Scam Busted

From an email forward explaining why you should hide in a cave, or at least wait until the payment clears the "bank" it came from:

Shauna Foster the radio announcer in Saskatoon. This is [as] legit [as an email forward can be].

Hello,

I felt the need to write every single person on my contact list after experiencing a devastating loss yesterday.

We were left bankrupt after being victim to internet fraud.

I had sold an old dining set for my folks on Kijiji and it turns out the purchaser was a member of an international ring. Seemingly normal transaction, a man sent me a money order for the set, which he was apparently going to give to his wife as a gift. I chatted with the fellow both via email and on the phone.

I verified the money order at our RBC branch. It was approved and cashed.

I was notified by police yesterday morning that the money order was fraudulent and our bank account had been drained.

RBC and Police said these fraudsters are getting so clever at passing fake bank notes/money orders--the tellers are unable to pick up on anything untoward. That's how legit these money orders appear. Not even the scanners detected anything abnormal when I asked.

There is no chance the money will be returned or reimbursed by RBC. The only glimmer of hope is that because my sister in law manages TD, she was able to tell us that had the RBC teller looked on her computer screen, she would have seen a red-flag warning to all banks to NOT process any money orders carrying the code that was on the very same one RBC cashed for me.

As it turns out, this is becoming an extremely common occurance, especially in western Canada. The police inspector told me DOZENS of these fake money orders from online purchases via Kijiji/Ebay are being passed daily. Just 2 days ago, police told me of another Saskatoon man who sold his vehicle on Kijiji and lost nearly 100 thousand dollars.

I wanted to write this to warn everyone of the dangers of internet shopping and accepting payment.

We are completely broke. Thank God for my parents, friends and Rawlco for helping through this really awful time.

Pls. don't feel the need to write back--just pass this along to WHOEVER so it will not happen again to someone else. Just last night, one of my girlfriends was about to accept payment for a dress with a money order and I caught her before she made a huge mistake.

Shauna

New material will be posted below this comment, when I have time. I'm looking to organize the page so new material is at the bottom, but Blogger will not let me do that and keep the dates true to when they happened.

I'll write more of the Helen Bogu saga, but first I want to introduce you to my latest friend, Andrew Bell. Andrew knows the location of a trunk full of currency that he's willing to split with me if I help him get it out of his old country. It was a deal I couldn't pass up as you'll see...

>From: "Andrew Bell"
>Reply-To: an_bll@mail.win.it
>Subject: Re : I will provide further information.
>Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2006 08:58:32 +0000

>Hi Dear ,
>I do understand that this letter will come as a
>surprise to you. My name is Andrew Bell. I am a
>Liberian, and an assistant to the former Liberian
>President Charles Taylor. I am currently in self exile
>in the Europe.
>As you may be aware there is an on going vindictive
>quest to freeze all know assets belonging to the
>family of Charles Taylor regardless of how it is
>acquired. Presently I am in control of Two Million
>Five Hundred Thousand United States dollars only,
>(USD$2.5m)
>belonging to him, which he has mandated me to transfer
>into a nutral account, to evade possible seizure .
>This is a mutually beneficial transaction that can be
>concluded in a couple of days. You may signify your
>interest by emailing me at which I will provide
>further information. A percentage accruable to each
>party is negotiable. I will be happy to call you if
>you leave a number so I may proffer more information.
>Be assured that this transaction is 100% risk free and
>your participation will not bring you into any
>disrepute as confidentiality is assured.
>Best regards,
>Andrew Bell

Hello Andrew Bell,
I am Sam and I would like to help you. please contact me again with more information at your urgancy.

In confidence,
Sam Steele Tompkins


>From: Andrew Bell
>To: Sam Tompkins
>Subject: Re : Further lnformation
>Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2006 23:13:23 -0700 (PDT)

>Dear Sam Steele Tompkins,
> Thank you very much for your mail. I am glad to receive your reply,
>I want to let you know that this transaction is 100% risk free. As soon
>as the money is moved to you, i shall be coming down to your country
>so that we can go into business venture. I would want you to know that
>this fund is currently in the security firm in Ghana. However it is deposited
>in a trunk box. It was moved there from my country as a diplomatic luggage.
>
> All that is required is contacting the security firm on my behalf, requesting
>them to transfer the luggage. The reason is that I am presently on exile and
>such I do not have the political status to make such claims.You can as well
>call me on this number +393291160299: And I'm sending to you the document
>given to me while i was depositing the luggage. It is called the Certificate of
>Deposit. I have also attached a photograph of the trunk box. please note that
>this must be kept secret as the security company official does not know that the
>content of the trunk is money. Please give me more information about yourself
>
>1) Your age.
>
>2) Your occupation.
>
>3) Your full name
>
>4)Your private telephone (cell land line) and fax number.
>
>5) your full contact address
>
>So that i can give you the contact tof the sceiruty company
>
>Yours Faithfully
>Andrew Bell


