Nigerian Scams

[nadnerb]

I'm sure most of you have, at some point, gotten what's known as a "419" letter.

Usually it's an e-mail from someone posing as a Nigerian lawyer or other representative, telling you you can get your hands on millions of dollars for a small fee if you just help them out. It's a scam known as "Advanced Fee Fraud".

The 419 comes from the Nigerian penal code assigned to financial crimes like scams.

Anyways, there is a website out there that's been having a bit of fun with these Nigerian scammers. Check it out.

www.419eater.com

It's got good information on these scams, as well as some very funny pranks people have pulled on the scammers themselves.

Now when I get one of these e-mails, I notice they always insist on a phone and fax number. I always send them the phone number to my local US Secret Service office, the US agency investigating these scams. You can find your local USSS office (including Canada) by going to their website.

Oddly enough, I never hear back from the scammers after that.

Have fun!

[Ealstan]

While I've seen a couple of sites like the one you link to, I feel left out, as I don't think I've ever gotten one of these Nigerian scam letters. Maybe they knew I was a poor person just out of college.

[Gaia]

As mee too.. never got that.. be now I'M aware...
(sorru brendan if I got the As-has wrong.. still wondering... hiihi)

[nadnerb]

Generally they find you if you sign a guestbook at a website somewhere and leave your e-mail address.

Just FYI, here's a sample of one of these letters. If you get one in your junk mail one day, you'll know what it is.

By the way, this is just an example; most of them are variations on this theme. Feel free to mess with their minds as much as you want, but remember: NEVER GIVE OUT PERSONAL INFORMATION TO STRANGERS!!!

**********************************************

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am Chief Allan K. Daramy, Bank Manager of Zenith Bank, Lagos, Nigeria. I am presently in Amsterdam The Netherlands for two weeks course; I got your contact from a very reliable source here in Amsterdam and I decided to contact you. I have urgent and very confidential business proposal for you.

On June 6, 1999,a Foreign Oil consultant/contractor with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mr. Kari Johnson made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit for twelve calendar months, valued at US$66,500,000.00, (Sixty-six Million, five hundred thousand Dollars) in my branch.

Upon maturity, we sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his contract employers, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation that Mr. Kari Johnson died from an Automobile accident. On further investigation, I found out that he died without making a WILL, and all attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless. I therefore made further investigation and discovered that Mr. Kari Johnson did not declare any kin
or relations in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank. No one will ever come forward to claim it.

According to Nigerian Law, at the expiration of 5 (five) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Nigerian Government if nobody applies to claim the fund. Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a Foreigner to stand in as next of kin to late Mr. Kari Johnson. I am writing you because I as a public servant cannot operate a foreign account or have an account more than $1 Million. All these are to make sure that the fruits
of this old man's labor will not get into the hands of some corrupt government officials.

This is simple. I will like you to provide me immediately your full names and address telephone and fax numbers and bank account details were the funds would be transferred into. For you to be more comfortable with this
project please open a new account for I am not out to defraud your account.

The money will be moved out for us to share in the ratio of 60% for me and 40% for you. If you are interested, please reply back to me with this email, [e-mail], I assure you that it is risk free

Please observe utmost confidentiality, and be rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to invest my share in your country. (Buying of properties like houses, hotels etc) responseto my secured mailbox [e-mail]

Best regards,

Mr. Allan K. Daramy

[Gaia]

haahhaahaha what a load of crap!!!!! I just can't believe people fall for this!!!