Sent: 10/16/10 02:36 PM
Subject: Investment from Victoria and James Salifu.
Dear Friend,
Investment from Victoria and James Salifu.
Forgive my indignation if this message come to you as a surprise and may offend your personality for contacting you without your prior consent and writing through this channel.
I, Ms. Victoria and James Salifu, the Son and daughter of late General Salifu, “the late Commandant” of the rebel faction in Republic of Congo,residing here in Ghana for asylum due to my step mother’s attempt to assassinate us and inherit our late fathers properties that our father left for us.We will like to invest part of our Late father's finances, in your Country under your care and full management; since after the death of my parent during the Congolese ethnic war we left for Ghana to seek asylum.
Hence, we will like to come to your country to establish our investments in order to use the advantage and get in touch with Mr. Kershner Bryson an American citizen whom I we contacted also for this very purpose early this year but ran way with our late father’s huge amount of money.
Since we have never been opportune to visit your Country; we are in search of a profitable business and Real Estate or medical investments in your Country and we will be glad if you can assist us in any way possible to move the fund from Ghana to your country for the investment.Alternatively, we can both go into a joint partnership investment business, I believe that investing through you as a citizen will make it a lot easier for us to achieve our investment ambitions in your country.
Dear, if I have find favor in your sight, please contact me for more detail.
Thanks,
Ms. Victoria and James Salifu
From: "Dr. Steve Forum"
To: "Salifu Victoria"
Sent: 10/16/10 03:49 PM
Subject: Re: Investment from Victoria and James Salifu.
My dear Victoria and James,
Please do not in any way feel you need to apologise for contacting me. I was extremely moved to hear your terrible story! That your own mother could attempt to assassinate you is simply beyond all comprehension! And then some horrid American opportunist steals your late father’s money! Incredible. You are so brave and an inspiration to me. How you managed to survive and keep such an optimistic outlook is truly beyond me. (I wonder if I could be so bold as to ask for a photograph of you both? I am very much interested in your kind of “human interest” story.)
Naturally I would try to help in whatever small way I could, but I am terribly sorry to inform you that I am not a financial expert in any shape or form. I am merely the resident physician at the Stilton Cheesewright Academy for Young Gentlemen. It is true, that with the swinging cuts that our new Coalition Government is making in the Education Sector, that I have been seriously contemplating leaving my residency and setting up a private practice, but I could not for a moment expect you to invest in an old country doctor like me. You do not even know me!
No, no, it is a ridiculous notion that you would invest in me. So I must return to my conclusion that as much as I would dearly like to help you out, I really would not know where to start with financial investment. May I be terribly impolite and ask what sort of sums you are looking to invest? I may see something on Dragons’ Den that could be in the right sort of investment range.
Please, if you can think of any other way that I could assist you, you must let me know.
Your friend,
Dr. Steve Forum
From: "Salifu Victoria"
To: "Dr. Steve Forum"
Sent: 10/16/10 05:30 PM
Subject: RE: Investment from Victoria and James Salifu.
Dear Dr. Steve Forum ,
Compliments of the day,thank you for your concern to enter into a joint venture partnership with me, I want you to know that I picked you because i believe that you have all it takes to undergo this joint venture partnership with me,without betraying me,I want to trust and rely on you in this matter till I get to your country for investment proper.
Thank you for indicating your willingness and interest,all I need us to do is to come to an understanding and agreement and then sign a mutual agreement to this effect,after all these I will start up the process of allowing the transfer of the investment funds to your position in your country before my arrival to meet you.
1)I will like you to tell me more about you ,
2)your business and occupation ,
3)your country of residence and address in your country,
4)your family structure and plans for investment of my funds in your country,
5)will you be able to visit me here in Ghana for a round table talk?.
I will like to know your idea about investment in your country because i intend to invest the total money i have in lucrative business and charity in your country.get back to me,tell me more about you and give me more confidence to give you all relevant information that you need to know about this joint venture partnership.
I will call you for more discussion on this matter for better understanding.I trust that you will not disappoint me,I look forward to meet you some day in life.
God be with you and bless you amen.
Yours faithfully,
Miss Salifu Victoria
From: "Dr. Steve Forum"
To: "Salifu Victoria"
Sent: 10/16/10 06:12 PM
Subject: RE: Investment from Victoria and James Salifu.
Dear Victoria (if I may be so familiar so soon),
I am honoured that you feel that you can trust me after all that you have been through and I would like to reassure you that you can trust me implicitly. I may only be the physician of a small private school, but you can rest assured that I will treat our relationship with the same confidence as I would extent to any of my patients.
However, I must confess that I am a little confused about the questions that you are asking. I wonder if you missed my last email to you? I answered most of what you are asking in that (you can see it below but I will gladly send it again if you prefer).
I am certainly not opposed to meeting you in Ghana, although I have to warn you that I am contractually (and professionally) obliged to remain on the school premises until the summer vacation. So I would not be able to travel anywhere (certainly not somewhere so far away) until late July, early August 2011. I do not know if this is in anyway helpful? I would suggest that we continue to correspond via email as this is the most reliable form of communication that I have available.
Please re-read my earlier email and I will be more than happy to answer any questions that are still left open. I await your reply.
Dr. Steve Forum
From: "Dr. Steve Forum"
To: "Salifu Victoria"
Sent: 10/18/10 10:16 AM
Subject: RE: Investment from Victoria and James Salifu.
My dear Victoria and James,
I am getting worried that I have not heard from you for some days now! Please tell me you are still safe!
Your concerned friend,
Dr. Steve Forum
From: "Salifu Victoria"
To: "Dr. Steve Forum"
Sent: 10/18/10 11:39 AM
Subject: RE: Investment from Victoria and James Salifu.
Dear Dr. Steve Forum,
I acknowledged your mail, in my last mail I ask to send all your details about you so I can know the person that will handled my money.
1)I will like you to tell me more about you ,
2)your business and occupation ,
3)your country of residence and address in your country,
4)your family structure and plans for investment of my funds in your country,
5)will you be able to visit me here in Ghana for a round table talk?.
6] Your telephone number
7] A copy of your identification.
I will be waiting to hear from you.
Yours faithfully,
Miss Salifu Victoria
From: "Dr. Steve Forum"
To: "Salifu Victoria"
Sent: 10/18/10 12:19 PM
Subject: RE: Investment from Victoria and James Salifu.
Dear Victoria,
I am so pleased to hear that you are well!
We seem to be having some kind of mis-communication. I cannot imagine the stress and pressure that you and your brother are under so I will try to be patient with you, if you will bear with me. In my first email to you I did, in fact, outline most of the information that you are requesting, and in my second I urged you to re-read my first. Let me repeat it here for you to read and then you may ask me anything that is unclear.
Please do not in any way feel you need to apologise for contacting me. I was extremely moved to hear your terrible story! That your own mother could attempt to assassinate you is simply beyond all comprehension! And then some horrid American opportunist steals your late father’s money! Incredible. You are so brave and an inspiration to me. How you managed to survive and keep such an optimistic outlook is truly beyond me. (I wonder if I could be so bold as to ask for a photograph of you both? I am very much interested in your kind of “human interest” story.)
Naturally I would try to help in whatever small way I could, but I am terribly sorry to inform you that I am not a financial expert in any shape or form. I am merely the resident physician at the Stilton Cheesewright Academy for Young Gentlemen. It is true, that with the swinging cuts that our new Coalition Government is making in the Education Sector, that I have been seriously contemplating leaving my residency and setting up a private practice, but I could not for a moment expect you to invest in an old country doctor like me. You do not even know me!
