PPI Spammers

A few weeks ago I received a message on my smartphone telling me I was owed money for the PPI (payment protection insurance) that I'd taken out.  I have never had PPI so I knew the message was, at the very least, less than truthful.

I added a post to my main antiscam blog - you can see it here - and within hours the post was receiving hundreds of visitors.

It seems that PPI claims are big business because a few days ago I did a little investigation into an online film site that someone left me a complaint about (here's the complaint).  I signed up using an online email address that I reserve for corresponding with scammers.  Within hours, and I do mean hours, my scam email address was being flooded with emails promoting PPI claim services.

All these emails are unsolicited.  All are being sent by the same service

These are the sites that have so far sent me emails, along with a few details about them

fasttrackppi.co.uk Registered 4 Nov 2011.  Site claims they are based in Stanmore
www.ppiclaimcompany.co.uk  Registered on 1 Feb 1995.  The email contains what appears to be a fake unsubscribe link as it takes you to http://counseling4usa.info
ppiadviceline.co.uk Registered on 12 Nov 2010.  The email claims it was sent from Jacksonville FL, but their site claims they are based in Bradford, Yorkshire
charterhouseclaims.com/ Registered on 20 Octo 2008.  An interesting email this.  The links are all routed via insideboxingdisaster.com.  At least one of the links leads to part of the site that is infected with a Trojan (my antivirus software blocked it).

There was one more, but that was routed via a site called "strategyelevate.com" which appears to have been taken down.

One thing I've noticed that all the above sites have in common is that ALL they contain is one page with a box for you give them your name and address.

None of them have any pages telling you about the company, or their staff, or their address.

If you feel you were mis-sold PPI, the Money Saving Expert website has all the information you need to make a claim yourself - http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/ppi-loan-insurance

If you feel you need help with your claim, don't use a random (potentially fake) company that sends you a text or an email.  Ask your bank, solicitor or financial advisor to recommend a "real" claims company.

Oh look - even more millions of unused dollar floating around in Nigeria.  There is (allegedly) enough spare money there to solve the debt problems of pretty much every country in the world.  Surprisingly (not) I seem to be (un)lucky enough to have access to most of it.

I hope you don't believe that anyone who writes to you telling you that they have millions of dollars for you is genuine.  Because they aren't.  They are all scammers and should all be ignored.

DR KELVIN JOHN
NNPC TOWERS
LAGOS NIGERIA.
TEL: +234-8138771987

Dear Friend,

I am the Chairman of the Contract Award Committee, Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources Nigeria, I am in search of an agent to assist us in the transfer of (US$30,M)

THIRTY MILLION, UNITED STATES DOLLARS. And subsequent investment in properties in your country so get back to me if you are interested and You will be required to:

(1) Assist me in the transfer of the said sum.
(2) Advise  me on lucrative areas for investment in your country.
(3) Assist me in purchase of properties in your country.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THE BUSINESS PLEASE GET BACK TO ME WITH YOUR BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS FOR THE BUSINESS and remember that 30% is for you for assisting me and 10% is for all the expenses during the transfer of this fund into your bank account so if you are interested for this deal get back to me as soon as possible with your bank account details.

REGARDS,
DR KELVIN JOHN
CHAIRMAN CONTRACT AWARD COMMITTEE {CCAC}

Oh look, someone from one of the poorest regions on earth has $25m dollars that I can have.  Does that sound likely?  Of course it doesn't.  Ignore this scammer, who is after your money.

Hello dear,
I know I may appear to you  like a stranger but before i  will proceed to
sharing my message with you,i will like to formerly introduce myself.

My Name is Mrs. Doris Mbono,I am the Wife of Mr David Mbono, from Darfur
Region,Sudan. My husband was the owner of Omar Sea Food Industry in Darfur
which supplies most  Central African Countries with sea food till it was
discovered by the Rebels forces in Darfur that portion of farmland which
my husband has located the business was rich in Oil and Mineral Resources.

As a result of the oil discovered in the land,the Government and Rebel
Movement started having misunderstanding over who will take control of the
land.

This led to war in Darfur and the the rebels started killing  people in
Darfur.In the process my husband was murdered in cold blood and the Farm
land and the Sea Food Industry located on it  were taken over by the
rebels and  burnt down.

Prior to the crisis, my husband had moved ( US$25.500,000) Twenty-Five
Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars to South Africa which
he deposited in a private Security & Finance Company in the name of my son
Mr. Jerry Mbono as the beneficiary.

The Rebels has murdered my husband believing no member of the family will
challenge their authority over the land but we the rest members of the
family has stood in resistance against them.As a result of our
resistance,the rebels has been tracing to kill me and my son my son.

We decided to flee Darfur to Johannesburg, South Africa to seek Asylum
(Refugees).
We do not have any other possession save for the money my husband has
deposited in the security company in South Africa.

