miracles

This page illustrates aspects of the 'Nigerian Advance Fee' or '419' scam.

It covers -

• stealing your name, not your money
• unbeatable offers ... or simply unbelievable
• it's a miracle

     stealing your name, not your money

As noted in the following pages, and in the discussion of identity crime elsewhere in this site, 419 scammers invent names or steal the names of real people.

That identity pollution means those people become victims alongside those who have handed money to the scammers. On occasion they have contacted sites such as this, complaining that people might believe that they have some involvement with the fraudsters.

Recipients of 419 messages should not believe that messages really come from the person who is described as offering the unbeatable deal. In reality that person has no knowledge of the deal or association with the scammer.

To most recipients that innocence is quite obvious. We assume anyone reading this page will recognise that innocence; appearance on this page is not an indication of guilt.

     unbeatable offers

Some of the unbeatable offers we have received over the past two years include messages from -

Michael Owusu, supposed manager of the International Commercial Bank Ghana, variously offering an embezzled US$1.8m ("a noble transfer"), US$12.5m deposited by Concorde crash victim Andreas Schranner and US$17m from a car crash victim. Schranner's 'widow' Doris has US$9.5m.

Kofi Owusu has a mere US$3.5m but sister Atu in the same bank has US$35m from Mr Schranner. Ahmed Owusu, in the same job as Michael, has $17.5m from Schranner and US$12.5 and US$3m from car crash victims, along with US$2.55m from an "accounting error". Patrick Mankou in Benin has US$12m from Schranner. Mark Stephens has US$250m, in contrast to Johnson Wasso who only has US$12m from Schranner. Victor Hadida has US$26m. Arthur Barnes has US$26.5m. Dr Brown Smith has US$30m. Peter Wagner has US$18m; Susan Long has US$36m; Dr John Mokwe of Nigeria has US$3.5m. David Ephraim of Caja De Fortuna Banco in Madrid has US$30m. Julliet Abrams has US$35m. Prisca Tony has US$14.2m from Schranner's death in a different plane crash. Anita Gambo has US$31.5m. Andre Koffi has US$32m (plus US$14m from Mahmud Ali Ibrahim), Koffi Andre has US$35m from the Schranner estate ... over US$687 altogether.

Mariam Abacha, widow of the late Nigerian President - "I have been thrown into a state of utter confusion, frustration and hopelessness by the present civilian administration" - variously offers US$60m, US$32m, US$30m and US$35.3m out what she boasts is US$900m (or US$450m or US$700m or US$38m, depending on the phase of the moon) not yet recovered by the government

Maryam Abacha, widow of ditto (variously US$50m, US$35m, US$53m, US$14.7m, £12m)

Williams Sani, agent for Mariam Abacha (US$35.8m), lamenting that the Abacha family "has been loosing [sic] a lot of money as a result of greedy government officials who are bent on dealing with the family" ... rather than merely bent. Dr John Wato has US$63m of Abacha loot that he's keen to share. Elsewhere Wato has US$17.5 from Peter Pavel (yet another aircrash casualty) .

Alhaji Mohammed Abacha, son of the President has US$64m or US$425m. Elsewhere he wants to invest US$100m, US$38m or US$72m. Abacha lawyer Philips Ajay has US$75m.

Suha Arafat, widow of former PLO leader Yasser Arafat, has been "thrown into a state of antagonism, confusion, humiliation, frustration and hopelessness" - presumably because she can't decide whether she has US$12m, US$21m or US$117m,

Jessica Savimbi, widow of General Jonas Malheiro Savimbi, is looking for a "Foriegn Bussiness Partner" to help her spend US$5.5m in her "suspence account".

Sgt. Michael Terry, of US 1st Armored Division in Iraq (US$12m in unmarked notes from Saddam Hussein), Sgt Frank McCain (US$93m in notes and bullion), Ghanian customs official Alhaji Malam Yakubu has intercepted "two (2) gigantic trunk boxes" from Saddam - "it was more like a dream", Ibrahim Sabawi Hassan escaped to Thailand with US$16m from Saddam but, oops, then lost his family in the tsunami.

Jeffery Ogbodoswo, son of the chair of the Liberian Gold & Diamond Mining Co, has US$15.3m.

Mary Kabila, widow of President-for-Life Kabila, has US$2.7m, son George has US$27m and Mary Kabila, only daughter of late Laurent Kabila has US$24.5m "Let me quickly assure you that this transaction is 100% risk free". Ralph Kabila has US$37m, having found our "particulars from my late father's library".

