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

PAGE TWO

After completing all the forms, we decide to reward Davis by sending him a fake bank transfer. Sadly it appears Davis is unable to pick it up, even after a few days of trying!

From: Matins Davis
To: Ed Shanks
Date: 10 Feb 2005
Subject: i cannot get the money

Hello Shanks,

My representative Call me today morning, that they could not pick the money from Ecobank.

But can you send this money to Accra or Togo? let me know if this will be possible ?

Best Regard
Davis

For the next week or two Davis is sent backwards and forwards from bank transfer to bank transfer, and then his time is wasted yet more by multiple (and fake) Western Union payments!

We rejoin the story some weeks later when Davis is nearing the last straw! He's tried every trick in the book to try to persuade Ed Shanks to send the cash by bank transfer or Western Union Money Transfer, all to no avail! However, there is a possibility of Davis picking up the money IN CASH from the UK, so long as he can send a representative to go and collect it!

From: Ed Shanks (A. Skinner)
To: Matins Davis
Date: 3 March 2005

Dear Davis,

Do you have any associates in the United Kingdom who could receive the money? I would be glad to pay for their transportation, but would want to meet them in person and in Glasgow, Scotland?

Sincerely,

Ed Shanks

From: Matins Davis
To: Ed Shanks
Date: 5 Mar 2005
Subject: collecting the cash

Hello Shanks

Thank you very much but I don't understand you, You said you are transfering the money from USA to Glasgow, Scotland. Instead of GHANA ACCRA, and after that what happens ? How do I receive the money ? well I hope to Hear from you soon

Thank you

Davis

From: Ed Shanks (A. Skinner)
To: Matins Davis
Date: 7 March 2005

Dear Davis,

This has gone on so long that I have accidentally deleted our original mails. If I remember correctly, the amount was $18,000 USD.

I have a very good friend in Glasgow, Scotland by the name of Mr. Max N. Paddy. This gentleman and I have been business partners and friends for years. I spoke with him today and he would be willing to make the payment of $18,000 USD in my behalf. He will pay it in person and in cash if you will have a representative come to Glasgow, Scotland to meet him there.

London is only a short train journey from Glasgow. Mr. Max would usually only be available for a face to face meeting on a Friday or Saturday. However, he will be expecting your telephone call now. Call him immediately after reading this mail. I have sent him a copy of this email and he will be expecting your call.

Mr. Paddy N. Max can be reached at +44 8707 65X XXX or by email on max.XX@XXXX. Max is a director of a large communications company, and his website can be found here: www.the-dark-side.co.uk

Sincerely,

Ed Shanks

Mr. Davis tries to call Max N. Paddy (Shiver Metimbers) but he's not in, so he sends him an email.

From: Matins Davis
To: Max N. Paddy (Shiver Metimbers)
Date: 10 Mar 2005
Subject: introduction

Hello Paddy,

I am Davis Matins, Mr Ed Shanks said I should contact you for money , which he like you to help him to pay the person I am sending to you tomorrow March 10, 2005

I tried calling your line today as he said you will be expecting my call but, the phone line is either disconnected or not working, +44 8707 65X XXX 1 Do you have another phone number I can reach you ??? and what time will the person meet you for the money ??

Please reply back

Thank you

Davis

Time for Shiver Metimbers, playing millionaire businessman Max N. Paddy to join the fun.

From: Max N. Paddy (Shiver Metimbers)
To: Matins Davis
Date: 11 March 2005

Dear Mr. Davis,

Thank you for your email.

My apologies for not being available by phone but at the moment I am presently in Perth, Scotland for an important business meeting and have not been in my office all day.

I told my good friend Ed Shanks that Friday or Saturday would be the best day for a meeting, however I did not realise that you would want to collect the payment so soon, so I apologise for that. I will be able to meet with you on Saturday (12th March), but if that is a problem for you then perhaps we can meet next Friday or Saturday. Please let me know which suits you best.

Are you familiar with the Glasgow area? For security considerations I think it would be best to meet in an open public place. A perfect meeting spot would be near Paisley Gilmour Street station which is only a few minutes by Taxi from Glasgow airport.

Please let me know what day would suit you and I will provide you more detailed information about the meeting place. I will have the $18,000 in cash ready by tomorrow.

