scammers inc

Chapter 4

Scammers inc.

THE E-MAILS

I felt elated. I had discovered the whereabouts of Cindy. The thought did run through my mind that perhaps the hotel Pudu front staff were part of the scam. But then I rationalized that the more people involved in a scam, the greater chance of it falling apart. Already involved was Kirk the banker, Benjamin Arnold the Lawyer, front desk staff of the Pudu hotel, and hotel management, and, of course, Cindy.

My inbox became a bastion for e-mails, for they flooded in from Kuala Lumpur, Maryland, USA, and opening Pandora’s box of foolishness. Almost all dealt with my need to open an account at NatWest bank. Each felt the need to remind me to seed the account with three thousand US dollars.

I was dealing with three people whose command of the English was more damaging than abysmal. As I have stated before, I have converted some e-mails from these three characters so the reader may understand better. However, I have left the following e-mails in their original format for posterity.

Senior Benjamin Arnold, the lawyer, writing as follows: (verbatim)

I advice you to proceed with the payment to open the account with no delay, Kirk will provide account to send the money to.

Thanks for your understanding.

Kirk the banker’s attempt (Verbatim)

I will need your information to set up a new account for you in our bank, i ]will need your International passport or driver’s license. able to transfer or do any activities on the account. You will need to send a sum of $3,000 to setup] the account, and once the account is been setup you can take back the $3000, we only need $3,000 to setup the account.

Each grammar and composition of the e-mails were similar. I was becoming more convinced this was one, perhaps a two-person scam. My suspicion of the second person came in the mail from Kirk. In it, he again reiterated the need for me to open a checking account. However, this time, he stated that I could not open an account independently as a Canadian.

“Once I have the money,” Kirk said. “ I can quickly create an account for you. It’s not the done thing, of course, and I could end up in a lot of trouble. But I’m prepared to do my part to help out an old friend, Cindy”.

Then, as if his sleepy mind awoke, Kirk quietly said, “we have an agent in Canada, in Toronto. He will receive your money. Once he has deposited your three thousand dollars, he will send me a confirmation receipt by e-mail. It is that confirmation receipt I need before I move ahead and create an account and seed it with your money.”

“So Cindy’s money will be then be transferred into my account?”

“Exactly, and within twenty-four hours,” answered Kirk.

“And to make sure I have it squared away in my head! as soon as Cindy’s money arrives, I will get my three thousand US dollars back?”

“That is what I said in my e-mail, was it not?”

He sounded annoyed, which made me a might happy. At this stage of the so-called game, I needed a bargaining chip to keep playing. The trouble was I didn’t have one, or so I thought. Before I went offline, I decided to message Kirk. I had two questions in mind. However, I did not expect an answer from him. Kirk was always short and to the point. Surprisingly and with aplomb, he answered both questions. His fast return made me feel as though I was prey, and he the hunter, an enthused hunter.

“Where do I send my money,” I asked. “It’s important.” I continued, hoping to draw out a reasonable answer.

“Oh yes,” answered Kirk apologetically. “wouldn’t be of any use not having that information, would it?”

Kirk told me to send my money by E-transfer to his Canadian contact Almas Siddiquet. But then he gave not only the bank name but also Siddiquet’s bank account number and his institution and transit numbers. It was a gift, or perhaps a mistake. Whatever the case, As soon as we stopped chatting, I telephoned Toronto Dominion bank in Toronto, Canada.

TD FRAUD DEPT

The bank clerk was both delightful and empathic. I told her I was embroiled in a possible international scam. I then explained that I had received instructions to send money to Alams Siddiquet at The Toronto Dominion Bank.

The bank employee apologized, saying that she could not help me, quoting Canada’s privacy law.

“His name is Alams Siddiquet, and he has an account at your bank, the TD bank, in Toronto. All I need is for you to confirm that. Once again, she apologized but could not help. I was in a difficult situation. I needed to know if this person existed. But the damn Canadian Law stood between me and the truth. I thought of every way, any way to circumnavigate the difficult way around my dilemma. Then like a released tense spring, my brain kicked into action. “If I was to write a cheque for Almas Siddiquet and include his transit number, Bank identification, and account number? “would the cheque be deposited.”

