Nigerian Money Scam

The Nigerian money scam is becoming increasingly popular with foreign scam artists.

Why are people taken in by the Nigerian money scam? Here are a few reasons:

• People want fast, easy money
• This is basically free money
• The hard luck stories in the email sound true
• People think backward Africans are not sophisticated enough to trick savvy Americans
• The payoff is so big, a little risk is OK
• Some Americans are desperate to get ahead

Each Nigerian scam starts with an email from an official in the government. Often this person is a bank official or a civil servant. The email requests an urgent business relationship with a trusted foreign business person (you). They want you to receive and handle multiple millions of dollars in a confidential manner.

The U.S. Secret Service indicates that these schemes proceed as follows:

• An individual or company receives a letter or fax from an alleged "official" representing a foreign government or agency;
• An offer is made to transfer millions of dollars in "over invoiced contract" funds into your personal bank account;
• You are encouraged to travel overseas to complete the transaction; You are requested to provide blank company letterhead forms, banking account information, telephone/fax numbers;
• You receive numerous documents with official looking stamps, seals and logo testifying to the authenticity of the proposal;
• Eventually you must provide up-front or advance fees for various taxes, attorney fees, transaction fees or bribes;
• Other forms of 4-1-9 schemes include: c.o.d. of goods or services, real estate ventures, purchases of crude oil at reduced prices, beneficiary of a will, recipient of an award and paper currency conversion.

There are many reasons why the the arrangement is urgent. Some emails indicate that money in an escrow account may soon be discovered, the government is unstable, or civil servants with inside knowledge of excess public funds cannot transact business in foreign countries.

Once you enter into the money scheme numerous unexpected details emerge. There are handling fees, or transfer fees that must be paid. Then there are special taxes or bribes to pay off cooperating civil servants.

Once you start providing money to further the money scheme, you are asked for never ending fees, payoffs, transfer fees, etc.

Here are actual emails from these Nigerian money scam artists. Yes, someone really does make loads of money from these emails. But, rest assured, you won't get the fast, easy money you expect.

Nigerian Scam: Widow of the late General Sanni Abacha

has $35,000,000 held in a Security Firm Abroad

Nigerian Scam: Senior Accountant with Nigerian National Petroleum

Has $22.2 Million for Your Account

Nigerian Scam: Former Deputy Governor of Osun State in Nigeria

Made a Lot of Money as a Businessman Through Timber and Oil Proceeds Wants to Transfer $10.6 Million to You

Nigerian Scam: Son of Former Military Head of Nigeria

Still Trying to Move $75 Million out of Country

Nigerian Scam: Director at the Nigerian Chambers of Commerce

Wants to Transfer $26,000,000 to Your Account

Nigerian Scam: Senior Employee with Central Bank of Zimbawe

Overinvoiced $26,000,000 Needs Successful Transfer to a Private Account

Nigerian Scam: $31,000,000 From Grossly Over-Invoiced Contracts

Floating in the Central Bank of Nigeria

Nigerian Scam: Rich Farmer in Zimbabwe Murdered

After Placing $15 Million in His Servant's Name

Nigerian Scam: Accountant of the Federal Ministry of Youths, Sports, and Culture

Has $7,000,000.00 Lying in the Suspense Account of the First Chartered Bank Lagos, ready for Transfer into an Overseas Account

Nigerian Scam: Dr. Ibrahim Ali, Director with the Federal Ministry of Finance

Believes You to be a Reliable Individual for the Transfer of a Reasonable Sum of Money

Nigerian Scam: Former Special Advisor on Petroleum

Has $45 Million in Consultancy Fees to Invest

Nigerian Scam: Personal Aid to Emile Boga Doudou Has $9.5 Million

Needs a Means of Transferring These Funds

Personal Assistant to President Charles Taylor

Has $183.5 Million for Your Accout

Nigerian Scam: Son of Late Mr John Bangura of Sierra Leone Killed by the Sierra Leone's Rebel Forces

Has $10 million dollars in Cash for Your Account

Most Popular Black Farmer in Zimbabwe Murdered

Son Wants $8,500,000 in Family Account

Nigerian Scam: Senior Nigerian Accountant with Nigerian Petroleum Corporation

Has $30 Million to Transfer to Your Account

Nigerian Scam: $30 Million Trapped in Nigeria to be Used to

Buy and Manage Fish Trawlers or Crude Oil Exploration

Nigerian Scam: Director of Contracts and Finance Allocation

to Buy Estates with money in a Coded Account at the Nigeria Apex Bank

Nigerian Scam: Secretary to Finance Minister of Nigeria

has $21,500,000 to Invest Money in Other Countries

Nigerian Scam: Transfer Abroad Overdue Payment Bills

Totalling $27,500,000

Nigerian Scam: Principal Auditor of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation

Wants to Divert $5 Million to Your Foreign Account

Nigerian Scam: Nigerian Chairman of the Senate Committee on Pension,Insurance and Manpower Development

Has $29,000,000 Surplus in the Pension Fund to Share with You

Nigerian Scam: Chairman of the Tender Board of Independent National Election Commission

Wants to Transfer $21.6 Million to a Safe Foreign Account

Nigerian Scam: Daughter of late Mr and Mrs Robert Guei the Former Cote d'Ivoire Military President

