Nigeria - 419 Coalition 1998 News on Nigerian Scam / 419
Operations
19 DEC 98
17 Nigerians Held for Advance Fee Fraud in Abidjan
Africa News Service
18-DEC-98:
Lagos (P.M. News, December 18, 1998) - At least 17 Nigerians including two
women have been arrested and detained for allegedly indulging in Advance
Fee Fraud, a.k.a. 419 in Abidjan, the Ivorian capital.
Thousands of dollars is said to have been ripped off Ivorian businessmen.
BBC report this morning said the Ivorian police authorities yesterday foiled
the operations of the Nigerian fraudsters who were said to be using Abidjan
as their operational base.
The Nigerians were said to be operating as a gang and have wrecked at least
50 Ivorian businessmen after duping them of thousands of dollars in the
guise of transacting business with them. Report said the unsuspecting
victims were usually asked by fraudsters to provide details of their bank
accounts for the transfer of huge sums of money usually in hard currency.
The victims are subsequently duped as the Nigerians make away with whatever
is left of the victims account and they are never seen again as they
usually give fake addresses and phone numbers to their victims. BBC report
further said the Nigerian fraudsters were paraded last night before local
and international press journalists who took their photographs.
The Ivorian minister of security and the minister of Industrial Development
while parading the Nigerians before the press, showed the press a satellite
phone, two fax machines, a photocopier, and a typewriter which were
recovered from the Nigerian fraudsters.
Also recovered from them were 315 stamped envelopes, 900 stamps, 200 letter-
headed papers and 40 complimentary cards which were to be used to dupe more
Ivorian victims in Abidjan. The report further said that a total CFA10.9
million (Ivorian currency) was also recovered from the gang leader which he
was said to have used to try to bribe the Ivorian police.
An Ivorian policeman was said to have agreed to accept the bribe but later
rejected the offer as he alerted his colleagues who laid ambush and swooped
the gang leader and his accomplices. The fraudsters were said to be using
two sweet- tongued Nigerian ladies whose job was mainly to entice and lure
Ivorian Asian businessmen in Abidjan into investing their thousands of
dollars in non-existent business.
In recent months there have been increasing complaints of duping in Abidjan
which prompted several weeks of investigation and the eventual arrest of
the Nigerian fraudsters who were said to have wreaked a lot of havoc in
South Africa, Canada and the United States before re-locating their base to
Abidjan. The Nigerian fraudsters are said to be living in high class
neigbourhood where they pay more than two years rent in advance, thus
triggering sky-rocketing rent for accommodation in Abidjan.
By Moses Uchendu
Copyright 1998 P.M. News. Distributed via Africa News Online.
8 DEC 98
419 Coalition received this report today from a correspondent in Germany
( see below article as well ):
5 year-sentence for 419 Ring Leader in Düsseldorf, 4 years for assistant!
The superior court of Düsseldorf (Stadtschutzkammer) has today sentenced two
notorious 419-crooks of nigerian origin to 5 and 4 years imprisonment
respectively.
In a detailed elaboration of the background to the sentence, the presiding
judge emphasized his conviction that the 34 year old Godwin Usiayo (a
naturalized German) of nigerian origin, was the head of the 419 gang generally
referred to as the Nigerian connection. His so-called assistant Frank Edafe
(who was apparently responsible for telephone connections and logistics) was
sentenced to 4 years imprisonment.
In each case, the sentence was 6 months lesser than the prosecution pleaded
for.
The defence attorney laid special emphasis, in his plea, on the potential
psychological problems of Mr. Usiayo behind bars. Even though German on paper,
Mr. Usiayo has a poor command of the German language and is therefore
subjected to an automatic social isolation in his new residence. Furthermore,
he may not qualify for the privilege of deportation amnesty (being released
half-way through the sentence, for deportation back home) because he is no
longer regarded as a foreigner. He pleaded to have the co-operative attitude
of Mr. Usiayo duly taken into consideration. Mr. Usiayo confessed at a very
early stage of the proceedings and saved the judicial authorities a lot of
procedural troubles. In the view of the defence, the confession of the accused
was less tactical than repentant.
On the other hand, Mr. Frank Edafe may not serve his entire 4 years in prison.
