The 'Nigerian 419' scam

From Wikipedia:

An advance fee fraud is a confidence trick in which the target is persuaded to advance relatively small sums of money in the hope of realizing a much larger gain. Among the variations on this type of scam are the Nigerian Letter (or 419 fraud) and "The Spanish Prisoner."

and

The 419 scam originated in the early 1990s as the oil-based economy of Nigeria went downhill. Several unemployed university students first used this scam as a means of manipulating business visitors interested in shady deals in the Nigerian oil sector before targeting businessmen in the west, and later the wider population. Early variants were often sent via letter, fax, or even Telex. The spread of email and easy access to email-harvesting software made the cost of sending scam letters through the Internet extremely cheap. While various figures claim that the 419 scam employs as many as 250,000 people in Nigeria, in reality it has often been linked to small organized gangs often working in concert in western cities and in Nigeria. In recent years, the 419 scam has spurred imitations from other locations in Africa and Eastern Europe.

The number "419" refers to the article of the Nigerian Criminal Code (part of Chapter 38: "Obtaining Property by false pretences; Cheating") dealing with fraud.

In fact the advance fee fraud is a much older scam than that, dating back to 1588 in the form of a Spanish Prisoner scam. The fictitious prisoner would promise to share a treasure with a person who would send them money to bribe their guards.

As of May 2008, the amount of money that I had been offered by these scammers increased to a total of:

$19,229,116,947.58

that's almost "TWENTY BILLION US DOLLARS".

An example of dialogue with a clueless 419 scammer.

From: "DULUZ AHMED"
Subject: For your kind assistance.
Date: Sun, 22 Jul 2007 20:24:34 +0200

My Dear,
Be informed that I was latter successfull in transferring the fund out though your assistance from very begining will not be ingored.I am right in South Korea for investment Purposes but before I letf I  did signed a Certified Bank's International Draft worth one Million  Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars on your behalf. Therefore,go ahead and contact my secretary in regards of sending the Draft to you.I did leave instructions for him and he will dully send the fund to you.Your delivery address as well as phone number is curial.Contact
Personal Assistance Prince.John Okonkwo with this email: princejohn1967@yahoo.fr for details.


Best Regards,
Duluz Ahmed
can i have cash instead?
From: Office of the Secretary
Subject: RE : RE: For your kind assistance.
Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2007 11:36:29 +0200 (CEST)

Then it means that your Draft will first been deposited into an account which will bear your name because the Draft had already bear
your name as the beneficiary. This is account is called Non Resident
Account.
I need cash as i am not allowed to have a bank account unless i get one set up for me by one of the nurses.
From: Office of the Secretary
Subject: Be informed
Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2007 10:08:07 +0200 (CEST)


I can not understand you? the only thing that will take place is
you to have Non Resident Account opened on your behalf and this will
cost you US$750. Therefore if you send this cost US$750 along with the
Account information where you will like the fund to be transferred,
it will take less then 24 hours and you will have your fund confirmed in your account by your bank. Very simple Send the money with this information: Igwenagu Martins Odinaka, Cotonou Benin Republic.

I am waiting for you.ok.

Prince John
i will ask the nurses to lend me the money...but we do not use US dollars in this county.
From: Office of the Secretary
Subject: RE : RE: Be informed
Date: Thu, 26 Jul 2007 09:14:41 +0200 (CEST)

Ok I am waiting and make sure that you send the MTCN and the sender's name including test question and answer.

Regards,

Prince John
the nurses want to know what a MTCN is.They also have problems getting dollars. Sylvia, the charge nurse has 180 Baht she can lend me, but only at 15% interest [high but i am not supposed to have any money until i am released]. can i recover the 15% she charges me?
From: Office of the Secretary
Subject: RE : RE: RE : RE: Be informed
Date: Fri, 10 Aug 2007 21:49:39 +0200 (CEST)

How what is happening? I am still waiting for you. Get back to me now.
It is very urgent and important to your hearing.

Regards,
Secretary Prince John.
sylvia is on holiday
From: Office of the Secretary
Subject: RE : RE: RE : RE: RE : RE: Be informed
Date: Mon, 13 Aug 2007 19:33:04 +0200 (CEST)

Note that you are only delaying your fund.ok.
will i be getting interest on the amount? at what rate?
From: Office of the Secretary
Subject: : RE : RE: Be informed
Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2007 10:18:19 +0200 (CEST)

which interest? From where?
interest on the one Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars. base rate is 4.75%
From: Office of the Secretary
Subject: : Be informed
Date: Thu, 16 Aug 2007 12:22:05 +0200 (CEST)

I can not understand and I have told you many atimes that you are
holding your Draft for being held too long with the Security Agents. So please get back to me because you are about loosing thid Draft.