Zakharov Serguei, aide to Mikhail Khodorkovsky, has US$423m. Khoren Pnjoyan, Khodorkovsky's "Personal/ Corporate Legal Adviser", has a mere US$45m. larisa Sosnitskay has US$25m. Michael Anderson has US$15.1m, meanwhile moonlighting as attorney for Andreas Schranner (US$11m and US$25m) and Mark Gelderman (£9.8m). Philip H Essex has US$49.5m from Khodorkovsky. Inna Khodorkovsky has US$50m. Miss Kima Lioud has US$25m. Annenkova Iosifovna has US$16m. Alex Miller has US$180m.

Elizabeth Witt, with US$45.5m from the Liberian Embassy in Zambia, wants an organisation or individual to dispose of her supposed loot on

orphanages, widows, propagating the word of God and to endeavour that the House of God is fully maintained

As she is writing from her death bed wouldn't be simpler to just hand the money back? Caroline Solange Haafkens has the same aims for her US$8.6m

Mrs Jeanmary Mombo, ailing widow of Archdeacon Johnson Mombo of Cote d'Ivoire, with US$3.5m for "orphanages, helping the widows, propagating the word of God and to endeavor that the house of God is maintained".

ailing widow Elizabeth Bine of the Solomon Islands has US$5m in a Cote d'Ivoire bank for

an orgarnisation or a reliable person that will use this fund for orphanages, widows, propagating the service of humanity and to endeavor that the less privilleged homes is maintained

Her sister Elizabeth Mbine, also ailing, has the same US$5m. Mrs Diana Adams of Kuwait, formerly "married to Dr Williams [sic] Adams" and as usual about to expire from a stroke and cancer, has US$15m for the widows and orphanages

David Ajilo, accountant with South African Department of Minerals & Energy, has US$26.5m which he's keen to share.

Adamu Yazid, Managing Director of Prudent Bank, Nigeria, with US$10m from tsunami victim Haryanto Tomo. He had earlier found US$150m while Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Nigerian Central Bank

Robert Bada, the "personal assistance" to former Liberian President Charles Taylor (US$183m). He'd previously found US$25m. Usman Kuyate ("former special adviser on special duties") to the same thug has US$15.5m

Benedictus Kadzamira-Banda, son of former Malawi president Hastings Banda (US$37m)

Rebecca Garang stopped mourning her warlord husband long enough to search "his secret underground vault right inside the family house" in Sudan, discovering US$18m. She alerts the lucky recipient of her good news that

It is my desire to invest greater part of this money in evangelisation and the propagation of the word of our lord

Separate messages promised US$20m via her brother Cornelius Bongo, US$11m via Cornelus Bongo and US$7.7m via Charles Bongo. Several years later she discovered US$15m in a South African bank, 30% of which will be yours if you kindly supply your full name, address, telephone and fax numbers, nationality, age and occupation

Patrick Berger of an unnamed Swiss bank has US$21m from dormant accounts created by Holocaust victims

Rosy Porter, Bank of Bermuda official, with a mere US$62.7m from a 2005 Tsunami victim

Nazek Audi Hariri has US$36m. Dr Timhamilton [sic] Hugo has £36.75m from Rafik Hariri

Mohammed Ubah, financial consultant of Senegal (US$35m)

Robert Ford, ex-Zimbabwean farmer with US$18.4m in Spain -

I wouldn't want to take a risk because this funds is all that I and my mother is depending upon for the rest of our lives. We want to be prudent with these funds

... so prudent that he approaches total strangers. Charles Ford variously offers US$7.5m and £6.2m. Sam Jonah has US$20.5m from Zimbwean farmer David Stevens, presumably different to the US$10.5m of Stevens money on offer from Ray Carter and the US$30.5m from Thulani Gcabashe. Sundry people claim to be the sons, daughters or wives of the late Mr Stevens.

Patrick Otofe, proclaiming "though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool", offers a share of US$2.5m from the estate of an aircrash victim. He was converted to the path of righteousness by Rev Benny Hinn, just like Zola Maxwell (with US$5m)

Mrs Noye Ibekwe, Nigerian widow seeking to preserve US$25m from "wicked relatives" after "loving, caring and hard working businessman died unfortunately in a ghastly auto crash" - presumably better than being stomped by a hippo or devoured by a crocodile

James Moyo, Zimbabwean farmer, whose dad kindly left him US$18.5m "in a metal box with a private security company here in Johannesburg". The metal box presumably also contains a packet of magic beans and the recipe for Coca-Cola. Fosta Bongani - writing with "due respect and heartful of tears" - has US$14.6m from dad in his metal box in Johannesburg, Michael Ndlovu Matongo has US$8.5m

Anita Dankata of the Ivory Coast has US$9.5m in another box. She reports that "The death of my father actually brought sorrow to my life" and asks "1. Can you honestly help me? 2. Can I completely trust you?". Can she indeed? Buda Alfred has US$7.5 million in his trunk, from his dear old dad who was wickedly murdered by his evil brother

Chief Tafa Balogun, former Inspector-General of the Nigeria Police Force, wanting to launder US$50m. "Please keep this very confidential; we can't afford any more political problems/scandal!" The Nigerian EFCC announced in July 2005 that it had recovered Naira17.7bn from Balogun. His son Tunde offers you a cut of his US$12m

Maryann Ngoga, supposedly an 18 year old Liberian refugee in Senegal, has US$20.5m looking for a good home. Indeed, she wants to move into your home "if you are God fearing and honest" and get the nod from "the Reverend Father who is our refugee camp coordinator".

