miracles

This page illustrates aspects of the 'Nigerian Advance Fee' or '419' scam.

It covers -

• it's a miracle
• crowded house

     it's a miracle

Taking note of the offers in your inbox (or merely googling to see offers made to other people) shows that some spammers have miraculous powers. Others are merely forgetful about their names or how much loot they have discovered.

Mrs Joy Anu, a born-again Christian afflicted with cancer and a stroke, has cleverly managed to be simultaneously married to two diplomats of two African states in different cities at the same time. Praise the lawd and pass the contribution?

She is the widow of "Dr Kazeem Anu, who worked with Kuwait embassy in Nigeria for nine years before he died in the year 2003. We were married for eleven years without a child". The late Dr Anu supposedly left her US$12m. Dr Waziri Anu "worked with Kuwait Embassy here in Cotonou, Republic of Benin for nine years before he died in the year 2001. We were married for eleven years without a child". He left her US$19.6m.

Perhaps she is related to Ben Smith, who manages to have the same address in Cotonou while holding positions in Nigeria, Mauritius and Benin that have allowed him to offer US$30.3m, US$50m and US$12.5m. Benard Smith - "a top government officials with the ministry finance on public accounts" in Mauritius - has trouble spelling but can put his paws on US$55m. Rev Father Jones Harth ("I wish to inform you that you are a blessed person") has US$10m. So does Rev Jones Maxwell Harth, albeit from different UN agencies depending on when the email was sent. Barrister Jones Harth only has US$6m.

Mrs Theophilus Uwaoma - whose husband rests in the bosom of Christ - variously has US$9m, US$25m, US$8m or US$15m for worthy causes. Her confusion about the amount is understandable, considering that her husband managed to die in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2005. Suzanne (or Susan) Jambo, wife of Naboth Jambo, variously has US$3.7m, US$8.5m and US$1.5m to be used "for orphanages, widows, propagating the word of God and to endeavor that the house of Lord is maintained".

Maria Elena Fernandez likewise rests in "the bosom of the lord" with US$7.3m in the usual strongbox. Serena Jones has US$8.6m, Cathryn Sonya has US$3.7m, Roesel Kunie has US$24m. Kate Solomon has US$27.6m, Susan Jack has US$2.8m, Rose Martins Toyo has US$5.5m, Roseline Johnson has US$26.5m, Bernita Johnson has US$6.5m or US$5.6m, Bernita Jonson has US$6.5m, Gloria Zamba has US$10m ... all have "the cancer Problem" and are most disturbed by "my stroke sickness" but know that "the lord will fight my case".

Sherry Morgan (as usual, a grieving widow about to expire from cancer and a stroke) has US$40.5m for the usual widows and orphans. So does Sherry Morgan-Jones. Mary Anjum (widow, cancer, stroke but safe in "the blossom [sic] of the lord") has US$12m for the usual "orphanages and widows, propagating the word of God and to ensure that the house of God is maintained".

Mrs Aldora Samuel of Sarawak prefaces her offer by announcing "Life itself is a misery and nobody can tell what can be of it". Burdened by the usual cancer and stroke she wants to dispose of US$12.5m (or US$32m or US$15m) to "fund orphanages, widows, the less privilege [sic], the disabled and all those afflicted with strange illness or diseases", warning that "this money should not be used in an ungodly manner, or any form of evil or selfishness".

Larry Moore, ailing Bulgarian merchant resident in Dubai, offers to share US$4.2m. He is also an ailing English merchant in Dubai with US$28.5m, Larry Moore in London with US$7m and as Sir Larry Moore of Dubai has US$12m. Several years later he was a FedEx manager in Nigeria processing sundry millions on behalf of several names.

The late Mr Cosban variously left US$112m, US$30m, US$18m in "a reputable bank" after he died "from an automobile accident with his entire family" in 1999, 1998 and 2000.

Richard Kofi Addo, Regional Manager of the Takoradi branch of Barclays Bank of Ghana, indicated in 2005 that he was 52 years old and had discovered an unclaimed US$28.85m. Six months later he was only 42 years old - perhaps he'd been using miracle anti-aging cures that he'd found via spam - and had US$55.02m. Elsewhere he has offered a cut of US$10.85m. Richard Kofi has US$9m, US$25m and - you guessed it - US$10.85m.

Tom Munir was supposedly killed by a car bomb on 14 September 2004 and again on 14 April and 20 April 2005, each time leaving US$13m. That's Groundhog Day for you.

