# New version of the Nigeria scam
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-version-of-the-nigeria-scam/339777
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [January 13, 2006, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-version-of-the-nigeria-scam/339777 "2006-01-13T04:19:54Z")
**Posts on this page:** 11
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [January 13, 2006, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-version-of-the-nigeria-scam/339777/1 "2006-01-13T04:19:54Z")
And here it is:
> [@](#):
>
> From : Ahmed Ali
> Macoury boulevard,
> 11 BP 337 Abidjan 11
> Abidjan Cote d’Ivoire
>
> My Dearest Anand,
>
> ## May you always be blessed.I got your contact after my prayers and based on your profile i am confident that you will not abandon me me. My name is Ahmed Ali.I am the only child to late Dr.Ibrahim Ali,from Cape Verde, who was a cocoa merchant here in Abidjan,cote d ivoire before he was assasinated in November 2003 by his greedy relatives who murdered him because of his wealth. However,before his death on that fateful day,my father informed me about the sum of $2 (Two ) million US dollars which he deposited in one of the banks here in Abidjan.He informed me also that he used my name as his next-of
>
> kin in depositing this said money since my mother was no longer
> alive,having
> died in a car accident 2 years before my father,s death.
> My father assured me that the fund was meant for my walfare and better
> life
> and that i should take it only when there is an important need for it
> since
> i was just a teenager and lack the ability to control it.
>
> He also instructed me further to make an arrangement with a honest
> foreigner
> who will contact the bank and provide a means of transferring this fund
> and
> invest it in a good business venture on my behalf and for my future .
> He
> does not want the money to be invested in this country because of his
> enemies and also the Political Crisis and instability here in Cote
> D’Ivoire
> and West Africa as a whole.
> Now i wish to secure and invest this money and use part thereof for
> my
> education since i am out of school as a result of my father,s relatives
> behavior .
> My father,s relatives who should have assisted me are dangerous and
> greedy.They have succeeded in stealing and taking away most of the
> properties belonging to my late father except this fund which they do
> not
> know about.I was staying with one of them and he was maltreating me and
> recently he stopped me from attending school aiming at destroying my
> future
> and this had caused me to run away from his house and to stay with my
> friend
> whose parents are not in town.
> i am confused and worried because i want to continue schooling.i would
> be
> pleased if you could secure this fund for me by :
> 1.By applying to this bank for the change of the next of kin/ownership
> of
> this fund in your name,
> 2.By securing this fund in a very good investment for me since i am
> just 15
> years and lack the ability to do so,
> 3.After this fund is transfered into your account,to make arrangement
> \*\*for me
> to come over and join you in your country since my life is not safe
> here and \*\*
> i want to continue with my studies.
> 4.Or if possible and convenient ,**dear i would like you to please come
> to
> Abidjan,Cote d ivoire** so that after the transfer i will go with you to
> your
> country so that i can start a new life there.
> I took this bold decision because i know i can not be able to manage
> this
> fund properly due to my age situation and because i know that my life
> is no
> longer safe here.I do not have anybody to rely on but believe you will
> not
> fail me as i got your contact after my prayers.
> Upon you response, I will give you the contact of this bank and cause
> this
> fund to be transfered to you as the new beneficiary on my behalf.
> I pray that the good God who gave me your contact will give you the
> courage
> to assist me.
> Thank you.Hafiz.
> Yours son,
> Ahmed Ali
Bolding mine. He wants me to move there? I must confess I’m not even too sure where Abidjan Cote d’Ivoire is, upon googling it I find its on the Ivory Coast. Western Africa, between Ghana and Liberia. Doesn’t sound like a bad place.
Right then. Who’s with me? I’m going to Afria. 😃
---
### Author:  [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)
#### Post date: [January 13, 2006, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-version-of-the-nigeria-scam/339777/2 "2006-01-13T04:33:33Z")
I think it’s his sister that wants to marry me and move out here. We’ll be rich in-laws.