Regards,
Secretary John
does this mean that i already have the money?
From: Office of the Secretary
Subject: RE : RE: : Be informed
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2007 10:35:39 +0200 (CEST)

How can you get your Draft when you refused to help yourself. Well, I
will stop writing you, What I will do right now is that I will return your Draft to the Issuing bank.
so I have sent the money and you refuse to pay! are you running a scam. are you a thief. are you dishonest. i will complain to the police about you. i hope you go to prison and get killed. you deserve to die for stealing money from people in hospital.....
From: Office of the Secretary
Subject: I am still waiting for you
Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2007 11:54:33 +0200 (CEST)

It have not got to that extend, ok. I am not stealing any money from you, we assured. Now if truely you send money to me, How much did you send? What is the sender's name? What is the MTCN Number?
Get these information to me or more better still, there a slip that was given to you after you send the money to me, scan the slip and send it to me. I assured you that once I receive this, I will immediately send your Draft to you and you will get it before 48 hours of despatch.

Regards,

Prince John
0022993859102
the nurse said the number on the slip is "WUMT-170807-12rvunmk2"
From : Office of the Secretary <princejohn1967@yahoo.fr>
Sent : 21 August 2007 10:29:18
Subject : I am still waiting for you

Please you should scan the receipt and send it to me. I can not get the money with the information you provide.ok. Or better still, look for where is it written MTCN NUMBER. It will be 10 digits. I am waiting.

Regards,

Secretary John
do you not listen....? i am in hospital and have no way to scan anything. the number should be enough. the nurse sylvie has spoken to western union and they say the money has gone through. when will i get my check? she says 2323655001 is printed on the paper.
From : Office of the Secretary <princejohn1967@yahoo.fr>
Sent : 22 August 2007 10:50:22
Subject : I am still waiting for you urgently.

I am still having problem getting the money, please you should send the SENDER'S NAME, RECEIVER'S NAME, TEST QUESTION AND ANSWER. I am waioting right now and please, can I have a phone number that I will reach you?

Regards,

Secretary John.
how can i get to a phone in hospital. i have given you the code number of the transfer. why are you not paying me the money? are you a liar?
From : Office of the Secretary <princejohn1967@yahoo.fr>
Sent : 23 August 2007 07:34:48
Subject : Did you understand my request at all.

I am still having problem getting the money, please you should send the SENDER'S NAME, RECEIVER'S NAME, TEST QUESTION AND ANSWER.I am waiting right now and please, can I have a phone number that I will reach you?

Regards,
Secretary John.
SENDER'S NAME - Sylvie
RECEIVER'S NAME - Secretary John
TEST QUESTION AND ANSWER ?
From : Office of the Secretary <princejohn1967@yahoo.fr>
Sent : 24 August 2007 08:00:38
Subject : Be warned, do the right thing now.

Receiver's Name: Igwenagu Martins Odinaka,
City: Cotonou
Country: Benin Republic.
Test Question: Who is Lord
Answer: Jesus

You should tell the Nurse to go back to western union and have the Receiver's name change to the information above. And you should send the Sender's name both First and second name. You send SYLVIE as first name, what of the second name?

Be informed that I will not write you again if you refused to do the right thing at the right time. By Monday morning, and you did not confirm the requested information then you should consider that I will take your Draft of US$1.5M back to the issuing bank and you forget about it. Please note that you should not blame me.ok.

Regards,

Secretary John.
why are you so rude?
i am trying to help you as i lay in hospital in my sick bed with lung cancer.
you are not a nice person.

The name at this end is sylvia nurse. She want to know who Igwenagu Martins Odinaka is. she says the money is made out for Secretary John.

She does no believe jesus is the answer to who is lord. she says that shiva is her lord god, blessed be his name exhaulted among all the others...amen
From : Office of the Secretary <princejohn1967@yahoo.fr>
Sent : 24 August 2007 08:00:38
Subject : I want to correct this impression that I am RUDE,

Hello,

Firstly, I pray God that your Lung Cancer will be held and you will regain you Lung and go to your home rejoying. I promise you that and I put it to you, it must come to pass because God is God.

Secondly, I want to correct this impression that I am RUDE, for your kind information, you fail to undertstand me. I tried and I am still trying to see that I serve you more better to your fullest satisfication.ok. Yes, you fail to understand me because we are not urging any thing. I have been very pentient with you because I at the very first time that you are in the Hospital, hence like I said you fail to understand.ok. But know it now that I am at your service.

