AVOID SCAMS, FRAUDS & IDENTITY THEFT
FBI E-Mail Updates
New E-Scams & Warnings: Citadel Malware Continues to Deliver Reveton Ransomware in Attempts to Extort Money... click here to read
SCAM ALERT! - IRS Warns of New E-Mail and Telephone Scams Using the IRS Name; Advance Payment Scams Starting
Be aware that identity thieves are already pushing scams involving the stimulus payments. At least one telephone scam is making the rounds using the proposed rebates as bait. Always exercise extreme caution when giving out your personal information. To learn more about rebate scams and how to protect yourself, click here.
See scam examples lines below
AVOID ID THEFT
Click here to visit the FTC ID Theft website to learn about the crime of identity theft. It provides detailed information to help you deter, detect, and defend against identity theft. On this site, consumers can learn how to avoid identity theft – and learn what to do if their identity is stolen. Businesses can learn how to help their customers deal with identity theft, as well as how to prevent problems in the first place. Law enforcement can get resources and learn how to help victims of identity theft. Click here to see a 10 minutes video.
PHISHING - Fraudsters send spam or pop-up messages to lure your personal and financial information.
We have collected several emails that we have received in the last months. We prepared this page to make you aware about how dishonest people try to catch peoples' personal information and money.
For your security we removed all the links in order to avoid accidentally going to the unsecured places.
Click here to see the information in Spanish / haga click aquí para ver la información en Español.
If you wish to know more about internet frauds and other issues go to OnGuardOnline.gov.
If you receive any email like these, please
report this to the authorities forwarding it to
spam@uce.gov,
and if it is the case to the institution,
company, bank or organization supposedly
"involved" in the email.
Refunds as Part of President Barack Obama Program
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From: Internal Revenue Service [mailto:refunds@irs-us.gov]
Sent: Thursday, November 20, 2008 9:56 AM To: undisclosed-recipients: Subject: Notice! Importance: High http://www.irs.gov/irs/cda/common/images/irslogo.gif Over 130 million Americans will receive refunds as part of President Barack Obama program to jumpstart economy. Our records indicate that you are qualified to receive the 2008 Economic Stimulus Refund. The fastest and easiest way to receive your refund is by direct deposit to your checking/savings account. Please follow the link and fill out the form and submit before November 21 th, 2008 to ensure that your refund will be processed as soon as possible. Submitting your form on November 21 th, 2008 or later means that your refund will be delayed due to the volume of requests we anticipate for the Economic Stimulus Refund. To access Economic Stimulus Refund, please click here http://grainvalley.k12.mo.us/gvsd/dreamweaver2/graphics/fairy1_files/is/. Note: If you received this message in your SPAM/BULK folder, that is because of the large amount of e-mails we are sending out or because of the restrictions implemented by your ISP. |
Note:
Some people is trying of take advantage of political transition and at the same time the
financial turbulence affecting the country. One of our staff members received the email shown lines above.
The email requests your saving or checking account information. As a manner to confuse people, there is a
note trying to elaborate a justification in case the email ends into the spam folder.
As a reminder, IRS does not use emails to request bank accounts information.
