According to BBC News Online, President Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigeria's political leader, announced an inquiry into the problem on Wednesday, vowing to "step up measures against these criminal activities."
The notorious email scam is also known as the 419 scam -- 419 being the part of the Nigerian criminal code that relates to fraud. It begins with a message offering the recipient a very large sum of money in return for helping to move an even larger amount of cash out of a foreign bank account.
Anyone who expresses an interest is then told that they must first hand over a substantial amount of money to cover expenses such as banking fees and administrative costs. These "advanced fees" often run to thousands of pounds. Some American victims have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Now prevalent online, the 419 scam was originally conducted by post, and then by letter. It has become an issue of some embarrassment to the Nigerian government, even though many of those responsible are not thought to be based in the country at all.
Back in May 2002, six people were arrested in South Africa on suspicion of involvement in the fraud.
President Olusegun Obasanjo's inquiry has two months to come up with ways of combating the problem, which could include new legislation. Many governments and police forces have issued warnings about the letters, but those responsible continue to find victims, and in Nigeria at least, so far appear to have been able to escape justice. According to the chairman of Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Alhaji Nuhu Ribadu, quoted in Lagos' This Day newspaper recently, Nigeria has yet to convict a single person for the 419 scam.
"How can it be that in South Africa, there are 38 Nigerians convicted for 419, but in Nigeria there is no single conviction. How do you think that the international community will take us seriously?" Nuhu was quoted as saying. Nuhu told This Day that the judiciary was being used to frustrate prosecution of crime suspects in Nigeria: "Any time we commence full prosecution, lawyers to these 419 kingpins will use the courts to stall prosecution. They will file one motion or the other at the Court of Appeal. We need to set example by actual conviction. In this country, there is no single case of conviction, yet there are over 27 Nigerians in detention for crimes of 419," he said.
Talkback
I am still getting these emails and I'm fed up with them. I understand there is somewhere/someone that I can send them to, to complain about the fact that they are still coming through. I never used to get them on my main ISP, it was always Hotmail before.
Can somebody send the link or email address of where to send it, please?
The email address to send link is anne_landser@hotmail.com ... I will be grateful for an early response to this.
Yours Sincerely
Anne Landser
Interesting. Nigeria can't get a conviction on a 419 scammer. But they've found it easy to convict a 15 year old rape victim to recieve 100 lashes. They have a positively Neolithic legal system. Maybe the Nigeria legal system should reevaluate it's priorites and wether or not it's real purpose isn't to persecute women.
Hello, Brian Wizard speaking. I have been actively educating people and businesses around the globe about the 419 scam and how it works and how to avoid being stung by it. I have a great novel that takes the reader through what a normal "Black Currency" scam is all about. This book is called, Nigerian 419 Scam "Game Over!" It is available on my website: http://www.brianwizard.com in hard copy, ebook or audio book on CD. Also on my site I have a FREE, albeit promotional, Ebook called "Beware of the Reload!" This short story explains how the 419ers "reload" a victim with a new scam that 'promises' to return their money. Soon, so stay tune to my website, I'll have a new 419 short story, "Beware of the Classified Seller Scam" This story tells about the scam that makes people believe someone is buying their horse, car, airplane, whatever and sends an over-the-amount cashiers check, which, like the 'reload' is a bogus check. My target for this story is Western Union and the banking industry. Both seem to think making money off other people's misery of being scammed okay.
Education is the answer to retard, if not defeat, the ongoing success of the 419. Don't look to any government to win this war of financial terrorism. They don't have what it takes. Education of all targets BEFORE they become victims is the answer. We can do this IF we all share the information that teaches about the scam. I have some good vehicles for this information.
Check out my work, pass the word, defeat the 419, without a shot fired, an arrest made, or anyone losing more money trying to prosecute the criminals.
Arrest every 419er today, and they will all be replaced tomorrow, an exercise of futility.
Feel free to contact me, Brian Wizard International Anti-419 Activist.