No, no, it is a ridiculous notion that you would invest in me. So I must return to my conclusion that as much as I would dearly like to help you out, I really would not know where to start with financial investment. May I be terribly impolite and ask what sort of sums you are looking to invest? I may see something on Dragons’ Den that could be in the right sort of investment range.
Please, if you can think of any other way that I could assist you, you must let me know.
Your deepest friend,
Dr. Steve Forum
From: "Salifu Victoria"
To: "Dr. Steve Forum"
Sent: 10/18/10 04:15 PM
Subject: RE: Investment from Victoria and James Salifu.
Dear Dr. Steve Forum,
Thanks for your reply, You know that this days its very hard to believe someone because of what is going on in the world. In-fact i am seriously looking for a reputable person/company where i can invest my late fathers money into.
Please i really need your help sir and i assure you that there is no risk involve. Personally i do not have any specific area of investment in mind at the moment but i have decided to go ahead with you, i will be depending on you to suggest and direct me on any lucrative area of investment in your country.
My late father left the sum of US$15.5 million in a deposit house in Ghana before he died and i will appreciate if you can let me use it to go into long lasting investment with you and i will also want to relocate to your country after the claim.
Hence i decided to contact you so that you can help me claim and invest the money properly into a profitable business with a good interest in your country and for your asistance i will give 30% of the total sum of the Fund.
Please note that i and my brother can not achieve this without liaising with an experience trusted foreign partner with because i have not been to abroad before and also the money is a huge amount and also because of our age.
We are temporary residing in a refugee camp in the Accra Ghana due to the crises and instability in our country.
We are in dare need to move out of here to your country for security reasons.
Let me stop so far as I will be looking forward to hear from you to give you more details.
May God be with you as I will be very glad to hear from you soonest.
Below are the deposit slip of my funds.
Thanks and GOD bless
Ms. Victoria and James Salifu.
From: "Dr. Steve Forum"
To: "Salifu Victoria"
Sent: 10/18/10 08:57 PM
Subject: Re: Investment from Victoria and James Salifu.
Dear Victoria and James,
I stared at your email for quite some time, and read it over and over again. I am almost quite literally speechless. I barely know where to begin.
Let's start with the money, if only because that's where you start. Fifteen and a half million dollars! This is truly a staggering amount of money. This is more than a lottery jackpot! Even thirty percent which you seem to be offering me is enough to make me a multi-millionaire. I'm not sure I can take it all in.
And to hear that you are still in a refugee camp, with access to a fortune, by any standards, is close to impossible to believe! And you think of investment before you think of freedom and safety!
Well, I can tell you this. I do not care about your investments. I was worried how I might be able to help you with business ventures when this is not my field but I can gladly say that I do not care. To hell with business, if you pardon my language! And to hell with risk.
I know what I must do, and I must do everything in my power to free you both from your ordeal and get you out of that camp, and out of the country.
Please tell me what I can do to help!
Your great friend,
Dr. Steve Forum
PS. I almost forgot, although I do not wish to seem petty or vulgar, but there was no sign of any deposit slip - I only mention it because clearly you meant to attach something and you did not.
From: "Salifu Victoria"
To: "Dr. Steve Forum"
Sent: 10/19/10 04:53 PM
Subject: Thank you for your willingness to assist me
Dear Dr. Steve Forum,
Good evening,how are you and your family,hope fine,I am so happy to read from you today and to know that you are a good man with a pure heart,thank you for giving me your word,I promise you that you will be for ever happy knowing me and doing business with me and my brother,we are very grateful to you and hope that soon when everything is over we will relocate to meet you in your country and spend the rest of our life's over there with you as one family.
Talking about the money,it is our only hope of existence since the death of our parents that is why we are doing everything possible to protect it and to also meet up with the investment wishes of my late father.the money is big that is true,but we should be concerned about the investment right now because i want us to do a very big and lucretive business that will keep my generation alive for a long time.
Yes we are in a refugee camp,but what you do not understand is that we do not have aces to the deposited money kept by my late father,he had an agreement with the bank that the money is strictly for investment and that before the funds should be released that we should provide our late father's foreign business associate who will be investing the money on our behalf outside africa,and this is the reason why we have contacted you to see if you can come to an understanding to assist us,to this effect,I will be happy to invite you to meet me and my brother here in Ghana and to help us run these affairs with the bank till the funds are released to your bank account.This is the reason why we have to get the funds before our freedom.we do not have aces to freedom right now,if you can take us out of the refugee camp till the funds are released and transferred to you i will be very happy.
Before i tell you what you do for us,fuirstly we need you to send us your home address in your country,copy of your photo or identity,your phone and fax numbers and finally tell us more about you.I will send you the deposit slip by tomorrow once i receive your details and after that i will introduce you to the bank holding our furtune.May God be with you,i hope to hear from you tomorrow morning.
Yours faithfully,
Miss Salifu Victoria
From: "Dr. Steve Forum"
To: "Salifu Victoria"
Sent: 10/19/10 09:14 PM
Subject: Re: Thank you for your willingness to assist me
Dear Victoria,
Now I understand the situation with the money, thank you for explaining it to me. How peculiar! Although to be fair I am sure your father could not forsee your mother's unimaginable reaction and your subsequent ordeals. I am positive that he was only thinking of your future.
I had originally told you that I would be unable to visit you in Ghana, as much I would love to, because of my professional commitments. However, all things considered, I am prepared to do everything I can to do this and I will make an official request for leave. With luck I may be released over the Christmas period when the school is officially closed (but we often have several students remaining on the premises which is where the problem lies, I may be able to ask Dr Harold Shipman from the village to ask as my locum).
As I mentioned to you before, I am the resident physician at the Stilton Cheesewright Academy for Young Gentlemen near Crinkley Bottom in Lincolnshire, England. The phone number of the school is 0192 783 327 and the fax is 0192 782 328. I will need a little time to find and send you a photo as well as identification (what sort of identification will you need?).
Speaking of photographs, I wonder if I might ask again for a photograph of you and your brother? As I said before, you are something of an inspiration to me and it would mean a great deal to me if I could picture you both as I help you work towards your freedom. I wonder as well if you have any photographs of the refugee camp? I have no experience of these kinds of situations - and our news rarely covers your part of the world - and I am very interested to see what sort of conditions you have to brave on a dialy basis.
I will ask for assistance with my photograph and identification as soon as you advise me further.
Stay brave Victoria, and pass on my regards to your brother.
Your friend,
Steve
From: "Salifu Victoria"
To: "Dr. Steve Forum"
Sent: 10/21/10 01:00 AM
Subject: God bless you brother
Dear Dr. Steve Forum,
Good evening sir,how are you and how is your family?I am so happy to find out again that I have someone who cares and thinks about me and my brother,we both love you and believe that you will make a good family with us,thank you so much,from now i call you my brother and when we meet,i will let you know that i truly love you as a brother.
Yes my father was thinking about the future because of his dealings in our country with his fellow politicians,he foresee the future and what will happen,the sad story was that he died along side with my mother the same day at the same time in our living room,that was when i decided that we leave,then before that my late fathers family members stated troubling me and my younger once concerning our fathers properties,they took away everything and we were left with noting,when they now threatened to take over the remaining home we stayed with our parents,we decided to move far away for the security of our life's since they know noting about his foreign assets and business,that was how we came to Ghana.