Since he is not in possession of the German passport, he stands to benefit
from the deportation amnesty.
In his defence plea in favor of Mr Edafe, the attorney stressed that his
client was nothing else than a subordinate staff of Mr. Usiayo. He even went
further to emphasize that Mr. Edafe caused neither financial nor material
damages to any German institution. The Germans may therefore have no pressing
cause to place him on trial. Since all his actions were dependent on the good-
will or mood of Mr Usiayo he had less responsibility to bear. He accused the
German telephone organization Telekom for not acting swiftly to cut-off
telephone lines with which the criminal activities were carried out. High
telephone bills unpaid would have been reasons enough for this. Apparently
Telekom allegedly aimed at profiting from an apparently potential lucrative
subscriber. He further accused the German banks of having sparked off the
investigation but yet not having to pay back their profits from the criminal
transactions of which they were well aware. Every party to the success of the
gang was profit-inclined.
The presiding judge finally took all these facts into consideration in passing
judgement.
Victims of Godwin Usiayo include Americans, Australians, Britons and Italians,
some of whom are known to me by name.
Godwin Usiayo owns reasonable assets (luxury cars and villas) back home in
Nigeria and may stand to lose no material profit from being in prison. The
temporary bondage though is bound to be an enormous set-back to a young man
who became almost a millionaire at the expense of unsuspecting, though equally
crime-inclined international businessmen.
2 DEC 98
419 Coalition received this report today from a correspondent in Germany:
I refer to your report on "16 DEC 97" Quote: "Agents of the Düsseldorf State
Bureau of Investigations (LKA) have arrested a gang of 419'ers which had been
operating in Germany since 1988 ..."
The Ring leader of this gang "Godwin Usiayo" appeared before court today for
the first time at the "Stadtschutzkammer" in the Superior Court (Landgericht)
of Düsseldorf after an extensive confession during police interrogation. Final
hearing and judgement is fixed for the 8th of December 1998 at 9:00 hrs...
10 NOV 98
Post Office Intercepts Nigeria Mail
NEW YORK (AP) -- Postal agents said Tuesday they have intercepted
more than 2 million letters from Nigerian scam artists who have been
stealing $100 million a year from Americans.
The letters typically claim to be from a Nigerian government official
who promises to transfer millions of dollars out of Nigeria and into the
recipient's bank account if the recipient agrees to pay legal fees and
other costs.
The fees, which can stretch into hundreds of thousands of dollars, do
not stop until the recipient gets wise or runs out of money, said Lee
Heath, postal inspector in charge of the New York Division.
The letters, which have been destroyed, often use counterfeit stamps
to avoid paying postage.
© Copyright 1998 The Associated Press
419 Coalition Comment: This has been an ongoing project for some
time of which we were informed and asked not to mention, but apparently
policy has changed :) :) However, it WAS publicly announced a year
or so ago that about 5 nations had returned over 4 million letters ( see
the news piece on that in 1997 News ), most of which were 419 letters,
to the GOV of Nigeria. Of course, Paul Ogwuma, GOV of Central Bank
of Nigeria said in public This year ( see earlier 1998 News ) that the
total of the letters sent out of Nigeria was something like 288,000 and
that there were only 70 reported victims :) :) Ain't it amazing how
those nonexistent letters just keep coming, and coming and coming :) :)
On another note - we have said on our main page since day one that
the Government of Nigeria Are, in essence, the Crooks ( we have put it
more precisely in other writings that the Elites from which Successive
GOVs of Nigeria have been drawn Are the Crooks ). Over the last few
months elements within the Abubakar GOV appear to have agreed with
us, at least to the extent of Nigerian on Nigerian 419, which they are
calling "Executive 419". The family of Abacha has been forced to turn
over some $750 million to the GOV of Nigeria; Ismail Gwarzo, the former
National Security Advisor, has been hit up for some $250 million; and
Abacha's Finance Minister, Anthony Ani is currently under "attack" for
alleged misappropriation of funds. We at 419 Coalition are Very Pleased
that monies looted from the Nigerian treasury are being returned to
the Abubakar Government and hope that they will be used to better the
lot of the Nigerian people rather than merely serving as a - shall we
say - redistribution of wealth :) :) Though we have been following
these events for several months, we have refrained from much comment
on them and will continue to do so, as it is our view that monies looted
from the Nigerian treasury and the recovery of same is primarily a
Nigerian Internal Matter. We compliment the Abubakar GOV on their
efforts in this matter and say again we hope that the situation of the
People of Nigeria improves as a result of them.