Ano Wayas, chair of the contract award committee of the South African Gold & Natural Resources Ministry has US$28.6m. Just around the corner "Chief Dr. Thomas Nelson" of the South African Department of Mining & Natural Resources has US$45.5m and Chief Dr Perry T Nelson has either US$45m or US$45.5m. Dr Bode Lawrence of the Nigerian Ministry of Mining & Resources has US$30.5m from a Bulgarian contract. Funde Bogani of the SA Department of Minerals & Energy has US$21.7m for you to invest, lamenting that a few years ago he - o horror - was ripped off to the tune of US$21.43m

Miss Nancy Koruma of Sierre Leone has a more diverse portfolio: 500 kilos of gold dust, 1,900 carats of diamonds and US$11m cash. Another letter - with the usual "due respect and heartful of tears" - is more confused: she's only got the gold dust and now describes herself as "Miss nancy koruma, the first son [sic] of col. mathew koruma"

Hironobu Saito, supposed younger brother to the very versatile but unfortunate Saito Akihiko, "a diplomat, a former member of the French Foreign Legion who worked for a British security firm, and an oil contractor" who was

awarded a contract by ADNOC for the supply of oil drilling equipment on January 2004. He executed this contract successfully but during the period of payment he ran into a serious problem with The Ansar al-Sunnah Army

Bad luck seems to run in the Saito family: his baby brother is now rich beyond the dreams of avarice but, alas, is

currently undergoing serious treatment over cases of chronic gastritis, lungs cancer and currently I am in a critical state in the hospital

Barrister Samuel Uzor was Personal Attorney to Mark Williams, who - with his wife and their only son - was "involved in a car accident along Accra / Kumasi express road" on 21 April 2002, leaving US$21m. Another Uzor client was Mark Ramdas, who just happened to experience a dreadful car accident (with wife and their only son) on the very same day on the Accra/Kumasi express road. He left US$28.3m.

Uzor represented Morris Thomson - miraculously recovered from his multiple deaths in the Alaska Airline crash? - who also expired on the same road at the same time, leaving US$23.5m. Barrister Ishemeal Idris of Nigeria has US$15.5m after the death of his "client, his wife and their only son" on - you guessed it - the express road. Does no one's uncle or granny ever expire there? Barrister Smith John has US$10m. Barrister Mark Williams has US$21m.

Sipho Adams, a "high placed official" of the Department of Finance & Economic Affairs in Johannesburg has a mere US$65m burning a hole in his pocket. Over in Ouagadougou Mr Allian Zonko ("Senior Staff In File Department") of the African Development Bank only has US$15m. His colleague Dr Abdulsami Kazim has US$9.3m from a car crash victim. Colleague Basil James has US$22.5m from an air crash victim ("an International Billionaire French Businessman", with, as usual, no next of kin).

Fisher Brown of the Ghanian Ministry of Finance & Economic Planning ("At the risk of boasting, I wish you to understand that I am a top personal aid to the Minister") wishes to implore the recipient to accept a mere US$145 million due to contractors who built the Akosombo Hydro-electric dam. He is such a kind soul that

I understand that you may not know anything about this subject and you may not even be conversant with the procedure for building a dam. But do not worry as we have covered all the bases.

If you failed Dam Building 101, never fear! Didan Kimati, using identical words, wants your help to claim US$745m from the same dam.

     it's a miracle

Taking note of the offers in your inbox (or merely googling to see offers made to other people) shows that some spammers have miraculous powers. Others are merely forgetful about their names or how much loot they have discovered.

Mrs Joy Anu, a born-again Christian afflicted with cancer and a stroke, has cleverly managed to be simultaneously married to two diplomats of two African states in different cities at the same time. Praise the lawd and pass the contribution?

She is the widow of "Dr Kazeem Anu, who worked with Kuwait embassy in Nigeria for nine years before he died in the year 2003. We were married for eleven years without a child". The late Dr Anu supposedly left her US$12m. Dr Waziri Anu "worked with Kuwait Embassy here in Cotonou, Republic of Benin for nine years before he died in the year 2001. We were married for eleven years without a child". He left her US$19.6m.

