ATA July BI-2-REV2.qxd 6/29/07 9:55 PM Page 30 Nigerian 419 E-Mail Scams By Keiran Dunne Continuing the series on cyber security that began in the April 2007 issue of The ATA Chronicle, this Taking full advantage of modern communications article will focus on e-mail messages that attempt to defraud innocent vic- technology, perpetrators indiscriminately send large tims using variants of the so-called “Nigerian 419 scam,” a form of fraud volumes of e-mail “invitations” to anonymous named after the section of the Nigerian penal code that it violates. potential “investors.” The 419 Scam: Advance Fee Fraud by Another Name Advance fee fraud is a variation of your account?’ The sums involved costs, or a requirement that the a centuries-old confidence trick are usually in the millions of dol- “investor” must have a certain amount whereby victims are persuaded to pro- lars, and the investor is promised a of money on deposit in an interna- vide money with the promise of real- large share, often 40%. The pro- tional bank in order to process the izing substantially larger returns.1 posed deal is often presented as a transaction, and so forth. Whatever Taking full advantage of modern com- ‘harmless’ white-collar crime, in the reason, once the money is munications technology, perpetrators order to dissuade participants from advanced to the 419 scammer(s), it is indiscriminately send large volumes later contacting the authorities. never seen again and the transaction is of e-mail “invitations” to anonymous Similarly, the money is often said to never concluded. potential “investors.” The mechanics be the embezzled funds of a recently In other variants of the 419 of the scam are relatively simple: deposed or killed dictator.”2 scheme, perpetrators agree to pur- chase goods from a victim to whom “The ‘investors’ are contacted, typ- Once the “investor” agrees to the they provide a counterfeit payment ically with an offer such as ‘A rich deal, he or she is typically asked to instrument worth more than the total person from the needy country advance a certain amount of money. transaction. The perpetrators then ask needs to discreetly move money The ostensible justification for this the victim to forward a portion of the abroad, would it be possible to use request might be a loan to help defray proceeds to an escrow agent or 30 The ATA Chronicle I July 2007 ATA July BI-2-REV2.qxd 6/29/07 9:56 PM Page 31 shipper after the funds have cleared. automatically assume that they are out as spam. Since it is both inexpen- In the U.S., national banks generally immune from advance fee scams. On sive and easy to send millions of mes- make funds for non-local checks the contrary, some scammers appear to sages at a time, perpetrators can make available within five business days.3 specifically target translators and inter- handsome profits even if only a tiny In this way, funds may become avail- preters. In the translation- or interpre- percentage of users agree to a shady able to the account holder days or tation-related 419 scam scenario, a advance fee deal. However, as noted even weeks before the institution in perpetrator masquerades as a client and earlier, not all 419 messages are indis- criminate spam. Some fraudsters appear to target practitioners of spe- cific professions. The perpetrators of advance fee fraud are Consequences of E-Mail Scams According to the 2006 Internet nothing if not creative, and translators and Crime Report published by the National White Collar Crime Center interpreters should not automatically assume and the Federal Bureau of that they are immune from advance fee scams. Investigation, more than 86,000 com- plaints of criminal Internet fraud were filed in the U.S. in 2006, with a total dollar loss of $198.4 million. The report also notes that “of those indi- which they have been deposited learns proposes to sign a contract for a fairly viduals who reported a dollar loss, the that the payment is fraudulent. Thus, substantial translation or interpretation highest median losses were found by the time the fraudulent instrument job. The perpetrator also insists on among Nigerian letter fraud has been identified as such, the making payment in full up front (pre- ($5,100).”4 This latter figure repre- requested payment has already been sumably using a fraudulent payment sents “an increase of $100 per inci- made to the escrow agent or shipper, instrument). In the event that a trans- dent compared with 2005 levels, and and the victim finds himself or herself lator or interpreter accepts such a con- an increase of $2,100 per incident liable for the payment. tract and deposits the payment compared with 2004.”5 Along similar lines, some advance instrument, the scammer will cancel Statistics compiled by the Dutch fee scammers send