Click to View Alphabetical Index of Articles
A-C | D-F | G-I | J-L | M-O | P-R | S-V | W-Z | View All
Nigerian "Advance Fee" Scams
The following are examples of "Advance Fee" scams in widespread circulation via email. Millions of people have been bilked out of millions of dollars as a result of being duped by these scams.
Never respond to any of these types of messages, requests, or pseudo desperate please for assistance. Instead, reach for your DELete key as quickly as possible.
Nigerian "Advance Fee" Money Scam, Variation 1: "The Grieving Widow"
Subject: URGENT ASSISTANCE
From: MARIAM ABACHA
Dear Sir,
Following the sudden death of my husband General Sani Abacha the late former head of state of Nigeria in August 1998, I have been thrown into a state of utter confusion, frustration and hopelessness by the present civilian administration, I have been subjected to physical and psychological torture by the security agents in the country. My son is still under detention arraigned before the federal high court of Nigeria for an offence he did not commit.
As a widow that is so traumatized, I have lost confidence with anybody within the country. You must have heard over the media reports and the internet on the recovery of various huge sums of money deposited by my husband in different security firmsabroad, some companies willingly give up their secrets and disclosed our money confidently lodged there or many outright blackmail.
In fact the total sum discovered by the Government so far is in the tune of $700 Million dollars. And they are not relenting to make me poor for life. I got your contacts through my personal research, and out of desperation decided to reach you through this medium. I will give you more information as to this regard as soon as you reply. I repose great confidence in you hence my approach to you due to security network placed on my day to day affairs I cannot afford to visit the embassy so that is why I decided to contact you and I hope you will not betray my confidence in you. I have deposited the sum of 40.3 million dollars with a security firm abroad whose name is withheld for now until we open communication.
I shall be grateful if you could receive this fund into your account for safe keeping. This arrangement is known to you and my son Mustapha alone, so my son will deal directly with you as security is up my whole being. I am seriously considering to settle down abroad in a friendly atmosphere like yours as soon as this fund get into your account so that I can start all over again if only you wish, but if it is impossible, just help me in diverting this fund into your account which will accrue you 30% of this fund.
Please honesty is the watch word in this transaction.
I will require your telephone and fax numbers so that we can commence communication immediately and I will give you a more detailed picture of things.
In case you don’t accept please do not let me out to the security as I am giving you this information in total trust and confidence I will greatly appreciate if you accept my proposal in good faith. Please expedite action.
Sincerely yours,
Hajia Mariam Abacha
Nigerian Advance Fee Money Scam, Variation 2: "From Counsel with Love"
ATTN: THE PRESIDENT/CEO
FROM: BARRISTER MUHAMMED BUHARI
OKEAYA INNEH LAW FIRM
LEGAL PRACTITIONERS
NIGERIA.
DEAR SIR/MADAM,
COMPLIMENTS OF THE SEASON. GRACE, PEACE AND LOVE FROM THIS PART OF THE ATLANTIC TO YOU. I HOPE MY LETTER DOES NOT CAUSE YOU TOO MUCH EMBARRASSMENT AS I WRITE TO YOU IN GOOD FAITH. BASED ON THE CONTACT ADDRESS GIVEN TO ME BY A FRIEND WHO WORKS AT THE NIGERIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ATTACHED TO YOUR EMBASSY IN MY COUNTRY. PLEASE EXCUSE MY INTRUSION INTO YOUR PRIVATE LIFE.I AM BARRISTER HAMMA BEN, I REPRESENT MOHAMMED ABACHA, SON OF THE LATE GEN. SANI ABACHA, WHO WAS THE FORMER MILITARY HEAD OF STATE IN NIGERIA. HE DIED IN 1998. SINCE HIS DEATH, THE FAMILY HAS BEEN LOOSING A LOT OF MONEYDUE TO VINDICTIVE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WHO ARE BENT ON DEALING WITH THE
FAMILY.
