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Fighting the Nigerian Money Scam
An anonymous reader writes "One of the most notorious spams, the Nigerian Money Scam, or 419, has reared its head again with the recent arrest of a California woman who embezzled $2.1 million from her law firm. However, anti-spammer Brad Christensen has apparently been having some success scamming the scammers. This exhibit contains some of his more successful exchanges. It seems he even managed to get some of the Nigerians to fly around the world to meet him. All in all, Bravo!"
Mr. Mobutu isn't going to give me 14% of his findings!
I gave him my account number!
There should be a moratorium on the use of the apostrophe.
Max V.
NeXTMail/MIME Mail welcome
Pfbbt, doesn't she know to hold out for the $25 million transfer like everyone else? I mean sheesh, she could have at least chosen the largest sum of money from the dozens of spam messages filling her box that day. Also, I bet she didn't even make all the payments for the transfer fees, that's why she didn't get it. ...man, some people...
I'm ashamed to say the stupid embezzler is actually from Michigan (my home state). "Detroit" and "Royal Oak" are places in South-East Michigan. Just because "Berkeley" was mentioned doesnt mean the story was from California. Sheesh.....
if you fall for the nigerian money scam you are too stupid to have money.
The 'detroit free press' logo at the top of the page was rather a giveaway too.
creation science book
Today I got an email supposedly from the Federal Presidency of Nigeria, apologising for all the 419s I've been receiving and asking for full details of the senders and the organisations they claimed to be defrauding.
I really don't think it's genuinely from the Nigerian gov, although it was posted from an IP address (195.166.233.102) RIPE says is allocated to a Nigerian ISP, rather than being routed through some open relay in Asia. However, I'm finding it hard to work out what the scam is. Spam quality control to see which addresses apply is the most likely reason I guess.
If you want to read an exceptionally funny example of the Nigerian Fee scam, head on over to haxial.com -- the results are side-splitting. This all happened last week (check the dates).
I think the best solution would be to let the Open Source developer community improve the efficiency of the country, thereby reducing poverty, corruption, and crime.
By making Nigeria Open Source can we unleash the vast potential that this oil-producing country has. The enormous experience of the hardenened Open Source developers would go a long way to introduce the necessary stability in this west-African continent.
Wearing pants should always be optional.
"You would think ... that a perosn in a law firm would be smart enough to figure this out...."
She was only a secretary at the law firm, so I don't imagine that she would have had any legal training herself. Not that it's an excuse -- she's still more stupid than stupid itself for falling for such an old scam.
Steve
One of the better "scamming the scammers" exchanges is documented here.
He plays along with the scammer, and when asked for a scan of his passport, he photoshops together a passport belonging to James Tiberius Kirk, complete with a picture of William Shatner in a Starfleet uniform. I can imagine someone trying to use that to get across the border....
You obviously do not get as many of these emails as I do.
My mail runs fairly unfiltered on the server, so my mail client gets to download most everything. (Not complaining here, I realize I could change that - I am just stating a fact).
The fact is, I get more Nigerian Scam emails than I do actual spam anymore.
I would say that about 10% of my "junk" email is Klez virus, 40% is regular spam, and about 50% is Nigerian scam emails.
Look at those last two paragraphs - I get more Nigerian scam than I get actual spam anymore. I probably get between 10-12 of the Nigerian emails *a day*.
We might complain about bandwidth being used by spam, but these days Klez takes the cake on my account, followed by Nigerian crap.
That is why I care about cutting down on people using it.
And before you jump on my back about me complaining about my bandwidth, I am talking about between SMTP servers, since ultimately I pay for that one way or the other. An ISP pays per GB transferred, and anytime I get email like that, my ISP (school anything else) pays, and will eventually pass that expense on to me.
That is why I care.
- (c) 2018 Hank Zimmerman
the whole idea of prison is to keep individuals from physically harming others
You must have missed that whole "War on Drugs" thing that's been happening the last several decades.
I've had enough abrasive sigs. Kittens are cute and fuzzy.
Dear Ordinary Civil Servants,
.JAMES BOLA [mailto:james_b13@arabia.com]
Well first off, let me just say that you had me at hello so to speak.
