Patrick Lawrence, Nigerian Scammer - Victims Story

Here is a letter from our reader sent in to warn others about Patrick Lawrence, a Nigerian Scammer. here is the email:

Patrick claims his undying love for me and how we will be married when he returns to the States. He claims he is in Nigeria building homes on a $10 million contract. He even showed me the contract. He also claims he is from Germany where he was born and raised. He got his degree in B.S. Construction Science in Germany. His father died when he was 17 and his mother died recently so he moved from Germany to Dallas, Texas, where he claims to live at 10141 Daria Place, Dallas, Texas. I researched that address and found out that President George W. Bush lives there! His phone number is 234 812 219 7140. But each time he calls, the phone connection is bad and I am unable to talk to him. His email address is digingforlove23@yahoo.com. He asked me to take down my profile from match dot com because he didn’t want anyone to take me away from him. He claims he took his profile down as soon as he found me because I was the perfect woman for him. His IM’s on Yahoo messenger are full of “loving” words all about how I am the perfect one for him. He tells me his construction job will end in 3 weeks time and that he is going to fly to my place and surprise me and my family. He also IM’d my daughter in Spanish. He says he has his 10 year old son, David, with him in Nigeria and that David has a personal teacher. He shows me pictures of David. He asks me to use my webcam but claims he has to go out and buy one for himself (so I am not able to see him online). Below are excerpts of some of the conversations we have had:

“i can see so many thing's in you that make you so specal to me and know other man that see it but i do and that is why i fall madly in love with you”

“you gave me hope and i want to make sure we get together and i will be a suprise to you and your family”

“Oh....my love you alway's told me about your past and how much you get hurt,....that is why i want to suprise you and your family”

“i'll fly to your place and you will be the person to pick me at the airport”

“you are like a dream I never thought would ever come true for me. When I hear your voice I start to smile with glee. My eyes shine with glee when I know you are thinking of me”

“Honestly you are so special to me; I pray that we will finally know we are meant to be with one another. I haven't ever talked to anyone so like you before”

His spelling is always bad. I don’t have a photo to share because I was unable to download a good one from Yahoo messenger. But he claims to be 5’8” and about 180 lbs. The photo shows a white man with salt and pepper hair and the man in the photo is very good looking. His user name on match.com was something like “cryingforlove”. He also shows a photo of this man in a “Gruene Hall” t-shirt.

Grace John is a Nigerian Scammer

I just got an email from a Nigerian scammer who says they "found" me profile on a dating site. I have no profiles on any internet dating sites, and they think I am a male, and I am actually a female. Here is the letter and fake photo.

My Dear ,

I am more than happy in your urgent reply to my mail.How was your day?.
mine was cool over here in Daker Senegal.
My name is grace john am from libaria in west Africa and
presently i am residing in the refugee camp here in dakar as a result of
the civil war going on in my country.My late father Dr john was the
personal advicer to the former head of state before the rebels attacked my
house one early morning killing my mother and my father. It was only me that
is alive now and i managed to make my way to near by country Senegal where i
am leaving now. I would like to know more about you. Your likes and
dislikes,your hobbies and what you are doing presently.I will tell more
about myself in my next mail.
Attached here is my picture,
Hoping to hear from you soonest.
Thanks.grace joh

Scam Victims Story - Gerald Allen

A reader recently sent us their story dealing with a Nigerian scammer going by the name of Gerald Allen:
I live in Spain and was contacted August 2009 by a man who said that he was an American/Canadian following my dating advert in germansingles He told me that he was about 51 years old, divorced with an 11 year old daughter, that he was an freelance geologist after having worked as such for many years for Halleburton. At the time of the initial contact he said that he was in London tendering for a contract in Scotland and Norway. As he didn´t get these contracts he then, so he told me, obtained a contract in Nigeria solving an oil spillage. After about 6 weeks of chatting online via Messenger he became very affectionate and declared his love for me and that he wanted to meet me. After about 2 months of having regular online contact he told me that he had left his briefcase with his passport, all his money, credit cards etc. in a taxi travelling from the site and he then asked me to help him out financially which I did. This was followed by a variety of other sob stories which ended in my sending him more money. He sounded always very convincing and although I did have doubts unfortunately I always gave him the benefit of the doubt. I sent him money to leave Nigeria and he said that he was then in London. I tried to meet him in the U.K. 3 times whilst over there but each time something happened as to why he could not meet me. He continued chatting to me for over one year more via messenger. During that time I did not send him more money although from time to time I received more sob stories. Just recently I asked him to come to Spain and e-mailed a Ryanair boarding pass to him. (I had a copy of his "American passport" which was a fake). Needless to say he did not turn up. He told me that at the Ryanair Visa check desk he had been asked for a malaria vaccination certificate (He said that he contracted malaria whilst in Nigeria) which he said cost Pound Sterling 360.--. I checked this out with Ryanair and received confirmation from them in writing that this was not required. I challenged him on this and he eventually admitted that he was actually a Nigerian/South African with a mixed colour Nigerian father and a white South African mother. He asked my forgiveness and told me that he was ashamed of what he had done to me. All in all he conned me out of Euros 20,000.- which he said that he would repay bit by bit. He said that he had not spent all this money but invested it in shares. He also begged me not to report him to the police. He wanted to turn over a new leaf and make something of himself. I don´t believe that this is true and that he will continue conning women out of money. His e-mail address is geraldall@hotmail.com and geraldald@yahoo.com
geraldallen@yahoo.com

