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 Don’t Touch That Mail!Posted on Jan 25, 2007
A native Nigerian writer takes stock of the changing face of her country’s most prominent economic export after oil: e-mail scams.
Like most of us, you may be looking for some extra money. What with an unpaid mortgage, credit card debts, sundry bills and day-to-day expenses, a little extra cash would not be a bad idea. An e-mail like the one below may seem to be just what you need to turn your fortunes around. And turn around they may—directly into the pockets of a Nigerian scammer.
This and similar e-mails are variations of what has come to be known internationally as the Nigerian scam or Nigerian 419, a type of fraud that originated in Nigeria in the 1980s. It takes its name from Section 419 of the Criminal Code of Nigeria, which relates to fraud and cybercrime.
You may think you are too smart to be scammed. Well, John Worley had a practice as a Christian psychotherapist in Massachusetts when he received an e-mail from someone seeking his assistance to transfer 55 million American dollars out of South Africa to the United States “for onward dispatch and investment.” The writer of the e-mail purportedly had been the chief of security to the late Congolese President Laurent Kabila. His story was that he was on a mission to buy weapons for a force of elite bodyguards for Kabila when the president was assassinated. The money, more or less, became his, and he needed a partner with an overseas account to help in the movement of the money to the United States for a rich reward. Hale, hearty and in perfect control of his senses, Worley, who had previously developed a psychological profiling tool designed to reveal a person’s “unique needs, desires and probable behavioral responses,” bought this cock-and-bull story for some strange reason and became the “overseas partner.” Worley was taken through twists and turns of lies, intrigue, false documents, bad checks and fake money orders until things fell apart. He used every penny he had or could borrow to fulfill his part of the deal. But there was really no deal. Whatever deal existed was in Worley’s imagination. Despite a personal loss of close to $80,000, Worley got a two-year prison sentence for bank fraud, money laundering and possession of counterfeit checks. This is in addition to having to pay restitution of nearly $600,000 to several banks for the bad checks his “business partners” induced him to cash before wiring money to an account in a Swiss bank. (For the full story, see the article in The New Yorker) Rupert Sessions, a retired Ormond Beach, Fla., electronics specialist, fared no better. He went all the way to the Persian Gulf—two trips actually, all in a bid to help in moving millions of dollars from a bank in Togo to the United States for a cut. What he got in return was an unkind cut. As the Orlando Sentinel put it: “He sold stock, got a second mortgage and hocked two of his cars. For more than a year, he gave virtual strangers every dollar he had. He bought them gold pens, cell phones and a laptop computer”—losing $320,000 in all. Wait a minute; he did get something: a gift of a carved wooden elephant and antelope from his “business associates.” Shahla Ghasemi, a nurse, and her husband, Dr. Ali-Reza Ghasemi, both American citizens of Tampa, Fla., lost about $400,000 in personal and borrowed funds. A foreign contractor from their native country who had died was said to have transferred a fortune to one Dr. Ali Reza Ghasemi. The names were the same, so the fortune had to be claimed! The Ghasemis bought the story and were scammed within an inch of their lives. In Woodbury, N.J., the municipality’s former director of economic development, Stanley El, lost nearly $5,000 of his own money and ended up being involved in a scam to defraud Fleet Bank of nearly $50,000 in a bid to help one Prince Jide Lawal Ige, who claimed to be the son of a Nigerian chief who had been assassinated. “Prince Ige” needed to retrieve more than $30 million in cash so he could rescue his mother and sisters, who were stranded in Nigeria and in danger of going the way of his father. He had barely managed to escape to Spain with his own life intact. If you think you are un-scammable, consider this: An unnamed Scotland Yard detective lost 5,000 pounds in a scam promising him millions. Yes, a Scotland Yard detective! He was saved from handing over 25,000 additional pounds by police colleagues who were investigating the con. He had been told by a Nigerian fraud gang he would get a share of 7 million pounds in gold bullion that would be freed by customs once fees had been paid. The gold, of course, was nonexistent. Maybe you wonder how someone you do not know would send you an e-mail. “Someone must really have given him/her my e-mail address,” you might imagine. Wrong. Spammers harvest e-mail addresses found on websites. Others run programs that query mail servers. Spammers also sell each other CDs with millions of addresses. That is why you receive all that unsolicited commercial e-mail. Lists of e-mail addresses are sold and bought everyday on the Internet. Many companies that have asked for your e-mail may sell your address to people who turn out to be scammers, or they have employees who secretly and intentionally sell to scammers. The 419 Coalition, a body devoted to fighting Nigerian Internet scams, describes that country as “the undisputed headquarters of scam” and gives “Five Rules for Doing Business With Nigeria”: NEVER pay anything upfront for ANY reason. NEVER extend credit for ANY reason. NEVER do ANYTHING until their check clears. NEVER expect ANY help from the Nigerian government. NEVER rely on YOUR government to bail you out.
