# Can I report a Nigerian scammer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 19, 2005, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-report-a-nigerian-scammer/300112 "2005-04-19T19:38:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FlippyFly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e95f7d/32.png) [@FlippyFly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlippyFly)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-report-a-nigerian-scammer/300112/1 "2005-04-19T19:38:39Z")
I got a classic Nigerian money scam email today – actually it is the former president of Kenya this time. Is there an authority I need to report this to? ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-report-a-nigerian-scammer/300112/2 "2005-04-19T20:00:42Z")
> [@FlippyFly](#): > > I got a classic Nigerian money scam email today – actually it is the former president of Kenya this time. Is there an authority I need to report this to? At one point one of the federal agencies (Treasury? Justice?) was collecting information on this but it is now so prevalent I can’t believe it would be worth the effort to investigate every case unless there was a loss involved. ---
**Author:** ![Banger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@Banger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banger)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-report-a-nigerian-scammer/300112/3 "2005-04-19T20:05:38Z")
On a completely unrelated note, I received an email today from the New Mexico lottery held in Brisbane, Australia. I WON 1,000,000 EUROS 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-report-a-nigerian-scammer/300112/4 "2005-04-19T20:13:53Z")
The US Secret Service has juristiction. [http://www.secretservice.gov/alert419.shtml](http://www.secretservice.gov/alert419.shtml) ---
**Author:** ![FlippyFly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e95f7d/32.png) [@FlippyFly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlippyFly)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-report-a-nigerian-scammer/300112/5 "2005-04-19T20:41:57Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > The US Secret Service has juristiction. > > [http://www.secretservice.gov/alert419.shtml](http://www.secretservice.gov/alert419.shtml) ‘If you feel you have been a victim of any of these schemes contact your local field office for assistance.’ Well, I guess they are not interested… I’m not a victim, just got the email. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-report-a-nigerian-scammer/300112/6 "2005-04-19T22:52:00Z")
They are scams?? They even called me by my first name! :eek: 😉 ---
**Author:** ![tofergregg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tofergregg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tofergregg)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2005, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-report-a-nigerian-scammer/300112/7 "2005-04-20T00:08:48Z")
If you’d like to have a bit of fun, you could always try [scambaiting](http://www.419eater.com/). Beware, though, it does take some time and creativity on your part. 🙂 -Tofer