My fiancee (builder and roofer) has been working on the home of a Nigerian architect/Q.S. This architect is employed in a Dublin firm and has advised them on some building specs. He now has introduced them to a farmer in the south of the country who would like to sell some land. This farmer doesn't want to advertise the land and is looking for a direct buyer. My fiancee's business partner has now been told that although the initial deposit should be 240.000.00 euros the farmer will now accept just 5.000.00 euros as he likes them and would like to set up a meeting between the farmers solicitor and "the boys". At the same time my fiancee has been told by the Nigerian that he knows the President who is interested in them building a club-house on his golf course, and says that they will need to meet the President. As I'm writing this I'm giggling away to myself as it is so surreal and far fetched, but it could have very serious consequences for my fiance and his partner. I'm based in England so have never met the architect and am not personally involved, but I am extremely concerned. Please can you advise?
Please help me some people i dony know are trying to use my picture on my web site including the web site for internet fraud.
Please what can I do to set a warrning message on the web site so that if any body open this web site this will be first message to see (Disclamer)
What tipe of Disclaimer or warrning message can I place on the eb site?
Please I will be happy if you can direct me on this.
Thank you.
It is indeed unfortunate that these scammers continue with their nefarious activities, thereby soiling the name and reputation of serious minded and honest Nigerians who are the overwhelming majority.
My advice is this:
If the proposal is too good to be true, it is probably a scam.
Once the offer sounds patronising even though the writer knows very little about you, it is likely to be a scam.
If there is a note of urgency or secrecy in the proposal coming a previously unknown person, beware.
You can always check up from the Nigerian
Embassy to be very sure before you proceed.
Listen to your instincts.
Subj: Fwd: TELEGRAPHIC TRANSFER FORM
Date: 10/29/2005 8:24:05 PM Central Daylight Time
From: cbn1centralbank2004@yahoo.com
To: EOFM@CS.COM, eofm@cs.com
File: telegraphictransferform.doc (174592 bytes) DL Time (TCP/IP): < 1 minute
Received from Internet: click here for more information
FROM THE DESK OF:PROFF CHARLSE SOLUDO.GOVERNOR CE NTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA. ATTN MrsJones
THIS IS TO LET YOU KNOW THAT YOUR TELEGRAPHIC TRANSFER FORM CAME OUT TODAY,SO I DECIDED TO FORWAD IT FOR YOUR SIGNING AND RETURN BACK FOR IMMEDIATE ACCREDITATION AND CREDITING OF YOUR BANK ACCOUNT.
THIS TELEGRAPHIC TRANSFER FORM HAS TO BE SIGNED CORRECTLY WITHOUT ANY MISTAKE BECAUSE ANY MISTAKE WILL JEOPARDISE YOUR PAYMENT AND BE ADVISED THAT YOU WILL RETURN THIS FORM WITH THE SUM OF US$700.
THIS US$700 IS A NON REFUNDABLE FEE FOR THE STAMP DUTY OF YOUR PAYMENT AND REMEMBER THAT WITHOUT THE FEE THIS OFFICE WILL NOT ACCEPT THE FILLED TRANSFER FORM AND WE WILL NOT ACT UPON IT.
THE ONLY THING WE NEED IS FOR YOU TO FILL THE FORM CORRECTLY AND RETURN IT WITH THE REQUIRED FEE TO ENABLE US PROCESS AND RELEASE YOUR FUND.
THIS MONEY IS TO BE SEND VIA WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER LAGOS-NIGERIA,TO THE NAME OF MR EMEKA EBOH,WHEN THE MONEY IS RECEIVED WE WILL NOT HESITATE TO RELEASE YOUR FUND.
PLEASE DOWNLOAD YOUR ATTACHMENT TO FILL THE FORM AND RETURN WITH THE STIPULATED FEE WITHOUT THE FEE NO BUSINESS.
I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU ON MONDAY,
BEST REGARDS,
PROFF CHARLSE SOLUDO.
