419, the black face of the African Internet
Called "Nigerian scam", this scam is experiencing sunny days through the network of networks. It is particularly effective as the victim is not aware of the risk run. That is understandable since he is proposed to be offered a huge amount of money going from hundreds of dollars to even millions.This scam has been known for years. The same message type first appeared in letters written by hands at first,then by machines,through faxes and now using e-mails. The scam is usually localised in Nigeria where it is called "419 fraud" (section number of the criminal code of Nigeria Nigeria but also from Congo , Burkina Faso , Ghana
Despite its variations, the scenario of these scams remains the same. If you’ve gotten your address (e-mail for example) stolen, you may one day receive a pseudo-official email in which the caller solicits your services.
You may be sensitive to the titles and functions of the issuer who may present himself as a senior, a high ranking army officer, a politician, a member of an oil fund, a financial adviser or a relative of a traditional leader (king ),or of a president. Thus you might make the acquaintance of Prince Naaba Baongo, son of his royal majesty Naaba Abga or Timothy Mobutu, the son of the late President Mobutu Sese Seko (It may sometimes be more imaginable than you may think).
Most of them have the same requests : “You must help them get some amount of money out of the country in order allow them to make a safe money laundering. Your assistance is desired in so far as your correspondent needs a nominee who will personally open a bank account at a financial institution of his country and send him the number,in order to avoid political and judicial suspicions.
Of course, this intervention will be covered through a fee (you are usually proposed 20% of the money or sometimes even 40%). If you have any qualms about becoming rich this easily, the crook may also suggest that 10% of the sum be invested in coverable things such as real estates.
The trap?
Many of these letters remain unanswered, but some users are likely to open the suggested bank account, thinking they are not risking any deceptions. A few weeks after opening the account, another letter will be sent to them. They are of course thanked for their help and informed of the next release of funds. Only one problem remains unsolved : there is a prior need to discharge legal costs,be they minimal or insignificant, and you are asked to meet those costs usually in the order of few hundreds of dollars. A bare Misery compared to what is at stake right?
A few weeks later, it is not his "lawyer" who will interfere but this time, a pseudo-bank manager who will require a more substantial payment before authorizing the transfer. Yet this letter will be followed by another “official-looking” post which will relieve the nominee by informing him about the release of the funds. The transfer can be done now... after you paid a few thousand dollars for administrative costs and insurance premiums.
Within weeks, you have been usurpped several thousands dollars.And your complaints (if you dare complain without fear of derision) will be futile since your interlocutors (the sender of the letter, lawyer, bank manager) are very virtual creations... Worse: in some cases,the crook uses the information provided by his victim to steal his Identity in order to later impersonate him in other scams.
