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 5
It's been a whole day and I haven't heard from the "lawyer", so I send an email with updates and a tersely worded command:
Dear Mr. Barrister Kaka,
Again, this is Adm. James Tiberius Kirk (Ret.), Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Utopia Planetia Shipyards.
I have constructed a fax relay station that you may send documents to, if you are unable to send the required documents as an
attachment.
Please, I do prefer receiving documents scanned and sent as a JPG file, but if you ABSOLUTELY must fax me, you can do so at the SPECIAL SECURED FAX LINE
1 309 413 6094
I'm not sure what country code you need to place in the number but I believe it is: 011 so the EMERGENCY SECURED FAX NUMBER is:
011 1 309 413 6094
I am STILL waiting to hear from you. Please do not keep me waiting much longer, my dear nephew
can barely hold out.
Sincerely,
Adm. James T. Kirk (Ret.)
CEO/CFO U.P. Shipyards And Fleet
And lo and behold the next day, I have TWO responses! One form the lawyer, and one from Paul.
First, the lawyer, who writes in OFFICIAL LOOKING ALL CAPS and tries to make me feel dumb, or something.
FROM THE DESK OF KAKACHAMBERS.
ATTN: MR. JAMES.
DEAR SIR,
UPON THE RECIEPT OF YOUR MAILS, ABOUT MR. PAUL KOMO, THE ONLY SON OF LATE MR.
ALIMAN KOMO. AS A MATTER OF LEGITIMACY, I REALLY WANT TO HELP MR PAUL BECAUSE OF
HIS FATHER. HE TOLD ME SOME TIMES AGO THAT HIS UNCLE IS WORRIED ABOUT THE LEGAL
FEES I ASKED FOR.
YES SIR, THIS IS AFRICA I KNOW THEM MORETHAN YOU DO.
MEANWHILE, I HAVE THE POWER TO GET ALL THE DOCUMENTS YOU MENTIONED OF, BUT THE
PROBLEM IS THAT WE HAVE TO GET SOME PAPERS WHICH HAS EXPIRED, LIKE MINISTER OF
FINANCE CERTIFICATE, CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION, AFFIDAVIT OF TRUST,
STAMP DUTY E.T.C.
PLEASE SIR, I WILL LIKE YOU TO BEAR IN MIND THAT I WANT TO HELP PAUL TOO, AND AM
A CHRISTAIN. THE MONEY I ASKED FOR IS TO SETTLE THE COURT BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE
MONEY NOW. YOU KNOW WE ARE JUST RECOVERING FROM WAR.
SIR, I WILL ADVISED YOU TO ARRANGE WITH PAUL FOR THE DOCUMENTS AND I PROMISE TO
GIVE YOU THE BEST SERVISE.
PLEASE SIR, ALL THE DOCUMENTS SHALL BE FORWARDED TO YOU AS SOON AS I RECEIVED
THE MONEY, TRUST ME AM A MAN OF WORD AND I HAVE MY INTERGRITEE IN THIS
MATTER.
THANKING YOU,
BARRISTER MORRIS.
Of course he's honest. When has a lawyer ever been decietful? Much less a lawyer running a 419 scam? Ah, well. Paul also writes in.
Good morning uncle,
You make me feel good like when my father was alive.
I received the picture of my fellow brother David Marcus whom the evil men took away from you, but whatever the case maybe, GOD will surely take him by his side Amen.
I think that the money you used for account is ok. Uncle, I think you should not worry mush when I come to USA I will know the type of course I will do, to avoid mistake, I can not use African brain to answer that now until I come hahaha.
Uncle, my people says that the meat that is the house looks some how writhing the family, I mean people around you will not know your what .
Uncle, I think the idea of your kitchen stadium is good and I think it can work because you know everything about it.
I will wait till Tuesday, with GOD all things are possible. The GOD that provides you to me, will not let me slumber. As far as you promise to send me money on Tuesday, I will not die before then after all I fast for six to six.
I think the lawyer will reach you today, because yesterday was Sunday. So please try and comply with him to avoid threatening me, you know when they see small boy like me having such amount of money, it makes them mad.
I will be leaving for now till Tuesday. Have a good holidays. Nephew Paul.
Hmmmm. His English seems to be deteriorating pretty badly in the middle there. Could it be that he's feeling rushed?
And that's where things stand so far. Check back for the next site update, where I'm sure there's more fun to be had.