Thirdly, Mr IGWENAGU MARTINS ODINAKA, is my PA and he goes to mail, to bank and some other messages because he was employed to assist me. Hence , you should use this name: Mr IGWENAGU MARTINS ODINAKA, COTONOU BENIN REPULIC as RECEIVER'S NAME.ok I hope you understand this piont. As test Question, you can use any thing you like provided that you send the information to me.ok.

Finally, you should then tell, Nurse to go and change it to Mr IGWENAGU MARTINS ODINAKA, Cotonou Benin Republic. This is what is delaying your Fund. I am waiting.ok.

Regards,

Secretary John
thank you for your polite reply. Sylvie Nurse will go to Western Union tomorrow and confirm the details. If they are wrong, she will change them. She has agreed to the question 'what is a chav', and will give the reply 'an essex muffin top'. She says that this will not offend her GOD. She is worried about when she will get her money back from me. I have told her not to worry, and that I will ask my lawyer to put her in my will, in case I die soone. I would not like her to lose her money. That would be very sad, as nurses in this country do not get paid much money. She has 5 children and cannot afford to lose any money, especially with two of the children starting school in the next week. She has to pay for uniforms and book and food and pens and pencils and coach and train travel. It is very expensive for her. I like her as she makes me happy in hospital. I like her in her white uniform. She looks very sexy. this is good as it makes me want to live a long time.

Goodbye from Hospital de la Conservatoire de la Dentelle.
From : Office of the Secretary <princejohn1967@yahoo.fr>
Sent : 28 August 2007 07:32:39
Subject : I keep waiting. Hello,

I assured you that she will get her money leastest within 5 days immediately there is no course for alam.ok. I double assured you. Tell the Nurse to do everything as you told her and from me that she will be more happy in her life bring her children up in good and prosprous way. I wait.

Regards,

Secretary John.
good news - sylvie says wstern union say the money has been sent. Sylvie is worrid though the DULUZ AHMED may not get any of the money. is he back from South Korea yet? she says thank Prince.John Okonkwo for his help

A 'PAYMENT FOR PREVIOUS SERVICES' 419 scam.

Alluding to a previous business contact the spammer has had with me, all I need to do is contact an Italian e-mail address, and after paying a small fee, $1,200,000 will be mine, although the 'Italian' will now have all my bank account details!


Return-Path: <felixpiro2p@ig.com.br>
To: felixpiro2p@ig.com.br
From: "felixpiro2p" <felixpiro2p@ig.com.br>
Subject: NOW CONTACT MY SECRETARY
X-user: felixpiro2p@ig.com.br

DEAR FRIEND,

I'M HAPPY TO INFORM YOU ABOUT MY SUCCESS IN GETTING THOSE FUNDS TRANSFERRED UNDER THE COOPERATION OF A NEW PARTNER FROM LONDON.

PRESENTLY I'M IN LONDON FOR INVESTMENT PROJECTS WITH MY OWN SHARE OF THE TOTAL SUM. MEANWHILE,I DIDN'T FORGET YOUR PAST EFFORTS ANDATTEMPTS TO ASSIST ME IN TRANSFERRING THOSE FUNDS DESPITE THAT IT FAILED US SOME HOW.NOW CONTACT MY SECRETARY IN BENIN.

NAME /MR. PHILIP INNOCENT EMAIL/ (philipinnocent@yahoo.it)

ASK HIM TO SEND YOU THE TOTAL OF $1.2 MILLION WHICH I KEPT FOR YOUR COMPENSATION FOR ALL THE PAST EFFORTS AND ATTEMPTS TO ASSIST ME IN THIS MATTER. I APPRECIATED YOUR EFFORTS AT THAT TIME VERY MUCH.SO FEEL FREE AND GET IN TOUCHED WITH MY SECRETARY MR. PHILIP INNOCENT AND INSTRUCT HIM WHERE TO SEND THE AMOUNT TO YOU.

PLEASE DO LET ME KNOW IMMEDIATELY YOU RECEIVE IT SO THAT WE CAN SHARE THE JOY AFTER ALL THE SUFFERNESS AT THAT TIME. IN THE MOMENT, I'M VERY BUSY HERE BECAUSE OF THE INVESTMENT PROJECTS WHICH ME AND THE NEW PARTNER ARE HAVING AT HAND. FINALLY, REMEMBER THAT I HAD FORWARDED INSTRUCTION TO THE SECRETARY ON YOUR BEHALF TO RECEIVE THAT MONEY, SO FEEL FREE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH HIM, HE WILL SEND THE AMOUNT TO YOU WITHOUT ANY DELAY.