Subj: Fwd: TELEGRAPHIC TRANSFER FORM
Date: 10/29/2005 8:24:05 PM Central Daylight Time
From: cbn1centralbank2004@yahoo.com
File: telegraphictransferform.doc (174592 bytes) DL Time (TCP/IP): < 1 minute
Received from Internet: click here for more information
FROM THE DESK OF:PROFF CHARLSE SOLUDO.GOVERNOR CE NTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA. ATTN
THIS IS TO LET YOU KNOW THAT YOUR TELEGRAPHIC TRANSFER FORM CAME OUT TODAY,SO I DECIDED TO FORWAD IT FOR YOUR SIGNING AND RETURN BACK FOR IMMEDIATE ACCREDITATION AND CREDITING OF YOUR BANK ACCOUNT.
THIS TELEGRAPHIC TRANSFER FORM HAS TO BE SIGNED CORRECTLY WITHOUT ANY MISTAKE BECAUSE ANY MISTAKE WILL JEOPARDISE YOUR PAYMENT AND BE ADVISED THAT YOU WILL RETURN THIS FORM WITH THE SUM OF US$700.
THIS US$700 IS A NON REFUNDABLE FEE FOR THE STAMP DUTY OF YOUR PAYMENT AND REMEMBER THAT WITHOUT THE FEE THIS OFFICE WILL NOT ACCEPT THE FILLED TRANSFER FORM AND WE WILL NOT ACT UPON IT.
THE ONLY THING WE NEED IS FOR YOU TO FILL THE FORM CORRECTLY AND RETURN IT WITH THE REQUIRED FEE TO ENABLE US PROCESS AND RELEASE YOUR FUND.
THIS MONEY IS TO BE SEND VIA WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER LAGOS-NIGERIA,TO THE NAME OF MR EMEKA EBOH,WHEN THE MONEY IS RECEIVED WE WILL NOT HESITATE TO RELEASE YOUR FUND.
PLEASE DOWNLOAD YOUR ATTACHMENT TO FILL THE FORM AND RETURN WITH THE STIPULATED FEE WITHOUT THE FEE NO BUSINESS.
I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU ON MONDAY,
BEST REGARDS,
PROFF CHARLSE SOLUDO.
telegrphic transfer form was sent to my email by Dr. Usman of Central Bank of Nigeria. An atty. sent us an email trying to tell us to be the next of kin of late Mr...wants us to claim the unclaimed fund woth $16.8 millionbut before claiming and transfer of funds we are require to pay $9700 to the CBN and we are required to go to Amsterdam Holland for the three days transfer of funds.
about the telegraphic transfer,we received emails coming from unknown persons from Nigeria email received started last JULY 14,2006.up to now they insists us to pay $9700 to a person they were telling as the diplomat of Dubai and telling us to go to Dubai to meet that person and give the payment as a return of the unclaimed fund left by Mr.Rick.worth $16.8million.Please try to help us on this matter.
there are nigerians in britain that are doing the 419 scam system i would like them to get caught
This is ridiculous that Nigeria cannot stop the scammers, it is disgusting.
If you cannot trust The Government officials and Bank officials of those countries, how on earth are we supposed to trust our Government officials!!
What can we do?
What is wrong with the world?
All of these schemes work on the principle that at some point in the chain someone is doing something illegal and as a result you can get rich quick.
If you think that you can sit back and get rich quick, go be a drug dealer. Honest people don't get caught with these scams because they know that at the first sign of someone doing something illegal, they'll bale!
If you have been caught then good - a fool and his money are easily parted.
If it seems too good to be true it almost certainly is. If it is true, then there's probably something illegal involved.
If you want to earn a lot of money, learna skill, go out and get a job and then work really hard. Then you can be sure that the money you earn is straight.
I had never heard about the 419 scam but I've never been suckered by it either! As a landlord letting my property to foreigners I should have been hit by the ol' cheque scam by now, but I always phone the issuing bank before I cash a cheque and I have just recently shredded a cheque from a Nigerian model who told me she would be here to do a shoot. The next time I spoke to her she said she wasn't sure when the concert would be????
Get a grip folks, stop trying to get rich quick, and instead, do it the old fasioned way - WORK!