ten Million, United States Dollar (USD10M). This is because
the said Bank has issued a notice to me, unequivocally instructing me
to produce the Next of Kin/Beneficiary to the said account within the
next ten official working days, or have the account confiscated.
Considering my lack of success in my bid to locate his relatives for
over two years, I solicit your consent to enable me produce you as! The
Next o f Kin to my deceased client, since you both bear the same last
name. The funds will then be transferred to you as the beneficiary and
shared according to a proposed sharing pattern /ratio of 60:40 i.e. 60%
for me and 40% for you.
I will provide all the necessary legally obtained documents to back up
any claim we make regarding this process, and will just require your
understanding and cooperation to enable us achieve success within a
legitimate arrangement, eliminating any liability resulting from any breach
of the prevalent laws.
Your urgent response will be highly appreciated; you can as well
forward to me your Tell/Fax number immediately for more
discussion/information.
Contact me directly on +234 80589 570 62.
Thank you.
Best Regards,
Barr. John Ibe.