Page 3 from: December 2012
V I E W P O I N T
Manfred Beck
Editor
In 2006, a New England psychotherapist was con-tacted by one ‘Captain Joshua Mbote’ to help
recover US$ 55 million. He ended up losing
US$ 80 000. And given that the scam also involved
cashing cheques and passing on some of the funds,
he was sentenced to two years in prison for bank
fraud and other crimes.
So-called ‘advance-fee scams’ are now worth an
estimated US$ 10 billion per year – and counting.
Against this backdrop, it’s natural to be sceptical
about some of the more left-field requests and offers
that flash up on our computer screens. Some weeks
ago, I received an e-mail from a Mr Oramaeze Max-
well of Nigeria. The topic line in the e-mail heading
read ‘Virgin opportunity’, so curiosity got the better
of me. Instead of deleting it immediately as any
sensible human being would have done, I started
reading the message. Much to my surprise, it was
not one of those usual scam letters which promise
you a share of some lost fortune if you help the
rightful owner recover it. Well actually, there were
similarities – but this message was targeted at the
recycling industry. It read (and I quote directly save
for the editing-out of some contact and school his-
tory details):
‘Dear Sir, I have an opportunity to partnership on
a lead recycling company from there advance into
recycling of copper wire, brass and aluminum
ingots. And recycling of steel into rods, good money
in Nigeria because Nigeria have money to build
infrastructures daily both government and people.
This is an investment that will earn you US$ 10 000
into your account everyday without committing a
crime before God and Man, but nobody is inter-
ested to listen to me, all are afraid of my proposal,
calling me names that are forbidden. An investment
if well manage will serve generations to generations
if we can build rotary furnace. All information’s
about me are written here including my picture
photo in the attachment. Here are full information,
they are all free for you to cross check carefully
in any Nigeria consulate or embassy or Roman
catholic institution are you. I am a Roman Catholic,
a church prefect. My mother a member of charis-
matic renewal movement. My wife a member of
scared hearth of Jesus. My church is Holy family
outstation of St. Mary’s Catholic church, Awada
Obosi Anambra State Nigeria. The name of the
parish priest is Rev. Father Ignatius Okwuonu. You
can also find his datas from St. Peters basilica Rome
Italy. Ask him if I and my family are rough or not.
You can verify it first before asking me what is the
business all but. So that you can be sure 100% of
whom you are dealing with. I am a golden fish in a
golden bowl and I have no hidden place from the
identity I present. So I am more than100% sure if
you accept this proposal, you will be more highly
blessed. It is a business that you will be doing and
you be doing other things, yet good
income falls in every day. There are lots
of virgin opportunity in Nigeria. Let’s
tap it together. I am a sure guaranty in
United State of America, in case you
need or you needed it. I am a business
man. Position: owner of small-scale industry (recy-
cling acid battery). Raw material used are scrap of
an acid battery. I pray let you partner this opportu-
nity with me. May the truth of myself and the truth
of this transaction that I solicit your attention be
reveiled to you according to your belief. AMEN.
Thanks, Maxwell.’
Well, actually, no thanks, Maxwell. If I want to strike
a deal, I’ll turn to Vietnam. An ad in a local news-
paper there read: ‘Buy a wife from Vietnam for only
6000 USD: Guaranteed virgin, Guaranteed to be
delivered within 90 days, NO extra charges, If ran
away within a year you get another one for FREE.’
Now that’s a fairer deal, don’t you think?
With increasing
numbers of
recyclers becoming
targets for
fraudsters, the
message from
industry experts is
basically this: if it
looks like a fish,
smells like a fish
and is slippery like
a fish, then it’s
probably a fish. So
how should one
respond to a man
introducing
himself as ‘a
golden fish in a
golden bowl’….?
Virgin opportunity
‘I am a golden fish
in a golden bowl.’
RI_10-Viewpoint.indd 3 30-11-12 09:55
