Nigerian 419 Scammer Busted on Facebook Chat
Those tricky Nigerian scammers are at again. This time, they are impersonating people on Facebook, according to AlleyInsider, and (surprise, surprise) they're asking for money. The formula of their scam hasn't changed -- it just has a more personal twist these days.
While Facebook is pretty secure, hackers -- if they try hard enough -- can still hack into your account and get your info. Pay attention to how this scam works, and what it looks like. Below are excerpts from an actual online conversation between a Facebook member (and friend of AlleyInsider) and a scammer posing as an old friend in need. Evan is the actual member, while the Nigerian scam artist is posing as Calvin.
Calvin: heyIt is simple. If someone asks you for money, verify that he is who he claims to be. A simple phone call would probably help. [From: AlleyInsider]
Evan: holy moly. what's up man?
Calvin: i need your help urgently
Evan: yes sir
Calvin: am stuck here in london
Evan: stuck?
Calvin: yes i came here for a vacation
Calvin: on my process coming back home i was robbed inside the hotel i loged in
Evan: ok so what do you need
Calvin: can you loan me $900 to get a return ticket back home and pay my hotel bills
Evan: sure thing man
Evan: ok one question
Calvin: are you sending it now?
Evan: what was the name of our high school mascot?
Evan: hello?
Evan: cal?
Calvin: Shawnee Mission Northwest High '01
Evan: what? i know
Calvin: it seems you dont to help
Evan: what of course i do want to help
Calvin: am in a hot sits here and you asking me silly question
Evan: what is hot sits
Calvin: am dead here
Evan: i hope you die there
YOU HACKER
good luck finding someone stupid
bye now
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
reaper_16 said 8:13PM on 1-26-2009
i'm nigerian and i gotta say not all of us are shameless scam artists....and second of all
"what was the name of our high school mascot?
Evan: hello?
Evan: cal?
Calvin: Shawnee Mission Northwest High '01"
*face palm*
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NoAndThen said 12:10AM on 1-27-2009
Ah, I see what you did there;
trying to convince us that not all Nigerians are scammers...
in order to scam us into thinking your observations are witty.
You guys are [i] good[/i] (
Kelly Emmanuel said 9:59AM on 1-28-2009
Dear All
Point of Correction, you all have to be careful because is not every thing that happened in computer about scammed you will call Nigerians, Do you know that a lot of people used Nigeria name while they are not Nigerians? Singaporeans are scammed people, same as united state and England, why anything happened you guys will start calling Nigerians are you guy stupid? May fire strike you all that called Nigeria bad name to death.
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Dragonrider198 said 9:27PM on 1-26-2009
This happened to me once. I got an email from my friend's mom telling me she was stuck somewhere without money. I thought it was weird, so I called my friend and asked if she knew where her mom was. Her mom lives in Denver, my friend lives in Idaho. Her mom was at home in Denver, not...wherever the letter said she was. Needless to say, I trashed the email and sent nothing. Take care with email. If it looks suspect, trash it.
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biola said 2:17AM on 1-27-2009
hey,wat makes u feel its a nigerian???????????????????????.
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NEWSINPRINT said 3:54AM on 1-27-2009
The other scam artist you have to worry about operating on US soil is the Arcade Currency Palace located in West Palm Beach and Tarpon Springs Florida. This company is involved with price fixing and Ponzi scheme con game. The owner of the Arcade Currency Palace lies to the media for free media coverage, so he can use that media coverage like it is some kind of endorsement by the media of the Arcade Currency Palace.
Ahmet Sandikci has lied to government officials and committed perjury in the court under oath in an attempt to cover up his illegal activities. He has attempt to penetrate our political system by making illegal contributions ($4600) to the presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton when he is NOT a US citizen.
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Andrew said 4:17AM on 1-27-2009
Seriously? These scammers are getting dumber and dumber. I've baited them a few times myself in the past and forwarded their info to various law enforcement agencies. I cant believe that the scammer couldnt find the mascot of the highschool. I googled "Shawnee Mission Northwest High" and found out their mascot was the cougars in 3 seconds. These guys really are the scum of the earth
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Taiwo said 6:39AM on 1-27-2009
This is ridiculous!
The conversation above doesn't indicate the person being a Nigerian. You guys cut the crap!
Am very dissapointed switched.com posted such an article by using false catchy titles.
disgusting!
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Jason said 7:03AM on 1-27-2009
Usually, the scammers reuse the same name and/or email address. If you simply google the name or email of a suspected spammer, you will likely find others who were victimized by the same individual. Then, let the fun begin! I love messing with these morons - http://www.romancescam.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=36&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15
An important resource which should have been added to this article is 'The Internet Crime Complaint Center' at http://www.ic3.gov/complaint/default.aspx
Please make record of your experience!
