This document describes a potential job scam involving a dubious job offer from "United State Oil and Gas." The document outlines correspondence between the potential victim and individuals representing the dubious company. In the emails, the victim is asked to provide personal details and pay fees in order to secure a visa for a job that appears too good to be true. The summary raises suspicions about the legitimacy of the opportunity.

1. Here's how it begins. A few days ago, I received an “invitation” to
apply for a job at the (dodgy) United State Oil and Gas, Ventura,
United State (Note: United STATE, not United STATES of AMERICA).
Here's the “invitation”!
United State Oil and Gas, Registered Sub Office:
515 1/2 S. Evergreen,
Ventura, United State.
T- : + 1 (518) 623-4696
M- : + 1 (518) 623-4696
E-Mail:
Attention: Madam/Sir,
Job Ref No: Ref. No.: (ML-R0005-FILE-76-094)
U.S. OIL And GAS plc is interested to employ individuals who excel in
their area of expertise in all areas of engineering, all other oil and
gas related sector, Trading, Documentation/ Shipment Management /
Liaison / International.
{1}. Business Dev Mgr, Merchandiser, Other Export/ Import, VP -
Operations/COO, External Consultant, SBU Head /Profit Centre
Head, CEO/MD/ Country Manager, finance managers,
Mechanical / Equipment / Auxiliary / Support Services / Engineering /
Financial / Commercial / Legal Management / (322 workers needed).
{2}. Technician / Contract / Procurement / Drillers / Drilling /
Administration / Human Resources / (210 workers needed).
{3}. Quality / Inspection / Constructions / Trade / Skilled Survey /
Information Technology / Marine Services / Marketing / Sales
Executive / (130 workes needed).
{4}. Geology / GeoSciences / Medical Services / Environmental /
Health / Safety / (176 workers needed).

2. As per the online recruitment that we conducted with our
Recruitment Partn
( www.monsterindia.com www.monsterindia.com ), we have gone
through your CV / Resume through our Recruitment Partner's
website, and you have been selected you as one of the qualified
candidates that will work in U.S. OIL And GAS plc.
US. Your resume is also in the custody of our screening depart but
the screening department require a few more details from your end
to substantiate the information they already have in their Custody,
so you are to fill out the below short form which shall aid our
screening
department in there judgment of issues to see if you shall come out
successfully and be offered a position with us.
Fill out the below form to enable us re-confirm the details we found
in your resume / CV at our Recruitment Agent website:
1. FULL NAME ....................................................
2. CURRENT LOCATION ...............................
3. NATIONALITY ..............................................
4. MOBILE NUMBER.......................................
5. CURRENT EMPLOYER ............................
6. CURRENT DESIGNATION/POST ......
Two DESIGNATION/POST DESIRED
i)................................
ii)...............................
CURRENT MONTHLY/ANNUAL SALARY ..........
EXPECTED MONTHLY/ANNUAL SALARY ........
Note: Answer the above questions in your reply message and do
also provide us with a another copy of your CV / RESUME to enable
the screening department re-confirm your resume which they have
at their custody as of the moment. Reply to E-mail:
job.at.united.state.oil.and.gas@gitaristan.com
Best regard
Goodluck Evant,
Human Resources Manager / Recruiting Manager.
PDVSA U.S. OIL And GAS plc.

3. So I applied for the job :-) Here's my email to Mr Goodluck
Evant (gotta love that name, guys). Sent on the 7 th of August
2011.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dear Sir,
I, Rohit Sharma, have pleasure in applying to your job advertisiment in
United State Oil and Gas, given below.
1. FULL NAME .................................................... Rohit Sharma
2. CURRENT LOCATION ............................... Mysore
3. NATIONALITY .............................................. India
4. MOBILE NUMBER....................................... 984137037
5. CURRENT EMPLOYER ............................ Infosys
6. CURRENT DESIGNATION/POST ...... Marketing Executive
Two DESIGNATION/POST DESIRED
i)................................ Business Development Manager
ii)............................... Sales Manager
CURRENT MONTHLY/ANNUAL SALARY .......... Rs 14.5 L PA
EXPECTED MONTHLY/ANNUAL SALARY ........ Rs 22 L PA plus
Please let me know the next steps for this.
Signed:
Rohit Sharma