I will be very happy with my brother if you come here over the Christmas,my brother will be very happy,for now we are silent till we introduce you to the bank were the funds are kept as our fathers foreign business associate.any photo will be fine,but for the bank were the money is kept you need to send your copy of identity,something like passport or driving license.
i will send you copy of my photograph with my brother and copy of the deposit covering document,i just want to be sure that you will not disappoint us.when you come here in Ghana you will come here at the refugee camp and see things for your self,you will know that we have a problem here and need your help to get a room inside the town.
Thank you so much for your kindness,we appreciate and hope that soon we will be with you and your family in England.God bless you and good night.
Yours faithfully,
Salifu Victoria
From: "Dr. Steve Forum"
To: "Salifu Victoria"
Sent: 10/21/10 05:45 PM
Subject: Re: God bless you brother
Dear Victoria,
I am well, although I should point out that I have no family. Apart from you and your brother of course, you are very kind.
I have attached a photograph. It is a few years old I'm afraid. I obtained it from our secretary - it was taken for my work identity badge. I will see if I can get the technician - Percy - to scan in my badge tomorrow, for the bank, if he is not too busy. It is half-term here next week and I don't think he is working, so we may have to wait until November if he cannot do it tomorrow.
I am a little confused over your story though, if I may inquire further? You seem to be comfortable sharing your story with me. (As an aside, yours would make a most emotional and gripping biography I have to tell you, perhaps we can work it together when you are safe?) You say that your step mother attempted to kill you after your father's death, but that he died alongside your mother? Was he attempting a reconciliation with your natural mother at the time? Is this why your step mother acted so irrationally? I am sorry to pry, but I truly would like to hear your story.
You say you do not even have a room in the camp? How awful for you! Where do you sleep? Please, send me a photograph of where you are living with the one of you and James. I will go and try and find Percy immediately.
Your friend,
Steve
From: "Salifu Victoria"
To: "Dr. Steve Forum"
Sent: 10/22/10 10:42 AM
Subject: i need your sincere assistance
Dear Mr Steve,
Good morning sir,thank you for your mail,i am happy that you have accepted me and my brother as your family,we appreciate and hope to meet you soon.
I am well, although I should point out that I have no family. Apart from you and your brother of course, you are very kind.I did not get any attachment from you,try to resend it again.sir,my father will be comfortable with what ever i do with you because it his wish that we meet the right person.my father died with my mother,after that his brothers stated fighting us,i never told you about step mother,i never had any step mother.I do not have a personal room,we sleep in crowd in a hall.
Sir,i am very serious,not until i receive your identity,i will not release any personal data.I will be waiting to hear from you.God bless you,i have to stop so far now till i hear from you with details,please sir open up your heart to see how you can help me.
yours faithfully,
Miss Salifu Victoria
From: "Dr. Steve Forum"
To: "Salifu Victoria"
Sent: 10/22/10 10:50 AM
Subject: Re: i need your sincere assistance
Dear Victoria,
I feel hurt that you feel you cannot send me a picture without my identity card. I thought we were more than business associates. I thought you had said that we were family.
I did mean to send you my photo so I will attach it now despite my upset, it was my mistake that I didn't - I have double-checked and it is definitely attached this time - however I'm no longer sure if you really care for me as much as I have already come to care for you and your brother. I am saddened if I am truthful.
I think your stressful situation is causing you some problems my dear Victoria. You did clearly tell me, in your first email before we became friends and family (or so I thought) that your step mother had tried to assassinate you in order to try and inherit your father's property.
I urge you to find a doctor, I think you may be suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. You need to be taken care of. Are their doctors in your camp? I will contact the Red Cross or Médecins Sans Frontier immediately to get you aid if you ask me to. I still care about you Victoria, more than I do your father's money.
Please help me to help to Victoria. Please show me that you do care for me more than my money.
Your friend,
Steve
From: "Salifu Victoria"
To: "Dr. Steve Forum"
Sent: 10/23/10 12:05 PM
Subject: hello sir,i want to call you my brother
dear Mr Steve,
good morning,how are you doing today?i have seen your photo,sir i must tell you that i am a very straight forward person,i want to call you my brother for a life time only if you place your self as my brother without betraying me,till i see the sincerity in you,i will not release any important document or identity to any stranger that i have never met.the way you sound each time i read your mail make me loose confidence,how can you say that i sick just because i am telling you everything about me and my family?
i will like to talk to you on the phone before i will be sure of who you are,i and my brother has gone through stress in life,we do not need another one.now that i have seen your photo,send me your identity,passport or drivers license,when i get it,i will send you any information you need,for now,I will be discreat of our identity or the bank holding the money.
finally if you want to help us,take us out of this refugee camp,help us so that we can rent a one room house in the town were i and my brother will stay,you can help us with some money to get a home if truely you are a friend and brother to me.i am so sorry for sounding this way,i have met some people who are never serious,all they want is to get my details and then i never come to an understanding with them,when i met you i believed that you will help me and i am ready to open up my heart to you.
may God be with you and bless you,i hope to see you soon my brother.
yours faithfully,
Salifu Victoria.
From: "Dr. Steve Forum"
To: "Salifu Victoria"
Sent: 10/23/10 02:37 PM
Subject: Re: hello sir,i want to call you my brother
My dearest Victoria,
Your words still hurt me but I can not hold it against you. Paranoia is one of the most significant symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Please Victoria, it is not meant as an insult, PTSD is nothing to be ashamed of. It is a very common condition following traumatic or stressful events (as the name implies), but I can understand that you may not have heard of it - we knew very little about it in the West until very recently.
The loss of your parents and your exile in the refugee camp were very stressful to you. Even if you do not feel it yourself I can assure you that the symptoms are very clear to me, as a doctor. Victoria, it is only because I am concerned and worried about you that I ask you to find a doctor for the treatment of your STD. If you need to pay any medical fees then I will gladly pay them of course! If not for your own health then please think of your brother. Who will look after James if you are ill?
Sometimes I despair at our world Victoria, that war and human greed can cause so many problems for young people such as you and James. Imagine if there were no countries, Victoria, it really isn't hard to do. There would be nothing to kill or die for (and no religion too). Imagine all the people living life in peace... Ah, Victoria, you may say I'm a dreamer - but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you will join me and the world will be as one!
But I do not want to cause you any further stress my dear, so I have attached the scan of my Identification Card that Percy did for me before he went on holiday. I have already given you all the other information; my address and phone numbers here, so please, contact the bank if it will ease your mind.
Please take care of yourself (and James of course) and promise me you will see a doctor!
Your brother,
Steve
[Attached is a 7.05 MB corrupt file "Scan-000000001.tiff"]
From: "Salifu Victoria"
To: "Dr. Steve Forum"
Sent: 10/25/10 03:15 PM
Subject: I have come to trust you.
Dear Mr Steve,
good morning sir,how are you doing today?i have seen your attachment but it was empty,i think you have to try and resent it again OK ,because if you do not send it to me there is no way the bank can accept nomination as my foreign business associate.I have attached to you on this email my identity and copy of the deposit covering document,i was at the bank today but they told me that without proper identification that they will not be able to approve your nomination so i promised to get by their office again tomorrow morning when i have received it from you.
I am not angry with you and i am happy that you did not use my words against me,actually here in Africa we do not have time to go to hospital just because of a stress like mine,i believe that it is psychology ,besides when i get to your country i will be privileged to get professional medical doctors to help us,for now me and my brother need a home,we have seen a place and they told us that we will pay for 2 years and all amount to about $650,were can we get that?can you help us with the money to pay for this home?.
