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Ghana Gold Scam

We have reeceived some unsolicited emails from senders in Accra, Ghana offering gold for sale. Here is a typical example, that immediately raised several red flags, see below:

From: "rockmining_co" <rockmining_co@libero.it>
To: <undisclosed-recipients:>
Sent: Tuesday, 21 September, 2004 23:37
Subject: RIVER and ROCK MINING CO.


RIVER and ROCK MINING CO.
Plot 112, Dandy Close, Light Industrial Estate
Tell;+23324413602
January 6, 2004
Dear Sir[s]:

I am writing to you at this time to advertise the availability of our main product, alluvial gold in bulk quantities. As we represent a large number of local artisan miners, we are prepared to provide quantities of up to 400 kilograms of 22.karat alluvial gold monthly.
Following is information concerning our product:

Quantity: 400 kilograms available monthly
Quality: 22. karat alluvial Au
Origin: Ghana, West Africa
Price: $6,500 per kilogram
Assay reports provided by SGS Laboratories, Accra,

Our firm is in possession of the Gold Export Certificate issued by the Government of the Republic of Ghana necessary to export gold from Ghana, thus we can provide service to any part of the world.
We are prepared to offer the quantity of gold required to the Buyer [or their representative] upon their arrival here in Accra. After the Buyer has confirmed the quantity and the quality of the gold with their refinery, and is satisfied, only then will we accept payment, by bank transfer, from the Buyer to us. Further, we currently seek outside-based serious investors on a partnership basis in order to increase our production capacity. If you are interested in this proposal, or have any further questions, kindly contact me at the numbers listed above.Looking forward to doing business with you.
Yours truly,

Mr. Nana Agema.
Chief Director of Marketing

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Here's what immediately caught my eye:

1. The sender address uses a mail provider (libero.it) that is one of the most popular sender domains for Nigerian 419 scammers.
2. How come an email received in September is dated January 6? It appears this email was recycled and sent to a large number of recipients using blind carbon copy (Bcc).
3. Why don't these gold traders sell on the open market, to established metal trading companies that know the proper procedures?
4. Why is it necessary to visit Accra, Ghana to do business? This seems to be a common element to Ghana Gold emails.
5. How come these guys are writing to *us*? Except for some gold edged connectors of the printed circuit boards inside my computer, the only gold I ever bought were the engagement ring for Shigeko (my wife) and our weddings rings :-) These guys harvested addresses off websites. We know, because we received two copies of this mail, one to a currently unused email address still mentioned on one of our sites, the other from another of our sites. Both sites are closely linked, making it highly probable that address harvesters that vist one soon sweep the other.
6. The company address is incomplete (which city?) and the name of the company sounds too generic.

Here is an example of an actual email exchange with a Ghana Gold scammer:
http://www.scamorama.com/pierpont1.html

From: "harrison hayford" <goldcoast@atlas.cz>
To: <undisclosed-recipients:>
Sent: Thursday, 09 December, 2004 5:35
Subject: GOLD COAST MINERS COMPANY

Dear Sir/Madam,
It is our atmost delight to approach you with this composition.We are a Mining Company based in Ghana and we are interested in contacting you for business transactions.
Our company started it's opperation for the past 6 years and had being doing very well without any debt.

We have 24 carats River Gold, 24 carats Rock Gold and aslo white Gold, and as well Dimond. We will be very happy so that you can be our business partner in your country where by any amount of our goods you want will be shiped to you. You will have your percentage in this transaction.

Our present rate is 220 Dollars per ounze and after the transaction your share for an ounze is 30 Dollars.We belive this is a good deal.We can also give you this better offer of selling 1kg at 7000.00 Dollars.

We are ready to ship to you any quantity of our goods you demanded for.So please advise us when shipment to take place as soon as possible.
Write back soon so that we can exicute this transaction with sincereity.

Looking forward to hear from and you and contact me on this e-mail address, goldcoastminerscompany@yahoo.com

Managering Director,
Harrioson Hayford.

We contacted these guys and asked about shipping modalities. They replied from a different address at a different webmailer, using a satellite broadband ISP that services West Africa and shows up in many Nigeria scams:

From: "deputy manager" <goldcoastminerscompany@yahoo.com>
To: <emailaddress>
Sent: Friday, 10 December, 2004 3:01
Subject: MR. HARRISON HAYFORD

DEAR firstname,

THANK YOU FOR YOUR MAIL. WE CAN PROVIDE YOU THE QUAUTITYOF YOUR ORDERS YOU WILL DEMAND.AS YOU SAID WE ARE GIVEN OUR CUSTOMERS THIS GREAT OFFER AT VERY GOOD PRICE. I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT YOU WILL NEVER REGRET INVESTINGYOUR MONEY IN BUSINESS WITH US WHICH I CAN PROMISE YOU.