4. Well, Mr Goodluck, to his bad luck, decided to reply to me with
a firm offer of employment :-)
U.S. OIL And GAS Plc.
United State Oil and Gas, Registered Sub Office: 515 1/2 S. Evergreen,
Ventura,
United State. T- : + 1 (518) 623-4696, M- : + 1 (518) 623-4696
E-Mail: job.at.united.state.oil.and.gas@gitaristan.com
Website: http://usoilandgas.fileave.com/index.htm
JOB CODE : (ML-R0005-FILE-76-094)
LETTER OF EMPLOYMENT
Dear Applicant,
Following earlier application for job employment with U.S. OIL And GAS Plc.
Through the curriculum vitae/resume of contacted expatriates recommended
for the project. Congratulation you have qualified as one of the expatriates to
resume work in office.
Please note: the above letter attached to this mail is your employment letter,
and a copy of it has been forwarded to U.S High Commission in New Delhi
India for immediate visa endorsement.
DATE OF RESUME: You are requested to resume work in the office on
03/10/2011
*JOB LOCATION: U.S. OIL And GAS plc, Registered Sub Office: 515 1/2 S.
Evergreen,
Ventura, United State., United State Of American.
*JOB TITLE/DESCRIPTION:Sales Representative
*JOB CODE : (ML-R0005-FILE-76-094)
*JOB SECTION: 2011 / 2012.
WORK PERIODS: Monday to Fridays, Time: 9.30am to 5.30pm with break
period between 12.00noon to 2.00pm.
SALARY INDICATION: Monthly take-home Salary (After tax)
is USD$8,150.00 (Eight Thousand One Hundred And Fifty Dollars) Salary can

5. be transferred to any Bank or Country of your choice and all transfers must be
made in conformity with the existing tax situation in United State.
You will be entitled to the following facilities:
ALLOWANCES, PAID HOME LEAVE, SAFETY AND SECURITY, MEDICAL/HEALTH
SERVICE FACILITIES AND INSURANCE PLAN FOR FAMILY, FEEDING AND
ACCOMMODATION, TRANSPORTATION, ADDITIONAL
SERVICES, TELECOMMUNICATION/INTERNET FACILITIES, FAMILY STATUS
ARRANGEMENTS, CLAIMS/ENTITLEMENTS.
Interview on arrival is designed to facilitate a cordial relationship between
expatriates and firm as well as the organizational structure with respect to
the project scope. Interviews are also designed to ascertain claims on working
experiences and academic/educational qualifications, and should any claim be
found wanting the affected expatriate would be deported and such done in
conformity with the legal provision? Among reasons for interview on arrival is
to establish expatriates area of interest considering the project scope in order
to facilitate an efficient division of labor on Job Locations with respect to the
organization structure.
VISA / WORKING PERMIT PROCESS:
We have mandated a reliable agent who is working with U.S embassy in New
Delhi India to assure immediate visa processing for all appointed applicant
coming from China, India, Pakistan and U.A.E with other Asia countries to
avoid delay causes by visa processing.
You are hereby advice at this stage to contact Mr. Christopher Holcomb. (via
email: christopher.holcomb@careceo.com) by sending him a scan copy of your
international passport and photo ID for processing of your Visa and all
relevant travel/immigration documents to enable us ascertain your
commitment and willingness to start with the processing of your visa.
Due to the sky-scraping number of applicant that we have on our database,
all appointed applicants are given (14) days to comply with every requirement
demand by the Embassy to get their VISA. All employee that are unable to
meet up with the 2weeks(14) days deadline given will automatically be
disqualified with all personal information deleted from our database for
employment.
Contact the agent via e-mail or Tel using the contact details:-
Christopher Holcomb
christopher.holcomb@careceo.com
M: +91- 981-189-0626
FX: 981-189-0756.
U.S. OIL And GAS plc
VISA/PERMIT DEPARTMENT
U.S HIGH COMMISSION SHANTIPATH CHANKYAPURI, NEW DELHI
-110021.INDIA.
Its important that you humble yourself before the agent Lawyer Christopher
Holcomb , respect him and follow his instruction for him to secure your visa in
due-time to ensure confirmation with our record for immediate delivery of
your Air-Ticket together with your Job Offer Letter hard copy direct to the