Re: You can contact the security company
Dear Andrew Bell,
I'm a 50 year old private contractor and I can be phoned at 13067862400 {An RCMP detachment in Saskatchewan} but I share a phone number with others so if you want to remain private I recommend we talk with email for now. I don't have a fax and can't trust the one at work to be private so again use email.
My address to send papers to is
Sam Steele Tompkins
45 Toronto St.
Dog River SK S0A 4A1
Canada
{Dog River is a fictional town in the television show Corner Gas on CTV}

When you visit how will I know what you look like can you send me a picture of yourself please so that I know no one else will try and pretend to be you?

Yours Lovingly,
Sam Steele Tompkins

>From: Andrew Bell
>To: Sam Tompkins
>Subject: Re: You can contact the security company
>Date: Mon, 1 May 2006 23:57:25 -0700 (PDT)

>Dear Sam Steele Tompkins
> Thanks for your mail. I have sent the documents to you
>as proof of my claims. I want you to contact the
>security firm in respect to the transfer.
>Please try your best in assisting me to ensure the
>movement of the fund. You can contact the security
>firm on phone +233 243 515866
>Email : cable.wire@untrustgh.com
>COMPANY NAME : union trust security comapany
>CONTACT PERSON : Dr Nana Koffi
>Attach are so of pic , You can as well send yours
>for i to know who i'm dealing with.
>Thank you evry much .
>
>Best Regards
>Andrew Bell
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Re: You can As well send the mail below
>
>The Operation Director
>Union Trust Ghana
>Dear Sir
>I name is MR , from . I have been
>requested by Mr Andrew Bell to contact you in respect
>of the luggage which he deposited in your company.
>Laggege was deposited by Mr Bell on the 7th of
>february 2002 in the name of Mr Charles Taylor.
>I am a bussiness associates of Mr Andrew Bell and he
>has requested me to assist him in the movement of the
>Trunk/Luggage to my country.
>I shall be glad if this mail is honoured and treated
>as utmost urgent and the luggage transfered to me. my
>phone number is and fax number
>Yours Faithfully.

{Cool, he mailed documents to Dog River, SK. Do you think Brent LeRoy will reply to him, or will they go to the Dog River Howler fake newspaper? Who gets the mail for a fictional town anyway?}

{Later I ask him about his confusing photos.}
Dear Mr. Andrew,
I am not sure who you are in the photos there are many different people which one are you?
I am working on sending a photo to you but I have not done that ever before and am concerned about asking someone to help me as that might break the confidendiality of this transaction if they ask the wrong questions.

Lovingly, Sam Steele Tompkins

>From: Andrew Bell
>To: Sam Tompkins
>Subject: Re: Pls call me
>Date: Thu, 4 May 2006 10:20:02 -0700 (PDT)

>Dear Mr Sam Steele Tompkins,
>
>Thank you very much for the mail. I have forwarded the information
>to the bonded whare house where the consignment is. However I would
>want you to contact the man in the security company.
>
>Remember that this transaction is highly confidential and it must
>have to be treated with care. It is also important that you will never
>let the security firm know Becos the official of the government whare
>house where the fund is do not know the content of the trunk.
>
>The reason is that i have deposited that consignment with them as
>diamond. So if you are calling, You should just mention that you are
>mailing respact to clearing of the consignment.
>
>The telephone to contact is 233 243 515 866. It is in Ghana and
>contact name is MR Nana Koffi
>
>Please call their phone number immediatley to discuss the issue.
>Pls try and send me your cell phone number becos i call this
>afternoon and someone pick and said wrong number
>
>Thanks
>Andrea
{I love it when a criminal admits they phoned the police, and still think you're serious about handing over money. Plus he now has a woman's name.}

Hello Andrea Bell,

I was just out of town and was unable to answer your email. I do not have a cell phone right now but what do you mean you tried calling and it was the wrong number? I gave you the number 1 306-786-2400 right? Who was it that answered, let me know in case there is a problem with my phone.

Sam Steele Tompkins

{I write again as it's been many days with no email. Probably he phoned the RCMP again, or his mailed package was returned as undeliverable.}
Hello Mr. Andrew Bell,
I am waiting for your call. I tried calling the number you gave me but I've never called internationally and I'm not sure my phone works for that, do I need to speak to an telephone operator?