Please give me a call tomorrow evening when I shall be back from my trip and I will be happy to speak to you about further arrangements.

Sincerely,

Max N. Paddy.
Managing Director: Dark Side Communications Inc.
www.the-dark-side.co.uk

Davis calls again, but Max isn't in to receive the call (In fact I was out doing my Friday big shop!). I write back to apologise....

From: Max N. Paddy (Shiver Metimbers)
To: Matins Davis
Date: 12 March 2005

Dear Mr. Davis,

My apologies for not being available for your call yesterday evening (Friday), however my meetings in Perth went on for much longer than I had anticipated and I have only just arrived back in Glasgow at 2am this morning. If you are able to call later this afternoon (Saturday) I will be most pleased to speak with you.

My apologies again for the delay.

Sincerely,

Max N. Paddy.
Managing Director: Dark Side Communications Inc.
www.the-dark-side.co.uk

Davis sent another email (which I have lost!) explaining that he was arranging for a female representative names Basira to come down to Scotland to pick up the cash from me. He passed on her number to me, but I neglected to call!

Matins Davis eventually gets through to me on the telephone.

Date: 12th March 2005

Matins Davis calls Max N. Paddy for the first time - 1.4 Meg MP3

Note: My telephone number edited out for security reasons!

Another call from Davis a short while later, and an attempt to get me to meet in London.

Date: 12th March 2005

Matins Davis calls Max N. Paddy again - 400k MP3

One of Martin's associates, a "lady" by the name of Basira called me to ask about receiving the money. She had no interest in coming down to London, and to be honest she was a bit thick and arrogant! I put her in her place and told her that if she couldn't come to collect the money then she should go away and not bother me. Sadly the call was taken whilst my recorder was elsewhere, so I didn't get a recording of her call!

Shortly after her call, Davis rang me again:

Date: 12th March 2005

Matins Davis calls Max N. Paddy - 319k MP3

Another representative of Matins Davis calls to make arrangements to come to Scotland. His name is Richard Jones.

Date: 12th March 2005

Richard Jones calls Max N. Paddy for the first time - 379k MP3

Note: Call edited to protect some of my details.

Mr. Davis sends me an email to check if Richard has called.

From: Matins Davis
To: Max N. Paddy
Date: 12 Mar 2005
Subject: has he called you?

Hello Max

how are you ? well did you get a call from him ?

This is my number 0023327757XXXX, you can call me

Thank you

Davis

From: Max N. Paddy (Shiver Metimbers)
To: Matins Davis
Date: 12 March 2005

Dear Mr. Davis,

I did receive a call from a Mr. Richard Jones. He told me he would email me for directions to the meeting location however I still have not received his email.

Sincerely,

Max N. Paddy.
Managing Director: Dark Side Communications Inc.
www.the-dark-side.co.uk

From: Matins Davis
To: Max N. Paddy
Date: 12 Mar 2005
Subject: re: has he called you?

HELLO Max,

Thank you very much for your email , well i believed by close of the day he email you said, update me with Details

Thank you

Davis

Two days later and still no word from Richard Jones.

From: Max N. Paddy (Shiver Metimbers)
To: Matins Davis
Date: 12 March 2005

Dear Mr. Davis,

Am I to presume you no longer need the $18,000? Mr. Richard Jones has still not contacted me by email for directions to the meeting place after three days of waiting.

If I do not hear anything by 4pm this afternoon (Monday) I shall return the $18,000 to the bank and inform Mr. Shanks that I am no longer able to help him.

Sincerely,

Max N. Paddy.
Managing Director: Dark Side Communications Inc.
www.the-dark-side.co.uk

From: Matins Davis
To: Max N. Paddy
Date: 14 Mar 2005
Subject: re: has he called you?

Mr. Jones Said he will call you , he said once he get there he will give you a call for directions that is if he does not email you . by Tuesday he will on his way there, I will fine out from him which means of transportation is he coming with and I will email you.

