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TITLE: The Artful Dodger
SCAMMER NAME: Ben Kuruneri/Ben Okezie
SCAMMER LOCATION: South Africa
SCAMBAITER: Shiver Metimbers
Another "art" scam once more. It runs on similar lines
to the ones already published and initially I was not going to bother
publishing it, however I thought I would publish because of the
revealing interaction between my fake scammer (Ali Gee) and the
real scammer in the last part of the story.
First comes the now familiar scam introduction letter from a Ben Kuruneri:
From: Ben Kuruneri
To: Derek Trotter
Date: February 21, 2006
Subject: KEEP IT SECRET (BUSINESS)
25 WALMER STREET
AREA CODE 6001
PORT ELIZABETH
SOUTH AFRICA
TEL:+27-73364XXXX
FAX:+27 7616 5XXXX
EMIL:[email protected]
BUSINESS ASSISTANCE
ATTN: SIR/M
I am certain you will be surprised to recive this mail from
me, indeed, I sincerely apologize for the embarrassment this might
cause you. However, I wish to state, that it is sincerely necessitated
by my present plight and I pray you will readily be of tremendous
assistance.I am Mr. BEN CHRISTOPHER kuruneri, from Zimbabwe and
the son of Mr Christopher kuruneri who until recently was the Honorable
Minister Of Finance in the present Robert Mugabe Government in Zimbabwe.
Precisely, on The 24th of April 2004, the security goons of
President Robert Mugabe in what was an excessive and unprecedented
use of force arrested my father while still a Government Minister
at our family house in Harare. He was arrested on the allegation
that his building of
a Thirty Million Rand (i.e. US$ 8 Million) beach front mansion in
Llandudno , Cape Town, South Africa was in contravention of Zimbabwe’s
regulation on Foreign exchange control.Though, my father has repeatedly
made it clear that he did not in anyway contravene this regulation,
maintaining, that he was funding the housing project from funds
he made through his business ventures and consultance work outside
Zimbabwe prior to his becoming a minister, and that the funds were
never held nor transferred from Zimbabwean banks, charges, are yet
to be laid against him in a court of law. For the past weeks since
his arrest, my father has been held in solitary confinement and
under severe inhuman conditions in the gulag of Mugabe despite several
efforts and calls for him to be charged before a competent court
or be released.
However, my family is undoubtedly aware of the underlying political
intrigue and vendetta that is involved in this case than meets the
eyes. It simply has to do with my fathers uncompromising stance
against the oppressive polices and unwholesome activities of President
Robert Mugabe, besides, my father’s recent rising popularity
within the ruling ZANU-PF party, and around the country and his
touting as a possible successor to President Robert Mugabe. My family
was aware, that Mugabe was very uncomfortable with this situation
and knew, that it was matter of time before he moved against him,
but, unfortunately, lest did we anticipated it in this most bizarre
and barbaric manner.Being aware of Robert Mugabe’s anticidents,
to say,that my father and the entire family entertain great concern
and apprehension about his life and that of the other members of
our family, is to state the obvious.It is obvious from his actions,
President Robert Mugabe is out destroy the family both political,fiancial
and otherwise.
Presently, I have moved with the rest of my family into South
Africa, where we have managed to gain asylum. However, the tactic
support for President Mugabe from the present South African Government,
coupled with the proximity of both countries makes our continued
stay and hope for a future in South Africa most risky and uncomfortable.In
the meantime, I have been mandated by my father, to explore avenues
and make every necessary arrangements immediately to move our only
left fund, since others has been seized, out of this country and
also make arrangements to resettle the rest of my family in any
of such country. At present, i am desperately seeking your assistance
in helping me transfer the sum of Fitteen million five hundred thousand
united dollars (US$ 15.5m) being the total sum deposited with a
security and finance company here in Port Elizabeth South Africa
to your country for viable investment.
Unfortunately, under the recent South African Financial intelligence
center Act (FICA) and the
Exchange Control Regulations as a refugee i am highly constrained
from personally transferring this money out of South Africa.However,
this could easily be effected with the representation/assistance
by a nationals of a different country apart from nationals of the
Southern
African Development Countries, SADC, hence my writing.
For your assistance towards the successfully completion of this
transaction, you will be entitled
to 15% of the total sum involved, a further 5% of the total money
will be set aside to cater for the
expenses that might be encounteredin the course of the transaction,
while the remaining 80%will be for my families investment purposes.Please
then, could you be of any assistance in lieu of
this transaction, i kindly request that you contact me as soon as
possible through the email address or telephone number below for
further discussion.
