New Format - Businessman trying to flee Iraq

This scam will no doubt turn to a stock standard advanced fee fraud but it uses a format I haven't seen before

No doubt he will move to a situation where he has lots of money he wants to move from Iraq where you will need to pay advanced fees.

I will keep an eye on this and see what more detail I can gather

Of note;
the email appears to come from <[email protected]> this is a ploy we are seeing more and more of where a more legitimate email address appears to be where the email came from, this is not all that hard for a scammer with a little better than usual Computer skills to set up.

The downfall here for the scammer is that they do not have access to the email address it appears to be from so they need you to reply to a different email address which is posted in the email

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Bestoon Ibrahim Hamarahim <[email protected]>
Sent:
Subject:

Good Day,

I am Mr. Bestoon Ibrahim Hamarahim a member of a strategic committee in a
major industry in Iraq, I seek your partnership because of an urgent need
to move my family out of Iraq due to the deteriorating security situation
and the strong prospect of a civil war if the U.S.
finally pulls out their troops.it just based on partnership for me to
leave iraq with my family To indicate your interest or request more
details, please contact me by e-mail:[email protected]

Thank you,
Bestoon Ibrahim Hamarahim

The second script in this series follows, this time from a different email address [email protected]

Dear Friend,

Thank you very much for taking the time to reply my email. I assure you that this is a serious issue, this process will be handled legally and I am prepared to fully indemnify you to allay any fears that you may have. I will not request any sensitive personal information or demand any money from you.

Because we don’t know each other, this proposal may come across as surprise but please read this email with an open mind and let me know if you can assist.

First, I assure you that this will be handled legally

If you give me your trust and full co-operation; I assure you of my respect, friendship and loyalty for the rest of my life.

I have three children whom I am immensely proud of and it is for them that I do this; I want them to have a chance to be educated and live in a democratic environment where they can aspire to be whatever they want to.

I was trained in the west so I know and appreciate the difference a western education can make in my children’s future.

I could not give you any details in my first contact because I felt it would be inappropriate to do so without first getting your consent.

Now that you have indicated your interest to assist us as a family from the hands insurgent groups or militias anger that has killed a large number of Iraqis citizens while Others have been caught in the crossfire between the opposing sides.( US formed government and former Saddam loyalists/ militia's)..

The current security situation is terrible here in Iraqi...... I have not heard from my wife or children and the new government would not let the strategic committee members out....... I have confirmed that I have lost over 10 friends to the crossfire between the opposing sides.

We are presently in the dark and I am lucky to be able to write because of the retained battery power of the laptop in here. There is so much confusion here, nothing works for now. I am desperately trying to reach my wife....

I am planning to take my family to the United Kingdom or any other democratic nation but have not moved them yet. With the present situation now, I don't know what will happen in the next couple of days.
As a current member of a government committee, I must be careful.

I am presently a government witness in an investigation of some former corrupt officers . This has put me and my family in a very risky position.

I don’t want to know your private business but please understand that I would also like to know a little about you. if you don't mind

How old are you?
Are you married?
Do you have children?
Do you live in a democratic nation?

I look forward to receiving your reply so that i can continue and I will forward you details of my identity.
I must apologize in advance that I may not be able to reply promptly to your emails because of security reasons. We as strategic committee members are under constant watch .

Yours truly,
Mr. Bestoon Ibrahim Hamarahim

Dear Friend,



Top Government officials and sensitive committee members in Iraq are constantly monitored, i just heard from my family now and they are safe and unhurt. I told my wife about you and the fact that you are helping us, she is forever grateful to you for offering my children a better future, I and my wife are most grateful and honored for the information which you have sent.



On the issue of schooling for my children, I will prefer a western nation because my daughter wants to study law and I will like a renowned prestigious school which is very well respected around the world.



I am an elderly man and will make things clear right to you, I may not be an experienced business man but I have had the opportunity to meet a lot of business people in my years in this strategic committee.



I was also able to make a lot of money during this years though i kept the money in a bank in London where i was brought-up because of my political habition i decideed to come back and chain the strategic committee members allthough i did,t not have a secord thought that it could put the life of my family at risk.



I have £18,000,000.00 GBP(Eighteen Million Great Britain Pounds Sterlings ) with a reputable financial institution(CARTER ALLIANCE BANK) in London, United Kingdom.



I am proposing to transfer the funds to your account and make you a guardian for my children.

