Scam Alert: Nigerian Scam - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Peetster · 01-15-2004, 06:06 AM

Claim: A wealthy foreigner needs your help moving millions of dollars from his homeland to yours and will reward you with a hefty percentage of this fortune if you agree to assist him.

Status: False.

Example:

Quote:

REQUEST FOR URGENT BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP

FIRST, I MUST SOLICIT YOUR STRICTEST CONFIDENCE IN THIS TRANSACTION. THIS IS BY VIRTUE OF ITS NATURE AS BEING UTTERLY CONFIDENTIAL AND 'TOP SECRET'. I AM SURE AND HAVE CONFIDENCE OF YOUR ABILITY AND RELIABILITY TO PROSECUTE A TRANSACTION OF THIS GREAT MAGNITUDE INVOLVING A PENDING TRANSACTION REQUIRING MAXIIMUM CONFIDENCE.

WE ARE TOP OFFICIAL OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONTRACT REVIEW PANEL WHO ARE INTERESTED IN IMPORATION OF GOODS INTO OUR COUNTRY WITH FUNDS WHICH ARE PRESENTLY TRAPPED IN NIGERIA. IN ORDER TO COMMENCE THIS BUSINESS WE SOLICIT YOUR ASSISTANCE TO ENABLE US TRANSFER INTO YOUR ACCOUNT THE SAID TRAPPED FUNDS.

THE SOURCE OF THIS FUND IS AS FOLLOWS; DURING THE LAST MILITARY REGIME HERE IN NIGERIA, THE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS SET UP COMPANIES AND AWARDED THEMSELVES CONTRACTS WHICH WERE GROSSLY OVER-INVOICED IN VARIOUS MINISTRIES. THE PRESENT CIVILIAN GOVERNMENT SET UP A CONTRACT REVIEW PANEL AND WE HAVE IDENTIFIED A LOT OF INFLATED CONTRACT FUNDS WHICH ARE PRESENTLY FLOATING IN THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA READY FOR PAYMENT.

HOWEVER, BY VIRTUE OF OUR POSITION AS CIVIL SERVANTS AND MEMBERS OF THIS PANEL, WE CANNOT ACQUIRE THIS MONEY IN OUR NAMES. I HAVE THEREFORE, BEEN DELEGATED AS A MATTER OF TRUST BY MY COLLEAGUES OF THE PANEL TO LOOK FOR AN OVERSEAS PARTNER INTO WHOSE ACCOUNT WE WOULD TRANSFER THE SUM OF US$21,320,000.00(TWENTY ONE MILLION, THREE HUNDRED AND TWENTY THOUSAND U.S DOLLARS). HENCE WE ARE WRITING YOU THIS LETTER. WE HAVE AGREED TO SHARE THE MONEY THUS; 1. 20% FOR THE ACCOUNT OWNER 2. 70% FOR US (THE OFFICIALS) 3. 10% TO BE USED IN SETTLING TAXATION AND ALL LOCAL AND FOREIGN EXPENSES. IT IS FROM THE 70% THAT WE WISH TO COMMENCE THE IMPORTATION BUSINESS.

PLEASE,NOTE THAT THIS TRANSACTION IS 100% SAFE AND WE HOPE TO COMMENCE THE TRANSFER LATEST SEVEN (7) BANKING DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THE RECEIPT OF THE FOLLOWING INFORMATIOM BY TEL/FAX; 234-1-7740449, YOUR COMPANY'S SIGNED, AND STAMPED LETTERHEAD PAPER THE ABOVE INFORMATION WILL ENABLE US WRITE LETTERS OF CLAIM AND JOB DESCRIPTION RESPECTIVELY. THIS WAY WE WILL USE YOUR COMPANY'S NAME TO APPLY FOR PAYMENT AND RE-AWARD THE CONTRACT IN YOUR COMPANY'S NAME.

