# Oh my goodness - FBI response to Nigerian scams **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 14, 2011, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-my-goodness-fbi-response-to-nigerian-scams/574668 "2011-03-14T16:40:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-my-goodness-fbi-response-to-nigerian-scams/574668/1 "2011-03-14T16:40:22Z")
Check this thing out I just got in my inbox: > [@](#): > > HENRY SHAWN > FEDERAL AGENT. > FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION FBI.WASHINGTON DC. > > FBI SEEKING TO WIRETAP INTERNET > > ATTENTION: > > We believe this notification meets you in a very good present state of mind > and health. We the Federal bureau of investigation (FBI) Washington, DC in > conjunction with some other relevant Investigation Agencies here in the United > states of America have recently been informed through our Global intelligence > monitoring network that you presently have a transaction going on with the > Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as regards to your over-due contract payment > which was fully endorsed in your favor accordingly. > > We will find a way to fix a schedule for you to come to our head-quarter in > Washington DC to enable us advise you on what to do, but meanwhile you are > further advised to be contacting us via email for now because we are having > various investigations that we are working on now. Keep everything regarding > to your transaction confidential for security reasons and note that we have > not informed the local FBI department in your state regarding this matter > because we want to keep everything secret until your fund is been transferred > to you accordingly. We the FBI have purposely create an email in order for us > to contact you personally and our phone codes departments are not aware of > this new improvement, so don’t call our service line regarding this email, > soon we will provide you with a line you can call for more information about > this contract winning funds. For the main time we the Federal Bureau of > Investigation Washington DC will be helping you to monitor all the transaction > with the CBN REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT. > > It might interest you to know that we have taken out time in screening through > this project as stipulated on our protocol of operation and have finally > confirmed that your contract payment is 100% genuine and hitch free from all > facet and of which you have the lawful right to claim your fund without any > further delay. Having said all this, we will further advise that you go ahead > in dealing with the Central Bank office accordingly as we will be monitoring > all their services with you as well as your correspondence at all level. > > In addendum, also be informed that we recently had a meeting with the Mallam > Sanusi Lamido Sanusi The one in charge of funds transfer in Central Bank of > Nigeria, in the person of Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi along with some of the > top officials of the Ministry regarding your case and they made us to > understand that your file has been held in abase depending on when you > personally come for the claim. They also told us that the only problem they > are facing right now is that some unscrupulous element are using this project > as an avenue to scam innocent people off their hard earned money by > impersonating the Executive Governor and the Central Bank office. We were also > made to understand that a lady with name Mrs. Janet White from ARIZONA has > already contacted them and also presented to them all the necessary > documentations evidencing your claim purported to have been signed personally > by you prior to the release of your contract fund valued at about > US$15,000,000.00 (Fifteen Million united states dollars). > > The Central Bank office did the wise thing by insisting on hearing from you > personally before the go ahead on wiring your fund to the Bank information > which was forwarded to them by the above named Lady so that was the main > reason why they contacted us so as to assist them in making the investigations. > > They further informed us that we should warn our dear citizens who must have > been informed of the contract payment which was awarded to them from the > Central Bank of Nigeria, to be very careful prior to these irregularities so > that they don’t fall victim to this ugly circumstance. And should in case you > are already dealing with anybody or office claiming to be from the Central > Bank of Nigeria, you are further advised to STOP further contact with them in > your best interest and then contact immediately the real office of the Central > Bank of Nigeria (CBN) only with the below information accordingly: > > NAME:SANUSI LAMIDO SANUSI > OFFICE ADDRESS: Central Bank of Nigeria, Central Business > District, Cadastral Zone, Abuja, > Federal Capital Territory, > Nigeria. > > Email: releasedesk. [cenbank@gmail.com](mailto:cenbank@gmail.com) > > Direct TelePhone: +234 803 872 2466 > > NOTE: > > In your best interest, any message that doesn’t come from the above