When the money is in your bank account, you will receive Thirty Percent as your commission and you will keep the remaining seventy Percent with which I intend to settle my family when we eventually come over there to meet with you.



As we will not be able to leave this country until you have been able to take possession of the funds, then I will send my wife and three children to meet you where ever you are so that i can join them much later.

Let me know if you will be able to receive the funds and accommodate my family for a little while before we can get a house of our own to buy.



Please get back to me if you are interested as soon as possible with the following information to enable me instruct my attorney to apply to the bank for an account holder change with supporting documents and then instruct them to transfer the funds to your financial institution in your name.



This should take not more than seven business days.



1. Your full legal names

2. Your full contact address

3. One piece of your identification document

4. Your contact phone and fax numbers

5. One copy of your identification (Drivers License or copy of your international passport ETC)



As soon as we have concluded with this arrangement using an international clearing agent in Dubai, you will then have to open up a separate bank account in your name and you alone have to be the signatory.





I thank you again and look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

Mr. Bestoon Ibrahim Hamarahim

Dear Friend,
We are excited to find that you live in a democratic country; my son wants to attend an Institute of Technology to study computer science! He is very good in science. We are all excited and grateful for your offer to help in this time of great need“ we shall never forget; this will be the beginning of a life long family friendship.
This matter is very important to my family's future. I need this money to be able to give my children a better education. We want our children to grow up in a free and democratic society. I am prepared to give my life for this.
I have three children; the oldest is 18 years old his name is Mohammed the second is a 15 year old girl Farrah and the third is Ali, 11 year old boy. My children are my life“ they are great kids and have made us proud with their exemplary character and academic performance.
At the current time, I am a government witness in a big case against dissident businesses; for this reason, we are being careful both for the security of the family and also due to close monitoring of government agents. As long as the money is safely transferred and my family can leave Iraq safely“ I dont mind what happens to me after.
I dont know you but I have no choice now I must entrust my familys future into your hands for now. However, my wife who is gifted in reading things strongly believes that you are the right person and she has always been right in things of this nature.
I have to go to a public computer place to write you due to security reasons. I am very much in need of help.
The government has promised me protection but I don't believe them. One of my colleagues who was a government witness in similar circumstance a few years ago was killed mysteriously with his entire family - non of the killers have been found! I must do what the government has asked me but it has become more urgent now that I move my family out of Iraq for their safety.
In addition to the above reasons, I need this money to be able to give my children a better education in your country. We want our children to grow up in a free and democratic society. I am prepared to give my life for this. I was trained in overseas in the United Kingdom and know what great edge it give to have overseas training.
I need somebody to act as guardian for my Children in your country after the funds are transferred. I am hoping that you can also assist me in this respect.
With these, we should be able to place together all documentation in your name to prove to the authority that you are truly the beneficiary to the funds and we will also have the probate letter signed at the Royal Court of Justice England.
My Lawyer would handle all of the charges, and i have already paid for his legal fee, so you would not be needing to pay the lawyer any form of fees.
You would be required to contact my lawyer, as he would be needing some vital information from you, to enable him prepare all necessary documents.
I would want you to immediately inform me, of your readiness to contact my lawyer, so i can provide you with details of my layer to enable you contact him.
Mean while, in your next mail to me please make a provision of your details as required in my last mail. therein is the Attachment of my identity card as promise.
I shall wait to hear from you.
Regards
Mr Bestoon Ibrahim Hamarahim

Although in these emails the scammer has twice said there will be no fees, like everything else he is lying, my best guess is that the fee will be in setting up the bank account, time will tell

Here is the Fake ID he has sent



Please note: if you are ever given an ID from anybody that you realise is fake, please discontinue emailing them and certainly do not alert them that it does not look genuine, this will only make them improve the fake ID for the next person and make them a better scammer

Dear Friend,

Greetings from my household! How are you and your family? I hope all is well with you. I look forward to writing you every seconds. I try to be as discrete as I can about coming to the cafe but the excitement won't let me. I thank you for your patience in writing me.


I will inform my attorney to send you the affidavit of change of ownership via e-mail . This document is private and confidential and I strongly request that you keep it that way.

Now that you are willing to assist me, I will advice that you contact my attorney with the details below:
Name: Barrister Goodman Kwame
Barrister Goodman Kwame And Associate
Legal Adviser And Notary Public
E-mail: [email protected]

You are advised to contact the lawyer immediately to enable him prepare all necessary document as the beneficiary of the funds and assist you where necessary.