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING THIS BUSINESS WITH YOU AND SOLICIT YOUR CONFIDENTIALITY IN THIS TRANSATION. PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECEIPT OF THIS LETTER USING THE ABOVE TEL/FAX NUMBERS. I WILL SEND YOU DETAILED INFORMATION OF THIS PENDING PROJECT WHEN I HAVE HEARD FROM YOU.

YOURS FAITHFULLY,

DR CLEMENT OKON

NOTE; PLEASE QUOTE THIS REFERENCE NUMBER (VE/S/09/99) IN ALL YOUR RESPONSES.

Origins: Even
as you read this, the world famous Nigerian Scam (also known as a "4-1-9" or "Advance Fee Fraud" scheme) is parting yet more of the "something for nothing" crowd from their money.

Here's how it works: Letters (or, nowadays, e-mail messages) postmarked from Nigeria (or Sierra Leone, or the Ivory Coast, or almost any other foreign nation) are sent to addresses taken from large mailing lists. The letters promise rich rewards for helping officials of that government (or bank, or quasi-government agency or sometimes just members of a particular family) out of an embarrassment or a legal problem. Typically, the pitch includes mention of multi-million dollar sums, with the open promise that you will be permitted to keep a startling percentage of the funds you're going to aid in squirreling away for these disadvantaged foreigners.

If you're not saying "scam" by now, you should be. Should you agree to participate in this international bail-out, something will go wrong. Paperwork will be delayed. Questions will be asked. Officials will need to be bribed. Money from you — an insignificant sum, really, in light of the windfall about to land in your lap — will be required to get things back on track. You pay, you wait for the transfer . . . and all you'll get in return are more excuses about why the funds are being held up and assurances that everything can be straightened out if you'll just send a bit more cash to help the process along. Once your bank account has been sucked dry or you start making threats, you'll never hear from these Nigerians again. As for the money you've thrown at this, it's gone forever.

In a nutshell, the con works by blinding the victim with promises of an unimaginable fortune. Once the sucker is sufficiently glittery-eyed over the prospect of becoming fabulously rich, he is squeezed for however much money he has. This he parts with willingly, thinking "What's $5,000 here or $10,000 there when I'm going to end up with $2 million when this is all done?" He fails to realize during the sting that he's never going to get the promised fortune; all of this messing around is designed to part him from his money.

In another form taken by the Nigerian scam, a church or religious organization is contacted by a wealthy foreigner who says he desires nothing more than to leave his considerable fortune to that particular group. Maybe he says he's led a life of sin and is now trying to make good, or maybe he claims that as a devout Christian he heard about their good works and wants to leave his money to help continue them, but whatever the backstory, it's just a tale. Once again, there will be delays, each of them necessitating the "beneficiary" to spend a few thousand here and a few thousand there in an effort to collect money that never materializes.

In a 2002 version of the con, the victim is informed he has just won an important prize in a foreign lottery he doesn't remember entering. Only when he tries to collect the money is he approached for payment of facilitation fees to get his winnings to him. It's the same con, with just a few elements unimportant to the execution of the thievery changed about.

The scam is known as the Nigerian scam, but many countries are routinely named as the homelands the appeals originate from. Likewise, the backstory, the tale that supposedly explains how these people came into possession of this incredible sum and why they now need help getting it out of wherever, changes from one e-mail to the next. There are hundreds of versions in existence, each naming different people, describing different situations, and coming from a myriad of far-flung countries. Forget about matching one backstory to another or being suspicious of e-mails from Nigerians but not applying the same caution to approaches from folks from other places — grasp instead the general principle of the scam: Someone from someplace far away wants to give you (or your church) millions of dollars but needs your help in moving the money from there to here. It doesn't matter if the letter says it came from Sri Lanka and the "funds" that need moving are gold bricks or uncut diamonds — it's the Nigerian scam. Don't let the naming blind you to that.

Once the scam is explained, it seems so obvious a con that you'd wonder who would fall for it. Yet fall for it people do because they're mesmerized by the wealth that will soon be theirs. They also fail to realize there's a hook hanging just out of sight; at first all they see is that someone wants to give them something, thus they're ill-prepared to mentally shift gears when that person turns the tables. Because the premise of "I'm going to get millions of dollars" is wholeheartedly swallowed early on, it's not at a later point questioned when things begin to go wrong with the transaction and the dupes who have been targeted are asked to dig up some funds to help move things along.