However, against the backdrop of my safety and that of my entire
family, I hope you appreciate more than ever the essence for the
confidentiality of this transaction. I have attached at the end
of this mail, some media reports concerning this present predicament
of my family to aid you with further insight.
http://www.suntimes.co.za/2004/03/21/news/news01.asp
http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/kuru3.1599.html
http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/kuru.1566.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/04/26/wzim26.xml
http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/Zimbabwe/0,,2-11-259_1518150,00.html
Do accept my highest considerations. I look forward to hearing
from you.
Regards,
BEN CHRISTOPHER kuruneri
As reliable as ever, Derek Trotter steps up to the plate:
From: Derek Trotter
To: Ben Kururneri
Date: February 24, 2006
Dear Mr. Kuruneri,
Thank you very much for your very interesting email, however I am afraid that I will be unable to help you at this time. These next three months are by far the busiest and most profitable period for my company and I cannot give any time to anything other than finding new artwork for our galleries especially wooden carvings.
You may already know of me since it was you that contacted me. My name is Derek Trotter and I am the director of Trotters Fine Arts & Artist Scholarships. We are dealers in fine art and ethnic art from all over the world. We run eight art galleries and two scholarship centres here in the UK. We also offer scholarship donations to aid up and coming new artists who may otherwise not have the financial means to be able to produce or improve upon their work. Our scholarship payments range from between $25,000 and $150,000 depending on the potential of the artist.
I am sorry but I am unable to enter into your business proposition at this time, however if you have any contacts in your part of the world who may be artists that you think may benefit from our financial help then I would be very interested to be put in touch with them. We are especially very keen on promoting new artists with experience in wood carving and will be happy to offer a very generous $25,000 to $150,000 scholarship package to young or old artists with good potential who may benefit from our help.
You may see some of our latest recipients and awards on our website (just click on the "visit this page" link on our homepage).
If you know of an artist who could benefit from our financial help and who would be prepared to produce work for us to sell or promote then please do let me know.
Again I am sorry that I am unable to help with your proposition at this time but I wish you luck in finding somebody to help you.
Sincerely,
Derek Trotter
Director
Derek Trotter Fine Arts
From: Ben Kururneri
To: Derek Trotter
Date: February 25, 2006
Subject: Re: KEEP IT SECRET (BUSINESS)
THANK YOU SO MCUH FOR YOUR RESPONSE AND SINCERITY , SO IF I
GET ARTIST DO I HAVE ANY COMPENSATION IF YES I WILL FIND SOMEONE
WHO WILL BE A CONTACT OR REPRESENTATIVE FOR YOU PEOPLE HERE IN AFRICA
SO WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST?
KURUNERI
From: Derek Trotter
To: Ben Kururneri
Date: February 27, 2006
Dear Mr. Kuruneri,
Thank you for your prompt reply.
Yes, of course we are happy to pay the usual agent's fee of US $4,270 when we receive a sample of your artists work and that can be paid to you in whichever manner best suits you.
If you are able to find an artist who would benefit from our help then please do let me know and I will forward details to you on how the artist can apply.
Sincerely,
Derek Trotter
Director
Derek Trotter Fine Arts
From: Ben Kururneri
To: Derek Trotter
Date: February 28, 2006
Subject: Re: KEEP IT SECRET (BUSINESS)
Hi Mr. Trotter thank you so mcuh for your mails and business
interest .
But i would like to inform you that i am so busy to do such transaction
with you , nothminding there are alot of artists here both scupturers
and painters. But it will take me a whole lot of time to go for
such business because i have projects at hand and i need to leave
this place for some reasons.
But i have a very good friend with one of my names as his name,
he knows much about the community and he can have time for the business.
He can organise some artists to be under your umbrella so that they
can supply you works for sales.
I will give you his contact so that you can write him or when i
speak with him i will advice him to contact you. His name is Mr.
David Ben Okezie he is a church man too.
So write to me through this address and i will let you know what
he says or he will write you direct. You will have alot of works
from here , i do see some of the artists in display.Reply to this
particular mail box.
I will help you as much as i can at the moment okay.
Thanks,
Kuruneri
A few days later, the "artist" a Mr. Ben Okezie gets
in touch:
From: Ben Okezie
To: Derek Trotter
Date: March 2, 2006
Subject: The artworks transaction, Mr. Trotter
From ; Mr. B.D. Okezie
Mr. Derek Trotter i am a friend of Ben Kururneri , he told me about
your business offer to him and he gave me all the information you
gave him, so i am here to declare that i am interested to do the
business with you.