"CRAIGSLIST" Avoid scams and fraud by dealing locally
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From: xxxxx <xxxxx622@gmail.com> Date: Mon, Sep 29, 2008 at 1:35 PM Subject: Re: $1300 / 4br - HOUSE FOR RENT FOR NICE FAMLIY (Fairfax) Hello, Thanks for the email. I Mr. xxxxx own the wonderfully 4 bedroom house with hydro,heat,laundryfacilities,aircondition, internet and phone line. And I also want you to know that it was due to my missionary work transfer that made me and my wife to leave the house with an intention of giving it out for rent. I am looking for a responsible person that can take very good care of it as we are not after the money for the rent but want the property to be kept clean at the time as it is our hard-earned property.If you are honestly interested and will absolutely maintain my property,(treating it like it belongs to you) as i hope i can put my trust and confidence in you because i will come to check on my property yearly. I earlier wanted to sale the house (this is why there is still a for sale sign infront of the house) but had a second thought to rather put it up for rent, because as a matter of fact l will be coming back home in the next 3yrs,and would need a place to live in. Presently, We are here in west Africa doing the Lord's duty for humanity, for through our direct service to mankind, the blessings and promises of God will manifest today. The house vital informative documents and the entrance keys to the house are with me, for we try to look for dependable agent to handle the rent but could not find due to the limited time we had before leaving the United States. Mostly we do not want our property to be given to any sort of person to avoid damages and troubles. I and my wife came over to West Africa for a missionary work, so I hope you will promise us to take very good care of the house. So get back to me on how you could take care of our house or perhaps the experience and your persentliving condition. Here is the Property Description Available Now!!! Bedroom : 4 Bathroom : 3 Security Deposit : $700 Monthly Rent : $1300 Application Fee: $0 Pets Policy : OK Packing : Reserved Address of the house: 9999 zzzzzzzzz Pkwy. Fairfax, VA 22030 USA Lease Term : As long as you wished Contact Me : 011-234-703-346-0113 OR +234-703-346-0113 . SO IF YOU ARE REALLY INTERESTED I WILL WANT YOU TO FILL THE RENT APPLICATION FORM BELOWRENTAL APPLICATION FORM RENTAL APPLICATION FORM Neatly complete all information below. All other applicants over the age of 18 must complete and sign their own application. TENANT'S PERSONAL INFORMATION FIRST NAME: __________________ MIDDLE NAME: __________________ LAST NAME: __________________ PROFESSION: ________________ PHONE (____) __________ (WORK) PHONE (____) __________ (HOME) MARITAL STATUS: _________ KIDS _____ (YES/NO), HOW MANY ________ PRESENT ADDRESS: ___________________________ CITY: _______________ STATE: ______________ ZIPCODE: ____________ HOW LONG? ___________IF RENTING WHY ARE YOU LEAVING? ________________________________________________________________ CURRENT RENT: _______ PREVIOUS ADDRESS: ________________________ CITY: ________________ STATE: _______________ ZIPCODE: ___________ HOW LONG? ____________ IF RENTING,APARTMENT. WHY DID YOU LEAVE? ________________________________________________________________ PREVIOUS RENT: _______ IF THIS APARTMENT IS BEING GIVEN TO YOU, HOW LONG DO YOU INTEND STAYING? ____________ WHEN DO YOU INTEND MOVING IN? ______________ *PETS* IF YOU HAVE A PET, NAME OF PET: ______________ KIND OF PETS: _____________ WEIGHT: ___________________ HABITS DO YOU SMOKE? ______________ DO YOU DRINK? ______________ DO YOU WORK LATE NIGHT? ____ I CERTIFY that answers given herein are true and complete to the best of my knowledge. I authorize investigation of all statements contained in this application for tenet screening as may be necessary in arriving at a tenant decision. I understand that the landlord may terminate any rental agreement entered into for any misrepresentation made above.you can bring in your stuffs and items, only inform me about your move in and you can contact me on my cell Phone: 011-234-703-346-0113 OR +234-703-346-0113 . Signature: Date: Please get back to me today with a reply, Regard and God bless you, Mr. xxxxxx Phone: 011-234-703-346-0113 OR +234-703-346-0113 Address: # 167,Hillton Road, Lagos, Nigeria . Zip: 23401 |
Note:
Some ads in Craigslists are apparently showing 'very good deals', but in reality they are only traps. In the example, we found and ad in Craigslist DC showing a beautiful house for rent at a very good price. When you request more information, you receive an email like the one shown lines above; indicating that the "owner" is out of the country and requesting your information (and surely later requesting you to transfer money to make the 'deal'). The real owner does not know that his/her property is being used to trick people. The information in the fake ad was copied from a real one.