6. embassy in New Delhi India via DHL Courier service.
Your present location and a day-time telephone number would also be
required for sake of efficiency and correspondence. The job programmed
Schedule will be made available in due time (no distant time). As a mark of
commitment, Ben The Capper U.S. OIL And GAS PLC U.S.A. will be responsible
for 60% of your total travel expenses while you will be responsible for 40%
only.
Yours Sincerely,
Goodluck Evant,
PRESIDENT & CEO
Human Resources Manager / Recruiting Manager.
PDVSA U.S. OIL And GAS plc.
This email has been sent to you as part of U.S. OIL And GAS plc. U.S.A.
Please add job.at.united.state.oil.and.gas@gitaristan.com to your contacts
lists, or mark as safe to make sure you receive our emails. Copyright© 2011-
2012 Int U.S.A. All rights reserved.

7. And so I wrote back to him and “Chris” Holcombe:
Re: Job Ref No: Ref. No.: (ML-R0005-FILE-76-094): URGENT!
Dear Sir,
I thank you for your kind offer and hereby restate that I will perform my
duties to United State Oil and Gas to the best of my ability and very
very hardly!
Sir, I will be travelling to Delhi tomorrow as it is my native, plus I have
some personal work there. Please coud you tell me what documents I
should be carrying with me? (For VISA). Also, sir, I need to give 1
month notice at my company where I am working (Infosys) to get
relieving letter from them. Your letter says date of resume is
3/10/2011, which means I must give my letter of resignation to my
company MAXIMUM by 1/9/2011, or else I will not be relieved by them.
Could you tell mehow much time it will take to get Visa for US? Only
after I get Visa, I think, I should give my resignation letter at my
company. Or should I give my resignation letter immediately itself?
Sir, I will contact Mr Christopher Holcomb again once I reach Delhi
tomorrow evening to see where I can meet with him. Once again,
thank you very much for your offer, and I look forward to serving
United Sates of America Oil and Gas longly and proudly.
Thanking you.
Yours faithfully
Rohit Sharma

8. 25 August update: Christopher Holcomb replied!
From: CHRISTOPHER HOLCOMB <christopher.holcomb@careceo.com>
To: rohitsharmastud@yahoo.in
Sent: Thursday, 25 August 2011 9:13 AM
Subject: RE: Job Ref No: Ref. No.: (ML-R0005-FILE-76-094): URGENT!
Dear Applicant,
I acknowledge the receipt of your mail from (UNITED STATE OIL
& GAS PLC) regarding the four (4) years working visa
endorsement/residence permit. And your employer has
forwarded the required documents for processing of your
resident permit and employment visa.
Make a print out of the visa application form attached to you
below, fill it and send it back via email and along with the
application fee. By filling the application form, each applicant
is entitled to pay visa and Registration fee of R.S 25,200 for
processing of your four (4) years working permit. Visa will
take 4 working days from the date of application.
2, As soon as your visa processing is completed will shall
inform you to come over to the office along with a hard copy of
your international passport for final visa stamp.
3, your air ticket will be send direct to you as soon as your visa
is ready. I am sure that your above information has help to
secure you this position.
You will have to come to the office after your visa processing is
completed.
Follow the Instructions below
So kindly Print out the Immigration Form attached to you and
fill it properly for my kinds regards.
This is for official use, scan two (2) passport photography and
send to me for visa processing.
"Important information" You are required to follow my
instruction for easy and fair visa processing, all charges have
to be paid by cash payment to my secretary account
information and Correspondent account which will be giving to
you, also the payment receipt from the bank is needful for
official records. Note that their will be no hand to hand

9. payment, but you are required to ask for the account details as
soon as you agree with the terms and conditions for visa
processing.
If you are unable to answer all questions on the Visa
Immigration Application Form, please leave the space empty, i
shall do the needful . Or if you know that you can not fill the
Form.
Payments slip should be send to my email address to enable
me fill your Immigration Form and process it and kindly
remember once again that after receiving all the details
requested above, it will take Four (4) working days to
processing of visa to get ready.
Regards,
Christopher Holcomb
christopher.holcomb@careceo.com
U.S. OIL And GAS plc
VISA/PERMIT DEPARTMENT
U.S HIGH COMMISSION SHANTIPATH CHANKYAPURI, NEW DELHI
-110021.INDIA.
M: +91- 981-189-0626
FX: 981-189-0756.
He also sent me a truly dodgy form DHA 56B to be filled up.

