TITLE: The Road To Nowhere
SCAMMER NAME: Matins Davis & Co.
SCAMMER LOCATION: Accra, Ghana and London, UK
SCAMBAITERS: Shiver Metimbers, A. Skinner and Charlie Fake
A scammer based in Ghana by the name of Matins Davis initially
contacts scambaiter A. Skinner, posing as Mr. Ed Shanks. This proves
to be a costly mistake for Mr. Davis when he and his associates
are put in touch with businessman Max N. Paddy (Shiver Metimbers)
sent on a wild goose chase for cash, and we have the video - courtesy
of Charlie Fake - and audio to prove it!
Note by Shiver Metimbers: I named this bait The Road To Nowhere
in a tribute to the great UK comedy series, Max & Paddy's
Road To Nowhere (poster above!). I take on the role of rich
and gullible businessman Max N. Paddy
Due to some hiccups, and a closed down email account, some of
the preliminary correspondences are missing from this scambait,
but fear not as it should not detract from your enjoyment.
The original standard 419 scam email arrived in A. Skinner's
inbox in January 2005. It was a standard 419 type letter "I
have millions to invest in your country" etc. A skinner then
replied to the scammer, a Mr. Matins Davis, pretending to mistake
him for a scammer that he had already been dealing with.
This particular scambait runs to quite a few pages, but please
be patient and make sure you are sitting comfortably. It is well
worth making the effort to read it all!
From: Ed Shanks (A. Skinner)
To: Matins Davis
Date: 2 Jan 2005
Dear Friend,
Somebody has already sent me the exact same letter as you. They
signed the letter with a different name. The man's name is Prince
Okar and I am supposed to send him $15,000 by Western Union. I said
I will send him money three different times at $5,000 each for a
certificate to certify that his money did not come from terrorism
or drugs. I have already sent him $3,000 USD.
I got the $15,000 today after I sold my car. I plan on sending
Mr. Okar the money in the next few days when the WU office is open.
Now you come to me with the exact same letter and I am very confused.
Please tell me what is going on.
Are you working with Prince Okar? Am I supposed to send you the
money? I will contact Mr. Okar by e-mail.
I live in a mobile home and do not have a cell phone yet, but I
do have a computer here in the senior center of the mobile home
park with a private e-mail account.
Let me know what you think and I will ask Prince Okar what to do
next. The $15,000 is safe in a hiding place where no one will find
it, so the money is safe. My neighbor Mrs. Betty is going to give
me a ride into town this week to get to the Western Union office.
Now I need this money Mr. Okar is offering me really fast because
I need to have a hip replacement operation and a new roof my mobile
home. So I don't want no delays in getting this here money. Do you
understand?
Sincerely,
Ed Shanks
During a telephone conversation and after a few lost emails,
Davis informs 'Ed Shanks' that Prince Okar had been working with
him, but had been shot! We agreed that the $15,000 would be sent
to Davis under the name of Lawrence Sowah (probably Davis's real
name).
From: Matins Davis
To: Ed Shanks
Date: 3 Jan 2005
Subject: PLEASE HURRY
Mr Ed Shanks
I called some an hour ago, well it is nice hear from you concerning
Prince Okar issue on you helping him to clear the funds that belong
to him and the family.
It quiet Unfortunate that he was short by Gunpoint, the police
is investigating the case.
Due to his suddenly death, The Senior has take over this transaction
and that must be with you since you hard agreement, which we have
to continue with you, as Lawyer of Senior I will like to have your
full contact information, Phone number home and work , Address and
Attached picture of yourself.
And to confirm this information that you are the person that
sent money to Prince Okar and we are dealing with rightful person.
I need you to send $100 today or tomorrow through western union,
please this is evidence to show me that I am working correct information.
Send the money on my cash Name
Name,,,,,,,LAWRENCE SOWAH,
Address,,,,,,, 112\44 castle Road, Osu Accra Ghana
Thank you
Matins Davis
NOTE,,,,,,, please I Hate delay in business for time sake please.
From: Ed Shanks (A. Skinner)
To: Matins Davis
Date: 3 Jan 2005
Dear Davis,
I enjoyed talking to you today as well. I couldn't hear you or your
friend very well, so this is the best means of conversation. I was
so sorry to hear about the nice Prince Okar. However, what happened
to the $3,000 USD I sent to him.
