Mustafa needs help

This one looks as though somebody is just trying his luck. No promise of millions of dollars, just a percentage.

Here's the e-mail:

From: sheriff mustafa [mailto:mustariffy@netscape.net]
Sent on: Monday, 21. März 2005 13:47
to:

Subject: consider your self

sir:
Good day to you out there,this might sound funny.I am an African,from The GAMBIA. I was once a chief security in one of the Embassy in Libya, North Africa.that was the year 2003. but for now,I am in one of the Europe country.I came with some Amount of money, of which am finding difficulties,on how to process this fund.The amount is much.

All i needed now,is a comfortable place to work out this fund.I am ready to abide to your Decision or any opionion of yours.Which will bring us good Benifit between us.Percentage is sure every bit of the process, is going to be between me and you only.You can contact me with this e mail address mustariffy@netscape.net

I am waiting your reply.

your sincerly,mustafa sherif .

Transfer Agent 3

It looks as though this type of scam is getting to be quite popular. What I mean is, it seems to be working and, as a result, other groups are getting on to the bandwagon.

The E-Mails we have received up to now, reference either chinese or russian websites. Our research has not been able to run down much relevant information about them. Of course, the websites have no english language alternatives, which makes it hard to gather any information from the website content. Just the same, the hallmarks are typical for fraud or scam e-mails.

Here's the e-mail:

Dear Sir/Madam,

My name is Mr. John Peterson I represent (CMIEC) Import and Export Company branch in Europe. My company exports cocoa, rubber and timber For world trade. We are searching for representatives

Who can help us establish a medium of getting to our Customers in Europe and America as well as making Payments through you as our payment officer.

Most of our customers pay out in cheques and we do not have an account in your country that will clear this Money. It is upon this note that we seek your assistance to stand in as our representative in your Country.

Note that, as our representative, you will receive 10% of whatever amount you clear for the company and the balance will be paid to us. If you are interested in this business transaction,
forward to us the information below:

(1)Your full names,
(2)Contact address and,
(3)Phone/fax numbers.

Thank you for your time.

Very Respectfully,

Mr. John Peterson.
President,
CMIEC Import/Export cop.
Goods for Import/Export
Freight Fwdg. Svcs.
website:www.cmiec.com
Contact at: johnpeterson993@netscape.net

Another Transfer Agent Scam

This one is good. Someone called "Jozy" sent an E-Mail through a netidentity e-mail account Jozy [ulibriilib@zamora.com].

They are looking for people who have CITIBank accounts to do the transfer agent scam.

They quote an URL masterjobeurope.com where they have set up a contact form. In poor english they write:

Please provide instantly messengers, before filling this form, install them before. Because after filling this form, we will email to you with order to install them, do not waster time

Not exactly a very friendly message to win someone to play the willing victim.

The owner of the domain is registered by a John Miler from Amsterdam, using a Yahoo e-mail account which doesn't exist anymore.

Here are the Domain details:

Registrant:
NA
vinkenstrat 62
Amsterdam, NA 55363
NL

Domain name: MASTERJOBEUROPE.COM

Administrative Contact:
Miler, John decasher@yahoo.com
vinkenstrat 62
Amsterdam, NA 55363
NL
+49.777543244
Technical Contact:
Miler, John decasher@yahoo.com
vinkenstrat 62
Amsterdam, NA 55363
NL
+49.777543244


Registrar of Record: TUCOWS, INC.
Record last updated on 04-Mar-2005.
Record expires on 04-Mar-2006.
Record created on 04-Mar-2005.

Domain servers in listed order:
NS1.IJFNDGCT.COM 219.153.14.136
NS3.IJFNDGCT.COM 219.148.3.141
NS2.IJFNDGCT.COM 219.153.14.137
NS4.IJFNDGCT.COM 219.148.3.140

And of course, the e-mail itself:

Hello.

If you already have a bank account in the CITIBank, I want to offer you
business cooperation; we need people to receive money from our clients, which
buy from us flour and other agro products. We’ll pay to you 8 % of the sum.