The clerk’s following three words had me jumping for joy. “Yes, it would”!. She then followed up with, “You would only need his bank ID to deposit your cheque

I was elated. I now had Cindy in Kulala Lumpur staying in a remarkable cheap hotel, and I had her Canadian contact in Toronto. I now had two people that were positively identified.

The bigger picture was beginning to take shape. However, I was tired, so I stopped for a couple of nights. My short rest left me with a brighter mind and a quest for keeping on. During that time, I ran the story through my head, trying to make sense of a small but not insignificant amount of money and the complex scam that seemed to be building, getting bigger by the day.

It occurred to me other people might be caught in this scam. To run such a complex scam for a mere three thousand dollars boggled the mind. I naturally assumed more people were facing the same music as I, and I wondered how many fell into the abysmal abyss of heartbreak and deceit.

I began to look more closely at Kirk’s role. In one of his e-mails, he had requested proof of ownership. It took a while to decipher his message. What he asked for was proof of who I was. He wanted me to scan my international passport and driver’s license and send the copies to him. I told him that as far as I knew, all passports were for international travel. Therefore the word ‘international’ was a moot point. I was beginning to correct their atrocious English grammar.

I was not about to send a copy of my driving license either. I thought Kirk would be comparing pictures to prove who I was. But I wanted to remain incognito, a figment of someone who the scammers wanted to lessen the weight of my pocketbook. Subsequently, I sent neither.

While searching through my files, I discovered one of Cindy’s early e-mail messages. Scammers do one thing very well. They supposedly fall deeply in love with their mark. They will pretend to be genuinely in love with their asset.

Usually, the elderly and widowed will fall head over heels in love with the scammer only because someone has an interest in them. When solidified, the scammer begins to ask for cash. This is what was supposed to happen to me. However, Cindy thought she had her hooks in me. I did not let her believe otherwise. As I realized from the start, this was a scam.

The following is one of her very personal e-mails. It arrived in my inbox before her thoughts turned to Kuala Lumpur and five million dollars. The e-mail is Verbatim.

Jan 25, 2018, 8:19 AM

Hello My love,

How are you doing today, i hope you are good? Minutes slowly go by as the precious thoughts of us being together once again remain in my mind. The comforting images of you takes hold of my soul and through my eyes I visualize the time I had with you chatting and sending nudes pics, taking a part of me with you.I realize I need you so much because I love you. There’s no other person I’d rather be with, no other person I’d rather be loved by, no other person I’d rather love or miss than you! Cindy williams....Baby I miss you!!! i love you with all my heart, but i didn’t know true love hurts so hard, i love and i miss you, every single second i wanna be with you, i know ill always love you, for there is only one love to me, baby that you, so ill say, im always gonna be with you everyday. I spoke with the lawyer, so he gave me his details, so you can contact him tomorrow and once you should, you should let me know. Thats his details.

Thanks alot for always been there for me. I love you now and forever.

Regards, Cindy Will.

Lawyer Name: BENJAMIN ARNOLD Senior Benjamin .A Solicitors Associate, International & Foreign legal Practitioner Associate & Solicitors.

Address : - 759,Block 216 4th Miles,Jalan Penrissen,Kuching Sarawak Malaysia. Telephone : +601116353611., Email : [email protected].

When Cindy arrived in Kula Lumpur, she went straight to her lawyer’s office; at least, that was her story. I was surprised for Cindy would have arrived at six in the evening from Bucharest. Given two hours to depart arrivals with its passport control, baggage claim, customs, then a limo from the airport to her lawyers would have put her meeting with Senior Bejnamenn Arnold, at some time, about eight in the evening. I wouldn’t think any lawyer would still have their shingle hanging and open for business at that time of night.

The following day would have been a Sunday. Likewise, I would find it surprising if a lawyer would have his offices open on that day. But none the less, I received the following e-mail in regards to a meeting held between Cindy and her Lawyer, purportedly arranged on the day she arrived in Kuala Lumpur. It is verbatim

I spoke with the lawyer, so he gave me his details so you can contact him tomorrow, and once you should, you should let me know. Lawyer Name: BENJAMIN ARNOLD Senior Benjamin .A. Telephone : +601116353611., E-mail: [email protected]. That’s his details. Thanks alot for always been there for me.