I have some couple of artist arround upcoming ones who will be interested
to work for you.
I have gone through the last information you gave him , so i will
speak to an artist this week about the conditions to see if any
one them can afford it.
I am ready to sponsor the transaction because most of these artist
are not bouyant enough to foot such expenses. I want a situation
whereby i will work with you here as a representative so that all
the artists will fall under one umbrella.
Concerning the shipping expenses of any artwork i can do that as
soon as you supply sample , but i want every transaction with any
artist to be co-ordinated by me.
Should we discuss terms now or should everything be until any artist
i will bring to you proof him/herself as competent for the jobs.
Send a sample let me consult them immediately.
Kindly advice Mr. Kuruneri that i have spoken with you and i will
wait for your urgent response, i am the one to do the transaction
with you not Mr Kuruneri.Forward every important information to
me direct from now henceforth.Should i send photos of available
artworks here , even the works itself for your evaluation?
I will be glad to hear from you , have a good day.
Yours sincerly
David Ben Okezie
Something to note at this point which will become important
later on; Ben Okezie and Ben Kururneri are in fact one and the same
person. The emails are coming from exactly the same computer, and
as will be revealed later on, Ben will even admit to it. I suspect
the name change is so that I do not associate Ben Okezie with the
scam email from Ben Kururneri if at some point if as the "victim"
I should realise the initial email was a scam.
To sae some space I won't go through the full "instruction"
procedure here yet again, but I present Ben with instructions for
two carvings. Ben mentioned he had two artists available for work,
so why not get two carvings for the price of one scammer!
From: Derek Trotter
To: Ben Okezie
Date: March 3, 2006
Dear Mr. Okezie,
Please find attached to this email the sample items which we would
like your artists to submit to us.
Kind regards,
Derek Trotter
Director
Derek Trotter Fine Arts
I attach many sample images of the two items, taken from various
angles. A couple of smaller versions are presented below:
From: Ben Okezie
To: Derek Trotter
Date: March 3, 2006
Subject: very important mr. trotter
Attn:Mr. Derek,
It is now important that you give me your direct phone number and
office address for sending the works after producing.I went through
the website i could not get any phone number to call you anytime
, i can give you my direct phone number if you want .
It may take us four weeks or above to complete and send the works
because of numerous works at hand, but if you don't mind we can
send you some available works for evaluation and at the same time
we are going to do your samples.
Thanks,
Ben
From: Derek Trotter
To: Ben Okezie
Date: March 4, 2006
Dear Mr. Okezie,
Thank you for your reply.
I thought I had already given you my private telephone number however
I shall repeat it again: (UK) 0044 8707 65X XXX
Kind regards,
Derek Trotter
Director
Derek Trotter Fine Arts
From: Ben Okezie
To: Derek Trotter
Date: March 5, 2006
Subject: Re: very important mr. trotter
Expect my call soon.
Regards,
David
A whole month goes by with no contact from Ben. I thought he
had given up on me, but I was wrong:
From: Ben Okezie
To: Derek Trotter
Date: April 6, 2006
Subject: Re: very important mr. trotter
Hi Derek,
The jobs are ready and i am comteplating sending the dog work
first and i will send the pix of the other one for you.
You will valuate the dog work and make payment as you said.
Give me your postal address according to how it will be send
via fedex or d.h.l
I will give you call within the week
REgards,
David .B.Okezie
From: Derek Trotter
To: Ben Okezie
Date: April 7, 2006
Dear John,
As you have requested, the address of our head office is below.
Please mark the package for the attention of my secretary Miss.
Paula Jervis. I am usually out of the office most of the say so
Miss Jervis will advise me the moment your package arrives to that
I can see to your case immediately. Note that we have several different
departments in our building so it is very important that you address
the shipment exactly as below:
Miss Paula Jervis
D.T.F.A.
16 XXX XXXX XXXX
XXXXX
XXXX
XX XXX
England
United Kingdom
Please advise me of the tracking number and carrier so that I will
know when to expect the delivery of the package. Payments usually
require 24 hours notice to process, however if I am aware of the
probably date of arrival I can ensure that your particular payment
is processed as soon as possible.
VERY IMPORTANT: Mark the item value as US $20 and also as
a gift because if it remains unlisted the import tax ay be very
substantial in which case we will be unable to collect the package.