This is a sad state of affairs for the most populous country in Africa. (One in every four Africans is a Nigerian.) Nigeria is the fifth-largest producer/exporter of oil in the world, has 91 mineral products and 36 percent arable land and is the largest domestic market in Africa. Despite its endowments and potentials, Nigeria is among the poorest nations of the world and is the “whipping boy” of the Paris Club of Creditor Nations, because only the daring do business with Nigeria. As a result of stereotyping, honest and hardworking Nigerians end up demonized and stigmatized by the rest of the world because of the sins of their criminally minded compatriots. After years of slumber and ineptitude, the Nigerian government established the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to battle the menace of cybercrime. Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the commission’s executive chairman, said: “Our economy has lost hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign investment because our credibility and the trust of the international community have been affected. Nigerians can’t even use financial instruments as basic as mail orders. If it comes from Nigeria, it is suspect.” The scammers, or “Yahoo guys”—so named because most of their addresses end in @yahoo.com or @yahoo.co.uk—may pose as officials of the Nigerian commission. They contact earlier 419 victims, posing as investigators probing the fraud and pretending to be helping the victim to get back lost money.
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By nobody special, September 26, 2007 at 5:15 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
Yeah , I got taken in by a girl i met and had talked to for several months.... I have been unable to workfor 4 years and living off of a disability check for a year—when she offered this to me , I was to be a “business partner” to recieve and send payments to her from people in the united states… Once I finally agreed , I was then told to send the money to another partner (actually in the united states)..... Needless to say , I did as I was told… The first money order I recieved was for $2000—i had the bank run a check on it and it showed to be good .. I thought to myself , this is wonderful, then about 3 weeks later , I recieved 4 more money orders - each for $2000 and was told to take my 10% and send the rest to the other partner as i did before .... Well , before I could get to the bank with these , my bank called me and told me the other money order had came back as a fraud....
Report thisThat really sucked , I had to pay the bank back or get put in jail myself aned since i am only living on a small disability check , this really hurt… When I reported this to the police , they took my infomation and told me there was nothing they could do in this matter…
Seems that our police here in the united states really does not care about us getting scammed , but they will put us in jail if we are unable to pay back the money we got scammed for...... That really sucks-- You would think that the american government would actually do something to help , but they do not care.....
Presently , I still get e-mails from all kinds of people from nigeria & china claiming to be in need of a business partner ... All I do is just reply “What kind of fool do you take me for..”
By Virginia, March 28, 2007 at 8:27 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
I’d like to know where I can report all these money scam e-mails that I’ve been receiving. Some of them are using the name Swiss Bank and even send you a certificate of payment with the name Swiss Bank on them. We all know that it’s not for real. I’ve tried to find an e-mail address for the Swiss Bank without any luck. Thought they should know about it. Before I use to get lots of these e-mails from Nigeria, but now it’s coming from Ethiopia, Togo and even the UK.
Report thisBy Serginho, February 2, 2007 at 10:51 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
Never mind “The Five Rules for Doing Business in Nigeria”. I’ve got one: Don’t do business with anyone in Nigeria.
Maybe then the corrupt Nigerian government will get the message and do something abut these 419 scams.
Report thisBy Lou, January 31, 2007 at 2:14 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
I get one of these Nigerian e-mails a week and have saved them in my “Nigerian Fraud File.” I have a funny collection. A friend told me this summer he got an e-mail from an ad he placed on Craig’s List looking for a tenant for his house. A “future tenant from England” with a Nigerian name sent a fake check and “official letter.”
Report thisOne tip off is as mentioned above - the bad grammar and spelling.
I was never cheated - nor my friend - because we never wanted to get involved in greed or dishonesty.
There is nothing for nothing.
By Obit Collom, January 31, 2007 at 9:33 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
My name is Obit Collom, I am a Nigerian Army
Colonel working with the Nigerian Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission. Our annual budget
of US $5,250,000 allows us to pay informants that
help us catch and prosecute 419 scammers. We will
pay out US $5000, plus your expenses, if you help
us in this endeavour.
To apply, send your check for US $250 (a paltry
sum, intended only to certify that you are of
good character and a patriotic American)to us at:
“Help the Poor Colonel Out”
888 Yokohama Mama Avenue
Timbuctu, Georgia, USA
haha haaaaaa! gotcha!