The following e-mail was even stranger. A lawyer whom I didn’t know draughted papers granting me the authority to control Cindy’s money. I scarcely knew the woman, and to provide me with control over her five-million dollars was still striking me as inexplicable.

It was so bizarre, I thought of nothing but pulling out of the situation, leaving well alone the improbable task of looking after a small fortune. But I had to remind myself why I was there. I was in it for the long haul to learn the ins and outs of scammers and their manipulative skills and, Of course, to have sufficient material to write this manuscript. It was then that I remembered my borrowed motto: never, never, never, never give in.

Cindy was forever asking for three thousand dollars. I was constantly finding excuses to avoid paying. She wanted me to send the money to their point man in Toronto, Canada. Had Cindy known the truth, she would have left me to find another mark, for I didn’t have the money. Furthermore, I couldn’t raise that sort of cash even if I wanted to ‘get in on the sweetheart deal.’

I asked Cindy’s lawyer if it would be proper for the law firm to support their client with a 24-hour loan to open an account in the United States. Here’s the reply:

From: BENJAMIN ARNOLD (Verbatim)

I’m not the right person to open account or talk about your personal account. you have to contact your personal banker (KIRK) the account details should be private. meanwhile the 5 million cannot get into the account not until you open a account. BENJAMIN ARNOLD Senior Benjamin.A Solicitors Associate

Looking closely;y at Benjamin’s e-mail, I saw an error in his identification. It now reads ‘Senior Benjamin. A Solicitors Associate.’

The word associate stood out like a sore thumb. An internet search for the existence of Benjamin’s legal practice found nothing. I also checked the Malaysian legal directorate, a listing of all practicing lawyers in Malaysia. Senior Benjamin Arnold did not exist. I even checked Benjamin Senior Arnold, a solicitor’s assistant. Again nothing.

Far from being discouraged, discovering Cindy’d lawyer was bogus gave me encouragement to strike on.

I decided to confirm my suspicion by telephoning Benjamin Arnold’s office. I received a message that the number phoned was not in service.

“Please check the number and dial again,” said the telephonist. I did, and several times. I checked Cindy’s e-mail for Benjamin Arnold’s phone number. The same answer popped up Each time I dialed the number. I could now with almost certainty, Senior Benjamin Arnold or anything associated with a law firm in his name ever existed.

I felt it incumbent on me to contact Rio Tinto Mines security explaining what was happening under their name. I did not receive a reply. Being involved in several scams, I have found multinational corporations are not interested in getting involved. I have not found an answer to their strange behavior. However, I speculate that as they are not losing money and assisting in bringing scammers down would hurt their bottom line and reputation, they prefer to stay on the periphery.

I was busy e-mailing Cindy, Kirk, and Senior Benjamin Arnold with nothing more than twaddle. I had little to say and a lot of time to say it. I was stumped. I had all the information needed to begin my manuscript, or so I thought. Why didn’t NatWest bank lend Cindy the money to open an account? Supporting an overdraft, and being backed by five million dollars, seemed a very small price to pay for attracting Cindy as a client.

I suggested my plan to Kirk, only to be scolded. Telling me, I must be the source of the seed money, raising my irritability, especially as it was early in the morning and I was tired.

Once again, I wearied of the silliness. Kirk’s phone led me to a telephone exchange. Senior Benjamin didn’t exist. But I felt the need to bow out of this debacle by creating an issue with which the players could not argue. I contacted NatWest bank. They were a private bank, as Cindy had told me. And usually, it required seed money to open an account. But I explained the situation to the manager, advising him there would be five million dollars being transferred into that account within twenty-four hours.

The manager explained that as a private bank, they were not bound by the same rules and regulations chartered banks were. He took my request to the board of governors. At the same time, he returned my e-mail with what appeared to be reams of forms to fill out. Dutifully I filled out the forms keeping any false witness in check.

