# New twist on Nigerian bank scam **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 7, 2005, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-twist-on-nigerian-bank-scam/293408 "2005-03-07T19:11:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-twist-on-nigerian-bank-scam/293408/1 "2005-03-07T19:11:38Z")
Looks like Nigera has become too hot for these con artists. They’ve moved to Switzerland. > [@](#): > > From:1002 Lausanne > Switzerland > Dear Friend. > > My name is Ms.Margaret Manson a member of Independent > Committee of Eminent Persons (ICEP), Switzerland. This Committee > is charged with the responsibility of finding bank accounts in > Switzerland belonging to non-Swiss indigenes, which have remained > dormant since World War II. > > It may interest you to know that in July of 1997, the Swiss Banker’s > Association published a list of dormant accounts originally opened by > non-Swiss citizens. These accounts had been dormant since the end of > World War II (May 9, 1945). Most belonged to Holocaust victims. > The continuing efforts of the Independent Committee of > Eminent Persons have since resulted in the discovery of additional > dormant accounts -54,000 in December, 1999. > > The published lists contain all types of dormant accounts, including > interest-bearing savings accounts, securities accounts, safe deposit > boxes, custody accounts, and non-interest-bearing transaction > accounts. Numbered accounts are also included. Interest is paid > on accounts that were interest bearing when established. > The Claims Resolution Tribunal handles processing of all claims on > accounts due non-Swiss citizens. A dormant account of (the deceased) > with a credit balance of 31,000,000 US dollar plus > accumulated interest was discovered by me and another top > Executive(colleague) in my office who is also a part of this business . The > beneficiary was murdered during the holocaust era, Leaving no WILL and no > possible records for trace of heirs. The Claims Resolution Tribunal has been > mandated to report all unclaimed funds for permanent closure of > accounts and transfer of existing credit balance into the treasury > of Switzerland government as provided by the law for management of > assets of deceased beneficiaries who died interstate (living no > wills). > > Being a top executive at ICEP, I have all secret details and necessary > contacts for claim of the funds without any hitch. The funds is now > deposited in a safe haven, a reliable security company here in Europe > and we can share the funds and use it for > investment of our choice. Due to the sensitive nature of my job, I > need a foreigner to HELP claim the funds. > > All that is required is for you to provide me with your details, phone and > fax numbers for processing of the necessary legal and administrative > documents to enable you claim the funds without any problem. Upon request, > i shall send you the original Deposite and Insurance certificates with a > power of attorney to enable you claim the fund from where is deposited. We > will meet you after (anywhere of your choice) for disbursement/sharing and > for investment purposes. We have agreed to give you 18% of the total sum > for all your efforts and contributions to make this a complete > success.NOTE: (THIS IS BEEN HANDLED BY COMPETENT HANDS AND THEREFORE, THERE > IS NO RISK INVOLVED, IS ABSOLUTELY 100% RISK FREE.) > > You can find additional information about unclaimed funds through the > internet at the following websites: > > [www.swissbankclaims.com](http://www.swissbankclaims.com) > [http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/europe/9902/09/germany.holocaust/](http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/europe/9902/09/germany.holocaust/) > [www.wiesenthal.com](http://www.wiesenthal.com) > > The Holocaust Claims Processing Office has put funds in Escrow > awaiting submission of valid claims for necessary disbursement. > > I find myself priviledged to have this information and this may be a > great opportunity for a life time of success without risks. Due to > confidential reasons, reply via email only. You may reply to me > securely through this email address ([margaretmanson@gmx.net](mailto:margaretmanson@gmx.net)) > > I await your urgent response to this proposal via my private email > [address:margaretmanson@gmx.net](mailto:address:margaretmanson@gmx.net) > Thank you for your prompt response. > > My Regards > Ms.Margaret Manson. > \*\*\*\ ***IMORTANT AND CONFIDENTIAL NOTICE** : This e-mail > transmission may contain confidential orlegally privileged information that > is intended only for the individual orentity named in the e-mail address. > If you are not the intended recipient,you are hereby notified that any > disclosure, copying, distribution, orreliance upon the contents of this > e-mail is strictly prohibited. If youhave received this e-mail transmission > in error, please reply to the sender,so that we can arrange for proper > delivery, and then please deletethe message from your inbox. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Merhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Merhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merhouse)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-twist-on-nigerian-bank-scam/293408/2 "2005-03-07T19:36:18Z")
