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DEAD DAD'S WISH. Despite being promised 10% of $27 million and 15 minutes of irate protests from the brother, I refused to call the director of the security company, insisting he would have to call me. Within minutes of hanging up, the director himself called me -- again from a Nigerian area code, even though I had been led to believe he would be calling from London. After introducing himself by name and giving the title of his company, he told me that Princess and her brother "have submitted your name as the beneficiary to their father's account." So quick, considering the amount of paperwork that must be involved!
I asked why it was necessary to secure a foreigner when the funds were already in London. The dead father had insisted a foreigner be used, the director reiterated. And why are they too poor to afford shoes, as Princess E's brother had claimed, if their father had so many millions lying around? "This is not my duty to explain. I am a busy and very important man." he replied. Could they arrange a meeting in New York, I wanted to know? With the right paperwork and accounts, it could be arranged, he assured me. "They insisted I call you," said the caller before hanging up. "Can't you see how lucky you are?"
Others apparently do. The U.S. Secret Service has posted on its Web site a warning about the scam and a detailed explanation of how it works. And from the Central Bank of Nigeria comes a somewhat defensive statement "specifically intended for the benefit of those misguided people who, in the quest to make easy money at the expense of Nigeria, are defrauded by international fraudsters." The sole aim is to collect the advance fees -- either by cleaning out bank accounts or getting checks to cover fees for various taxes, attorney fees, transaction fees, or bribes. States the bank: "You have been warned several times before! You have been warned again!!"
THANKS, BUT NO THANKS. Other common confidence tricks revolve around third-party checks, which scammers claim they can't cash themselves. If you put up money as security and cash the problem check on their behalf, they will split the money. Of course, by the time you realize the check is no good, they have disappeared.
Then there are frauds built around "new investment funds," offers of special chemicals that transform ordinary paper into U.S. dollar bills, and other hoaxes. Marr says anyone who has lost funds through such schemes should contact the U.S. Secret Service in Washington, D.C. at (202) 406-5572 or by e-mail e-mail.
I would never have that opportunity. About 30 minutes after my discussion with the caller from the alleged security company, an e-mail appeared: "after your tel discussion with [the director], he formed the opinion that you might not be capable to assist us finalise this project, so he has advise us to continue our search in trying to get somebody who is god fearing willing and able to assist us. god be with you, princess and [K.]."
Copyright 2003, Bloomberg L.P.
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