OUR GOODS ARE SHIPPED THROUGH THE COURRIER SO YOU CAN BE ASSURED OF SECURITY AND SAFE DESTINATION OF YOUR ORDERS.

THERE ARE THE OFFER OF OUR PRODUCT AS FOLLOWS:

PRODUCTS: ..................ALLUVAIL GOLD DUST, GOLD BARS, DIAMOND.

QUATITIY:......................150-500KGS ( TO BE SUPPLIED)

QUALITY:.......................22.5+ CARAT 2003-2004

ORGIN:..........................WEST AFRICA.

PRICE............................$7900.00

CONDITION AND PAYMENT: THE BUYER WILL BE REQUIRED TO PAY THE 40% OF THE TOTAL COST OF THE PRODUCT.

THE PRODUCT WILL EITHER HAVE TO BE SHIPPED TO THE BUYER WITH SEVEN (7) WORKING DAYS REPECTIVILY BY CURRIOR.

THE BALANCE OF THE 60% PAYMENT WOULD BE MADE TO AN A/C AFTER 15 DAYS.

WE ARE HOPING TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON AS SOON AS POSSIBLE FOR THE EXECUTION OF BUSINESS.

MD.

HARRISON HAYFORD.

     inetnum:      192.116.85.0 - 192.116.85.255
     netname:      GILAT-SATCOM-BLOCK-16
     descr:        SKY2Net ltd
     remarks:      For abuse issues related to Gilat, email abuse-gilat@012.net.il
     notify:       abuse-gilat@012.net.il
     country:      GB
     admin-c:      GS3350-RIPE
     tech-c:       GS3350-RIPE
     status:       ASSIGNED PA
     mnt-by:       AS9116-MNT
     mnt-lower:    AS9116-MNT
     changed:      hank@att.net.il 20040912
     source:       RIPE
     
     route:        192.116.64.0/18
     descr:        Goldenlines
     remarks:      For addressing issues, email lir@linux.goldenlines.net.il
     remarks:      For abuse issues, email abuse@012.net.il
     origin:       AS9116
     mnt-by:       AS9116-MNT
     changed:      lir@linux.goldenlines.net.il 20041121
     source:       RIPE
     
     role:         Gilat Support
     address:      Gilat Satcom
     address:      21D Yagia Kapaim st. Petach-Tikva, Israel
     phone:        +972 3 9255000
     fax-no:       +972 3 9217938
     admin-c:      DR5299-RIPE
     admin-c:      GE2074-RIPE
     tech-c:       DR5299-RIPE
     tech-c:       GE2074-RIPE
     trouble:      abuse-gilat@012.net.il
     e-mail:       customer@gilat.net
     nic-hdl:      GS3350-RIPE
     mnt-by:       AS9116-MNT
     changed:      hank@att.net.il 20040909
     source:       RIPE

From: "Yaha Amed" <local_sellers2@yahoo.co.uk>
To: <emailaddress>
Sent: Friday, 17 December, 2004 6:24
Subject: An Offer,.


Dear Associates,
We represent the local Miners. This mail is for ONLY REAL BUYER of Gold Dust. We having the Quantity 10kg for sale and ready for immediate shipment. Origin Guinea Conakry.

Avaliable Documents:
1) Certificate of Origin
2) Certificate of Insurance
3) Warehouse Receipts
4) Cetificate Of Deposit
NOTE: We can go upto 25Kg. We also have Rough Diamond Stones. Please advise if there is any interest 2.000 Carats of 2 to 5 Carats per stones.
Best Regards.
Yaha Amed
SR Consultant