Please do take great care in packaging the item because unfortunately
in the past we have had items delivered to us that have been damaged
due to poor packaging. We are unable to accept damaged goods.
If possible please forward us a photograph of the sample before
you ship it. This is not important, but if you send us a picture
before you ship it then it will help my board members prepare more
efficiently for your donation/scholarship payment.
Sincerely,
Derek Trotter
Director
Derek Trotter Fine Arts
Some days later, Ben forward me some shipping info.
From: Ben Okezie
To: Derek Trotter
Date: April 12, 2006
Subject: Re: very important mr. trotter
Attn:Mr. Derek
I have send the dog sample, it was sent today, it was also unfortunate
that i have packaged it before you asked me to send a pix of it.
It will arrive between 2-3 may and i will send the other sample
by tuesday next week and it will arrive between 5-6 of may.
This is the tracking number:P.E 522 74X XXX XX
I will send the second sample on tuesday, have a happy easter
holidays.
Thanks,
B.D. Okezie
A quick check reveals that the shipping for this single item
came to approximately US $160. Great!
From: Derek Trotter
To: Ben Okezie
Date: April 20, 2006
Dear Mr. Okezie,
I acknowledge receipt of your email, thank you.
Sorry I have been unavailable for the last few days however I am
currently sending this email to you from Scotland where I am at
an art exhibition. I shall be returning tomorrow (Tuesday) so you
should be able to contact me at that time.
Kind regards,
Derek Trotter
Director
Derek Trotter Fine Arts
Ben's first carving finally arrives.
From: Derek Trotter
To: Ben Okezie
Date: April 26, 2006
Dear Mr. Okezie,
Just to confirm to you that we have received your first carving
at the office, thank you.
I shall be in touch as soon as the second carving is received.
Kind regards,
Derek Trotter
Director
Derek Trotter Fine Arts
Ben's first carving weighs in at an impressive 11 kilos:
Ben lets me know the second carving is on the way.
From: Ben Okezie
To: Derek Trotter
Date: April 28, 2006
Subject: Re: very important mr. trotter
Mr. Derek i will send the work today and as soon as i do so
i will let you know, i will send two accounts where the samples
money should be transfered to .
You told me within twenty four hours of receiving the samples you
will make payment. So i will call you and send the account as soon
as i send the second sample.
I hope the second sample will arrive after five to ten days of the
arrival of the first sample. So you need to understand that, i sent
the first one with the nmae of Paula care of your name . I will
do the same thing with the second sample and i will sent the receipt
to you.
Thanks,
Okezie
From: Derek Trotter
To: Ben Okezie
Date: April 29, 2006
Dear Mr. Okezie,
Thank you for your email.
We are now awaiting the second item. As explained you previously,
we cannot work out the payment until all samples are received. I
will of course let you know immediately that the second sample arrives.
I assume that it will be quite soon?
Kind regards,
Derek Trotter
Director
Derek Trotter Fine Arts
From: Ben Okezie
To: Derek Trotter
Date: May 2, 2006
Subject: my accounts details mr trotter
These are my account details for the payment, you have to transfer
the money into these accounts , divide the total amount into two
and transfer to these two accounts
1. BANK NAME: FIRST NATIONAL BANK(FNB)
ACCOUNT OWNER: MR. BEN DAVID OKEZIE.
ACCOUNT NUMBER:6206387XXXX
BRANCH NAME: CARLTON CENTRE
BRANCH NUMBER:250XXX
SWIFT CODE:FIRNZAJXXXX
COUNTRY : SOUTH AFRICA
2.Bank NAME: ABSA
ACCOUNT OWNER: BEN DAVID OKEZIE
ACCOUNT NUMBER:915405XXXX
BRANCH CODE :632XXX
SWIFT CODE : JJ ZA
COUNTRY : SOUTH AFRICA
Thank you Mr. Derek for your response, hope to hear from you
soon.i hope the presence of the two will determine the contract
for me.
As i said the payment should be made to the two accounts, have a
day .
I also looking forward to come for exibition with you in a near
future.
Thanks,
Mr. Okezie
I do not bother to reply to Ben, deciding to wait until after
the second carving arrives.
Nearly two weeks later, the carving does indeed arrive, and
it's even larger and heavier than the previous one, standing at
over 21 inches high and weighing a very heavy 16 kilos.
According to the shipping receipt, this carving cost approximately
US $240 to ship:
Nicely done Ben, and your reward will be.... me totally ignoring
your messages for a while!
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