I am a total sucker for those that write in all caps, and then you really sold
me with the fact that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. After all, how
many times do those come along? I'd say maybe only 5 or 6 times a year.
You are incredibly generous to only need twnety one million five hundred thousand
dollars. But, unfortunately I don't have that much money. I do have seventeen
dollars and fifty-six cents. I really want you to have all of that. I hope you
can overlook the fact that I'm several million short of your goal, but the key
is that I try hard and I'm an excellent wind surfer.
My company doesn't have an address as of yet, but we are really trying. If you
would be willing to send me $500, then I can register the company name and also
get a PO BOX for a year. That way I can have an address and then we can get this
ball of wax rolling. In a similar vein, I don't have a bank account. I don't trust
them. Quite frankly, between you and me, there are a lot of scammers out there
that will just try to take your money - and I don't think either of us want
that - we need it so that we can get RICH! Right?
Lastly, I notice that you are a doctor. Can I ask you a question. I know that
this started as a financial discussion, but I have a really painful burning
rash "down there" if you know what I mean. Do you have any experience with
this? Can you recommend anything I can do to make it go away?
Please keep in mind that I only have just over seventeen dollars, and I want
to give all of that to you so that I can be really really rich as soon as
possible. So the cure for my intense burning pain needs to be free. And easy,
I'm kind of lazy - hey, at least I'm honest right?
So anyway, why don't you talk to your people, and I'll... Well, I'll just
talk to myself and maybe do a little rubbing "down there" and I look forward
to anything you can offer me - you know, on the $500 deal. I really hope you
can come through with it - if not, I'm not sure what else to do - I guess I
might have to get a job. Could you give me a job? Not like anything sexual -
just one where you pay me a lot to do very little... And maybe some golf. I
like golf - do you like golf? Maybe someday you and I can play golf together.
We could start out doing miniature golf - your treat, and then maybe once I'm
really really rich with your help, I can pay for my own regular golf fees.
I can't want to hear back from you - please act fast!
Your's,
Johannes Kepler
> -----Original Message-----
> From: DR
> Sent: Monday, August 12, 2002 10:31 PM
> To: *
> Subject:
>
>
> FROM: DR. JAMES BOLA
> TEL:234-1-4700390
> FAX:234-9-2721548
> LAGOS - NIGERIA.
>
>
> ATTN: PRESIDENT / CEO.
>
> STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS PROPOSAL RE: TRANSFER OF
> US$21.5 MILLION(TWENTY ONE MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND US
> DOLLARS ONLY).
>
> I KNOW THIS EMAIL WILL REACH YOU AS A SURPRISE, BUT NEED NOT
> TO WORRY AS WE ARE USING THE ONLY SECURED AND CONFIDENTIAL
> MEDIUM AVAILABLE TO SEEK FOR FOREIGN ASSISTANCE/PARTNERSHIP
> IN A BUSINESS TRANSACTION WHICH IS OF MUTUAL BENEFIT.
>
> I AM A MEMBER OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA CONTRACT
> AWARD AND MONITORING COMMITTEE IN THE NIGERIA NATIONAL
> PETROLEUM CORPORATION (NNPC) SOMETIME AGO; MY COMMITTEE
> AWARDED A CONTRACT TO A FOREIGN FIRM IN NNPC.THIS CONTRACT
> WAS OVER INVOICED TO THE TUNE OF US$21.5M. U.S.DOLLARS. THIS
> WAS DONE DELIBERATELY THE OVER- INVOICING WAS A DEAL BY MY
> COMMITTEE TO BENEFIT FROM THE PROJECT. WE NOW WANT TO
> TRANSFER THIS MONEY, WHICH IS IN A SUSPENSE ACCOUNT WITH NNPC
> INTO ANY OVERSEAS ACCOUNT,WHICH WE EXPECT YOU TO PROVIDE FOR US.
