Diary of a Scammer. The last edition (updated)

Diary of a Scammer.

Today, one of my members received an email from an African scammer, she forwarded it to admin here at ILYA and he was immediately deleted from the site. But as an experiment and to show people just how these scammers operate, I decided I would have some fun with him. He started out as Cupid 73 and now he is Craig. As you will see, in his first email to “Jennifer” (me) he talks about an inheritance he is coming into, love, marriage, a dying mother and the all important charity work he is undertaking.  All this, to a complete stranger!  I wondered how many emails it would take before he asked me for money?  As you read our email exchanges, you will see that he hit me up for money in record time. Or maybe I am being super skeptical, perhaps he really does love me and wants to marry me even though he has never seen me and has no idea who I am!

So here we go, into the email world of a Nigerian scammer, hold on to your hats and your wallet people. Please not, I haven’t corrected the spelling and grammar, you are seeing the emails just as they came through.

This is the original email he sent to our female members on Iloveyouraccent.com and he is just waiting for some poor sucker to take the bait.

Cupid73

Hi baby,we have a lot to share and talk about.If you like me write to my email.I have inheritance so I am looking for someone I can confide in and at the same time be in a serious relationship with him.I feel online dating could be a test for true love so I decided to look online for easy access in finding a match that will hear me out and be pleased with me.I have been looking since April.You will not see my profile here anymore because there are too many people here to talk to so it’s confusing to know which woman is meant for me if I fail to make a decision as to which woman I should choose on this website.I like your profile so email me at my email address if you feel like it.On hot mail I am richiecraig73.I look forward to hearing you love Craig

ME

Date: Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:00:10 -0400
Subject: Why me?
From: laonfire123@gmail.com
To: richiecraig73@hotmail.com

Hi, you wrote me an email on iloveyouraccent
How are you, why did you choose me to correspond?

Jennifer

Craig Richardson

To me

I will have to talk to you so I hope that I can confide in you.I actually have an accent so maybe you will love me more when we start speaking to each other on phone and as we grow older together in this new relationship. I do want to know you better and hopefully we fall in love so that the bond between us now can be stronger.I will not deny that I am able to marry you which is what I am eventually looking for so if you cooperate with me you have found your man.If you believe in Love trust shouldn’t be an issue here and I also hope that you are not scared of commitment.I am looking for love,commitment and trust from you as we continue to talk and know each other better because I HAVE INHERITANCE so I know that we can achieve other financial goals in our lives through this promising relationship if you truly love me and want to be with me.Trust me if you believe in the integrity of love and not scared of commitment,i wouldn’t let you down.I like your profile so I hope that something romantic can come out of my friendship with you and it will be nice to get to know you better.

I am half Swiss half American born in Switzerland.I am 36 years old,single,no kids and a Construction Engineer/Consultant by profession.I have lived in 4 different countries namely Switzerland, Kenya, South Africa and the United State due to the Nature of my Mother’s Job when she was with UNICEF.I am currently doing a contract Job for the United Nations and it is eating me up with little time to rest.I’m temporarily in the Southern region of Nigeria in West Africa in a place called Bayelsa state for work related issue.I am supervising the completion of an ongoing construction project of low cost houses in Bayelsa State,the United Nations granted Bayelsa state Government a loan to construct these houses as a scheme to alleviate poverty in that region so I have been sent here in Bayelsa state to supervise the Construction project.It was my mother that put in my recommendation for this Job Contract,she lives in the In the capital city called Abuja of the Federal Republic of Nigeria were she now owns a motherless baby home after her retirement from UNICEF.I spend time with her in Abuja city on weekends and then I fly back to Bayelsa for my Job during week days.She is terribly suffering from a serious ovarian cancer and according to her doctors she is going to die in few weeks.I even just flew her back from a Saudi Arabian hospital were she went for her last chemotherapy treatment.It has really cost us a whole lot of funds trying to revive her so I am left with no choice but to wind up her motherless baby home.She is suffering a lot in pains and we do not have enough funds anymore since her illness took all of her savings and most of my own money.