All the documents issued when my husband has deposited the consignment of
the fund  has been handed over to our family Lawyer in South Africa who 
has assisted my late husband in depositing the consignment with the
security company.
The financial laws in South Africa on Refugees do not warrant us  as
refugees to invest the funds here and we cannot operate any bank account
either.

For this reason we decided to look for a Foreign Partner who will assist
us in moving the funds out of South Africa for my family investment. In
our search for a reliable person,we got your contact from the world
chamber of commerce directory in South Africa.

We believe we could have a good relationship with you. We have decided to
offer you 25% of the total amount, 5% mapped out to defray all expenses
that will be incurred during the course of the transaction, while the
remaining 70%will be for my family and will be invested in your country
under your management.

I know this message may have come to you as a surprise but please see it
as an avenue to help a widow to evacuate her money to a safer place for a
life time investment since we cannot go back to Sudan again.

I will like you to reply me urgently so i will give you more information
on how you will proceed to get the money from the security company and
transfer it to your country .
Please reply in my private email account (dorismbono@gmail.com)

i will be expecting  to hear from you,

Have a nice day
With Love from
Mrs Doris Mbono

This scammer is clearly a nutcase.  He tells me that a "cool penny" is better than "millions of dollars" and then proceeds to tell me he wants to send me .................   a penny????? ........................ no - half a million dollars!!!

As he says - it is "better for one to live and die a poor honest man".  Something that he will doubtless find out for himself when the Police come knocking on his door and he finished up in a disgusting jail cell somewhere.

Ignore this idiot.

From Mr.Lucio Neto   

 

 

I Am Mr.Lucio Neto senior staff with the central bank of Nigeria (CBN). I am writing you this letter because cool penny is better than millions of dollars.

It is better for one to live and die a poor honest man than a rich dishonest one. I have arranged with an officer in the computer section of this bank,Mrs Sheila Jones to bring out part of your total contract sum amounting to $5million us dollars.

Why we did this, is because according to information gathered from the banks computer, you have been waiting for a long time to receive your money without success, as I found out that you have almost met all the statutory requirements of the CBN in respect of your contract payment, your problem is that of interest groups.

 

I am willing to help you get your money but please for security reasons do not tell anybody that you have your money until you receive cash at your doorstep.

 

This is something we want to avoid because the boxes were padded with machine. We told the courier service that the boxes contains photographic and film materials and when opened will loose its efficacy. We did not declare money because courier service does not carry money.

 

In your subsequence response I shall send you the details of the courier company which will be in charge of the delivery to your location, we have concluded that you must compensate us with $500,000 United States dollars as soon as you receive your money. To this effect, you will send us a promissory note for $500,000 United States dollars along with your address for sending the boxes by courier. Please maintain topmost secrecy as it may cause a lot of problems if found out that we are using this way to help you, do not ever tell anybody about this until you have your money.

 

You are required to re-confirm the under listed details as soon as possible for onward shipment of your over due contract fund:

Your full name:

Private telephone number:

Choice of address {where you wish the consignment delivered}:

God is with us as we wait for your reply.

 

Yours faithfully,

Mr.Lucio Neto 

What on earth is a "Contract Inheritance Winning Fund"?  Either you are owed money for a contract, you have been left money in someone's will OR you have won money.  It can't be all three.  I don't suppose it matters, as there is no money - just a scammer hoping you will be daft enough to start sending him money for his "fees".  Ignore him.

FINAL NOTICE

I have been waiting for you to contact our Office for your Contract Inheritance Winning Fund of $5.5m USD   Or  YOU direct me how to send your valued sum to you  However, since I did not hear from you, Then I have deposited the total Money valued $5.5m at a CARGO HEAD OFFICE as a consignment box because I traveled out of the country and I will not be back till next month end.

Please contact the Trust securities & CARGO Head office to  deliver your consignment box to you. I have paid for the delivery Charges. the only money you  will spend is for storage the consignment may accumulated since we deposited the bpx

please take note that as soon as they deliver the consignment, use this CODE NUMBERS TO OPEN THE BOX So AS TO CONFIRM THE TOTAL FUNDS OF FIVE MILLION,FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS ($5.5M) THIS CODE ( 0036589] IS FOR YOU AND MUST BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL BECAUSE IT IS JUST FOR YOU ALONE. PLEASE CONTACT THEM TO THE BELOW INFORMATION.

TRUST SECURITY SERVICE HEAD OFFICE
DISPATCH DIRECTOR, Rev Dr Williams Momoh
Email: trust.cargoservices@ymail.com


Try to contact them as soon as possible to avoid any more storage fees or delay in the delivery Please re-confirm the below information to the company immediately and tell them to deliver your consignment at your door step as soon as Possible. please be aware that they are waiting for you to contact them with your information to avoid mistake in delivery.


