Nigerian Scams - Begging Your Trust in Africa

I have decided to republish this article I saw on the Global Politician completely because of the cancer of the subject matter which continues to spread unabated. Happy reading

"Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 5/25/2005

The syntax is tortured, the grammar mutilated, but the message - sent by snail mail, telex, fax, or e-mail - is coherent: an African bigwig or his heirs wish to transfer funds amassed in years of graft and venality to a safe bank account in the West. They seek the recipient's permission to make use of his or her inconspicuous services for a percentage of the loot - usually many millions of dollars. A fee is required to expedite the proceedings, or to pay taxes, or to bribe officials - they plausibly explain. A recent (2005) variant involves payment with expertly forged postal money orders for goods exported to a transit address.



It is a scam two decades old - and it still works. In September 2002, a bookkeeper for a Berkley, Michigan law firm embezzled $2.1 million and wired it to various bank accounts in South Africa and Taiwan. Other victims were kidnapped for ransom as they traveled abroad to collect their "share". Some never made it back. Every year, there are 5 such murders as well as 8-10 snatchings of American citizens alone. The usual ransom demanded is half a million to a million dollars.



The scam is so widespread that the Nigerians saw fit to explicitly ban it in article 419 of their penal code. The Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo castigated the fraudsters for inflicting "incalculable damage to Nigerian businesses" and for "placing the entire country under suspicion".



"Wired" quotes statistics presented at the International Conference on Advance Fee (419) Frauds in New York on Sept. 17, 2002:



"Roughly 1 percent of the millions of people who receive 419 e-mails and faxes are successfully scammed. Annual losses to the scam in the United States total more than $100 million, and law enforcement officials believe global losses may total over $1.5 billion."



According to the "IFCC 2001 Internet Fraud Report", published by the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center, Nigerian letter fraud cases amount to 15.5 percent of all grievances. The Internet Fraud Complaint Center refers such rip-offs to the US Secret Service. While the median loss in all manner of Internet fraud was $435 - in the Nigerian scam it was a staggering $5575. But only one in ten successful crimes is reported, says the FBI's report.



The IFCC provides this advisory to potential targets:



- Be skeptical of individuals representing themselves as Nigerian or other foreign government officials asking for your help in placing large sums of money in overseas bank accounts.



- Do not believe the promise of large sums of money for your cooperation.



- Do not give out any personal information regarding your savings, checking, credit, or other financial accounts.



- If you are solicited, do not respond and quickly notify the appropriate authorities.



The "419 Coalition" is more succinct and a lot more pessimistic:



- "NEVER pay anything up front 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."



The State Department's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs published a brochure titled "Nigerian Advance Fee Fraud". It describes the history of this particular type of swindle:



"AFF criminals include university-educated professionals who are the best in the world for nonviolent spectacular crimes. AFF letters first surfaced in the mid-1980s around the time of the collapse of world oil prices, which is Nigeria's main foreign exchange earner. Some Nigerians turned to crime in order to survive. Fraudulent schemes such as AFF succeeded in Nigeria, because Nigerian criminals took advantage of the fact that Nigerians speak English, the international language of business, and the country's vast oil wealth and natural gas reserves - ranked 13th in the world - offer lucrative business opportunities that attract many foreign companies and individuals."



According to London's Metropolitan Police Company Fraud Department, potential targets in the UK and the USA alone receive c. 1500 solicitations a week. The US Secret Service Financial Crime Division takes in 100 calls a day from Americans approach by the con-men. It now acknowledges that "Nigerian organized crime rings running fraud schemes through the mail and phone lines are now so large, they represent a serious financial threat to the country".



Sometimes even the stamps affixed to such letters are forged. Nigerian postal workers are known to be in cahoots with the fraudsters. Names and addresses are obtained from "trade journals, business directories, magazine and newspaper advertisements, chambers of commerce, and the Internet".



