Classic "419" Scam: A New Flavor
Classic "419" Scam: A New Flavor
Postal Officials Crack Down On International E-Mail Scams, Seize $2.1B In Phony Checks WASHINGTON, Oct. 3, 2007. Scams come in many flavors. Many of us receive those letters that beg to help get some millions of dollars out of Nigeria or some other country. Thanks to this and other sites, not to mention CBS News, 60 Minutes and other television news casts, many have come to recognize these scams. Some even enjoy reading these emails as forms of entertainment.

This writer has always thought that due to these warnings, there is hardly anyone in USA who is not aware of these scam letters. At this site, we have published many of these letters. You can read to your heart's content at: http://www.nigerianunion.org/419/index.html.

These letters are typically referred to as "419". The number "419" refers to the article of the Nigerian Criminal Code (part of Chapter 38: "Obtaining Property by false pretences; Cheating") dealing with fraud. The American Dialect Society has traced the term "419 fraud" back to 1992. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advance_fee_fraud).

Hold on to your chairs folks because 419 has taken on a new flavor.

It's funny when you see it coming. You wonder if these people will ever get a day job. Then someone you know falls victim. He's stripped of all his money, you realize these people have no intention of looking for a day job. This is their day job. Scamming people out of their life's savings.

It truly makes you sick to your stomach.

The victim in this case is well known by this writer. He is a great guy. A guy determined to "wait" for that perfect woman.

This guy, who I will refer to as "The Victim", has forwarded these emails to me and given me the permission to reprint them here in this article.

I will also use the real name of the perpetrator here. I'll refer to her as "The Predator". My reason is simple. It is obvious that The Predator most likely used some one's name. She definitely used some one's pictures. If that is true, that poor woman has become a victim of one of the worst kind of Identity Theft.

The Victim has expressed interest in forwarding this matter to law enforcement. If proper authorities take on this matter and identify this woman, she will have to prove that she is not involved in this scam that cost The Victim over $6,000.

So, here's a classic 419 in a new flavor. Please note that there may be some missing details in this story. There are chat sessions to which I am not privy.

The Victim:


Writer's Comment:
 Why would someone remove their photos/profiles from where they need to be seen? May be they do not want the real person on the photo to see it?

The Predator:

The Victim:

The Predator:

The Victim:

The Predator:

The Victim:

The Predator:

Writer's Comment:
Isn't is amaizing that The Predator here talks about Identity Theft? Notice the amounts and how it goes from $20,000 to $550. A ploy to get The Victim to a level of comfort.

The Victim:
Writer's Comment:
Apparently several chat sessions took place between The Victim and The Predator. Also apparent is the fact that The Victim was not yet a victim at this point.
The Predator:
Writer's Comment:
The amount of money has come down some.

The Victim:

The Predator:

Writer's Comment:
Deja Vu?

The Victim:

The Predator:

Writer's Comment:
Scores:
The Predator = $300
The Victim   = -$300

The Victim:

The Predator:

Writer's Comment:
Kinda happy? I'd say. You think she'll just take the money and run? Now she needs to think of new ways to get The Victim see her as a victim.

The Predator:
Writer's Comment:
The Predator sends pictures. Yahoo! Just look at these photos.

Now The Victim is really in trouble.

The Victim:
Writer's Comment:
The Victim sends pictures as well. Very healthy-looking white man.
The Predator:

Writer's Comment:
I checked out the code, 3RJBBC. Looks legit. So did The Victim. But then notice now she needs $1200 so she can be allowed to board?

The Predator:

Writer's Comment:
I'm a bit confused here. She turns around and rebooks, and sends another booking code within seconds of the first email? Note:
Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2007 06:31:57 -0700 (PDT)
From: "nicolle william"
Subject: ( Basic Travelling Allowance ) is required for

Then...

Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2007 06:52:54 -0700 (PDT)
From: "nicolle william"
Subject: my new flight details

The Predator:
(she attaches an image of a check)
Writer's Comment:
Ok, so she sent the $20,000 check. But take a good look at the check. See anything fishy? See how date, name, and amount seem "rubbed out" and retyped?

According to The Victim, he did send the requested $1200.
Scores:
The Predator = $1500
The Victim   = -$1500

The Predator:
Writer's Comment:
I'm sure you saw this coming. She gives The Victim tha good old, "on my way to the airport" story. Now she's a mess. Another $2000 will do it.

The Predator:
Writer's Comment:
By this time, The Victim has spent almost $6000. The Victim and I work for the same company. He came to me and despareately wanted me to help him get someone out of Nigeria. He said she is a model who went there to do a job, but now trapped in Nigeria.

I simply told him to call his congressman. He said he doesn't know one. Since we have always communicated with John Sullivan, our really great Oklahoma Congressman, I gave him John's phone number and local office address.

When he left my desk, I sent him (The Victim) a chat note asking, "I hope you have not sent any money?".

He came back to my desk. This is a good guy. He was not really ready to hear that he could be a victim to a scam. I think what convinced him is that he was about to send another $6000 to The Predator. As always, Western Union called him to confirm. The Western Union lady asked him, "Are you aware that you are about to send $6000 to someone you've never met?"

Needless to say he went and cancelled this particular transaction. But all in all, including transfer fees, this really nice guy lost over $6000.

In conclusion, people, we've been publishing these 419 letters now for over 5 years. Whoever you are reading this, you can trash Nigeria and Nigerians all you want. Always understand that these crimes are commited by a small extremely intelligent group of people. You can be sure they'll come up with another way to liberate your money from you. It seems other people's money keeps calling to them. They will always find a way to get to it.

Before you send money anywhere, please talk to someone else about it. Someone you trust. You might even want to talk to your bank.

Now, about this woman, "nicolle william" , we can see the photo is real. Like I told The Victim, if he calls her over the phone, he will NOT hear an American accent. He may even hear a man.

Scary part is that the real woman in the photos could be arrested for something she did not do.

If you know her, please ask her to contact law enforcement and deal with it.

By the way, I contacted a friend in Nigeria. He's a veteran of the Nigerian Secret Service. He assured me that "The Predator" is most likely a man.

Pop Quiz:
What type of girls go to places like SinglesNet?

Answer:
Agaracha! This is a Nigerian term for, shall we say . . . Prostitute! I actually did a Google search on the word. Tons of returns. Uhm!

Looking for a good girl? You will NOT find her at places like SinglesNet. I have nothing against places like that. But the name conjurs up the image of "playas" looking for like-minded people. Not a "playa"? Don't go!

A great place to find good girls is definitely your local Church. Also try family events where people know people and are eager to recommend.

Just a bit of wisdom.

UNAT Writer

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