# Nigerian Roommate scam? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 12, 2006, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nigerian-roommate-scam/364106 "2006-07-12T00:29:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nigerian-roommate-scam/364106/21 "2006-07-12T20:54:29Z")
> [@My Response](#): > > I have attached a photo of myself so you can see what I look like. I take your comments to mean that you would be willing to engage in sexual activity, and I want to be sure that you are physically attracted to me. I apologize for the loss of my hair. There was a terrible fire while I was in prison that caused me to permanently lose my hair as well as cause some facial disfigurment. Before I include any more information I would like to know more about you. You said that you do not have a criminal record. Do you mind having a roommate with a criminal record? I was wrongfully imprisoned for several years on a charge of murder, however I am innocent of this accusation. Also, I would appreciate additional pictures of yourself. In order to make sure that the photos accurately depict you, could you please take a picture of yourself holding a newspaper or something similar for purposes of authenticity. This is how I responded, with the Fester picture attached. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nigerian-roommate-scam/364106/22 "2006-07-12T21:10:18Z")
> [@CynicalGabe](#): > > This is how I responded, with the Fester picture attached. You should tell her to send a pic of herself holding a sign that says “I burning your dog” on it. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nigerian-roommate-scam/364106/23 "2006-07-12T21:18:44Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > You should tell her to send a pic of herself holding a sign that says “I burning your dog” on it. Haha. I’ll try and work that into the next reply. ---
**Author:** ![Yeeter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/96bed5/32.png) [@Yeeter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeeter)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nigerian-roommate-scam/364106/24 "2006-07-12T21:23:25Z")
Fun and funny scam-baiting at this web site [http://www.419eater.com/](http://www.419eater.com/) ---
**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:** [July 12, 2006, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nigerian-roommate-scam/364106/25 "2006-07-12T21:43:32Z")
[There are now Nigerian scams masquerading as IRS refund notices](http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/scams/phishing/irs2006.asp). ---
**Author:** ![sinjin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nigerian-roommate-scam/364106/26 "2006-07-13T05:10:39Z")
And [here’s a link to an article in the New Yorker](http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/060515fa_fact) about a self help lecturer who got totally played by these guys. Even after he was informed he was being investigated he was sending them money and cashing their phony checks. He just had to help those poor Nigerians. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nigerian-roommate-scam/364106/27 "2006-07-13T05:18:54Z")
We might as well just start assuming “Nigeria” = “Scam” Scameria? Niscamia? Any other ideas? ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nigerian-roommate-scam/364106/28 "2006-07-13T12:42:29Z")
Yeah, and aren’t they on to the fact that we’re on to them? Nigeria? At least come up with some other country, like maybe Algeria. Common scammers, get creative for once! ---
**Author:** ![Dottygumdrop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Dottygumdrop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dottygumdrop)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nigerian-roommate-scam/364106/29 "2006-07-13T12:47:52Z")
> [@Uncommon Sense](#): > > Yeah, and aren’t they on to the fact that we’re on to them? Nigeria? > At least come up with some other country, like maybe Algeria. Common scammers, get creative for once! Be careful what you wish for - all of the recent scam emails I’ve been getting are from Sierra Leone or Zambia! ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nigerian-roommate-scam/364106/30 "2006-07-13T12:57:53Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > [There are now Nigerian scams masquerading as IRS refund notices](http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/scams/phishing/irs2006.asp). The tip-off is this part: > [@](#): > > Please submit the tax refund request and allow us 6-9 days in order to process it. Since when can the IRS process \*anything \* in less than a month? ---
**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:** [July 13, 2006, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nigerian-roommate-scam/364106/31 "2006-07-13T16:55:29Z")
> [@Savannah](#): > > In the cases earlier this year, the “potential tenant” sent us “money orders” (sorry, quotation marks seem to abound with me tonight) and then, oops! they can’t come here and rent the place, after all! Please refund the money… I gotta’ say, I’d laugh like hell if your dog mailed the uncashed money orders back to the nice man from overseas. ---
**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:** [July 13, 2006, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nigerian-roommate-scam/364106/32 "2006-07-13T18:32:34Z")
> [@Dottygumdrop](#): > > Be careful what you wish for - all of the recent scam emails I’ve been getting are from Sierra Leone or Zambia! There’s even one from Iraq, supposedly penned by one of our men in camouflage. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nigerian-roommate-scam/364106.md?page=1)