1(306)786-2400 is supposed to be my phone number unless the phone company gave me the wrong number. Can you pls try again and let me know who answers if it's not me?

Sam Steele Tompkins

From : Andrew Bell <an_blll@yahoo.com>
Sent : May 12, 2006 3:07:38 AM
To : Sam Tompkins <sam_tompkins2005@hotmail.com>
Subject : Re: Pls call me

go to heal

{Do you think he wants me to see a doctor?}
I've contacted Yahoo to have Mr. Bell's email cancelled. - May 12, 2006

# posted by Sam Tompkins @ 1:59 PM 2 comments

{Helen hopes that whatever check I have here, that I'll continue to think she sent to me.}
From: "Helen Bogu"
December 23, 2005 4:48:50 AM
Subject: Hello Sam...compliments of the season

Hello Sam,

Thanks for the mail ..I have been a little bit busy because of the season.I forgot to let you know in my last email that the payment resent by my creditor was for $5000 as he did let me know.

I am still very much interested to get the van why would i be making out payment to you if i wasnt.

I want you to go and cash the check immediatley as i understand how urgent you need this money to do some work.

I will be getting in contact with my shipping agent so that all necessary arrangements can be made as the year is cominmg to an end very soon .

I will update you on any new development .Thanks once again and looking forward to reading from you soon extend my greetings to your family too.

Best Regards,

Mrs Helen.

{Friday}
Hello Mrs Helen,
I will wait until Monday for the check now because there is no mail on Saturday or Sunday. I will make you to know when it gets here, but how do I know it is your check I am getting when I see it? What is your creditor's check to look like when I don't know his name?

Sam

--
[Dec. 13]
Hello Mrs Helen,
It's Tuesday now and there's no check here in my mail box. I'm trying to be patient but you know I really need this payment and its not here yet. Please email me back now so I know your not trying to rip me off or something and wasting my time!

Sam

--
From: "Helen Bogu"
To: sam_tompkins2005@hotmail.com
Subject: please try and be Patient........
Date: Wed, 14 Dec 2005 07:48:38 +0000

Hello Sam,

Please bear with me ...I do understand how urgent you need this
money I would have done anything to help if i could but at this
moment lets wait and see when the mail arrives please have patience.

Take Care,

Mrs Helen.

--
From: "Helen Bogu"
To: sam_tompkins2005@hotmail.com
Subject: latest update..patience please!!!
Date: Fri, 16 Dec 2005 08:24:50 +0000

Hello Sam ,

How are you and oyur family doing? well i got a confirmation from
mycreditor that the mail was returned back to him due to an error in
the address on his part but he assured me that he has corrected the
error and resent the mail to your right address .I belive hopefully
you should be recieving it anytime soon.PLease do bear with me as i
do understnd how you feel at the moment .

Thank for your understanding and cooperation..

Yours sincerely,

Mrs Helen.

--
{I sent this in reply the next morning:}

Hello Mrs Helen,

I understand and am angry but will wait for the money to arrive again. I hope your creditor rushed the check this time. I will email you when I get it. Its hard to have patience when there is unholy human crap all over my back yard from those damn kids and the city wont clean it up. And now its winter out so it's frozen under a layer of ice and looks GOD awful!

I hope you are doing better than me?

Sam

--
December 21, 2005
Hello Mrs Helen,
Something terrible has happen. I got a check in my mail today but it was for only $5000, not $6000 like you said was coming. How am I to know even if this is from your creditor or just another person who is crazy?

What am I supposed to do now!??? Are you still going to buy my van?

Sam

{Nothing arrived, I was pretending I got a check.}

Hello Mrs Helen,
I am not sure I understand what you mean? Are you sending $6000 US and I give $4300 to the shipper when I get it to pay for that shipping?

How is the payment arriving? I need it soon, so postal mail might be too slow. Is it possible to have your creditor drop off the money in cash, certified check or bank draft? I haven't ever done a bank transfer before but if your ceditor knows how we could try that too.

I hope you are having a happy day, but I am not. My basement flooded last night and I really need the money for the repairs to the loo.

Sam

--
{I got the following message twice, sent several seconds apart. I guess they didn't remember sending it the first time.}
>From: "Helen Bogu"
>To: sam_tompkins2005@hotmail.com
>Subject: explanation........
>Date: Thu, 08 Dec 2005 08:03:31 +0000

Hello Sam,

Good morning to you .Dont you worry when you get the payment i will
advice you on what to do as for the shipping charges($2000) and the
balance left on the payment after paying the shipping charges.