CONSEQUENTLY, THE FAMILY HAS ASKED ME TO SEEK FOR A
FOREIGN PARTNER WHO CAN WORK WITH US AS TO MOVE OUT THE TOTAL SUM OF US$75,000,000.00 ( SEVENTY-FIVE MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS ), PRESENTLY IN THEIR POSSESSION. THIS MONEY WAS OF COURSE, ACQUIRED BY THE LATE PRESIDENT AND IS NOW KEPT SECRETLY BY THE FAMILY. THE SWISS GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY FROZEN ALL THE ACCOUNTS OF THE FAMILY IN SWITZERLAND, AND SOME OTHER COUNTRIES WOULD SOON FOLLOW TO DO THE SAME. THIS BID BY SOME GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO DEAL WITH THIS FAMILY HAS MADE IT NECESSARY THAT WE SEEK YOUR ASSISITANCE IN RECEIVING THIS MONEY AND IN INVESTING IT ON BEHALF OF THE FAMILY.
THIS MUST BE A JOINT VENTURE TRANSACTION AND WE MUST ALL WORK TOGETHER. SINCE THIS MONEY IS STILL CASH, EXTRA SECURITY MEASURES HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO PROTECT IT FROM THEFT OR SEIZURE, PENDING WHEN AGREEMENT IS REACHED ON WHEN TO MOVE IT INTO ANY OF THIS COUNTRIES HOLLAND,LONDON, SPAIN,PENDING ON OUR AGREEMENT. I HAVE PERSONALLY WORKED OUT ALL MODALITIES FOR THE PEACEFUL CONCLUSION OF THIS TRANSACTION. THE TRANSACTION DEFINITELY WOULD BE HANDLED IN PHASES AND THE FIRST PHASE WILL INVOLVE THE MOVING OF US$25,000,000.00 (TWENTY FIVE MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS)
MY CLIENTS ARE WILLING TO GIVE YOU A REASONABLE PERCENTAGE OF THIS MONEY AS SOON AS THE TRANSACTIONIS CONCLUDED. I WILL, HOWEVER, BASED ON THE GROUNDS THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH US AND ALSO ALL CONTENTIOUS ISSUES DISCUSSED BEFORE THE COMMENCEMENT OF THIS TRANSACTION. YOU MAY ALSO DISCUSS YOUR PERCENTAGE BEFORE WE START TO WORK. AS SOON AS I HEAR FROM YOU, I WILL GIVE YOU ALL NECESSARY DETAILS AS TO HOW WE INTEND TO CARRY OUT THE WHOLE TRANSACTION. PLEASE, DO NOT ENTERTAIN ANY FEARS,AS ALL NECESSARY MODALITIES ARE IN PLACE, AND I ASSURE YOU OF ALL SUCCESS AND SAFETY IN THIS TRANSACTION.
PLEASE, THIS TRANSACTION REQUIRES ABSOLUTE CONFIDENTIALITY AND YOU WOULD BE EXPECTED TO TREAT IT AS SUCH UNTIL THE FUNDS ARE MOVED OUT OF THIS COUNTRY TO WHERE YOU INTEND TO RECEIVE THEM.
IN COMPLIANCE WITH THIS YOU ARE TO FORWARD TO ME THE FOLLOWING DETAILS: YOUR COMPLETE NAMES AND ADDRRESS, CONFIDENTIAL TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS, THIS IS TO ENABLE ME PERFECT ALL THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTATION WITH THE SECURITY FIRM AND MOVE THIS MONEY ACROSS TO YOUR COUNTRY OF CHOICE.
PLEASE, YOU WILL ALSO IGNORE THIS LETTER AND RESPECT OURTRUST IN YOU BY NOT EXPOSING THIS TRANSACTION, EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT INTERESTED.
I LOOK FORWARDS TO WORKING WITH YOU.
THANK YOU.
TRULY YOURS
BARRISTER MUHAMMED BUHARI
Enjoying this article? Then why not subscribe to Mr. Modem's Weekly Newsletter (www.MrModem.com) today! Computer tips, tricks, virus alerts, hoax information, plus prompt, personal responses to your computer questions!
Nigerian Money Scam, Variation 3: "The Widow Abacha…again"
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
From Mrs. Ashatu Abacha
Lagos - Nigeria
Dear Sir,
I am writing this letter to you in utmost confidence and trust, with every believe that you will not betray the trust or divulge the information contained in this request letter to a third party.
