# Another variation of the nigerian email scam **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 25, 2010, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-variation-of-the-nigerian-email-scam/547962 "2010-07-25T18:08:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jolly\_Roger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/91b2a8/32.png) [@Jolly\_Roger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jolly_Roger)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2010, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-variation-of-the-nigerian-email-scam/547962/1 "2010-07-25T18:08:54Z")
I hate spam, but I really hate the pathetic emails like this. I found this in my email today: > [@](#): > > MY DEAR FRIEND, > > HOW ARE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY? HOPE ALL IS WELL WITH YOU ALL?. MY NAME IS SGT. (1ST CLASS) ARTHUR SMITH, I AM AN AMERICAN SOLDIER, SERVING IN THE MILITARY WITH THE ARMY’S 3RD INFANTRY DIVISION. WITH A VERY DESPERATE NEED FOR ASSISTANCE, I HAVE SUMMED UP COURAGE TO CONTACT YOU. I FOUND YOUR CONTACT PARTICULARS IN AN ADDRESS JOURNAL. I AM SEEKING YOUR KIND ASSISTANCE TO MOVE THE SUM OF USD $28M (TWENTY EIGHT MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS) TO YOU, AS FAR AS I CAN BE ASSURED THAT MY SHARE WILL BE SAFE IN YOUR CARE UNTIL I COMPLETE MY SERVICE HERE. > > SOURCE OF MONEY: > > SOME MONEY IN VARIOUS CURRENCIES WAS DISCOVERED IN BARRELS AT A FARM HOUSE NEAR ONE OF SADDAM’S OLD PALACE IN TIKRIT-IRAQ DURING A RESCUE OPERATION, AND IT WAS AGREED BY MY CREW MEMBERS THAT SOME PART OF THIS MONEY BE SHARED AMONG US BEFORE INFORMING OTHER PEOPLE SINCE WE ARE THE FIRST THAT SAW IT. > > THIS WAS QUITE AN ILLEGAL THING TO DO, BUT I TELL YOU WHAT, NO COMPENSATION CAN MAKE UP FOR THE RISK WE HAVE TAKEN WITH OUR LIVES IN THIS HELL HOLE OF WHICH MY BROTHER IN-LAW WAS KILLED BY A ROAD SIDE BOMB LAST TIME. > > THE ABOVE FIGURE WAS GIVEN TO ME AS MY SHARE, TO CONCEAL THIS KIND OF MONEY BECAME A PROBLEM TO ME BUT FINALLY I WAS ABLE TO SEEK FOR THE HELP OF A BRITISH CONTACT THAT IS WORKING HERE, AND HIS OFFICE ENJOY SOME IMMUNITY, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE PACKAGE OUT TO A SAFE LOCATION ENTIRELY OUT OF THE TROUBLE SPOT. HE DOES NOT KNOW THE REAL CONTENTS OF THE PACKAGE, AND BELIEVES THAT IT BELONGS TO A BRITISH/AMERICAN MEDICAL DOCTOR WHO DIED IN AN RAID HERE IN IRAQ, AND BEFORE GIVING UP, TRUSTED ME TO HAND OVER THE PACKAGE TO HIS FAMILY IN UNITED STATES. > > NOW THAT I HAVE FOUND A VERY SECURED WAY OF GETTING THE PACKAGE OUT OF IRAQ FOR YOU TO PICK IT UP, I WILL ADVICE YOU GET BACK TO ME IMMEDIATELY PROMISING ME YOUR HONESTY THEN I WILL DISCUSS IT WITH YOU IN DETAILS WITH THE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE MONEY. I AM SURE THAT YOU WILL BE WILLING TO ASSIST ME, AND I BELIEVE THAT MY MONEY WILL BE WELL SECURED IN YOUR HAND. > > I WANT YOU TO TELL ME HOW MUCH YOU WILL TAKE FROM THIS MONEY FOR THE ASSISTANCE YOU WILL GIVE TO ME. ONE PASSIONATE APPEAL I WILL MAKE TO YOU IS NOT TO DISCUSS THIS MATTER WITH ANYBODY, SHOULD YOU HAVE REASONS TO REJECT THIS OFFER, PLEASE PLEASE AND PLEASE DESTROY THIS MESSAGE AS ANY LEAKAGE OF THIS INFORMATION WILL BE TOO BAD FOR US SOLDIER’S HERE IN IRAQ. I DO NOT KNOW HOW LONG WE WILL REMAIN HERE, AND I HAVE BEEN SHOT, WOUNDED AND SURVIVED TWO SUICIDE BOMB ATTACKS BY THE SPECIAL GRACE OF GOD, THIS AND OTHER REASONS I WILL MENTION LATER HAS PROMPTED ME TO REACH OUT FOR HELP, I HONESTLY WANT THIS MATTER TO BE RESOLVED IMMEDIATELY, PLEASE CONTACT ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WITH MY E-MAIL ADDRESS WHICH IS MY ONLY WAY OF COMMUNICATION. > > EMAIL: [sgt.arthurs@yahoo.com](mailto:sgt.arthurs@yahoo.com) > > GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. > SGT. ARTHUR SMITH. I only opened it because it was titled “How are you and your family?” and I could see the name SGT Arthur Smith. I don’t know anyone of that name, but at first I was thinking “Is this someone I may have met or been stationed with and have forgotten?”. Its bogus of course. No Sergeant First Class would write their own rank as SGT (1st Class), they’d just put SFC. No soldier that actually knows me would propose such a thing anyway, since they would know I’d report it in a heartbeat. But I’m sure somewhere theres some drooling idiot falling for it. Actually, I think I hate the people that fall for it as much as the spammers. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2010, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-variation-of-the-nigerian-email-scam/547962/2 "2010-07-25T18:47:38Z")
I delete them about once a month. I am somehow the only person on earth that they can contact by email. That is too dumb to deal with. Sometimes they are rich people who are trapped in their fancy home with no way out. I guess rich people can not operate phones or afford he They prey on the greed of some people who see a chance to get money, where none exists. ---