However, we are still looking for action on Nigerian on Foreigner 419
in which like sums of money are repatriated to the nations from whence
they came. There has been no substantive action taken in that regard
as yet. It is 419 Coalition view that an effort to recover monies stolen
by Nigerian on Nigerian 419 and an effort to recover monies stolen by
Nigerian on Foreigner 419 need NOT be mutually exclusive endeavours.
23 OCT 98
nan - em - 11
"u.s. government to work with nigeria in the fight against
transnational crime
abuja, oct. 21, '98 (nan) the u.s. government has promised
to work together with nigeria to check the global danger
posed by transnational crime.
mr. rand beers, the u.s. acting assistant secretary of state
for international narcotics and law enforcement, said at a
news conference in abuja on tuesday that the global malady
had become a serious problem that no country could ignore or
solve alone.
he said that the u.s. had devoted ``considerable time and
resources both domestically and throughout the world to help
put an end to the scourge''.
he lamented that poor relations with the abacha
administration had made bilateral co-operation difficult in
the area of law enforcement.
``however, with the recent positive changes in the nigeria
government, we believe this is an opportunity to resume
dialogue on the issue,'' beers said.
he further pointed out that the u.s. regarded the latest on
the non-certification of nigeria's drug war as a statement
in the past, adding: ``we should now move into the future''.
the official said that everything would be done to ensure
nigeria succeeded in its efforts to check crime in and
outside the country, stressing that doing so was in the best
interest of both countries.
beers commended the current move toward democracy and
pointed out that the u.s. was encouraged by the public
statements of the head of state, gen. abdulsalami abubakar,
regarding his commitment to improving nigeria's law
enforcment record in the areas of financial fraud and
narcotics.
the beers-led team had had discussions on a variety of
issues with nigerian officials, among them narcotics
interdiction, financial crimes, money laundring, internal
controls and corruption. (nanemb)"
419 Coalition Comment: US Gov has already been Trying to
work with the Nigerian GOV on this matter for several years with
little success. We hope the new programme bears fruit. And we
continue to ask the Ultimate Question, ie. Where's the Money
and When Will It Be Repatriated?
10 OCT 98
Here is verbatim some material recently sent to 419 Coalition from Canada.
We found it interesting although as described it is more a case of alleged
Institutional Fraud than 419, so we thought we'd put it up:
>"There is something that you may not be aware of and it involves INDIRECT
>SCAMMING
>of the tax payers of the countries which happen to be non-regional member
>countries of the African Development Bank. USA and Canada happen to be such
>members, besides others. All of the non-regional member countries of the
>African Development Bank contribute hundreds of millions of dollars to the
>kitty of this bank out of the taxpayers' moneys.
>There is a project going on in Nigeria, involving the Rehabilitation and
>Expansion of Nigerian Sugar Company Limited. The project has been going on
>since 1991. The cost of this project is in excess of US$ 100 Million (US$
>Hundred Million) and African Development Bank has provided more than 80% of
>this cost. From all indications, the project will never see the light of
>the day with the result that this huge amount of money has gone down the
>drain. Wouldn't you call it SCAMMING because it is our taxes, our money
>that has gone down the drain. The reasons are that everybody involved has
>been siphoning out millions of dollars through kickbacks from the suppliers
>of goods and services to this project.
>The bank is aware of this but nothing has happened so far."
9 OCT 98
Cote D'ivoire-Fraud Nine
Nigerians Arrested in Abidjan
for Fraud
Africa News Service
03-OCT-98
ABIDJAN, Cote d'Ivoire (PANA, 10/02/98) - Nine Nigerians
suspected to be members of a notorious international "419" crime
syndicate have been arrested in Cote d'Ivoire, while attempting to
defraud a Japanese businessman of 35 million U.S. dollars.
According to the police, the arrests last week in Abidjan, followed a
tip-off by the Japanese embassy here that one of her citizens was being
courted by the swindlers at an hotel.
