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419 Scams Never Go Away

Like cicadas, they come and go with the seasons

By Mark Huffman
ConsumerAffairs.com

April 1, 2008

• 419 Scams Never Go Away • Postal Inspectors Seize Billions in Fake Checks • Scam Probe Uncovers 'Startling' Evidence In Nigeria • 419 Scammer Claims To Be U.S. Soldier • Author Finds Sport In Tricking Scammers • Email Scam Has JFK Conspiracy Twist • New 419 Scam Promises Cure For HIV/AIDS • Nigeria 419: The Road to Ruin • Scammers Pose as Marines --- • Scam Alerts

Like a letter from an old friend, an email from a 419 scammer hit my inbox this morning.

"Get Back To Me Urgently," the subject line read.

419 scams, named for section 419 of the Nigerian Penal Code, have been around as long as the Internet. Begun by young scammers working from Lagos, Nigeria, the spam emails claim to be from a relative of a deposed prince, or the brother of a prime minister assassinated in a coup, who needs the help of a total stranger in moving vast amounts of wealth to the U.S.

These scam emails have achieved an almost folklore status, the subject of jokes and dozens of videos on YouTube. But it had been a while since I had actually gotten one.

"I am barrister Chris Martins, a solicitor at law," the message began. "I am the personal attorney to a national of your country, who used to work with Shell-Development company in Nigeria."

Notice he said "a national of your country," and didn't identify the country. That allows Chris to send his email all over the world.

According to Chris' story, written in all caps as most 419 emails are, his client and his family were killed in a 1999 plane crash, leaving millions of dollars in a Nigerian bank. Chris said he has been unable to locate any next of kin, and if he doesn't do so in the next 14 days, the Nigerian Government will confiscate the fortune, which has now grown to more than $25 million.

Chris said he needs my help. Since I have the same last name as his client – and note he never says what his client's last name is – he wants me to stand in as an heir of the recently departed family.

"So that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you, and then you and I can share the money – 60% to me and 40% to you – I have all the necessary legal documents that can be used to back up our claims," he wrote. "All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us seeing this deal through."

I'm touched. A scam artist trusts my honesty. And it seems a shame to let the government get all that money.

So Chris would like me to send him my telephone number so we can talk. It would also be helpful for me to send my name, and what country I live in, since he's already supposed to know that.

If I were to do that, Chris would likely reveal that he will need some cash to make all this happen.

Maybe $5,000 – maybe more if he gets the feeling I have it. He will explain that it's a small price to pay to receive several million dollars. After sending the money, he might even tell me he needs a little more, if he thinks I am gullible enough to send it.

Now, I've had some fun at Chris' expense, but the sad fact is, he doesn't care. No, I'm not going to rise to his bait, but he has sent this same email out to millions of email addresses worldwide.

Odds are, someone will fall for it. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission last year estimated that as many as two million people a year are defrauded by 419 scams.

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