As far as sending you $100 USD, that would be no problem. But, I
was supposed to send $15,000 USD ($5,000 at a time). What happened
to that deal? It would cost me $30 or more dollars to send the $100,
so why don't we just get it all over with and I will send you the
full amount.
I am sending a drivers license picture of myself with my address.
You have my phone number.
Sincerely,
Ed Shanks
At this point there are a few missing/deleted emails, but basically
scammer Davis was sent on a wild goose chase after being sent a
fake Western Union payment!
From: Matins Davis
To: Ed Shanks
Date: 13 Jan 2005
Subject: THERE IS NO PAYMENT
Mr Ed Shanks
Please tellig my client that you sent money to me, when you know
well that you have not sent anything to me I have not collected
any money from you and if any money was sent to me i will inform
them before going for the money,
Thank you
Davis
From: Ed Shanks (A. Skinner)
To: Matins Davis
Date: 13 Jan 2005
Dear Davis,
I sent you $5,000 usd. Who is your client? Maybe you are confused.
Ed Shanks
From: Matins Davis
To: Ed Shanks
Date: 13 Jan 2005
Subject: Re: THERE IS NO PAYMENT
Mr Ed Shanks
what are you taking about please ??? where did you send the money
to whom ?? where is the control number for money you sent ??
Did you fine out from westner union if the money is collected or
not ?? have you forgoten that you said before i go for this money
i need to file out form. and without that i can't collect the money
???
so where did you send the money ??
Davis
Davis is reminded that Ed Shanks sent some Western Union "Security
Forms" which must be completed before money can be sent!
From: Ed Shanks (A. Skinner)
To: Matins Davis
Date: 13 Jan 2005
Dear Davis,
Have you lost your mind, or are you trying to cheat me out of $5,000
usd. I sent the cash to you by WUXFER. Then you said you couldn't
get it. Then I sent you the form and you never filled it out.
I want to hurry and complete this deal, but seem to be dealing
with someone who is not too bright.
Ed Shanks
Davis takes his time to reply, so another email is fired off...
From: Ed Shanks (A. Skinner)
To: Matins Davis
Date: 13 Jan 2005
Davis,
I went back to Western Union and they gave me a new website. Please
try this new improved site for money transfer: http://www.westernunion.info.ms/
If, for some reason you can't figure out how to use this very easy
website then we will have to recall the money and send it another
way. If the money is to be recalled you will have to fill out the
WU Security Validation form that I have attached to this mail.
I am truly getting frustrated with you.
Sincerely,
Ed Shanks
Seems Davis is having a problem with our Western Union site!
Quite a few days later decided to ask us to make a wire transfer!
From: Matins Davis
To: Ed Shanks
Date: 1 Feb 2005
Subject: bank transfer??
Hello Shanks,
please still waiting to hear from you concerning you transfering
the money.
can i give you bank Details for transfer ??
Davis
From: Ed Shanks (A. Skinner)
To: Matins Davis
Date: 1 Feb 2005
Dear Davis,
I don't understand all the problems you are having collecting
the money.
Yes, go ahead and send the bank details.
Sincerely,
Ed Shanks
From: Matins Davis
To: Ed Shanks
Date: 2 Feb 2005
Subject: details
Thank you for your email
please this is the Bank Details ECOBANK GHANA LTD
SWIFT: ECOCGHAC
THRU: CITIBANK
NA, 111,WALL ST, NY 10045
ACC : 36013639
SWIFT: CITIUS33
BENEFICIARY : BABATUNDA Matins
ACC :1101146020218
Thank you waiting to hear from you
Davis
From: Ed Shanks (A. Skinner)
To: Matins Davis
Date: 2 Feb 2005
Dear Davis,
I went to the bank today to transfer the money. However, the bank
said you must first fill out a Money Laundering and Fraud Suppression
Certificate. I have attached the forms here.
Please print it out, fill it out, scan it, and send it back to
be ASAP so we can complete this deal.
Sincerely,
Ed Shanks
[SECURITY FORMS ATTACHED]
Mr. Davis fills out and returns our supplied "Bank Security"
forms.
Note that because of the "email problems" we had,
some of the forms are missing (there were originally 64 pages of
forms which Davis did fill out!) but you'll get the idea.
From: Matins Davis
To: Ed Shanks
Date: 13 Jan 2005
Subject: here are the forms
|