Victims are either too intimidated to complain or else reluctant to admit their collusion in money laundering and fraud. Others try in vain to recoup their losses by ploughing more money into the scheme.



Contrary to popular image, the scammers are often violent and involved in other criminal pursuits, such as drug trafficking, According to Nigeria's Drug Law Enforcement Agency. The blight has spread to other countries. Letters from Sierra Leone, Ghana, Congo, Liberia, Togo, Ivory Coast, Benin, Burkina Faso, South Africa, Taiwan, or even Canada, the United Kingdom, Oman, and Vietnam are not uncommon.



The dodges fall into a few categories.



Over-invoiced contract scams involve the ostensible transfer of amounts obtained through inflated invoices to the bank account of an unrelated foreign firm. Contract fraud or "trade default" is simply a bogus order accompanied by a fraudulent bank draft (or fake postal or other money order) for the products of an export company accompanied by demand for "samples" and various transaction "fees and charges".



Some of the rackets are plain outlandish. In the "wash-wash" confidence trick people have been known to pay up to $200,000 for a special solution to remove stains from millions in defaced dollar notes. Others "bought" heavily "discounted" crude oil stored in "secret" locations - or real estate in rezoned locales. "Clearing houses" or "venture capital organizations" claiming to act on behalf of the Central Bank of Nigeria launder the proceeds of the scams.



In another twist, charities, academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, and religious groups are asked to pay the inheritances tax on a "donation". Some "dignitaries" and their relatives may seek to flee the country and ask the victims to advance the bribe money in return for a generous cut of the wealth they have stashed abroad.



"Bankers" may find inactive accounts with millions of dollars - often in lottery winnings - waiting to be transferred to a safe off-shore haven. Bogus jobs with inflated wages are another ostensible way to defraud state-owned companies - as is the sale of the target's used vehicle to them for an extravagant price. There seems to be no end to criminal ingenuity.



Lately, the correspondence purports to be coming from - often white - disinterested professional third parties. Accountants, lawyers, directors, trustees, security personnel, or bankers pretend to be acting as fiduciaries for the real dignitary in need of help. Less gullible victims are subjected to plain old extortion with verbal intimidation and stalking.



The more heightened public awareness grows with over-exposure and the tighter the net of international cooperation against the scam, the wilder the stories it spawns. Letters have surfaced recently signed by dying refugees, tsunami victims, survivors of the September 11 attacks, and serendipitous US commandos on mission in Afghanistan.



Governments throughout the world have geared up to protect their businessmen. The US Department of Commerce, for instance, publishes the "World Traders data Report", compiled by US embassy in Nigeria. It "provides the following types of information: types of organizations, year established, principal owners, size, product line, and financial and trade references".



Unilateral US activity, inefficacious collaboration with the Nigerian government some of whose officials are rumored to be in on the deals, multilateral efforts in the framework of the OECD and the Interpol, education and information campaigns - nothing seems to be working.



The treatment of 419 fraudsters in Nigeria is so lenient that, according to the "Nigeria Tribune", the United States threatened the country with sanctions if it does not considerably improve its record on financial crime by November 2002. Both the US Treasury's Financial Crime Enforcement Network (FINCEN) and the OECD's Financial Action Task Force (FATF) had characterized the country as "one of the worst perpetrators of financial crimes in the world". The Nigerian central bank promises to get to grips with this debilitating problem.



Nigerian themselves - though often victims of the scams - take the phenomenon in stride. The Nigerian "Daily Champion", proffered this insightful apologia on behalf of the ruthless and merciless 419 gangs. It is worth quoting at length:



"To eradicate the 419 scourge, leaders at all levels should work assiduously to create employment opportunities and people perception of the leaders as role models. The country's very high unemployment figure has made nonsense of the so-called democracy dividends. Great majority of Nigerian youthful school leaver's including University graduates, are without visible means of livelihood... The fact remains that most of these teeming youths cannot just watch our so-called leaders siphon their God-given wealthy. So, they resorted to alternative fraudulent means of livelihood called 419, at least to be seen as have arrived... Some of these 419ers are in the National Assembly and the State Houses of Assembly while some surround the President and governors across the country."



