14 DAY TRIAL // Emails entitled “Compensations for Scam Victims,” apparently originating from the Federal High Court of Nigeria, try to defraud users by tricking them into thinking that they will receive large amounts of money from the African state.
A number of internauts have fallen victims to so-called 419 scams which trick people into paying certain amounts of money allegedly needed to transfer fortunes into their bank accounts. While some individuals lost large amounts of money, other were even more unfortunate, being kidnapped and held for ransom.
The email that’s doing the rounds these days – spotted by researchers from GFI – has been seen on numerous occasions in the past under various forms.
“This to inform you that your e-mail address was found among the list of people that has been scammed by Nigerian impostors,” the email reads.
“It might interest you to know that a total sum of $3.5million had been set aside for compensation which will be deliver to you in a consignment box ,it was endorsed by the Presidency Federal Republic of Nigeria in conjunction with the homeland security during our first meeting this year.”
Then, the recipient is asked to contact one Barrister Richard Nelson and provide his/her name, address, phone number and a form of identification.
While this information could be used to commit identity fraud, the crooks don’t just settle with these unimportant details. They tell the potential victim to wire the amount of $90 (€72) via Western Union.
“Be aware that all beneficiary will be responsible for shipping charges which cannot be deducted from the fund because there is a bond holding the consignment that stated that only the sole beneficiary of the fund is permitted to open it, the shipping charges is only $90,” the message continues.
As always, we advise users to ignore such claims, indifferent of the promised prize. No one ever won anything by responding to such scams, and no one ever will.