"It is a strong network of dangerous swindlers with many ramifications,
headed by Akpan, (alias Doctor Innocent Anih) and Jacob Effiong (alias
Prince), who are on the run," said an officer of the Ivorian anti-crime
police, Commissioner Honore Attaby, after the arrests.
Those arrested are Benjamin Chuka, Eric Owobo, Aladji Ousmane,
Mustapha Amzar, Jude N'Wadike, Theodore Oediman, Antony Paul
Lenus, Friday Ogou and Anyawiri Ikechukwu.
The police said the suspects were using the names of fictitious
companies like, Global Security, Assistance 2000, Transworld and CIE,
Uptrust Finance and Security to defraud their numerous victims.
The gang derived the "419" label from the Advance Fee Fraud Decree
gazetted as number 419, enacted during the presidency of Gen. Ibrahim
Babangida in the 80's to punish such swindlers.
Their strategies are very simple. They would fax a letter to prospective
victims and tell them that they had made a lot of money from a contract
in Nigeria which they would like to transfer abroad without their
government suspecting it.
They would ask the potential victim to furnish them with the details of his
or her foreign bank account into which they would deposit the money for
which he would be paid a fee of between 15 to 25 percent of the
purported amount to be transferred.
In the case of the Japanese victim, Uno Hideaki, they proposed 15
percent kickback if the could help them transfer 35 million U.S. dollars
to Japan.
"They organised a meeting in Abidjan on September 27, during which
they managed to convince their potential victim of the genuineness of
their proposal.
"After the negotiations, the Japanese opened an account in Abidjan into
which he asked the swindlers to deposit the amount for onward transfer
to Japan, without realising that he has fallen into the trap of fraudsters,"
Attaby said.
But, instead of doing that, the swindlers demanded their victim to give
them 28,000 U.S. dollars as guarantee, which the Japanese did.
"They came the next day asking for more by providing a bag full of fake
US dollars, but their victim, now suspicious, asked them to return the
next day, after which he informed his embassy which alerted the police,"
the police said.
Contacted, Nigerian embassy officials in Abidjan told PANA that the
"419" gang, had been operating in Cote d'Ivoire for the past three years.
"We warned the Ivorian authorities that they are a dangerous lot who are
on the wanted list in their country. But they told us their country has an
open economic policy, so whoever has money to invest is welcomed, "
an embassy official said.
"They have themselves to blame for refusing to take our advice,"
stressed the official.
419 Coalition Comment: Good for the Ivorians. As for the Nigerian
GOV remarks asserting that these were Bad Guys wanted in Nigeria
etc. etc. and they knew all about them etc. etc. we have a Word for
the Nigerian Diplomatic Corps - E-X-T-R-A-D-I-T-I-O-N. Of course,
most GOVs follow that word with a couple of others like Prosecution,
Conviction, and Compensation :) :) :)
1 OCT 98
In mid-September, 419 Coalition received an inquiry in from Peru
asking us if we had anything that indicated General Abubakar had
been involved in 419 operations. We replied that we didn't, but
that there was data publicly available on other High Officials,
such as Paul Ogwuma of CBN ( see the Adler Case news items in 96,
97, 98, Latest News ), and others.
Here is the reply we got back from the Inquirer, verbatim, without
comment or embellishment of any kind, in his words, remember that
English is the second language of the inquirer:
"Yes I am aware of Dr. Paul Ogwuma from the CBN, I spoke with him many times
and he call me last week and try to convince me about the business offert
and that I got involve in May 1996, yes I am another stupid who believe in
making quick cash and as our finantial situation in Peru was so bad I
though to solve this problem with my business this way, instead I lost US$
120,000.-, any how I ask you about General Abubakar because last October
1997 I receive a call from him in wich he offert pay the contract unpaid
and that it is under my company name at the CBN system in Nigeria, this
gentleman ask me to come over to Toronto Canada because I was going to get
pay in cash, since man curiosity some time act like drug I accept and
travel to Toronto, what I found there was the old game of deface money that
need a solution and be clean, of course I did not accept and travel back,
but after Gen. Abacha dead and leasing General Abubakar on the BBS of
London his voice was the same so I though that maybe this gentleman is also
involve. I will like to send you some information that could be a help in
order to capture this people and put them in jail for ever, I believe that
they are playing with fire and they are not considere peoples feelings and
most of all human factor, personally I have burier this but I really will
like to see them in jail, I have a very big file with letters, names,
address, bank accounts, telephone, faxes that may be a good help."