I have to stop so far,i will visit the bank again tomorrow morning after i hear from you,please check the documents and let me know if you received it clearly.God bless you and our greetings to your family.
Yours faithfully,
Salifu Victoria
From: "Dr. Steve Forum"
To: "Salifu Victoria"
Sent: 10/25/10 04:55 PM
Subject: Re: I have come to trust you.
Dear Victoria,
Please, there is no need to be so formal. Call me Steve, not sir! Also, I'm sure I had already told you that I have no family.
I can't understand what happened to the attachment, I can view it as well as I can view yours. I will send it again, something must have happened to it on the way through the Internet. About your attachments - Victoria, I am not interested in your ID or documents, I have always trusted you, I simply wanted to see a photograph of you and James. Please send me one, I am interested in you as friends and family, not as business associates. I would also very much like to see some photographs of the camp where you are staying, particularly the dormitory where you sleep. I am asking for these as your friend and brother to you both.
You are right that Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a psychological condition, but that does not mean it is safe to ignore. I will ask you once more to find a doctor, but I will not keep pushing you. I will just work as hard and quickly as I can to get you to my country so that I can arrange for you to have a CAT Scan (this is a machine that will take a scam of your brain).
Do you have any heirlooms or jewelry that you can sell to raise the money you need? Or better still, you can pawn them and then buy them straight back after we free your money from the bank!
Do I need to contact your bank now? I'm not sure how we proceed to get you to safety.
Your brother Steve.
PS. By the way Victoria, I almost forgot - your ID card is from the Congo, but Sierra Leone and Senegal are thousands of miles from the Congo, how did that come about? I'm a little confused (I'm sorry to keep asking questions but I know very little about the politics of Africa I'm ashamed to say).
[Attached same corrupt file again.]
From: "Dr. Steve Forum"
To: "Salifu Victoria"
Sent: 10/27/10 08:17 AM
Subject: Hello?
Victoria?
Hello? Is everything okay? Did you receive my last email? Did you get my attachment? What do I do now?
Please reply, I'm worried.
Dr. Steve
From: "Salifu Victoria"
To: "Dr. Steve Forum"
Sent: 10/27/10 10:14 AM
Subject: good morning
Dear brother Steve,
good morning,how are you today?i am fine and James is fine,brother,i have no valuable here to sell,i have noting,i just need your help,i will send you the photo you ask for,please help us with some money to pay for a house here,there is no need to start asking me to bring you a photo of were i sleep,if you want to help me go ahead to help me and my brother,help us with some money to rent a one room outside the refugee camp,show us some love,make me understand that you care for me and James,show me that you are dedicated to help me.
i need your help,do not disappoint us.
God bless you amen.
yours sister,
Victoria.
From: "Dr. Steve Forum"
To: "Salifu Victoria"
Sent: 10/27/10 01:06 PM
Subject: Re: good morning
Sister Victoria,
I am glad you are feeling fine, but I can't, in all honesty, say the same. I am extremely worried for you. You condition is visibly deteriorating before me eyes.
I understand your situation. I would like to help you find a room but how can I help from here? My leave over Christmas has finally been approved but I am not confident that we can wait that long. I could ask for compassionate leave. That way I may be able to reach you within a week. I will go and speak to the Headmaster this afternoon.
I would very much appreciate a photograph of you both. Of course there is no need to see a photograph of where you sleep, I am simply interested in your life the way that a friend or brother would be! You tell me repeatedly that you trust me and care for me as a sister, but I am still waiting to see a photograph of you and James. You can't even do this for me and then you question how much I care about you. I have done everything you asked of me Victoria, you have my picture and my Identification Card. I have promised to help you, how can you still question my dedication? It makes me very sad Victoria.
Give me the details of your bank and I will contact them myself, see if we can speed up the porcess of releasing your account. Perhaps my position as a doctor will convince them to move things forward.
Your brother,
Steve
From: "Salifu Victoria"
To: "Dr. Steve Forum"
Sent: 10/31/10 12:47 PM
Subject: i hope to hear from you
dear Mr Steve,
good afternoon,thank you for your mail,i am sorry i could not send you mail earlier,i will take a photo of us by Wednesday and send to you,about helping us,you can send us some money to pay for a house here,so that we will have a home till you come to Ghana.
i will be waiting to hear from you and send our greetings to you.God bless you amen.
Yours faithfully,
Victoria
From: "Dr. Steve Forum"
To: "Salifu Victoria"
Sent: 10/31/10 09:22 PM
Subject: Re: i hope to hear from you
Dear sister Victoria,
I was beginning to think that I had upset you (or that your STD had deteriorated even further). I am so happy to finally hear from you again.
Victoria, I do really want to help you, you know that I do, but with the best will in the world I can not afford to buy you and James a house! I thought you were looking to buy a private room in the refugee camp? How much would it be for such a room? How long do you think you will need it before we can get your father's funds released to you? Also, you have confused me again, I thought the refugee camp was in Senegal but the way you are talking you seem to be currently in Ghana? Would it be easier to meet you in Senegal rather than Ghana?
I will give my banker a ring in the morning to release my savings but there may be a waiting period. I do have a little money in my current account that I can access immediately but that might not be enough, depending on the cost of the room.
How will I get the money to you if you are locked out of your father's bank account? Do you have your own personal account that I can transfer money into? Do you have a bank nearby?
I very much look forward to finally seeing a photograph of you, and particularly James. I know you don't like to talk about it too much but could you tell me something about life in the camp? I would like to share your life as a brother might. How do you eat? Are there aid workers - who provides the camp? Do you have to work to buy food and other essentials? What sort of work is there in the camp? Are you far from other settlements? How do you even use the Internet? I find that particularly amazing - would you believe that there are some villages in this country that do not have stable Internet connectivity? The school here actually has some kind of Satellite Internet I am told, I don't really understand how it works. Perhaps you use something similar?
Your loving brother,
Steve
From: "Salifu Victoria"
To: "Dr. Steve Forum"
Sent: 11/01/10 01:16 PM
Subject: use western union
Dear Mr Steve,
good morning,here in the refugee camp,we do odd work outside the refugee camp and that is how we eat,we do not pay for sleeping space,i use the internet outside the camp,the camp is located inside the city and not a village.
i do not have an account,but you can send us money via western union money transfer,I will reach s Ghana friend whom will assist us to claim the money,after discussing with him,i will send you information's which you will use at the western union bank to send the money.
I have to go now and hope to hear from you again.
Yours faithfully,
Salifu Victoria.
From: "Dr. Steve Forum"
To: "Salifu Victoria"
Sent: 11/01/10 10:20 PM
Subject: Great News!
Dear Victoria,
I had not expected the camp to be inside a city! How interesting. What sort of work do you do? What about James? I've just realised I don't even know how old you both are! How rude of me. Is James even old eneough to work?
I haven't heard of Western Union, is that like "LINK"? I don't know if my bank is part of the Western Union, but I can ask the banker when he phones me tomorrow (he wasn't available today). You still haven't told me how much you need. How much will you need for a room, and how much is a house? (I still don't think I can afford a house, but I have no idea how much they are over there.)
You say you have a friend in Ghana? How are you getting to Ghana? Couldn't you stay with them? At least until we get your money sorted out. Remind me, what stage is the bank at with your father's money?
I am sorry for all these questions, but I have a real sense that we are finally working towards a tangible goal now Vicky and I feel quite excited.
But I haven't told you the best part yet. We may not need to worry about your room or even a house. After I emailed you yesterday I suddenly remembered an old friend of mine, Cornelius, from medical school. I remembered that the last time I was in contact with him he had joined some sort of Christian missionary organisation working around Africa! Isn't that an amazing coincidence?