Has $9.5 million US Dollars in one of the Banks in Abidjan

Winner of $1,000,000

Must Now Claim Winnings

Nigerian Scam: Men of Proven Integrity Over Invoiced Several Foreign Companies

Need Help Getting $34.7 Million Out of the Government Coffers

Close Aide to the Former President of the Democratic Republic of Congo

Has $20.5 Million Dirveted from Arms Purchases for Your Account

Wife of Assassinated Congo President

Wants to Invest $45.5 Million

Mr. Kamah in a Hideout in the Benin Republic

Has an Investment Opportunity for You

Nigerian Scam: Director of Engineering & Project of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation

has $41,500,000 in over invoiced Y2K project money floating in escrow at the Central Bank of Nigeria

Nigerian Scam: Foreigner Named Gerald Welsh who Died

in an Air Crash along with his Wife on the 31st October 1999 leaves $19,500,000

European Private Investigator Needs Your Help

On Behalf of Officials from an African Country

Widow of Yugoslav Minister of Health Needs Access to $12 Million

willing to give you portion of the money, is open for reasonable negotiation on this

$31,000,000 Overdue Contract Payments

Floating at the Central Bank of Nigeria

Nigerian Scam: Abandoned Sum of U.S $7.3 Million

US Dollars In Dead Foreign Customer's Account -- Plus a follow email.

Nigerian Scam: Civil Servants

Want Foreign Partner For Urgent Business Transaction

Nigerian Scam: Luckyday e-mail Lottery Winnner

Approved for a Lump Sum Payout of $1,800,000

Nigerian Scam: Son of the Most Popular Black Farmer in Zimbabwe

Has $8.6 Million in Gem Stones and Needs to Transfer Them To Your Account

Children of late Chief John Maloney from Sierra Leone

Have $11 Million in a Trunk in Europe

Son of Murdered Wealthy Black Zimbabwe Farmer

Seeking Asylum in South Africa Has $20.2 Million for Your Account

Nigerian Scam: Director of Ministry of Petroleum Resources

Wants to Transfer Abroad Overdue Payment Bills Totalling $31,000,000

Son of Dr. Matelo Mbagi, Wealthy Farmer/Politician in Zimbabwe

Wants to Transfer Abroad US $20.5 Million

Nigerian Scam: Cancer and Stroke Cause Widow of Archdeacon Johnson Mombo

to Give $3.5.Million for Propagating the Word of God

Nigerian Scam: Son of Late President of Zaire

Wants to Invest $25,000,000 from Gold, Diamond and other Minerals

Nigerian Scam: Another Son of Late President of Zaire

Wants to Invest $8,500,000 from Gemstones

Nigerian Scam: Sheik's Wealthy Widow

Suffering From Terminal Breast Cancer has $10,000,000 for Church Development

Nigerian Scam: Highly Placed Officials

Need Help Transferring (FOREX) Funds Which Totals US $25,500,000

Nigerian Scam: Over Invoiced Technical Services Result in

$34.7 Million Floating in the Escrow Account of the Central Bank of Nigeria

Nigerian Scam: First Lady of the Rederal Republic of Nigeria Worried About the Election of 2003

And their Billions of Dollars and British Pounds Wants to Transfer Them to Your Account

Nigerian Scam: Senior Accountant

Wants to Transfer $30,000,000

Nigerian Scam: Top Officials of the Federal Government Contract Review Panel

Seek Access to $31,000,000 Presently Trapped in Nigeria

Nigerian Scam: Senior Employee of South Africa's Mines and Natural Resources Departmen

Asks You to Pose as Lucio Harper's Relative to Claim $15.5 Million

West Africa Project Contracts Consortium

Diverting $12,500,000 Floating in Accounts

Nigerian Scam: Financial Director of Electoral Commission

Wants Help Getting $30,000,000 In Inflated Contracts

Nigerian Scam: Top Officials of the Federal Government Contract Review Panel

Want to Divert US $26,400,000 from the Central Bank of Nigeria

Wife of Dead Rebel Leader Jonas Savimbi of Angola

Want Large Sums of Money in Different Banks in Europe Including $25,600,000 in the Netherlands

Brother of the late President of the Federal Republic of Zaire

Wants you to take custody of $15,000,000 secretly deposited in a confidential security company

$34,600,000 in Escrow Account

Central Bank of Nigeria (C.B.N)

Nigerian Scam: My Husband was Murdered by Some Moslem Extremist

Revealed the Sum of $40 Million Deposited with a Security and Finance Firm

Nigerian Scam: Manager United Bank for Africa Plc. Has $45 Million

From Former Army Chief of Staff LT GEN ISHAYA BAMAYI

Nigerian Scam: $31.5 Million in Over-Invoiced Contracts

to Buy Agricultural and Construction Machinery

Nigerian Scam: $60 Million in Loot Still Held by Useni Family

At a Private Security Firm here in Nigeria

Nigerian Scam: Highly Placed Government Official

Wants to Transfer $49.5 Million into Your Bank Account

Princess Yana's Father Left $21, 350, 000

From Shell Petroleum Development Company and Chevron Oil Company operating in our locality

Brother of the Chairman of Parliament in South Africa

Has $27.5 Million Floating in a Reliable Foreigh Bank Account

If you have been victimized by one of these schemes, please forward appropriate written documentation to the United States Secret Service, Financial Crimes Division, 950 H Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20223, or telephone (202) 406-5850, or contact by e-mail.

If you have received a letter, but have not lost any monies to this scheme, please fax a copy of that letter to (202) 406-5031.