The Great Nigerian Internet Scam 
and the fun you can have with it 

You never know who you might not be related to:

FROM THE DESK OF
BARRISTER HENRY OKOCHA
NIKY PLAZA 5th FLOOR FLAT 4
24 AWOLOWO WAY IKEJA
LAGOS NIGERIA
TELE:234-8037219944
Email:ho_chambers@eudoramail.com

Dear Philip Parker ,

I am Barrister Henry Okocha, a solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney to Mr. John Parker, a national of your country, who used to work with Aspanda Development Union. Here in after aspanda be referred to as my client.On the 21st of April 2001, my client, his wife and their only daughter were involved in a car accident along sagbama express road.

All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost there lives. Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy here to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful.

After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you. I have contacted you to assist in repartrating the fund valued at US$13 million left behind by my client before it gets Confisicated or declared unserviceable by the Security finance Firm where this huge amount were deposited.

The said Security Finance company has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confisicated within the next fourteen official working days.

For the fact that I have been unsuccesfullin locating the relatives for over 2 years now, I seek the consent to present you as the next of kin to the eceased,since you have the same last name with my client, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you.

Therefore, on receipt of yourpositive response, we shall then discuss the sharing ratio and modalities for transfer.

I have all necessary information and legal documents needed to back you up for claim.

All I require from you is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through.

I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

Please get back to me through my office email address (okochachambers@fsmail.net)

Best regards,

BARRISTER
HENRY OKOCHA.

Gosh, someone called John who I'm not related to ? How can I pass up such an opportunity ?

Henry

Thank you for getting in touch with me at this most opportune time. This sounds like a very interesting offer. I'm both impressed and pleased that you managed to find me through the web,

I am more than happy to discuss splitting the proceeds of this deal with you. Beware though as I drive a hard bargain. I will expect a significant percentage for assisting you with this. Remember, I have nothing to lose as I've never had the money in the first place.

However I am a fair man and appreciate that you are taking a significant risk so we should be able to come to an equitable agreement.

P

Look, I know this is a scam. Lets cut straight to the point and talk about the cut shall we ?

Dear Phil Parker,

This serves to acknowledge your mail.
I really appreciate your quick response as this goes a long way to say that you will consumate this business with me

However, I am assuring you that there is no problem for you to claim this funds as far as you bears the same surname. I have all the legal modalities in which this can be achieved. All I need from you is your co-operation and trust so that we can work as a team and actualize this transaction with out further delay.

I shall need your address and telephone to enable me procure the vital documents. I want you to attache the copy of our passport for me to know who i am deling with.
.
Once I get the info that I requested from you, I will inform on our next move. Please accept my assurances in the highest consideration that nothing will go wrong as i will follow the transaction legitimately.

Procedures:
I will proceed to swear an addidavit of claim in the courthaving you as the beneficiary of my late client's estate. Once this is Notarised, it will be on records that your are the bonafide owner of the money.These papers, we shall use to file in the claims to the Finance Company for payment. I have in my position, the Certificate of Death, Deposit Certificate, these I will use to pursue approval from the Probate Registry

Kindly consent to all above to enable me proceed and do please do include your full addresss Mostly your private phone number.


Thanks.
Henry Okocha

Oh, a sworn addidavit. Must be true. First time I've been asked for my passport though and I don't like the idea of consumating business with any strange man who e-mails me. I'm really not that sort of person.


Henry

Would you prefer my home or business address ? I ask because it might be
easier for all mail to go through the business to keep things untraceable ?
If I use my business it will also be possible for me to deposit the money in
an off-shore account - far away from the tax mans prying eyes !

I have attached a copy of my passport as a sign of my good faith. Let me
know how you want to proceed.

P

The worst fake passport you have ever seen.

Now the more observant of you might recognise that the photo on the passport is not mine. In fact I pinched the passport image from a website, changed the name (very badly) and added a photo of some dodgy bloke called Blair (Lionel's brother I think).

Dear Phil Parker.