victims a check the project and request a refund of 80- 419 watchdog group Ultrascan sug- and ask them to deposit it and wire a 90% of the original payment, the dif- gest that 419 scams are a veritable percentage to a third party to whom ference being offered as a token worldwide scourge. According to money is owed. The scammers “gen- “compensation” for the inconvenience. Ultrascan: erously” give a portion of the pro- In the past two years, the North- ceeds of the check (10-20%) to the east Ohio Translators Association • Of all check fraud reported, over 80% victims to “thank” them for their (www.notatranslators.org), of which is Nigerian advance fee fraud-related. assistance. Once again, by the time the author is a member, has received the fraud is discovered, it is too late, several inquiries for “projects” that • Of all counterfeit checks inter- and instead of receiving 10-20% of bore all the hallmarks of such scams. cepted by law enforcement, 76% the proceeds of the (bad) check, the In addition to check fraud, 419 (global 2006) were found, sent, or victims discover that they are liable scams also include lottery scams, non- received by a Nigerian 419 for 100% of the money that has been delivery fraud, auction fraud, as well advance fee fraudster. wired to the third party—and prob- as last will and testament and inheri- ably for bank fees assessed on the tance scams. • 95% of all lottery scams are Nigerian bounced check. 419 advance fee fraud-based. The perpetrators of advance fee Where Do These fraud are nothing if not creative, and Messages Come From? • 91% of last will and testament and translators and interpreters should not Most 419 scam messages are sent inheritance scams are per- ➡ The ATA Chronicle I July 2007 31 ATA July BI-2-REV2.qxd 6/29/07 9:56 PM Page 32 Nigerian 419 E-Mail Scams Continued petrated by Nigerian 419 advance fee fraud organizations.6 Additional Reading From Detection to Prevention “Welcome to the World of Scambaiting!” (2007). Unfortunately, we cannot prevent www.419eater.com unscrupulous individuals from sending us scam “invitations.” Cruickshank, Douglas. “I Crave Your Distinguished Indulgence However, we can take steps to mini- (and All Your Cash)” (August 17, 2001). http://archive.salon.com/ mize the number of such messages people/feature/2001/08/07/419scams/print.html that actually make it to our inbox. Following all of the recommended “The ‘Nigerian’ Scam: Costly Compassion.” Federal Trade Com- best practices discussed in the first mission Consumer Alerts (Federal Trade Commission, 2007). article in this series is a good start (see www.ftc.gov/bcp/ conline/pubs/alerts/nigeralrt.htm “Spam—It Isn’t Just for Breakfast Any More” on page 21 of The ATA Mikkelson, Barbara, and David P. Mikkelson. “Nigerian Scam.” Urban Chronicle, April 2007). In addition, Legends Reference Pages (2003). www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/ we must remain vigilant. Advance fee nigeria.asp fraud and Nigerian 419 scam warning signs include the following: Silver Lake Editors. Scams & Swindles: Phishing, Spoofing, ID Theft, Nigerian Advance Schemes Investment Frauds: How to • The e-mail makes references to Recognize and Avoid Rip-Offs in the Internet Age (Los Angeles: actual persons, places, and events. Silver Lake Publishing, 2006). The e-mail may mention respectable businesses, organiza- Tive, Charles. 419 Scam: Exploits of the Nigerian Con Man (Lagos: tions, and/or governments, and the Chicha Favours, 2006). sender may refer by name to actual people associated with these organ- izations. Verification of this infor- mation will confirm that it is true and accurate; however, the proposi- tion itself is bogus. • The e-mail contains inappropriate • The e-mail contains poor spelling, • The content of the e-mails fails the channels of communication. punctuation, and/or grammar. common-sense litmus test. Notification of lottery winnings or of an inheritance windfall will be made by a total stranger via e-mail, instead of by registered mail with return receipt requested, by phone, If a proposition sounds too good to be true, or some other appropriate means of personal notification. it probably is. • The e-mail provides inappropriate contact information. The sender will claim to work for a bank or • The e-mail contains ingratiating Conclusion: If It Sounds too large company, but use a free praise from the sender—a total Good to be True, It Probably Is e-mail account; the sender will stranger—about the recipient’s As noted earlier, U.S. victims of provide a cell phone number character, integrity, and discretion. 419 scams lost $5,100 each on instead of a land line; and so forth. average in 2006. In order to avoid 32 The ATA Chronicle I July 2007 ATA July BI-2-REV2.qxd 6/29/07 9:56 PM Page 33 4.