More
Reports from Readers
Who Have Been Targeted by
Nigerian Con Artists
Edited
by Barbara Brabec - Originally posted July 2005
2010 UPDATE
I regret that my time no longer allows for posting additional information on this
or other scam-related topics I've discussed earlier in other articles. Thanks
for not bothering me with email requests to "check out" this
or that individual. I simply posted this information initially to alert others to the problem.
Now, many others on the Web are addressing this and related topics in detail. Thanks.
Wanted
Fifty Bill Clinton Books.
While I was in California in February, letting my
voice mail take messages, I got a nice thank-you call from a fellow who
had found my article on Nigerian scams. His
message said: "My name is Jacob and I’m
with The Book Rack in Rock Hill, a bookstore that does a lot of online
shipping. I read your article about Nigerian scams and just wanted to
thank you for forewarning us about this problem. Someone named Whitney
Brown wanted to order 50 copies of My Life by Bill Clinton, and it was a
telephone relay going to Nigeria, which your article discussed. Clearly
this con is not limited to Christian bookstores only. So thanks again.
You just saved our store a lot of time, money, and hassle."
Wanted Centrum Silver Vitamins.
"I'm a new owner of Bryant Ranch pharmacy
in Yorba Linda, California. I got a phone call on relay and I thought that there was somebody
deaf on the other line. They asked for 150 bottles of brand name Centrum
Silver vitamins saying they were celebrating some kind of anniversary and would
distribute the vitamins to needy people. They gave me five credit card numbers,
and finally one went through, so, I sent the vitamins through postal mail.
Fortunately, my technician looked at your Web site and found out about all these scams.
Even my instinct was kind of telling me that something is not just right about this whole thing,
but I guess in my busy life I just didn't take time to do more checking.
Right now I'm trying to stop the mail. If I'm lucky, I will get my merchandise back.
It really hurts a lot, as being a new business owner I really do not have any spare money to
lose and it's so terrible for somebody to take advantage like this. I told my bank and
credit card company as well that they need to inform their customers
about these scams. Anyway, thank you very much for your Website as it kind of saved us.
"The persons who called me from Nigeria were Kim Kelly and Paul Kelly. The address they gave me was
20 Ricca St., Lagos Island, Lagos state Nigeria 23401.They used a hotmail email address of "KimKelly101."
If this information can help stop these people that would be great." -Sheetal
Amin
Wanted Computers Shipped Overnight.
"I am not sure how I happened across your Web site, but I was doing some
inquiring about a suspicious string of emails from a company in Nigeria that
wanted me to special-order computers and overnight ship them, all paid for by
their credit card. Sound familiar? Being a toy and hobby shop, this sounded very
odd, and while trying to track down information on their company in Nigeria, I
was somehow directed to your site. Though I was not seriously considering
sending them the $3000+ worth of computers, you nonetheless might have just saved me a lot of frustration. I am sure your site will save many
others as well. Let me please offer you my sincerest thank you once again." -
Stephen Chase, Falcon Hobbies, Sunderland Maryland
Wanted Photos For a Wedding Present.
"I received one of those emails asking me how much it would cost
to send the photographs that I sell on eBay to Nigeria for a wedding
present. The message said they would pay with a Visa or MasterCard. (This
letter did not come from my eBay site; it came to my email address, bypassing
eBay completely. I was just checking on what it would cost to send something to Nigeria when
I saw your page and clicked on it. It amazes me how my subconscious protects
me as I was not suspicious at first, just wanted to know the shipping cost,
but, thankfully, I got the correct information via your page instead. Thank
you!" - Sandra, an artist
Wanted Cell Phones.
"Thank you for the information on your Web site. I had been
contacted by someone in Nigeria looking for quotes on our products. At first I
was only a little suspicious but then I became more suspicious when the phone
request was added. I think the sender sensed my suspicion because he then
asked for quotes on more of our products. I searched the Web for the scam info
and came across your site which proved what I was already thinking. So I sent
him the link to a Web site and told him to order the phones himself." - Andrew
Jirsa, The Pringle Electrical Manufacturing Company, Montgomeryville, PA
Wanted a Gift for a Priest.