How are you today? I still have not heard from you i hope all is well. I am reminding you of our business transaction please get back to for ma to know if you are still interested in this business. Time is not on our side. I would love to send the text application along now but you have not show your interest. Thank you GOD bless

Barrister
Henry Okocha

Look you muppet. I've sent my passport, what else do you want ? GOD isn't going to bless you if you don't read your e-mail you know.

Henry

You really should check your e-mail. I sent this message 2 days ago:

"Henry

Would you prefer my home or business address ? I ask because it might be easier for all mail to go through the business to keep things untraceable ? If I use my business it will also be possible for me to deposit the money in an off-shore account - far away from the tax mans prying eyes !

I have attached a copy of my passport as a sign of my good faith. Let me know how you want to proceed.

P"

along with this scan of my passport, which I have attached to this mail as well. Perhaps you are not quite so keen to do a deal as you say ?

P

I'm annoyed. If he isn't going to take this seriously then I am not going to play.


Dear Phil Parker,

Thanks for your mail.

I have seen your I.D, I really appreciate it, I hereby attached my own passport for your perusal.

You are advise to send to me your private telephone, fax numbers and mobile cell phone for easy communication.

As soon as I receive this information I shall send you the contact of the bank where the funds is been deposited so that you can establish communication with them, to enable them release/approve the funds in your favour.

You can reach me at 234-1-4721827 for more details on this transaction.

Waiting for the requested information to enable us proceed. Have a nice day.

Regards,

Henry.

Henry Okocha's Passport

That's more like it. I wonder if this is his real passport. He certainly doesn't look very happy. The age doesn't look far out and this is a very new looking passport.

Dear Phil Parker,

Thanks for your mail and your effort to reach me on phone.

Find attach Death Certificate of my late client.

Regards,
Henry.

Dodgy death certificate.

Now this guy may be a scam artist, but even worse, he sends bug attachments through e-mail with no warning ! I had to wait the best part of 5 minutes to get this and the following document. Hangings too good for them I say.

My good friend Phil,

I hereby attach deposit certificate for your perusal and record purposes.

I will by Monday go to federal high court for Sworn Affidavit of Claim on your behalf also go to Probate Registry office for another vital documents that will back you up for this claim.

You can call me on my
Tel: 234-1-4721827
Mobile: 234-8037219944

Regards,

Henry.

Dodgy certificate of deposit.

Let's be honest. These aren't real are they ? Can't they even try to make a decent forgery ? No wonder my rubbish attempt at a fake passport fooled them. These documents look suspiciously like the results of ten minutes with a clip art collection. A child could do better. 1/10 for effort I'm afraid.

Anyway, so amazed was I by these I forgot to reply for a couple of days.

Dear Phil Parker,

How are you doing today, hope all is well.

I need to hear from you so that we can conclude in time, as we don't have any time to waste in this project.

Waiting for your mail.

Regards,
Henry.

What a bad person I am. Still I do have an excuse.

Henry

Good to hear from you. Thank you for your documents, they all appear to be OK.

Where do you want to go from here ? I am in the process of opening a special off-shore bank account for the deal. I will let you know once this is ready.

Thanks

P

See ? I've been busy to. I've nearly set up a company to handle this "deal".

My good friend Phil Parker,

Thanks for your mail.

Go ahead and open the new account where the funds will be transferred into, also send your telephone numbers so that we can be discussion on phone.

Have a blessed day.

Regards,

Henry.

I'm not sure when we became good friends but there you are. I am having a blessed day though.

Henry

Good news, I have been able to set things up my end. I have finally acquired an office and have sorted things out with the bank. The account is a special off-shore one that will not attract tax as long as none of the money comes into the UK or originates from UK accounts.

However, this gives me a slight problem. I need a cheque from a non-UK account to get things started. So I need you to send me a cheque for 1 US dollar, or equivalent so we can proceed.

Please send the cheque made payable to "Smug Associates" to:

Smug Associates
York House
Leamington Spa
Warwickshire
CV33 7IT

Telephone: 044 88 2 91

As you can see, I have had a new company set up. This is cheap to do if you know the right people and keeps everything nice an untraceable.

