Now you know where he gets his brains from.
I give him credit for going public with his loss. Maybe it'll stop some other idiot from pawning the family jewels.
Posted on 01/14/2009 8:31:09 AM PST by Red Badger
A Leamington man has fallen prey to international scam artists who strung him along for more than a year with the promise of millions in cash, but ultimately bilked him and his family of $150,000.
John Rempel said he quit his truck driving job, lost friends, borrowed money and crossed the globe in pursuit of a non-existent inheritance, after he was contacted by e-mail in what is known as a Nigerian 419 scam.
Rempel said he borrowed $55,000 from an uncle in Mexico and his parents gave him $60,000 on credit to cover fees for transferring $12.8 million into his name.
“They’re in it now because of me,” said Rempel, 22, breaking into sobs. “If it wasn’t for me, nobody would be in this mess. You think things will work out, but it doesn’t. It’s a very bad feeling. I had lots of friends.
“I never get calls anymore from my friends. You know, a bad reputation.”
His troubles began in July 2007. He said he got an e-mail from someone claiming to be a lawyer with a client named David Rempel who died in a 2005 bomb attack in London, England, and left behind $12.8 million.
“They used to come in the mail,” said Leamington police Const. Kevin O’Neil. “Now the majority of these are sent through e-mail. Keeping up with the times, using all the wonderful technology that’s available to them.”
“I was told once that they send out 30,000 e-mails a day, around the world, and they hope for just one or two responses. Once you return a phone call or return an e-mail, these people now have their hooks into you.”
The lawyer said his client had no family but wanted to leave the money to a Rempel. It was his lucky day.
“It sounded all good so I called him,” said Rempel. “He sounded very happy and said God bless you.”
The man then told him he had to pay $2,500 to transfer the money into his name. Then there were several more documents. Some cost $5,000.
He was told to open an account at a bank in London. That required a $5,000 minimum deposit. The crooks later sent him an e-mail with a link to what he was told were details of his new account. Some money had been transferred there for “safe keeping.”
“Everything was good,” said Rempel.
Then he got an e-mail from a government department — he’s not sure which country — saying he owed $250,000 on tax on his inheritance. Rempel spoke to his contact, who told him they negotiated the fee down to $25,000.
Rempel went to Mexico where his uncle owns a farm. His uncle gave him $10,000 cash and money for a plane ticket. He was going to London to make sure it was legitimate.
“I had $10,000 in cash in my pocket and my uncle sent another $25,000 when I was over there.”
In London, Rempel met some people and handed over the $10,000.
They met Rempel the next day with a suitcase. They said it had $10.6 million in shrink-wrapped U.S. bills. Rempel wanted more proof. His new friends pulled out one bill and “cleansed” it with a liquid “formula,” which washed off some kind of stamp. Rempel was told that process made the money “legal tender.”
“I was like holy crap, is that mine?” he said. “They said ‘yes sir, it’s yours.’ It all sounded legit.”
Rempel returned to his hotel room clutching the formula and waited for the others so they could cleanse all his money. They never showed, and later told him they got held up. In the meantime, Rempel dropped the formula. The bottle broke. He called his contact who said he’d get more. Rempel returned to Leamington and waited.
A few weeks later Rempel got a call. They found more formula. It would cost $120,000.
“I thought, ‘let’s work on it, nothing is impossible,’” said Rempel.
His contacts were willing to meet associates in different countries to get cash for the formula. It would require several plane tickets, worth $6,000 each.
Rempel was told they collected $100,000, but still needed $20,000. There was a guy in Nigeria who had it, but another plane ticket was required. The contact later told him he could only get $15,000 and “begged” Rempel for the last $5,000.
Rempel borrowed money. He stopped making Visa and car payments.
They called a week later and said the money was ready to go. They just needed $6,900 for travel costs and to rent trunks to ship the money.
Later, the men called to say they were at the airport in New York. Security stopped them and they needed $12,500 for a bribe. Finally, Rempel had enough.
“I said, ‘no way I’m cleaned out.’”
Rempel, his parents and 10-year-old brother Ike drove to New York. They spent a day searching the airport for the men, with no luck. They returned home and called police.
“I really thought in my heart this was true,” said Rempel.
— with files from Dalson Chen
I got a new one the other day, I’m sure others have seen it.
This one is supposedly from a member of the military.
Hello,
I am Montgomery James Levi,Through the years I have served with the Military and with my position, I was able to secure a sum of money amounting to USD$30M from contracts and assignments in conflicting countries. The money was earned on contract basis to non staff, so therefore I need a neutral person to be able to cash the money. As a result of this I am contacting you and not even a family member to avoid complications arising from talks or the likes. Most importantly, do not treat this letter/email as one of the African scam mails because I am for real and have no reason to lie at this my age, so you give me the benefit of doubt.
