Page 1 of 4

Scammer: Barrister John Akroma/Ibrahim Tukur
Location:
Lagos, Nigeria
Baiter:
Dennis Franz, of NYPD Blue Fame
Started:
July 17, 2004
Ended:
Aug 20, 2004

- Scammer text in italics
- My text in regular Verdana font
- [My comments in bold square brackets]






Date: Sat, 17 Jul 2004 21:15:10 +0100 (BST)
From: JMark Lawyer (John Akroma)
Subject: PERSONAL
To: [email protected]


JOHN & MARK ASSOCIATES
LEGAL PRACTITIONERS,ARBITRATORS & NOTARY PUBLIC
102 NEW AVENUE ENUGU STATE NIGERIA
E_MAIL:[email protected]

Dear Dennis Franz,

I am Barr.John Akroma, a Lawyer by profession. I am
the personal attorney to Mr. James Franz, who worked
for the Chevron Oil Exploration Company in Nigeria,
herein after shall be referred to as my client.On the
21st of April 2000, my client, his wife and their
three children were involved in a car accident along
Lagos - Ibadan express road. All occupants of the
vehicle unfortunately lost there lives. Since then I
have made several enquiries to your embassy to locate
any of my clients extended relatives. This has proved
unsuccessful. I came to know about you through an
enquiry I was making in the internet, and i found out
that you have the same Last name with my client, That
is why I have decided to contact you,in order to
assist in repatriating the money and property left
behind by my client before they get confiscated or
declared unserviceable by the bank.Particularly, the
Union Bank where the deceased had an account valued at
about Ten Million Five hundred thousand US Dollars,
has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or
have the account confisticated within the next 21
official working days.Since i have been unsuccessful
in locating the relatives for over 2 years now I seek
your consent to present you as the next of kin of the
deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued
at US$10.5 Million Dollars can be paid to you and then
you and me can share the money, on the ratio of 60%
for me, and 40% for you. I have all necessary legal
documents that can be used to back up any claim we may
make.All I require is your honest co-operation to
enable us see this business through. I guarantee that
this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement
that will protect you from any breach of the
law.Please get in touch with me by email and send to
me your telephone and fax numbers to enable us discuss
further about the details of this transaction.or you
can contact me on my private email:[email protected]

Best regards,
JOHN AKROMA

BARR.JOHN AKROMA Esq.
Principal Partner:JOHN & MARK ASSOCIATE



Date: Sun, 18 Jul 2004 13:42:58 -0400
From: Dennis Franz
To: JMark Lawyer (John Akroma)
Subject: RE: PERSONAL


Hey Snackpants,

I have to jump at this opportunity as I feel I can really help you. Can you please tell me what you need of me. Also, may I see some photo identification please? There are a lot of people out there who would take advantage of a situation like this.

Regards,
Dennis




Date: Mon, 19 Jul 2004 13:21:35 +0100 (BST)
From: JMark Lawyer (John Akroma)
To: Dennis Franz

Subject: From Barr Jon Akroma (Detailed Explanations) 1st Mail


Dear Dennis,

Thank you so much for your quick response to my mail.
I really appreciate your willingness to do this
business with me and i also wish to use this medium to
assure you that before i approached you for assistance
towards actualizing this transaction, i have carefully
worked out the legal details to ensure that whatever i
do is in conformity with the law.

I am a man of integrity and i have my personality and
reputation to protect here so my dear you have to
understand that if there is any risk attached to this
business, I would not have ventured into it
considering my reputation as personally i will not
indulge in any act that will jeopardize or tarnish my
career which i have built over the years as well as
yours, so you have nothing to worry my dear.

You have to agree with me that if anybody have to be
afraid of this, it should me because i initiated it,
but i will advice you to put those fears behind you
and lets move ahead. This business is 100% risk free,
it is simply a deal between two of us and I sincerely
believe that you will not disappoint me.

For the purpose of clarity, i have attached my
CERTIFICATE OF CALL TO BAR and Engr JAMES FRANZ's
picture before his death. Please keep the document
safe as you know, the certificate is my life.