My Vision And Plan

1. I plan to have my family out of Iraq first because the government will definitely not let me leave this country. Presently, my traveling documents have been seized and that puts a stumbling block to any traveling plans but I do not want this to affect the plans I have for my wife and kids.

2. I have discussed with my wife concerning the percentage we are willing to offer you for your participation in helping us. We propose 30 percent (negotiable) for your effort.

3. My wife's English is not perfect but she writes better than she speaks. My children will fare better than my wife in an English speaking society because they are young and will learn faster.

We are looking forward to leaving this country as soon as possible to met up with you.
You have been good to us and a light at the end of our tunnel. We do appreciate greatly and I have also taken my time to do some research on your country and properties too, just so that we can get settled as fast as possible when we arrive and get the burden off you.

I have been reading up everything about Your country since your last mail. I have been through the news and I am presently studying properties in Your country When I see something I like I will inform you about it. My whole spirit is in Your country , it is just my body here in Iraq , believe me!

I have seen very interesting articles on the news; it must be a real free society! It is an interesting society you have there. I have been able to check schools too for the children, I know my children will love it.

It is a new dawn in our lives and I pray our families enjoy great and rewarding friendship.

I mean a have consented to your proposal. Please also discuss this with my lawyer.

We are keeping our fingers crossed. Please keep me informed on your correspondence with my lawyer.

God bless.
Always,
Mr Bestoon Ibrahim Hamarahim

The scammer wrote;
"I have also taken my time to do some research on your country and properties too,"
Note: he has not been given any details whatsoever from me while gathering this information, he has no way of knowing which country I am from, it is however part of his script that he has not changed to suit the emails he has been sent.

Complete with logos and all professional looking came this email from the barrister

GOODMAN KWAME CHAMBERS
LEGAL ADVISER AND NOTARY PUBLIC
54 Kensington High St - London W8 4PT United Kingdom
Email: [email protected]
[email protected] (note: layer.com is a free email through mail.com, scammers love using these, real lawyers wouldn't ever use them)
TEL: +447024095739 , +447031960885


YOUR REF........... OUR REF........12/GKC/09..........
SERAL NUMBER 083

To,
Name:
Email: removed

This is to inform you, that we have recieved some information about you from Mr. Bestoon and its content has been clearly noted and documented for record purposes.

Requested below are sum vital information, you are advised to immediatly provide us with the information to enable us procure all necessary documents, note that the application fees of $1,200 Dollars has been taken care of by your Associate Bestoon Ibrahim Hamarahim.

VITAL INFORMATION:

NAME OF CLIENT...........
DATE OF BIRTH............
STATE OF ORIGN..........
NATIONALITY.............
SEX :..............
ADDRESS.............
PURPOSE....................
OCCUPATION...................
COMPANY NAME.................
POSTION.......................
IDENTIFICATION..................
BANK ACCOUNT NAME:...................
BANK ACCOUNT TYPE: ...................

....................................................................

CLIENT SIGN



I shall be going to the high court of justice as soon as you have provided me with the details requested above, to procure the Affidavit of Oath and have all documents changed to your name with the corresponding bank ( CATER ALLAINCE BANK).

As soon as all the necessary documents are aquired and changed to your name i shall immediately provide you with details of the corresponding bank, so you can contact them, and request for the transfer of the funds to your bank account.

You have to act fast to this important communiqué so we can immediately wheel this transaction off the ground.

Best Regards
Barrister Goodman Kwame Esq.
Legal Adviser And Notary Public.

You will notice in this email that you are told that the fees are paid for, the idea here is to gain trust, when it comes time for the fees to be paid by you, you will be reminded that Bestoon has already paid fees, it is a common ploy used in these scams to help pry money from their victims.

This stranger has invested money so everthing must be ok right?, wrong, Bestoon and the barrister are one and the same, no money has actualty changed hands yet, that is where the victim comes in.

The information they ask for here is basically to gain further trust and help the scammer to identify how pliable their victim is, a victim who freely gives these details will make a good scam target

This email is from the original persona, (The Iraqi trying to flee) in this email he will tell you he has paid yet another fee and has no money left, not even for food.

This sets up the scam with his excuse to move quickly but also for his victim to pay the next fee as he has no money left.

You might recall he had originally suggested there was only the first $1,200 fee which he paid and nothing more, now there is another $4,500 fee, again, he tells you he paid it and there will be no more fees.