"BANCORPSOUTH" announcing that their credit card service website has been upgraded and requiring all cardholders to re-enroll
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From:apache@server.interserv.co.il [mailto:apache@server.interserv.co.il] On Behalf Of ebanking@bxs.com
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Note:
Notice that the sender is "apache@server.interserv.co.il [mailto:apache@server.interserv.co.il] On Behalf Of ebanking@bxs.com", but the submit button is linked to a server named blockageinterceptor (http://www.blockageinterceptor.com/bancorpsouth/index.php). Particularly this detail indicates you very clearly that the Bank is not the one who originated the email. Remember that financial institutions NEVER email you requesting your personal information or to verify / update information about your account such as PIN numbers, card numbers, SSN, etc.
"eBay" notifying that your account was temporarily suspended and that they need to confirm your identity.
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From: eBay Billing [mailto:Security@eBay.erorr.com]
Dear eBay User. We recently have
determined that different computers
have logged into your eBay account,
and multiple password failures were
present before the login. One of our
Customer Service employees has
already tryed to telephonically
reach you. As our employee did not
manage to reach you, this email has
been sent to your notice. Therefore
your account has been temporarily
suspended. We need you to confirm
your identity in order to regain
full privileges of your account. If
this is not completed by November 3,
2005, we reserve the right to
terminate all privileges of your
account indefinitly, as it may have
been used for fraudulent purposes.
We thank you for your cooperation in
this manner. To confirm your
identity please follow the link
below: ----------------------------------------- Privacy & Security
| Terms of Use
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Note:
The link showed in the email apparently is in an
ebay server. It shows
http://www.ebay.com/eBay?RegisterEnterInfo&sit0&co_partnerid2921405
but that text is really linked to another site
http://www.nan.go.th/poc/ebay.php.
"Federal Credit Union" informing you that your Credit Union bank has joined the Federal Credit Union (FCU) network and asking you to activate an online account in their database.
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From: nobody@host.brandleader.com [mailto:nobody@host.brandleader.com]
On Behalf Of National Credit Union
Administration
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Note:
This is a very elaborated and more sophisticated page. It uses many real links (pointing to the real NCUA site) but the link to update your information goes to other site: http://www.ncua.gov.activate-now-account.com/.../fcu/index.htm. Also, notice that this server name uses www.ncua.gov as the first part of the name just to confuse you. The false server name is http://www.ncua.gov.activate-now-account.com which is totally different that that real one www.ncua.gov.
"Wells Fargo" asking for your account information.
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From: Wells Fargo [mailto:service@wellsfargo.com]
Dear customers:
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Note:
Also in this case the link showed in the email
is different to the real linked page. We can see
the address:
https://online.wellsfargo.com/signon?LOB=CONS
that shows a secured place, but the real
connected place is another:
http://clannameless.com/e107_images/avatars/www.wellsfargo.com/index.html.
"Sunflower Bank N.A. (SBNA)" asking you to "verify" your account information.
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From: apache@server.interserv.co.il
[mailto:apache@server.interserv.co.il]
On Behalf Of customerservice@sunflowerbank.com
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Note:
This is another email showing a link button that apparently goes to the SunflowerBank, but the real thing is that the link goes to another place: http://www.vpascal.com/e107_images/filemanager/system/sunflower/index.php.
"PayPal" telling you that unusual activity was detected in your account and that you have to provide additional information to secure your account.
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From: anonymous@www.shoplistings.com
[mailto:anonymous@www.shoplistings.com]
On Behalf Of PayPal
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Note:
This is another example how this emails try to distract you using a different linked place that the one showed in the email. You can see the fake linked address in a "Paypal" server https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_login-run, but the real one linked is another different http://pc31.lodz-retkinia.sdi.tpnet.pl/cgi_bin/webscr=cmd=_home/.
A "Lotto" International Coordinator telling you that you "won" 2 million euros.