The payment has been mailed by my creditor to you (a certified
check) and it will be getting toyou soon .when you recieve it do let
me know so we can take the n ext step.

My shipper is slightly busy for this week most likely he will be coming over next week and i belive by then you would have recived the payment which makes things a lot more easier for both of us .

I will alert you on any further developments and if you have
anyproblems do let me know so i can put you through .
{Through what, a scam?}

Do try and get the ads of the website you placed it .

Thanks for your buisness understanding and cooperation .

Mrs Helen.

--
RE: explanation........ check problem URGENT!
Hi Mrs Helen,
There has been a problem come up. The address I gave was missing a number I just looked back and it's supposed to be 445 Toronto St. not the 45 number I gave, I'm so sorry. Can you send a different check to the right address? I will pay you the expense of sending another check, we can take it out of the $1700 we agreed on.

If you can RUSH the check to me I will pay for the extra postage charge because I need it soon. Things are going badly here since the loo broke, and now I have to turn away vagrant children that come to my back door to use it as they are accustomed to doing. Can you imagine all these bastard children pissing and crapping all over my backyard bushes, I need HELP! The money has to come soon!

If you can send me your phone number again, I will call you if you need to talk about sending another check to the right address?

Merry Christmas,
Sam

--
>From: "Helen Bogu"
>To: sam_tompkins2005@hotmail.com
>Subject: correction observed..
>Date: Fri, 09 Dec 2005 08:09:44 +0000

Hello Sam,

ITs alright i will get your message across to my creditor .you just
have a little patience ok.The payment will get thier soon .I really
feel for you on the house issue but its ok its just for sometime
.Nothing is permanet {Especially a payment from Nigeria}. take care.

I wll speak to you later.

Mrs Helen.

# posted by Sam Tompkins @ 7:29 PM 0 comments

Hello Mrs Helen,
I had a good day today too. My dog had thirteen puppies which is quite unusual. I'm hoping they can be trained to be race track winners just like their breeding stock is.

My full name is Sam Tompkins and the van is at 45 Toronto St. in Dog River, Sask. S4P 4A1 {Corner Gas comedy from CTV}
My number at work is 1-306-786-2400 {My local RCMP detachment} and you can give your name and phone number and address to my secretary there if I'm not in to take your phone call.

I lost the email with your phone number can you please email it again in case I need to call you?

Glad to do business with you too, it's nice to meet such a good and helpful person on the Internet. It's very good, I've been trying to sell this van for a long time now.

Merry Christmas,
Sam
--

>From: "Helen Bogu"
>To: sam_tompkins2005@hotmail.com
>Subject: RE: payment now ...The van is ok
>Date: Wed, 07 Dec 2005 08:43:34 +0000


Hello Sam,

Thanks for your mail .It's so nice to hear that you got cute little
puppies ,congratulations.

I would want you to kow that i have contactedmy creditor whom will
be maing out the payment to you on my behalf and he has agreed to do
so .

In effect to that i will be need your residential address where the
payment can be mailed to you .

Do try as much as possible to get back to me immediately.

Hope to read from you soon.

Mrs Helen.

--
Hello Mrs Helen,
That is my residential address I gave you, where the van is. It it only my work phone number since I am not at home enough for you to reach me there, and I have no cell phone number.

Would the person picking up the van not bring payment?

Sam

--
>From: "Helen Bogu"
>To: sam_tompkins2005@hotmail.com
>Subject: new development
>Date: Wed, 07 Dec 2005 18:45:11 +0000
Hello sam ,

Thanks for your mail. Now i do understand you.I want to put into your notice a new development that i recieved today.

My creditor will be making out a payment of $6000 to you on my behalf tommorow as i confirmed from him .

Please once you recieve it do let me know as you will be required to drop the balance with the shipping agency for thier shipping charges in due time.

Hope to read from you soon .

Thanks ,

Mrs helen.

# posted by Sam Tompkins @ 6:36 PM 1 comments

Another response has been added below, and seen here is the picture of the van I sent Mrs Helen, although the one they got was 6.1MB and in .bmp format which is really annoying to get in an email.


Hello Mrs. Helen,
I am working on getting a picture of the van to you. I didn't have a good day, my dinner was delivered late, and it was so cold someone died frozen outside on the street by my mansion. Quite horrible.
I will send the picture soon.

