# New (for me) Nigerian scam: dead relative - they used my full name even. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 21, 2005, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-for-me-nigerian-scam-dead-relative-they-used-my-full-name-even/322730 "2005-09-21T16:29:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tomcat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Tomcat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tomcat)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-for-me-nigerian-scam-dead-relative-they-used-my-full-name-even/322730/1 "2005-09-21T16:29:32Z")
Here it is: [quote] Dear **Tomcat** , I am Barrister Gabriel K.Assaam, a solicitor at law, and personal attorney to Mr.K.A. **Tomcat** , a national of your country,who used to be a contractor and importer here in Lome Togo. Here in after shall be referred to as my client. On the 16t of May 2002, my client,his wife and their only daughter were involved in a ghastly motor accident along Nouvissi express Road. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost there lives. Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy here to locate any of my clients extended family relatives, this is to no avail." And then goes onto a standard Nigerian scam setup. Never even heard of this before. -Tcat ---
**Author:** ![wasson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/4da419/32.png) [@wasson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wasson)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-for-me-nigerian-scam-dead-relative-they-used-my-full-name-even/322730/2 "2005-09-21T17:04:58Z")
Sounds legit to me! I’d go for it! Remember me when you’re rich! ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-for-me-nigerian-scam-dead-relative-they-used-my-full-name-even/322730/3 "2005-09-21T17:17:58Z")
I got that same letter once and decided to screw with them. At first I expressed hysterical mourning about the loss, relayed a few good memories about the deceased, and then told them I would be happy to work with them…after they sent me some personal artifacts for a memorial service. Much confusion folllowed. You could try that too. There are some pretty funny Nigerian scam turnabout sites out there. One guy gets the scammers to send a photo of himself holding a sign saying “Iama Dildo” and things like that. ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-for-me-nigerian-scam-dead-relative-they-used-my-full-name-even/322730/4 "2005-09-21T17:19:26Z")
I got a couple of those emails as a result of posting my resume on a job site. I won’t mention the name of the site, but they promised they’d be a real Career Builder. Meh. ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-for-me-nigerian-scam-dead-relative-they-used-my-full-name-even/322730/5 "2005-09-21T18:48:15Z")
An old but excellent reverse: [http://www.geocities.com/steerp1ke/David\_Ehi.html](http://www.geocities.com/steerp1ke/David_Ehi.html) Cthulhu and _NYPD Blue_ in Nigeria. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-for-me-nigerian-scam-dead-relative-they-used-my-full-name-even/322730/6 "2005-09-21T19:04:48Z")
[QUOTE=Tomcat] Here it is: > [@](#): > > Dear **Tomcat** , > > I am Barrister Gabriel K.Assaam, a solicitor at law, > and personal attorney to Mr.K.A. **Tomcat** , a national > of your country,who used to be a contractor and > importer here in Lome Togo. Here in after shall be > referred to as my client. > > -Tcat I got that same letter today along with my real name and purported dead relative with that name. Surprised me because the spam flow of Nigerian letters (to me at least) has really tapered off in the last year or so. Like you I’m wondering how they got that list of (real) names and email addresses.