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From: Jonse Manbo
[mailto:programforall@netscape.net]
AWARD PROGRAM NL 2005 Laan Van Hoornwijk 55, 2289 DG Rijswijk. Amsterdam, the Netherlands. www.lotto.nl BATCH: JASH/72947/M REF: JAPN/825210773/BR5 You have won the sum of 2, 000.000.00euros Our Dear Winner, You have won the sum of 2, 000.000.00euros (Two Million Euros Only.) From Award Program NL Promotion, held on September 1, 2005. After a successful completion of the second category draws of Award Program NL, International Promotion, You have emerged one of the winners of the, Award Program NL, which is part of our promotional draws. Participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 30,000 email addresses of individuals and companies from America, Africa, Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, Middle East, and New Zealand, as part of our International Promotions Program. As a category B winner, you have been picked by a computer balloting system, where only email addresses are selected, from a total numbers of 30,000 email addresses, drawn from all over the globe. After an automated computer ballot of our International Promotions Program consequently won in the second Category. ****************************************** Your Email Address was attached to: Ticket number: APNL-2-9027-NL, with Reference number: APN-WF74-5NL Batch number: APN-3T2T-1NL Security file number: APN-6604/303NL ********************************************** Barrister Jones Manbo Esq. AWARD PROGRAM NL TEL: +31-614-149-580 Email: programforall@netscape.net Website: www.lotto.nl The above details are the details of your claim agent, do contact him for your claim. Please we advice you to keep the award, personal and confidential, till you winning have be remitted to you to avoid bouble claim. For due processing and remittance of your prize money to a designated account of your choice, remember, you must contact your claim agent not later than, September 25, 2005 after this date, all funds will be returned as unclaimed. NOTE: To avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your reference and batch numbers, any breach of confidentiality on the part of the winners will result to disqualification. Once again, Congratulations. Yours Sincerely, Mr. Willem Japic. Lottery Co-coordinator International. ================================= |
Note:
This is a different trick, in this case somebody, usually a non-existing person, tells you that you won a big prize and that he wants to establish contact with you to start with the "claim" process. He gives you some 'information' about your "Ticket number", "Reference number", "Batch number" and a "Security file number" to try to gain your confidence.
"Chase" informing you that they are doing a software update and asking you to 'visit' your personal data.
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From: Chase.com [mailto:software@chase.com]
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Note:
Once more, delinquents send an email showing a fake link to http://www.chase.com//cmserver/users/default/confirm.cfm but the real one is another: http://thequinnsonline.com/cacti/www.chase.com/update_card.htm.
Someone that identifies himself as "Daniel Kabila" saying that he inherited a big amount of money and that he wanted to invest that "money" with your help and offers to "compensate" you with a percentage of the "money".
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From: Daniel
Kabila [mailto:dkabila174@nowzer.com]
Letter from: Daniel Kabila INVESTMENT OFFER. Dear, In appreciation of your esteemed contact received through a reliable source and the choice of your country I wish to introduce myself, I am Daniel Kabila the son of the late DRC President Laurent Desire Kabila of the blessed memory. I know this letter might come to you as a surprise but I honestly do not intend to surprise you. I write this letter in respect of my intention to invest the sum of US$12M(Twelve Million United State Dollars) with you. I inherited this money from my mother. This money was got through the smuggling and sales of Diamond and Timber when my father was the head of state. My mother though not her legal wife used her privilege position to engage in the business of Diamond and Timber since she knows that her survival will depend on how much she can get out of the privilege situation. When my father was assassinated on 16TH Jan. 01 by one of his bodyguards Lt.Rashidi Kasereke through the conspiracy of some top army officers that wanted to topple him I escaped to SA because of the fear that I might be arrested by my half brother Lt. General Joseph Kabila the present head of state. Actually his mother and my mother are not in the best of relationship because of who among them will be the first lady tussle and this ultimately affected us their children. Considering the relationship between SA and my country's new government, my mother advised me to leave For SA for security reason, while the funds were deposited with a security Company abroad. On getting to there where I have been living since then as a political refugee I am seeking for a reliable foreigner who can assist me in moving this money out for safe banking and profitable investment. Honestly I contacted you because I don't want to invest this money in here due to my status here as a political Refugee. And moreover I wouldn't want to take risk because this money is all that I and my Mother is depending on because My half brother has seized all my father's assets and money and left I and my mother empty handed without knowing about this funds deposited at the Security Company in abroad so that is why I decided that investing this money abroad should be the best investment for me. I will be honored if I can be given the privilege of investing this money with your help. In view of this plight, I expect you to be trustworthy and kind enough to respond to this distress call to save my mother and I from a hopeless future. And if you agree, I hereby agree to compensate your sincere and candid effort in this regard with 15% of the total money and annual 5% of the after tax returns on investment for the first three years. Thereafter, the term shall be varied. 5% for expenses, which may arise during the transaction( fax and phone bills inclusive). when the money is moved into your discrete account, you will be allowed to draw 15% in your favor, while the remaining 80% will be invested meaningfully for our future if possible in your area of business and deterrents sectors of the Economy in your country which are dividends yielding. Whatever your decision is please reach me immediately through my Email,and keep this letter tight secret for the interest of my family. Best Regards, Daniel Kabila |
Note:
In this case the delinquent wants you to establish contact with him to start the process. As you can read in the email, he tries to "be honest with you" trying to gain your attention and confidence. Also he requires from you to contact him "immediately" and to "keep this letter tight secret".
