The Scammer : Bernard Okoli, still playing in the minors
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Bernard Okoli From: Bernard Okoli [mailto:ben_okoli@k.ro] Sent: Tue 7/26/2005 Subject: Hello Dear Friend, I am a project manager with the Federal Ministry of Works & Housing (FMW&H). I obtained your email from the internet, while searching for a reliable person, who could assist us in receiving cash gift from contractors awarded contracts executed under the current budgetary allocation for NDDC. These bills had been approved for payment by the concerned ministry. The contracts had been executed and commissioned. What we are about to receive now, is a promised cash gift from the contractors whom we have helped during the process of obtaining the contracts and in the processing of their payments. On our part, all modalities had been worked out in ensuring a smooth conclusion of the transfer to you within the next twenty one days. All I want from you is your details to enable these foreign contractors forward the cash gift to you on our behalf, because as government officials we cannot collect these cash gift directly from them, neither are we allowed by law to operate/run foreign accounts. If you are trustworthy and can assist me in receiving these cash gift, I will like you to provide immediately to me, your full names, address, and telephone number. Please note that there will be no financial obligation required from you and this transaction is risk free. For each cash you receive on our behalf, you will be entitled to 10% of that sum. As soon as you indicate your interest, further instructions will be passed on to you on the procedure that we will follow in accomplishing this deal. Kindly reach me immediately via this e-mail address furnishing me with your details as stated above. Looking forward to hearing from you. Best regards, Mr.Bernard Okoli {My first scam with Pedro that went more than a couple of emails. I wasn't sure at first, so I used the anglicised version of Pedro's name...} Pedro Martinez Date: Jul 29, 2005 I am sorry it took me a while to respond, as I was on a road trip. This sounds like a risky proposal, so I would of course require more than 10%. Let me know if these modalities are acceptable. - Peter M. {here's the headers for old Bernard... I'll leave off the rest} Bernard Okoli [manicured] Received: from k.ro (www.k.ro [194.102.255.23]) From: Bernard Okoli <ben_okoli@k.ro> X-Sender-IP: 212.199.137.146 [<--- Golden Lines Intl. Communication Services Ltd., Israel -- one of many satellite communications companies reselling to African ISPs] Subject: Thanks Dear Peter M, I appreciate your response to my mail and i will like to assure you that it is not risky in any way, but i will talk to my partner about your percentage then get back to you. Have a lovely weekend. Regards. Bernard Okoli. {I know it's slow, but I was just getting into Pedro.} Pedro Martinez Date: Jul 31, 2005 That sounds fantastic. May you have a fantastic weekend as well Mr Okoli. Bernard Okoli Date: Aug 1, 2005 Subject: Hello Dear Peter, I spoke with my partner as promised and we are willing to give you 15% of the total amount you receive on our behalf. I hope you are satisfied with it and if your answer is yes, please comply with paragraph three of my very first mail. I look forward to hearing from you. Best regards. Bernard Okoli. {Starting to throw in some baseball terms} Pedro Martinez Date: Aug 1, 2005 Dear Mr. Bernard Okoli: You drive a hard bargain, but I will agree with 15%. Let's discuss further the details of this - how much are we expecting to clear? What are the risks involved? Am I going to have to work more than once every 5 days? Sincerely, Peter Martinez Bernard Okoli Date: Aug 1, 2005 Hello Peter Martinez, Please send your phone number so that i can call you. Bernard Pedro Date: Aug 1, 2005 Hello Bernard, It would be better if we could use email because I travel a lot for my job, and so I'm never near my phone. In addition I am between cell phones... let me tell you one thing - don't ever buy an Audiovox phone! They are junk. Petey {It's true about Audiovox.} { I set up a voicemail through K7 because I wanted to hear him} Pedro Date: Aug 3, 2005 Hello Mr. Okoli I have not heard from you in a couple of days. I have a new phone number 206.202.1619 but email communication is so much easier for me. Peter Martinez. Bernard Date: Aug 3, 2005 Subject: I will give you a call Hello Peter Martinez. Thanks for the phone number. I will give you a call. Please, I asked for your some informations in paragraph three of my very first mail. Please as you have decided to assist me, comply with my request Regards. Bernard Okoli. {This is the address for Shea Stadium. I even checked the schedule to see where the Mets were playing. Now I'm getting the hang of this.} Pedro Martinez Date: Aug 3, 2005 Hello Bernard Okoli. OK, B, here you go Peter Martinez 123-01 Roosevelt Ave Flushing, NY 11368 206-202-1619 I'm in town for a few days (I'm working tonight - Milwakee) but have a road trip starting Tuesday. Petey {I hadn't heard from him so I wanted to push his buttons - I got this line from Unkindly Contributor. I was giggling when I sent it. Also, decided to see if this guy had any clue who Pedro Martinez was.} Pedro Martinez Date: Aug 4, 2005 Bernard Okoli. Let me know when you decide to be serious about this. Regards, Pedro. {He indeed left me two long voicemails. The poor fella sounded like he had been up all night scamming people. He sounded so tired! Who ever said 419 scams weren't hard work? Oh yeah, and he sent it twice.