Regards.
Barr John Akroma



[Extremely bad, crookedly-scanned forgery John]

 


[This man cannot be related to me. I have no doilies on my furniture]



Date: Mon, 19 Jul 2004 08:35:24 -0400
From: Dennis Franz
To: John Akroma

Subject: RE: From Barr Jon Akroma (Detailed Explanations) 1st Mail

Thank you for your speedy reply. I admire the risk you are taking by orchestrating this deal between us, however I must be certain that this is a serious arrangement.

Before I take any undue risks, I would ask that you find a way to assure me that you are, in fact, Barr Jon Akroma - and not someone posing to be him by using copies of his documents. Could I please see another picture of yourself - larger and clearer?

I would also ask -- to ensure that this photo is not forged -- that you display clearly a page of paper in the sign reading: SNACKPANTS. This will prove to me that I am in communcation with an honourable man, and a truthful Barr. I will then feel at ease and will be willing to do business.

(Snackpants, by the way, is my nickname for people I help through charity work. It's a kin to a playful nickname - like 'sport' or, 'tiger'. I would be throwing some money I would normally donate to a charity at this cause in order to facilitate this deal, so I have to be sure. I hope you understand Jon.

Thanks, I look forward to getting this identification verification out of the way so that we can do business.

Dennis



[John changes e-mail addresses - which I will ignore]


Date: Mon, 19 Jul 2004 05:36:22 -0700 (PDT)
From: John Akroma
(new address)
To: Dennis Franz
Subject: Needed Informations


Dennis,

So based on my explanations, for us to proceed, I will
appreciate if you can send me the following
Information’s,

1, YOUR CURRENT CONTACT ADDRESS
2, YOUR NATIONALITY
3, YOUR OCUPATION
4, MARITAL STATUS
5, YOUR AGE
6, TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS
7, YOUR FULL NAME

These information will enable me swear an Affidavit
of Fact to Authenticate and legalize you as the
legitimate next of kin to my deceased client as
required by law since the deceased did not leave any
Valid WILL behind prior to his untimely death. When i
am through with the Affidavit, I will apply to the
Probate Registry/Estate Administration of the Federal
Ministry of Justice for a Letter of Administration,
this Letter of Administration will empower the bank to
release the fund to you .

Infact this is the summary of the legal process
involved to actualize this transaction, so that the
Bank will not subject you to any further scrutiny upon
presentation of these relevant legal proof in
accordance with the international law.

So the vital role that you will play is when i
conclude the legal documentation as required by law, i
will submit the documents to the Bank on your behalf
and then step aside so that you can now deal with the
Bank directly as the beneficiary while i guide you
from
behind.

Please treat this with the secrecy and urgency it
deserves, I am counting on you. You may also wish to
contact me on my Cell phone no 234-xxxxxxxxxxxxx for us
to discuss and get more familiar with each other.

I expect your immediate response to enable us proceed
further.You can reply to private email: [email protected]

Regards
Barr John Akroma



Date: Mon, 19 Jul 2004 20:41:21 +0100 (BST)
From: John Akroma
To: Dennis Franz

Subject: From John Akroma (Thanks for your mail)


Dear Dennis,

I have carefully gone through your mail. Honestly you
a man of honor and i really appreciate that. Atleast,
i feel more comfortable dealing with you with full
hope that you will never disapoint me.

Furthermore, you have to understand that the picture
on my certificate is the picture i took when i was
passing out from law school after which i was call to
bar.

Therefore you have to understand that age is now
telling on my side but all the same i will be taking
the pictures as you requested, so i will let you know
as soon as it is ready.

You can contact me on my cell phone : 234-xxxxxxxxxxxx
to enable us discuss and get more familiar with each.
other. Confirm the receipt of this mail.

Best Regards
Barr John Akroma



Date: Mon, 19 Jul 2004 16:55:06 -0400
From: Dennis Franz
To: John Akroma

Subject: RE: From John Akroma (Thanks for your mail)

Hello John,

Your mail was received and understood. As soon as I receive the requested photo, we can begin business together.