Since you said on Tuesday he hass that in plan to there on that date , you don't need to return the money to bank as Tuesday is fixed

Thank you
Davis

From: Max N. Paddy (Shiver Metimbers)
To: Matins Davis
Date: 14 March 2005

Dear Mr. Davis,

It is important the Mr. Jones contacts me BEFORE he leaves for Glasgow. I have many appointments which I cannot cancel unless I know for certain the day and time he will be arriving. If Mr. Jones just arrives in Glasgow suddenly without giving me advance notice I will NOT be able to meet with him.

Sincerely,

Max N. Paddy.
Managing Director: Dark Side Communications Inc.
www.the-dark-side.co.uk

As if like magic, Mr. Richard Jones calls again.

Date: 14th March 2005

Richard Jones calls Max N. Paddy - 280k MP3

Note: Call edited to edit out Richard's email address.

I send directions to Richard.

From: Max N. Paddy (Shiver Metimbers)
To: Richard Jones
Date: 14 March 2005

Dear Mr. Jones,

Thank you for your call a short while ago. Here are the direction to the agreed meeting place, which is out in the open in public for a more secure place to meet:


1. You need to catch a train to GLASGOW train station. This train journey should take around 4 hours.

2. Once you arrive at Glasgow station you will then need to get to a small shopping centre in a place called Paisley. You can either catch a Taxi there (about 10 minutes) or there are regular trains that go directly to where the meeting place is.

3. The meeting place is PAISLEY GILMOUR STREET. You can catch a train directly to that place or all the taxi people know it very well.

4. Once you get to PAISLEY GILMOUR STREET (it is next to a train station). You need to find the part of the small shopping centre called the PIAZZA. The meeting place is an area nearby called COUNTY SQUARE. This is the meeting place. Any taxi driver will be able to take you directly to it as it is a very well known place.

When you are there you will notice an open air area shaped like a large circle with some seating. This is where you need to wait for me. Here is a photograph of the meeting area:

I have marked the meeting place with an "X" which as you can see is in the centre of the large circle.

The building on the left is a pub called the Last Post. You can also see the entrance to the Paisley Gilmour Street Train Station (The train from Glasgow comes directly to this station).

Let me know if you need any more information.

As soon as you have started your journey, please give me a call so that I can be sure to be ready to meet with you.

When you arrive at the meeting spot give me another call and I will be with you within 5 minutes.

Please note that it was agreed that for my security we would both be alone for the meeting. I will not meet with you if I see any other person with you. Please do not be offended by this, I just want to be sure I will be safe as I will be carrying a lot of cash.

I look forward to meeting with you.

Kind regards,

Max N. Paddy.
Managing Director: Dark Side Communications Inc.
www.the-dark-side.co.uk

Richard calls on the morning he is supposed to arrive in Scotland, however there is a problem....

Date: 15th March 2005

Richard Jones calls Max N. Paddy - 131k MP3

He calls back after I put the phone down on him....

Richard Jones calls Max N. Paddy - 190k MP3

A "furious" email is immediately sent to the boss, Matins Davis:

From: Max N. Paddy (Shiver Metimbers)
To: Matins Davis
Date: 15 March 2005

Dear Mr. Davis,

Just what the hell is going on?! I have had a call from that moron Mr. Jones to tell me that he is now NOT coming to meet with me because he is scared to pick up such a large amount of money. He tried to convince me to transfer the money rather than hand it over in person. THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN.

I HAVE CANCELLED FIVE APPOINTMENTS TODAY SO THAT I COULD MEET MR. JONES - YOU HAVE COST ME A FULL WASTED DAY AND LOST ME MONEY!!!

If this the way you usually do business Mr. Davis? Do you have any idea how BUSY and how IMPORTANT I am. I will NOT stand to have my time wasted by amateurs.

Let me make you understand this 100%:

I WILL **NOT** TRANSFER THE MONEY INTO ANY ACCOUNT. IT ** MUST ** BE PAID IN CASH AND IN PERSON.

I WILL **NOT** TRANSFER THE MONEY INTO ANY ACCOUNT. IT ** MUST ** BE PAID IN CASH AND IN PERSON.

I WILL **NOT** TRANSFER THE MONEY INTO ANY ACCOUNT. IT ** MUST ** BE PAID IN CASH AND IN PERSON.

I WILL **NOT** TRANSFER THE MONEY INTO ANY ACCOUNT. IT ** MUST ** BE PAID IN CASH AND IN PERSON.