Of course there will be more fees, next time he will ask his victim to pay.

My Dear Brother,

This is to inform you, that i have also again just paid for the affidavit charge, oath duty and Notary fee, which is calculated at $4300.00USD, as such you would not be required to pay any of theses fees any longer.

Please i would want you to act as fast as you can, as i have now totally spent all the money i have here with me, the only money i now have in life, is the funds with the bank, which you are to be the benefactor of, as such i would want you to act as fast as you can.

As i can not even afford food on my table now, because i have now exausted all i have.
I would want you to always update me with recent developments, as i am eagerly waiting for my family to join you as soon as possible.

I shall wait to hear from you.

Regards.
Bestoon Ibrahim Hamarahim

About 20 minutes later, I receive this from the scammer, now pretending to be the barrister

Complete with logos and multi colours to make it look more authentic came this

GOODMAN KWAME CHAMBERS
LEGAL ADVISER AND NOTARY PUBLIC
54 Kensington High St - London W8 4PT United Kingdom
Email: [email protected]
[email protected]
TEL: +447024095739 , +447031960885


YOUR REF........... OUR REF........12/GKC/09..........
SERAL NUMBER 083

To,
Name: Removed
Email: [email protected]

I am happy to inform you that our application for account holder change has been approved by the holding financial institution, Cater Alliance Bank Plc Uinted kingdom.

Note that the charges for the afidavit charge, Oath duty and Notary fee totaling $4,300.00USD, has also been fully taken care of by Mr.Bestoon Ibrahim Hamarahim, as shown on the affidavit of claim.

I am also pleased to inform you that Mr.Bestoon Ibrahim Hamarahim, has agreed to your terms of 40% only if you can assure him that his funds would be safe in your custody

The account has now been change to your name. I have attached to this email the probate letter and the affidavit of claim on the funds.

This document is private and confidential and I strongly request that you keep it that way.

For logistics reasons and the need to avoid bureaucratic bottle necks, you are advised to contact the bank, and send to them copies of the documents which i have now sent to you.
Now that you all documents has been changed to your name, you are advised to contact the bank immediately using the fetails below:

Cater Aliance Bank(C.A.B)
9 Nelson Street Bradford BD1 5AN london. UK
Contact Person: Mr Richard Dunn
Email: [email protected]
Tel : +447031933570, +447031937768
LAND-LINE : +44-208-425-8863
Fax: +44-700-596-1892

As soon as you have contacted the bank, you are advised to immediately inform me, and also inform Mr Bestoon Ibrahim Hamarahim

Best Regards
Barrister Goodman Kwame Esq.
Legal Adviser And Notary Public.

Now we have a fake bank involved to add legitimacy, the idea of holding back is to try to ensure the people they give their fake bank details to are victims.

Together with the email came this fake document;


This form does include the fake name of the baiter gathering these scripts, I would normally remove those details but I wanted to show that they can and do make these reasonably good quality fake documents for their victims.

This is quite a complex scam which shows the lengths they will go to to steal from their victims.

Below is an email, supposedly from the bank and finally we find the inevitable fees, I highlighted in blue

Bringing the very best in banking and financial support closer to you


Attn: Removed,

Cater Alliance Bank is one of the largest savings and mortgage bank in UK, with consolidated assets of more than 33 million euros and a network of 1,000 offices

The promise we make to each and every customer is that at Cater Alliance Bank, you can expect to experience Banking Convenience. It is a promise we take seriously. And keeping that promise means allowing you to bank when, where, and how you want.


As the one of the largest banks headquartered in the London metropolitan area,Cater Alliance Bank offers you the convenience of more than 250 branches and 1,000 ATMs. And those numbers continue to grow, through our opening of new full-service branches throughout the region.

By continually improving the convenience of our services, Cater Alliance Bank aims to give you more of that increasingly precious commodity - time.

Cater Alliance Bank is firmly committed to serving the banking needs of all of our communities, including low-to-moderate income customers.

In accordance with the Executive Councils regulation towards foriegn Payment geared towards the beneficiary's interest, you will have to make all payment as provided and directed by Cater Alliance Bank on behalf of the Financial Security Authorities. [FSA].


The Executive Council of Cater Alliance Bank has recieved all documents and have proceeded to change the account name to your name. Attached to this email is a copy of the account ststement been changed to your name.

To have the said sum of $28,769,582.15 USD transfered to your account, you would be required to pay for the SWIFT/WIRE TRANSFER CHARGES ( $350.43USD), which is to be made payable to the Accounts Department.