11. I let Chris stew for a day, and then in the evening replied.
Sir,
I am most grateful to you for this oppartunity to serve United State Oil
and Gas PLC. Sir I have some question: my friend Sharukh (also
working in Infosys) told me that I had to TYPE the details into this form
for US. He typed my detils into the form and sent me, and I have
attacked it you can see attacment. Some parts I coudnt understand, I
have left them blank.
Please tell me this is OK sir and I have also attachd two copies of
PHOTOS for you as you mentoned. Or else if I have to write details
then also OK I will print and write details and hand over form to you.
Please let me know sir.
Sir you have also not answerd my question if I should resing from my
work at Infosys quickly because they will take one month MINIMUM to
give me relieving letter. Please tell me sir.
I am looking forward to working closely with United State Oil and GAs
PLC. I hereby promise that I shall work very hardly for the company
and serve with fullest energy and zeal. Sir, when will I get the VISA for
United State.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
Rohit Sharma
And sure, I attached the filled in form, with TWO copies of my
“passport photos” . Note … he isn't asking me for my passport
itself. The photo is needless to say of some guy off the
internet, but looks authentic, doesn't it?
Now to wait for “Chris” to send me the account number and
the bank details.

12. Two copies of photos duly attached.

13. Anyway, I offered to meet Chris Holcomb:with some hilarious
results. I don't have all the earlier emails, but to cut a long
story short, I offered to meet him first near Palika Bazaar (he
turned up .. a black guy! .. I didn't, but two friends of mine
watched with great interest while a very impatient black guy
hung around near a shop, spent a fortune on some Coke etc,
and left after a couple of hours. The next time, I told him to
collect the money from me in Agra … again, a guy landed up
near the Taj, waited for ever and then left fuming (I think!)
Finally, I told him that I'd meet him at HIS office …
Sir,
Very sorry for not replaying sir, but I am traveling from my village to
Delhi. Sir, I have asked my friend to corier my passport to my village, I
will get scan copy done and send to you in two days once I recive it. I
will also resign only when I get the visa as you tell me sir. Also sir, my
phone is not roming, it is not working in my village, but I am getting
SIM card from my fufiji in Delhi in two days.
Please tell me visa fee amount and when to get it to your office in delhi
chanakyapuri. I will bring in cash tomorrow sir, as I am not carrying
chekbook with me.
Thanking you
Yours faithfully
Rohit Sharma

14. And sure enough, he quickly forbid it!!!!
Dear Applicant,
I would like you to know that you are to now deposit the
money into an account which i would give to you.no hand to
hand payment that is the new procedure,so get back to me
today so as to give to you account of in which the money would
be deposited first thing tomorrow morning.
Also give me a call today,so we can talk better.
Regards,
Now it became funny: I was pleading with him so that I could
PAY him money! And oh, by the way, in true Indian style, I
asked him for a discount on the Visa fee :-) Here are my
emails to him:
Sir, please dont anger on me. I pray to you in my village temple today
for long life term, you are making change in my LIFE, please dont
anger on me. My fother tolds me Beta Mr Christopher Holcomb is your
devata, unko khush rakna, unka puja karo. I do what you tell sir. Sir
please tell me bank details and branch where I can depost money for
VISA fee. Also amount and please sir, dont mistake, I come from poor
family, please give some discount for me. I will pray to GOD SHIVA for
long life term for you and your family.
Thanking you
Your faithfully,
ROHIT SHARMA
and …

15. Sir,
Please sir my phone is not roming number. Also sir, my fufiji is bringing
SIM card from delhi for me in two days, I give you new number then.
But sir, please send me amont to pay (50%) and bank detales to pay
amont into (bank branch and addres and number acount). Sir, I can
pay amont tomorrow, but please tell detales quick, I need to get cash
for payment from borowing today from my village people. Or else I
have to go back to my village for ten days on monday (puja for
Ganesha is very important god for us) and I will not be going to city
then at all.
Please send detales to me, I will deposit tomorrow and please send me
your phone details, I will call once my fufiji brings new roming simcard
for me on monday).
Thanking you
Yours Faithfully
Rohit Sharma
AND …. he finally sent these emails!
Dear Rohit,
Received your mail and your prayers,it shall be well with you
also.
I want you to call me first thing in the morning so that i can
give you account details in which you are to deposit the money
into.Also you need to deposit more than half of the money and
i would help out with the remaining so that the visa processing
can start immediately.
I would like you to call me today so we can talk before you
deposit the money tomorrow.
Waiting to hear from you soonest.
Regards,