The following afternoon I received an e-mail informing me that my application for an account had been accepted. The manager explained that in my instance, the seed money (three thousand dollars), customarily paid into private accounts, was waved by the board of governors to accept Cindy’s significant compensation

I was somewhat hesitant to tell the charlatans what I had done. I have always worked from a position of one-up-manship, knowing what the other side was thinking and how I would defeat it. I knew this is not the result the swindlers wanted. As I wrote my e-mail explaining what I had done, a sense of foreboding fell over me. I knew this would be the end of the line. I would be waving goodbye to Cindy, Kirk, and Senior Benjamin Arnold. After six months of chatting with Cindy, it was time to leave.

I sent the following to Cindy’s Lawyer with a carbon copy to Kirk and Cindy:

Sir, I am happy to report I have now opened an account with the National west bank. The Governors have accepted my documentation. Below is my account number:

1576125575. My password to my account is ‘piper135’.

This should expedite the transfer of Ms. Williams commission of five million dollars US from Rio Tinto Mines. Thank you for your patience and understanding through this ordeal (Verbatim)

Cindy’s lawyer wrote back, defiantly stating that I was to send my money to the bank’s Canadian Agent. He informed me I could not open an American bank account because I was Canadian. Therefore I was to use the Canadian Agent to funnel the money across the border. No matter my argument of having an existing account in the Very Bank specified in the agreement.

The scam had run its course. I could no longer fight this absurdity. It was time I finished it. Six months of love and stupidy had slowly trotted to a conclusion. I had the choice of either attacking Kirk or the Lawyer. I decided on the lawyer. I concluded that my accusations would be sufficient to have him disbarred if he were genuine, hopefully for life.

I inscribe ‘never never never give in’ at the end of every e-mail I send. It is part of a wartime speech by Winston Churchill. “Never give in. Never, never, never, never–in nothing great or small, large or petty–never give in, except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the overwhelming might of the enemy.” (May 29, 1941). Cindy should have taken notice that I would never pay attention to her demands.

I then wrote to Benjamin Arnold, describing him as a fake, a liar, a nonentity. I also informed him his law practice was a shame, as was he. I didn’t mince words; I thought he, or whoever it was playing the part of being a lawyer, needed a little coating of reality.

The reply from Senior Benjamin Arnold was bizarre and is as follows (Verbatim):

from: BENJAMIN ARNOLD Sent: February 12, 2018 12:33/ To: Peter Bowden/ Subject: Re: Cindy Williams

First of all, I’m very mad at you, for calling my legitimate Job an internet scam, My Firm as been existing for years. If you really want to help and support your fiance, you should do that as a Man. We are legit with our business right here, i deal with a lot of clients and comes out in flying colors. I hope you understand my explanation, and i think i deserve an apology from you.

I told Cindy of my findings. Her enterprise was a scam. “Your lawyer, Senior Benjamin Arnold, legal assistant, maybe. But he certainly is no lawyer. I could find no trace of the law firm he purportedly owns or, at the very least, works as legal counsel.

Cindy, I scoured the internet looking for Benjamin’s law firm. I searched every app, each search engine, but I found nothing. I even checked out the Malaysia listing for all lawyers working or retired. I turned up nothing.

Kirk is another one of your characters you or the person’s driving this scam, made up. The bank exists, and I do have an account with it, and if by some very remote chance I have missed the mark, you can go ahead and transfer your money. Your lawyer has all the details.

As far as Kirk? He is a fallacy, a tragedy, part of your story that fell apart within days. NatWest bank has never heard of him. The phone number given went to a bell telephone exchange building.

As far as your contact in Toronto? He is genuine. I have the bank’s fraud department looking into him and any transactions that may appear strange.

And Cindy, I can’t believe you fell for that google satellite stunt at the Pudu hotel. You know, the more I think about it, the more I realize you are the dumbest con artist I have ever met.

Cindy, you are a criminal, a thief, and an embezzler. I am sorry I ever met you.”

After deleting Cindy from every part of my computer memory, I pushed the power switch and watched the screen fade to black. I leaned back on my chair and reflected on the previous six months. It had been an interesting experience. A woman in Romania pleading poverty “can you lend me six hundred Euros;” a flight to Kuala Lumpur and staying in the hotel Pudu, Cindy’s bogus lawyer, and banker. All this for three thousand dollars, American.

