Nigerian Scammers

Category: Email

Have you gotten a message from someone claiming to be a representative of the Nigerian government, promising a multi-million dollar reward for your help in transferring a huge sum of money? Are you soon to be rich, filthy rich -- or could this be a scam?

The 419 Scam

Sorry to dash your hopes for a share of the ill-gotten booty, but the letter below (and many variations on the theme) is a well-known scam that pre-dates the Internet. But unfortunately, alarming numbers of people are taking the bait in what has been dubbed "The 419 Scam".

FROM THE DESK OF MR. JOHN EBERE --
NIGERIA NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION --
PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

Dear friend, Having consulted with my colleagues and based on the information Gathered from the Nigerian Chambers Of Commerce And Industry, I have the privilege to request your assistance to transfer the sum of (45,500,000.00) FORTY-FIVE MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS, into your accounts.

nigerian scam - 419 scam

The above sum resulted from an over-invoiced contract, executed, Commissioned and paid for about three years ago by a foreign contractor. This action was however intentional and since then the fund has been in a suspense account at The Central Bank Of Nigeria Apex Bank. We are now ready to transfer the fund overseas and that is where you come in.

The total sum will be shared as follows: 60% for us, 35% for you and 5% for local and international expenses incidental to the transfer. The transfer is risk free on both sides.

When a potential victim reponds to the scammer, they are asked for their bank account and other personal information. The fraudster then tries to establish credibility by providing documents bearing Nigerian government letterhead. But invariably a "problem" arises. The victim is then pressured or threatened to provide one or more large sums of money to save the venture. According to the U.S. Treasury, this scam grosses hundreds of millions of dollars annually, and in a few cases scam victims have been killed.

To learn more about the Nigerian 419 Scam, check out this link. I think you'll also enjoy the very funny Annual Nigerian EMail Conference parody.

Got something to say about those wacky Nigerian scammers? Post your comments below...

 
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Most recent comments on "Nigerian Scammers"

Posted by:

Marty Wolfson
26 Jul 2006

I've done better than the Nigerian, better than the english lottery: I'm gonna be partners with MRS. ARAFAT herself! She wrote me the best email EVER and i's only a matter of [the end of] time now. Can't wait! yeah, right!


Posted by:

Honey lee
25 Oct 2007

Hello,

Joining the so-called NETDATING for a while..I did meet not only one time but few times the male scammers although i have heard from some real men about their experience about the female scammers from Russia..ect..but this also happen to us..the real and serious ladies who want to expand our search just for the real love and the right partner..

Do I need to attach “their” photos as I am sure that they never use their own photos but just copy from somewhere but they do have the similar profile…a stable ..decent man with a good job/position as a trap for the lonely ladies…but I can announce their email addresses…

I did meet many male scammers with the same story that they are all widowed with one kid who lives full time with them …besides they don’t have any relatives..parents are all deceased..no brothers or sisters..and after a short time to contact with us ..they very soon starting their business trips to Nigeria..Ghana…ect..and the climax comes when either his kid kidnapped or he is attacked and lost all money..passport…ect and we ( the ladies ) are the only person he can trust ..rely on and help him thru this harshly situation by sending him some money ( just a humble sum around 400USD to maximum 1200USD ) to rescue him and his kid..

Another new story that he is the officer of a company or government who work oversea and his next tenure would be in your country..and he needs to buy a house in your country before he comes and ask you to help him with the money transfer…( asking your account number…ect …) and before his huge sum of money come thru your account then you have to pay the so-called token fee to his bank in Africa..not much..just some hundreds USD ( 1% on the total sum transfer to your account )

Another funny story that the scammer will very soon to invest to your country and would like to transfer the money to you not thru the bank but thru some so-called diplomats who will come to meet you face-to-face to hand you a sealed box with the huge sum of money inside..and you have to pay the traspotation fees to get this box..Im order to assure the story is true..then the scammer will ask you to give them/him your ID number..telephone and you have to show your ID to the transferer/diplomats when you come to get the secret box…

The scammers’ common denominator is they don’t have time to exchange emails with you to undertsnad deeper your viewpoint..character…family or else like the real man on the way searching for his partners….but just the simple preface to introduce about them and their jobs/situation for next step..