Anyway,life is still beautiful because after her burial I shall have my inheritance.Also,the United Nations gave me my check when I was coming to Africa and I have that with me which I will cash as soon as I am done with my Contract Job in 3 weeks from now.I want to buy a Big house,settle down and set up my own construction company in the future.I wouldn’t settle for less so I am looking for a loving ,caring and comfortable woman that can assist me in getting my inheritance and then we get married.I need her support in facilitating the procedures for my inheritance claim and then I will transfer it into the United States and then get married to her if she is in love with me.Maybe you are the one for me because I like you and I guess that is why I have opened up very much.

Yours Sincerely,
Craig

ME

Oh wow, you have been through so much, I feel guilty complaining about such trivial things when you have had to bear so much sorrow. I wonder what brought you to me, fate maybe? I am a happy woman but a little lonely, my last relationship broke up 6 months ago and so I just get up and go to work each day and hope I will meet someone to make me complete again which is why I joined the website. I have only been there for 5 days and now you found me.

FATE IS WONDERFUL

Jennifer

CRAIG

My darling Jennifer,i am glad that you read and understood my previous email.I am yet to have children of my own.Right now,i’m focusing on the things that I have to do concerning my inheritance and I want to find my wife and also focus on my career.I am ready to treat you just how I would treat the woman of my dreams if you are serious.My letter to you contains the basics about me but,you can still ask me questions on anything you want to know about me and I will tell you.

I was sent from New York to West Africa in May due to my Contract Job with the United Nation and I would complete my Contract Job in 3weeks from now,my mother was the one that put in a recommendation for me and I got this contract Job,she did that to draw me closer to her now that she at the point of death.I want us to continue to talk,be involved in a serious relationship based on commitment and plan for our meeting.I will have a new status due to my inheritance so I want a start towards a brand new life with you.If you are serious about supporting me and you have the ability to assist me in getting my inheritance I will marry you and be a loving husband that will care of your needs and heart desires.My father comes from New York,i was in Manhattan for a few weeks for my Job Orientation.I was renting a house back in the United States but now I intend buying a house.I’m Swiss and for sure I also want to buy a house in Switzerland because it is a beautiful place to go to during vacation,at least I can trace my root and be more familiar with my people because I left Switzerland when I was only 6 years old.

If you want to continue to talk with me I can create time for us to chat online if you have either msn or yahoo messenger.Or,do you want to call me on my cell phone?We can even text each other. My cell phone number is +234-7081164908 or 011-234-7081164908,the +234 is the country code and the rest of the number is my cell phone number.

Falling Hearts,
Craig

Me…

Craig, I am so sorry for your personal struggles, you have tried so hard to be good man. I cannot call internationally on my phone at present, what do you need for me to do, I dont understand? I feel a connection to you, its strange, I dont even know you.
are you OK, is it safe where you are/ Shall I get a calling card so I can call you?
Let me know
J

CRAIG

My dear,maybe you are my soul mate,the one I have been looking for or maybe we are meant for each other in our destiny that is why you feel a strong connection to me.I need you and I like you as well so I hope that you will take me serious because I want you to see reasons with me.First of all,there is nothing as good as having a supportive woman in ones life.I will not deny that I spoke to other people before I found you but,nothing came out of it.To me they seem like gold diggers and the reason why I say this is because they don’t want to stand by me and help me get my inheritance.I also know that behind/beside every successful man there is a woman who helped and stood by him when he was in need.I was once engaged,she left me for a prince in Saudi Arabia.I am looking for that woman that will stand by me,that way I will be happy to know that she wants to help me achieve my goals in life and become my life partner.I am 37 and just told you my age because I believe age does not matter in a relationship,what matters the most is their ATTRACTION,TRUST AND TRUE FEELINGS towards each other.It is what you tell me that I will believe and accept because trust is the most important thing in a relationship.If there is no trust,love will never set in and anybody or anything could come in between us.