The Nigerian scam is hugely successful. According to a 1997 newspaper article:

"We have confirmed losses just in the United States of over $100 million in the last 15 months," said Special Agent James Caldwell, of the Secret Service financial crimes division. "And that's just the ones we know of. We figure a lot of people don't report them."

But this is a new scam, right? People are falling for it because they've yet to catch on?

Wrong. Very, very wrong.

The Nigerian Scam has been emptying the pockets of victims for decades -- first through letters, then with faxes, and now via e-mail. In its earliest incarnation — which dates to the 1920s — it was known as "The Spanish Prisoner" con. In that long-ago version, businessmen were contacted by someone trying to smuggle the scion of a wealthy family out of a prison in Spain. But of course the wealthy family would shower with riches those who helped secure the release of the boy. Those who were suckered into this paid for one failed rescue attempt after another, with the fictitious prisoner continuing to languish in his non-existent dungeon, always just one more bribe, one more scheme, one more try, away from being released.

These days it's trapped funds not errant sons of well-to-do families that are the objects of these global wild goose chases, but the con is the same. The undisputed headquarters of the scam is Nigeria, with some of the cons progressing so far as to have the victims fly to that country to meet with the "officials" they are purportedly assisting. Things got so out of hand, in fact, that in 1991 the Nigerian government felt compelled to issue a statement disavowing its participation in this scheme:

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said on Thursday that swindlers using Nigerian names had extorted millions of dollars from people in the United States, Asia and Europe under the guise of transferring cash abroad.

The elaborate fraud involves fake official approval to transfer up to 15 million dollars in excess claims on bogus Nigerian contracts as well as pledges to cut the claims amount for help in the use of offshore bank accounts.

A CBN statement warned foreign companies and businessmen not to fall for the confidence trick, saying that the bank had been surprised and embarrassed by enquiries relating to the fraud. "The bank has no knowledge or record whatsoever of the purported claims or transfers, or even the related alleged contracts," it said.

Ah, but is it the same scheme? You tell me:

British companies are being warned against a get-rich-quick scam involving thousands of letters sent from firms based in Nigeria.

The letters ask UK firms to assist in the transfer of funds from Nigeria to Britain — by sending signed headed paper, invoices and bank account details — in return for a cut of the sum transferred. Instead of transferring sums, the UK firm's money is removed by the fraudsters. Scotland Yard says that some companies have lost thousands of pounds in this way. About 25,000 letters are circulating in the UK. But the scale of the losses - which could run to many millions according to the Confederation of British Industry - is masked because some victims are ashamed to admit that they took part in such schemes in the first place.

The real Central Bank of Nigeria tries to warn people about this scam, but it's a case of the guy with the broom following the elephant — the elephant always gets there first. They even placed a half-page ad explaining the scam and warning off those who might be tempted to fall for it in major U.S. newspapers, such as the 27 October 1998 issue of the Los Angeles Times. That ad mentioned some new variations on the old scheme:

A recent variation of the scam directed primarily at charitable organisations and religious bodies overseas involves bogus inheritance under a will. Again the sole aim is to collect the 'advance fees' already described above. A new strategy that has also been used to defraud the 'victims' is to offer to use chemicals to transform ordinary paper into United States dollar bills, which would be subsequently shared by the parties.

Should you have occasion to feel something's not quite right about a deal being offered, drop by the websites of both the Better Business Bureau and the National Fraud Information Center.

Salon.com editor Douglas Cruickshank also penned "I crave your distinguished indulgence (and all your cash)," a wonderful textual analysis of Nigerian fraud messages.

