I dug around WordPress’s theme directory this morning and finally found one I like. So, here it is!
My next “housekeeping project” for the site is to work on the theme for Core’s forum. I upgraded the forum’s software a few days ago, and the old theme it was using (which I really liked) unfortunately isn’t compatible with the newer release.
Note: This is an archived post from June 2004, and was the single most popular post from my old blog. It originally received 80 comments. I’m reposting it here, along with some of the comments, as it seems to have helped some people.
If you found this post due to a Google search, you have just been contacted by a scammer. Do not send them any money or your bank account information.
With that out of the way…. on with the post!
This lovely tidbit arrived in my email box today:
Date: Thu, 24 Jun 2004 17:15:41 +0200 (CEST) From: anni okonkwo To: aokonkwo@seznam.cz Subject: DEAR:Shay
FROM THE DESK OF BARRISTER ANNI OKONKWO PRIVATE EMAIL ;ch_okann@maktoob.com TELL:234-803-5843693
DEAR:Shay
I am barrister ANNI OKONKWOR,a solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney to Mr Mark Shay,a national of your country, who used to work with shell Development Company in Nigeria. Here in after shall be referred to as my client.on the 21st of April 1999, my client, his wife and their three Children were involved in a car accident along Sagbama express-road.All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives.Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy 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 repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank here these huge deposits were lodged. Particularly, the STANDRAD FINANCE SECURITY PLC where the deceased had an account valued at about $7million dollars has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next ten official working days.
Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2 years now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you have the same last name so that the proceeds of this account valued at $7million dollars can be paid to you and then you and me can share the money.60% to me and 40% to you I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make.email:ch_okann@maktoob.com.
All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us seeing this deal through.I guarantee that this will be executed under alegitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
Best regards,
BARRISTER ANNI OKONKWO
Obchodni’ du`m.cz - ^(1)iroky’ sortiment doma’ci’ch spot?ebie`u` a elektroniky, vy’razne’ slevy. Nav^(1)tivte http://ad.seznam.cz/clickthru?spotId=73742
Posted by Grey at 06/28/2004 07:41:47 (Post ID 286) 80 comments
Here’s a highlight of some of the comments this post originally generated:
Go for it! How could it possibly turn out bad? And, when you collect all that money, please remember me…….(ha) It sounds like Mr. Mark Shay and my close relative that “died” were driving on the same road.
Posted by ralph at 06/24/2004 12:22:50
Looks like the barrister changed her name. Oh…and the victim too. Follow the link below:
http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org/cgi-bin/webglimpse-hoaxbusters/www/hoaxbusters/archive?query=BARRISTER&whole=on&lines=on&errors=0&age=&maxfiles=50&maxlines=30
I love to read fiction…when it’s written well.
Posted by Vlon at 06/24/2004 18:14:49
I can’t believe the e-mail that i received or the one that is listed here. They are almost the same. If it is true you know how to get in touch with me to continue.
Posted by teacup at 07/23/2004 19:08:28
Maybe it was a bus carrying all of our ‘close’ relatives!
Posted by Donna at 07/25/2004 06:41:51
I just received the same thing w/ the name of Mark McGee…it was nice to think about it being true for a moment though…;-)
Posted by madhunt at 08/03/2004 11:44:25
Party seems to be at Sagbama express road! Wonder when the next one is…hahaha.
Posted by AlucardRomero at 09/02/2004 16:08:31
I keep getting the “died on Sagbama Express Road” emails too. You can go to www.melissadata.com and see where the IP address goes to…its just gives you the city, region and country…but its kind of interesting to see where these emails are coming from. The ones I have searched are usually from Nigeria but I had some from Italy and some place called Estonia.
Posted by Babyaudi at 09/09/2004 01:02:51
Ines,
Do a Google search on the phrase “419 scam”. You’ll see many websites that explain what this guy is really after.
