Apparently the Nigerian scam is older than I would have guessed.

[Jenaroph]

Got a tablet for Christmas and I’ve been downloading lots of public domain books from Gutenberg.org. I’m reading a collection of stories called “The Lock and Key Library/The Most Interesting Stories of All Nations: Real Life” which contains this gem:

On the 18th of September, 1875, a fellow was arrested in West Virginia who sent the victims whom he proposed to bleed letters whereof the following is a copy:–
“A lady who boarded with me died on last Saturday of apoplexy. She left a trunk containing the following property: One very fine ladies’ gold watch and chain, one ladies’ gold necklace, six ladies’ finger rings, earrings, and a great deal of ladies’ clothing. Among other things was a letter addressed to you. I suppose you to be a relative of the deceased, and want to send you the trunk. When Miss Thompson died she left a board bill unpaid amounting to $20.50. You will please send this amount by return mail, and the trunk will be forwarded to you immediately.”
Instead of remitting the money as modestly requested, the recipient of one of these choice douceurs, a lady residing in the interior of Pennsylvania, sent the letter to the mayor of the town where it was dated and postmarked, who in turn handed it over to special agent T. P. Shallcross; and he in the course of a day or two succeeded in capturing the miscreant.

This particular form of the confidence game is very old; yet in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and seventy-five a swindler by means of it succeeds not only in maintaining himself in dashing style, but also in sporting a flashy traveling companion of the female persuasion!

Where the letters are addressed to men, the articles reported to be found in the imaginary trunk are changed to correspond to masculine habits and wants.

So in 1875, the author was shaking his head at the fact that people still fell for this con game. I wonder what he’d think to know that they’re STILL falling for it almost 140 years later.

Interestingly, as old as this scam is, scam baiters have existed for just as long:

The operators receive many singular and some entertaining replies. The following, dated long ago from a small town at the South, may serve as a sample, the orthography of the original being preserved:–
"COL. SNOWDEN,

“Dear Sir,–Yours received, and you say John is dead. Poor fellow! I always expected it. Death runs in the family. Dyed suddenly of appleplexy–eat too many apples. Well, I always thought John would hurt himself eating apples. I s’pose you had him buried. You said nothing about funeral expenses. He had a trunk–gold watch in it, &c. Well, well, what an unexpected legacy! but strange things
happen sometimes. Never thought I should get a gold watch so. And he had the watch in his trunk, did he? Poor fellow! was always so particular 'bout his watch and fixings. Had two revolvers. What is them? I never heard John say anything about them. Well, you have been so kind as to write to me; just keep all the balance of the things, you can have them; but the gold watch, send that to me
by express. Send immediately if not sooner.”

"Very truly,

"GEO. STREAM.

“P. S. My mother in law says, if you come this way, call. She likes to know all such good, kind folks.”
It is safe to conclude that “Col. Snowden” never accepted the invitation to call from the hospitable mother-in-law.

[JoseB]

The “Nigerian scam” is a variant of the “Spanish prisoner” scam, which is very, very old. The basic variant has a rich person that has been arrested in Spain under a false name, and who cannot reveal their real name to the Spanish authorities without there being dire repercussions. Money is asked from the mark via a contact (the conman) in order to bribe Spanish officials so that they will let the prisoner go. Once the prisoner is free, he will reward his savior handsomely.

In some versions of the scam, the “prisoner” would not just reward the mark with money, but also would give him the hand of his daughter

The first documented instance of the “Spanish prisoner” scam dates from 1588. Whoever falls for a “Nigerian Scam” is falling for a scam more than 400 years old.`The first versions of the scam had a hapless Englishman being imprisoned in Spain by king Philip II, who would undoubtedly have the “prisoner” executed if his real identity were revealed.

A couple of relevant links:

From “Encyclopedia of Scams”

From “CeltNet”.

[wolfman]

Man, if I become a con artist I get to sport “a flashy traveling companion of the female persuasion!” Hmm I must give this some more thought.

[Jenaroph]

@JoseB

The “Nigerian scam” is a variant of the “Spanish prisoner” scam, which is very, very old. The basic variant has a rich person that has been arrested in Spain under a false name, and who cannot reveal their real name to the Spanish authorities without there being dire repercussions. Money is asked from the mark via a contact (the conman) in order to bribe Spanish officials so that they will let the prisoner go. Once the prisoner is free, he will reward his savior handsomely.

In some versions of the scam, the “prisoner” would not just reward the mark with money, but also would give him the hand of his daughter

Yeah, the book in question mentions the Spanish prisoner scam, (though leafing through I can’t find the reference now) but didn’t say how old it was. 1588 huh, that’s amazing. And people still fall for it!

[Freddy_the_Pig]

@wolfman

Man, if I become a con artist I get to sport “a flashy traveling companion of the female persuasion!”

But only if you maintain yourself in dashing style. Flashy traveling companions don’t hang out with just anybody.

[Leaper]

Glad to see that scam baiting is just as old.

[artemis]

@Jenaroph

1588 huh, that’s amazing. And people still fall for it!

Never underestimate the power of greed. (Con men certainly don’t!)

[DocCathode]

I have no proof. But, I am convinced that three card monte is as old as Ur. All you needed was three cards (or three covers and a small item such as a bean or marble) and some suckers who did not know you. It’s the second consideration that makes me sure three card monte is no older than Ur. AFAIK before that, towns were small enough that everybody could know everybody else.

While we’re at it-

Dice are mentioned in the Hindu epic The Mahabharata. If they could make dice, is there any doubt there were folks making loaded dice?

The Canterbury Tales has one character confessing to making and selling fake holy relics.