I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL ABOUT MY MOTHER so I have to rush to the hospital.I have to make arrangements for her burial which is the most important thing now,we are together in this if you agree so lets do things step by step.I do not have enough funds to do these things because my mother’s health medications fleeced a whole lot out of me.The banks here are not giving me a loan to do the little things that I need to do concerning my mother’s burial because I am not a citizen of this country in Africa,i only came here to work and life’s reality has brought to my mother’s death so I am stuck with the responsibility of burying her and making arrangements for my inheritance proceedings so that I can claim it all.We can have a deal because I need you to be there for me.How much percentage do you want from my inheritance for a loan from you?I am ready to pay this price to reciprocate the love I am requesting from you.After her burial,her will be read out by her lawyer so I will know exactly what my inheritance worth is.

I am an only child so I am very sure my finances will spring up and be a blast after my mother’s burial and the procedures for my inheritance are over.I will love to always hear your voice and talk to you some more so we can get to know each other better,buy a phone card while I wait for your call..

Love,
Craig

ME

Good morning
I am so sorry about your mother, it’s so sad , what exactly do you need for me to do to help you ?
Stay strong and you will get through
J x

Craig

Jennifer you talk about how fate has brought us together and how much connection you feel towards me and yet you cannot read in between the lines or understand my email.MY MOTHER HAS DIED.I have to bury my mother and there may be some charges that I have to pay concerning the procedures to my inheritance claim and I do not have enough funds to do these things.I need you to love me so that from the bottom of your heart you can financially assist me in completing these task and I will marry you.If you call me I will be able to explain better to you…

ME

What must I do ?
J x

Craig

On Jul 29, 2010, at 9:02 PM, Craig Richardson  richiecraig73@hotmail.com

If you send it today I will be able to pick it up tomorrow.I will have to transfer my inheritance out of here after the procedures are over so,i may need a Bank account information from you and your consent to proceed.As soon as it is transferred then I will fly out of here to come Join you over there and then we get married.

ME

Ok this is so fast give me details x

On Jul 30, 2010, at 6:45 AM, Craig Richardson mailto:richiecraig73@hotmail.com

Dear Jennifer,this is what I kindly need you to do for me.I plan to bury her next week so I am already making arrangements for a space for her at the cementary,i have to buy a casket and pay up a few medical bill and a charge at the mortuary.All this is going to cost me a total of 14,000USD and all I have with me is about 11,000USD so,if you send 3,000USD to me via western union money transfer or money gram it will be enough for me to bury my mother.It is safe and reliable to send money to me through western union or money gram as long as you do not loose the transaction details that you will give to me.You will need my Full name and address to complete this Transaction.For me to be able to pick up this funds after you’ve sent it,i will need your full name,address,telephone number,the Money Transfer Control Number(MTCN),a test question and an answer..Please find my details below.

Name:       Craig Richardson
Address:    45 Nnamdi Azikiwe way,
Garki,Abuja
Nigeria.
Telephone: +234-7081164908.

After my mother’s Burial I will see my mother’s will and have a meeting with my mother’s lawyer concerning my inheritance.I will let you know about the information and every move we need to make to get my inheritance transfer into the U.S.A. I will be able to come and be with you in August. Thanks for looking out for me..I love you

ME

I can send it to your mothers lawyer maybe?

From: Craig Richardson <richiecraig73@hotmail.com>
Date: July 30, 2010 6:59:12 AM EDT
To: <laonfire123@gmail.com>
Subject: RE: DETAILS..

You can send it to me,it is safe and you don’t even know my mother’s lawyer,i have to introduce him to you. You can email him if you want, his name is Ben and his email address is beneojei@yahoo.com..