9 SEP 98
The Nigerian Government is investigating and has charged several bigwigs
in the Abacha regime with misappropriating GOV of Nigeria funds. One
fellow named Gwarzo, it is said, was ordered to return some $250 million
in GOV of Nigeria funds to the Treasury; and there appears that a concerted
effort is being made to determine Where the Money Went among those
described as Abacha henchmen, and where the Big Man's own monies went
( and where he and his pals Got it from in the first place ).
419 Coalition applauds the efforts of the GOV of Nigeria in this
matter, so long as it is more than a witch hunt type purge of Abacha
supporters. We feel that ALL those who have committed large scale
financial misdeeds under ANY Nigerian regime - not just the Abacha
regime - should be investigated and charged if evidence warrants.
We feel that ALL those in ANY regime Anywhere, not just in Nigeria,
who are under suspicion of large scale financial misdeeds should be
investigated and charged if the evidence warrants.
However, the investigations in Nigeria appear to be limited, so far,
to Nigerian on Nigerian crime only ( Government Officials stealing
from the Public Purse ). 419 Coalition calls for these inquiries to
be expanded to include Nigerian on Foreigner financial crimes - in
short, we want the investigations expanded to include those in and
out of Government who are suspected to be big time 419ers. This
has so far not happened. No 419er "Big Men" have been charged with
419 proper. No significant repatriation of 419ed funds has occurred.
419 Coalition has always believed the best strategy in stopping 419
would be from the Top Down. We are watching and so is the rest of
the world. And waiting..... And the 419 letters, faxes etc. keep
coming, and coming, and coming, in to homes and offices all over
the World....
14 JUL 98
George Qualley in the midwest has won his lawsuit and was awarded
$44,000 in compensatory damages and $1 million in punitive damages
from two US corporations.
In the Qualley suit, as we understand it, Mr. Qualley was instructed
by Nigerian 419ers to send monies to 2 US corporations in furtherance
of a legitimate business deal. It turned out, of course, that the
Nigerians had been 419ing Mr. Qualley, so he went to the US firms
and asked for his monies back. The US corporation said that they
had applied the monies to the account of the Bad Guys, who owed
them a legitimate debt, that they were going to keep the monies,
and ( essentially ) that where it came from was irrelevant to them
so long as their bill was paid.
So Qualley sued for his monies and won, as above. However, we
think the 419ers have gotten away with defrauding the two US firms
( who are apparently left holding the bag in all this ) which is, of
course, bad.
13 JUL 98
REPORT ON SECOND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON NIGERIA
Hosted by The Association of Nigerians Abroad
Held At Washington DC USA 9-12 JUL 1998
The Conferees were once again highly educated professional Nigerian
expatriates. Given recent developments in Nigeria, ie. the deaths of
both Abacha and Abiola, it seemed that most of the Conferees were still
adjusting to the dynamics of the new situation. However, all agreed the
new situation offers significant opportunities for the near and long term
future of the nation.
There were many speakers on various aspects of Nigeria. 419 Coalition
found two of the speakers to be particularly interesting:
Dr. George Ayittey of Ghana noted that many of the things that are
happening in Nigeria have not happened in a vacuum and that they have
happened elsewhere in Africa, and suggested that it is a constructive
approach to look at how other nations have addressed the problems
Nigeria faces.
Former US Ambassador to Nigeria, Walter Carrington, was the keynote
speaker at the Conference. He discussed his relationships with both
General Abacha and MKO Abiola. He also indicated that perhaps 1 OCT
98 was too soon for the new Government to schedule elections, but also
indicated that 1 OCT 99 would be too late. Ambassador Carrington Did
seem confident that elections will be held. He did note that regardless
of the Government in power, Nigeria had significant problems internally
and externally which must be dealt with, like 419.
Given events, 419 Coalition kept its presentation brief, mainly giving
stats and reiterating our view that no nation will seriously consider
punishing those who Lose monies due to Nigerian 419 operations if
Nigeria does not punish those who Make the Money. We also ignited
an unexpected firestorm when we suggested that ANA develop a program
to support enhanced Civics/ethics instruction in Nigerian schools
( something the schools of all nations including the US could do a lot
more of in our opinion ), which seemed a rather innocuous suggestion
to us.
