It's Been A While: The Nigerian Scam

[Nicholas Carey]

It's been a while since I got The Nigerian Scam. What sort of idiot would fall for this? (Don't answer—probably a lot of people with red MAGA hats).

What's even more amazing: our lame corporate spam filter actually caught this one.

From: James Honga <unitedbankafrica837@gmail.com>

Dear Carey

This is your personal letter and I ask you to consider it properly. My
name is Mr. James N. Honga, a private lawyer to the late Engr. Markus
Carey, who is a national of your country, and a former director of
Shell Petroleum, an Oil & Gas distribution company based in Benin
Republic, West Africa.

On March 19, 2020, my client died of acute respiratory failure,
complications due to Covid-19, unfortunately his wife died last year
June, while their only daughter died four years ago in an auto crash.
My client had an account valued at about (19.580 million eruos) He
deposited in a bank there in Benin Republic and Some unsuccessful
attempts had been made to find his large family but it was
unsuccessful.

I'm contacting you, so that you will stand as appointed legal
beneficiary (next of kin), Since you have the same last name with my
client, so that this amount will be paid into your account then I will
come to your country, you and I will share the money 50% for me and
50% for You. I don't want you to worry about the legal part of the
transaction because I'll guide the transaction so that it will go in
line with the law in our favor. I will need the following information
from you to help us achieve this claim;

Your Full Name:-------------
Address: ------------------
Your Age:-------------------------
Your Country : ------------------
Occupation:-----------------------------
Your Telephone, and Mobile for Communication Purpose:--------------------

I await your urgent reply then I will give you more information.

With respect,

Barr.James Honga Esq.
E-mail: barr.jameshonga.esq@gmail.com

[elf]

It would be interesting to see a study of what sorts of people fall for these things.

[George Jung]

I recall stories Paladin told about 'having a little fun' dealing with these yahoos. And yeah - we still hear stories, locally, of the latest mark to fall.

[George.]

My client had an account valued at about (19.580 million eruos) He
deposited in a bank there in Benin Republic

If only oil kleptocrats kept their fortunes in Africa...

If it was a house in Kensington, an estate in Provence, and a bank account in Geneva I might believe it.

[George.]

It would be interesting to see a study of what sorts of people fall for these things.

I think of the dumbest two or three people I ever met, out of a few thousand I have met. They might well fall for this stuff.

With online scams, if one in 10,000 are dumb enough the fishing is good.

[Beowolf]

Northern Michigan… 2007.

The Freep: County Funds Lost in Nigerian Scam

[schlaboatnic]

My father, who was in the early stages of dementia, got hooked into one of these scams for 25K. It's not always the "dumbest" that get took.

[Wine47]

My Dad in 2001 after many TIA's sent in his actual drivers license to a cigarette company as proof of age (77) to get a discount on a carton of smokes. He passed away shortly after due to a stroke and Mom found out about it when the company sent his drivers license back.

[LOKI]

My wifes niece decided that she would like to go to Nigeria to help the people there. No skills or trade, wasn't long before her dwelling was broke into, her belongings gone, including her passport. The wife has tried to help her out but everything seems to be corrupt over there. A bus to the next province to get a new passport from the Canadian consulate is pulled over by armed men who demand money, etc. Seems like quicksand!

[Jim Bow]

I worked a few cubicles away from a guy who lost $30K to one of those scams. This was in about 1995 or so, before they were well known. He was s 55 year old recently divorced college educated guy.