> SHARE:
> FOR PROVIDING THE ACCOUNT WHERE WE SHALL REMIT THE MONEY
> INTO, YOU WILL BE ENTITLED TO 30% OF THE MONEY.60% WILL BE
> FOR ME AND MY PARTNERS WHILE 10% HAS BEEN MAPPED OUT FROM THE
> TOTAL SUM TO COVER ANY EXPENSES THAT MAY BE INCURRED BY US
> DURING THE COURSE OF THIS TRANSFER, BOTH LOCALLY AND
> INTERNATIONAL EXPENSES.IT MAY INTEREST YOU TO KNOW THAT A
> SIMILAR TRANSACTION WAS CARRIED OUT WITH ONE MR.PATRICE
> MILLER,PRESIDENT OF CRANE INTERNATIONAL TRADING CORP,OF 153
> EAST 57 ST.,28 FLOOR,NY10022,TEL:(212)-308-7788 AND
> TELEX:6731689.THE DEAL WAS CONCLUDED AND ALL COVERING
> DOCUMENT WERE FORWARDED TO MR.MILLER TO AUTHETICATE THE
> CLAIM.ONCE THE FUNDS WERE TRANSFERRED,MR. MILLER PRESENTED
> HIS BANK WITH ALL THE LEGAL DOCUMENTS AND REMITTED THE WHOLE
> FUNDS TO ANOTHER BANK ACCOUNT AND DISAPPEARED COMPLETELY. MY
> COLLEAGUES WERE SHATTERED,AS SUCH OPPORTUNITIES DO NOT COME
> ALL THE TIME.TO COMMERCE THIS DEAL THEREFORE, I WOULD REQUIRE
> THE FOLLOWING:
>
> 1. YOUR COMPANY'S NAME, ADDRESS, TEL & FAX NUMBERS.
>
> 2. YOUR BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER AND ADDRESS WHERE THE MONEY WILL
> BE REMITTED.
>
> THE ABOVE INFORMATION WOULD BE USED TO MAKE FORMAL
> APPLICATIONS AS A MATTER OF PROCEDURE FOR THE RELEASE OF THE
> MONEY AND ONWARD TRANSFER TO YOUR ACCOUNT. IT DOES NOT MATTER
> WHETHER OR NOT YOUR COMPANY DOES CONTRACT PROJECTS OF THIS
> NATURE DESCRIBED HERE. THE ASSUMPTION IS THAT YOUR COMPANY
> WON THE MAJOR CONTRACT AND SUBCONTRACTED IT OUT TO OTHER
> COMPANIES. MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, BIG TRADING COMPANIES OR
> FIRMS OF UNRELATED FIELDS WIN MAJOR CONTRACTS AND
> SUBCONTRACTS TO MORE SPECIALIZED FIRMS FOR EXECUTION OF SUCH
> CONTRACTS.
>
> WE HAVE STRONG RELIABLE CONNECTIONS AND CONTACTS AT THE
> CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA, AS WELL AS THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF
> FINANCE AND WE HAVE NO DOUBT THAT ALL THE MONEY WILL BE
> RELEASED AND TRANSFERRED IF WE GET THE NECESSARY FOREIGN
> PARTNER TO ASSIST US IN THIS DEAL. THEREFORE, WHEN THE
> BUSINESS IS SUCCESSFULLY CONCLUDED WE SHALL THROUGH OUR SAME
> CONNECTIONS WITHDRAW ALL DOCUMENTS USED FROM ALL THE
> CONCERNED GOVERNMENT MINISTRIES FOR 100% SECURITY.
>
> WE ARE ORDINARY CIVIL SERVANTS AND WE WILL NOT WANT TO MISS
> THIS ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY TO GET RICH. WE WANT THIS
> MONEY TO BE TRANSFERRED TO THE OVERSEAS ACCOUNTS FOR US,
> BEFORE THE PRESENT DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT STARTS AUDITING ALL
> FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OWNED MINISTRIES. PLEASE CONTACT
> IMMEDIATELY THROUGH MY TEL / FAX NUMBER WHETHER OR NOT YOU
> ARE INTERESTED IN THIS DEAL. IF YOU ARE NOT, IT WILL ENABLE
> ME SCOUT FOR ANOTHER FOREIGN PARTNER TO CARRY OUT THIS DEAL.