Please send the cheque as soon as possible so we can proceed.

P

OK, so I've not really set up a company. That address is partly made up and partly based on the one of a firm I worked for who deserve all they get. My new plan is to try and get some money sent. Obviously with a made up address I'm not going to see the cheque (I really considered setting up a box number for this as I don't want to give out my real address, but in the end it isn't worth it) but it would be great if I heard it had been sent. Hope it's a better fake than the documents.

Dear Phil Parker,

Thanks for your mail.

I have tried calling you on the telephone number you gave to me, it wasn't going through. Pls include your city code for me.

Kindly resend to me your correct telephone numbers as below:

YOUR MOBILE CELL PHONE
YOUR LINE PHONE NUMBERS
YOUR FAX NUMBERS.

Please send it to me, it is very important we conclude this business this week.

As soon as I confirm this I will give you the contact of the paying bank for immediate release of the funds in your favour without delay.

Waiting for the urgent reply.

Regards,
Henry.

NB: You can call me on my direct telephone number: 234-1-4721827

Of course the number doesn't work, it's not real ! I wonder what is at the end of Henry's number ?

Henry

I have included the city code in my telephone number. That number will connect you directly to my desk. I do not have a cell phone as these are now illegal in the uk. I don't have a fax because these are a waste of space. The last one I had was thrown away as all I ever got was junk mail.

Please confirm you are sending the cheque for 1 dollar. I consider this a testament to your good faith over this deal. The payment will allow us to bond properly and fully trust each other.

Please send the cheque without delay.

P

Send me the money NOW !

Nothing for a couple of days and then:

Dear Good Friend Phil,

I have not heard from you i hope all is well? Kindky get back to me with your phone number. The number you gave me was not going through. you have to add your city code and country code.

Thank you GOD bless.

Henry Okocha

and

Dear brother Phil,

I can't understand why you did not respond to my mails. I guess you are busy anyway.

Please reconfirm to me your telephone, fax and mobile numbers as the one you gave to me is not working.

Hope you are in good health.

Regards,

Henry.

I though he'd gone, but now I'm a dear brother and a good friend.

This one really doesn't give up easily does he ? Oh well, time to throw him another fish.

Henry

My telephone number is: 044 88 2 91 as quoted. The 044 is the country code. We don't have city codes in the UK. Try 0044 if this still doesn't work.

As I explained before, no-one has cell phones as they are now illegal and the Police jail you if you are caught with one. I don't have a fax as they are a waste of time. My prefered method of communication is e-mail as it allows me to pick it up on my Blueberry while I am on the move.

Also, one e-mail a day is plenty. If I get to many I might have to conclude that there is something wrong with this deal as you seem to be trying to rush it. Slow and stealthy is the way to go here. Make too much fuss and the authorities will start to show an interest and I certainly don't want that.

Can you confirm the cheque for 1 dollar has been dispatched yet ? Perhaps a little less time spent on the telephone and sending several e-mails a day and a little more time in the Post Office getting this to me ?

Apart from this, I am in rude health and hope you are to.

P

This is getting worrying. If this guy doesn't give up soon, I'm going to really have to start messing him around.

A week passed and then I recieved:

How are you doing today my dear Phil, hope fine.

I want to know if actually you want to do this business or not, because the funds is right now with the finance company in Holland-Amsterdam, you are to prepare to go there to sign the relevant documents also take the delievery of the funds without any further delay.

I am waiting for your urgent reply so that I will give you the contact of the finance house in Holland.

Regards,

Henry.

Money in Holland ? The money is always in Holland. Why do they keep sending it there ? I don't want to go to Holland at this time of year, much too wet !

Henry

Good to hear from you again !

No sign of the cheque you promised to send so I could open the bank account at my end. Once this arrives (I'm sure it is held up in the Christmas post) I can really get things moving here. Glad to hear the funds are in Europe so the transfer should only take a couple of days.

You might want to chase the bank up on that cheque though.

P

Wonder if he'll give up now ?

Notes: These letters are genuine and were sent and received in November and December 2003.