I managed to get hold of him today and I told him all about you, I hope you don't mind, I trust him very much and you should trust him as well. He told me that while their church does not have any hostels they do offer grants and loans to worthy causes. He explained that they usually provide funding for local charities but that it is not unknown for them to help out orphans and other extraordinary individuals such as yourself and James. He could not make any guarantees, obviously, and I wouldn't expect him too, but he promised me that he would put in a favourable recommendation on your behalf! I called in a few favours for this, but you are like family to me.
I have attached the form that he sent me, he said to ignore any mention of charity, but just to fill it out honestly and give them as much information as possible about all the terrible things that you and James have had to bear in your lives. It might help if you mention your Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as well.
If you get started on the form (you will have to print it out to fill it in, then scan it back into the computer and send it to me) I will find out if my bank is part of the Western Union system or where I can go to use it. Tell me how much you need and get the form to me as quickly as possible before this years funding is fully allocated.
Your brother Steve.
From: "Salifu Victoria"
To: "Dr. Steve Forum"
Sent: 11/04/10 09:56 AM
Subject: hello
dear brother Steve,
good morning,thank you for your mail,what we need to pay for the room is 650 dollars,ask your banker,he will let you know were you will send the money by western union money transfer.i will not meet any of your friend except you,sorry for that but me and my brother must be on safe hands till you get to Ghana.
I hope that you will help us.
God bless you amen.
yours faithfully,
Salifu Victoria
From: "Dr. Steve Forum"
To: "Salifu Victoria"
Sent: 11/04/10 08:19 PM
Subject: Re: hello
Oh dear Victoria,
It really does pain me to see you fading away like this. Please, please see a doctor, you are becoming delirious. The friend I was suggesting you stay with was your friend that you told me you were going to visit to help with your father's bank account. Also, you told me that your camp was in Dakar in Sengal, but now you say you are in Ghana. Please Victoria, think carefully, I will need to know where to send your money.
You need 650 dollars - is that Ghanian or Sengalise dollars? I think I offended my banker when I asked about Western Union. He wouldn't tell me anything about it. Is it a rival bank?
Just to remind you that you promised me a photo of you and James yesterday. I've been dying to see you both for weeks, please send me your photo Victoria. And please tell me you will see a doctor I am very worried.
Steve
From: "Salifu Victoria"
To: "Dr. Steve Forum"
Sent: 11/05/10 11:31 AM
Subject: please help us
Dear Mr Steve,
Thank you for your mail and care,I am in Ghana,and my brother is in Ghana,what you are sending is USA dollar,here we use local currency,so when you send in dollar we will receive in ghana local currency.
I will send you our photo,just that i do not have money now to take a photo with my brother.if you want to help us,go to any bank in your country and ask them to transfer the money to us by western union money transfer.
I will be waiting to hear from you again and hope that you will consider assisting us.
Yours faithfully,
Victoria
From: "Dr. Steve Forum"
To: "Salifu Victoria"
Sent: 11/05/10 10:21 PM
Subject: Re: please help us
Dear Victoria,
I'm sorry for the delay, two of the boys from the upper 6th injured themselves playing with home-made fireworks (over here we celebrate the 5th of November with fireworks and bonfires - it's quite complicated to explain, but I will if you want me to).
I have to be honest with you Victoria, I am beginning to wonder if you are not trying to take advantage of my generous and caring nature. You seem to care very little about what I want, but seem instead to be entirely focused on what I can do for you. Of course I appreciate that you are in dire need of assistance, but you don't seem to even take any notice of what I say. Why (or how even) would I send you USA dollars Victoria? Can you not even remember which country I live in? That is very hurtful.
I have been desperate to see a photograph of you and James since you first emailed me, but now you say you can not afford to have a photograph taken and yet you have managed to find the money to travel hundreds of miles from Senegal to Ghana at some time over the last few weeks (and not even bothered to mention it to me). You managed to scan your identity card and send that to me (although it wasn't a very clear photograph at all) surely you have some other photographs of yourselves that you can also send to me? You told me you have a job in the city to help pay for food, surely you can manage to get one photograph to me?
I also went to a lot of trouble to find my old friend and get you a chance at a grant from the Church of the Holy Fishermen. I have a terrible sinking feeling that haven't even bothered to look at the application form I sent you, never mind filled it in. Did you fill it in Victoria?
I really don't know what to think any more Victoria. I am very confused and upset.
Dr. Steve Forum
From: "Salifu Victoria"
To: "Dr. Steve Forum"
Sent: 11/09/10 02:16 PM
Subject: thank you for your mail
Dear Mr Steve,
Good afternoon sir,sir,i am so worried,i need to speak with you on the phone to know if you are human or robot because i have tried to explain my self to you and you do not want to understand.
if you want to help me and james,you can help us if you want,for the photo i have told you that i do not have money,i must speak with you on the phone to be sure of who you are before i send you our identity OK.
I dont know who you are,if you cant help us then please stop writting us,you are wasting our time,we are suffering here so much,if you want to help us,kindly help us with little money,if you cant then i will look for someone else.
God bless you amen.
Victoria
From: "Dr. Steve Forum"
To: "Salifu Victoria"
Sent: 11/09/10 08:52 PM
Subject: Re: thank you for your mail
Hello,
Even suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder I can not believe that Victoria would be so rude to me. The fact that you don't even know that I live in England, not America and that you claim to now be in Ghana when you clearly told me your camp was in Dakar when you first started writing to me, makes me very suspicious. You are also now saying that if you talk to me on the phone you will send me your ID, but that you can't afford to send me your photograph.
How can you afford one and not the other? This is beside the fact that you have already sent me your ID, the fact that didn't know this makes me think that you are an imposter trying to steal my money and that you have somehow stolen Victoria's email address. Or worse.
If you are Victoria then please tell me your place and date of birth and the number of your ID card.
Dr. Steve Forum
From: "Salifu Victoria"
To: "Dr. Steve Forum"
Sent: 11/11/10 10:33 AM
Subject: i am for real
Dear Mr Steve,
Good morning,how are you and your family?I have told you before,i am not suffering from any sickness,i am sound and OK.yes i am rude because of the way that i feel inside me,i and my brother have no help,when ever there is help there is a condition attached,if you want to help us you will help us.i don't know were you live because you have failed to give me information's about you,not even a true photo,since you have sent your photo which i know is not yours because i have seen such a photo before from someone whom wants to cheat us,if you are real,drop me a phone number and i will call you to find out if you are real,or better still wait till you get here in December like you said,i will not be foolish enough to expose our identity when i know our life's are in danger.
Yes i am in Ghana,i and my brother visited and passed through some countries before we decided to settle here in Ghana,we did not come to Ghana immediately,we first traveled to some countries were my late father has assets,finally we decided to come to Ghana because of the liquid cash on deposit.speaking the truth,i must speak with you on the phone and get to know who you are.my place and date of birth is
place of birth: Kinshasa
date of birth: 05-27-1985
id number: s9972546
i do not understand you,but i will always proof my self to you that i am not what you think.if you want to help us,be real and let me know your mind.when are you coming to Ghana?
Yours faithfully,
Salifu Victoria
Getting bored now but she's given me an interesting way to end it by giving Victoria a fright and protecting the integrity of the bait (i.e. not revealing that it was a bait at all - she'll think she blew it with a real victim somehow).