An "English man" looking for a representative in the United States and offering you a partnership/job.
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From: Wahum Fabric
[mailto:contact_wahumfabric@msn.com]
Hello, Am Harrison Duke, am from England and am looking for a representative in the states who will be working for us as a partime worker and we are willing to pay $450 for every transaction, which wouldn’t affect your present state of work, if u are interested pls you can reach me through my company private email. {contact_wahumfabric@fastermail.com} {+447031947083} First off all I will like to know your age sex location and what u do for a living Am 45/ male / England, London, I work for Wahum textile and fabric company in England Our main factory is located in Africa were we extract the raw materials need for the manufacturing of fabrics, but all transfers and anything that has to do with payments are referred to England we are looking for a representative in the states, someone who would help us receive payments from our customers in the states. Cause the cost of coming to the state and getting payments is very expensive, we can spend up 1,300 dollars only in buying tickets, so we need a representative in the united state who will be handling that aspect, We are willing to pay $450 per every payment u receive , and you can still keep your regular job while you work for us All you have to do is help us receive payments from our customers in the states. These payments are in checks and money orders and they would come to you in your name, so all you need do is cash the cheque collect your payment and wire the rest to us via western union The problem we have is trust, But we have our way of getting anyone that gets away with our money......... If you are interested I would send you an employment letter and agreement letter which you are to sign and send back to me as soon as possible and I would need you to give me your full name ,home address e-mail address and your phone number for me to get in touch with you. It wouldn’t cost you any amount, what you are to receive are payments which will be sent to u by FedEx or UPS from our business partners, which would come in a cashiers cheque, then u are to cash it and send to us via western union money transfer. God Bless You. Harrison Duke. |
Note:
As you can read, the email concentrates in the payment offered and the way it is going to be sent. A real partnership offer should concentrate in other aspects of the business. Also note that the email account of the "investor" is a msn account instead of an expected corporate email account.
A "Nigerian Bank Manager" who wants to access to the account of a "foreigner" who died and wants your help to withdraw a big amount of money .
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From: nwachinemere
[mailto:owezime@mail.real-net.sk]
From: Dr.Owezime Nwachinemere Young, Manager, Credit and Foreign Bills, Zenith International Bank Limited, Lagos-Nigeria. My name is Dr. Owezime Nwachinemere Young, the manager Credit and Foreign Bills of Zenith International Bank Limited of Nigeria. I am writing in respect of foreign customer of my bank with account number 14-255-2004/utb/t who died in a plane crash (Ethiopian Airline 961) with other passengers abroad. Since the death of this customer, I personally have watched with keen interest to see the next of kin but all has proved abortive as no one has come to claim his funds of US$15.5m (Fifteen Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) which has been with my bank for a very long time. On this note I decided to seek for whose name shall be used as the next of kin as no one has come up to be the next of kin. In view of this I got your contact through my country's foreign trade mission after I was convinced by providence that your name could be used as the next of kin. The request of the foreigner as a next of kin in this business is occasioned by the fact that the customer was a foreigner and a Nigerian cannot stand as the next of kin to a foreigner. I agreed that 30% of this money will be for you as a foreign partner in respect of providing a new bank account or we can use your old account information, while the rest will be for me, thereafter, I will visit your country for disbursement as I am almost due for retirement. Therefore, to facilitate the immediate transfer of this fund to your account as arranged, you must apply first to the bank as a relation to the deceased indicating your private telephone number, and fax number for easy communication and location where the money will be remitted. Upon the receipt of your reply, I will send you by fax or e-mail the application and the next step to take. I will not fail to bring to your notice that this business is hitch-free and that you should not entertain any fear as the whole required arrangement has been made for the transfer. You should contact me immediately as soon as you receive this letter. Trusting to hear from you. Your respectfully, Dr. Owezime Nwachinemere Young. Please reply here: owezime_nwachi@e-milio.com |
Note:
In this case, this "manager" tries to gain your confidence telling you a long story, to convince you that the money has been in the bank for a long time, that he contacted you because you have the same last name of the "account owner", and of course, he offers you a big percentage of the money.