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Kip said 10:24AM on 2-02-2009
Hey listen guys. We all know that the Nigerain 419 scammers have made a name for themselves but dont feel so bad. Because Maddoff takes the cake he milked 50 Billion dollars from some of the smartest people on the planet.
I always thought that the 419ers were dangerous but they are not nearly as dangerous as the likes of Maddoff and others like him.
Kip
Taylor said 8:33AM on 1-27-2009
Hey.....nothing in the conversation says it's a Nigerian....like Peter said, you could verify and avoid being scammed.
I went to colledge with a couple of Nigerian folks who were great, so let's not generaise. All the stories i've read always involve hackers, the victim being greedy in the first place(some out-of-this-world expectation promised), internet romance, or playing on people's symathy.
I believe all internet (and not just facebook) users should protect thier identity from theft and network carefully.
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Tayo said 7:52PM on 1-27-2009
Switched failed on this one. Nothing in the conversation indicates that the scammer is a Nigerian. Bet you just want more traffic for your website. Why dont you focus on Jewish Ponzi Schemers? Better luck next time. By the way it takes two to tango.
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samuel said 5:14AM on 1-28-2009
i don't even know where to start from.Peter or whatever you are called,i want to say this an insult to all Nigerians.Nigerians are honest,hardworking and GOD fearing people who inspite of the numerous challenges they face everyday,still strive hard to achieve their goals in an honest manner.There are bad eggs in every country & society(yours inclusive)hence a reasonable & enlightened person(which i believe you are one) should not be biased when issue like this is on the front burner.There is nothing in your text including the purported online conversation to suggest the calvin guy is a nigeria.At least,you should 've let us know why u think he is.This is the highest point of irresponsible journalism practice by you,switched and whoever you represent.
We all belong to different countries that we are proud of,so issues such as this should be well investigated and facts beyond doubt confirmed before draging someone else's country(pride,honour and dignity)in a mud.on behalf of all nigerians,WE DEMAND AN APOLOGY.
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CT A said 12:24PM on 1-27-2009
RTF******A!!!!!!!!!!!
You idiot!
samuel said 11:59PM on 1-27-2009
@CT A,and u?shows that you are not cultured.pity your sense of reasoning!!
DBOY said 8:16PM on 1-27-2009
I am Nigerian too. I want to say to those other Nigerians here to shut up. You don't need to do any research to know the nationality of the scammer. I receive about 5 e-mails every week about some phoney sweepstakes I've won and guess who sent them, Nigerian scammers. If anyone should apologize here, It should be you for your idiotic and greedy countrymen scamming people of their livelihood. Any idiot knows there are both "bad apples" and "good apples" in every Nation in the world, but if a notorious crime is being committed repeatedly by a group from a particular region, don't get upset when people start making generalization about you based on your nationality. Its a safety precautions in all human being.
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Kelly Emmanuel said 10:15AM on 1-28-2009
I was in Singapore, i asked a Singaporean house Agent to get me an appartment he asked me to deposited some money, i deposited $500usd next day i asked him to give me my money back because the house is far from city, do you know what the agent told me? he can not refund me my money back, it is a good faith deposit, i report the case to the police the police called him and he told the police officer the same thing, when the police officer drop the phone he told me that the deposit is consider as good faith deposit, is that not a fraud? why anything about Nigeria always be the talk of the town? What of America killing the people of Iraq because of their oil? is that not a fraud? what of the British that scammed the Nigeria Oil? that not a Fraud? you all must go to hell one by one those that always called Nigeria bad name
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jch said 1:25AM on 2-24-2009
Oh well, just tell your country men to stop e-mailing us and we "might" consider stopping the bashing but until this happens -- sorry!!! ---ARe you serious about talking about the american's in Iraq - if you are here in the US -- please go home and leave the USA -- I have friends who died in NY at the trade center -- I really wish that these people would just go back to their own countries - if you don't like our ideas, etc than just go back to where you belong!!
TOP NEWS said 5:17AM on 3-25-2009
The other scammers you have to watch are a business called Trusted Traditions Inc. located in Lauderdale by the Sea Florida. The business is owned by a John Markis not his real name. His real name is John Maragoudakis and a search on the federal bureau of prison website will reflect that this man has served federal time for financial crimes and now sells in my opinion overgraded currency to unspecting members of the public and he also preys on the elderly to rip them off. BUYER BEWARE!!!!!
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