The Secret Service asks if you have been victimized by the Nigerian scam to please forward appropriate written documentation to the United States Secret Service, Financial Crimes Division, 950 H Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20223, or telephone (202) 406-5850, or contact by e-mail. Per their automated response system, they no longer want faxed copies of the various Nigerian scams.

source: Snopes

PorscheBunny · 01-19-2004, 12:50 AM

kulrblind · 01-19-2004, 06:28 AM

Check out http://www.419eater.com to read some colourful stories of a guy who's baited many a "419 scammer" and passed along information to the authorities.

Beware, however... these entertaining and addictive stories can cause your entire afternoon at work to disappear!

bermuDa · 04-21-2004, 09:23 AM

here's one i got a while back:

Quote:

SALAM.

My name is Hajia Amina Shettima Mohammed Bulama the eldest wife of Shettima Mohammed Bulama who was the est. while managing director of the Bank of the North Nig. Plc

I am contacting you in a benevolent spirit; utmost confidence and trust to enable us provide a solution to a money transfer of $12M that is presentlt the last resort of my family.My husband has just been retired from office and has also been placed under survelience of which he can not travel out of the country for now due to allegations levelled against him while in office as the Managing director of the bank of the north Nig. Plc of which he is facing litigations right now.

You may be quite surprised at my sudden contact to you but do not despair, I got your contact from a business site on the internet and following the information I gathered about you, I was convinced that you could be of assistance to me. So, decided to contact you at once due to the urgency required for us to immediately transfer the said funds out of the country. During the time my husband was with the bank he made several loans to various oil firms and inreturn he was given various sums as gratifications .

The prominent amongst the deals was monies that emanated from funds set aside for the importation of various ballot equipmemts for the just concluded april general elections . If you are conversant with world news, you would understand better. During this period my husband was able to make some good money for himself and kept in a private security finance accounts here as persopnal effects .

Out of the money my husband made, he left the sum of US$12M (Twelve Mllion United States Dollars) which was kept in a Private security firm here in Nigeria and he kept it in the vaults of this firm as personal effects.

The reason is because no names were used to lodge in the consignment containing the funds. Instead, he used PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS (PIN) and declared the contents as Bearer Bonds and Treasury Bills. Also the firm issued him with a certificate of deposit of the consignment. Note that I have these information in my custody.

Right now, my husband has asked me to negotiate with a foreigner who would assist us lay claim to the consignment, as the eldest wife of my husband, I believe that I owe the entire family an obligation to ensure that the US$12M is successfully transferred abroad for investment purposes.

With the present situation, I cannot do it all by myself. It is based on this that I am making this contact with you. I have done a thorough homework and fine-tuned the best way to create you as the beneficiary to the consignment containing the funds and effect the transfer of the consignment accordingly. It is rest assured that the modalities I have resolved to finalize the entire project guarantees our safety and the successful transfer of the funds. So, you will be absolutely right when you say that this project is risk free and viable.

If you are capable and willing to assist,contact me at once via this email for more details.

Believe me, there is no one else we can trust again. All my husband’s friends have deserted us after exploiting us on the pretence of trying to help my husband. As it is said, it is at the time of problems that you know your true friends.

So long as you keep everything to yourself, we would definitely have no problems. For your assistance, I am ready to give you as much as 25% of the total funds after confirmation in your possession and invest a reasonable percentage into any viable business you may suggest. Please, I need your assistance to make this happen and please do not undermine it because it will also be a source of up liftment to you also. You have absolutely nothing to loose in assisting us instead, you have so much to gain.

I will appreciate if you can contact me at my private EMAIL=baminashettima@yahoo.com

Awaiting your urgent and positive response.