**Author:** ![Al\_Bundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@Al\_Bundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al_Bundy)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2010, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-variation-of-the-nigerian-email-scam/547962/3 "2010-07-25T20:40:40Z")
The source can’t be traced in a productive way. If anybody did cooperate and lose money, there would be no hope of recovery, only the risk of exposure for being so stupid. I receive these very rarely any more. I suppose the junk filters are catching them. Blanketing email addresses is so cheap that a tiny number of hits is still productive I assume. What gets me is the absurdity of the amounts involved. It’s never $432,566 for example. It’s more like $400 million. If you are telling a whopper, why not tell a bigger one I suppose. I responded to a few in humorous ways until I was bored. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2010, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-variation-of-the-nigerian-email-scam/547962/4 "2010-07-25T20:56:12Z")
Most of them are caught by my spam filter, but a few still get through. Having traveled in Nigeria and elsewhere in Africa, my e-mail address is floating around in the Heart of Spamness. I think I have seen every imaginable variant; I get them in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, and even in what I think is Norwegian. I got one in Chinese once. The names have become increasingly outlandish. I have recent ones from Flora Dumbo, Blessed Lama, and Tit Cheriff. Here’s a recent one like that in the OP: > [@](#): > > Proposal /Sgt. Liliana Tavera > Hi, my name is Sgt. Liliana Tavera, I’m from Salt Lake City, Utah; presently serving in the 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron; among my accomplishments, I’m the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing’s Tuskegee Airman of the Week for Dec. 27, 2009- Jan. 02, 2010, I coordinated the shipment of 150 articles of cold- and wet-weather gear for 65 Airmen stationed at forward operating bases here in Iraq. > > I’m contacting you for solidarity on behalf of our United States troops here in Iraq to receive funds in your custody/account/s for safekeeping pending our troop’s final dismissal anytime this year… > > All machinery would be put in place to ensure that this claim is hitch free, if you are capable of putting your time and efforts towards the venture, kindly contact me immediately with the following information (1.) Your Full names And Address (2.) A scanned copy of your any Identification card with photo (3.) Telephone and fax number, and I’ll get back to you immediately with the basic condition of this proposal. > > In waiting of your response… > Sgt. Liliana Tavera {Ms} > Baghdad, Iraq Sometimes, though, I think they’re hardly trying anymore. I got this one with the note “Plz urgent respond.” > [@](#): > > I’m Ms Fina Ibrudia, Pls I’m seeking for your attention to assist me in transfering sum of (USD$4.500,000) to you. It’s lodge in bank here in Cote d’ivoire by My late father and i’m not capable to handle it alone but my uncle is a total trait to my life. More details later Thanks and God bless you. > Fina. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2010, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-variation-of-the-nigerian-email-scam/547962/5 "2010-07-25T23:32:57Z")
I either have an incredibly good spam filter on my primary account or for some reason none of these spammers think I’m likely to fall for their schemes because I can’t remember the last time I’m gotten anything remotely resembling a nigerian scam. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-variation-of-the-nigerian-email-scam/547962/6 "2010-07-26T14:07:34Z")
I get them every now and then & rarely bother reading them, but what I don’t understand- why always Nigeria?? Is that the only place there are stupid, dishonest people?? ---
**Author:** ![enigmatic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@enigmatic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enigmatic)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-variation-of-the-nigerian-email-scam/547962/7 "2010-07-26T14:43:39Z")
I don’t think it’s always Nigeria they probably get blamed for a lot of other people’s scams by default. That said though, I once spent a year assessing Visa applications and learnt to loath the place. They were one of the major sources of applications that we dealt with, and out of dozens of cases I saw I think I had one application that didn’t have something seriously and obviously wrong with it. ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-variation-of-the-nigerian-email-scam/547962/8 "2010-07-26T15:56:22Z")
It’s always sad when something like this starts going around. It’s sad that the scammers are taking advantage of people who might want to help someone as noble as a soldier. It’s sad that they are passing themselves off as soldiers. It’s sad that the scammers have so little other options that they have to do this… ---
**Author:** ![TheBori](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ee7513/32.png) [@TheBori](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheBori)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-variation-of-the-nigerian-email-scam/547962/9 "2010-07-26T16:26:28Z")
Viewed in another light, these email entreaties can be considered a new art form. I give the “[Nigerian Scam Spam Contest](http://drabblecast.freeforums.org/2010-nigerian-scam-spam-contest-f53.html?sid=6fafeb3d749df024a86954aed3539860)”. Courtesy of the Drabblecast. The challenge is, of course, proper use of improper grammer. A sample… "Kind Sir: My name is Abemolela Kwangatusi. I am the attorney representing certain persons of alien natures who recently applied for domiciles in Nigeria. They were informed that in orders to settles in our countrys they must settles all claims against them worldswide. They have herewith furnished us with comprehensive lists of all persons who were abducted and anally probed during the many years of their explorations…" ---