BEST REGARDS,
BARRISTER FELIX PIRO

This variation is for the 'MONEY HANDLING' scam.

The spammer is phishing for a lot of personal details so that I can 'handle money for them'. I the normal world, any bank anywhere in the world could provide this service, so why do they need my bank account details? Given the other information they ask for, I suspect the aim is Identity Theft.


Return-Path: <apache@localhost.fast247.biz>
Subject: Work For My Company As Payment Processing Agent(OUTSOURCE AGENT NEEDED)
From: "Nautical Petroleum Plc." <enquiries.nauticalpetroleum@yahoo.se>
Reply-to: enquiries.nauticalpetroleum@yahoo.se

Dear Sir/Madam

We are Nautical Petroleum Plc. We are seaching for an OUTSOURCE AGENT whose duty will be to receive payments from our Customers worldwide.

RENUMERATION: You will be based on 10% of any account received. We crave your Sincerity of Purpose to ensure a smooth and lasting Business Relationship. If you are interested do reply promptly to this email. Your warmly attention and earlier reply would be very much appreciated.please do forward your particulars via email to: enquiries.nauticalpetroleum@yahoo.se for further negotiations in manner presented below:

Names in full:
Address:
Occupation:
AGE:
SEX:
Nationality:
Marital status:
Telephone:
Fax:
Mobile:
Email:

PLEASE CONTACT:

Mr.Steve Jenkins
Managing Director
E-mail: enquiries.nauticalpetroleum@yahoo.se

This variation is for the 'WE HAVE YOUR CHEQUE' scam.

The spammer is phishing for bank account details so that my cheque, which was paid in to a bank in the Republic of Benin, can be passed on to me. They will need to do this electronically, so they will be asking for my bank details. This is very kind of them!


From : usman wale6 <usmanwale6@email.com>
To : usmanwale6@email.com
Subject : CONTACT APEX BANK OF BENIN REPUBLIC
Return-Path: usmanwale6@email.com


APEX BANK OF BENIN REPUBLIC IN WEST AFRICA
WANLIDA HOUSE BUILDING,
20 DEGBAGO CRESCENT,
COTONOU REPUBLIC OF BENIN,

ATTN DEAR,
THE MANAGEMENT OF APEX BANK PLC REPUBLIC OF BENIN, WISHES TO INFORM YOUTHAT WE ARE IN RECEIPT OF OUR DRAFTCHEQUE ISSUED IN YOUR FAVOUR WITH CASHAMOUNT OF $1.200,000.00. ONLY,FROM YOUR AGENTS MR FRANK EZE TELL US TO CANCELLED THE CHEQUE,BECAUSE YOU DONT WANT TO RECEIVE IT,SO YOU ARE ADVISED TO CONTACT US IMMEDIATELY AND TELL US WHAT IS GOING ON.YOU CAN CONTACT OUR MANAGER MR GRACE IBEH iberose2003@yahoo.fr BEFORE WE CAN TAKE ANY ACTION.WE ARE WAITING FOR YOUR URGENT REPLY AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE THIS E-MAIL THANKS FOR YOUR COOPERATION.

YOURS FAITHFULLY,
MR INFOAPEXBANKPLC
FOREIGN OPERATIONS
APEX BANK OF BENIN REPUBLIC

This variation is for the 'BENEFICIARY OF A DEAD CLIENT' scam.

The spammer is phishing for names and addresses.


From : MR CHAN LEE <chan01_lee@yahoo.com.hk>
To : ch_lee001@yahoo.com.hk
Subject : URGENT.
X-Sender: ch_001lee@web.de
Return-Path: chan01_lee@yahoo.com.hk

URGENT.

Dear Friend,

My name is Mr. Chan Lee, I am a staff of Bank of China, Our late client named Mr. Hamadi Hashem made a fixed deposit amount of $17.3m he did not declare any next of kin in any of his paper work, I want you as a foreigner to stand as the beneficiary to transfer this funds out of my bank into your account, after the successful transfer, we shall share in the ratio of 30% for you, 70%for me.Should you be interested please send me your:

1,Full names,
2,occupation,
3,private phone number,
4,current residential address.


All I need from you is your readiness, trustworthiness and dedication. Please email me directly on my private email address: (chan01_lee@yahoo.com.hk) so we can begin arrangements and I would give you more information on how we would handle this venture.

Regards,
Chan.

Please note that some of the e-mail addresses are legitimate, but have been hijacked by the spammers running the scams!