I recently received some interesting 419 scam letters in my yahoo e-mail box. This post describes what the 419 scam is and warns people about the dangers.
Here is the letter I recently received from one of these 419 scammers.
THE UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATION
In Conjunction with the International Monetary Fund
WORLD BANK FACT-FINDING & SPECIAL DUTIES OFFICE
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM.
Dear Sir/Ma
The United Nations Security Council, hereby receives your payment with
reference number #.MAV/UNO/WBO/LM-05-371 amounting to US$10,625,000.00 (Ten
Million Six Hundred and Twenty Five Thousand United States Dollars) This
council was set up to fight against scam and fraudulent activities worldwide,
res ponsible for investigatinThis important notice is to let you know that your payment is ready to be moved
by Swift Bank Transfer (Five working days) to your account or via diplomatic
means of cash delivery (Two days) to your door step. Please note that your
payment will be processed and released to you as soon as you respond to this
confidential letter by reconfirming to us the following details:(1) Your Full Name:
(2) Home Address:
(3) Phone, Fax and Mobile Number:
(4) Company Name/Occupation:
(5) Home Address:
(6) Payment option (Bank Transfer/Cash delivery):Immediately the above details are received and validated, your payment will be
processed within 48hours.
Yours Faithfully,REV. FATHER DAVID PAGE
Director, Special Duties
It is interesting to see that these guys will actually send the cash to your door. I hope my safe will be able to hold US$10,625,000.00.
If you want to know more about the 419 scam and where to report it just enter 419 scam in the google search box.
December 7th, 2008 at 5:19 am
This kind of scam has been around for a long time. I have seen many of them originating in Great Britain. Some are more convincing than this one. Even the most educated and wisest can be tricked into one. I have a story about someone jumping into one,which I will reserve for now. I have to warn anyone receiving something like this, to NOT GET INVOLVED or you will regret it, possibly the rest of your life.
December 7th, 2008 at 5:40 am
nice:)
December 7th, 2008 at 6:00 am
It is odd how often the scammers purport to be men of God! What a funny old world we live in!
December 7th, 2008 at 7:09 am
Another interesting article.
December 7th, 2008 at 7:46 am
Interesting! Thanks for the warning!
December 7th, 2008 at 8:36 am
Thank you very much,we must be aware.
December 7th, 2008 at 8:58 am
So what are you planning on doing with all that money !
December 7th, 2008 at 9:05 am
This is happening to so many people. Mike has over 1000 of these that he has turned in for investigation. Crime goes unpunished for things like this and with the technology of today catching these people is a challenge.
The more people are told what and how to watch out for the better armed hard working people will be. It is a shame that others feel the need to take at a dishonest and alarming rate.
Thank you for sharing this so that others will know.
December 7th, 2008 at 10:01 am
Great info to know! Thanks for the heads up!
December 7th, 2008 at 11:15 am
I wonder what the good reverend’s “special duties” are? Let’s think about that one.
December 7th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
I could use 10 million dollars!!!!!!!!!!
Send it to me!!!!!!!!!
December 7th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
These things are sick and i feel sorry for those dupped by such things in these times. its evil people taking advanige of poor people in bad times . Just so sad !
December 7th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
There are 100’s of these things floating around now!! Some are so badly written they border on hilarious too!!
December 7th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
I’ve actually gotten so many of these notices, that now I just automatically shuffle them into my spam folder. This article is actually funny, because I got a an email from a Robert Mueller of the FBI Anti-Terrorist and Monitary Crimes Division on account of someone trying to access my bank account. Apparently someone from Nigeria was trying to access my account an transfer funds without my knowledge. Next thing I know, the FBI is telling me I’m a suspected terrorist, and I’m literally crapping my pants because I don’t know what the heck is going on. I’m still in the process of clearing this up, and it’s interesting that you brought this to light, because apparently it’s more than a scam, but rather a way for funds to be transfered illegally to unsuspecting targets. So keep your heads on the look out people.
December 8th, 2008 at 10:25 am
To lost in America, I would not respond to the email that you say you received from the FBI. My gut feeling is if the FBI had your interests at heart, they would not email you, rather, you would get a call or a visit. I would contact (call or visit) the FBI (do not response to the email that you received) and check it out. I have been there, and done that.
December 8th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Thanks for letting me know. This was informative.
December 8th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Wow. Like R.J. Evans said, it may seem odd how those identifying themselves to be “men of God” are so deceptive, but the Bible warns us to “think and test the message”.
Still with something like this, it takes the hand of the Almighty to keep us from stumbling right into it!
Thanks for sharing this information.
December 9th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Great article, thanks for the info.
December 21st, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Thanks for writing this!!
-Matt
January 1st, 2009 at 7:33 am
I got this email sometimes. Great Post!
January 1st, 2009 at 8:06 pm
I got lots of this kind of scams in my hotmail or gmail, I wonder if there’s any way to stop them.
January 4th, 2009 at 4:11 am
Thanks for the heads up Hein. I have had a number of Nigerian ones which are pretty interesting reading. Bad spellers these guys though!
January 6th, 2009 at 11:37 pm
Oh don’t get me started, these people are maggots of sociaty and when found, (which is hard to do) should be stripped of all their belongings and cash accounts, and given evenly back to any names they find at the search. In my neck of the woods alot of elderly people are being gullable and eagerly give over the information. Boy if I was a programmer, I would design a program to follow the Email back to their server and destroy their records from that sender. Hey great idea! Any programmers interested??
Love and peace