I did email the Lawyer and I am awaiting his reply which no doubt will be full of praise for this wonderful man and of course it will be safe to send money to him. Doesn’t every Lawyer you know have a yahoo email? While I am awaiting the Lawyers response which we all know is ‘Craig” himself, I ask you all this question, Who on earth would fall for this blatant in your face scam? Yet women do, I did a radio interview with a women in England who wired $100,000  in a 3 month period to a  man she had never met. He fed her a sob story about his child being sick and how he needed cash to pay the doctors so she didn’t die. She had never met the man, what on earth possessed her to part with all her saving? http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1293876/I-fell-60-000-conman-dating-website-match-com.html Two words spring to mind, common sense, obviously she had none and she couldn’t have had any friends either, because someone would have told her she was crazy to part with cash to a stranger. Ok, I will update further when the Lawyer gets back to me, until then, I’ll gather my $3,000 and get ready to go to Western Union!!!  Lol.

I will update this as further emails arrive.

So, here is the email I sent to his Lawyer with a yahoo email address. I hope you like my full name.

From: laonfire123@gmail.com
Subject: Craig
To: beneojei@yahoo.com
Date: Friday, July 30, 2010, 11:16 AM

Dear Sir
Craig has asked me to send him some money for his Mothers funeral, is it safe to do so? Shall I send it to you as I dont want to be a victim of fraud although he does sound sincere and I do want to help

Sincerely Jennifer Klondike-Bar.

Here is the reply.

From: Benedict Ojei <beneojei@yahoo.com>
Date: July 30, 2010 2:57:18 PM EDT
To: widdle doddle <laonfire123@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: Craig

How are you doing Jennifer,
I am very surprise to see your email. I’m the lawyer to Mrs Elizabeth Zwick-Richardson and I know Craig,he has been in our country now for a few months and he is the only child and heir apparent to Elizabeth Z.Richardson .It is so unfortunate that he is presently mourning his Mother.You are a very lucky woman to know him.He will be very rich so take advantage of this opportunity.In fact I his lawyer is very grateful to God that he is now my client because he is worth over 47 million United State dollars.I want my own share of the money for my services so I will do my Job to the best of my knowledge to assist him and ensure that he gets what rightfully belongs to him. Do not tell him this until after his mothers funeral.You can send the money for his mother’s funeral to me if you feel more comfortable dealing with me..You are in safe hands and whatever your interest is in this deal I will cooperate with you.

Yours Faithfully,
Ben

And another email from my new man.. Oh lucky me.

Name:       Craig Richardson
Address:    45 Nnamdi Azikiwe way,
Garki,Abuja
Nigeria.
Telephone: +234-7081164908…

He has just told me about you,he seems to love you very much and I think you also love him.You both should always trust each other.Working according to my directions and we all will benefit.The above detail is correct so you can use the same detail above but just change his name to my name(Benedict Ojei) and I will personally pick up the funds tomorrow and give it to him for his mother’s funeral.After the burial you and I can talk one on one for the rest of the details in her will..Get back to me ASAP for further correspondence.

Best Regards,
Ben

The saga continues…….

ME

Subject: Re: DETAILS..
From: laonfire123@gmail.com

Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:49:18 -0400

To: richiecraig73@hotmail.com

It seems you are not telling me everything , now I am sad

Scammer
On Fri, Jul 30, 2010 at 3:02 PM, Craig Richardson mailto:richiecraig73@hotmail.com> > wrote:

I HAVE JUST RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM MR BEN.LEARN TO TRUST ME FOR THE SAKE OF OUR FUTURE.I LOVE YOU.

ME

Date: Sat, 31 Jul 2010 09:19:54 -0400
Subject: Re: DETAILS..
From: laonfire123@gmail.com To: richiecraig73@hotmail.com

I tried to call you, what happened to the line?