I await your urgent reply.
Best regard,
Montgomery James.
mrjlevi@live.com
I would think he would be a little brighter than that. It shouldn’t take brains to figure out you’re being taken to the cleaners if you’re begging friends and relatives for $10,000 here, $5,000 there, and $2,500 there.
But what I wonder about is the family member handing over tens of thousands of dollars to a 22 year old. Whe the he** were they thinking?I was wondering about the same thing. Then I thought: “Same genes!”
Now you know where he gets his brains from.
I give him credit for going public with his loss. Maybe it'll stop some other idiot from pawning the family jewels.
Mr. Rempel, meet Mr. Darwin...
This one I received yesterday is PRICELESS. Read the full text for a GREAT laugh:
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Anti-Terrorist And Monitory Crime Division.
Federal Bureau Of Investigation.
J.Edgar.Hoover Building Washington Dc
Customers Service Hours—Monday To Saturday:
Office Hours Monday To Saturday:
Attn: Beneficiary,
This is to Officially inform you that it has come to our notice and we have thoroughly Investigated with the help of our Intelligence Monitoring Network System that you are having an illegal Transaction with Impostors claiming to be Prof. Charles C. Soludo of the Central Bank Of Nigeria, Mr. Patrick Aziza, Mr Frank Nweke, none officials of Oceanic Bank, Zenith Banks, kelvin Young of HSBC, Ben of FedEx, Ibrahim Sule,Larry Christopher, Dr. Usman Shamsuddeen, Puppy Scammers are impostors claiming to be the Federal Bureau Of Investigation. During our Investigation, we noticed that the reason why you have not received your payment is because you have not fulfilled your Financial Obligation given to you in respect of your Contract/Inheritance Payment.
The New American President Barrack Obama have made way to all americans who have not yet received their payment, In recent ages, The American experienced difficulties in receiving their funds because of the former presidents of USA, As you know quite well that Nigeria is a black country and the Past American presidents treats the blacks in the america like slaves, The White americans practice races against the blacks and the Nigerian Government is not happy about this and this is the main reason why your payment have been delayed with one excuse or the other, Your New President Barrack Obama had a meeting with the Nigerian President some weeks ago and for the fact, Barrack Obama is a black man and will stop races in America, All americans are eligible to receive their payment now without anymore headaches. This is a good news to you so act fast and receive your payment now without anymore delay.
Please I have taken this measure, having observed and known what you have suffered in your pursuit so far to claim your funds with fake banks IN AFRICA ESPECIALLY NIGERIA(CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA/ FAKE SCURITY BANK) e.t.c and I have understood that it would take a long rough journey for you to receive this funds through ATM CARD Payment, this is while we have gone this extra mile in making sure that you receive immediately your deposit through this safe means where there will be no trail and error or stories. Since your deposit was called back to Africa and was converted into the Ecowas treasury after arresting all the people involved in scaming you both from NIGERIA, Benin Republic and UK
Therefore, we have contacted the Federal Ministry Of Finance on your behalf and they have brought a solution to your problem by cordinating your payment in total USD$11,000.000.00 in an ATM CARD which you can use to withdraw money from any ATM MACHINE CENTER anywhere in the world with a maximum of $4000 to $5000 United States Dollars daily. You now have the lawful right to claim your fund in an ATM CARD.
Since the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is involved in this transaction, you have to be rest assured for this is 100% risk free it is our duty to protect the American Citizens. All I want you to do is to contact the ATM CARD CENTER via email for their requirements to proceed and procure your Approval Slip on your behalf which will cost you $250.00 only and note that your Approval Slip which contains details of the agent who will process your transaction.
CONTACT INFORMATION
NAME: MR. DANIEL SMITH
EMAIL: drdanielsmith@yahoo.cn
Do contact Mr. Daniel Smith of the ATM CARD DEPARTMENT with your details:
FULL NAME:
HOME ADDRESS:
TELL:
CELL:
CURRENT OCCUPATION:
AGE:
So your files would be updated after which he will send the payment information’s which you’ll use in making payment of $250.00 via Western Union Money Transfer or Money Gram Transfer for the procurement of your Approval Slip after which the delivery of your ATM CARD will be effected to your designated home address without any further delay. We order you get back to this office after you have contacted the ATM SWIFT CARD CENTER and we do await your response so we can move on with our Investigation and make sure your ATM SWIFT CARD gets to you.
