419 Scam 20071115
ID: Caudwell Garvin Scam
Sometimes I get the feeling that some scammers are either very new at this game as they are unsophisticated in their approach. In this case, what I would consider a medium level challenge causes them to turn tail and run. One relatively unique aspect of this scam is that you are told that YOU initiated this transaction earlier (in a previous life maybe?). With this ploy the scammer omits any comments about how or why you are receiving this windfall. Here is the email:
From: DR. Mark Jones james.sil18@yahoo.de
Date: Thursday, November 15, 2007 10:05 am
Subject: Authorized Bank Draft to You
Dear Winner,
How are you today? Hope all is well with you and your family? I hope this mail meets you in a perfect condition. I am using this opportunity to thank you for your great effort to our unfinished transfer of fund into your account due to one reason or the other best known to you.
But I want to inform you that I have successfully transferred the Cheque out of the company to someone else who was capable of assisting me in this great venture .Due to your effort, sincerity, courage and trust worthiness you showed at the course of the transaction I want to compensate you and show my gratitude to you with the sum of $500,000.00(five hundred thousand United States Dollars)in addition to your lottery winnings of $2.5m now amounting to $3,000,000.00 (three million United States Dollars).
I have authorized the finance house where I deposited my money to issue you international certified bank draft cashable at your bank. My dearfriend I will like you to contact the finance house for the collection of this international certified bank draft. The name and contact address of the Person with your Cheque Mr Caudwell Garvin is as follows;
COMPENSATION HEAD OFFICER
CONTACT AGENT Mr Caudwell Garvin
EMAIL: caudwellgarvin@gmail.com
TELEPHONE: +234-703-832-1183
At the moment, I am very busy here because of the investment projects which myself and my new partner are having at hand. Finally, remember that I have forwarded instruction to the finance house on your behalf to send the bank draft to you as soon as you contact them without delay. Please I will like you to accept this token with good faith as this is from the bottom of my heart.
Thanks and God bless you and your family. Hope to hear from you soon.
Best Regards,
DR. Mark Jones
Some aspects of the email are intriguing. They present that this is part of a business transaction that I have, supposedly, been involved in before. They do not mention any real source of these funds. The personal comments and the poor English display a lack of polish found throughout this scam.
My alias, JP Prieri, responds to Garvin and I am rewarded with an email that both presents and requests information.
My response:
Thank you Mr Garvin!
I do my information below. Please my phone is only not so good so please use email is better.
Thank you so much,
JP Prieri
Mr Caudwell Garvin <caudwellgarvin@gmail.com> wrote:
Attention:
I was directed by my boss DR. Mark Jones to send you the certified bank Check as compensation .Be inform that the check will be sent from WEST AFRICA but through my boss account with Barclays bank London. so the check will bears Barclays bank London. This is a real check so be rest assured that the money will be cleared in your account immediately it is deposited in your account.
You are going to receive this Certified Bank Check through (DIPLOMATIC COURIER MEANS) which we have already contracted FedEx Delivery Company to delivery it.You are required to reconfirm your full name, address where the certified bank Check will be sent. Your telephone number is also needed for easy communication. As soon as the information is received, you will receive a mail from me to choose which method of delivery you feel like choosing.
Fill this form and return it back to me to enable me dispatch your check at once.
(1) Your full name------------John Paul Prieri
(2) Your address---------------PO Box 1096, Easthampton, MA 01027
(3) Your telephone number------------413-537-7349
Send the above information immediately.
Awaiting your urgent response.
Sincerely,
Mr Caudwell Garvin
Tel: +234-70-383-211-83
The source of the scam lands in West Africa with a claim to ties with a bank in London. His reply gets right to the heart of the scam but also presents a weakness with a claimed affiliation with FedEx. The presentation of various charges ($368 in this case) to be sent NOT to FedEx but via a Western Union money-gram to a “representative” is quite typical. My response is also quite typical, challenging their method with some fake information that I supposedly got from FedEx:
Mr Caudwell Garvin caudwellgarvin@gmail.com
Subject: FedEx deliver charges
Attn:
This is an assurance to you and i must say that this is different
I acknowledge the receipt of your e-mail, How ever i have contacted the FedEx delivery company to confirm the courier charges to get your package delivered to your home address, Thus the courier fee is 368usd.More so your package will be delivered to your home address within 48hrs after payment verification.
This was according to the company representative (Mr. Mike Okoh)
FEDEX DELIVERY COMPANY
DURATION FOR DELIVERY
48 HOURS OF DELIVERY
EXECUTIVE 2 DAYS DELIVERY
An original certificate of weight....0.9Gramms
Total weight of parcel...............0.9Gramms
Colour of parcel......................Brown
FedEx deliver charges..............Free
mailing................................. ($20USD)
Insurance............................. ($278 USD)
Vat (5%)................................ ($70 USD)
TOTAL.................................. (368$USD)
Note: The charges cannot be deducted from your winnings. This is in accordance with section 13(1)(n) of the National Gambling Act as adopted in 1993 and amended on 3RD July 1996 by the constitutional assembly. This is to protect winners and to avoid misappropriation of funds.
Also as a matter of urgency you are therefore advised to send the above fee of Three hundred and sixty eight united state dollars only in favor of the delivery company's representative
His details below.
Name: Mr. Mike Okoh
Destination: 23-24 crescent satellite towns, Abuja, Nigeria, 23401
E-mail:mrmikeokoh@yahoo.com
Also forward the following details to us as written on your western union receipt for confirmation and also for record purpose
Sender's Name
Sender's Address
Receiver's Name: Mike Okoh
Destination: 23-24 crescent satellite towns, Abuja, Nigeria, 23401
Text question: What for?
Text answer: A gift
Amount sent: $368usd
M.T.C.N: (10 digit number)
Congratulations once more and wishing you best of investment.
Regards
Caudwell Garvin
PHONE-+234-70-3832-11-83
To: Mr Caudwell Garvin <caudwellgarvin@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: FedEx deliver charges
Thank you Mr Garvin,
Problems. I call FedEx to see why insurance so high and they say that insurance must be through them because they deliver across many countries. They say this is to prevent bad peoples from using their service for illegal stuff. They say please have FedEx to send package with marking to say "charges to be paid by recipient". This way I will pay to get package when it come to me. I tell them about what you say and they not to do that way because it does not pay for FexEx insurance and that is only way.
Thank you and sorry for problems,
JP Prieri
From: Mr Caudwell Garvin <caudwellgarvin@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: FedEx deliver charges
Hello
How are you doing i want you to know that i got your mail and i want you to know that i all you need do for your draft to get to you is that you have to make the payment before your draft will be delivered to you i want you to know that i called Mr Mike Okoh bass on it but he ask that he need to get your payment to day so that you will get your draft in the next 2days so i will advice that you go make the payment so that you can get your draft ok
To: Mr Caudwell Garvin <caudwellgarvin@gmail.com>,
Subject: Re: FedEx deliver charges
Please Mr Garvin,
Did you read my last email then you know problem. FedEx say only can insure delivery by them.
Please I want to do it right way so FedEx can deliver
JP Prieri
They were not interested in debating me. It would seem their scheme was very shallow and either it was not prepared to handle challenges or they were not willing to put in the effort. Pity.
WL Jay
Keep it safe, simple and fun!
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