Posted by Grey at 09/16/2004 17:26:17
Hello!!!! These Nigerians have buried 5 of my relatives so far… All killed in car crahes. I must be a multimillionaire by now….. ;^)
Posted by darbybo at 09/17/2004 16:06:26
Dear:Bartolomeo,
I am Barrister Anni Okonkwor ,a solicitor at law. I am the personal
attorney to Mr Bartolomeo,a National of your country,who used to work with
shell development company in Nigeria and as well a one time secret agent in transfering of money overseas for the Late head of nstate of Nigeria {Late Gen . Sani AbAcha}.Before his death On the 21st of April 1999 my client, his wife And
their three children were involved in a car accident along sagbama express
road in which all occupants of the motor died}.My client{Mark Bartolomeo}
deposited as family belongings in a STANDARD FINANCE BANK (SFB) the sum of $7m in here in Nigeria for himself, with the hope of transferring it to his country as soon as he is on leave.
Since his death I have made several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives this has also proved unsuccessful.After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace 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 money and property left behind by my client before they get confisicated or declared unserviceable by the BANK where the deposite was made.Now STANDARD FINANCE BANK PLC has issued me a notice to provide the
next of kin or have the MONEY confisticated within the next ten
officialworking days.Since i have been unsuccesfull in locating the relatives forover 2years
now.I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased
since you have the same last name so that the proceeds of this deposit (
7million dollars) be SENT to you and then you and I can share the money.50% to me, 40% to you and 10% forevery expenses that will be incured.please you are free to give your own opinion on this sharing modality if you so wish.I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any
claim we may make.All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us See
this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate
arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
Please get in touch with me through my alternate email
address:(barr_anni1@maktoob.com)for
further details. Iam ready to give you every needed information you
might need to confirm the legality and the availability of this mentioned sum
in ON STANDARD FINANCE BANK PLC.( God bless you And your family )
Best Regards,
Barrister Anni OkonkworPosted by same here same lie at 09/28/2004 23:07:36
I got the exact email but his last name was Hoang…what a scam! I’m glad I didn’t follow through
Posted by Kimi at 10/05/2004 03:25:20
From The Desk Of Rv Thomas Eze
Standard Finance Security PLC
Email:info_sfsngplc@financier.comAttn:Darko Trifunovic
Verification of inheritance claim
We would like to confirm receipt of your Statement of Claim of the sum of US$7.000.000 (Seven million U.S. Dollars only) being the outstanding balance in the account of your relation who was our customer.The documents were forwarded by your representative attorney Barrister Anni Okonkwo, along with the necessary supporting documents of the claim including the Certificate of Death of your late relation Mr. Mark Trifunovic and Affidavit of claims from the Federal High Court Of Nigeria.
In accordance with our operational procedure in this Company, we shall commence in earnest with the verification of your submitted information in order to appropriate and confirm the validity of your claim and relationship with our deceased customer and owner of the account in question.
Please, note that we shall notify you of our findings as soon as we conclude our verifications.You could, however,contact the undersigned via our email address: for any additional information or clarifications that could aid or facilitate our verification exercise.
Be advised to acknowledge receipt of this message while waiting for our further information/directive.Yours faithfully,
REV THOMAS EZE
(Director, International Remittance Department)
For:Standard Finance Security(PLC)Posted by Darko Trifunovic at 11/01/2004 11:55:18
I am glad I did a search on the web for “Sagbama express road” and Nigeria and found this… I just received an identical email today with my “relative’s” name and untimely demise on this same road in May, 2000. Interesingly enough, this one intrigued me since my last name is very rare (invited by my Greatgrandfather) and hence there are only about 4 or 5 long lost cousins I would need to research to establish this as legit but at this point there is no need to.
Posted by sckimer at 01/29/2005 20:20:34
Here’s another. I rec’d. January 10,2005 & he won’t stop bugging me… I replied telling him to Not send me e-mails… unfortunately, my auto address had my phones & address… should I be worried about these guys having my info. or do you think they’ll someday go away.