This is a very favorable offer, because
WE PAY ALL TAXES AND CHARGES. THIS IS A LEGAL OFFER.

If you have account in the CITIBank fill in the form:
http://masterjobeurope.com/

If you do not have an account in the CITIBank,
I think you should not fill in the form.
Because, it is not so easy, open a bank account.

Thanks.
Excuse for distraction.

Wannabe a Transfer Agent?

Just this last week, we received two e-mails from people working the transfer agent scam.

I can see you asking, "What's that?".

It's easy to explain. The scammers send an e-mail saying they are looking for people to work as representatives. A part of the job is to receive payments from customers and transfer the money, less their commision, to their "partners". All pretty straight forward.

They use any type of business which has a certain cash transfer volume, such as flight ticket agents. In the case of these two e-mails, one says he deals with pearls & gems, the other metallurgical import & export.

The scammers look for people who want to buy, for example, gems. They do this using mass e-mails, like all good scammers do. When they get an inquiry from a potential customer who then wants to buy, they are told to make the payment to the local agent. Thus far there is no problem.

The "local agent" transfers the cash, minus his commision to his "partners" and everybody is happy. Until ...

the customer wonders where his order is. So he contacts the "local agent" who promises to find out where and when the delivery will be made. Of course, he is told that the delivery is on its way, or is due to be sent. This goes on for some time, in which further payments from other "customers" have been transfered to the "partners".

Sooner or later, the customers realise that they will not be receiving the goods they ordered and paid for. So they try and get their money back throught the "local agent". As he represents the "partners", he is the one who gets the trouble as he cannot pay the money back.

Usually the "customers" report the matter to the police and the "local agent" lands up in court, charged with fraud!

As you can see, this is an extremely risky enterprise for someone who wants to earn some extra cash.

What happens to the "partners"? The answer is nothing. There is no way to get hold of them.

The main reason why nothing happens is:

There are no international agreements or laws in place which would enable police and authorities to investige and arrest them!

Here are the two e-mails, supposedly from Chinese sources:

From: wangaleela@yahoo.com
Date:, February 28, 2005

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am MR.Wangaleela, managing director of CHINA NATIONAL PEARLS DIAMOND&GEM JEWELRY(CNPDGJ).

We are a group of business men who deal on pearl,diamond gem and jewellery export into the Canada/America and Europe.

We are searching for representatives who can help us establish a medium of getting to our customers in the Canada/America and Europe as well as making payments through you to us.

Please if you are interested in transacting business with us we will be glad.

Please contact us for more information, Subject to your satisfaction you will be given the opportunity to negotiate your mode of which we will pay for your services as our representative in Canada/America and Europe.

Please if you are interested forward to us your informations below:
FULL NAME:
FULL CONTACT ADDRESS:
PHONE:
FAX:

Thanks In advance.
MR.Wangaleela Du.
Managing Director,
ADDRESS£º5th Floor,
103,Jixiangli,Chaoyangmenwai,
Beijing,China
Post Code:100020
Email:wangaleela@yahoo.com


The second:

YANG XIAOLIN (CEO) CHINA METTALURGICAL IMPORT AND EXPORT COMPANY.

CLIENT MAKING PAYMENT FOR GOODS PURCHASED: NORMAN OBRIEN

--------------------------------------------------------------
CHINA METALLURGICAL IMPORT AND EXPORT COMPANY

Dear Sir/Madam,
We are a production, import and export company searching for representatives who can help us establish a medium of getting to our customers from Canada, America and Europe as well as making payments through you to us. We also need clients who require our products in theses areas.

If you are interested in transacting business with us, contact us for more information through:

Email:Chinaimport@mail2world.com
CHINA METALLURGICAL IMPORT AND EXPORT COMPANY (CMIEC).
COMPANY ADDRESS: 338, YINGZE AVENUE, YINGZE, TAIYUAN, SHANXI, CHINA.

We can negotiate the mode of payment for goods and services subject to your satisfaction. Thank you.

Mr. Yang Xiaolin.
General Manager.