posted on November 3, 2000 07:53:32 AM
Hello everyone. Today I received an email I believe is a scam. I'm not quite sure who to report this to or who could do anything about this. Safeharbor? Although it's not really Ebay related. Spamcop? I'm the only recipient in this email so would it still be considered spam? Exchangepath?
Did any of you receive this?
Subject: ExchangePath
Hello!
Do you accept ExchangePath payments for your ebay auctions? Maybe you can help me? I sell specific 3D-related software and I would like to accept payments through ExchangePath from my US clients. But I do not have a possibility to do it since ExchangePath works only with US residents (I live in Italy). I'm offer you the following: My clients will transfer money to your ExchangePath account, you will withdraw money and then you will transfer money to my offshore bank account. Your interest will be 10 % from each transaction. The purchase volume is about $3,000 - $5,000 a week.
---------------------------------------------------------------- Get your free email from AltaVista at http://altavista.iname.com
posted on November 3, 2000 07:56:27 AM
The first place to contact is exchangepath themselves. They should take it from there. http://www.ygoodman.com [email protected]
posted on November 3, 2000 07:58:55 AM
Forget it! No matter what the percentage rate is, the Feds will be after you if they see LARGE quantities of cash entering and leaving your bank--offshore accounts are very dodgy!!! Definately spamorama! Just delete it and get on with business. It's not worth the time and hassle of reporting.
posted on November 3, 2000 08:00:33 AM
Free money for doing nothing? Such a deal! I'd start by contacting ExchangePath- I'm sure they'd prefer not to be used for money laundering.
posted on November 3, 2000 12:20:08 PM
Just received this in response to my email to Exchangepath:
Dear Member,
Thank you for forwarding this to our attention. We have had a number of members forwarding these emails. We are compiling a file on this situation which we are going to turn over to the appropriate authorities. If you have any other questions or concerns on this matter please drop us a line by replying to this email. Your response will be routed to the appropriate party.
posted on November 3, 2000 01:29:10 PM
Forward that email to me! Looks like a sweet deal. I'm only getting 7% for accepting stolen credit cards from a Romanian. That extra 3% could pay for some extra gifts under the Christmas tree.
God I love the internet! So many opportunities, you don't even have to think to make money.
posted on November 4, 2000 06:34:58 AM
That person sure thinks small!
I used to place classified ads regularly in magazines such as Entrepreneur. This left left me open to receiving all sorts of junk mail. I used to receive the "Nigerian Business Proposal" at least once a a year. The longevity of the "proposal" always surprised me but, incredible as it seems, people must have reponded to it or else the people involved wouldn't have kept sending out letters.
I was quite surprised to see that the scam has now moved to the Internet (although I see that bank account numbers are no longer requested). This is an e-mail I received last month.
-------------------------------
Engr. { name removed }
Federal Ministry of Works & Housing
Ikoyi Lagos. Nigeria.
Date: 15/10/2000
Attn: President/C.E.O.
Dear sir,
BUSINESS PROPOSAL: TRANSFER OF US$26.426M (TWENTY SIX MILLION, FOUR HUNDRED AND TWENTY SIX THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) & BUSINESS INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP.
First, I must solicit your strictest confidence in this transaction, this is by virtue of it's nature as been utterly confidential and top secret as you were introduced to us in confidence through the Nigerian/Gambian Chambers of Commerce, Foreign Trade division, during an official assignment to Banjul.
We are top officials from the Federal Ministry of Works & Housing (FMW&H), Federal Ministry of Finance and the Presidency, making up the Contract Review Panel (CRP) set up by the Federal Government of Nigeria to review contracts awarded by the past Military administration.
In the course of our work in the CRP, we discovered this fund which resulted from grossly over-invoiced contracts which were executed for the FMW&H during the last administration. The companies that executed the contract have been duly paid and the contracts commissioned leaving the sum of US$26.426M floating in the Escrow account of the Central Bank of Nigeria ready for payment.
I have therefore been mandated as a matter of trust by my colleagues in the Panel to look for an over-seas partner to whom we could transfer the sum of US$26.426M by Legally subcontracting the contract
entitlement to your company. This is bearing in mind that our civil service code of conduct forbids us from owning foreign companies or running foreign accounts
while in Government service hence the need for an over-seas partner.
We have agreed that the funds will be shared thus after it has been transferred into your account:
(1) 30% of the money will go to you for acting as the beneficiary of the fund.
(2) 65% to us the Government officials (with wish we wish to commence an importation business in conjunction with you).
(3) 5% has been set aside as an abstract projection for reimbursement to both parties for incidental expenses that may be incurred in the course of this transaction.
All logistics are in place and all modalities worked out for the smooth conclusion of the transaction within ten to fourteen working days of commencement after receipt of the following information from you:
Your company name, address, company's details and activities, telephone & fax numbers. These information will enable us make applications and lodge claims to the concerned Ministries & agencies in favor of your company and it is pertinent to state here that this transaction is entirely based on trust as the Solar Bank Draft or Certified Cheque drawable in any of the
Central Bank of Nigeria correspondent Bankers in America is going to be made in your name.
Please acknowledge the receipt of this letter by using this e-mail address.
Yours faithfully,
Engr. { name removed }
NB. Bank Account details not necessary, as preferred mode of payment is by draft or cheque.
posted on November 4, 2000 07:11:45 AM
stockticker "The longevity of the "proposal" always surprised me but, incredible as it seems, people must have reponded to it or else the people involved wouldn't have kept sending out letters."
The 419 or Nigerian Scam has been around for a long, long time. It has been operating since the early 80s and they've made some money with it, $8,000,000,000.00 to date. This scam is the 3rd largest industry in Nigeria if you can believe that. They seem to be able to find people that receive that mail and think "Honey, our boat's come in!" Later they find they've booked passage on the Titanic.
They seem to be able to find people that receive that mail and think "Honey, our boat's come in!" Later they find they've booked passage on the Titanic.