Some swindlers seek to glorify their criminal activities with a political and historical context. The Web site of the "419 Coalition" contains letters casting the scam as a form of forced reparation for slavery, akin to the compensation paid by Germany to survivors of the holocaust. The confidence tricksters boast of defrauding the "white civilization" and unmasking the falsity of its claims for superiority. But a few delusional individuals aside, this is nothing but a smokescreen.



Greed outweighs fear and avarice enmeshes people in clearly criminal enterprises. The "victims" of advance fee scams are rarely incognizant of their alleged role. They knowingly and intentionally collude with self-professed criminals to fleece governments and institutions. This is one of the rare crimes where prey and perpetrator may well deserve each other.



Sam Vaknin ( http://samvak.tripod.com ) is the author of Malignant Self Love - Narcissism Revisited and After the Rain - How the West Lost the East. He served as a columnist for Global Politician, Central Europe Review, PopMatters, Bellaonline, and eBookWeb, a United Press International (UPI) Senior Business Correspondent, and the editor of mental health and Central East Europe categories in The Open Directory and Suite101.



Visit Sam's Web site at http://samvak.tripod.com You can download 22 of his free ebooks in our bookstore





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' Mrs Kendra Cameroncole'

And this. They are getting sweeter, won't you say?
Stealing in the name of the Lord!

" GREETINGS IN THE NAME OF THE LORD


SpamX



Reply
MRS.KENDRA CAMERONCOLE

show details Apr 7 (2 days ago)



Warning: This message may not be from whom it claims to be. Beware of following any links in it or of providing the sender with any personal information. Learn more

GREETINGS IN THE NAME OF THE LORD


 I AM MRS.KENDRA CAMERONCOLE . A WIDOW TO LATE JOHN CAMERONCOLE.

I AM 56 YEARS OLD, I AM NOW A NEW CHRISTIAN CONVERT, SUFFERING FROM LONGTIME CANCER OF THE BREAST, FROM ALL INDICATION MY CONDITIONS IS REALLYDETERIORATING AND IT IS QUITE OBVIOUS THAT I WONT LIVE MORE THAN SIX MONTHS,ACCORDING TO MY DOCTORS,THIS IS BECAUSE THE CANCER STAGE HAS GOTTEN TO A VERY BAD STAGE. MY LATE HUSBAND KILLED DURING THE U.S. RAID AGAINST TERRORISM AFGHANISTAN,AND DURING THE PERIOD OF OUR MARRIAGE WE COULDN'T PRODUCE ANY CHILD.

MY LATE HUSBAND WAS VERY WEALTHY AND AFTER HIS DEATH,I INHERITED ALL HIS BUSINESS AND WEALTH. THE DOCTORS HAS ADVISED ME THAT I MAY NOT LIVE FOR MORE THAN SIX MONTHS, SO I NOW DECIDED TO DIVIDE THE PART OF THIS WEALTH, TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHURCH IN AFRICA,AMERICA ASIA,AND EUROPE. I PRAYED OVER IT.
I AM WILLING TO DONATE THE SUM OF $5,000.000.00 MD U.S DOLLARS, TO THE LESS PRIVILEGED. PLEASE I WANT YOU TO NOTE THAT FUND IS LYING IN A BANK IN SWISS AND UPON MY INSTRUCTION, MY ATTORNEY, WHO PRESENTLY IS IN AFRICADISTRIBUTING RELIEF MATERIALS , WILL FILE IN AND APPLICATION FOR THE TRANSFER OF THE MONEY IN YOUR NAME.
LASTLY,I HONESTLY PRAY THAT THIS MONEY WHEN TRANSFERRED! WILL BE SURE FOR THE SAID PURPOSE,BECAUSE I HAVE COME TO FIND OUT THAT WEALTH ACQUISITION WITHOUT CHRIST IS VANITY.
MAY THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS THE LOVE OF GOD AND THE FELLOWSHIP OF GODBE WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. I AWAIT URGENT