official > email address and phone numbers should not be replied to and should be > disregarded accordingly for security reasons. Meanwhile, we will advise that > you contact the Central Bank office immediately with the above email address > and request that they attend to you payment file as directed so as to enable > you receive your contract fund accordingly. Ensure you follow all their > procedure as may be required by them as that will further help hasten up the > whole procedures as regards to the transfer of your fund to you as designated. > Also have in mind that the Central Bank of Nigeria equally have their own > protocol of operation as stipulated on their banking terms, so delay could be > very dangerous. > > Once again, we will advise that you contact them with the above email address > and make sure you forward to them all the necessary information which they may > require from you prior to the release of your fund to you.All modalities has > already been worked out even before you were contacted and note that we will > be monitoring all your dealings with them as you proceed so you don’t have > anything to worry about. All we require from you henceforth is an update so as > to enable us be on track with you and the Central Bank of Nigeria. Without > wasting much time, will want you to contact them immediately with the above > email address so as to enable them attend to your case accordingly without any > further delay as time is already running out. Should in case you need any more > information in regards to this notification, feel free to get back to us so that we can brief you more as we are here to > guide you during and after this project has been completely perfected and you > have received your contract fund as stated. Thank you very much for your > anticipated co-operation in advance as we earnestly await your urgent response > to this matter. > > Best Regards, > Henry Shawn. > Federal Bureau of Investigation > J. Edgar Hoover Building > 935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. > 20535-0001, USA. As if the FBI would contact me via _e-mail_. And not even have my name on it! And the grammar and the spelling positively hurt. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-my-goodness-fbi-response-to-nigerian-scams/574668/2 "2011-03-14T16:51:09Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > As if the FBI would contact me via _e-mail_. And not even have my name on it! And the grammar and the spelling positively hurt. 😕😕 What are you talking about?? THat looks totally legit… ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-my-goodness-fbi-response-to-nigerian-scams/574668/3 "2011-03-14T17:01:58Z")
I never get tired of these. I’ve even tried to rope a few scammers into e-mailing me, but they never respond. I’m trying to cultivate a voice between not-too-smart and not-so-obviously-stupid-it’s-fake and haven’t any bites yet. ☹ I particularly love that the FBI is acting in conjunction with “some other relevant Investigation Agencies” (ha ha ha) and that they’ve arranged for you to meet them at their “head-quarter.” Oh, and why does the Central Bank of Nigeria have a gmail account? ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-my-goodness-fbi-response-to-nigerian-scams/574668/4 "2011-03-14T17:08:22Z")
Just a bit of trivia…the “Lamido” in the bank contact’s name is the word for local traditional leaders, so you might be dealing with a chief. That said, it could just be a nickname. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-my-goodness-fbi-response-to-nigerian-scams/574668/5 "2011-03-14T17:09:27Z")
Always good to know the feds are watching out for you, isn’t it? 😃 ---
**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:** [March 14, 2011, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-my-goodness-fbi-response-to-nigerian-scams/574668/6 "2011-03-14T17:10:53Z")
It’s the horrible, stilted grammar and dropped plurals (“Our headquarter,” “your fund,” I guess spellchecks don’t correct those) that most mystifies me as to how anyone falls for these things. Are they reading impaired or something? You can _hear_ the Nigerian accents. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-my-goodness-fbi-response-to-nigerian-scams/574668/7 "2011-03-14T17:13:22Z")
Either someone spent a lot of time composing that letter, or there is a program that randomly puts Nigerian script blocks together, complete with fun grammar. ---
**Author:** ![Lare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@Lare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lare)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-my-goodness-fbi-response-to-nigerian-scams/574668/8 "2011-03-14T17:22:20Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Oh, and why does the Central Bank of Nigeria have a gmail account? Gmail is short for “Government Mail” right? I can’t understand how the people who start these things can take the time to come up with the scheme but can’t spend five more minutes finding a native-English speaker to correct for grammar and typos. Maybe I can start emailing them offering my services as a proofreader. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-my-goodness-fbi-response-to-nigerian-scams/574668/9 "2011-03-14T17:24:12Z")
Do it! They’ll pay you via Western Union once you give them your checking account info. ---