} Bernard Okoli Subject: I called twice Dear Peter Martinez, I called you twice and got your voice mail both times. however, here is what I wanted to discuss with you so that every thing would be clear. Thank you for your positive response to my mail and the interest you have shown to join hands with me in the receiving of my reward from the contractor and investing it in projects that will be beneficial to the both of us. Now that you have promised to assist me receive the cash gift from the contractor, I will reach him with your details to enable him send the money to you. Though he has not told me the actual amount he will be sending but he has promised that it will be highly appreciated upon receipt. Besides receiving the money, I will also need your assistance in investing the money into any business that will yield some interest, no matter how small it is for me. I will want you to send me a duly signed handwritten agreement promising me that upon deduction of 15% as agreed in my first mail, that the other 85% will be kept safe and if possible invested into any less risk and profitable business that will yield interest for me. Besides, this, I will also want you to send to me a photocopy of an identity such as driver’s license or international passport. Also you should also send your banking information incase the contractor decides to send the money via wire transfer. Upon receipt of the above requirements from you, I will reach the contractor to immediately send the money to you. I am looking forward to hearing from you. Take care and have a nice day. Please you can scan and send the required Identity and hand written agreement by e-mail to me. Regards. Mr.Bernard Okoli. Pedro Date: Aug 8, 2005 Dear Mr. Okoli: I received your voicemails - thank you. You sound very tired. I can understand that - even though I only work once every five days, that fifth day is all business. Sometimes it feels like I am out there by myself - no support. In my business, support is essential. I will work on a signed contract to send you. However, there is no way this side of the Babe that I am sending you a copy of my passport. A man of my position cannot have something like that floating around. That's another risk in my business - if you leave something floating, more often than not some juice-headed freak will knock it out of the park. Please stand by for your contract. Pedro M. Bernard Date: Aug 8, 2005 Subject: Ok Dear Peter Martinez, I will await the agreement, But I will also need a form of identification. I await your response. Regards. Bernard. {A work of artistic wonderment I created... I wrote a contract and then pulled the signature off of an eBay photo of a Pedro Martinez autographed baseball. I may or may not have done it on company time... Also, I saved it as a bitmap over 1 meg :) But I compressed it to send to you. It's the file contract.} Pedro Date: Aug 8, 2005 Dear Bernard Okoli, I have enclosed the contract as stated. Please let me know if the terms are OK. Usually I let my agent handle all my contracts, and he does a very good job (he gets the money, I put them right over the plate.) As for Identification: Like I said, that is a very risky pitch. I'll need more confidence in you that you are serious and you are who you say you are before I'll ever scan my passport! What kind of rookie do you think I am? Pedro  Bernard Date: Aug 9, 2005 Subject: Hello Pedro Dear Peter Martinez, I got the hand written agreement and it is satisfactory. However i also asked for you banking information so that i can forward it to the contractor as well in case he decides to send the money to you via wire transfer. I await your response. Best regards. Berbard Okoli. {Since Pedro is a citizen of the Dominican Republic, why shouldn't he have an real Dominican Bank account?} Pedro Date: Aug 9, 2005 Dear Mr. Bernard Okoli. Here is my banking information: Banco Mercantil Roberto Pastoriza 303 Apartado Postal 20203 Santo Domingo Dominican Republic (809) 276-4333 I hope that this allows us to circle all the bases. Please let me know when the first deposit is to come in. Together we will strike these out one after another! Best regards, Pedro Martinez {I sensed I was losing him and was very disappointed :( Another jab.} Pedro Date: Aug 10, 2005 Bernard: What is the holdup here? I feel like I have been sitting in the bullpen for nine innings. If you are not serious about this transaction, then kindly stop wasting my time. Pedro {Well, I wasn't as disappointed as I was when the Yankees beat the Sox in Game 7 of the ALCS in 2003 (because that day I wanted to kill myself) but I was still disappointed.} Pedro Date: Aug 11, 2005 Bernard Okoli: I can see that you are not serious about this business opportunity. I am disappointed. I thought we had a chance to make some money. I haven't been this upset since Game 7 in 2003. Well, good luck in whatever you do. Best Regards, Pedro Martinez {NICE! My verbal abuse got a reply} Bernard Date: Aug 13, 2005 Hello, I was willing to do business with you. But you live in Newyork while your bank is in Dominican Republic. So I believed you were trying to play some kind of game. I would not feel comfortable having my money sent to you. So long my friend and thanks for the help you almost rendered. Bernard. {That email was the perfect setup for the flip off. I'll miss Bernard - you never forget your first.} Pedro Date: Aug 16, 2005 Dear Mr. Bernard Okoli: You were right. I was playing a game with you. I'm not Pedro Martinez, the three time Cy Young award winner. But you're not Bernard Okoli either. You wouldn't feel comfortable sending money to me? At least I'm not a dirty 419 scammer. May Wil Cordero treat you like his wife and beat you with the cordless phone. Your pal, Pedro |