I am Mrs. Ashatu Abacha ( a widow) the third wife to Late General Sani Abacha the former Military President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, when my late husband was the Military Head of State in Nigeria he willed to me and five children the sum of US$100,000,000.00 (One Hundred Million United State Dollars) and some other estate for the up- keeping of the children. This will was kept in custody of a family tested and trusted Attorney (Dr) Francis Obi (SAN)
When my late husband (Late General Sani Abacha) was seeking for support/co-operation within the leaders of the ECOWAS sub-region as life President of Nigeria, occasion which resulted to the sudden death on 8th June, 1998. And immediately after his death life became unbearable to the family. All his asset were seized and both local and foreign bank account were frozen, with the personal effort of the Attorney Dr. Francis Obi and some military apologist I was able to drawn the sum of US$50,000,000.00 (Fifty Million United State Dollars) from the will account before the frozen.
Already this sum of US$50,000,000.00 has been disguised and freighted out of Nigeria and deposited with a reputable security company due to intense Government investigation into the account of the late Sani Abacha whom they have considered as a looter.
At present all our traveling document has been seized by the Federal Government of Nigeria and our movement been restricted, although I intend to settle in your country immediately we were loose out of the cage.
All I require now is your co-operation to enable me and my Attorney transfer these funds into your account through an off-shore account, this money is in cash and has been deposited with a reputable security company. All you do is to go and pick up this money from the Security Company. My Attorney will handle every necessary documentation here in Nigeria, and I am assuring you that it is risk - free, I have agreed that as the account holder your company shall be entitled to a certain percentage and compensation that will be jointly discussed and agreed upon as soon as I am convinced of your readiness, also consider highly the confidential nature of this transaction , kindly signify your acceptance and interest by reaching me through my Attorney (Dr) Francis Obi on the above E-Mail immediately as this required
I thank you while I am awaiting your prompt and urgent reply
I remain yours truly,
Mrs. Ashatu Abacha
Nigerian "Advance Fee" Money Scam, Variation 4: "The Consultant's Swindle"
From: "Mr. Richard Newman." Good day,
I have the great pleasure of introducing myself, I am Mr. Richard Newman, I am 39yrs of age and I work with a diplomatic security outfit known as GLOBAL SECURITIES AND FINANCE COMPANY here in Nigeria. I have resolved to contact you through this medium based on a business proposal that will be of great benefit to both of us.
I got your particulars through a consultant company based on my research for a trustworthy and established business person that understands investment ethics, for entering into a life time profitable joint partnership investment and also co-operation, with confidence and trust that you will keep the contents secret and not divulge to any other person.
Note:Our finance company was closed down by the present civilian government heade by President Olusegun Obasanjo, due to our involvement with late military head of state Gen. Sanni Abacha and other past military men from this country in moving out funds to foreign countries.
I want to solicit with you and seek for your urgent assistance and absolute confidentiality in this transaction. I was able to swindle out three boxes containing US$45 MILLION from my company before it was closed down based on a tip-off I had from a close relation of mine who works with present government.
Please, I am assuring you 100% that there are no risks involved as I have tightened up all loopholes awaiting your full co-operation. I have the boxes containing these funds safe in another security company, and it was deposited and camouflaged as vital family documents/treasures. All I require from you is assurance that I can have your confidence and that you can be able to handle/receive this consignment with out much ado and I will further more information to you on my laid down arrangement on how ship the boxes out of this country by a diplomatic courier service company.
I am guaranteeing 30% of the total sum of money to you on your efforts towards a successful completion of this project and the rest goes to me and my colleagues. So please respond immediately if you want to assist me or contact me through my direct/private fax no: 234-9-2726226 for further information, but if you are not interested please do not forward to any organization for any reason because of the security of my colleagues in the government.
Thanks,
Richard Newman.
Note: All of the above are scams designed to separate you from your hard-earned dollars. If you receive any messages that even remotely resemble the above, or any messages that request that you provide personal information or send money, just delete them. Never respond or reply in any manner.
A-C | D-F | G-I | J-L | M-O | P-R | S-V | W-Z | View All