---
### Author:  [@Electronic\_Chaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electronic_Chaos)
#### Post date: [January 13, 2006, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-version-of-the-nigeria-scam/339777/3 "2006-01-13T04:59:08Z")
“…assasinated in November 2003 by his greedy relatives who murdered him
because of his wealth.”
I guess the sort of people who fall for this type of scam would need it spelled out that being assassinated by greedy relatives means that they murdered him because of his wealth.
---
### Author:  [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)
#### Post date: [January 13, 2006, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-version-of-the-nigeria-scam/339777/4 "2006-01-13T09:08:51Z")
There’s actually nothing all that new about this; enticing victims to meet up with them has been part of Standard Operating Practice for 419 scammers pretty much always; their intent including any or all of: getting the victim to bring more money or expensive luxury items, kidnapping the victim for ransom, murdering the victim to cover their traces… etc.
See, once you’re hooked and you’ve paid up the ‘advance fee’ (that you couldn’t actually afford, or worse, that you misappropriated from somewhere, believing you could pay it back when you’re rich), you’re much more likely to follow through with a visit to try to keep the deal alive; people have been mugged when they follow through with an in-person meeting and I think I’m right in saying that some have been murdered (or at least have disappeared, assumed dead).
We’re aware of it being a dangerous scam, so the idea of meeting up with the perpetrators seems unthinkable, however, for the naive victim, it is all made to look very plausible.
---
### Author:  [@Bernard\_Marx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bernard_Marx)
#### Post date: [January 13, 2006, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-version-of-the-nigeria-scam/339777/5 "2006-01-13T09:21:48Z")
Apropos of nothing much, my high school French textbook had stories about a girl from Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire. Apparently French is spoken there.
Also, my real name is Anand…why are you reading my mail! 😉
---
### Author:  [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)
#### Post date: [January 13, 2006, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-version-of-the-nigeria-scam/339777/6 "2006-01-13T12:51:31Z")
Tell him to send a tin of cocoa as proof. Mmm, cocoa!
---
### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [January 13, 2006, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-version-of-the-nigeria-scam/339777/7 "2006-01-13T14:36:34Z")
> [@Mangetout](#):
>
> We’re aware of it being a dangerous scam, so the idea of meeting up with the perpetrators seems unthinkable, however, for the naive victim, it is all made to look very plausible.
But I have never seen one that is plausible. And yet I know people fall for it. Makes me wonder if I’m smart (not likely) or people are just dumb.
Bernard, you’re Indian?
---
### Author:  [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)
#### Post date: [January 13, 2006, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-version-of-the-nigeria-scam/339777/8 "2006-01-13T14:45:13Z")
Actually, it says _he_ wants to move in with _you_. What an effect you have on males around the globe, **Anaamika**! Better get the spare bedroom ready…
---
### Author:  [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)
#### Post date: [January 13, 2006, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-version-of-the-nigeria-scam/339777/9 "2006-01-13T18:39:58Z")
> [@Anaamika](#):
>
> Makes me wonder if I’m smart (not likely) or people are just dumb.
Based on your profile, I am confident you are smart.
Man, what 15 year old who has 2 million dollars wants to use it for education?
---
### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [January 13, 2006, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-version-of-the-nigeria-scam/339777/10 "2006-01-13T18:41:49Z")
> [@Dag Otto](#):
>
> Based on your profile, I am confident you are smart.
> Man, what 15 year old who has 2 million dollars wants to use it for education?
I want 2 million dollars. The first thing I’d do is buy an Aston-Martin Vanquish. Sweet. The second thing I’d do is drive it to the Indian community I grew up in and slowly cruise by each of their houses.
Looking at my profile, I’m not sure what made you think I’m smart, but I’m happy. Thanks.
---
### Author:  [@Bernard\_Marx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bernard_Marx)
#### Post date: [January 14, 2006, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-version-of-the-nigeria-scam/339777/11 "2006-01-14T01:28:55Z")
> [@Anaamika](#):
>
> Bernard, you’re Indian?
No, but my Dad is. From Kerala.