Over the last two years I've become a bit of an expert on the Nigerian 419 Scam as a hobby. The 419 covers everything from rental, lottery, inheritance, to employment scams; all done via emails.
Many originate on craigslist.com and occur when you place a rental or sales ad there; others just find their way to your email box. Often your receive lovely pictures (like the one to the left) from Barrister's, Bishops, and even an occasional Princess.
I've written on the subject in the past and have had more people contact me regarding the post than I can recount. The latest version of the 419 is fairly clever (if you can overlook the spelling) and has been successful on quite a few people that previously fell victim to one of the aforementioned versions.
I know from the emails I've received, and the news, people are buying into these scams, Thus I feel the need to warn them about what I can only call "The Re-Scam".
Heres how it goes:
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From: BISHOP JOHNSON <earlspencer_00@yahoo.com> ZENITH BANK/UNITED NATIONS,SCAM VICTIMS In other to compensate victims, the U.N Body in conjunction with the Nigerian Government is now paying 48 victims of this operators $100,000 USD each in accordance with the U.N. recommendations. Due to the corrupt and inefficient Banking Systems in Nigeria, the payments are to be supervised by the United Nations' Officials and the Central Bank Nigeria as the corresponding paying bank is ZENITH BANK PLC. Many banks have been in bankrupcy today, Universal firms, Companies and individuals due to the activity of these hoodlums. However, investigation have shown that these people have dropped over 500,000 victims after collecting their money falsefuly, many committed suicide and others living by the grace of God. You can receive your compensations payments via any of this options you Choose, DRAFT/CHEQUE PAYMENTS or WIRE TRANSFERS.I shall reply you with further modalities as soon as I hear from yoU. SCAMMED VICTIM REF/PAYMENTS CODE:06654 $100,000 USD. CODE:06654 $100,000 ------------------- My Response: Indeed I was scammmed out of $7,000 USD by a fellow claiming he wanted to rent my home from me. What can I do to recover the money? ------------------------------- Attention: Michael Creel I want you to forward the conversations you had with the scammer, all the papers or the info you received from him,the info used when sending the money to him, then enclose your contact address, your telephone number, a copy of your drivers license.... we need your hunble corporations over this matter to enable us track the scammer... after verifications your payment will be made....and you advice to comply with our instructions to enable us proceed faster with your case.... Sincerely
----------------- My Response: Will this cost me anything up front? ----------------------------- Dear Michael Creel Thanks for your message, We are working towards everything here all we need is your corporations, Just do what I instructed you, send all the conversation you have with the fraudster, the documents he sent to you ... or you can aswell send the payment informtions you sent to him... I will attach this stated items to your claim files...and fax them to the Bank that will make your payment of 100,000 dollars.....but before this will be commence will need total verifications to ensure that you are telling us the truth...however you will also required to follow legal process to enable your payments..... Sincerely BISHOP JOHNSON ----------------------------- My Response: All I'm asking is, what is the "legal process". To put it simply, is this a free service? Dear Michael Creel Thanks for your Questions? I want you to understand that you are in the safe side... that this is 100% Free from this department... But what I mean by Legal Process means that you will have to get a lawyer from Nigeria who will sign some Papers and Deffend your Files in High Court Abuja from their your Payment info will be Fax to the PAYBANK that will credit your account with the fund of 100.000 dollars as your compesation Payment to renew this country image and reputation in world Record... we are fighting 24/7 against corruption and crime in this country...and I want you to follow every instruction giving to you to enable you get your payment.....Send your contact details and a copy of your drivers license for more perusal and means of Identifications... When I confirm the above stated info from you I will then tell you what you need to do...before the bank will contact you to inform you of your payment.... Sincerely Bishop Johson ------------------------------ My Response: I am curious bishop. do you feel even the least bit of remorse when you scam a person for the second time with this little charade of yours? Or do you simply justify it within yourself and claim the rich Americans deserve it? ----------------------------- Michael what did you mean? please tell me what did you think? Bishop Johnson -----------------------------END After that last one I did indeed tell him what I think, so I can't include it in this post (you can use your imagination). Normally I play along with these scams a bit further to see what all they want me to do. In the end, it's always the same, wire money to cover legal fee's. So, anyone that has been burned by one of these people, believe me when I say your money is gone, and no one is going to contact you to give if back. Trust me on that one! |
It is the second biggest industy in that country after oil !!!!