> [@Terminus Est](#): > > We have agreed to give you 18% of the total sum > for all your efforts and contributions to make this a complete > success. First of all, 18% is an insult! Hold out for at least 40% 😃 > [@Terminus Est](#): > > I await your urgent response to this proposal via my private email [address:margaretmanson@gmx.net](mailto:address:margaretmanson@gmx.net) > Thank you for your prompt response. > > My Regards > Ms.Margaret Manson. I wonder if Margaret is Marilyn’s mother. I also wonder why such a prestigious organization :rolleyes: as ICEP would be using [gmx.net](http://gmx.net) for their EMail. With the gazillions of USD that they have, surely they can afford their own domain name. I mean, think of the poor domain registrars who still have to walk 6 miles to school uphill both ways. It’s not **fair** , I tell you! ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2005, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-twist-on-nigerian-bank-scam/293408/3 "2005-05-04T13:46:01Z")
This one’s multinational. > [@](#): > > Dear Friend, > > I am Barrister Samuel Edward, an attorney at law. A deceased client of mine, by name Mr,Christian Eich, who here in after shall be referred to as my client, died as the result of a plane crash on Wednesday, 26 July, 2000 in Germany > > First of all I will like you to kindly view this sites, it will help to believe and understand it perfectly. > > [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm) > > [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/851119.stm](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/851119.stm) > I am contacting you to assist me in ensuring that the Consignment lodged by my client with a Financial Institution in Amsterdam. The financial institution is not decleared unclaimed hence my reason for this contact to you. > > The financial institution has issued me a notice to contact the next of kin, or the Consignment lodge by my client will be confiscated. > > My proposition to you is to seek your consent to present you as the next-of-kin and beneficiary of my late client, so that the proceeds of this Consignment can be ship or deliver to you, With the help of the diplomat working with the finanacial institution in Amsterdam, Then we can share the funds in the consignment. I have all documents that shows He deposite it with the financial institution and the content. We will Share on a mutually agreed-upon percentage. > > All legal documents to back up your claim as my client’s next-of-kin will be provided. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through. > > This will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. If this business proposition offends your moral values, do accept my apology. Please contact me at once to indicate your interest. > > However if you are willing to assist me in this venture. I will establish a verbal telephone communication with you and bring you into a much better picture of the situation. > > Best Regards, > > Barrister Samuel Edward > 60 Cannon Street > London EC4N 6JP > England ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2005, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-twist-on-nigerian-bank-scam/293408/4 "2005-05-04T14:02:58Z")
That address is for the Coudert Brothers law firm who, of course, have nobody named Samuel Edward on staff. I just informed the firm that someone is using their address in a 419 scam. ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2005, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-twist-on-nigerian-bank-scam/293408/5 "2005-05-04T15:53:37Z")
I _love_ this bit: _“… Independent Committee of Eminent Persons (ICEP)…”_ IOW - the “Self-Appointed Group of Big-Wheels.” 😃 At least it’s nice to know our scammer-scum friends have a sense of humor. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2005, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-twist-on-nigerian-bank-scam/293408/6 "2005-05-04T18:13:29Z")
I wonder when the spouse or offspring of the late John Paul II will start appealing for our aid in getting money out of the Vatican. ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2005, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-twist-on-nigerian-bank-scam/293408/7 "2005-05-04T18:33:17Z")
From the letter in the OP (bolding mine): > [@](#): > > assets of deceased beneficiaries who died **interstate** ( **living** no wills). I assume they actually\* died **intestate** ( **leaving** no wills), but I guess they could have perished between states as well after filing no wills while living. - well, not _actually_ actually, since these supposed beneficiaries are most assuredly creations of the spammers, but you know what I mean ---
**Author:** ![Mycroft\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/898d66/32.png) [@Mycroft\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mycroft_H)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2005, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-twist-on-nigerian-bank-scam/293408/8 "2005-05-04T21:39:13Z")
Well, if you can’t trust an Eminent Person from Switzerland (who is claiming to be doing something quite illegal), who can you trust? (I’d love to see the Mrs. Pope one.) ---