I WILL **NOT** TRANSFER THE MONEY INTO ANY ACCOUNT. IT ** MUST ** BE PAID IN CASH AND IN PERSON.

I WILL **NOT** TRANSFER THE MONEY INTO ANY ACCOUNT. IT ** MUST ** BE PAID IN CASH AND IN PERSON.

I hope you get the message clearly. Now, please STOP wasting my time. If you are unable to get someone to come and collect the cash then please tell me NOW so that I am not wasting my valuable time.

Max N. Paddy.
Managing Director: Dark Side Communications Inc.
www.the-dark-side.co.uk

Davis calls for a progress report. I suspect he hasn't seen my email above yet!

Date: 15th March 2005

Matins Davis calls Max N. Paddy - 323k MP3

Davis calls again to let me know a replacement for Richard Jones has been chosen.

Date: 15th March 2005

Matins Davis calls Max N. Paddy - 191k MP3

Mr. Davis drops me an email to tell me a new courier by the name of Peter Jones will be contacting me any moment.

From: Matins Davis
To: Max N. Paddy (Shiver Metimbers)
Date: 15 Mar 2005
Subject: peter jones

Mr. MAX.

I have a new asscociate Mr Peter Davis who will be calling you today soon to pick up the money. meantime please send your passport copy so you can be recognised at th meeting

thankyou

Davis

From: Max N. Paddy (Shiver Metimbers)
To: Richard Jones
Date: 14 March 2005

Dear Mr. Jones,

My passport scan is attached to this email. Please forward me your contact's photograph so that I may also recognise him.

Sincerely,

Max N. Paddy.
Managing Director: Dark Side Communications Inc.
www.the-dark-side.co.uk

Fake stamped onto this to avoid misuse.

Peter Jones calls, and it takes me by surprise that he seems to be a well spoken Englishman. Still, a scammer's a scammer!

Date: 15th March 2005

Peter Jones calls Max N. Paddy - 572k MP3

This is great. Possibly a chance to bag a UK based AND 'English' scammer!

Peter Jones calls again to tell me he can make it to Scotland later this evening.

Date: 15th March 2005

Peter Jones calls Max N. Paddy - 347k MP3

Just some background info needed here:

I am of course located nowhere near Scotland, however, I have a scambaiting friend who goes by the name of Charlie Fake and he has agreed to secretly video Peter Jones when he arrives at the meeting location. The plan is to get Peter to travel the few hundred miles from London to Scotland, get him on camera, and at the same time make a call to him to tell him we know exactly what his scam is!

However, Charlie Fake is unable to film on the day that Peter Jones wants to arrive, so I have to make and excuse for him not to come:

Date: 15th March 2005

Max N. Paddy calls Peter Jones - 320k MP3

A short while later Peter gives me a call.

Date: 15th March 2005

Peter Jones calls Max N. Paddy - 338k MP3

An interesting development. A day or two later, Davis decides to cancel the Friday meet with Peter Jones:

From: Matins Davis
To: Max N. Paddy (Shiver Metimbers)
Date: 17 Mar 2005
Subject: re: peter jones

Hello Max,

How is your trip? And business as well, I believed all is Well. Please I would like you do something for me.

Peter Jones will be meeting you on Friday Right? If yes, I will like you to tell them to hold on that you are not ready now and that, when you are ready, you will let them know and on what date they should come to you. BUT REMEMBER THAT WILL NOT STOP THE APPOINTMENT ON SATURDAY. AS I WILL SEND SOMEBODY TO YOU ON THAT DATE TO PICK UP THE MONEY SATURDAY PLEASE

Please I am doing this for Security Reason Over here, so they MUST not know that I told you this, either by phone call or email
Just tell them that you are not ready yet.

Waiting to hear from you

Thank you
Davis

From: Max N. Paddy (Shiver Metimbers)
To: Matins Davis
Date: 17 March 2005

Dear Mr. Davis,

Why are you asking me to do this? This seems very suspicious to me. What is the reason behind this sudden change of plans? Have you informed Mr. Shanks about this?

I cannot telephone Mr. Peter Jones because I do not have his telephone number. As you have already spoken with him (you must have done to tell him to call me) then please tell him of the change of plans.