I thank you for taking the time to earn my trust. I will not disapoint you with this deal, and your thoughtfulness won't be forgotten.

Regards,
Dennis


Date: Wed, 21 Jul 2004 12:14:58 +0100 (BST)
From: John Akroma
To: Dennis Franz

Subject: From John Akroma


Dear Dennis,

I am sorry for the little delay in communicating the
photograph to you,I was out of town yesterday. However
I have taken the picture today and the Studio said it
will be ready tomorrow by 10.00am.

Definitely you will get it tomorrow as soon as I
collect it. I want to believe that the reason you want
my picture is for genuine intention, I will not want
my picture to be used as an instrument of blackmail.

Regards
Barr John Akroma




Date: Wed, 21 Jul 2004 07:33:14 -0400
From: Dennis Franz
To: John Akroma

Subject: RE: From John Akroma

My intentions are purely genuine, I assure you. I have a a family and many assets and simply want to protect them by ensuring you are who you say you are before entering into a business arrangement with you.

I look forward to getting down to business after receiving the photograph.

Thanks,
Dennis



Date: Thu, 22 Jul 2004 07:42:57 -0400
From: Dennis Franz
To: John Akroma

Subject: RE: From John Akroma


Hello John,

Is everything all right? I never received your photograph this morning.

Let me know,
Dennis



[That was pretty easy... 5 days for a scammer pic... Also of note: ANOTHER new e-mail address from John]


Date: Thu, 22 Jul 2004 20:55:30 +0800
Barrister John Akroma (another new address)
To: Dennis Franz
Subject: From Barr John Akroma (My Pictures)


Dear Dennis,

Please find attached my photographs, I hope it meets your need. I will also appreciate if you can send me yours too, as that will enable us establish more trust. As time is no longer on our side, I will appreciate if can forward your personal information to me as earlier requested i.e.

1, YOUR CURRENT CONTACT ADDRESS
2, YOUR NATIONALITY
3, YOUR OCUPATION
4, MARITAL STATUS
5, YOUR AGE
6, TELEPHONE NUMBER
7, YOUR FULL NAME

I intend to commence the legal paperwork immediately more over your personal data Must be contained in the affidavit I will depose before a court of Competent jurisdiction testifying that you are related to the deceased. I am therefore expecting hear from you urgently. You may wish to call me on phone 234-80xxxxxxxxxx. For further details. Meanwhile you should send future correspondence through this particular email address [email protected] for confidentiality.

Regards
Barr John Akroma




[Doesn't he look... distinguished?]

 


[Is that suit rented John?]



Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2004 00:52:14 +0800
From: Barrister John Akroma
To: Dennis Franz

Subject: From John Akroma


Dear Dennis,

Please you should send all future correspondence through my private email address [email protected] for confidentiality.

Barr John Akroma



Date: Thu, 22 Jul 2004 15:20:47 -0400
From: Dennis Franz
To: Barrister John Akroma

Subject: RE: From Barr John Akroma (My Pictures)


Hello John,

Thank you for the photos. They are completely acceptable, and I feel much better now. As for me, I have attached my passport to this e-mail. I am a US Citizen. I am married and I work for the State. I am 52 years old.

Dennis Franz
1441 Cartwright Ave,
Atlanta, GA,
33065

My phone/fax is: 1-xxx-xxx-xxxx

Hope to hear from you soon,
Dennis




Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2004 04:27:46 +0800
From: Barrister John Akroma
To: Dennis Franz

Subject: From Barr John Akroma


Dear Dennis,

Thanks for your response. I also feel more comfortable now and I really hope you will not disappoint me. I will be in the High Court tomorrow to depose an Affidavit on your behalf, after which I will apply to the Ministry of Justice for the Letter of Administration.

I will keep you abreast of developments by tomorrow. Once again, thank you for the informations and the passport.

Regards
John



(MORE - Page 2)