"Philippines Senator" wanting to recover several millions of dollars from her husband's accounts.
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From: LUISA
ESTRADA [mailto:mrssslpestrada@yahoo.com.au]
Goodday Beloved Friend, This is a proposal in context but actually an appeal soliciting for your unreserved assistance in consummating an urgent transaction. By way of summarized profile of myself, I am Senator Luisa Pimentel Estrada, a 74years old lady and the first wife of Joseph Ejercito Estrada (former head of state and President of Philippines) who is presently held in detention in a hospital outside manilla,Philippines. However, the current administration of Gloria Arroyo(The President of Philippines) the present Government have resolved to freeze all known assets of Joseph Ejercito Estrada including properties at home and abroad and are presently embarking on to seize the various bank accounts of my Husband in Switzerland,UK and Australia. We cannot be held responsible for the sins of my Husband. In view of this plight, I expect you to be trustworthy and kind enough to respond to this distressed call to save our family from a hopeless future. And if you agree to help, we shall discuss the disbursement ratio in our next correspondence after we have been acquainted. In fact, the attack on our family (The Estrada's) is so devastated to an extent of seizing our traveling passport, family accounts, trying some members of our family in court for offences allegedly committed by my Husband and even restrict us from seeing my husband. Ihave carefully moved out these funds (US$18 million), before my husband was impeached to an offshore Deposit Company.From past experiences, many people I had regarded as close friends has capitalize on my family's travail to run away with my money. In order to avert this negative development, I in conjunction with my son (DANIEL) now seek your permission to allow my attorney do a CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP/REASSIGNMENT OF CREDIT of stated funds from the deposit company to your name, so that the funds (US$18million) would be released to you as the new owner (on behalf of me and my family).In view of this grievous threat to our Economic and personal survival, our family trustee have secretly protected the deposit, you are to assist us to lay claims of the consignment with the aid of all legal documents that will be forwarded to you as time goes on. I am writing because when I deposited the money in the deposit company, I told them that it belonged to a foreign business partner and my present position will not allow me to claim the funds. Consequently, I will present you as the owner of the funds in the Deposit Company so you can be able to claim them. This is simple. I will like you to provide immediately; 1. Full names 2. Contact address 3. Telephone and fax numbers Once I receive this information,My son will prepare the necessary documents that will put you in place as the new owner of the funds. The money will then be released to your custody by the Deposit Company, for us to share. No doubt this proposal will make you apprehensive,please we employ you to observe utmost confidentiality and rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us because we shall require your assistance to invest our share in your country (buying of properties like houses, hotels etc). This is why your urgent action and response is of priority to enable us concluding this transaction in a timely and professional manner. Awaiting your swift response via this email address: mrslpeestrada@yahoo.com.hk indicating your interest pls. Thanks and regards, Luisa Pimentel Estrada. |
Note:
This "Senator" offers you a "profitable transaction" for "both of us because we shall require your assistance to invest our share in your country (buying of properties like houses, hotels etc)". Also they try to give some sense of urgency "This is why your urgent action and response". As usual in this cases delinquents try to gain your confidence with terms like "to enable us concluding this transaction in a timely and professional manner".