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Australian head of e-mail fraud syndicate arrested


Alleged scammer refused bail
Brooke Jacobson and Vera Devai
OCTOBER 31, 2003

AN Australian pensioner managed to defraud $5 million from
unsuspecting victims, including a Saudi Arabian sheik, in a global internet
scam, a NSW court was told today.

The alleged Australian head of the so-called Nigerian or West African
scam, Sydney resident Nick Marinellis, made a brief appearance in the Dubbo
Local Court today.
The 39-year-old father of two was arrested yesterday during a raid on
his Nyngan "holiday home".

Facts tendered to the court today revealed police investigations began
on February 26 this year after a complaint from the Hungarian Consulate that
a "Dr Nick Marinellis" had called requiring $US2,500 ($3,560).

The scam involved the distribution of spam emails which conned people
into believing they could claim millions of dollars through lottery
winnings, an inheritance or a business opportunity if they first sent off
money for "expenses".


Marinellis used a number of aliases, including Tim Webster and Alan
Jones, to scam a Japanese national, the police statement of facts alleged.

He allegedly conned a total of $5 million from a number of different
victims, including $571,302 from a Saudi sheik.

"The scam was operated from different points around he globe
culminating with the accused," the police said.

International agencies have been informed of Marinellis' arrest
including Interpol, the US Secret Service and CIB in London.

He is alleged to have told police: "I have 220 African brothers
worldwide. I am the Australian headquarters for those scams."

Marinellis did not enter a plea to 17 charges including five of
conspiring with others to cheat and defraud.

Legal Aid defence solicitor Catherine Colquhoun said her client was a
family man currently surviving on a disability pension.

"His wife and family are in Sydney, he attends church every Sunday and
cares for his sick and elderly parents," Ms Colquhoun said during a bail
application.

She said Marinellis had also been diagnosed with schizophrenia.

"He is currently receiving medication for that and he needs to be in
the community to continue that treatment," she said.

Magistrate Tom Hodgson today refused bail and confiscated Marinellis'
passport.

Marinellis will reappear in court on December 12 at the Downing Centre
in Sydney.

AAP

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DEAR FRIEND,

BUSINESS TRANSACTION.

MY NAME IS JOHNSON NDIOVU, THE ELDEST SON OF MR.AKUGA NDIOVU OF
ZIMBAWE IT MIGHT BE A SURPRISE TO YOU, WHERE I GOT YOUR CONTACT
ADDRESS. I GOT IT FROM THE NETHERLANDS CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND
INDUSTRIES

DURING THE CURRENT CRISIS AGAINST THE FARMERS OF ZIMBABWE BY THE
SUPPORTERS OF OUR PRESIDENT ROBERT MUGABE TO CLAIM ALL THE WHITE
OWNED FARMERS IN OUR COUNTRY, HE ORDERED ALL WHITE FARMERS TO
SURRENDER THEIR FARMS TO HIS PARTY MEMBERS AND THEIR FOLLOWERS.

MY FATHER WAS ONE OF THE BEST FARMERS IN THE COUNTRY AND KNOWING
THAT HE DID NOT SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT POLITICAL IDEOLOGY, THE
PRESIDENT'S SUPPORTERS INVADED MY FATHER'S FARM AND BURNT DOWN
EVERYTHING, SHOT HIM AND AS A RESULT OF THE WOUNDS SUSTAINED,HE
BECAME SICK AND DIED AFTER TWO DAYS. AFTER HIS DEATH, MY MOTHER
AND I TOGETHER WITH MY YOUNGER BROTHER DECIDED TO MOVE OUT OF
ZIMBABWE FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR LIVES IN SOUTH AFRICA, WHERE I
LATER MOVE TO EUROPE.

BUT BEFORE MY FATHER DIED, HE WROTE A WILL, WHICH READS. MY
BELOVED SON, I WISH TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE SUM OF
(US$15.5 MILLION DOLLARS) WHICH I DEPOSITED WITH A COURIER
COMPANY IN EUROPE IN CASE I WANT TO INVEST THE MONEY, HE
DEPOSITED THE MONEY IN A COURIER COMPANY WITH MY NAME (JOHNSON
NDIOVU) AND IT CAN BE CLAIM BY ME ALONE WITH THE DEPOSIT CODE,
ALL THE DOCUMENT COVERING THIS MONEY IS WITH ME. I WANT TO TAKE
GOOD CARE OF MY MOTHER AND BROTHER.

FROM THE ABOVE REASONS, YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THAT THE LIVES OF MY
FAMILY DEPEND ON THIS MONEY. AS SUCH, I WILL BE VERY GRATEFUL IF
YOU CAN ASSIST US, I AM NOW LIVING IN EUROPE AS POLITICAL ASYLUM
AND THE FINANCIAL LAWS OF EUROPIANS DO NOT ALLOW ASYLUM SEEKERS
CERTAIN FINANCIAL RIGHTS TO SUCH HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY.

IN VIEW OF THIS, I CANNOT INVEST THIS MONEY ALL ALONE HENCE I AM
SEEKING FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE TO TRANSFER THIS MONEY OUT OF
COURIER COMPANY FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSE. FOR YOUR EFFORTS, I AM
PREPARED TO OFFER YOU 15% OF THE TOTAL FUNDS, 5% FOR ANY
EXPENSES THAT MAY BE INCURRED IN THE COURSE OF THIS TRANSACTION,
WHILE 80% WILL BE KEPT FOR MY FAMILY AND I.

FINALLY, MODALITIES ON HOW THE TRANSFER WILL BE DONE WILL
CONVEYED TO YOU ONCE WE ESTABLISH TRUST AND CONFIDENCE BETWEEN
OURSELVES. LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR URGENT REPLY. FOR MORE
INFORMATION, YOU CAN CONTACT ME ON THIS E-MAIL
ADDRESS:-Jsdvu23Z@netscape.net

NOTE. THE KEY WORD TO THIS TRANSACTION IS ABSOLUTE
CONFIDENTIALITY AND SECRECY AND YOUR URGENT RESPONSE WILL BE
HIGHLY APPRECIATED.

THANKS AND GOD BLESS,

JOHNSON NDIOVU

(For the Family).

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