Captain's Log: Encounter with Paul Komo
Having received a 419 scam offer from a man claiming to be Paul Komo in my
normal email, I created a Hotmail account and replied to him with an offer of
interest. I wanted to see if he'd pick up on the fact that this was an email
address he hadn't mailed anything to before.
A simple IP check traced him to a small ISP in... Lagos, Nigeria. Fancy that.
For ease of reading, his letters are in green, my
responses are in black, and any editorial comments I
have are in blue italics.
PAGE 2
And the next day, Paul replies, taking the bait
hook, line, and sinker...
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN
Thank you uncle James, I can understand that you want to assist me.
Hmm. Skipped right over my question of why he's calling me uncle all of a sudden.
You don't have to be afraid know body knows you here, as soon as those documents has been changed to your name I promised that the money will be transferred into your account.
Oh, now why would I ever doubt you? I mean, you picked me out of all the millions of people on the internet, after all!
For the account you know better than I do, I think you know the one to be use in this transaction.
I need your help by making good arrangement for me to come over to your country.
Uncle the fax is very very impotant but if you choose to send everything by mail I will do that.
Please uncle before I die of hunger here, I will like to act fast as I cannot feed myself fine here.
Hear that? It's the world's smallest violin, playing "my heart bleeds for you".
After receiving your mail and I explained everything to the lawyer, so he said we are going to pay him $2800 half now the rest should be after the transfer.
Aha! I was wondering when the issue of money would come up. He's going right for the big money, hmm.
So please if you can help me send this money through western union transfer with name CLETUS EKENE address ABIDJAN COTE D'IVORE for the change of ownership.
Cletus? CLETUS? What, does this guy have relatives in Alabama?
I promise nothing to fear as soon as this change is made the bank will contact you. Please I will like you to call me. Regards, Paul.
Well, I don't think I'll give him a phone number just yet. I'll just respond thus...
I Will Make It So.
>Thank you uncle James, I can understand that you want
>to assist me.
Paul, I was still puzzled as to why you called me "uncle". I searched through my little black book and found hundreds of exotic names of the women I have "docked with", so to speak, and I couldn't find any with the last name of Komo.
But a colleague of mine, Lt. Uhura, told me that using the world uncle is a way to show close
friendship to someone.
Do you... consider me... your... ...your friend?
>You don't have to be afraid know body knows you here,
>as soon as those documents has been changed to your
>name I promised that the money will be transferred
>into your account.
Hmmm. Most intriguing, as my good friend Mr. Spock would say. I hope that the letterhead I have sent you will go well in showing the strength of my business.
>For the account you know better than I do, I think you
>know the one to be use in this transaction.
Certainly! In fact, I know exactly which type of account would be perfect for a transaction such as this!
Of course, I won't name it outright, instead
stringing him along for some suspense...
>I need your help by making good arrangement for me to
>come over to your country.
Grant you asylum? Well, I must say that though my influence is far-reaching, and I've made a career of defying the odds, I can't promise you outright
asylum.
However... I do believe that I could get you a work visa. You could be my right hand man. My Number
One! I could make sure that you are paid very well. Several THOUSAND dollars a month!
Should I send along my passport or personal identification to you, so that you will have this to show to the
consulate when you are to leave the country?
>Uncle the fax is very very impotant but if you choose
>to send everything by mail I will do that.
Yes, email is surely the best way, as it is completely, 100 percent secure. Only I and I alone have access to this account.
So please, just scan each document and send them to me as an e-mail attachment. I prefer a jpg file.
>Please uncle before I die of hunger here, I will like
>to act fast as I cannot feed myself fine here.
Barbaric! I've always done my best to turn death into a fighting chance to live, but this in nearly unthinkable. Just you wait, I'll get you out of there yet!
Now, what type of foods do you like to eat? I'm sure I could have something sent to you right away.
>After receiving your mail and I explained everything
>to the lawyer, so he said we are going to pay him
>$2800 half now the rest should be after the transfer.
...what?
This lawyer, this ambulances chaser, he wishes to impose this fee upon you, you who are barely having enough to EAT?
My GOD.
Has he not heard...The needs of the one outweighed the needs of the few?
Oh, c'mon. I can't channel Capt. Kirk without channeling
some of that legendary overacting, too!
I wish to speak with him at once. I need to know exactly what he shall do. I also want to make sure for myself that he is not trying to take advantage of you.
In fact, if he is on the up and up, I'm sure that I would be willing to take care of EVERYTHING money wise.
There, might as well wave the prospect of money in
front of him for a bit...
>So please if you can help me send this money through
>western union transfer with name CLETUS EKENE address
>ABIDJAN COTE D'IVORE for the change of ownership.
Who is Cletus?
And isn't that a rather vague address?
>I promise nothing to fear as soon as this change is
>made the bank will contact you.
Certainly.
>Regards,
>Paul.
PS: Since you feel close enough to call me uncle, I was wondering if you would be so kind as to send a picture of yourself? You'll get to see my picture once I send
any photo identification I need to.
I wonder if he will just cut something out of a magazine and send it; that's usually how these people work...