"Thankfully, I discovered your website before it was too late.
Like you and the others I was nearly scammed by the Nigerian crew. I was
selling a personal item on my company website, which can be accessed by anyone
with membership in the online portions of our website. I received an email
inquiry from someone claiming to want to buy my item for a priest as a
retirement gift and ship it to Lagos Nigeria. I immediately suspected
something was wrong considering the item was two recliner chairs worth less
than $100 and they were willing to purchase the items to have them shipped to
Nigeria. They were asking for my full name, address and mobile phone number.
"I replied to the inquiry telling them that I was not willing to ship the
item and it was for local sale only. Then I received another reply from the 'buyer' which seemed to be from a different person, as the grammar
was much better and it was all uppercase typing. This note indicated that they would
send a private Nigerian shipping company to get it and would deliver me a
money order for payment. I then knew something was not right about this one. I
decided to check the Web for similar scams and discovered your site. Now I
know exactly what they were up to! Thank you for saving me a big headache." -
Rick Grosheks
Wanted an Anniversary Gift.
"Just wanted to thank you for posting your website about
African-scams. I was recently contacted by a Nigerian man who said his name
was Phil Scott. He wanted to purchase my art glass for a anniversary gift. He
pretended to be in a big hurry. Then, just when I thought I would be mailing
the vase, he requested I help him acquire some cell phones and mail those
also. Of course, I had no idea what was going on. What tipped me off and
caused some doubt was the fact that the cell phone company I contacted did not
want to even touch the sale of phones to anyone in Nigeria. They also advised
me to not have anything to do with it. I then did an Internet search and found
your Web site listed. The first case example I read sounded just like what was
happening to me. Just wanted to say thanks, because your information kept me
from much anguish and I did not lose any money. Thank You!" - David Tate
Wanted a Birthday Gift.
"We were fortunate enough to Google the address provided by the scammer
below and came upon your site. We too got a similar e-mail (see below) as relayed to you by others on
your site. Thanks." Carina
Ed. Note: Below, the message Carina forwarded to me. Notice that this mailer is using
the same "Papa Ajao Mushin" ship-to address others have reported to me).
------ Forwarded Message
Hello
I have visited your website and i am impressed by the beautiful
collection you have there. I want to purchase this particular product for
my Boss as birthday gift that will come up shortly
(The Rose urn combines the elegant cubic shape with a delicate border
of bronze roses. 8" X 5.5" X 5.5" - (227 cubic in)
Get back to me with the total cost and the shipping cost via Fedex
delivery to this address:
22,Ojekunle Street,
Papa Ajao Mushin
Lagos State,
Nigeria
23401
i will be looking foward to haering from you, so that you can have my
credit card to charge for the total cost. Best Regards joe
------ End of Forwarded Message
Barbara's
Experience With One of These Con Artists.
On January 15, 'Cindy from USA' contacted five craft businesses and stupidly included
my name on her message. It read:
"Good day sales, these is cindy from usa.Now in nigeria for
buissnes.i want you help in moving my sales forward.please i want you to help me in supplying some of your goods.I have viewed you website so now want you in getting back to me so i can choose all i want.if so i need you to send me your website agin.so i chooosee and you tell me the total cost.and i forward you the credit card for payment information for payment, Regards, marie
james."
I took delight in writing back to her, "You fool! If you had actually 'viewed my website,'
you would have found my article exposing all you crooks in Nigeria who are trying to rip
off innocent crafters and Christians! Since you can barely write English, though,
it's doubtful you can even read the article I've posted on my site (which I linked to for the benefit of the others who received
this e-mail). Fortunately, the other people you've mailed along with me on this email
CAN read my article and no one will be doing business with you. Your name has
been reported to the proper authorities. Have a nice day."
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