his mobile phone no. is 00447035906915 (previously 004470457029 and whilst in Nigeria 2347030884045)

his "Canadian mother´s" phone no. 17802375213 and her e-mail address maryavilla@hotmail.com and his "daughter´s Kimberley" kimberlygrd@hotmail.com

I checked his "mother´s and daughter´s" e-mail out by sending a greeting card via 123greetings which were returned.

Since then he has admitted that he does not have any children and is single.

He told me that his present address in London is 23 Bethel Drive, Newham, London E138BN.

He admitted that the initial 2 photos he sent me were somebody else but the subsequent ones were him (the last 2 were not that different from the initial ones but his "American passport" photo was quite different. (I had asked him for a copy of his passport before sending him more money about 1 year ago getting him out of Nigeria by making up a bit of a story).

Gerald Allens' "Doctors Note" - Nigerian Scam

Here is an email from a "Doctor" (that would never send an email) in the UK (where they have free health care by the way) asking for money (and is not in the billing department). Typical Nigerian scammer email



From: perkingsclinic@hotmail.co.uk
To: geraldall@hotmail.com
Subject: AS REGARDS MR GERALD ALLEN
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 2009 08:58:41 +0000

Dear Madam,

I am writing this mail on behalf of a patient of mine Mr.Gerald Allen who told me you happen to be his wife and hence you are priviledged to this information.Your husband Mr.Gerald was involved in a ghasty car accident on friday in a taxi cab on his way to the airport from Benin to lagos,he was rushed to our clinic in a state of coma,he suffered multiple wounds,internal bleeding and an open wound fracture to his right femur.I and the team of doctors on duty were able to stabilise him and eventually get him out of coma.We had to do everything within our powers to save his life since he was a foreigner and had to go against the hospital policy of treating him even without having someone to stand in for him or having someone to pay for the treatment.Well the next phase of his treatment is to perform surgery for his fractured femur and madam,am sorry to say that we can no longer continue any further treatment on Mr.Gerald unless some deposits are made and the amount for the surgical operation is 6000 euros.I hope that you now understand the situation on ground and perhaps act accordingly,do feel free to write back on any detail that is not clear to you and I will surely explain further on it,do take care and do have a wonderful day ahead,

yours sincerely,

Dr.Akinbola Olawole,(FWACS

Ben Ford - Nigerian Scammer

We received the following email from a reader who recognized a con artist/scammer before it could go any further. She found the photos he was using of himself on an online Italian magazine story. This is what our reader wrote:
He was instant messaging (IM), he asked for my email saying he was having issues with his IM at the dating site (which duh I gave, not sure if he can do anything with it). He kept asking the same question... what did I consider romantic? what did I think of the dating site? "how beautiful I was" messages were mostly questions, asking for my full name, where I lived, what type of work I did, and their stories are always the same: they are single dads, living with a child they adore at home, and they think "I" am so perfect... I started asking him questions about exact location where he lived, his favorite restaurant in the area, and he kept ignoring, and asking the question back at me. Then I made up the name "blue room" said it was my favorite place and asked him if he liked it, he said he loved it, I click disconnect, and therefore did not continue for him to ask for money, but I am pretty sure if I continue the communication game, he will. If that helps get them off the crook biz of taking advantage of women, I'll do it
Here is his first email:
From: Bend Ford <bendford@yahoo.com>
To: X
Sent: Sunday, November 13, 2011 11:22 PM
Subject: My Pics and More about me..