J

SCAMMER

On Sat, Jul 31, 2010 at 9:29 AM, Craig Richardson mailto:richiecraig73@hotmail.com

wrote:

Please call me Back..

ME

Date: Sat, 31 Jul 2010 09:45:21 -0400
Subject: Re: WE NEED TO TALK
From: laonfire123@gmail.com To: mailto:richiecraig73@hotmail.com

Please do not be rude to me, I want to assist you.

SCAMMER

From: Craig Richardson <richiecraig73@hotmail.com>
Date: July 31, 2010 9:57:08 AM EDT
To: <laonfire123@gmail.com>
Subject: RE: WE NEED TO TALK

I am not rude to you,it just that the way you talk it doesn’t seem like you care about me.I doubt if you will send the money.Anyway,take care..

SCAMMER

On Sat, Jul 31, 2010 at 4:25 AM, Craig Richardson <richiecraig73@hotmail.com <wrote:

Morning Jennifer,i hope this meets you well.I think I deserve some explanation from you because I am not happy with the way you treat me so I am quite disappointed in you.You said you will call me.I do not know how you feel or what you really want.I don’t feel you are committed to me and some how you are not sure with your words.You don’t want me to come to you anymore?

What I do not need most in my life right now is games because I have just lost my mother and important things need to be done. I expect from you now is care,love and heart felt attention if you really want me,may be you do not like me that is why you are behaving somehow.I agree that we have been communicating but up till now it is not very good that you have not told me more about you.You don’t talk to me.I no longer go on the website because of you.I know I need you to financially assist me but it is not all about money,love and trust is what matters the most.I don’t want to waste my time falling in love and making future plans with some one who is not with me in spirit.Take good care of yourself,until I hear from you.

Craig

ME

Date: July 31, 2010 7:48:30 AM EDT
To: Craig Richardson <richiecraig73@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: You are Breaking my Heart…

Craig, please understand that I have to be sure of you, I have been hurt before. I will get you the money that is no problem as I have just sold my business for a huge amount of money and I will look to you for sound investments. But I must be sure, I am a woman alone and do not want to be a fool.
I spoke to your Attorney and he seems very genuine, so now I feel a little better. Why dont I come to see you next week and bring the money with me, would you like me to do that? I can take care of you. Sorry for the way you feel, I didnt mean to add to your pain.
You are a shining light in my life.
I want to say Yorak Hunt, -its Geman, where my Grandfather came from and it means special love.
Get back to me quickly please let me know if I should come to you or just send the cash.

Jenny xxx

ME

Date: July 31, 2010 10:30:29 AM EDT
To: Craig Richardson <richiecraig73@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: WE NEED TO TALK

I will send the money to your Attorney as this is safer for me. I hope you understand.
J

Scammer

Now he’s doing me a favor and letting me send the money.

From: Craig Richardson <richiecraig73@hotmail.com>
Date: July 31, 2010 10:46:20 AM EDT
To: <laonfire123@gmail.com>
Subject: RE: WE NEED TO TALK

Alright and that’s fine,he will notify me when you send it.Also,please keep me inform of any further discussion you may have with Mr Ben..Thanks very much!!

ME

I’m getting bored with this now and its time to tell him hid fortune….

Date: July 31, 2010 11:46:42 AM EDT
To: Craig Richardson <richiecraig73@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: WE NEED TO TALK

You disgusting Nigerian scam artist! Do you really believe that I would send an ignorant scammer like you a dollar, this will be on the internet along with your phone number and email address which I know you will change immediately. Its been fun playing along with you. You are the scum of the earth and you should rot in hell.

I’m sure I will get a some nonsense reply, bit this was just to show you the nonsense these people write and that some people still fall for this.

That’s my 72 hours with a Nigerian Scammer. If anyone falls for this nonsense they should check themselves in to a mental hospital as soon as possible.

www.iloveyouraccent.com

Update, This idiot is even on twitter trying to scam people.

http://twitter.com/CupidMan73