Thanks and Allah be with you

Hajia (Mrs) Amina Shettima Bulama

another one:

Quote:

attention:Sir,
>
> May I use this opportunity to introduce myself as CathyTami Savimbi. I
> am the wife to the late MR. GREAT JONAS SAVIMBI, the leader of the
> Angolan revolutionary group known as the (UNITA) who died while on
> active duty. in an effort to liberate our people.
> I am contacting you with the belief that we will develope a cordial
> business relationship which will be beneficial to both parties.
> I am currently in possesion of (Seventy-Five million United States
> Dollars.) Which I intend to use for investment purposes specifically
> in your country. The money came about as a result of my late husbands
> inability to proceed with the purchase of military hardware which he
> contracted with South-Africa Arms Company. Since the start of our
> civil war,the source of funds in prosecuting the war has been from
> Diamonds,which is under our control.
> My son is the secretary of state in mining under the leadership of my
> late husband.
> The Diamonds were always exported to South-Africa and part of the
> proceeds usually used in buying military hardwares,I travelled
> immediately to my late husbands residence in South-Africa and
> discovered a sum of Seventy-Five million dollars cash hidden under his
> underground safe.
> Due to my status as a rufugee I can not invest this funds here in
> South Africa,I therefore seek your assistance in transfereing this
> funds out of South-Africa,All necessary arrangements has been made by
> me and I assure you that there is no risk attached to this transaction
> and we will work out modalities for the success of this transaction.
> I promise to give you 10% of the total funds for your assistance and
> my family will use the remaining 90% for investment in your country.
> I hope that this proposal will interest you.I will like you to contact
> my son Kelvin who is stayin in Rome Italy as a refugee through this
> security fax number 00871762989123.
> Please I will like you to keep this transaction at utmost secrecy
> whatever your desicion will be while I await your response through my
> son or via e-mail.
> I await your prompt response. All I need from you is your direct phone
> and fax number so we can have a discussion.
>
> Mrs.Cathy Tami Savimbi
>
> N.B My Alternative email address is katesavimbi01@yahoo.co.uk

rsl12 · 04-21-2004, 10:38 AM

that 419eater site is amazing!! that guy has some spare time on his hands.

tkkfan · 04-21-2004, 10:49 AM

I went to 419eater some time ago, followed what he said to solicit spam, and decided to try some of my own. It has been 3 months since I stopped trying to mess with these guys and I still get email from them. I have at least 100 different msgs from different ppl.

Bill O'Rights · 04-21-2004, 11:17 AM

"I take IT up the arse." That's funny as hell.

Rodney · 04-22-2004, 09:03 PM

Another great site about the Nigerian scammers;

www.scamorama.com

It's got hundreds of long email transcripts between scammers and the twisted individuals who lure them into long, crazy, extremely funny email exchanges under pseudonyms like James T. Kirk, Bruce Banner, Mikhail Stroganoff, Sir Marmite Luny-Binns, and so on. On one occasion I laughed so hard I lost bowel control.

Also a good site for factual information on the scams -- all the variants, and so on. When people come across a new scam variation, they send it in and it's added to the FAQ.

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm · 05-20-2004, 09:01 AM

This scam is quite a classic. I originally heard about it as the "Spanish Prisoner" scam from a great steve martin movie with that same name.

Averett · 05-21-2004, 05:07 AM

I love these guys

Speed_Gibson · 05-22-2004, 02:11 PM

I remember getting one of those a loooong time ago back in the dark days when I had a hotmail account.

mirevolver · 05-25-2004, 12:08 AM

I get those every once in a while, they're fun to read. And if I really had the time, I'd probably try to turn the tables on them.

amonkie · 05-25-2004, 12:49 AM

If I ever got one of those through my school account, I'd know something was up because everybody knows not to ask broke college students for money, of any amount. If they don't, then that's where I could have my fun!

Cakewalk12 · 05-31-2004, 04:46 PM

Now, if I was a Nigerian prince, and I had ten billion dollars, I'd still be pretty peeved at giving some stranger thirty million. A million dollars is a million dollars no matter how many you have.

elfuq · 06-02-2004, 08:34 PM

CPB announces results of 'Spam and Bologna' Contest
to warn the public about widespread email scam:

'Rescue of Nigerian Astronaut Stuck in Space' - judged most outrageous

http://www.nysconsumer.gov./PressRel.../May282004.htm

Read the Astronaut email. Too bleedin funny for words.

01-19-2004, 12:50 AM	#2 (permalink)
PorscheBunny Insane	__________________ This post has been sanitized for your protection by the Ministry of Information of Oceania.

