I have to confess, when I saw that email in my in-box, I hesitated opening it, thinking, WOW, that “GoFundMe” campaign really does work. But, I was struck with a feeling of quilt, thinking how could I accept it, when children are starving… a sentiment expressed by one of my internet friends. It was not until the next day that I actually opened it. Throughout the night, thoughts and rationalizing kept me awake as I tried to justify accepting the money. “art is worth nothing” kept whirling around in my head, embedded, hammered their since childhood... the immorality of it all. It felt silly to me, so I put that word out on the internet to see what people thought. The answer that came back was “Yes, it is silly” A big dilemma, forcing me to assess the value of art in society… my art in society and must one expect or accept donations. Finally, I decided yes, it is okay as art is not only valuable, but is one of many essential social tools of education, without which poverty will never be eradicated.
When I opened the email next morning and saw a $2,000,000 donation from “a Christian, on the instruction of God to give you (me) the donation”, I was totally silenced. He was real, having won the mega lottery in Idaho. Shit, I thought, I could not accept that unless I told him I am not a Christian, otherwise I could never live my life without the guilt and for an immoral artist that would be a double sin.
After I replied with that confession, the emails offering the donation started rolling in. But my antennae were up… there were signs of fraud in the language. First of all, the letter was not addressed to me, it was: “Dear Friend”.
MacD and I talked about it and were convinced, it was fraud. I then started my game play with them. You can see that game in the following email exchanges, I do hope you enjoy it, I had a lot of fun with it. And maybe it will be beneficial to some people who receive these scam letters.
1.
From: Kristen Eckstrand
Sent: Thursday, March 12, 2015 9:18 PM
To: Kristen Eckstrand
Subject: RE: Donation.
Mr Mccullar has picked you for a donation, contact him via Jim_Mccullar
2.
From: rod_
To: Jim_
Subject: Re: Donation..
Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2015 01:37:24 -0300
Hello Mr. Mccullar,
I am responding to this email. It would be great to chat with you.
I have a phone but, have it disconnected while travelling in the USA.
Roaming, charges are extremely expensive. However, I can call out
from my computer Google phone.
Thanks you
Rod Malay
3.
From: Jim
Sent: Saturday, March 14, 2015 6:57 PM
To: Rod
Subject: RE: DONATION TO YOU.
Dear Friend,
I am Mr Jim McCullar I am a native of Idaho, United State Of America, Carolyn my wife and I have decided to make sure this is put on the internet for the world to see as you could see from the web page sent to you in our first mail, I may not know you, but I believe if you receive my first email and respond back meaning you were chosen by God to receive my donation of [$2,000,000.00 USD] you must be a God fearing individual, I am a Christian and I believe that Good things happens to good people like you who had the mind to respond back to my mail.
I am Mr Jim McCullar the mega winner of $190 Million Dollars Jackpot in Washington. WATCH US NOW:http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/jim-carolyn-mccullar-mega-millions-winners-12559371
You see after taken care of the needs of our immediate family members, we decided to donate the remaining of the fund to other individuals around the world in need, the local fire department, the Red Cross, Haiti, hospitals and some other organizations in Asia and Europe that fight cancer, I would love to introduce my self more and also show you picture of me and my family but firstly I want to hear from you if my gift of [$2,000,000.00 USD] is accepted by you before I proceed. Send me the below details to show that you accept my gift.
NAMES ROD Malay:.....
I am have been travelling in the United States of America and have my Canadian phone on sleep mode until I return to Canada
COUNTRY CANADA :.......
Thank you for accepting our offer, we are indeed grateful We anticipate your earliest response.
Best Regard
Jim McCullar
4.
From: rod
To: jim_mccullartrustfunds
Subject: Re: DONATION TO YOU.
Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2015 22:07:52 -0300
Hello Jim,
Thank you for your very generous offer. I look forward to meeting you and you dear wife, Carolyn. Do you believe that God instructed you to donate this money to me? He does indeed work in “Strange ways”. But, I must tell you, I am not a Christian. If you withdraw your offer, I will understand.