16. and …
Dear Rohit,
This is the account in which you are to make payment,this is
the account of visa HEAD CORRESPONDENT ACCOUNT.
ACCOUNT NAME:ANIL KUMAR
ACCOUNT NUMBER:110001503216
IFSC CODE:ICIC0001100
PAN NO:BVEPK3145A
BANK NAME:ICICI
Once you make the deposit get back to me with the scan copy
of payment.
Waiting to read from you soon.
Regards,
Guess what? He was kind enough to give me a “discount” :-)
Dear Rohit,
The amount is Rs25,200,so make payment and get back to
me.you must pay above rs15,000, I will pay rest for you.
Regards,

17. And so … I wrote to the ICICI bank folks.
To 27 August 2011
Shantanu Samaddar
ICICI Bank
Mumbai
Dear Shantanu,
It was a pleasure speaking with you a few minutes ago. As I mentioned, I received a
classic 419 Scam email a few days ago, and I wanted to ensure that the scammers
were caught.
As a first step, I created a fake email persona (Rohit Sharma), through who I began
communicating with the scammer. IP traces of the emails showed that the original
email came from Nigeria (Abuja), but subsequent emails came from a person calling
himself Christopher Holcomb. His IP traces showed that he is based in Delhi.
I've cut and pasted the entire email trail in this document. I haven't been able to
share the headers here, as I was only using a browser, but I'd be happy to speak with
your Risk Containment folks and help them out as needed.
To cut a long story short, “Christopher Holcomb” finally asked me to send money to:
ACCOUNT NAME:ANIL KUMAR
ACCOUNT NUMBER:110001503216
IFSC CODE:ICIC0001100
PAN NO:BVEPK3145A
BANK NAME:ICICI
I hope this is enough for your folks to begin investigations into this account. The
account seems to be at ICICI Bank, 235 Jessore Road, Nagerbazar, 700028, West
Bengal.
Warm regards,
Guhesh Ramanathan
+919901770317
guhesh.ramanathan@gmail.com
guhesh.ramanathan@nsrcel.org
and they promptly shut down that account.

18. The next day, I got a frantic email from Ol' pal Chris telling me
NOT to pay money into that account. He then sent me the
details of an SBI account (I forget where), and I promptly got
that closed down too. This happened once more with a HSBC
account ... Wham! Closed that down too.
Finally, I got bored. And sent Ol' Chris this email:
Sir, Ganeshji ki jai!!! Sir, after you spokes to me, I get one more offer
sir, from Scotland, I have attacked offer letter below. Sir, I am getting
more moneys from there 8,630 pounds but you are paing me only
8,500 dollars. Can you please pay 130 dollar more and I will join
United State Oil and Gas. Also sir, they are offer 15 day holiday every
month, can I get same? Also sir, in mail, Mr Zephaniah Bright said
Scoch Wisky free in Scotland in Fulmar Oilfield job. Sir, I not drink but
then he toled I can take bottel back to India (my father BIG drinker sir).
Can you please tell me sir, what I can do? You are god sir, you give me
discount, I follow your advise but sir, please match offer sir or my
father telling me to get scoch wisky for him.
Thanking you
Yours Faithfully
Rohit Sharma
The Fulmar offer is on the next page :-)

20. Promptly I got a message back from Christopher:
Dear Rohit,
This is not good behaving. United State offered you job first
and now you are joining other country job. I have also
personally offered to pay some of your Visa fee. If you do not
send money to the account I send you details of in the next
few minutes, I will be very angry and curse you.
Also, Fulmar Oilfield is not good company. Sometimes they
cheat people. I know because I am friendly with many people
they have cheated.
So, I will send you details of account and you must pay there
today, OK?
Regards,
So, after some more playing around with BOTH Christopher
Holcomb, and Zephaniah Bright, I did the honorable thing. I
introduced the two of them to each other and let them fight it
out. And somewhere in Nigeria, I still think there are two
Nigerians slugging it out with each other.