From: "Dr. Steve Forum"
To: "Salifu Victoria"
Sent: 11/11/10 05:10 PM
Subject: Re: i am for real
Dear Victoria,
Thank you for that, I had to be sure. Although I am still concerned that you do not trust me. You say that I don't help you without conditions attached but I have told from the very beginning that I want to help you and I have asked nothing of you. I am not interested in any of your father's money, I did not ask for your ID - you simply sent it to me. Remember that Victoria, I have asked you for nothing in return for my help.
The reason I wanted to see a photograph of you and James was because you are my friend. I wanted to see what my friends look like. I have never said that I won't help you if you don't send me one. I have only said that your upset me when you won't send me one and claim that you don't trust me and call me a robot! All I wanted to do was see a picture of you and your brother, I don't understand how that is causing you such reluctance. The fact that you are being so secretive about all this is making me suspicious when I wasn't before that.
I have sent you everything you asked of me including an opportunity at money and other assistance from the Church of the Holy Fishermen. You have showed me nothing of friendship Victoria. You only seem interested in my money. I have told you I will send you the money, but I still need your full address so I know where to send it.
However, all that is unimportant right now. You have told me that you have seen someone else using my picture. I also sent you my ID card, so you can see that I am who I say I am. Clearly someone has stolen my identity. I will contact the police, but I will need your help Victoria. When I contact the police can you explain to them exactly what happened? You will probably need to make some kind of statement and tell them everything you know about the person who was using my photograph. I will contact them directly and get straight back to you.
Dr. Steve Forum
From: "Dr. Steve Forum"
To: "Salifu Victoria"
Sent: 11/11/10 09:13 PM
Subject: Identity Theft
Hi Victoria,
Inspector Urquhart from the Fraud Squad wasn't available tonight but I have left a message and he should phone me back in the morning. Do you have a phone number that I can give him, or would you prefer to email?
Dr. Steve Forum
From: "Dr. Steve Forum"
To: "Salifu Victoria"
Sent: 11/12/10 05:17 PM
Subject: Re: Identity Theft
Victoria,
I need you to reply as soon as possible. I need to sort out the identity theft problem and I need to sort out the money to send to you.
Dr. Steve
From: "Francis Urquhart"
To: "Salifu Victoria"
Sent: 11/13/10 6:09 PM
Subject: Dr Steve Forum
Good evening Miss Salifu,
Forgive me for using my private email address, but Dr Forum has told me of your tragic and traumatic history and I did not want to cause you any undue worry or stress from receiving an official email from the United Kingdom Fraud Squad.
Let me reassure you right away that we are not investigating you or any of your family. I was informed by Dr Steve Forum of the Stilton Cheesewright Academy for Young Gentlemen, that you have witnessed someone other than Dr Forum using his photograph for identification purposes.
As I am sure you are aware, we take Identity Theft very seriously in the United Kingdom. You informed Dr Forum that the person who used this photograph also cheated you. I will be happy to pass on the details of this fraud to my colleagues in Africa so they can investigate the crime against you.
In order to help me with my enquires I would like you to provide me with as much detail as possible surrounding the correspondence with this imposter, not least of which their email address, and the circumstances surrounding their fraudulent actions against you. If you still have any emails from them I would very much appreciate it if you could forward them to me, we may be able to analyse them, enabling us to trace this criminal to a country, perhaps even a city.
Again Miss Salifu, anything and everything you tell or send me is protected under the confidentiality laws of the United Kingdom and the rules of conduct of the UKFS.
I thank you in advance on behalf of myself and Dr Forum.
Inspector Francis Urquhart
United Kingdom Fraud Squad
Identity Theft Division
I don't expect to hear from Victoria again. But I may be surprised.
Note: I don't normally like to impersonate officials, but I wanted to just put a final fright on Vicky - I also thought I was making up the United Kingdom Fraud Squad, but I'm not sure if it doesn't actually exist. :/
From: "Salifu Victoria"
To: "Francis Urquhart"
Sent: 11/18/10 8:17:01 PM
Subject: ?
Hello Mr Francis Urquhart
i am sorry,i have noting to discuss with you.
Victoria
From: "Francis Urquhart"
To: "Salifu Victoria"
Sent: 11/18/10 9:09:03 PM
Subject: Re: ?
Miss Salifu,
Thank you for finally getting back in touch. Dr. Forum was fretting and wanted to contact you several times, but I asked him to give you the time and space to consider my request. I hope you don't mind.
I thought I had made my request very clear, but if I did not then I apologise and I will try to explain it another way.
In your last email to Dr Forum you stated:
"I don't know were you live because you have failed to give me information's about you, not even a true photo, since you have sent your photo which I know is not yours because I have seen such a photo before from someone whom wants to cheat us"
First of all I can assure you that Dr Forum is who he says he is (I examined the photo and ID card that he emailed to you). The implication of that is that the photograph you saw previously has to have been from an imposter. I would like you to tell me everything you can about this imposter and how he cheated you. Do you understand?
I can promise that you will remain a confidential witness and your identity will not be released or revealed during this investigation. That was another reason for using my private email address.
Please reply quickly with any help you can offer.
Inspector Francis Urquhart
UKFS
From: "Salifu Victoria"
To: "Dr. Steve Forum"
Sent: 11/19/10 12:56 PM
Subject: hello
Dear Mr Steve,
Good morning,thank you for your email,there is no need for all this protocol,i was joking when i told you i have seen the photo,i wanted to know if truly you are who you say you are.now i want you to re-send me your photo and identity at thesame time so that i will compare the both to be sure it is you.
Finally,i have contacted a lawyer who is ready to stand by my side till the funds are transfered,so if you want to help me,drop your phone number and my lawyer will call you to discuss with you about this transaction.I want to talk with you on the phone.finally,please note that i will never discuss with your police friend again,i will block his email because i want to remain safe with my brother,please ask him never to write me again because i will never respond to him,i trust you and want you to help me.send me the photo and identity again for confirmation.
Yours faithfully,
Victoria
From: "Dr. Steve Forum"
To: "Salifu Victoria"
Sent: 11/19/10 01:44 PM
Subject: Re: hello
Dear Victoria,
I'm sorry to say this Victoria but you are not acting in a rational way.
You "joke" about someone pretending to me, and then you block the email address of a police Inspector who is trying to investigate the matter - do you not think that might make him suspicious? Why do you think you can't trust him - he is a police man who has assured the confidentiality of your identity. Besides the fact that you have now made me look stupid and I may be charged with wasting police time!
You then say that you trust me but you want me to prove who I am, again? Why do I need to re-send you my photo and identity, you still have them in the emails I sent you previously. And why can you not take my word for it?
Now you tell me that you have secured the services of a solicitor and want to phone me - an expensive, long distance phone call - but you claim that you can't even afford to email me a photograph.
Why do you need a solicitor Victoria? Perhaps you should ask the solicitor to contact me. You ask again for a phone number, but I gave you the phone number of the school weeks ago when you first asked for it. Why would you ask for my details if you took no notice of them when I did?
I am quite upset and angry with all this mistrust towards me Victoria. All I ever wanted to do was help to young people who have had a terrible time. I haven't done anything to you Victoria.
Regards,
Dr. Steve Forum
From: "Salifu Victoria"
To: "Dr. Steve Forum"
Sent: 11/20/10 11:13 AM
Subject: what do you actually want?
Dear Mr Steve,
Good morning,thank you for your concern,sorry if i have offended you,but you will never stop me from speking my mind,the death of my late parents have thought me how to be strong.
about the police man,i have no business with him and will never talk to him again OK,i dont want to discuss that matter again,just sink it and leave it.
everything is ok now,i trust you,let me ask you confidentially,
1) what do you actually want from me to help me?