We assure you that your parcel will arrive your country within 2 days as soon as this company receive the payment of $250 by you and the tracking number of your parcel will be sent to you via e-mail immediately so that you can track it yourself to see whether we are competent in the discharge of our duties.
Thanks and hope to read from you soon.
ROBERT S. MUELLER,
DIRECTOR
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20535
Note: Do disregard any email you get from any impostors or offices claiming to be in possession of your ATM CARD, you are hereby advice only to be in contact with Mr. Daniel Smith of the ATM CARD CENTRE who is the rightful person to deal with in regards to your ATM CARD PAYMENT and forward any emails you get from impostors to this office so we could act upon and commence investigation.
Congratulations, John Rempel, you have just won the $150,000 first prize in the “World’s Stupidest Man” contest!!! Just send me $5,000 for handling and I will forward your check immediately.
Life’s most remembered lessons are it’s harshest.
Unfortunately, it’s folks like this knucklehead that keep these scams coming.
I had someone I suspected was Nigerian try to rent my cabin. After we had established the cost for a couple of weeks, she asked if I could front some money for a limo and security at the airport...
I thought I’d jump over and check my HotMail account because these scams are always showing up. Sure enough, I just won £7,000,000.00 in the “Euro-Afro-America Sweepstake
Lottery International”
From: Mrs. Teresa Allan.
Euro-Afro-American-Sweepstake Lottery
Headquarters: 1a, Bexon Court Carlton
Nottingham shire Nottingham NG4 1SQ Essex
United Kingdom
Customer Service: 580 NCA 85914
Ref: EAASL/941OYI/09
Batch: 12/27/Du34
Date: 5TH/JANUARY/2009
Ref: 575061720
Batch: 8056490902/112
Winning no:KB8701/LPRC.
CONGRATULATIONS WINNING NOTIFICATION
Dear Sir/Ma,
We happily announce to you the draw of the Euro-Afro-America Sweepstake
Lottery International programs held on 5TH of JANUARY 2009 lottery
programme (Draw No.1124 )in Essex United Kingdom.
Your e mail address was attached to ticket number; 4007453211 serial
number 87529628170.this batch draws the lucky numbers as follows
28-41-22-17-80 bonus number 30,which consequently won the lottery in
the second category.
You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of £7,000,000.00
(Seven Million British Pounds Sterling) in cash credited to file
KPC/9080118308/55.
To file for your claim, please contact our
corresponding offshore payment center immediately you read this message
for quick and urgent release of your fund, contact information is as
follow: -
Dr.Mark Mishael & Associates. (Esq)
E-mail: fundtransfer.unionbankuk1@gmail.com
Official Contact Phone : +447035927808
Please be informed that all winning must be claimed on or before 30TH
JUNE 2009.To avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please quote
your reference/batch numbers in any corres
pondences with our designated
agents or us.
This is from a total cash prize of £1100,000,00 Million British Pounds
Sterling, shared amongst the first One Hundred and thirty (130) lucky
winners in 2nd category world-wide.
Please note: That your lucky winning number falls within our Afro
booklet representative office in LONDON UNITED KINGDOM as indicated in
your play coupon.
In view of this,your £7,000,000.00 (Seven Million British Pounds
Sterling) would be released to you by our LONDON offshore payment
center CENTRAL BANK OF ENGLAND.
Our INTERNATIONAL agent will immediately commence the process to
facilitate the release of your funds as soon as you contact him.All
participants were selected randomly from World Wide Web site through
computer draws system and extracted from over 10,000,00 companies.
This promotion takes place annually.For security reasons, you are
advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claims
is processed and your money remitted to you in whatever manner you deem
fit to claim your prize.
This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and
unwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous elements.
Please be warned.
Congratulations once more from all members and staffs of this program
that has successfully won this competition.
Thank you for being part of our promotional lottery program.
Sincerely,
Mr. Alexa
=0
Andra Davis.
United Kingdom zonal Secretary General.
Thank you for your Co-operation
From: Mrs. Teresa Allan.
Euro-Afro-American-Sweepstake Lottery
Headquarters: 1a, Bexon Court Carlton
Nottingham shire Nottingham NG4 1SQ Essex
United Kingdom
There is a blog somewhere I remember where the members try and get these scammers to do stuff for them to “prove” they are real, like send naked pictures of themselves or something. It’s really funny what they can get these people to do............
PT Barnum said there is a sucker born every minute...well, that saying is false, there are actually hundreds of suckers born every minute, and all ya gotta do is find one
I’ll bet he was dreaming of buying a Porsche.
Canada.
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