Sam
--

Late on Dec 5 I email:
Attachment 6.5MB van.bmp picture of a blurry van.

Hello Mrs Helen,
Hoping you are having a good day?
I looked for a good picture of my van, and I couldn't find a good one but I included the best I have right now, andd will get you another one with more details soon so we can work out payment shortly. My man servant dropped my digital camera last week and I haven't gotten it repaired yet, so I will have to buy a camera tomorrow and send the picture then.
Until then, do you have any other questions about the van?

Sam

--
December 6, 2005 4:04:04 AM
Subject : payment now ...The van is ok {Yeah, I think it's OK too. But how did they tell from the picture?}

Hi Sam,

Thanks fo your mail ..i am having a good day .how about and your family hope you all are too?
I have seen the pictures {there was more than one??} they are all nice and ok . I will settle for the van at that price so lets make arrangements for the payment. I will be needing your contact information so the payment can be made out to you and also to enable my shipping agent come over to inspect and pick up the van .

The information should entail your full name ,contact address and
phone number.

My creditor will make out the paymnet immediately i recieve your paymnet information .Thnaks a lot foir doing buisness with me .

Hope to read from you soon Best regards,

Mrs Helen.
--

December 5, 2005
Since Mrs Helen might still be reading this site, I've kept the updates offline while we conclude our deal for the van. I wouldn't want to spoil the deal too soon.

For two days there was no word from my friend Mrs Helen.
From: "Helen Bogu"
To: sam_tompkins2005@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: interested....1984 Diesel Rally STX GMC full size VAN.
Date: Mon, 05 Dec 2005 08:01:58 +0000

Hi Sam ,

Thanks for your response to my inquiry and i am really sorry for getting back to you this late, I was an important trip out of town. {Probably serves his time in jail on the weekends...}

I will pay you the sum of $1500 for the van ....how is that with you? The van will be collected from its present location by my shipping agent once we conclude on the price ....

Thanks for your cooperation and understanding waiting to read from you.
{Cooperation? I guess they thank their marks when they cooperate with the scam?}
Best Regards,

Mrs Helen.

--
This is fantastic and I thought, "I'm going to get to sell my van to Africa, I wonder how this will work out."

From: "Sam Tompkins"
To: helenbogu@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: interested....1984 Diesel Rally STX GMC full size VAN.
Date: Mon, 05 Dec 2005 07:43:13 -0600

Hi Mrs. Helen,
I really need $1700 for the van, and it's in top shape. I will send you a picture of it later, but I must go to my job now. It has air conditioning, cruise control, power locks and windows, and a sliding side door. The radio has been upgraded too, from the 1984 version, to one with a digital display and clock. And the windshield is in perfect shape of course. It has 440,000 km on it, but that's not a lot for a diesel as you probably know. You can also take the benches out to make more room for cargo.
If you have any other questions about it please ask?
I've never shipped a vehicle before, I am glad you know what you are doing.

Sam

--
Hello sam ,

How was your day ? alright $1700 is okay by me but i will still be needing a picture of the van to see the state of the body.I do like its features .

I will be needing your contact information so i can make out the payment to you and also to enable my shipping agentt come over to inspect and pick up the van .

The information should entail your full name ,contact address and phone number.

I do hope to do a very good and smooth buisness with you .

Thanks ,

Mrs Helen.

# posted by Sam Tompkins @ 11:59 AM 2 comments

December 4, 2005

It was an exciting weekend. I got an email from Mrs Helen of Lagos, Nigeria."She" is the inspiration behind this web log. This blog is dedicated to "her" and all of the Nigerian scammers out there.

Everything written by me and inserted as a comment will be in { red text and braces }.

December 3, 2005

212.199.254.139.ispeednet.net (Gilat-art) Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria, 0 returning visits
03:01:17 AM source http://www.google.com/search?q=us%20used%20items%20for%20sale&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&start=30&sa=N

I got an offer on my van today. Oddly enough, a person from Nigeria looked at my webpage with my stuff for sale just before emailing me. Strange coincidence, huh? Time for me to send this to wafl@phonebusters.com the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) tip address for fraud in Canada.

Here's the email:
Hello,

I read your ad and i am intersted to purchase this van at such an exciting price.

please do get back to me if you still have it for sale.I'll be waiting to read from you soon.

You can call me on +44703184225[modified]*

Thanks

Mrs Helen.
--

{I've repiled with:}

Hello Mrs. Helen,

I am still waiting to here from you, the van is still not sold. How much were you liking to pay for the van, I'm asking $2000US. Where do you want to pick it up?

Sam