I shook my head thinking people will do anything for money, anything. I couldn’t help but wonder how many more became trapped in this scam.

Six months had passed and not a hint nor hide of Cindy. I happened upon her e-mail buried deep in my computer. I decided to contact her. I was curious, did I get it wrong? Was she now living off the fat of the land living in five-star luxury and drawing on her riches?

“Cindy,” I said casually. “How are you? Do you remember me?”

She answered very quickly as though she was expecting me. “Hi,” she said. “How are you? I’m not that good, I’m afraid.”

“Oh!:” I answered, not caring what her problem was. “Where are you?”

“I’m in Budapest, Romania,” she said. And without missing a beat, she said, “and I’m broke. I need to pay my hotel bills.

Can you lend me six hundred Euros?”

The following appendices are Verbatim

Appendix 1.

Mr Peter ,

I guess you should have been inform by your attorney, that this type of account need to have at least $3,000 USD before the 5 million USD can be credited to the account. this is a private bank and we have our branch here in Maryland United State. It’s the normal procedure when it comes to contract payment, i will advice you to proceed and I will be sending you account to send it to. once you send it, the $3,000 still going to be in your new account and you can take it back after. Thanks for understanding sir.

Kirk

Apendix 2

File No: 0976FG Date /28/01/2018

LETTER OF CERTIFICATION

Sequel to correspondence received and its content, we would like to inform you that our Legal Department issue this letter to serve as a certification between Rio-Tinto Diamonds and Cinderella Williams on the terms and condition that may be agreed between us and the beneficiary named “PETER BODWEN” at any time or time to time.

Upon the signature of Ms. Williams, it is then confirmed that her overdue payment of USD 5,000,000 (Five Million United State Dollars) which is yet to be paid by Rio-Tinto Diamonds, should be directly transferred to Ms.{sic} Williams beneficiary known as “Mr PETER BODWEN” Bank account in National West Bank Maryland, United States of America for investment purposes.

We certify that Rio-Tinto Diamonds Management are ready to make the above mention payment in full without any ambiguity after signing this certification letter to release the funds to the reputable Mr PETER BODWEN as agreed with Ms.{ic} Williams.

We acknowledge that our obligation shall in no way be diminished, impaired or terminated by reason of any new modifications, amendment or any new agreements, instruments or documents entered between Senior Benjamin. A Solicitors Associate International and Ms Cinderella Williams.

This certification is governed by the National Law, place of Jurisdiction and performance law, the status is approved by the Minister of Finance who lay down the rules of the Commercial Bank’s Guarantee.

I vouch that I will not go against the contents of all signed agreement for Fund release to Mr Peter Bodwen.

Cinderella Williams CLIENT

Sinatur

Senior Benjamin. A

Appendix 3

Mr. Peter,

I will love to inform you that, You’re now Official Beneficiary to “Cinderella williams” . Your name as been documented as the beneficiary.

You need to contact the banker that as been assign for you on behave of the company and miss Cinderella, to set up an account for you to recieve the sum of 5 million USD.

Here isthe Bank and Banker details :

Banker Name : Kirk

Appendix 4

Thanks for contacting us,

We have been working with Rio Tinto Mines for a long time, The commission of $5,000,000 will be credited direct to NatWestBank in your name on behave of Rio Tinto mines client (Cinderella Williams).

I Kirk was the banker in charge, before the money can be credited, you need to deposit the sum of $3,000 to open the account.

I will advice you to deposit the $3,000 today in the same account bellow. I also promise to get the account open as soon as you deposit the money. The 5 million USD will be deposit in your name within 24 hours.

Don’t forget to send me the deposit slip/receipt once you deposit the money.

Here is the account details again ;

Account Name: Almas Siddique

TD Canada Trust

Account No: 8262639****

Transit No: 03611

inst No: 004

Thanks.

-Kirk Alan G

Banker

A year later, I found this little ditty on a web site:

The premium domain name

nationalwestbank.com

is available for sale!

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