Updated January 19, 2011
From the mind of Dickensian complexity that gave us
APOSTROPHE NOW and BLEAK LAD
comes a tale of that strange land where Epping Forest verges on Accra.
One day Varden receives an apparent 'gift', out of the blue. There's a catch, of course.
Cast:
Mr. Patrick Boadu - posting as a Ghanaian bank director
versus
Gabriel Varden - humble locksmith, but nobody's fool
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Mr. Patrick Boadu
e-cb@live.com All bankers send official mail via free web sites, right? [Scam-o-dislaimer: scammers often pose as other people, real and imaginary.
1/15/2011 10:21:24 A.M.
This is to congratulate you for scaling through the hurdles of screening by the board of directors of this payment task force. Your payment file was approved and the instruction was given us to release your payment and activate your ATM card for use.
Your payment would be sent to you via UPS or FedEx; because we have signed a contract with them which should expired by 2011. Below are few list of tracking numbers you can track from UPS website (www.ups.com) to confirm people like you who have received their payment successfully. Last names anonymized because it looks like UPS tracking numbers for real transactions have been cited. This doesn't mean those people had any connection to "Boadu" - he's just listing their names and hoping his potential victim won't stop and think. Good news, We wish to let you know that everything concerning your ATM CARD payment dispatch is ready in this office and we have a meeting with today That your fund should not cost you any thing because is your money (Your Card). Moreover, we have an agreement that you should pay only delivering of your card which is only $80 U.S. DOLLARS by FedEx or UPS Delivering Company. However, you have only three working days to send this $80 U.S. DOLLARS for the delivering of your card, if we don't hear from you with the payment information the Government will cancel the card. Try and send the Delivering fee in the name of My Secretary Mrs. Temi Aikins, Accra Ghana, send it via Western Union Money Transfer or Money gram and let me have the detail as soon as you send it. Please confirm your full information again your ATM Card will be delivered to you and I need you to send me a scanned copy of your id This is the paying information that you will use and send the fee through western union money transfer or money gram below.
ReceiverŐs Name: Mrs. Temi Aikins I wait the payment information to enable us proceed for the delivering of your card. And when sending the payment information also reconfirms to us your full home addresses were to deliver the Card to avoid any mistake on the delivery. Thank you and have a wonderful day.
Mr. Patrick Boadu. The above was sent from Ghana, but that is the only thing the scammer has in common with a Director of Ecobank. But you knew that. Gabriel Varden
Gabriel is honest.
Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2011 11:51:26 Dear Mr.Boadu: I have no reason to expect any such funds. Clearly there has been an error. Thank you, Gabriel VardenMr. Patrick Boadu
1/15/2011 10:59:04 A.M Attn: Gabriel Varden, I donŐt think they is any error here your name and email was among the lucky once that is going to receive their lottery payment this month all you need to do is to send the fee for the UPS and I will post it and send you the tracking number by Monday. Thank you and have a wonderful day.
Mr. Patrick Boadu. Gabriel Varden
Sat, 15 Jan 2011 18:08:13 I have not entered a lottery.Mr. Patrick Boadu
After this flurry of emails, Mr. Boadu retreats, but returns a few days later. Hope springs eternal.
1/17/2011
Attn: Gabriel Varden, In this lottery you donŐt play they only search for email and the lucky email will be selected as the winners. Send your postal address along with the UPS fee.
Mr. Patrick Boadu. Gabriel Varden
Sent: 1/17/2011 1/17/2011 9:09:25 A.M As an devout Mahuck-Skangerist, I am forbidden to participate in such things. It would place my soul in peril of eternal condemnation. I think it's rather bad of you people, really, to expose a man of religion, such as myself, to temptation of this magnitude. Certainly, I could use the money, as the locksmithing business is not going great guns and Mrs. Varden is having some health problems. Then, of course, there's my daughter, Dolly, who's young and would like to have nice things and go to college and the like. I'm almost convinced it would be all right to take the money, but I am plagued with doubts. Gabriel Varden
Sent: 1/18/2011 9:31:08 A.M. I will have to talk with my clergyman about this. But what if he tells me not to take it? I would hate to disappoint Dolly, she's so looking forward to going to University. And Mrs. Varden's not getting any younger, and I fear if she doesn't have the operation I may lose her. Oh, I wish I knew what to do! G. Varden Mr. Patrick Boadu
1/18/2011 11:24:27 A.M. Attn: Gabriel Varden, You have the heart to help people and as for me you have noting to lose I will advice that you keep this to yourself because things like this donŐt come all the time think of your love once that you have in mind to help. Send the money and you will receive the ATM CARD before the end of this week.
Mr. Patrick Boadu. Gabriel Varden
Sent: 1/18/2011 11:56:33 A.M. Yes, but I have heard that "cupiditas radix malorum est," and I think it's true. And if money confers power, and power corrupts, as Lord Acton wrote, where will I be then? Gabriel Varden
Sent: 1/18/2011 12:47:31 P.M. Very kind of you, Mr. Boadu, I'm sure. May the Lord of Muhuck-Skanger rest his eyes upon you.[ Puzzled? Mystified? At sea? Read The Main Page. |