Dear Krueger,
I am Barrister Ken nwachi, a solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney
to late Mr. Pitt Krueger, who used to work with Pan African Coporation in
Nigeria. Here in after shall be referred to as my client.On the 21st of
April 2000, 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$3.5million left behind by my client before it gets confisicated or declared unserviceable by the AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK OF NIGERIA (ADB), whe re this huge amount were deposited. The said BANK 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 unsuccesfull in locating the relatives for over 2 years now, I seek the consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased, 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 your positive response, we shall then discuss the
sharing ratio and modalities for transfer.I have all necessary information
and legal rights 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 in touch with me
through this email address for more details: barr_ken_nwachi@yahoo.co.ukBest regards,
Barrister Ken Nwachi
Posted by YourRealtyGal at 02/04/2005 14:53:37
I couldn’t just let it drop… he’d even sent me a death certificate w/ a man’s picture on it… that’s morbid!
Along with copies of the letters printed here from Anni… this is what I just sent to “MY relative’s” Barrister:
SO…………………………………………………………………………………………..
Ken Nwachi or whoever you are or think you are or want-to-be…………..I’m sure holding yourself out as a Barrister is alot of fun for a Low Life scammer like you! I was going to drag this out for a couple more months, but, Game’s up! DO NOT CONTACT ME AGAIN & tell ANNI & all your other croonies the same! ALL of our correspondance has been sent to the appropriate authorities (my local, state & Federal Investigators!).
My advice: GET A REAL JOB!
Is Barrister Anni a friend of yours? These letters are like the one you sent me… All the same day Pitt died, ONE year prior. Poor Mr. Shay & Mr Mark Trifunovic & Mr Bartolomeo & ……………………..Stay off Sagbama Express Road… it must be dangerous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LOOK what I found:
Check Out This Link:
http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org/cgi-bin/webglimpse-hoaxbusters/www/hoaxbusters/archive?query=BARRISTER&whole=on&lines=on&errors=0&age=&maxfiles=50&maxlines=30Posted by YourRealtyGal at 02/04/2005 15:58:30
Here’s some more info I found online.
If you’re hit by this scam, check out these 2 websites for instructions on what you can do:
http://www.fraudaid.com/
http://www.secretservice.gov/alert419.shtml
The FraudAid site has been recently updated due to Tsunami-related “charity” scams currently being circulated on the Internet. In just 2 clicks I was able to get to the Nigerian scam section if their site, though. Here’s the link to that page:
http://www.fraudaid.com/ScamSpeak/Nigerian/index.htm
Posted by Grey at 02/09/2005 15:14:24
I always answer back and say my name is “Luvmi Bunghole” or Horace Dick” or whatever. They are so stupid they believe it and then start emailing. It’s always the same, send us “fees” or “good faith” money. And I always tell them call me and give them the number for the FBI office in my area. LOL!
I’ve even had them call a pay phone near me and got the call! I had them on the line for about 20 minutes. when they ask for Luvmi Bunghole I tell them I like mine too but usualy don’t talk about it. Then I degrade them until they hang us. They are soooooo stupid and funny to talk to! Try it sometime, it’s hilarious!
Posted by at 04/19/2005 09:24:01
Hopefully the 3rd time’s a charm for my little blog, as I’ve decided to ditch the feature-thin software I was previously using and just finished upgrading to WordPress. My previous blogging software (the Perl-based scripts I wrote myself, and then the PHP-based ones I downloaded from SourceForge) was weak on spam prevention and in some cases had security problems.
Installing WordPress was perhaps one of the easiest software installations I’ve done in recent months. Now that I’m “up and running”, I’ve got to figure out which posts — if any — to migrate into WordPress.
For now, I’m not going to migrate any of the posts relating to my job change earlier this year. I’ll be presenting at a small conference in a few months, and my employer has asked that I not disclose at the conference where I’m working. (They’re a publicly-traded company, and the project I’m working on could “materially affect” their stock price if certain details leak out). So I’ll wait until the project goes live and a Quarterly report has subsequently been released to Wall Street before I disclose anything here.
I’ll start by bringing back the most popular post from my old blog. This post was lovingly entitled “After a long wait, I finally got my first NIGERIAN email“, and it received many comments after being indexed by Google.
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