Welcome

Summary

Another cobbled email with millions of dollars for you (if you pay a fee).

Circulation: Mid 2012

Status: Scam

The Debunking

This email is basically blank except for a blurb telling you to read the enclosed MS Word document (usually in RTF format). When you open the email, you are told that the writer is an American (naturalized) and...

My name is Mrs. Maria Elena Quintero Rivillas, From Columbia, Nationalize in United States of America, and a citizen of (USA) base in Beaverton Oregon. I am married to late Mr. Fernando Rivillas, who worked with Agrocamconsultant Company in London for Twenty one years before he died in the year August 27th 2010, in plane crash. I got your contact in Internet church missionary Database as someone who is capable to handle this project.

Would you look at that - a widow whose dead husband worked at his job for many years. Such dedication, the poor man who died so tragically. {Cue the tears and a hanky}
Wait. What? She got my name from a church missionary database? What are missionaries doing with my email address in their databases? And how does this missionary know what I am capable of handling?

When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of (US$106,000,000.00) (One Hundred and Six Million United States Dollars) with the bank Negara New York. Presently, this money is still with the bank Negara New York. If you are interested in carrying out this project, you will go ahead and contact our Family Lawyer with the contact details below so that he can arrange the release of the funds to you.

What's this? A RICH widow! Let's go a-courtin'. If we could only find that bank in "Negara, New York." So, now we have a dead millionaire who hands over his vast fortune to a woman who is clueless about how to manage the finances. Seriously, I would love to know what these scammers in Africa think American women do. Is this some 1800's story where women have no right to vote and are window dressing for the man's house?

Recently, following my ill health, my Doctor told me that I may not last for the next six months due to my cancer problem. The one that disturbs me most is my stroke sickness. Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to a Christian organization (Church) that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct herein, according to the desire of my late husband before his death.

Of course, she can't make use of the money herself because she is dying of cancer. In a tragic twist of events, she has "stroke sickness" and her doctors give her a grim prognosis. But alal is well because she is giving her money to a Christian organization (Church) - and she speaks parenthetically just so we would know what she means.

The "real" purpose is divulged when the writer (names are interchangable) tells you she wants the money to be used for "Christian" purposes such as orphanages, Christian schools and churches. After all, "The Bible made us to understand that 'Blessed is the hand that giveth'" as the classic scammer line goes.

If you are interested in carrying out this task, I have informed my Attorney Edward Curiz in London so that he can arrange the release of the funds to you. You can reach my attorney ( Barrister Edward Curiz ) on telephone number:+447924520773 for oral communication or contact him on his direct email address : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

In order to help (and get your own percentage of the take), you must contact a "barrister" who will direct you to pay a fee to the "bank" where the money is stored. Of course, the fee is sent to the "bank" by way of Western Union, which is untraceable once picked up. The "barrister" then disappears into the darkness and you are left wondering.

Conclusion

This is a boilerplate scam with predictable elements. Some of the hallmarks of this scam are:

  • You are contacted out of the blue by someone who claims to have received your contact particulars from an obscure source (mine said a missionary list) such as your local Chamber of Commerce or the generic "business directory."
  • Millions of dollars are yours for the taking.
  • Dead relatives and next-of-kin requests.
  • Misspellings - due to online translators and an imprecise understanding of idiomatic phrases.
  • Excessive and unwarranted use of parentheses - it shows the local scammer where to insert names or other customizing information when using a boilerplate.
  • Overseas telephone numbers (usually beginning with +44).
  • Barristers - they don't seem to get that we don't use British terms.
  • Overly Christian sentiment or tone to the letter.

 

Original Text

Dear Friend,

My name is Mrs. Maria Elena Quintero Rivillas, From Columbia, Nationalize in United States of America, and a citizen of (USA) base in Beaverton Oregon. I am married to late Mr. Fernando Rivillas, who worked with Agrocamconsultant Company in London for Twenty one years before he died in the year August 27th 2010, in plane crash. I got your contact in Internet church missionary Database as someone who is capable to handle this project.

When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of (US$106,000,000.00) (One Hundred and Six Million United States Dollars) with the bank Negara New York. Presently, this money is still with the bank Negara New York. If you are interested in carrying out this project, you will go ahead and contact our Family Lawyer with the contact details below so that he can arrange the release of the funds to you.

Recently, following my ill health, my Doctor told me that I may not last for the next six months due to my cancer problem. The one that disturbs me most is my stroke sickness. Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to a Christian organization (Church) that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct herein, according to the desire of my late husband before his death.

I want this fund to be used in Christian Activities like, Orphanages, Christian schools, and Churches for propagating the word of God and to endeavor that the house of God is maintained. The Bible made us to understand that "Blessed is the hand that giveth". I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this money and my husband relatives are not Christians and I don't want my husband's efforts to be used by unbelievers. I don't want a situation where this money will be used in an ungodly way. This is why I am taking this decision.

If you are interested in carrying out this task, I have informed my Attorney Edward Curiz in London so that he can arrange the release of the funds to you. You can reach my attorney ( Barrister Edward Curiz ) on telephone number:+447924520773 for oral communication or contact him on his direct email address : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

His contact information of my solicitor below:

Barrister Edward Curiz
My Family Attorney.
Telephone number: +447924520773
E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

My Attorney Edward Curiz will also issue you the documents that will prove you the present beneficiary of this fund.

I want you and the Church to always pray for me because the lord is my shepherd. My happiness is that I lived a life of a worthy Christian. Whoever that wants to serve the Lord must serve him in spirit and Truth. Please always be prayerful all through your life. Any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing another person for this same purpose.

Please if you want write me on this email address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if I can get my self I will reply you.

Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I Stated herein.

Remain blessed in the Lord.

Yours in Christ,

Mrs Maria Elena Quintero Rivillas.
Cancer Institute
Beaverton Oregon USA

Links

Google search of the scammer's line "my stroke sickness".

Google search of "The Bible made us to understand"

Wikipedia entry on Nigerian Scams