2)who are you?
3)give me your phone number i want to call you my self
4) come to meet me here in december and everything will be solved.
Think about these,james is here,he sends his greetings and hope some day we will me you in your country which i am still not sure of till i get your phone number and talk with you.
Thanks,
Victoria
From: "Francis Urquhart"
To: "Salifu Victoria"
Sent: 11/20/10 1:41:46 PM
Subject: Re: ?
Miss Salifu,
I would appreciate a response.
Inspector Francis Urquhart
From: "Dr. Steve Forum"
To: "Salifu Victoria"
Sent: 11/20/10 02:26 PM
Subject: Re: what do you actually want?
Victoria,
As I have said many times, I don't ask anything of you in order to help you, but I would appreciate a little more thought towards me. I would have liked a photograph showing you and James. I would like for you to have read my emails. I would like for you, after all this time, to have some idea of who I am.
I have told you everything about me Victoria, including my phone number. If you want to be my friend then I think it would be a good sign if you went back and read my previous emails. That might be a start. And a photograph. I sent you mine. I am happy to send you more. I find it very suspicious that keep making excuses to not send me yours.
If I come to see you, then I would like at least, to be confident that I might recognise you.
And another thing Victoria, did you even look at the form that I sent you? You could have got hundreds, if not thousands of pounds in aid from the Church of the Holy Fishermen. I really can't understand why you don't try.
As for Inspector Urquhart, I think you should at least explain to him what you said to me about the "joke". If a policeman came to your door would you just slam it in his face?
Regards,
Dr. Steve Forum
From: "Salifu Victoria"
To: "Dr. Steve Forum"
Sent: 11/21/10 04:35 PM
Subject: I have snap a photo of me and james
Dear Mr Steve,
good afternoon,i hope that you are having a wonderful weekend,i have taken a photo of me and James and i will send it to you on Tuesday.about the form,i did not look at it,but it is because the international aid thing has brought me this far,staying in the refugee camp is enough.
i and James need your help,i will send you the photo you demand,and hope that after that you will help me and james and also you will come here to help us.about your police friend,i will send him an email now to explain to him.
I have to stop so far and hope you will tell me about your family on your next email.
Victoria.
Over 24 hours and she still hasn't sent an email to Inspector Urquhart. I have a feeling that he might be taking the good doctor in for questioning...
From: "Dr. Steve Forum"
To: "Salifu Victoria"
Sent: 11/22/10 07:31 PM
Subject: Re: I have snap a photo of me and james
Victoria,
I have been in the police station for most of the day being questioned by Inspector Urquhart! He has said that he will arrest me for wasting police time and suspicious email activity if he doesn't get any answers in the next couple of days! I can't believe I can be arrested over something so silly, but even the suspicion of criminal activity will lose me my job; it is very strict who can and can't work with children in this country.
I am thrilled that I might finally see your photographs, but you need to help me with Inspector Urquhart first! I won't be able to see your pictures or help you at all if I lose my job, or worse, if I am in jail!
Please send him another email! He swears that he didn't get any email from you, please, resend your email to him!
Yours,
Dr. Steve Forum
From: "Salifu Victoria"
To: "Dr. Steve Forum"
Sent: 11/23/10 11:23 AM
Subject: ok
Dear Mr Steve,
Good morning,i will send him an email now to clarify issues and i hope that after that you and him will not disturb me again,i dont know him and do not want to have anything to do with him,all i know is you and you alone ,no third party.
Victoria
From: "Salifu Victoria"
To: "Francis Urquhart"
Sent: 11/23/10 11:26 AM
Subject: hi
Dear Mr Francis Urquhart,
good morning,i am writing to inform you that i have been joking by saying Mr Steve is not who he says he is,i wanted to be sure that he is genuine and a good person,i want to clarify issues so leave the both of us alone because i will not respond to any further email from you.
Victoria
From: "Dr. Steve Forum"
To: "Salifu Victoria"
Sent: 11/24/10 6:39 PM
Subject: Re: ok
Victoria,
Thank you for explaining things to Inspector Urquhart. I don't know why he didn't get your first email but he has left me alone now, even though he still seems angry about something.
I also must apologise to you Victoria. I have been unwell with a new strain of Man-Flu and I realise now that I have been bad tempered and a little paranoid. I am sorry if I was unkind or unfair to you over the last week or so. I have taken some Hetracil and I feel a lot better now.
I am looking forward to finally seeing the photograph of you and James though. It will really cheer me up. Did you send it already because I haven't had an email off you - could you resend it again? There may be a problem with your Internet connection, that's happened twice now hasn't it? Once with Inspector Urquhart and once with your photo. I hope you haven't got a computer virus.
I have forgotten where we were. I think you needed to fill in the form for Reverend Tuttle, he was asking about it the other day, and you said something about a Solicitor? Should I email your solicitor to see how I can help? When do you think we should meet? I can take up to a week off work for "compassionate grounds" and the Headmaster has approved my leave with needing only a week's notice.
Regards,
Dr. Steve
I'll be honest, I thought it was all over so I thought "sod it". No harm in building a few bridges and see how much longer I can keep it going. We've barely even discussed money yet.
From: "Salifu Victoria"
To: "Dr. Steve Forum"
Sent: 11/26/10 12:12 PM
Subject: thank you for your understanding
Dear Mr Steve,
good morning sir,how are you and how is your family today?i am so sorry to hear about your sickness,i am happy that everything has ended with that inspector friend of yours,now i can have rest of mind,i don't rely care if he is angry.i am OK with your apology,besides you do not need to do that,i am also apologizing for my rude behavior,it was due to our sufferings.
i am sending you the photo today,i just developed it and have it with me here now,i am only battling with the internet connection.please i do not need to fill any form or see any person,it is enough,if you are coming to ghana to see us we will be very happy and any time you arrive we will receive you.about my lawyer,he does not operate email,you can call barrister Adams on 00233 240 953 588,that is his phone numbers.when ever you are ready for us to meet we will meet,but before your arrival i must speak to you on the phone and you must resend your identity.
I will be very happy to get your arrival details to Ghana.i want to be sure of everything you are doing with us,resend the school numbers and I and my lawyer will call you today to discuss with you.
God bless you amen.
Yours faithfully,
Salifu Victoria
Can't be doing with phone calls. Might eventually give them a voicemail, but we need to throw in a few delays/distractions...
From: "Dr. Steve Forum"
To: "Salifu Victoria"
Sent: 11/27/10 8:07 AM
Subject: Re: thank you for your understanding
Dear Victoria,
I look forward to seeing your photograph, especially of finally seeing James. You don't talk about James much, is he doing okay?
I have been thinking about your email and I have to confess I am a little concerned about this lawyer. I know you have no money and can't afford a good one, but this Adams character seems to be particularly dodgy don't you think? Whoever heard of a lawyer in this day and age who does not have an email address? I don't want to see you getting hurt or scammed by some shyster, so-called, lawyer working out of the back of a van.
I'm also a little confused about the need for a lawyer in the first place. Why do you think we need a lawyer? If you really think we need a lawyer I would feel much better if you let me choose one over here. I have asked around the other staff and I have been recommended a good solicitor with experience of foreign businesses and banks. I will phone him today and see what he says. You don't have to worry about his fees, I will take care of it. You can pay me back later when we have sorted out your inheritance and got you to a safe place.