What must I do next?
Cheers
Rod
5.
From: jim
Sent: Monday, March 16, 2015 1:14 PM
To: Rod
Subject: RE: Thanks for your response.
Dear Beloved Rod malay,
Thanks for your response, first, I have to thank you for your commitment to accept my gift and I assure you it’s a life time opportunity and 100% legitimate, the Two Million Dollars is going to pass through international laws and it's 100% risk free. I have a lawyer taking care of the documentation required to perfect the Two Million Dollars for you, and you don't have anything to worry about that because I am the one responsible for it.
I moved out of Washington United State Of America in April due to high risk of gunmen asking us for money and we were advised to leave the country for a while which we did Mitchell my grandson was kidnapped and I was asked to pay for him to be released which i did, we had to relocate to United Kingdom for a while and I am planning to come back to Idaho very soon. I must let you know that I am not getting any younger what i expect from you right now is trust and commitment because if you don't trust me you will find it difficult to accept my gift that is why you need to trust and believe me about this donation you are free to call me at anytime of the day
To facilitate the disbursement process of the TWO MILLION DOLLARS which have been donated solely to you, you are to re-confirm to me once again with your promise to carry-out the good work to every less privilege around in your community, such as the charities, churches, widows and widower. I do not want to ask you for your ID as we do not want to leave an impression in your mind that we want to steal your identity). I do hope that you will be able to use the money wisely and judiciously over there in your country. We will employ you to do what you can to alleviate the level of poverty in your region and also try to enhance the standard of living of as many people as you can because that is the only objective of donating this money to you in the first place.
Note that i’ll be responsible for all the document fees about the TWO MILLION DOLLARS which my lawyer need to carry out and you are the one who will be responsible about the Bank charges fee which is the HSBC bank in the United Kingdom.
I will be awaiting your urgent response with regarding your final decision about this donation to you, before i can be able to furnish you with the HSBC BANK contact information which is the payout bank.
Best Regard,
Jim McCullar
6.
From: rod_
To: Jim mccullartrustfunds
Subject: Re: Thanks for your response.
Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2015 14:43:45 -0300
Dear Jim,
We will, along the way, at you convenience and pleasure, have a chance to meet and have, at least, dinner together and in London there are fine live theatres. Your generous offer overwhelms me.
Thank you.
What must I do next?
Rod
7.
From: Jim
Sent: Wednesday, March 18, 2015 3:02 PM
To: Rod
Subject: RE: CONTACT THE PAYOUT BANK.
Dear Beloved Rod malay,
This is to acknowledge the receipt of your last email and to confirm your reliability in this donation scheme. I am happy to inform you that I have forwarded your details over to the management of the payout bank, The HSBC Bank Plc UK. I know that they are alot of scam on the internet and everyone need to be very careful, so for me to prove myself this is my telephone number you can reach me at anytime of the day +(44)703-1983-983.
Now taking into cognizance the nature of the funds, United Kingdom Financial Security Act requires International beneficiaries like you is to pay for HSBC Bank Plc charges over here in the U.K., before they will transfer the [$2,000,000.00 USD], to your designated bank account anywhere in the world. I have therefore included a Donation Code Number to this message [JIM/231/2011BDB] which should be kept strictly confidential as you will use it in receiving your donation. You are to contact the management of The HSBC Bank Plc UK via email immediately as they have been authorized to transfer the fund to you by my lawyer and concluded all modalities associated with the wire transfer process.
HSBC BANK CONTACT INFORMATION
Bank Name: HSBC Bank Plc UK
Contact Person (Foreign Exchange Supervisor) : Mr Antonio Simoes
Bank Tel Number:
Bank Email Address: (hsbcfundremittancedept co.uk)
Mr.Antonio Simoes Email: (assimoes)
Bank Website: www.hsbc.co.uk/
Contact Mr.Antonio Simoes via this email (assimoes)
you are to provide him with your Donation Code Number [JIM/231/2011BDB] so that he can verify your identity with the details I sent over to their office earlier on today. Please endeavor to keep me fully informed on all developments with the payout bank so that I can also monitor the transfer process through a feedback from you. Your follow up and full cooperation is highly anticipated.