(1)Your  Full Name:
(2) Your Address:
(3)Your Cell  Phone:
(4) Your Company Name:
(5) Your Company Address:
(6)Your  Company Position:
(7) Your Profession:
(8) Your Age:
(9)Your  Marital Status:

Let me know as soon as you receive your consignment, Please always call them to know the condition of this consignment
Best Wishes,
Ann Johnson

This scammer is so desperate for me to end him the $105 he's asking for that he has written the whole of his ridiculous story in capital letters.  Surely no-one believes that they have large amounts of money due from Nigeria?

Ignore this scammer - who blatantly tells you that he wants your money.

 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

BUREAU OF CONSULAR AFFAIRS

US AMBASSADOR TO NIGERIA

11 GARKI ROAD ABUJA

ABUJA-NIGERIA

 

 

DEAR BENEFICIARY

 

                                                              `

I SHALL BE COMING TO YOUR COUNTRY FOR AN OFFICIAL MEETING BY NEXT WEEK AND I WILL BE BRINGING YOUR INTEREST PAYMENT OF US$10M ALONG WITH ME BUT THIS TIME I WILL NOT GO THROUGH CUSTOMS BECAUSE AS A US AMBASSADOR TO NIGERIA, I AM A US GOVERNMENT AGENT AND I HAVE  THE VETO POWER TO GO THROUGH CUSTOMS.I AM

SCHEDULED TO HAVE A BRIEFING WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATES BY NEXT WEEK YOU SHOULD SEND YOUR CELL PHONE NUMBER AND THE ADDRESS WHERE YOU WANT ME TO BRING THE CONSIGNMENT PACKAGE . YOU HAVE REALLY PAID SO MUCH AS I WAS MADE TO UNDERSTAND AND THAT  IS WHY I HAVE PERSONALLY INTERVENED . YOU ARE A VERY LUCKY PERSON  BECAUSE I SHALL BE BRINGING IT MYSELF AND THERE IS NOTHING ANYONE  CAN DO ABOUT IT.

YOUR PACKAGE(US$10Million}   MUST BE REGISTERED AS AN AMBASSADORIAL PACKAGE FOR ME TO DEFEAT ALL ODDS AND THE COST OF REGISTERING IT  IS $105.00.

THE FEE MUST BE PAID IN THE NEXT 50 HOURS VIA WESTERN  UNION/MONEYGRAM SO THAT ALL NECESSARY ARRANGEMENT CAN BE MADE BEFORE TIME WILL BE AGAINST US.YOU SHOULD SEND THE FEE DIRECTLY TO THE CARGO REGISTRATION OFFICER WITH THE INFO BELOW

 

NAME: EZE UGONNA

COUNTRY:LAGOS-NIGERIA

TEST QUESTION: TRUE

ANSWER:         YES

 

AS SOON AS THE FEE IS SENT FOWARD TO ME THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION BELLOW.

MTCN NUMBER:

 

SENDER ADDRESS:

MY TRIP WILL BE BY MID NEXT WEEK AND I EXPECT YOU TO COMPLY BEFORE THEN SO THAT THE DELIVERY CAN BE COMPLETED. IF YOU DO NOT COMPLY, THEN IT  WILL NOT BE MY FAULT IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE YOUR CONSIGNMENT PACKAGE.

YOU CAN CALL ME ON THIS NUMBER+234-809-282-7612

 

TREAT AS URGENT,

TERENCE McCULLEY

US AMBASSADOR TO NIGERIA

  

Dear Friend.

This scammer doesn't want to transfer money TO my account.  He or she is hoping to transfer money FROM my account to hers.  She's a scammer and she's after my money - or yours - or anyone who is daft enough to fall for her ridiculous story and start sending her money.  Ignore her.

Dear Friend. Please accept my apologies if this request does not meet your personal ethics as it is not intended to cause you any embarrassment in what ever form. I got your contact email address from international domain directory and decided to contact you for this transaction that is based on trust and your outstanding. I need your urgent assistance in transferring the sum of ($10.5m) million to your account. The transfer is risk free on both sides hence you are going to follow my instruction till the fund is transferred to your account. If you are interested in this deal, kindly send me your complete information, your full names and address, Your Private telephone and Fax numbers, Your Private email address, Your Age, Your Country, Marital Status, Your Occupation and Your Personal Mobile Number. Having gone through a methodical search, I decided to contact you hoping that you will find this proposal interesting. Please on your confirmation of this message and indicating your interest, I will furnish you with more information also note that you will have 40% of the above mentioned while 60% will be for me.Endeavour to let me know your decision. Best regards Mrs sarah joseph +266 48 89 53