The spam email was not sent through Yahoo.co.uk but directly from an ISP in Africa. There it was not from Guinea, Conakry either but from Mali:

     inetnum:      196.200.80.0 - 196.200.95.255
     netname:      ML-IKATEL-20040609
     descr:        IKATEL SA
     descr:        PROVIDER Local Registry
     country:      ML
     org:          ORG-IS28-RIPE
     admin-c:      SD2024-RIPE
     tech-c:       MA1231-RIPE
     status:       ALLOCATED PA
     mnt-by:       RIPE-NCC-HM-MNT
     mnt-lower:    MNT-IKATEL
     mnt-routes:   MNT-IKATEL
     notify:       noc@ikatel.net
     changed:      hostmaster@ripe.net 20040609
     source:       RIPE
     
     route:        196.200.80.0/20
     descr:        IKANET
     origin:       AS30985
     mnt-by:       MNT-IKATEL
     changed:      noc@ikatelnet.net 20040923
     source:       RIPE
     
     organisation: ORG-IS28-RIPE
     org-name:     IKATEL SA
     org-type:     LIR
     address:      IKATEL SA
                   Immeuble SONAVIE
                   ACI 2000
                   BP : E 3991
                   BAMAKO, Mali
     phone:        +223 4999900
     fax-no:       +223 223 08 35
     fax-no:       +223 499 90 01
     e-mail:       noc@ikatel.net
     admin-c:      DH1500-RIPE
     admin-c:      SD2024-RIPE
     mnt-ref:      MNT-IKATEL
     mnt-ref:      RIPE-NCC-HM-MNT
     mnt-by:       RIPE-NCC-HM-MNT
     changed:      hostmaster@ripe.net 20040415
     changed:      bitbucket@ripe.net 20040604
     changed:      hostmaster@ripe.net 20040609
     source:       RIPE
     
     person:       Sekou DRAME
     address:      IKATEL SA
     address:      Immeuble SONAVIE BP: E 3391
     address:      Bamako ACI 2000
     phone:        +223 6299908
     e-mail:       sekou.drame@ikatel.net
     nic-hdl:      SD2024-RIPE
     changed:      sekou.drame@ikatel.net 20040331
     source:       RIPE
     
     person:       Mohamed Aboubacrine
     address:      IKATEL SA
     address:      Immeuble DT BP 3991 Bamako Mali
     phone:        +223 499 9932
     phone:        +223 629 9932
     nic-hdl:      MA1231-RIPE
     changed:      mohamed.aboubacrine@ikatel.net 20040607
     source:       RIPE

Anyone willing to bet that the various certificates promised are any more genuine than the sender address or the origin of the email? I certainly am not :-)

"Mary Saxon - South African gold from Chad (Nigeria)
This one is a bit closer to the standard 419 scam in that there is a fixed amount on the table, the seller is not posing as acting on behalf of a legitimate company and, last but not least, the email is sent from Nigeria, despite the South African storyline.

From: "Mary Saxon" <marisaxon@fastmail.ca>
To: <undisclosed-recipients:>
Sent: Wednesday, 09 February, 2005 23:51
Subject: [ADV] hello

Hello, 
I know you will definitely take this as a deceptive e mail,because 
of the swindle news we hear everyday and now it happens am from Sourth 
Africa 
where it seems to happen more often.Let me first of all inform you,i 
got 
your e.mail id from an e-mail directory and decided to e-mail you for a 
permission 
to go ahead.

I am Engr.SAXON MARY of loops engineering group of company,located 
in CAPE TOWN SOUTH AFRICA. 
      Actually,i and my colleague (Engr Nelson.K.) took the 
hazard,informing you without even knowing who you may be. 


We are in possesion of some raw Gold, which worth about US$17,500,000. 
      Ironically, i and my colleques discovered them in cape towm, we 
had 
to leave south african for security reason.And decided to go on 2 
months 
vacation to enable us sell the gold abroad. 
      Meanwhile, We've relocated to West AFRICA precisely N'DJAMENA in 
CHAD,where 
we can get our travel document prepered.Right now,we are also in the 
middle of discussions with some possible buyers,that's if all things go 
fine.

SO,what we need from you now,is to get acquanted to eachother. And 
would love to let you know all documents have prove with us,incase you 
want 
to be sure. What we want from you now Are: 
     1.Help us pose as partners,should incase the possible buyers want 
someone in the USA to discuss with. 
     2.Furnish us with a safe airline to book down to your State. 
     3.Name of a suitable hotel we can lordge as soon as we get there. 