Best Regards,
Jim McCullar
8.
From: rod_malay@hotmail.com
To: assimoes; Jim_mccullartrustfunds
Subject: Re: CONTACT THE PAYOUT BANK 2
Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2015 15:51:02 -0300
Dear Mr. Antonio Simoes
I am following the attached instructions. Please inform as to what next step I must perform.
Thank you
Rod Malay.
9.
From: Jim
Sent: Thursday, March 19, 2015 9:16 AM
To: Rod
Subject: RE: EMAIL
Beloved Rod malay,
I got your mail and noticed how committed you are, what you ought to do is contact the HSBC bank and then get back to me with every necessary information you got from the Bank,
JIM.
Hsbc Holdings Bank Plc
10.
From: Rod
Sent: Thursday, March 19, 2015 11:26 AM
To: Jim McCullar
Subject: RE: EMAIL
Thanks Jim, I have already done this and am waiting for a reply from the bank.
Cheers
Rod
11.
From: Antonio Simoes
Sent: Thursday, March 19, 2015 2:08 PM
To: Rod
Subject: Re: CONTACT THE PAYOUT BANK 2
HSBC HOLDINGS BANK
24HOURS ONLINE-BANKING SERVICE
Registered in England.
Registered No: 1026167Q
Registered Office:
Canada Square LONDON, ENG E14 5HQ United Kingdom
Dear Esteemed Customer: Rod Malay,
Compliment of the day to you from HSBC Holdings Plc, United Kingdom. Britain finest and concise online banking institution with a global perspective. Our unique service trend in the European and world market speaks volume of how we hold our greatest assets (customers) in high regards.Our affiliation with the Santander group makes us a leading financial stronghold. There are a whole lot of services and products that we offer which in the long run is a far higher edge than our contemporaries in the financial market, this is why even in the face of the current financial distress pervading world market we are way ahead and still waxing stronger in financial circles.
We have confirm the instructions from the Mr Jim McCullar, instructing us to immediately open an online temporal debit account in your name; and transfer your approved grant funds of $2,000,000USD = £1,289,158.18 GBP from their personal foundation account to you via permission within the next Three (3) working days from the Cheque that was submitted to us, Our on-line temporal account opening will enable us to immediately make any further transfer of your payment funds to your designated personal bank account in your country.
As a Non-Resident of the UNITED KINGDOM, you are required to set up a Non-Resident Online/Offshore account with our Bank. This online/offshore account will be set up in your name by our Bank HSBC Holdings Plc.) As soon as you meet up to our corporate policy, you will have your account setup.
New Customer applying for Online Account & Transfer Fill and Return the below Manual Account Opening Form.
Manual Account Opening Form
Reference: International Application ID no:
Do you want an account with HSBC BANK:
First Name:
Last Name:
Date of Birth:
City/State:
Country:
Occupation:
Nationality:
Sex:
E-mail:
Tel:
Office Tel:
Account type:
Initial Deposit of Account:
Date of payment:
NEW CUSTOMER COMPLETE REG: ****************************************************************************
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Read the below carefully before attempting to fill out the Account you would want us to open for you
*****************************************************************************
All account types requires an initial deposit by customers before account can be setup, Note this deposit is the cash needed to setup your account and will be deposited into your newly setup account after it has been opened by the HSBC HOLDINGS PLC.
Please kindly read the below account and select your affordable account choice with initial deposit.
1. PERSONAL ACCOUNT: This type of account requires a minimum initial deposit of £448.00 GBP equivalent to $670.00 USD (Six Hundred And Seventy USD), this amount is required to set-up your new account to a fully operational account. The maximum transfer possible within a month with this Account is £7,000,000.00 (Seven million pounds) within one month or the equivalent amount in another currency; and with this account you can apply for a gold membership credit card after a good business relationship of one year minimum.