Hello How are you doing Am Ben 48 Years old ,From California , I feel I'm pretty laid back & have a really good sense of humor. I have lots of interests & can carry on a conversation with just about anyone. I'm very creative. Kind of hard to explain, but I love it & it keeps me occupied! I don't drink, smoke or do drugs. I'm a Christian & like to sing. I'm not a needy, clingy person, but at the same time I can be very affectionate & loving. I am comfortable in a crowd, but enjoy quiet times as well. I am said to have a great sense of humor and love to make people laugh. I am generally a happy person and once you become my friend it's a lifetime commitment to me. I would love to be in love but am not needy nor desperate.Friendship is the foundation and if love was meant to be, then it will. Am confident and satisfied with the life I have made for myself. Am not looking for anyone to change me but to accept me for who I am. I love to be romanced and to me the little things in life are very important. A card, flowers, an I love you call, holding hands and just those things that let me know that I am important to you. I love to be pampered and I love to pamper my Woman. What you see is what you get. No pretense, no show. I am proud to be a true man .what am searching for someone who is loving and kind, intelligent and adventurous. she will be my best friend, my lover and my partner. she must know how to laugh at life's absurdities and find the humor in things. ...i will be 100% honest and sincere to her but i will like her to do the same for me.i dont want to get divorced/widowed or allow what have happened to me in the past run my chance of happiness...because i will get hurt more and more.....But i know one day i will find my sweetest love ever...Actually understanding matters alot and trust is another thing that goes along with a good relationship and friendship.If you can give me your trust, am sure we can be friends without hurting each other.Although relationship is just like a perfume of which certain amount may delight you, but too much of it can turn you off...i want you to be there for me if am not in happy mood to carry me on i can assure you..you will be the happiest lady on earth.Though miles may lie between us, we're never far apart, for friendship doesn't count the miles, it's measured by the heart.No distance of place or lapse of time can lessen the friendship of those who are thoroughly persuaded of each others worth,also say My Special Angel.One of my questions is can you handle kindness?K kindness comes from the heart and most people treat kindness as weakness.So if you are looking for a kind person then you need not look any further.I am looking for a commitment.No head games please.So if my Angel is out their you can come to me.and i also believe Nothing good comes easy except by hard work.Hey guess a little about me will be glad to receive a response from you... Ben.. PS. The reader who submitted this info is going to "toy" with "Ben" and see when he asks her for money. Will post further details as we get them. Thanks so much to the lady who submitted this, and to all of you that submit your stories to us to help others from being scammed.

George Nicolas - Nigerian Scammer

From: George Nicolas <colasgeor@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Tue, Nov 1, 2011 at 9:48 PM
Subject: GOOD TO HEAR FROM
To: X;

Dear X,

It's a pleasure writing you at this very moment. How are you today? I hope you are doing great? I am indeed very grateful receiving your mail. Am so sorry for not responding on time it was due to my busy schedule here with work. Before i proceed, let me introduce myself properly. My names are George Nicholas from Scotland but i live in Manchester England. I'm an offshore platform/Oil platform Engineer working with Chevron Oil Company. Hence, i am mailing right away from our ship in high sea. The nature of my job takes me to places.

Meanwhile, for a long time now i have not been in any relationship ever since the demise of my beloved wife due to my long absence from mainland. Oh! May her soul rest in perfect peace. I registered in this site recently in search of someone who is honest, caring, understanding and above all have a good sense of humor. Again, I’m not here for a fling or temporary relationship but a forever lasting relationship. Moreover, Age, distance and location should not be barriers to her because i don't mind relocating for the right woman. So my friend introduced me to this site in order to meet a good lady for a serious relationship.

As a matter of fact, your profile warmed my heart. You look so cute, decent and with this gorgeous picture of yours, i don't think i have the exact word to express myself at the moment .I am so interested in getting to know more about you. i was in South Africa during the World cup for just 2 weeks, but I promised my self that I would come back as the country was such a beauty not like what we used to hear {negative things} over the news about Africa. Well my second visit was on April during my holiday and I Visited your table mountain & Robben Island, wow what a memorable experience it was, though I still don’t know much about the country. But I got to know that South African ladies are good as regards to marriage, and here I am now chatting with you. Lol.

I really don't believe that distance matters, one can be in the same room with another and yet have no connection, while one can be on the other side of the planet and be close in heart, I believe we live in a "global" world and the entire world is "at our fingertips." So, I don't see geography as inhibiting relationships, but enabling them.