> BUT WHERE YOU ARE INTERESTED, SEND THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
> AFOREMENTIONED HEREIN THROUGH MY ABOVE FAX NUMBER AS TIME IS
> OF THE ESSENCE IN THIS BUSINESS. I WAIT IN ANTICIPATION OF
> YOUR FULLEST CO-OPERATION. YOURS FAITHFULLY, DR.JAMES BOLA
There are some odd things afoot now, in the Villa Straylight.
Instead of getting a 419 Nigerian scam, I get a 404 Forbidden!
Coincidence? I think not.
It will probably not come as a surprise to know that the "Nigerian Scam" predates the internet and really, in its essential form, predates Nigeria. If you're interested in historical examples of this sort of thing, you might want to check out sniggle.net's Scams page.
Quiquid latine dictum sit altum viditur
Anyhoo, I guess it isn't just daftness that bring people into this kind of scam. Some get so focused on the prize, they never connect with their reason... In the linked story, a German buisnessman also attended meetings with the nigerian scammers, but realzied what was going on and left the meeting. The Norwegians weren't actually fooled for a lot of money, but rather used in a check fraud. This guy acutally had some 10 million dollars, because he cashed the false chack from the nigerians. Unfortunlately, he transfered most of the money to an account abroad and the he and the nigerians were caught.
So, don't let the greed rule ya!
As great as it might sound to make a bunch of spammers fly around the world, a reminder is in order.
These are crooks. They break laws. They're not nice people. They might be desperate. If they get mad, they might kill you.
OK, maybe you think you can conceal your identity. Maybe you think your black belt or that Beretta you carry under your suit jacket will pull you through in a pinch. Are you willing to bet your life on it?
If this gives you even the least ammount of doubt, just leave it up to the pros--FBI, etc.
For all intensive purposes, "whom" is no longer a word. That begs the question, "who cares"?
Heres another humorous reply. I take no credit for it(it cites a slashdot posting interestingly enough).
...if it affords them enough money to purchase keyboards with and keys.
...Well it's just hypocritical to think we would not be driven to such means in the same circumstances.
I mean, for we who are so fortunate as to be blessed with the choice between lower and uppercase letters to sit back and point the finger...
For shame people, for shame.
CONFIDENTIAL MESSAGE TO MIKE ABA:
I WILL BE FORWARDING YOU MY ACCOUNT DETAILS POST HASTE. YOUR DAYS OF FORCED SERVITUDE TO THE UPPERCASE WILL SOON END MY DEAR FRIEND. HOW IS YOUR FINE FAMILY DOING? PLEASE IGNORE THE NEGATIVE VOICES OF THESE SLASHDOTTERS. THEY ARE NOT GOOD CHURCH GOING FOLK LIKE US. BLESSED BE, MIKE. NATHDOT
A few months ago, I had an offer from this Dr. Fafa dude in Nigeria. He wanted me to hold onto $21,320,000 for him. I told him that since I live in Canada, I needed to know how much that would be in Canadian dollars. He wrote back and said it'd be $21,319,999,998.44 Canadian. Near as I can tell, he musta multiplied by a thousand, and since the U.S./Canada exchange rate at the time was $1.56, he then SUBTRACTED $1.56 from $21,320,000,000. Of all the Nigerian scam artists, I have to deal with the Dan Quayle of the bunch.
One has to assume that the Nigerian scammers are sending out millions of spam, right? They're not using unique reply-to addresses for each one right?
In this case, the address mikeaba@mail.com is at, of course, mail.com. Surely mail.com must have gotten dozens, if not hundreds, of spam reports altering them that a mail.com address was being used for a scam.
What I don't understand is how on earth that address didn't get taken offline by mail.com within a very short time of the original scam/spam being sent. My experience has been that yahoo.com and hotmail.com do a pretty decent job of deleting accounts of addresses that are being used a spam dropboxes. But not mail.com?
Can someone explain what I'm missing here?
-S
--- What parts of "shall make no law", "shall not be infringed", and "shall not be violated" don't you understand?
Why get upset?? This guy decided to turn the Nigerian Spam Scam into a contest. You forward the emails to him, he adds up the amounts promised to you. I'm currently in about 10th place with $82 million. There's no prize, it's just for fun.
And Slashdot already posted this entertaining saga of someone who pretended to go along with it to see what would happen. Hilarious.