     4. If you can pick us from the Airport on our arrival date
    As we don't have any siblings in your country,And your reward will 
be  20% as soon every thing is done. 
      Best regards, as i will be expecting you urgent reply. 
                 Yours fortunately,
_________________________________________________________________
    http://fastmail.ca/ - Fast Secure Web Email for Canadians

Received: by mail.interchange.ca (Postfix, from userid 555)
	id 77AC6861339; Wed,  9 Feb 2005 09:51:15 -0500 (EST)
Received: from 213.181.81.242 by fastmail.ca
 with HTTP; Wed, 9 Feb 2005 14:51:15 +0000 (UTC)
Date: Wed, 9 Feb 2005 14:51:15 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: [ADV] hello
From: "Mary Saxon" 
X-Fastmail-IP: [213.181.81.242]
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Priority: urgent
Message-Id: <20050209145115.77AC6861339@mail.interchange.ca>
To: undisclosed-recipients: ;

Originating network (IP 213.181.81.242)

     inetnum:      213.181.64.0 - 213.181.95.255
     org:          ORG-BL4-RIPE
     netname:      NG-BROADBANDTECH-20000327
     descr:        BT Limited
     descr:        PROVIDER Local Registry
     country:      NG
     admin-c:      IO243-RIPE
     tech-c:       IO243-RIPE
     status:       ALLOCATED PA
     notify:       bt@micro.com.ng
     mnt-by:       RIPE-NCC-HM-MNT
     mnt-routes:   BT-LIMITED-MNT
     mnt-lower:    BT-LIMITED-MNT
     changed:      hostmaster@ripe.net 20000327
     changed:      hostmaster@ripe.net 20001003
     changed:      hostmaster@ripe.net 20010507
     changed:      hostmaster@ripe.net 20010704
     changed:      lir-help@ripe.net 20011214
     changed:      hostmaster@ripe.net 20020419
     changed:      hostmaster@ripe.net 20020423
     changed:      hostmaster@ripe.net 20020613
     changed:      hostmaster@ripe.net 20030211
     changed:      hostmaster@ripe.net 20040406
     source:       RIPE
     
     organisation: ORG-BL4-RIPE
     org-name:     BT Limited
     org-type:     LIR
     address:      BT Limited
     address:      8B Ademola Street,
     address:      Off Awolowo Road,
     address:      S. W. Ikoyi,
     address:      Lagos, Nigeria.
     phone:        +234 1 2693192
     fax-no:       +234 1 2693192
     e-mail:       bt@micro.com.ng
     admin-c:      IO243-RIPE
     admin-c:      IO243-RIPE
     mnt-ref:      BT-LIMITED-MNT
     mnt-ref:      RIPE-NCC-HM-MNT
     mnt-by:       RIPE-NCC-HM-MNT
     changed:      hostmaster@ripe.net 20040415
     source:       RIPE
     
     person:       Israel Oyeleke
     address:      BT Limited
     address:      8B Ademola Street
     address:      Ikoyi S.W.
     address:      Lagos, Nigeria
     phone:        +234 1 2673532
     fax-no:       +234 1 2673203
     e-mail:       i.oyeleke@moneynett.com
     nic-hdl:      IO243-RIPE
     notify:       i.oyeleke@moneynett.com
     changed:      ifiok@btlimited.com 20010605
     changed:      ifiok_moses@yahoo.com 20030917
     source:       RIPE

From: "thankgod nelson " <thankgod_nelson@mixmail.com>
To: <thankgod_nelson@mixmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, 23 February, 2005 16:18
Subject: FROM MR THANKGOD NELSON

FROM THE DESK OF

THANKGOD NELSON

ABIDJAN COTE D'IVOIRE


Dear Friend,

I am Mr. THANKGOD NELSON from republic of
Ghana. I am son of late Sir Henry Nelson My father was a gold dealer before he met his death. I am presently residing at Abidjan Cote d’Ivoire, were I am doing business before my father’s death.

I wish to bring to your notice an intention of mine to go into gold business as this was necessitated by my fathers death. It may please you to know that I have 150kg of solid gold to be sold, this is to enable me purchase the required tools for the work at our gold mining site at Ghana and Liberia.

Dear friend, I will like you to assist me in these ways;

1)To buy or look for buyer for this 150kg solid gold. 2)To see if you can join me in this gold mining business. 3)I wish you to come and see the mining site yourself. 4)You will assist me source for the tools required.

I wish to let you know that I will contact an expert in gold business to handle this business with you if you indicate your interest. The 150kg solid gold is well secured in a security firm here in Abidjan Cote d’Ivoire. Every assistance made to the success of this transaction will be highly appreciated.