Due to the fact that i do not trust on outward beauty but on integrity and human relation, I would appreciate it if you can tell me more about yourself. I hope you'll give me the chance to get to know you better. Till i hear from you again.

Kind Regards & take care.

George Nicolas.

This is a photo pasted on the just Christian dating site. Greatful enough my instinct told me something is not right.

I have this guys telephone number and when calling him I could hear the Nigerian voice. Please warn all.

Email adds are colasgeor@yahoo.co.uk his mobile no 0044735963279

georgeo@contractor.net

his mobile no 0044735963279

Roselin Desmond - Nigerian Scammer

Miss Desmond contacted me out of nowhere, because I am not on any internet dating site yet that is where she said she found me. Plus, she wrote to me as if I am a male, and I am female. I wrote her one line : "Are you a scammer using the "refugee camp" story?" To which I got this reply. Obviously the scammers don't read why you write. From what I have seen, when you email them and ask questions, they never seem to answer them. When I saved "her" obviously stolen photo, the file name was from an internet site where people submit their photos to have their looks rated. They steal this pictures from anywhere...........
Dearest one,
firstly i thank you for your response to my email. How is everything over there, i believe that you are in good health and that the atmosphere over there in your country is very nice today? Mine is a bit warm over here in Dakar Senegal.

My name is Roselin Desmond i am (24years old) but age doesn't matter in a real relationship so i am comfortable with your age, I am from (Rwanda in East Africa) 5.3ft tall, fair in complexion, single (never married ) and presently i am residing here in Dakar Senegal as a result of the civil war that was fought in my country some years ago.

My late father Dr. Philip Desmond was a politician and the managing director of a (Gold & Mine Industry) in Rwanda in East Africa before the rebels attacked our house one early morning and killed my father and mother in cold blood. I know that i should have waited for our relationship to last a while before i tell you all this secret, but because of my situation here in the camp, and i don't want to die here, please understand me.

Right now, as i am talking to you, i am the only person alive in my family, and I managed to make my way to a near by country (Senegal) where i am leaving now as a refugee under the care of a Reverend Pastor and i am using his computer to send these message to you now.

Please do not be offended for this message that comes from me, its just that i don't know what else to do, because my situation here as a refugee is giving me a great concern, therefore i will like you to consider my situation as an orphan, and be kind with me, as i am putting the whole of my trust on you without fear, though i don't know who you are before, but i believe that you can not betray it at the end.

I have contacted you because of my difficult situation here in this refugee camp, It's just like one staying in the prison and i hope by Gods grace i will come out here soon.

I don't have any relatives now whom i can go to, all my relatives ran away in the middle of the war the only person i have now is the pastor ( Rev- Patric Devine ), who is the pastor of the ( CHRIST DE SAVIOR MISSION ), here in the camp he has been very nice to every body, but we are not leaving with him rather we are leaving in the hostel, which is divided into two sections, one for the male, and the other for the female.

The Pastors Tel. number is ( +221- 777-303- 178 ), if you call and tell him that you want to speak with me (Roselin ) he will send for me in the hostel. As a refugee here, i don't have any right or privilege to anything be it phone or what ever, because it's against their law.

My love I want to go back to my studies because i only attended my first year before the tragic incident that lead to my being in this situation now took place.

NOTE; Please listen to this (please it's a secret, even no one knows about it except the Reverend father that knows about it),

I have my late father's statement of account and death certificate here with me, which i will send to you latter, because when he was alive he deposited some amount of money in a leading Foreign bank which he used my name as the next of kin, the total amount, is $6.7 ( $6.7 Six Million Seven Hundred Thousand USDollars).

So i will like you to help me transfer this money to your account and from it you can send some money for me to get my traveling documents and air ticket to come over to meet with you. I kept this secret to people in the camp here, the only person that knows about it, is the Reverend because he is like a father to me.

So, i will like you to keep it to yourself and don't tell it to anyone because i am afraid of loosing my life and the money if people gets to know about it.

Remember i am giving you all this information due to the trust i deposed on you. I like honest and understanding people, truthful and a man of vision, hardworking and GOD fearing people.

My favorite language is English and i speak French very fluently. Meanwhile i will like you to call me like i said i have a lot to tell you, the attached are my pictures. Have a nice day and think about me, awaiting to hear from you soonest.
Your beloved one
Miss Roselin.