The "Nigerian Letter"

"The Nigerian Letter"

When I was a young adult (and that was a long time ago) I saw the "Nigerian Letter" for the first time. Back then, it was hand written on AirLetters, a single light weight blue sheet with the airmail stamp printed right on the page, which when folded, became a very lightweight  "envelope" as well. These days they may be email, text message, social media contact, etc., and may actually come from anywhere in the world. Originally it was uniquely Nigerian. The scammer spins an elaborate story about huge sums of money trapped in the Central Bank after a coup or regime change. In order to legitimize the funds, and get the cash back into circulation, it needs to be moved through my bank account. For my efforts, I get to keep a significant percentage. The last one I received was trying to recirculate $50,000,000 US of which I was to receive 30% (or $15,000,000)! Scammers will likely ask for your bank account details to "help them transfer the money" but later use this information to steal your funds.  Or they may ask you to pay fees, charges or taxes to 'help release or transfer the money out of the country'' through your own bank. These fees may even start out as quite small amounts. If paid, the scammer may make up new fees that require payment before you can receive your reward. They will keep asking for more money as long as you are willing to part with it. You will never be sent the money that was promised. So, you've lost your money and willingly participated in ILLEGAL activities which may bring more problems. The variations on this theme are endless.  

I am also including some clips an quotes from some of the "scam-monitors" online, I would certainly encourage you to read a few...DUE DILIGENCE, you know! 


https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/unexpected-money/nigerian-scams .................

"The scammer will tell you an elaborate fake story about large amounts of money 'trapped' in central banks during civil wars or coups, often in countries currently in the news. Or they may tell you about a large inheritance that is 'difficult to access' because of government restrictions or taxes in their country. 
The scammer may contact you by email, letter, text message or social networking message. They will offer you a large sum of money to help them transfer their personal fortune out of their country. 
These scams are often known as 'Nigerian 419' scams because the first wave of them came from Nigeria. The '419' part of the name comes from the section of Nigeria’s Criminal Code which outlaws the practice. These scams now come from anywhere in the world. 
Scammers may ask for your bank account details to 'help them transfer the money' and use this information to later steal your funds. 
Or they may ask you to pay fees, charges or taxes to 'help release or transfer the money out of the country' through your bank. These fees may even start out as quite small amounts. If paid, the scammer may make up new fees that require payment before you can receive your reward. They will keep asking for more money as long as you are willing to part with it. You will never be sent the money that was promised.

Warning signs 

"You receive a contact out of the blue asking you to 'help' someone from another country transfer money out of their country (e.g.  Nigeria, Sierra Leone or Iraq). The request includes a long and often sad story about why the money cannot be transferred by the rightful owner. You are offered a financial reward for helping them access their 'trapped' funds. The amount of money to be transferred, and the payment that the scammer promises to you if you help, is usually very large. The writing in the message is in very polite but broken English. The scammer will often ask you to send money via a money transfer service.

Protect yourself

• "Never send money or give credit card details, online account details or copies of personal documents to anyone you don’t know or trust and never by email. Avoid any arrangement with a stranger that asks for up-front payment via money order, wire transfer, international funds transfer, pre-loaded card or electronic currency. It is rare to recover money sent this way. Do not agree to transfer money for someone else. Money laundering is a criminal offence."