Hence, you are to make the payment for the SWIFT/WIRE TRANSFER CHARGES ( $350.43USD) to the Accounts Department via WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER to the chief Accounts Officer with the details given below:



NAME: Elizabeth Ford
ADDRESS: 9 Nelson Street, Bradford, london.United Kingdom
AMOUNT: $350.43USD

As soon as the payment is effected, you are required to forward the full details of payment to this office via email or fax for acknowledgement of payment. The information needed for the confirmation of payment are given below:

SENDERS NAME:
SENDERS ADDRESS:
MONEY TRANSFER CONTROL NUMBER:
AMOUNT PAID:
RECEIVERS NAME:

Furthermore, be informed that as soon as payment is acknowledged, your funds will be transered to you using any of the option which you shall choose:

1) We could Send the funds to your bank account within 24hours ( Send to us your full bank account information)

2) We could send you an ATM card in your name loaded with the sum of $28,769,582.15 USD and you can use the ATM to withdraw the sum from any ATM machine all over the world. ( Send to us the address where you want the ATM delivered.)

3) We could send you a cheque for the said amount which you can take to any bank of your choice to cash.( Send to us the address where you want the cheque delivered.).

As soon as you have paid the required charges, you are advised to inform us, on how you want us to have the said sum transfered to you.

We shall await payment information from you.


Mr Richard Dunn.
Head Banking Operations
Cater Alliance Bank,
9 Nelson Street Bradford BD1 5AN london. UK
Tel: +447031926860, +447031910799
LAND-LINE +44-208-425-8863
Fax: +44-700-596-1892
Email: [email protected]
[email protected]






=========================================="Cater Alliance Bank are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority and signatories to the Banking Codes" =============================================== ==============
This e-mail is only for the above addressees. It may contain confidential or privileged information. If you are not an addressee you must not copy, distribute, disclose or use any of the information in it or any attachments. If you have received it in error please notify the sender and delete it immediately. All business is transacted under our Standard Trading Terms and Conditions a copy of which is available upon request. E.& O. E. All liability for viruses is excluded to the fullest extent permitted by law.

It is common for scammers to tell you they are from a bank and go on to tell you to pay them money via Western Union, real banks simply would never use anything other than their own bank to receive money, nor would they be putting millions into your account

Now we are at the money stage the scam seems much more apprarent.

Bestoon was asked about the fees and was reminded that all fees were supposedly paid for, these are his replies;

I have paid for all the bills, without the fees requested by the bank, i would want to plead with you to please help in paying the charges required by the bank.
As i did inform you, i have spent all i have, and now i do not have a $1 with me, so i beg you to please help me on this.

I shall wait to hear from you.

Dear sir,

I have spoken to the barrister, regarding the banks decision to have the transfer charges paid.

The barrister has informed me, that the funds in the bank has been insured with a hard cover insurance policy, and as such they can not deduct from the funds with them, as the funds has been insured with a hard cover insurance , and as such no deduction can be made on it.

My barrister, has now advised that you try to have the said charges paid to the bank, to enable the bank immediately have the funds transfered to you.

Dear sir, i would want to appeal to you on behalf of my family to please assist me on this, as my family really needs your assistance.


I shall wait to hear from you.

Regards,
Bestoon.

then, 8 minutes ago this from the fake bank

Bringing the very best in banking and financial support closer to you


Attn: Murray Spooner,

This is to officially inform you, that we have not recieved any form of fees from any one in regards to the transfer of your funds to you.

You are by this email advised to provide the required charges, or we shall keep the funds in our custody.

We shall wait to hear from you.

Mr Richard Dunn.
Head Banking Operations
Cater Alliance Bank,
9 Nelson Street Bradford BD1 5AN london. UK
Tel: +447031926860, +447031910799
LAND-LINE +44-208-425-8863
Fax: +44-700-596-1892
Email: [email protected]
[email protected]

=========================================="Cater Alliance Bank are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority and signatories to the Banking Codes" =============================================== ==============
This e-mail is only for the above addressees. It may contain confidential or privileged information. If you are not an addressee you must not copy, distribute, disclose or use any of the information in it or any attachments. If you have received it in error please notify the sender and delete it immediately. All business is transacted under our Standard Trading Terms and Conditions a copy of which is available upon request. E.& O. E. All liability for viruses is excluded to the fullest extent permitted by law