GOD BLESS YOU

MRS.KENDRA CAMERONCOLE"

( Quote is unedited)
Can you beat that? Is 'she' not another liar looking for who will fall? New believer indeed! Why not, since my Father's house of worship has become a den of thieves. And you may ask, why me? Because I am on the internet. It's a web full of sharks.
Beware.

When Society Has No More Moral Rights To Act!

You know, I like working. I like making money from working, honestly working. And I like my freedom and safety even more. I like being able to walk along the street without having to look over my shoulders now and again trying to see if anyone is after me.
Scammers, obviously, like living dangerously. And you know, it used to be said that the best brains are the ones who turn crooks, eventually. Today, however, it seems that being a crook has become so cheap and easy that even the un-gifted and the uncreative, the nitwits, morons or dickheads are braving it. Somehow, something must be making it attractive for them to dare do what even the very clever often fail at.
The world appears to have no more courage to enforce our long standing values. Sooner or later, when you look closely enough, you might find that even those crusading for what is right are indictable for wrong-doing. It, therefore, appears that being clean is a rare state these days. So, the crooks; knowing that society is restrained by its own lack of moral rights to act boldly against them, are getting more adventurous by the day.
The following is a quote of an e-mail I saw in my spam box from a network of crooks impersonating Mrs Farida Waziri of the Nigerian EFCC. Please, read and be enlightened.


"fromMrs. Farida Mzamber Waziri


reply-toe.investigationoffice@yahoo.com.hk



to

dateTue, Mar 23, 2010 at 3:02 PM

subjectDID YOU AUTHORIZE MRS. JANET MILLER TO CLAIM YOUR FUND?



hide details Mar 23 (6 days ago)



Warning: This message may not be from whom it claims to be. Beware of following any links in it or of providing the sender with any personal information. Learn moreAttention: Beneficiary





I am Mrs. Farida Mzamber Waziri (Chairman) Efcc Investigation Office Nigeria, there is presently a counter claims on your funds by one MRS. JANET MILLER, who is presently trying to make us believe that you are dead and even explained that you entered into an agreement with her before your death, to help you in receiving your fund $10.5M So here comes the big question.

Did you sign any Deed of Assignment in favor of (MRS. JANET MILLER)?. thereby making her the current beneficiary with this following account details: MRS. JANET MILLER, AC/NUMBER: 6503809428. ROUTING/122006743, B/NAME:CITI BANK, ADDRESS:NEW YORK,USA We shall proceed to issue all payments details to the said MRS. JANET MILLER,

if we do not hear from you within the next two working days from today.However, you are advice to email the bank immediately and confirm to them also if MRS. JANET MILLER is from you or not.


1) CONTACT NAME: MR.KENNETH YINKA

2) CONTACT TELEPHONE: +234-1 743 6770

3) BANK NAME: IBTC CHARTERED BANK

4) OFFICIAL E-mail: ibtcban_kplc@live.com

Please note that you have less than 48hrs to get in contact with the paying bank before they proceed to issue all payments to the said Mrs.Miller.

Thanks

Mrs. Farida Mzamber Waziri"
 
How are the dimwitted able to execute something as delicate as this? I think because they operate in groups. In a group the moron feeds off the brainy ones. In fact they complement themselves. They've been at it for long now. I've seen their mails impersonating the President of Nigeria, the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, and many bogus claims about my winning in promotions I never took part in.
They are all over the world, on the internet, through your mobile phone, through your use of your bank account, and the most deadly and decisive is when they get your attention face to face; they can persuade you to part with your very life. Please, beware.