**Author:** ![laurelann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5daacb/32.png) [@laurelann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/laurelann)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2005, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-twist-on-nigerian-bank-scam/293408/9 "2005-05-04T23:21:54Z")
I got one too!! Except for the fact that mine’s from Togo… > [@](#): > > Dear Laurel , > I am Dr Ammed Aideed, a senior staff in the Auditing Dept of Diamond Deposit & Financier Plc, Togo. An American oil consultant / contractor with the Togolaise Shell Petroleum Corporation, Mr Perry Kelly, made a numbered time (fixed) deposit for twelve calendar valued at US$15,000,000.00 (Fifteen Million Dollars) in my branch on Monday 09-10-2000. > > Upon maturity, the bank sent a routine notification to his forwarding address on 08-10-2001 and got no reply. After a month, we sent yet another reminder and got no reply. It was finally discovered from his contact employer Shell petroleum corporation that our client died in alongside his entire family in a ghastly motor accident on Sunday 23-04-2001. > > On further private investigation, I found out that he did not leave a will and all attempts to trace his next of kin were fruitless as he migrated to Togo sometime in 1971. I therefore made further investigation and discoveredthat he did not mention any next of kin or relatives in all his official documents, including the forms he filled during the time he was making the deposit . At this stage, I became interested and started making plans on how to transfer this fund the total sum of US$15,000,000.00 into a foreign account knowing fully well that according to the laws of the Federal Republic of Togo Section 2 Sub-Section 5, paragraph IV states that at the expiration of 5 (five) years, any unclaimed fund shall be reverted into the escrow account of the Federal Government of Togo with Central Bank if nobody puts claims of ownership of the said fund. > > I went ahead to meet with his personal attorney Barrister Fred Lewis and laid my cards on the table as I know very well that I will certainly need his assistance in this very transaction based on the legality. He however assured me that he will take part in this if I will be able to find a trustworthy foreigner who has the same surname with the deceasedso that he will present him to the bank as the legitimate next of kin and as thus, the legal beneficiary to the fund and the presentation shall be backed up with legal documents. > > It is based on this note that I went into serious search for a trustworthy person who must wear the same surname with our deceased customer hence I contacted you. Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as the next of kin to our late client so that the fund will be released and transferred to your account by our bank. > > Please understand that this transaction is completely risk-free putting into consideration that I work here in the bank and that we shall have the full assistance of our deceased customer’s attorney since he is fully involved in the this transaction. Please contact me immediately via a return mail indicating your willingness to work with us to actualise this transaction. You are also advised to observe utmost confidentiality, and rest assuredthat this transaction would be most profitable to all parties involved. > > Further information regarding this transaction shall be given to you upon the receipt of your positive response. > > Thanks and remain blessed in anticipation of your understanding. > > Dr.Ammed Aideed > > Auditing Manager, > Diamond Deposit & Financier Plc. ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2005, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-twist-on-nigerian-bank-scam/293408/10 "2005-05-05T02:09:00Z")
Got one from Belgium. Sheesh. ---
**Author:** ![brickbacon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@brickbacon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brickbacon)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2005, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-twist-on-nigerian-bank-scam/293408/11 "2005-05-05T02:35:30Z")
How exactly does this scam work? Do these people steal your identity or do they scam you out of money? ---
**Author:** ![MerryMagdalen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@MerryMagdalen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MerryMagdalen)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2005, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-twist-on-nigerian-bank-scam/293408/12 "2005-05-05T10:16:09Z")
Oh! I’ve got one! (And I don’t know how to do the quote thing, please bear with.) * * * Dear Sir/Madam, I solicit for a group of foreign contractors working in Iraq.We are interested in your collaboration on movement of funds from Iraq (due to the security cituation)for investment in Cement and other building materials,farms,barn,ranches and Agriculture other agricultural products. The first transaction will be for the movement of about Seven million United States Dollars from an Iraqi bank. Due to the crack down on Al Qaeda and it’s financiers large payment of such can only be authorized by Iraqi Central bank if they are paid out as payment for purchase or payment to a Foreign contractor or investment. If you accept to participate in this transaction,we shall then state the terms,conditions and remunerations. You will also be required to submit to us your full contact;your company line of business, individual name, address,Bank and account that you norminate for the transfer. For the avoidance of doubt,your norminated account for this transaction should be of zero value(i.e no money in the account),this is to satisfy that no one entertains any fear of giving out information that may lead to loss of money. Your confidential submission should reach me not later than seven bank working days from date.You can contact me on the above emai or [investors@ameinfo.com](mailto:investors@ameinfo.com) Thank you for your time in preparing this. Sincerely, Anthony Hopkins. * * * Well, it’s Anthony Hopkins, after all. I shall send him the requested information posthaste. I love his work. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2005, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-twist-on-nigerian-bank-scam/293408/13 "2005-05-05T11:30:35Z")
I guess I have been lucky or my ISP’s have very good anti spam, I have never seen any of the scams… … I feel so left out. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2005, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-twist-on-nigerian-bank-scam/293408/14 "2005-05-05T13:51:13Z")
> [@brickbacon](#): > > How exactly does this scam work? Do these people steal your identity or do they scam you out of money? Both, actually. They’ll try to steal your identity to scam you out of money. These are also called 419 schemes after the section of the Nigerian penal code dealing with fraud. The [Secret Service](http://www.secretservice.gov/alert419.shtml) has more information, as well as [Snopes](http://www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/nigeria.asp). ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2005, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-twist-on-nigerian-bank-scam/293408/15 "2005-05-05T15:45:01Z")
Well, here’s a new one. ‘Master Daniel Sankoh 20 years old from the republic of Sierria-Leone in west Africa’ sent the typical scam. _But!_ He took the time to request that he be put on my authorised senders list! (SpamBlocker ‘quarantines’ e-mails from people who are not on the list.) Uh… Yeah, dude. Like, I’m really going to put you on the list. Actually, I’m tempted to ask him if he’s making any money out of the scam and if he thinks people are still falling for it. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-twist-on-nigerian-bank-scam/293408/16 "2005-05-07T02:44:10Z")
> [@Terminus Est](#): > > Both, actually. They’ll try to steal your identity to scam you out of money. These are also called 419 schemes after the section of the Nigerian penal code dealing with fraud. The [Secret Service](http://www.secretservice.gov/alert419.shtml) has more information, as well as [Snopes](http://www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/nigeria.asp). Some victims’ stories paint the perpetrators as racketeers. They convinced one guy to fly down to Nigeria or wherever to get his money and he ended up being tossed in jail when he tried to get away from the scammers! ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-twist-on-nigerian-bank-scam/293408/17 "2005-05-07T03:34:23Z")
Nigeria, ha! I get them purporting to be from all points on the globe. I’m getting to where I don’t mind the emails; I use them to either vent my bile (I have a lot of bile) or else respond with nonsense. Most of the time I mock their tendancy to write in stilted formality AND IN ALL CAPITALS. If I didn’t get the Nigerian Scam emails, I don’t know where I’d vent my weekly frustration. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-twist-on-nigerian-bank-scam/293408/18 "2005-05-07T03:36:09Z")
I ONLY FEEL SORRY FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU LEFT YOUR CAPS LOCK BUTTON ON AND YOU WRITE IN RUNON SENTENCES AND YOU’RE PULLING THE NIGERIAN SCAM AND YOU SHOULD REALLY BE LICKING A GOAT’S ASS INSTEAD. Saidik Khalid wrote: \> \> DEAR FRIEND \> \> AS YOU READ THIS,DON’T FEEL SORRY FOR ME,BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN DUBAI,IN THE U.A.E I HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED AND I KNOW EVERYONE WILL DIE SOMEDAY.MY NAME IS SADIK HUMAN KHALID,A MERCHANT AGEAL CANCER WHICH WAS DISCOVERED VERY LATE,DUE TO MY LAXITY INCARING FOR MY HEALTH.IT HAS DEFILED ALL FORMS OF MEDICINE,AND RIGH NOW I HAVE ONLY ABOUT A FEW MONTHS TO LIVE,ACCORDING TO MEDICAL EXPERTS.I HAVE NEVER PARTICULARLY LIVE MY LIFE SO WELL,AS I NEVER REALLY CARED FOR ANYONE NOT EVEN MYSELF BUT MY ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-twist-on-nigerian-bank-scam/293408/19 "2005-05-07T11:08:42Z")
[Lest we forget](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=242804)😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-twist-on-nigerian-bank-scam/293408/20 "2005-05-07T17:45:14Z")
I think you’ll see a variety of ways to get ripped off by these folks, but the most common ploy in the Nigerian scam seems to be them persuading you that they’re going to wire a butt-load of money into your checking account. Hey, what’s your checking account number? So the dupe gives it to them, and they debit the account, cash it out from their overseas account, close their overseas account, and run. I know they get money from people 1000 other ways, but that’s the one I see the most. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-twist-on-nigerian-bank-scam/293408.md?page=2)