Report thisBy Scott, January 31, 2007 at 8:51 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
If you want to see the morons that run these scams get scammed in return, see http://www.419eater.com
Report thisBy Maysun, January 31, 2007 at 5:16 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
LOL @ bugjackblue, George S Semsel, Talapus Pete!!
Uhm, by the way, how do we know fer sure this article isn’t a mOrE creative scam?
Maybe you’re not into the financial angle, but, if you’re trying for a psychological wrangle, we’ll be in big trouble.
Especially with that Christian Therapist not around anymore to help.
Report thisBy Chris, January 29, 2007 at 3:02 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
I’m amazed that people are still falling for this. Honestly, how dumb do you have to be to expect something that’s too good to be true?
What greed does to some people.
Personally, I like responding to the ads--turning the money down, explaining why the “lost relative” wasn’t really lost, but had been chased out of town for a host of unsavory and unnatural acts. I figure if these people are going to annoy me with their emails, I might as well have a little fun with them.
Report thisBy Just Desserts, January 29, 2007 at 12:41 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Why should we feel sympathy for the losses of duped people working with corrupt officials trying to launder and steal money that really belongs to the people of West and Central Africa? Nigeria, Togo, Ivory Coast, these are some of the poorest nations in the world. Africa has suffered terribly from the dictators, coups and civil wars resulting from the actions of the American government and CIA. I can’t feel much sympathy for Americans stupid and selfish enough to fall for these schemes. Call it “reverse imperialism”.
Report thisBy bull, January 28, 2007 at 2:33 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
PURE GREED !!!!!!
Report thisI AM SURE FROM ALL THE SAD TALES, NO ONE SUGGESTED THAT A GUN WAS ON HIS/HER HEAD. VICTIMS WERE ALL PARTICIPANTS
By DennisD, January 28, 2007 at 7:11 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
Stupid is as stupid does.
Report thisBy LauraK, January 28, 2007 at 1:28 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
I had puppies for sale last year that I advertised on Craigslist and in the SF Chronicle online classifieds. Although I sold all the puppies to legitimate buyers in the US through those ads, I got probably 10 different people emailing me from out of the country trying one of the same scams described in the article: A money order for more than twice what I was asking for my dogs, then wire the money to their “shipping company” who will pick up the dog and ship it to them, and totally clueless answers to questions about what sort of home the dog would be going to. (Also ignoring my statement that I do a purchase contract for all buyers, and with a neuter agreement for pups going to pet homes). The emails were identical in wording, and a couple of them even referred to different breeds of dogs rather than the red standard poodles I had.
I contacted the secret service number mentioned in the article, and they really were not interested. They also had no way to email them or to forward the emails so they could trace the origin from the header info (!). So I just deleted the emails, and compared notes with other poodle people I know, all of whom had been approached with the same scam. In one case in the East, the person came to her home and had to be escorted off the property by the local police after she had refused to sell him a puppy.
Report thisBy bugjackblue, January 27, 2007 at 7:42 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
He was a “Christian” psychotherapist? I imagine he must have specified this when interviewed: “It’s important to make it clear that I’m not just a therapist. I’m a Christian therapist.” I don’t understand then-- why didn’t Jesus warn him? I guess we’re supposed to have greater sympathy for him because well after all, he’s not just your standard garden-variety greedy criminal? No, he’s a Christian, so he’s forgiven for being a criminal. A lot of folk in prison become Christians, you know. That way you have to forgive them their crimes. Like Jesus would. Otherwise, well, there must be something wrong with you because after all you’re a good Christian, aren’t you? So this guy had his excuse ready before he even engaged in the criminal behavior-- good thinking, eh? I wonder how someone so smart (and virtuous) got caught? But hey, he’s a Christian, and a therapist too, I mean his job is helping people, right? He’s really a good person, he goes out of his way help people. Selflessly. As a good Christian. “A Christian therapist.” So cut him some slack, judge, ok? He’s a Christian. He deserves forgiveness, not a jail sentence…
Although if you think about it, maybe this is a step in the right direction? When the jails are filled with Christians they’ll be much nicer places than they are now. And if they’re Christian “therapists,” well they’ll all be able to help each other. To help each other be better Christians. To be better “Christian” “therapists.” You see, it’s all part of God’s plan…
Report thisBy Gonnuts, January 27, 2007 at 3:04 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Biggest scam ever still is 9/11.
Report thisBy lawlessone, January 27, 2007 at 10:59 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
I could not help but notice how much Bush’s entire Iraq War scam is like the Nigerian con games, both as to the techniques and the public’s astonishing gullibility. No wonder there seems to be no way to stop either one.
