Nigeria - The 419 Coalition Website
It's nice to know Nigeria has at least one booming export industry besides oil, right? Wrong!
Depending on how well your junk mail filters work you have probably received one or more of these scam emails from Nigeria - or referencing Nigeria. I have received at least a dozen over the years - probably many more. I don't count, I don't care, and I certainly don't respond.
In fact, I never knew this scam had a name and I have asked - over the years - other knowledgeable computer types about it and they didn't know. But it does have a name and apparently it's quite an industry. Go to the above Web site to learn more.
Posted by Greg Stone at October 31, 2003 08:18 AM | TrackBackFor those of you who have not seen a typical "419" email, here's one. They take different approaches. This one puts an emphasis on religion. But others might not even mention it. The basic story is the same. They play on your greeed. Eventually they end up asking you for money - say $10,000 so that you can get, say $10 million as your part of the deal. Anyway, here's one I received this morning:
ATTN: Please,
With due respect and to the glory of ALMIGHTY GOD whom we worship I call upon you to assist and
Please Permit me to inform you of my desire of going into business relationship with you.
I got your name and contact from the Ivoirian chamber of commerce and industry.
I prayed over it and selected your name Among other names due to its esteeming nature and there recommendations given to me as a reputable and trust person that I can do business with and by the recommendation , I must not hesitate to confide in you for this simple and sincere business.
I AM MR Philip Kouame The only son of late Chief. Johnson Boua K My father was a very wealthy cocoa merchant in Abidjan but we are Ghananian and I and my Family are here for about 20 years (twenty years)the capital City of Cote d'Ivoire. My father was poisoned to death by his business associates on one of their outings on a business trip.My mother died when I was a baby and since then my father took me so special. Before his death on (18 January 2002) in a private hospital here in Abidjan he secretly called me on his bed side and told me that he has the sum of elevenmillion,five hundred thousand United State Dollars.
(US$(11.5m) left in fixed /suspense account in one of the prime bank here in Abidjan ,that he used my name as his only son for the next of Kin in depositing of the fund.
He also explained to me that it was because of this wealth that he was poisoned by his business associates. That I should seek for a foreign partner in a country of my choice where i will transfer this money and use it for investment purpose such as real estate management or hotel management.
Dear, I am honourably seeking your assistance in the following ways:
(1) To provide a bank account into which this money
would be transferred to.
(2) To serve as a guardian of this fund since I am
only 22 years.
(3) To make arrangement for me to come over to your
country to further my Education and to secure a
resident permit in your country.
More over, dear I am willing to offer you 15% of the total sum as compensation for your effort/input after the successful transfer of this fund into your nominated account overseas.
Further more, you indicate your options towards assisting me as I believe that this transaction would
be concluded within seven (7) days you signify interest to assist me.
Anticipating to hear from you today.
Thanks and God bless.
Best regards,
PHILIP KOUAME