I will let you know what this solicitor says.
Regards,
Dr. Steve
Will need another character for this although she won't go for it I'm sure, I'm probably not going to give her any choice. She doesn't seem to like third parties from my side. :D
From: "Salifu Victoria"
To: "Dr. Steve Forum"
Sent: 11/27/10 11:19 AM
Subject: see our photo
Dear brother Steve,
Good morning brother,how are you today?i hope that you are having a wonderful weekend?yes i do not talk about James because he is a very little boy,i strive everyday to make sure i feed him and make sure he gets educational lessons at home since i am not yet able to pay his school fees,i have attached our photo for you .about my lawyer,he is my only strength,there is noting i will do without him,with him i will not lose my wealth.i will tell him what you said about email address so if he has any he will give to me,i did not ask for his email i only asked for his phone,so it is not a reason for you to talk bad about someone i call my lawyer to help me,some one you have never met,have you forgotten that i am a foreigner here?i can not do anything with your lawyer from your country,it is impossible,i need my lawyer here to help me OK.
you have to understand that what ever money you spend helping me and James will be paid back to you,just open your mind and heart,all we need is your help to take us to a safe place and to help us claim my inheritance.I have to go now and hope that you will get back to me today.
God bless you.
Yours faithfully,
Victoria Salifu
Examining the Exif data of this image (which is obviously a professional studio shot) identifies it as a Corbis Stock image (although it also available from an image search - I couldn't be bothered checking which one had the same Exif data).
From: "Dr. Steve Forum"
To: "Salifu Victoria"
Sent: 11/28/10 2:53 PM
Subject: Re: see our photo
Dearest Victoria,
How your photograph brightened my weekend! You really are a beautiful girl, your ID photo really does you no justice, and isn't James a bright, handsome little man! How is he doing at school? I bet he's top of the class isn't he. Your parents would be proud of both of you, you can rest assured. You really did not need to have a professional photograph taken though, I feel a little guilty now.
I am sorry if I have offended you or Adams. I had no idea he has been so important to you, you had never mentioned him before a few days ago! And it was you who told me that "he does not operate email" - what was I to think? Please apologise to him for me.
I tried to phone that solicitor my friend recommended yesterday but it turns out that the boys from the Upper Fifth had a particularly wild Friday night and ended up climbing the telegraph pole outside the school for some prank or other. One of them ended up falling off the pole bringing the telephone line with him! The headmaster is bloody furious (as am I!) as the school is now without a telephone line, with the snow rolling in! Our technician is trying to get Skype working on the Headmaster and office computers but there is some problem with the Firewall or something. Once we have a working number I will pass it straight on, but I expect it will be fairly hectic for a few days at least while they arrange for the students to go home early because of the predicted winter. The only good news is that it may mean I can be relieved earlier to come over there, but I don't want us to get our hopes up too soon.
I did manage to email Mr Stackpole in the end (the solicitor) and we exchanged several emails over the course of the day. He sounds very experienced with dealing with foreign inheritance and banks and I asked him to work on my behalf. If you are happy for Mr Adams to manage things from your side then I think I will let Mr Stackpole deal with him on my behalf if that's okay with you Victoria. We can leave them to sort out all the business, it'll probably all go so much more quickly and smoothly that way - I don't know the first thing about financial matters.
If you want to email Mr Adams to introduce me, and CC me on the email, I will then in turn introduce Mr Stackpole to him. Mr Stackpole said that they are probably better to use email for the bulk of their business to save on international calls, which makes sense to me, but they can arrange that between themselves.
Kind regards,
Dr. Steve
From: "Salifu Victoria"
To: "Dr. Steve Forum"
Sent: 12/03/10 1:01 PM
Subject: I am so glad to hear from you
Dearest Mr Steve,
Good day sir,how are you today?thank you for your mail and for your kindness towards me and my kid brother James,we are happy and believe that very soon we will be with you in England.I did not write to you for some days now because things were so bad,I had no money to go to the internet and the people i washed for have not paid me.uncle please can you help me and james with 200 dollars?it will help us get some things and reduce our suffering.
I will see lawyer Adams tomorrow morning at his office and collect his email and send to you so that you can communicate with him,though he said that before he will do anything for me with the bank concerning financial matters that i will pay him part payment of his conbsultation fees which is 500 dollars.I will let him discuss this matter with you.i will like to know when you will arrive here,as soon as you get a date and fix your flight ticket just let me know,i will be very happy to receive you here and to show you how happy we are to know you.
so i will get back to you again tomorrow after i get the lawyers email address.please uncle try as much as you can to help me and james with the 200 dollar so that we can feed well and get some medicines for james.God bless you and kisses from me and james.
Yours faithfully,
Victoria.
A mystery illness strikes! Luckily I am a doctor, and one with contacts...
From: "Dr. Steve Forum"
To: "Salifu Victoria"
Sent: 12/04/10 11:01 AM
Subject: Re: I am so glad to hear from you
Oh Victoria! What's wrong with James? What medicine does he need? I will ask my friend Father Cornelius if he can help you; I'm sure they have medical supplies somewhere in that region. How would I get money to you quickly?
Get back to me with Adams' email address (the technicians here have nearly cracked the firewall problem so we may have working phone numbers again early next week - I have asked for my own number so we'll have to cross our fingers and see what they can do for me).
I need to find out if the school is closing early for Christmas this year before I know when to book a flight. What's the nearest airport to where you are?
Regards,
Dr Steve
From: "Salifu Victoria"
To: "Dr. Steve Forum"
Sent: 12/03/10 1:01 PM
Subject: we both love you and hope to see you soon
Dear Uncle Steve,
Good morning sir,thank you for your email and concern towards me and James,may God be with you and bless you,James is having some minor health issues,like cattar and cough,it is something I have been taking care of and will take care of my self.If you want to send us money,send it by western union money transfer with the name of one of our camp controler who has been good to us, who will help me claim the money at the bank ,his names are below
MR. LEKWUWA ABAAH
ACCRA-GHANA
I am so happy that very soon you will have a working telephone,at least I can talk to you and james can also talk to you,i will be very happy to get your phone number.I have collected Mr Adams email address and he said he is waiting to hear from you,the address is (hesesechambers@aol.com) and his phone number is 00233 240 953 588.
The nearest airport here is the Ghana international airport wihch is located in Accra,it is called Kotoka International airport Accra,once you book your flight and have your flight shedule,I will know the flight you are arriving with and then be there at the airport to receive you at your arrival time.
I am very pleased today to hear from you,I and James are very proud and glad to have you as our family,we hope to meet you soon and to spend the rest of our life with you as one family.God bless you,i and James will be waiting to hear from you,when we receive the money you are sending us,we will be very happy and put you always in our prayers,thank you for standing by us,we both love you and hope to meet you soon.You make us happy,we are proud of you,thank you for being honest with me and James.
Yours faithfully,
Salifu Victoria.
From: "Salifu Victoria"
To: "Dr. Steve Forum"
Date: Tue, Dec 7, 2010 at 6:03 PM
Subject: i like to hear from you
Dear Uncle Steve,
Good evening,how are you today and how is work?i have spoken to my lawyer and told him that you will contact him,so he is waiting to hear from you,so have you discussed with him?i will be waiting to hear from you,I will call him this evening to know how far.Uncle were you able to send us the money again?James and I sends our greetings to you.
God bless you.
Yours faithfully,
Salifu Victoria.
I was going to reply today, but she can wait for being so pushy. Doesn't she know I've had a lot of snowball related injuries to deal with?
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