[more irreverence at resistence-is-possible.blogspot.com]
Report thisBy Talapus Pete, January 26, 2007 at 8:38 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
I’ve sent some of scammers the chance to invest in helping us Indians get the missing trust fund money, if they’ll just email Tonto Lone Feather at hotmail.com… Others I tell I’m writing a book about the Nigerian scams and ask if I have their permission to include their emails in it.
Report thisBy Michael, January 26, 2007 at 11:11 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
Hahaha! Now I know where my village idiots are. This baffles me. How about the scam about “duplicating money” for you, sort of “counterfeit” scam? I once took these guys on a wild goose chase. Responded to their e-mails using my designated junk e-mail address. They bought my stories, gave me their numbers and were getting pissed off for failing to follow instructions. It was a matter of “urgency” as they put it. At one point I said I had never dialed international and so they instructed me and told me the next day that they had waited. They asked me for my address. I gave them the White House’s and for some reason, they never questioned it!!! Then I told them I had no long distance on my line, they told me where to buy a calling card and that it would be refunded. I got bored/tired and started coping other junk e-mails to them. One of them told me God was going to punish me. So next time you want, cuss them out and you will see how offended they become and how fast they quote God. That’s if you have time. I do, sometimes....
Report thisBy George S Semsel, January 26, 2007 at 10:02 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
When I look at who was voted into office in this country, it’s not hard to believe these scams are successful.
Report thisBy FrikkenKids, January 26, 2007 at 8:52 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
Somehow, I’m not able to feel any sympathy to somebody stupid enough to fall for these scams - especially when stories about them are so common. I can’t help but think that people blinded by greed get what they deserve.
Report thisBy Sseb, January 26, 2007 at 7:30 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
How can these people be so naive? If the funds were legitimate, and all they needed was someone with a bank account in the U.S., then they could contact the Nigerian Embassy in DC. Duh.
Report thisBy Laughing out loud!!!, January 26, 2007 at 6:13 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
OMFG!! - Well, what can you do . . some people are just complete and utter retards!!!
Report thisBy Michael Spencer, January 26, 2007 at 4:31 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
Greed.
The only reason people get involved in this is simple, unadulterated greed. Something for nothing. The big action.
There are some sad stories, to be sure, but in some sense they get what they deserve.
Report thisBy Herman Schmidt, January 26, 2007 at 4:21 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
I have received some of the scams from Nigeria. And have often read about them. What I am curious about is why Nigeria. What is it about Nigerians that make them so creative and energetic when it comes to scams? Why is the country so corrupt, and I don’t think that is unfair to say so. Certainly, it suggests that there is a great deal of talent which can be channeled to make Nigeria a far better place.
Report thisBy Mad As Hell, January 26, 2007 at 3:59 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
If it sounds too good to be true it is. Strangers don’t offer you easy money unless they are scam artists. Ever. Your “ship” doesn’t come in.
I’ve had scads of all these scams come by me on eMail--the internet is The Street. I also get lots of eMails saying “Your credit card is expired” and it’s for things like eBay, PayPal, or a national ISP. But they are scams too.
Read them carefully...They will say “Your VISA card has expired...” Well, that’s a good clue, ESPECIALLY if I use MasterCard for that service!
But all these “victims” all had larceny in their heart. W.C. Fields used to say:
“You can’t cheat an honest man, but never give a sucker an even break, and don’t wisen up a chump.”
He even named two movies from this.
I have seen SO many “Nigerian Scams” that I’m amazed anyone can fall for them. Lots of them come from other places now, not just Nigeria.
But you can’t cheat an honest man.
Report thisBy Ichthus, January 25, 2007 at 10:21 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
STAY FOCUSED ON THE ISSUES!
THE NORTH AMERICAN UNION IS QUICKLY TRANSFORMING INTO AN UNION OF THE AMERICAS.
WAR WITH IRAN IS LOOMING.
THE ELECTION IS TWO YEARS AWAY, STOP THINKING ABOUT IT!
WE SHOULD IGNORE ALL THESE POLITICIANS UNTIL THEY CONFRONT THE REAL ISSUE: DECEPTION.
REAL ID ACT COMING.
RFID AND SURVEILLANCE EVERYWHERE.
DEBT FORCING OUR COUNTRY INTO A HOSTILE POSITION.
SHOULD WE BE AFRAID OF OUR PRESIENT?
HOW CAN A PEOPLE BE AFRAID OF THE PERSON WHO IS SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT THEM. WE THE PEOPLE ARE THE BOSS OF THE GOVERNMENT!
WE THE PEOPLE CONTROL THE GOVERNMENT!
THERE IS NO REASON TO WAIT TWO YEARS FOR CHANGE. WHY NOT ACT NOW?
WHY NOT A TRUE DEMOCRACY? POWER TO THE PEOPLE.
Report this