Perhaps she is related to Ben Smith, who manages to have the same address in Cotonou while holding positions in Nigeria, Mauritius and Benin that have allowed him to offer US$30.3m, US$50m and US$12.5m. Benard Smith - "a top government officials with the ministry finance on public accounts" in Mauritius - has trouble spelling but can put his paws on US$55m. Rev Father Jones Harth ("I wish to inform you that you are a blessed person") has US$10m. So does Rev Jones Maxwell Harth, albeit from different UN agencies depending on when the email was sent. Barrister Jones Harth only has US$6m.

Mrs Theophilus Uwaoma - whose husband rests in the bosom of Christ - variously has US$9m, US$25m, US$8m or US$15m for worthy causes. Her confusion about the amount is understandable, considering that her husband managed to die in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2005. Suzanne (or Susan) Jambo, wife of Naboth Jambo, variously has US$3.7m, US$8.5m and US$1.5m to be used "for orphanages, widows, propagating the word of God and to endeavor that the house of Lord is maintained".

Sherry Morgan (as usual, a grieving widow about to expire from cancer and a stroke) has US$40.5m for the usual widows and orphans. So does Sherry Morgan-Jones. Mary Anjum (widow, cancer, stroke but safe in "the blossom [sic] of the lord") has US$12m for the usual "orphanages and widows, propagating the word of God and to ensure that the house of God is maintained".

Mrs Aldora Samuel of Sarawak prefaces her offer by announcing "Life itself is a misery and nobody can tell what can be of it". Burdened by the usual cancer and stroke she wants to dispose of US$12.5m (or US$32m or US$15m) to "fund orphanages, widows, the less privilege [sic], the disabled and all those afflicted with strange illness or diseases", warning that "this money should not be used in an ungodly manner, or any form of evil or selfishness".

Larry Moore, ailing Bulgarian merchant resident in Dubai, offers to share US$4.2m. He is also an ailing English merchant in Dubai with US$28.5m, Larry Moore in London with US$7m and as Sir Larry Moore of Dubai has US$12m. Several years later he was a FedEx manager in Nigeria processing sundry millions on behalf of several names.

The late Mr Cosban variously left US$112m, US$30m, US$18m in "a reputable bank" after he died "from an automobile accident with his entire family" in 1999, 1998 and 2000.

Richard Kofi Addo, Regional Manager of the Takoradi branch of Barclays Bank of Ghana, indicated in 2005 that he was 52 years old and had discovered an unclaimed US$28.85m. Six months later he was only 42 years old - perhaps he'd been using miracle anti-aging cures that he'd found via spam - and had US$55.02m. Elsewhere he has offered a cut of US$10.85m. Richard Kofi has US$9m, US$25m and - you guessed it - US$10.85m.

Tom Munir was supposedly killed by a car bomb on 14 September 2004 and again on 14 April and 20 April 2005, each time leaving US$13m. That's Groundhog Day for you.

Barrister Paschal Welsh of Brompton Chambers wants to unload US$7.5m from the estate of the late Dr Paul Jeff Carpenter. So does the dyslexic barrister Frank C Williams of Jones & Shanley Solicitors. Dean Smith, at another address used by Welsh, has US$20m.

Roslin Nuhan, only daughter of former Liberian supremo Issac Nuhan Vaye, has US$5.2m. Faith Nuhan has US$15m. Rita Nuhan (also an only daughter) has US$5.5m. Christopher Nuhan has US$21.5m. Suzana Nuhan has US$21m; as Suzana Nuhan Vaye she has US$21.5m plus "large quantities of diamonds". The dyslexic Mathew Nuhan has US$4.7m.

'Saint Luke' (claiming to be an Irish solicitor rather than the Evangelist) offers a mere US$26m on behalf of James Baker, victim of "a singular shock and trauma".

"Singular shock and trauma" has also affected Mrs Evelyn Nyangoma of Sierre Leone. Edwin Nyangoma, Edwin Nyangome, Edward Nyangoma, Etiene Ngoma, Michael Ngoma, Micheal Ngoma, Miss Michael Ngoma [sic], Michael Ngome, Tony Ngoma and Tony Nyangoma each have between US$3.5 million and US$25 million from Sierre Leone. Kengo Ngoma has US$180 million, albeit from Ghana! Henry Ibrahima (son of Josephine Ngoma) has US$25 million, which he wants to share with you after completing his degree in "costmetology" at the University of Angola.

Mr Wisdom Godwin - who has a habit of announcing that "God has done it again" - recurrently offers US$5.5m through an ATM card, US$850,000 cash, US$8.5m in bullion and US$850,000 in the form of a bank cheque, the banks being fictional or otherwise.

Mercy W Obi has US$m from aircrash victim Mark Davidson ("I know this will come to you as a suprise but please accept it with cool heart"). Martin Vinchi ("I know this will come to you as surprise but please accept it with cool heart") has US$11m from the Davidson estate. Dr Saddeen Usman has US$14.8m.

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