419 Nigerian Scammer Arrested with $4.5 Million  
by Anne P. Mitchell, Esq. - 16 Comments, Last updated 09/05/2011

16 Comments - Newest First »

1. Last week I was retrenched, and have been searching the web for work as an expatriate. Out of the blue I got a job offer by “Total Oil and Gas, Nigeria”, as a maintenace manager. with a salary of $20K plus perks.

   I replied to the offer and was immediatly accepted. I was to pay all the necessary expense to obtain a visa and work permit and commencement date to resume my new role would be the 1.10.2011.

   I was to contact a Immigration Lawyer by the name Ben to legalise all my document, who required $200usd for visa, and $800usd for expateriate life insurance. These monies were to be transfered to him in Nigeria through the Western Union.

   I contacted the Nigerian High Commission in my country to find out the correct procedure and cost involved to work in Nigeria.

   They politely examined the “Total Oil and Gas contract” and reported that it was inpossible to work through a private lawyer and that the contract was false pointing out various mistake.

   All documentation had to be done externally by the Nigerian High commission externally.

   All I can say is use your head. The devil comes to kill, steal and destroy, when you are at your lowest. John 10:10. Seek more advise before you engage in the continuing pursuit of your finances.

   Comment by Eric Ab — 9/5/2011 @ 11:11 pm

2. I have just recently found that the Chinese are onto the scamming as well. Got an email saying that I had a distant relative die in a bomb blast in Kuwait, and that he has deposited $50 mil usd, with no will. Would I like to receive the monies, before the Hong Kong government lays claim to it. It was required of me to open a banking account with HSBC in London, which would require a 5k GBP deposit. This had to be done through bank transfer to an account number that would accept the money and later a new and permanet banking account would be issued by correspondence. The lawyer who would handle the details would get 15% of the monies. The banking manager who would keep control of the accounts would recieve 50% of the remaing monies and I would receive 50% of the remainder plus expenses.

   There was a constant pressure of 10 days to handle the transaction.

   I approached my bank who informed me through their security that it was a scam. $25mil is very attractive especially when you are a low income individual. And secondly I have a very strange surname, so it could be possible that I would have a distant relative that I am not aware of.

   In any case I have found that as soon as you are required to transfer any some of money via the internet (paypal) or transfer monies by suggestion through western union to persons unknown to you is a huge mistake, and you will loose your money.

   Comment by Eric Ab — 9/5/2011 @ 10:55 pm

3. That is definetly a fake story ..I would someone acually have a cash of $4.5m in his pocket

   Comment by deji — 11/17/2008 @ 7:49 am

4. in re: reply #1, saddam hussein had a daughter, before they put him up for the high jump, but she’s still got lot’s of money that daddy stashed away before he went up the long steps and down the short rope, i doubt she needs to work cheap scams on the internet. her family looted a nation.
   “gunner”

   Comment by “gunner” — 11/19/2007 @ 10:45 am

5. i’m amused that they claimed the perp had 4.5 million dollars “in his pocket” when arrested. i used to make my living hauling money around to and from banks, i’ve physically handled millions of dollars and you’re not going to lug 4.5 megabucks around in your purse or pocket, that’s literally a truckload of money and you’ll want a truck to move it. i don’t doubt he was in possession of that 4.5 million but hardly “in his pockets”.
   “gunner”

   Comment by “gunner” — 11/19/2007 @ 10:37 am

6. got an email response to my post on craigs, email erquested he woudl send me a certified check or money order, and when it gets to bank, allow his friend to come pick up the goods…$500 worht of PS2 stuff….I put his email address into google.com adn immediately got the 419 scam blocked email addresses….so these people have hooks in Chicago too..and wanted to come to my house to pick teh stuff up…tempting, cos my neighbor is an FBI agent, but he is a lazy guy, so….I simply refused teh offer. email used was benbruce509 at yahoo dot com

   Comment by neesoj — 11/17/2007 @ 11:24 am

7. I think these scam exits and they must put an end for them

   Comment by aline zeidan — 4/26/2007 @ 1:31 am

8. You’d be surprised how many people fall for 419 . Just recently there was a story of a professor handing over $1.3m to an advance fee gang!

   Comment by Scam — 1/19/2007 @ 5:41 pm

9. Well if you have 1000€ bills it could fit into a big coat :) That would be bundle of 4000 bills, i.e. 4 bundles in 1000 units each :)

   But i don’t think it’s literally “in his pocket”, rather it cold be in his apartment/penthouse…

   BTW where is the source of the story(link)?????

   Comment by Mayo — 1/16/2007 @ 7:18 am

10. Well if you have 1000€ bills it could fit into a big coat :) That would be bundle of 4,500 bills, i.e. 4,5 bundles if but in 1000 units each :)

    But i don’t think it’s literally “in his pocket”, rather it cold be in his apartment/penthouse…

    BTW where is the source of the story(link)?????

    Comment by Mayo — 1/16/2007 @ 7:17 am

11. I don’t beleave the story. No way would that much money fit in a pocket.

    Comment by tom — 1/16/2007 @ 6:56 am

12. What I don’t understand about this story is that he had almost 4.6 million dollars cash in his pockets. I mean, how big are his pockets? That much cash takes up a lot of space.

    Comment by Joe Papa — 1/16/2007 @ 6:41 am

13. Yes, but at least you have a chance to actually win with a lottery ticket, eve if it’s only the tiniest of chances. With a scam artist, you have no chance whatsoever.

    Comment by Eddie — 1/16/2007 @ 5:25 am

14. Never underestimate the ability of greed to fry the brain. People will go for anything… they buy lottery tickets don’t they!!!

    Comment by ltercier@gmail.com — 1/15/2007 @ 4:20 pm

15. Anyone falling for these scams is either dishonest or very stupid. I have never seen a clever 419 scam. All the one’s I’ve seen were so obvious and wrong that I don’t understand how anyone could fall for them. I am inclined to blame the victims here. I know I shouldn’t, but still…

    Comment by Wahkins — 1/15/2007 @ 1:40 pm

16. a similar type of scam involving email is making the rounds wherein the person sending the email claims to be the daughter of Sadam Husein and needs someone to assist her in obtaining 45 million dollars from uk and us banks and will supposedly share a portion of these funds with the person or persons assisting her. Beware of this scam as well.

    Comment by Lloyd Hewitt — 1/15/2007 @ 1:22 pm

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