We still saved and stored all the scammer’s emails and chats…as a proof…care to read ?

Here is some of the email addresses that my friends and I have experienced on the way searching for the real happiness..

So..my all dear ladies ….although we really need a shoulder to lean on but never let the lonely feelings fooled us..we can continue to search by our real heart but with a lucid mind…

EDITOR'S NOTE: I'm sure all of those addresses are anonymous throw-away accounts, so posting them here won't help. But your comments will be helpful to some, thanks.


Posted by:

Henry Ellis
06 May 2008

I too get to win the lottery several times a day and they are followed by the letters from Chiefs - Kings - Princesses and of course the occasional Prince. I am amazed that people fall for this kwap.
I always copy and paste the header to the offendinding email ( required ) send it to `say` abuse@yahoo.com ...sometimes they have one - two or even 3 email addresses, add an abuse to each.
enter 419 in the subject line, It is amazing how many get their accounts deleted. OK they soon sign up again but it sure must hisss them off...


Posted by:

Gary Hensen
10 Sep 2008

Not all scammers are Nigerian as this thread shows http://boards.biography.com/thread.jspa?threadID=800007322&messageID=800040492. Charity fraud is on the rise but sadly, most fraudsters see themselves as cleverer than everyone else, when in fact, they are to be pitied.


Posted by:

Tom Hansen
31 Dec 2008

i am posting this comment about a scammer who's name is pam christen who i engaged in communication with on a christian site ldsplanet and she is located in utah and i was scammed by her and she got roughly $3,000 from me and i do not know if ayone have an idea how to go about tracking her down? her e-mail is pmxxxxx@gmail.com

EDITOR'S NOTE: You need to contact the police.


Posted by:

robin
24 Jan 2009

i am working on connecting scammer email address to a data base at mastercard international if the email comes up in their data base the account is deleated and the money is returned to the depositors and the person is turned over to the police.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Does this technique use the Eject-o-Seat technology to whoosh the person out of their chair, or are you using a Teleporter to get them to the nearest police station?


Posted by:

Michael
03 Feb 2009

i was just recently scammed on a dating website from those crazy nigerian scammers i just shelled out roughly 3000 dollars like the below man mentioned. i feel so stupid blinded by a love for someone who doesn't even exist. and now wasn't the best time for me to do so being that we are in an economic crisis. well a fool and his money are soon parted


Posted by:

Wanda
19 Dec 2009

My friend was scammed and he thinks that sending this money to these men who say they are government official and will help him get back his $50,000.00. He has been paying back this money for over 14 months now and they keep telling him different amounts each time and now he has paid them $48,500.76 and they claim he still needs to send another $4,500 to get his $50,000.00. I have tried to stop him but he will not listen to me. Maybe you can find something out for me and let me know so I can show him.

EDITOR'S NOTE: See http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt117.shtm


Posted by:

joe
25 Jun 2010

The recognized ‘419’ advance fee fraud scam is a main source of spam which takes its victims for hundreds of millions of dollars yearly. Email headers substantiate that much of this traffic currently comes out of Lagos and Amsterdam. 419ers also create fake bank websites. Ad hoc information warfare has begun in which anti-scammers hijack these websites as well as scammers’ email accounts. Spam legislation will not stop these particular emails. Filtering outgoing mail, as close as practical to the source, could suppress that piece of the fraud carried out by email, at least in the short term.
http://scam419.blogspot.com


Posted by:

louise
05 Dec 2012

I just want to know if Marco Dupond is a scammer.He doesnt give me any clues that he is but because he was on the Ivory Coast I have my doubts.He has asked me for money and I refused but we still chat. Its been almpst 1 year. He is no longer in the Ivory Coast. and is planning to come to Canada where his ex wife lives.

EDITOR'S NOTE: I'm sure there are many Marco Duponds, some nice, some naughty. Don't send any money.


Posted by:

Carol Ricketts
26 Dec 2012

Hello, I have been conversing with a supposedly U.S. Army man for approx 2yrs now, during this time I have checked him out online and found a site about him?? He has gone by the names Randy, Jeff and now Philip w the last name being Miller. The site is called astonishedman but not sure which site on?? but know he is the man in the pics shown. Now he assures me he is THE REAL 1 of course and that he knows about the sites etc, what can u add to this please? Caz.


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