July 6
Happy just past 4th of July, everyone. Hope your weekend was filled with patriotic wellbeing. My long weekend was spent in a near stupor of food and my first time EVER lighting fireworks and almost total sloth -- with the exception of going to my neice's wedding which was somewhere in NY. I admit, I'm not exactly sure where which is sad, considering the fact that I DROVE. All I know is that we took the Taconic Parkway and it felt like we were very very very far and driving up, we passed through a town called Sheffield, Mass which was perhaps the cutest and most precious place EVER-all creeping roses and antique shops and delightful looking restaurants serving tea and crumpets and wine spritzers. We didn't stop, and I'm not sure I'd ever find it again unless I was earthshakingly lost, but I'd like to. I used to go on drives, long rambling drives with no particular destination listening to Big Head Todd and watching the fall colors and stumbling into beautiful New England greens and tiny beaches and shops selling lots of only one thing. I haven't done that in what feels like a long long time and I miss it terribly. Ever find a state park? That's what learning Connecticut by the backroads was like for me. I'll find myself lost in towns I've already been lost in, but don't remember why. I'll find myself with my feet in rivers I recognize by the feel of the rocks under my feet and how the wind feels on my face and what the trees sound like. Graveyards by the quiet loam in the air. Mountains by the birds overhead. I miss that drive with all my heart and more than I often admit.
Anyhow, I was sort of sad to see that my Special Nigerian Boyfriend hadn't answered me after fate brought us back together the last time, but one of my astute readers might have figured out why:
Nigeria arrests 500 suspected email scammers
From AFP
June 29, 2004ABUJA: Nigeria's agency against economic and financial crime said Monday that it had detained more than 500 suspects and seized property worth more than $US500 million from suspected fraudsters.
"Presently we have over 500 suspects in custody, seized assets and recovered properties worth over $US500 million with over 100 cases at various stages of prosecution," agency chairman Nuhu Ribadu told a seminar.The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) was set up by President Olusegun Obasanjo to fight economic and financial crime, especially fraudsters who operate email and mail scams known as 419 advance fee fraud -- named after the relevant section of the Nigerian criminal code.
The EFCC had demonstrated its resolve and commitment by arresting many previously "untouchable 419 kingpins", said Ribadu, a former senior police intelligence officer.
Although the identities of those in EFCC custody are not formally revealed, observers noted that they included legislators, lawyers, politicians, bankers and public functionaries.
A legislator in the lower house of parliament, Maurice Ibekwe, arrested and charged with alleged financial crime, died recently in prison custody.
Another suspect, lawyer Fred Ajudua, is currently in detention for an alleged financial crime offence.
On June 3 in Maputo, Nigeria said that it planned to launch software that would help catch fraudsters who send scam letters via email.
The new technology, which would identify key words used in such letters, is likely to be made available to Internet service providers and government departments, Mustafa Bello, executive secretary of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, told a meeting on the sidelines of Africa's World Economic Forum.
The email scams, often from "the widow of an African dictator" or a "bank offcial", promise untold wealth in return for helping to transfer millions of dollars out of Africa. Many originate in Nigeria.
Victims of the scam have lost tens of thousands of dollars, and in some cases been attacked and robbed.
They frequently fail to report their losses to the police out of shame and because they had been planning to act illegally.
South African Interpol spokeswoman Mary Martins-Engelbrecht told AFP last year that in South Africa alone some 60 cases of advance fee fraud (or 419) were reported every day.
The message from the "widow" or the "official" will ask for a name, address, bank details, passport and telephone numbers and a promise that in exchange, a major cut from the deal will be received.
The cash never materialises and the scammer eventually disappears into thin air. In some cases, victims are lured into a trap, kidnapped and held hostage for ransom.
AFP
So THAT'S where my Sexy Senator has gone! In the slammer. I hope jail is kind to him and that he keeps his sunny sense of humor. I'll miss him, but he'll be back in my arms before too long.
Semper Fi, Senator. Do they have gang rapes in your country? I hope they do.
the other day - home - email - soon