Barrister Paschal Welsh of Brompton Chambers wants to unload US$7.5m from the estate of the late Dr Paul Jeff Carpenter. So does the dyslexic barrister Frank C Williams of Jones & Shanley Solicitors. Dean Smith, at another address used by Welsh, has US$20m.

Roslin Nuhan, only daughter of former Liberian supremo Issac Nuhan Vaye, has US$5.2m. Faith Nuhan has US$15m. Rita Nuhan (also an only daughter) has US$5.5m. Christopher Nuhan has US$21.5m. Suzana Nuhan has US$21m; as Suzana Nuhan Vaye she has US$21.5m plus "large quantities of diamonds". The dyslexic Mathew Nuhan has US$4.7m.

'Saint Luke' (claiming to be an Irish solicitor rather than the Evangelist) offers a mere US$26m on behalf of James Baker, victim of "a singular shock and trauma".

"Singular shock and trauma" has also affected Mrs Evelyn Nyangoma of Sierre Leone. Edwin Nyangoma, Edwin Nyangome, Edward Nyangoma, Etiene Ngoma, Michael Ngoma, Micheal Ngoma, Miss Michael Ngoma [sic], Michael Ngome, Tony Ngoma and Tony Nyangoma each have between US$3.5 million and US$25 million from Sierre Leone. Kengo Ngoma has US$180 million, albeit from Ghana! Henry Ibrahima (son of Josephine Ngoma) has US$25 million, which he wants to share with you after completing his degree in "costmetology" at the University of Angola.

Mr Wisdom Godwin - who has a habit of announcing that "God has done it again" - recurrently offers US$5.5m through an ATM card, US$850,000 cash, US$8.5m in bullion and US$850,000 in the form of a bank cheque, the banks being fictional or otherwise.

Mercy W Obi has US$25.5m from aircrash victim Mark Davidson ("I know this will come to you as a suprise but please accept it with cool heart"). Martin Vinchi ("I know this will come to you as surprise but please accept it with cool heart") has US$11m or US$11.5m from the Davidson estate. Dr Saddeen Usman has US$14.8m.

     crowded house

If you can't rise from the dead you can share an address. The following people (all suffering from "a cancerous ailment" and wanting to give away millions from their late husband) claim to reside at 4 Old Church Street, Chelsea, UK -

• Martha Stirling
• Bashira Amir
• Catherine Levett
• Helen Talbot
• Peggy Morrison
• Stella Morrison
• Sharon David
• Susan Cole
• Mini Cole
• Mimi Cole
• Stella Cole
• Silvia Davis
• Catherine Davis
• Joan Davis
• Sharon Davis
• Sharon David
• Joan Taylor
• Naomi Williams
• Mora Williams
• Moira Williams
• Martha Williams
• Anna George
• Anne Green
• Ann Green
• Luisa Raymond
• Felicia Hines
• Sandra Westley
• Evelyn Martins
• Susan Martin
• Joyner Don

4 Old Church Street is occupied by a church and cemetery. Perhaps Sandra Westley is the sister - six foot under or otherwise - of the amazing Paul Westley highlighted here.

36 Old Shrewberry Street is apparently shared by several pious and ailing women, each of whom is keen to dispose of her husband's loot. They include -

• Lady Rebecca Thatcher
• Destiny Williams
• Moira Williams
• Martha Williams

Susan Beck (suffering from the usual cancer and eager to give you a share of her loot as the reward for the usual distribution to widows, orphans and the church) cannot decide whether she was married to Tom Beck (who either died in a tsunami or in the London bombings) or Raymond Beck or Charles (both of whom died in the very same tsunami). No matter, as Thackeray would say ... she's offering US$5m, £5m, US$10m or US$14m.

William Hagler - variously describing himself as a lawyer, a pastor and manager of the Honda Car Lottery - offers €5m, £4m, US$4m, US$29m, US$17m, US$18m, US$18.5m and US$48.3m from the faux lottery, a client in the UK, a client in Russia or loot discovered in Liberia.

David Radebe offers millions from his post as a director of -

• Department Of Finance, Pretoria (US$2m)
• Office of the Treasure, Pretoria (US$2m or US$5m)
• Department of Treasury and the Ministry of Finance, Pretoria (£1m)
• Office of the Treasure - Department of Finance, London (£1m)
• Ministry of Finance, London (£1m)

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