409 Scam

[R. Richard]

Dear Beneficiary,

After our meeting of today with the President Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Jonathan GCFR, the senate President, Senator David Mark, the Central Bank Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi,and the Federal Executive councils, It was Resolved and Agreed upon that your Inheritance/Contract Funds of $10.5M (Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars).

Would be released to you on a special method of payment which the tag Name Reads "SWIFT PAYMENT" Such as KTT, Certified Bank Check or ATM. You are advised to send to us YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, OCCUPATION, AGE, and NEXT OF KIN. PHONE AND FAX NUMBERS TO CLAIM YOUR FUND I wait to hear from you along with the above mentioned information.

Best Regards,

Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi

Governor Central Bank of Nigeria

Tell:- +2348032863072

 

[StrangeLife]

You're rich!

Congratulations - guess it pays to have good connections in Nigeria...

 

[Idarrau]

It is just like I always fantasized! Good for you! What will you spend the money on?

I would buy squeaky toys and gallons of lube.

 

[49greg]

Lol

I've been around long enough that I remember getting the early versions of this letter as an actual "Letter" made of paper, in an envelope with a Nigerian stamp on it. Delivered by the mail carrier. In that version a westerner had died in Nigeria in a car crash and had no living relatives. If I would claim to be a relative they would sent his VERY LARGE estate directly to my bank account. All I had to do was send them my bank account number.

Or at least something like that, there were some more details as window dressing I think.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Anyone now a days that falls for this or any other to good to be true scam, deserves what happens to them. These scams started back in the 90's, more than two decades ago. The old people from back then who were the primary target are all dead by now and the those who replaced them grew up with this scam as a scary bedtime story.

 

[49greg]

Anyone now a days that falls for this or any other to good to be true scam, deserves what happens to them. These scams started back in the 90's, more than two decades ago. The old people from back then who were the primary target are all dead by now and the those who replaced them grew up with this scam as a scary bedtime story.

Or as a joke. I suppose that eventually it could become a standard for stupidity - "That guy was so stupid he fell for the Nigerian scam."

 

[patientlee]

Oh, I thought you meant Formula 409! (Do they still make that?)

 

[StrangeLife]

Oh, I thought you meant Formula 409! (Do they still make that?)

They do.

 

[Handley_Page]

In that version a westerner had died in Nigeria in a car crash and had no living relatives. If I would claim to be a relative they would sent his VERY LARGE estate directly to my bank account. All I had to do was send them my bank account number.

Or at least something like that, there were some more details as window dressing I think.

I often wondered what would happen if I opened a special bank account specifically to receive the money. But I never had the opportunity.
I've heard of guys who have strung the "Scammer" something cruel.

Anyone now a days that falls for this or any other to good to be true scam, deserves what happens to them. These scams started back in the 90's, more than two decades ago. The old people from back then who were the primary target are all dead by now and the those who replaced them grew up with this scam as a scary bedtime story.

A decade or two ago there was a TV programme about a bloke who'd lost 30 grand or so as a result. The TV people flew him to Nigeria and set him looking for the perpetrator.
And they found him.

 

[R. Richard]

The scam is a modern variant of the old Spanish Prisoner scam. The original started back in the 1800s.

 

[TE999]

"She's so fine, my 409, my four ohh nine."

 

[R. Richard]

Oops, double post.

 

[patientlee]

They do.

Haha. The page is kinda funny!

 

[hoo_hoo_boo]

Dear Beneficiary,

After our meeting of today with the President Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Jonathan GCFR, the senate President, Senator David Mark, the Central Bank Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi,and the Federal Executive councils, It was Resolved and Agreed upon that your Inheritance/Contract Funds of $10.5M (Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars).

Would be released to you on a special method of payment which the tag Name Reads "SWIFT PAYMENT" Such as KTT, Certified Bank Check or ATM. You are advised to send to us YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, OCCUPATION, AGE, and NEXT OF KIN. PHONE AND FAX NUMBERS TO CLAIM YOUR FUND I wait to hear from you along with the above mentioned information.

Best Regards,

Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi


I have wondered whether it would be possible to get their details and rip them off. The money could be donated to some thing worthy. Of course, lawyers would consider themselves worthy. I'd probably need them.

Hey- it says I need at least 5 characters to submit.
Norman Gunston, Auntie Jack, Crocodile Dundee. Mavis Bramston, Dame Edna Everige, Clancy of the Overflow- that's 6- hope it works.

 

[StrangeLife]

I have wondered whether it would be possible to get their details and rip them off. The money could be donated to some thing worthy. Of course, lawyers would consider themselves worthy. I'd probably need them...

Actually there is a fairly large internet community engaging in scam baiting as a hobby. They have been quite successful too.

As far as I understand it, the scammers defence against baiters is to make sure that their mails are crafted to sound so outrageous that no person of normal intelligence would fall for the scheme or bother replying. Its a filter - they are specifically aiming for a gullible demographic.

It's their way of telling you: "This is a scam. Please do not reply unless you're stupid."

 

[hoo_hoo_boo]

Actually there is a fairly large internet community engaging in scam baiting as a hobby. They have been quite successful too.

As far as I understand it, the scammers defence against baiters is to make sure that their mails are crafted to sound so outrageous that no person of normal intelligence would fall for the scheme or bother replying. Its a filter - they are specifically aiming for a gullible demographic.

It's their way of telling you: "This is a scam. Please do not reply unless you're stupid."

How exquisitely delightful that the scammers have risks in their nefarious activities. Thank you.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I often wondered what would happen if I opened a special bank account specifically to receive the money. But I never had the opportunity.
I've heard of guys who have strung the "Scammer" something cruel.





A decade or two ago there was a TV programme about a bloke who'd lost 30 grand or so as a result. The TV people flew him to Nigeria and set him looking for the perpetrator.
And they found him.

As for the bank account...if the transfer tried to suck money out of the account, who would pay the overdraft fee? You.

If you were to deposit a money order/cashiers check/certified check and it bounced, who would pay the fee? You.

Now would it be worth it? No.

Has anyone ever done it? Don't know, but if they thought about the fees involved that banks charge they would quickly back away.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Oh, I thought you meant Formula 409! (Do they still make that?)

So, you don't do much cleaning? Yes, they still make 409.

 

[49greg]

"She's so fine, my 409, my four ohh nine."

Four speed dual quad positraction four ooh nine.