Make Money The Nigerian Way — A Library Of Nigerian Interwebitube Scams

Published on April 1st, 2008

The whole Nigerian email scam thing has gotten so big that a website devoted to listing scams has devoted a section to them with the text of the messages — bad spelling and grammar intact — such as this one in all caps:

Nigerian 4-1-9 Scam: Sarah Montgomery
GOOD DAY,

I HAVE TO WRITE YOU THIS MAIL PERSONALLY BECAUSE OF THE THERE NEED FOR ME TO REACH OUT FROM THE REFUGEE CAMP I AM AT PRESENT IN ACCRA-GHANA.AND AGAIN I WAS ABLE TO WRITE YOU THIS MAIL DUE TO THE ACCESS I HAVE TO A BUSINESS CENTER CLOSE TO THE CAMP I AM AT PRESENT IN ACCRA. AND AGAIN I HAVE TO BEG YOU NOT TO TAKE THIS MY MAIL TO YOU AS AN OFFENCE, BECAUSE AM WRITTING YOU THROUGH THE NET AND BECAUSE OF THE NEGATIVE THINGS AND THE KIND OF SCAM PEOPLE USE THE INTERNET TO PERPETRATE THIS DAYS,THIS MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO KNOW THE GENUINE ONES FROM THE FAKE ONES. MY LATE HUSBAND MR. H.B.MONTGOMERY WAS IN POSITION WERE HE WAS ABLE TO SECURE HUGE AMOUNT OF DOLLARS FOR HIMSELF WHEN THE CIVIL WAR IN MY COUNTRY WAS SERIOUSLY GOING ON AND THE FUNDS ARE NOW SECURED INTO TWO CONSIGNMENTS WITH A SECURITY COMPANY VAULT IN COTONOU, REPUBLIC DU BENIN AND CODED AS DIAMONDS (PRESIOUS STONE) FOR SAFE KEEPING.

18 users responded in " Make Money The Nigerian Way — A Library Of Nigerian Interwebitube Scams "

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# 1 framitz said, on April 1st, 2008 at 10:42 am

http://www.scamorama.com/ specializes in messing with the scammers, quite entertaining!

Some of the scambaiters actually sucker the scammers into spending their time, money, and energy in making fools of themselves.

# 2 The Monster's Lawyer said, on April 1st, 2008 at 11:02 am

How can I get in on this. Seems like I could make a ton of money. Who do I contact???

# 3 the answer said, on April 1st, 2008 at 11:08 am

Damn I thought people were smart enough for when they hear “put your money into” they would walk away.

I also remember one time when i was in college I was asked to come for an interview with a company that didn’t even seem to care about my field of study. I thought ok any job is fine if I can work my way up, but Damn fools wanted me to walk door to door to sell shit. Who did that even in the 90’s? I don’t know what’s worse that I actually went to 3 doors before I went home, or that kids MY AGE at the time (22) were the ones actually going door to door. seeming like this was their job. Happened again a few years later with what I thought was a reputable health care company. I apply for one position, and they wanted me to get into sales. They even put their “job” posting on Monster.com, What some people won’t do

# 4 MikeN said, on April 1st, 2008 at 11:11 am

My question is what do you do about it if contacted? I would like to see these people put in jail. I was contacted by someone who hacked a friend’s e-mail, and pretended to be him needing money. So what could I have done to get this guy in jail?

Western Union never does anything because they want the fees. It would be great if they set up a series of fake numbers that would signal to arrest someone.

# 5 eyeofthetiger said, on April 1st, 2008 at 11:24 am

Nigerians have all day to play on the computer and John Wayne would do anything for the girl.

# 6 Ah_Yea said, on April 1st, 2008 at 12:00 pm

It’s amazing how many people fall for this stuff. I’ve been hit on at least thrice in professional circles with similar scams by people who should know better!

They were being scammed, but the hammer hadn’t dropped yet. So when I tried to tell them they were in for a world of hurt, they wouldn’t believe me. When the hammer did fall, they didn’t want to see me.

One of the morons was a guy who lost well over six figures to a someone who was “trying to get Marcos gold out of the Philippines”.

There truly is one born every minute!

(PS, great website posting. Should be good for a few laughs!)

# 7 GigG said, on April 1st, 2008 at 12:01 pm

#4 Western Union would probably very happy to not get those fees. But there is little they can do other than tell everyone that comes in that if they are sending money to Nigeria they are probably getting screwed.

If they did that the Anti-Defamation of Nigerians League would probably sue them.

# 8 Improbus said, on April 1st, 2008 at 12:16 pm

“The river tells no lies, though standing on the shore, the dishonest still hears them” — Oma Desala

# 9 chris said, on April 1st, 2008 at 12:21 pm

I love it! The letter has absolutely horrible grammer (as many of them do) but yet they can still use a word perpetrate correctly in a sentence. No one with such little grammer skills could ever use a word like that. But I still don’t feel bad for the people that fall for this crap. if you’re not smart enough to see beyond this then I’ve got a bridge to sell ya…

# 10 Mister Mustard said, on April 1st, 2008 at 12:45 pm

Uh. Accra is in Ghana, not Nigeria. Maybe all those African countries look the same to Silicon Valley yupsters, but Ghana and Nigeria are like the US and el Salvador.

That said, anyone stupid enough to respond to one of these scams is stupid enough to have their money taken away. Christ, this nonsense has been around for 20 years. Go to the ATM, take out some money, and buy A FUCKING CLUE.

# 11 zorkor said, on April 1st, 2008 at 1:18 pm

God I hate these @&$&$)( scammers. I receive these scam emails about 6 times in a month. Why us that? Cuz they usually get your email from job sites, online sweepstakes where you register to win fake prizes and sometimes a news site which asks for you to register to read the article sell your email in bundles to these scammers for a good price.

Even replying to these emails with a good suitable response like f*** off ” is not suggested as you’re actually proving your existence to them, thus you will receive your spam garnished with scam.

# 12 bobbo said, on April 1st, 2008 at 1:25 pm

#8–improbus==you say ““The river tells no lies, though standing on the shore, the dishonest still hears them” — Oma Desala

Besides the lost antecedent, what does this mean? Seriously==what is “them?”

# 13 bobbo said, on April 1st, 2008 at 1:28 pm

Yes, obvious scams are such a bore. Only more sophisticated scams like the American Stock Market should be used by those good folks with disposable cash.

# 14 Chris Mac said, on April 1st, 2008 at 11:28 pm

Nothing like a naked negerian scammer pic to sober one up

# 15 Mr. Catshit said, on April 2nd, 2008 at 6:27 am

#2, TML,

Try my favorite,
http://www.scamorama.com/

Much of it makes for a good read.

Or,
http://www.419eater.com/

and
http://www.ebolamonkeyman.com/

All three also have tutorials and tips on scam baiting. Be warned though, read thoroughly and carefully before trying this at home.

# 16 Ah_Yea said, on April 2nd, 2008 at 8:11 am

Ebolamonkeyman is HYSTERICAL!

# 17 Misanthropic Scott said, on April 2nd, 2008 at 9:22 am

I personally love this version of the Nigerian 419. I think it’s the best one ever. Enjoy.

http://edward.oconnor.cx/2002/10/a-plea-for-help

# 18 Mr. Catshit said, on April 2nd, 2008 at 2:50 pm

#17, Scott,

That Fusion. What a guy. Good with the ladies. Can swing a financial deal like no one else. Pilot a Class III War Cruiser like it was a Canoe. Good lookin too.

So, what ever happened to him? Did he retire with all that money?

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