**Author:** ![Lare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@Lare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lare)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-my-goodness-fbi-response-to-nigerian-scams/574668/10 "2011-03-14T17:37:09Z")
Rather like you, I’d prefer to think I can play this to my advantage. How would I declare that income to the IRS though? ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-my-goodness-fbi-response-to-nigerian-scams/574668/11 "2011-03-14T17:49:04Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > It’s the horrible, stilted grammar and dropped plurals (“Our headquarter,” “your fund,” I guess spellchecks don’t correct those) that most mystifies me as to how anyone falls for these things. Are they reading impaired or something? You can _hear_ the Nigerian accents. I’m not too surprised. I used to work with a native English speaker who spoke and wrote in that same way. We subcontract for a Fortune 50 company, and her legally-binding Settlement & Release letters were always approved by our client-supervisors. ---
**Author:** ![LurkerInNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-my-goodness-fbi-response-to-nigerian-scams/574668/12 "2011-03-14T17:53:50Z")
They said they _confirmed that your contract payment is 100% genuine and hitch free from all facet_, so it must be legit. Go for it. P.S. I love the scammers poaching from other scammers section: _And should in case you are already dealing with anybody or office claiming to be from the Central Bank of Nigeria, you are further advised to STOP further contact with them in your best interest and then contact immediately the real office of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) only with the below information accordingly_ ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-my-goodness-fbi-response-to-nigerian-scams/574668/13 "2011-03-14T18:11:13Z")
I just adored the letter and actually read it top to bottom. I kind of want to write them and say “Thanks for the entertainment, on an otherwise dreary Monday!” ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-my-goodness-fbi-response-to-nigerian-scams/574668/14 "2011-03-14T18:18:25Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Either someone spent a lot of time composing that letter, or there is a program that randomly puts Nigerian script blocks together, complete with fun grammar. The latter can be found [here](http://www.flooble.com/fun/proposal.php). ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-my-goodness-fbi-response-to-nigerian-scams/574668/15 "2011-03-14T18:33:35Z")
Personally, I’d wait for the TSA to confirm that it’s legit. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Huerta88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/82dd89/32.png) [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-my-goodness-fbi-response-to-nigerian-scams/574668/16 "2011-03-14T19:09:38Z")
What gets me is the rambling repetitive prolixity of it all, as though by writing more words/adjectives they can make up for the awful syntax and unintelligible logic/premise. I have a pet 419er who over a period of some months has been diligently persisting in follow-up e-mails after I pretended to bite. I don’t think he sees through anything, even after I purported to get his (fake) name “Dr. Mingu” wrong and call him “Dr. Mugu” in several e-mails (“Mugu” I think means fool in Nigeria). This one doesn’t purport to be from a “Dr.” or “Reverend,” for which it loses points (the rampant inflation in doctoral and divinity degrees in W. Africa is a scandal crying out for justice), but it gets a check mark for not necessarily understanding the difference between first and last names in English (I routinely get things from Mr. Wallace John). Oh, and it would be better if the e-mail address contained a honorific title, 'cause everyone in high government positions refers to themselves as “Mr.” ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-my-goodness-fbi-response-to-nigerian-scams/574668/17 "2011-03-14T19:20:10Z")
Is a “TelePhone” different from a telephone? ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-my-goodness-fbi-response-to-nigerian-scams/574668/18 "2011-03-14T19:23:59Z")
Only in a very good present state of mind. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-my-goodness-fbi-response-to-nigerian-scams/574668/19 "2011-03-14T19:29:58Z")
I love how: FBI SEEKING TO WIRETAP INTERNET The entire Internets! ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-my-goodness-fbi-response-to-nigerian-scams/574668/20 "2011-03-14T19:30:41Z")
“note that we have not informed the local FBI department in your state regarding this matter because we want to keep everything secret” sounds legit to me [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-my-goodness-fbi-response-to-nigerian-scams/574668.md?page=2)