2. CORPORATE ACCOUNT: This is a daily business account and the initial opening deposit is £501.00 GBP equivalent to $750.00 USD (Seven Hundred and Fifty USD) this amount is required to set-up your new account to a fully operational account. The maximum transfer possible within a month with this Account is £15,000,000.00 (Fifteen million pounds) or the equivalent amount in another currency; and with this account you can apply for a gold membership credit card after a good business relationship of five months minimum.
3. PLATINUM ACCOUNT: This is a daily personal and business account and the initial opening deposit is £568.739 GBP equivalent to $850.00 USD (Eight Hundred And Fifty USD) this amount is required is to set-up your new account to a fully operational account. The maximum transfer possible within a month is unlimited; and with this account you can apply for a gold membership credit card after a good business relationship of three months minimum.
Please Note: That your funds is protected by a hardcover insurance policy, which makes it impossible to deduct any amount from the funds in bank draft before its been remitted to you. This means that the above charges for opening an account cannot be deducted from the funds and hence must be provided by you before your funds can take effect for transfer. You are strictly advice to choose an account type listed above and we shall instruct you to make the payment upon the opening balance kindly fill and return the online account form below. This amount is refundable upon request if you decide to close your account. As soon as your account is set up, you will have an account number and an access code with which you can access your account through our online facilities from your home which will also enable you check your account balance and also make transfer to any account in the world.
On receipt of the information, you shall be educated on the process mastered to facilitate this transaction in the earliest. For more info please call
Thank you for your patronage.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE SUPERVISOR
MR. ANTONIO SIMOES
Hsbc Bank Plc
Registered in England.
Registered No: 1026167Q
Registered Office:Canada Square LONDON, ENG E14 5HQ United Kingdom.
************************************************************WARNING*************************************************************************
This message was sent from the Accounts Department of Hsbc Bank Plc. It is only designated for intended recipient only.If you have received this email in error you should immediately discard it without transferring or storing any of it's content.
Anyone caught not abiding with these rules will be made to face the law as all communications are officially meant for Hsbc Bank Plc customers only.
**********************************************************************************************************************************************
12.
From: rod_
To: jim_
Subject: Re: EMAIL
Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2015 15:47:27 -0300
Dear Lovely, kind and generous Jim,
I am afraid that God is not being very honest and upfront with you or me. Do you know what those banks are demanding of me before they will release your great, heart felt donation to me. They are basically asking me to open an off-shore account, which is probably illegal in Canada in any case, and then send them a fee of nearly $1000 in Canadian dollars. How about simply sending me a cashiers check and I will deposit it in my account. That would be much more simple and then I will know that I am not breaking any Canadian laws, which is a big issue these days, as you know people are doing all kinds of criminal or a least immoral dealings to avoid taxes. I support my country’s tax system as it is doing exactly what you are asking of me with the donation... to help people in my country for a better life. That is what our tax dollars do... creating social programs to make life better for all people. I support my government in this ideology. It seems contradictory to your personal mission in life to have banks, basically, steal money from the people. I imagine you are as surprised as am I, as to what these criminals, defrauders are doing with the good money of good people like you. Will you please call the bank and tell them to drop that requirement and make out a cashiers check instead.
Dear Jim, I am so sorry and so embarrassed about this complication. I makes absolutely sick and frankly... pissed of as I am sure you are. Even if I had the money to pay these bank fees, I would not do it... would not break our country’s laws. I have my principles. Let me tell you my story.
I have been travelling around the USA in my old van on an art tour and I blew an engine. I am stuck now at this old service station in New Orleans and busking on Bourbon Street, with the prostitutes and Fortune Tellers to make a few bucks to get my engine fixed. The Fortune Tellers told me not to worry, that I am going to come into a lot of money. I never believe any of these stories. But, to make matters even worse, when I thought it was not possible, things got worse. What could be worse than not being able to get back to my old Nova Scotia home while living on cans of beans and sleeping in my old van outside this old smelly service. The people are very nice, as they are all good Christians. They give me lunches sometimes and invite me to their Church and wow… can these Black people sing the gospel and pray to the lord. They joke that that they are going to make a Christian out of me yet.