Why is Mr. Peter Jones not coming on Friday now, what is the problem. I do not like to be messed about in this way. Who is meeting me on Saturday- what is this person's name? Please ensure that whoever is meeting me on Saturday is able to meet with me between 11am and 4pm on Saturday, these are the only hours I will be available. Also they will need to contact me to tell me if they are coming by train or plane and also so tat I can give them directions for the meeting place.

Please do not delay me any further as this is a lot of money to be holding on to for so long.

Get back to me immediately that you read this email.

Sincerely,

Max N. Paddy.
Managing Director: Dark Side Communications Inc.
www.the-dark-side.co.uk

Just as I send the above email, Davis calls me....

Date: 17th March 2005

Matins Davis calls Max N. Paddy - 412k MP3

"Steven" calls me a short while later to discuss collecting the money.

Date: 17th March 2005

Steven calls Max N. Paddy - 493k MP3

Mr. Davis call to ask if Steven has been in touch.

Date: 17th March 2005

Matins Davis calls Max N. Paddy - 182k MP3

The directions are sent to Mr. Davis as he asked. They are the same directions I gave previously.

"Steven" calls me on the eve of the pickup. He sounds suspicious of me and asks a lot of questions.

Date: 18th March 2005

Steven calls Max N. Paddy - 1.28 Meg MP3

Concerned that Steven may pass on his suspicions to Davis, I decide to take preventative measures and give Davis a scare by pretending to be feeling very insulted and wanting to end the deal.

From: Max N. Paddy (Shiver Metimbers)
To: Matins Davis
Date: 18 March 2005

Dear Mr. Davis,

I must tell you that I am VERY unhappy with this Steven person who telephoned me a short while ago. He was asking MANY questions about me and my business and was questioning my honesty. This I will NOT stand for.

Please tell Steven that I no longer wish to meet with him. I will NOT be spoken to like and questioned like a child. I shall NOT be at the meeting place tomorrow and I shall NOT be handing over the $18,000. I am afraid you will have to find somebody else to help you because I no longer wish to be a part of this very suspicious deal.

I will inform my friend Ed Shanks that I cannot help him.

Sincerely,

Max N. Paddy.
Managing Director: Dark Side Communications Inc.
www.the-dark-side.co.uk

From: Matins Davis
To: Max N. Paddy (Shiver Metimbers)
Date: 19 Mar 2005
Subject: i am sorry for that ACT please

Hello Max,

I am very sorry to hear this , Steven has NO RIGHT to ask you any Question on what the money is for or what you do as well, I cannot believed he could ask this kind of Question from you or what kind of business you doing as he has NO right with that ?

For this ACT I have concealed him from meeting you tomorrow Saturday. BUT I have told Mr. Shanks that the whole thing is going to END tomorrow

On the issue of Suspicious deal well from what he has been saying to me that he does not want anybody to robbed him of the money as he returning back to UK, Since he don’t know me and I didn’t tell you to send the money through BANK but CASH , he also said that traveling with such amount money from UK is too RISK for him as well but with all this EXCUSE He has not right to ask you ANY QUESTION AS WELL .

Well I as said this meeting will end tomorrow , called Mr. Jones OFFICE here and they have agreed to conditions , which means Mr. will be coming to you tomorrow, I call your phone ringing no respond from you tell you what the arranged with they as the TIME given to Steven remains the same tomorrow Please REMEMBER I don’t know them , I only sign contract with their office here while they go for the money there.

Well as I said Mr. Peter Jones will call you to tell you that will be on his way Scotland tomorrow please

Once again I am very Sorry for that STUPID ACT by Steven.

Thank you

Davis

Mr. Davis calls to apologise about Steven's actions.

Date: 19th March 2005

Matins Davis calls Max N. Paddy - 508k MP3

Peter Jones calls to arrange a second trip to Scotland.

Date: 19th March 2005

Peter Jones calls Max N. Paddy - 1.33 Meg MP3

As you can see, it appears Peter Jones DID come to Scotland and wasn't told by Mr. Davis I wouldn't be there... Shame!

Anyway, now we know that the meeting is definitely on for Friday, and a quick call to fellow scambaiter Charlie Fake confirms that he'll will be ready with his anti-scammer disguise kit and camera!