04-21-2004, 10:38 AM	#5 (permalink)
rsl12 On the lam Location: northern va	that 419eater site is amazing!! that guy has some spare time on his hands. __________________ oh baby oh baby, i like gravy.

04-21-2004, 10:49 AM	#6 (permalink)
tkkfan Insane Location: Flying over your house	I went to 419eater some time ago, followed what he said to solicit spam, and decided to try some of my own. It has been 3 months since I stopped trying to mess with these guys and I still get email from them. I have at least 100 different msgs from different ppl. __________________ I can't believe I ate the whole thing!

04-21-2004, 11:17 AM	#7 (permalink)
Bill O'Rights will always be an Alyson Hanniganite Location: In the dust of the archives	"I take IT up the arse." That's funny as hell. __________________ "I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires." - Susan B. Anthony "Hedonism with rules isn't hedonism at all, it's the Republican party." - JumpinJesus It is indisputable that true beauty lies within...but a nice rack sure doesn't hurt.

05-21-2004, 05:07 AM	#10 (permalink)
Averett Is In Love Location: I'm workin' on it	I love these guys __________________ Absence is to love what wind is to fire. It extinguishes the small, it enkindles the great.

01-19-2004, 06:28 AM	#3 (permalink)
kulrblind plays well with others Location: Canada	Check out http://www.419eater.com to read some colourful stories of a guy who's baited many a "419 scammer" and passed along information to the authorities. Beware, however... these entertaining and addictive stories can cause your entire afternoon at work to disappear!

04-22-2004, 09:03 PM	#8 (permalink)
Rodney Observant Ruminant Location: Rich Wannabe Hippie Town	Another great site about the Nigerian scammers; www.scamorama.com It's got hundreds of long email transcripts between scammers and the twisted individuals who lure them into long, crazy, extremely funny email exchanges under pseudonyms like James T. Kirk, Bruce Banner, Mikhail Stroganoff, Sir Marmite Luny-Binns, and so on. On one occasion I laughed so hard I lost bowel control. Also a good site for factual information on the scams -- all the variants, and so on. When people come across a new scam variation, they send it in and it's added to the FAQ.

05-20-2004, 09:01 AM	#9 (permalink)
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Upright	This scam is quite a classic. I originally heard about it as the "Spanish Prisoner" scam from a great steve martin movie with that same name.

05-22-2004, 02:11 PM	#11 (permalink)
Speed_Gibson Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? Location: right here of course	I remember getting one of those a loooong time ago back in the dark days when I had a hotmail account. __________________ Started talking to yourself I see. Yes, it's the only way I can be certain of an intelligent conversation. Black Adder

05-25-2004, 12:08 AM	#12 (permalink)
mirevolver Inspired by the mind's eye. Location: Between the darkness and the light.	I get those every once in a while, they're fun to read. And if I really had the time, I'd probably try to turn the tables on them. __________________ Aside from my great plans to become the future dictator of the moon, I have little interest in political discussions.

05-25-2004, 12:49 AM	#13 (permalink)
amonkie Drifting Administrator Location: Windy City	If I ever got one of those through my school account, I'd know something was up because everybody knows not to ask broke college students for money, of any amount. If they don't, then that's where I could have my fun! __________________ Calling from deep in the heart, from where the eyes can't see and the ears can't hear, from where the mountain trails end and only love can go... ~~~ Three Rivers Hare Krishna

05-31-2004, 04:46 PM	#14 (permalink)
Cakewalk12 Upright	Now, if I was a Nigerian prince, and I had ten billion dollars, I'd still be pretty peeved at giving some stranger thirty million. A million dollars is a million dollars no matter how many you have.

06-02-2004, 08:34 PM	#15 (permalink)
elfuq Insane Location: San Francisco	CPB announces results of 'Spam and Bologna' Contest to warn the public about widespread email scam: 'Rescue of Nigerian Astronaut Stuck in Space' - judged most outrageous http://www.nysconsumer.gov./PressRel.../May282004.htm Read the Astronaut email. Too bleedin funny for words.