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In response to several email messages from faculty and staff concerning certain email messages, the VCU Police Department has made this page available to address issues regarding email scams.
You may have received such email messages before, such as the newest ones (listed below) that is currently circulating. We strongly suggest that you do not respond to these types of messages, simply delete them. Do not send any personal information such as bank account information, phone numbers, addresses, passwords, and the like to anyone via email, even if you know the addressee. If you do decide to send such information, know ahead of time that transfer of information via the Internet is not neccessarily 100% secure. It could be intercepted by others online. Just be aware.
Actual Email Message #1:
martin ego
To: martinego25@yahoo.com
cc:
Subject: STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
from the Desk of:MARTIN EGO
Director: Budget and Planning
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)
Falomo Lagos
Nigeria.
EMAIL;martinego25@yahoo.com
24HRS TEL:234-1-7758204
TEL: 234-1-774-7935
DIRECT FAX: 234-1-7591657
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
WE ARE MEMBERS OF A SPECIAL COMMITTEE FOR BUDGET AND
PLANNING OF THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM
CORPORATION (NNPC). THIS COMMITTEE IS PRINCIPALLY
CONCERNED WITH CONTRACT AWARDS AND APPROVAL. WITH OUR
POSITIONS, WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY SECURED FOR OURSELVES
THE SUM OF TWENTY –ONE MILLION, FIVE HUNDERD THOUSAND
UNITED STATE DOLLARS (US$21.5M). THIS AMOUNT WAS
CAREFULLY MANIPULATED BY OVER-INVOICING OF AN OLD
CONTRACT.
BASED ON INFORMATION GATHERED ABOUT YOU, WE BELIEVE
YOU WOULD BE IN A POSITION TO HELP US IN TRANSFERRING
THIS FUND (US$21.5M) INTO A SAFE ACCOUNT. IT HAS BEEN
AGREED THAT THE OWNER OF THE ACCOUNT WILL BE
COMPENSATED WITH 20% OF THE REMITTED FUNDS, WHILE WE
KEEP 70%, AND 10% WILL BE SET ASIDE TO OFFSET EXPENSES
AND PAY THE NECESSARY TAXES.
ALL MODALITIES OF THIS TRANSACTION HAVE BEEN WORKED
OUT AND ONCE STARTED WILL NOT TAKE MORE THAN 10
WORKING DAYS, WITH YOUR FULL SUPPORT, THIS
STRANSACTION IS 100% RISK FREE.
IF THIS PROPOSAL SATISFIES YOU, PLEASE REACH US ONLY
BY FAX OR PHONE, FOR MORE INFORMATION. IT MIGHT BE
DIFFICULT OT GET THROUGHT TO ME, BECAUSE OF POOR
TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEM HERE. PLEASE KEEP TRYING, YOU
WILL DEFINITELY GET THROUGH. PLEASE TREAT AS URGENT
AND VERY CONFIDENTIAL.
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
MARTIN EGO
NB: FOR CONFIDENTIAL REASONS AND UDE TO THE POOR
COMMUNICATION SYSTEM IN MY COUNTRY, MOST OFTEN FOREIGN
CALLS COULD BE DIVERTED TO THE WRONG PERSON. SO FOR
YOU TO BE VERY SURE YOU ARE ARIGHTLY SPEAKING WITH ME,
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WHEN YOU CALL AND ASK FOR
ME, THE MOMENT I PICK UP THE HONE, YOU SHOULD ASK ME
FOR THE "CODE WORD" AND MY ANSWER WOULD BE "GOD IS
GOOD" BEFORE WE PROCEED DISCUSSION, BUT IF I DO NOT
SAY "GOD IS GOOD", THAT MEANS YOU ARE NOT SPEAKING
WITH ME JUST DISCONNECT THE LINE AND CALL ME BACK TILL
I GIVE YOU THE CODE WORD.
Actual Email Message #2:
martin chilua
To: martinchilua@mail.com
cc:
Subject: INTRODUCTION
Dear friend,
You may be surprise to receive this letter, however, I got your contact from the Chamber of Commerce and Trade. I have decided to contact you for confidential, urgent and rewarding joint business.
My name is Martin Chinpango I was a Personal Assistant to the Late
Congo President, LURENT KABILA, who was assassinated in February 2000 and
my aim of writing to you is because of the need for a trusted and honest
person, who I can entrust the sum of US$62,800,000 (Sixty two million, eight
hundred thousand USDollars).
Source of the money: the late president and I secured this money in a
consignment with a reputable security firm in Europe, in my name
before his death.
Now that he is late, I want to transfer the money from the
security company to your account for safekeeping until I can reunite with it
for investment purposes. I can not travel out of Nigeria where I am on
asylum,hence I am asking for your assistance to have this money in your care
pending when I will secure travel documents to come over to your
country. If you accept this offer we shall share the money as follows: for you,
25%, 75% for me. I have all the title documents to the fund, which I can
transfer to you to enable you, have assess to it.
Be assured that this business is risk-free and legitimate.
Please advise me on your position by e-mail immediately, indicating
your phone and fax numbers.
Please I await your prompt reply through my alternate email address
(martin_chinpango@mail.com)
I await your response.
Best Regards,
Mr. Martin Chinpa! ngo