Best regards,
GOD BLESS YOU
FROM MR THANKGOD NELSON

From: "JEFF NANA OFORI" <jeffofori6@yahoo.com>
To: <emailaddress>
Sent: Tuesday, July 05, 2005 6:33 PM
Subject: RAW GOLD FROM GHANA (PROPOSITION)


Hello My Friend,

I am a miner in my home town in Ghana. I would like to know your interest in
the buying of raw Gold.

I have the capacity of supply for 70-kilos to 100-kilos a month.
Please let me know your interest, my prices are
negotiable.
I will be shipping and you will be marketing them on
my behalf with your interest considered, I will let
you more details when i hear from you.
Please reply here: jeffofori5@yahoo.com <mailto:jeffofori5@yahoo.com>

Thank you very much.
Yours sincerely.
JEFF NANA OFORI

From: <drbellosadiq@tiscali.co.uk>
To: <undisclosed-recipients:>
Sent: Wednesday, 13 July, 2005 12:38
Subject: Gold Offer

Gold Offer

Dear Sir,


We are large scale miners located at Tarkwa in Western Region Ghana with
postal address as follows: P.O.Box 1080,
Achimota, Accra - Ghana, West Africa. We are incorporated under the Companies
Code 1963, Act 179 with RC No: 63,556 (Registrar of Companies, Ghana). We
are duly registered with the Minerals Commission as well as the Precious
Minerals Marketing Company Limited, Ghana (PMMC). We have export permit issued
by PMMC and certificate of non -
criminal origin issued by the High Court, Ghana. We sell gold dust mined
from our concessions.

We offer for sale 800 kilogrammes gold dust characterized as follows: Commodity:
Gold Form: Alluvial Dust
Quality: 22+ Carat (94%) Price: 8,000.00$US per kilogram Origin: Ghana Deleterious
Element: 0% Cyanide

Kindly find attached SGS Report + Draft Contract to guide you on our terms
and conditions.
A full corporate offer will be sent upon demand. Yours faithfully,

Dr Bello Sadiq,

Please you can contact me at my private e-mail addresss:drbellosadiq1@yahoo.com

___________________________________________________________

Book yourself something to look forward to in 2005.
Cheap flights - http://www.tiscali.co.uk/travel/flights/
Bargain holidays - http://www.tiscali.co.uk/travel/holidays/

Message headers:

Received: from [192.116.69.33] by mk-cpfrontend.uk.tiscali.com
 with HTTP; Wed, 13 Jul 2005 04:38:44 +0100
Date: Wed, 13 Jul 2005 04:38:44 +0100
Message-ID: <428DEEE80012AC9E@mk-cpfrontend-3.mail.uk.tiscali.com>
From: drbellosadiq@tiscali.co.uk
Subject:  Gold Offer

WHOIS details for sending network (IP 192.116.69.33):

     inetnum:      192.116.65.0 - 192.116.69.255
     netname:      GILAT-SATCOM-BLOCK-31-32-40-46-53
     descr:        Gilat-Satcom
     remarks:      For abuse issues related to Gilat, email abuse-gilat@012.net.il
     country:      GB
     admin-c:      GS3350-RIPE
     tech-c:       GS3350-RIPE
     status:       ASSIGNED PA
     mnt-by:       AS9116-MNT
     mnt-lower:    AS9116-MNT
     source:       RIPE # Filtered
     
     role:           Gilat Support
     address:        Gilat Satcom
     address:        21D Yagia Kapaim st. Petach-Tikva, Israel
     phone:          +972 3 9255000
     fax-no:         +972 3 9217938
     admin-c:        DR5299-RIPE
     admin-c:        GE2074-RIPE
     tech-c:         DR5299-RIPE
     tech-c:         GE2074-RIPE
     remarks:        trouble:      abuse-gilat@012.net.il
     nic-hdl:        GS3350-RIPE
     mnt-by:         AS9116-MNT
     source:         RIPE # Filtered
     abuse-mailbox:  abuse-gilat@012.net.il
     
     % Information related to 'GS3350-RIPE'
     
     route:        192.116.64.0/18
     descr:        Goldenlines
     remarks:      For addressing issues, email lir@linux.goldenlines.net.il
     remarks:      For abuse issues, email abuse@012.net.il
     origin:       AS9116
     mnt-by:       AS9116-MNT
     source:       RIPE # Filtered

Other examples:
Discount Sales of Gold!!!!!!!!!!! (2004-06-02)
ALLUVIA GOLD DUST (2004-04-13)

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