**Author:** ![PoorYorick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PoorYorick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorYorick)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-variation-of-the-nigerian-email-scam/547962/10 "2010-07-26T16:48:26Z")
But the thing is, the e-mails still work. Last week at the local Publix, my wife overheard the guy at the Customer Service desk trying to dissuade a woman from wiring money for a Nigerian scam. The woman kept saying, “But this one is real!” They guy had no choice but to send her $300 for “adminstrative purposes.” ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-variation-of-the-nigerian-email-scam/547962/11 "2010-07-26T17:28:42Z")
I got a creative one recently, it even appeals to those ware of scams: > [@](#): > > Attention: Beneficiary. > > My name is Mr. Ricardo Lewis of the International Monetary Fund investigation unit. Attached pictures was received and forwarded to our office here in London UK today the 25TH of JULY, 2010 requesting that your unclaimed fund be paid to Janet Williams. > > In the said letter of change of beneficiary/ownership, representatives of Janet Williams states that you are dead and as such your fund should be paid to her as the next of kin to you. > > Because of the elaborate global scam, we decided to contact you for confirmation. If after seven working days, no response is received from you, it will be assumed that you are dead and as such authorization and approval will be granted on behalf of Janet Williams to claim/receive your fund. > > Confirm this pictures and reconfirm your Information and how you want your fund paid to you without further delay if you are still alive. Send your response to my email address: fundunit\_uk01@yahoo.com.hk > > Below is the information you are expected to re-confirm, > > 1. Full Name:\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ > 2. Address:\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ > 3. Nationality:\__ **Sex** _ > 4. Age:\_\_\_\_ **Date of Birth:** > 5. Occupation:\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ > 6. Phone:_ **Fax:** _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ > 7. State of Origin:_ **Country:** _ > 8. Driver’s lincence:\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ > 9. Copy Of Your Identity:\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ > > You can also call for clarification +447035993289 > > Thanks > > Regards > > Mr. Ricardo Lewis > International Monetary Fund Investigation Unit. > Tel: +447035993289 I’ve never heard of Janet Williams, but she better keep her claws off of my money!!! ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-variation-of-the-nigerian-email-scam/547962/12 "2010-07-26T19:01:10Z")
Isn’t **Mangetout** the acknowledged master of this topic? I vowed to learn to speak Blikster because of him. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2010, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-variation-of-the-nigerian-email-scam/547962/13 "2010-07-27T01:21:15Z")
He was the one who inspired my brief foray into scambaiting. (I wasn’t very good at it, although at one point I got one trying to sell me a unicorn). **PapSett** - It’s not just Nigeria. That whole area of West Africa is 419 City. Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, Togo, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast… dirt-poor people, ubiquitous corruption, and there’s plenty of ogas (bosses) out recruiting. Nigeria is probably the biggest, yes. Other scam centers are Eastern Europe and the Philippines, though those mostly are love scams. Even the West African countries sometimes have their own signature scams- the Ivory Coast has assassinated cocoa magnates, Nigeria (IIRC) has pet scammers, and Senegal has poorly-written love scams (sometimes combined with the refugee princess scam). There are also large communities of West African immigrants in Spain and Holland. ---
**Author:** ![Cheez\_Whia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d26b3c/32.png) [@Cheez\_Whia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheez_Whia)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2010, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-variation-of-the-nigerian-email-scam/547962/14 "2010-07-27T03:22:31Z")
We get a variation scam along with the regular ones. It’s almost always from someone who claims to be a member of the clergy, and they want to buy all of a certain type of merchandise that we sell, usually for an orphanage somewhere in Africa. They will arrange pickup of the merchandise from our warehouse, and can they pay by credit card? (My company offers free shipping in the continental US for a minimum purchase. What these people want to buy would easily reach that amount. Why would you pay freight charges on something when you didn’t have to?) And as always, God will bless us. I block and delete them.