I am paying the garage owner the few bucks I make from busking each day, as he works at putting in a used engine in my old van. But, to make matters even worse, I got word from my brother back home that our dear 87 year old mother had a car accident. I am absolutely sick. She is still alive, with a broken pelvis (and that is not good for an old person). The steering wheel punched into her chest and broke her sternum. She can hardly breath. She would have been dead, as her car plunged into a lake, except the driver behind her saw what happened and he dove into the icy water and pulled her out of the car.
My mom is a tough woman and a devote Christian, She taught us good values as we were growing up. She is always out around the community doing the work of Jesus for every one. They will miss her terribly. The doctors say she is in very bad shape and only God can pull her through. And I cannot get home to be by her side.
Just when I thought, I cannot get through this and death would be a blessing, you wonderful Jim McCullar, of Idaho, came into my life with a donation of $2,000,000.00. You said God had chosen me to receive your “Christian” gift. That Fortune Teller lady was very wise. Do you think Jim, that the lady is some how connected to God? Wow Jim I cannot believe it. The Fortune Teller, these wonderful Christian folks here in New Orleans and now you… my “Spirit” was flying high in the heavens, Jim . I felt totally drawn back to my Christian roots. Finally, I thought, I will be able to get back home to Nova Scotia and pay for my moms very expensive medical bills, that will save her life. And now I feel so, so embarrassed… and deathly sick that I have to disappoint you…I’m so sorry to do this to you. Please forgive me. I am in total misery again.
To repeat what I said above...I got the letter, copied below, from the HSBC Bank in the United Kingdom telling me they are ready to transfer the money to my Canadian bank account but, I will have to pay the very big sum of “bank fees” $1,000 ,which is impossible. I cannot pay this. I can hardly afford a can of beans for supper. I guess now your legal assistants will have to withdraw the $2,000,000.00 offer to me. I am sure God will find you another needy recipient. Thanks anyway Jim… you are a good man. God bless you.
With Thanks
Yours sincerely
Rod Malay
13.
From: Jim McCullar
Sent: Friday, March 20, 2015 4:59 AM
To: Rod
Subject: RE: EMAIL
Beloved Rod malay,
What you ought to know is there are other beneficiary which will also claim this gift from the HSBC bank, so i would advice you to look for funds and set up this account, once this is done your funds would be transferred to any domestic account of your choice, raise up any amount and then get back to me.
14.
From: Rod
Sent: Friday, March 20, 2015 1:37 PM
To: Jim McCullar
Subject: Re: EMAIL
Dear Mr. Crockster (AKA Jim McCullar),
I wish to thank you for your delightful and charming cooperation with assisting me in the creation of this story for my new media journal: THE SECULAR CELL. It truly was an inspiring journey in the genre of fabrication. It will go out on Facebook in a couple of hours, for the whole world to see, as a brief cautionary, instructional paper on internet fraud. This is my social duty. And who knows, I might even make a few real bucks. You see, as an artist, my part of this story “scheme” is virtually 100% true, where as your side is a total and corrupt lie.
You should be ashamed of yourself for appropriating the good name of an honest man for your evil endeavours. I will of course send a copy of this story along to the real Jim McCullar. I am sure he will get quite a chuckle out of it. You have by now figured out that I was onto your little fairy-tale from the beginning. However, call it masochism, I always enjoy stringing people like you along as far as possible... to waste your valuable time while having a bit of fun along the way, as I practice my writing skills.
Thanks again and by the way... I have sent all of my correspondence with you off to Interpol and HSBC
Have a nice day... hopefully the weather is cold and miserable and the bullets are wising by your head as you are reading this and I wish you all the best bad luck possible in your chosen profession.
Cheers
Rod Malay
rod_malay@hotmail.com
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