Nigerian Scam – Nigerian Arrested in Mumbai for Conning Internet Users in India

The TOI reports that, a Nigerian national was arrested for conning internet users in India by falsely promising them 9 lakh British pounds.

Mahajan and his son came across a notification on the Internet which declared that the “Microsoft Team” would present them an award of 9 lakh British pounds. They were directed to a webpage run by Edward and Harry. The accused obtained Mahajan’s phone number and started calling him up regularly. They convinced Mahajan to shell out various amounts as security and anti-terrorism clearance, non-residence certificate clearance and custom clearance. The total money Mahajan paid amounted to Rs 10.44 lakh.

The police have appealed to all those citizens, who could have been cheated in a similar manner, to come forward and lodge complaints. read more at TOI.

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Pasted below is a sample Nigerian Scam email, which I received recently. Thanks to Gmail’s spam filtering, such emails go to the spam folder most of the time. Please beware of such money promising emails and websites.

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: FRANCK <[email protected]>
Date: Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 4:58 AM
Subject: Dear Sir/Madam
To:

From The Desk of Barrister FRANCK LAWRANCE
Solicitors, Advocates, Notary Public & Legal Adviser
Maka Plaza, No: 12 Orlu Road ikeji lagos.
State-Nigeria.
Tel: +234-8064381613

Dear Sir/Madam

It is with trust and believes that I write to you. I am Barrister FRANCK LAWRANCE, a solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney to  Late Engr. Gimple, A nationality of your country, who used to work with Shell Development Company here in Nigeria. Before his death On the 21st of April 2003[my client, and his wife and their three children were involved in a car accident along sagbama express road in which all occupants of the motor died}.

My client {Gimple} deposited the sum of (us$10,000,000,00) UNION BANK her in Nigeria for himself, with the hope of transferring it to his Country. Since his death I have made several enquiries to your embassy to Locate any of my clients extended relatives this has also proved Unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you to stand as the next of kin so that I can have the chance to apply for the authorities for the release of the inheritance to your account for our own useage only.

I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my late client before they get confiscated or Declared unserviceable by the UNION BANK Group, where the (Money)were  Deposited. Particularly, the Union bank of Nigeria  where the deceased Deposited the Sum valued $10,000,000,00 million dollar in fixed account, The Bank has issued me a notice to provide the next of in ten official banking days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over  2years now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you have the same last name so that the proceeds of this Money valued at ($10,000,000,00) million dollars can be claim by you And then you and me can share the money. 40% to you and 50%to me and the other 10% will be for expenses each of us mighty make, I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make.

All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through.

PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATIONS:
NAME: __________SURNAME:__________________
SEX: _____ AGE: ______MARITAL: _______________
COUNTRY: _______CITY: _________
STATE _______ZIP CODE: _______
CONTACT ADDRESS: ________________________
PHONE NO#___________FAX NO#_________________
OCCUPATION: ______________POSITION: _____________
BANK INFO: ___________

I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. also the requirement is your full name and address, to enable get the AFFIDAVITE OF FACT AND CLAIM CERTIFICATE in your name as the real next of kin to my late cleint to empower us received the UNION BANK. Send you the your inheritance fund as the next of kin. Your private telephone number for easy communication is needed and this fund will beshared between me and you.

Best regards,

BARR. FRANCK LAWRANCE
Tel: +234-8064381613