All in all, the Conference was an interesting and well organized event,
and we thank ANA for Inviting 419 Coalition to participate.
8 JUN 98
General Sani Abacha, Head of State of Nigeria, died this morning,
apparently from heart failure. From 419 Coalition's very narrow
focus on Nigerian 419 operations, the effect of Abacha's death on
those operations is problematical. 419 has flourished in Nigeria
under successive Nigerian Governments preceding the Abacha regime
and continued to flourish under Abacha.
It has always been the analysis of 419 Coalition that the elites from
which successive Nigerian Governments have been drawn have furnished
the Big Man 419ers. Those elites are still in place even with Abacha
dead. Therefore, our initial view is that the effect on 419 operations
due to the death of General Abacha will be minimal. We think it will
be business as usual, and that given the uncertainty of the political
environment, that there may even be an increase in 419 activity as
people try to stockpile funds to provide for any eventuality.
However, let us hope that the people of Nigeria use this "opportunity"
wisely and install a responsible Government which believes in and
practices the Rule of Law. 419 Coalition would like nothing more
than to be put Out of Business, rendered unnecessary by a responsible
Nigerian Government.
Let us all hope, for everyone's sake, that this will happen.
26 MAY 98
The Special Advisor to Abacha on Drugs and Financial Crimes is
reported as saying the following in the Nigerian media according
to the "News du Jour" posting of this date in soc.culture.nigeria:
"The government is determined to eradicate money laundering, said
the Special Adviser to the Head of State on Drugs and Financial Crimes
Alhaji Adamu Mohammed."
To which 419 Coalition says Great, Adamu old Chum, successive GOV's
of Nigeria have been saying that since at least 1992 :) :)
What we want to know is: WHERE'S THE MONEY??? And when will it be
repatriated in anything like the Amounts in which it was stolen? Talk
is - and always has been - cheap... Readers, anytime you read stuff
like this coming from the Nigerian Government, just keep repeating this
no frills Mantra - Where's the Money? Where's the Money? Where's
the Money? Where's the Money? Or, for variation, you can try the
Jerry McGuire ( fun movie ) version of the chant, ie. Show Me The Money!
Show Me The Money! Show Me The Money!
Enjoy!
21 MAY 98
News from Ed Markey
United States Congress Massachusetts Seventh District
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Nicole Rutberg
May 21, 1998 (202) 225-2836
Markey introduces legislation to combat
Nigerian Advance Fee Fraud
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA)
today introduced the Nigerian Advance Fee Fraud Prevention Act of
1998 along with 15 bipartisan cosponsors. Nigerian Advance Fee
Fraud, known internationally as "4-1-9" fraud, after the section
in the Nigerian Penal Code which addresses fraud schemes, has
reached epidemic proportions.
"These scams are widespread, I have been targeted, my constituents
have been targeted, and millions of unwary Americans have lost
their savings to these fraudulent solicitations. This is the
ultimate international con game. Its time to shut it down."
According to data provided by the U.S. Secret Service, Americans
have lost over $100 million in 1997 and 15 foreign businessmen,
including 2 U.S. Citizens, have been murdered while in Nigeria in
connection with a 4-1-9 scam. Perpetrators of these scams are
rarely prosecuted or jailed by the Nigerian government, which is
also suspected in playing a role in these schemes.
"Unfortunately, too many people are susceptible to the lure of
pocketing $9 million just by offering up their bank account
information. The best way to avoid these scams is to just say
no. But these scam artists are sophisticated and aggressive
and should not be getting away with these frauds. The purpose
of this legislation is to bring Nigerian Advanced Fee Fraud into
the forefront of the public conscious, and focus the Government
on implementing a national and international strategy to combat
these scams."
The Nigerian Advance Fee Fraud Prevention Act of 1998
Expresses concern over the proliferation of 4-1-9 scams and the
lack of effective action by the Nigerian Government to combat such
frauds. Directs the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the
Treasury to jointly report on:
1. Actions taken by the Nigerian Government in apprehending the
perpetrators of 4-1-9 scams.
2. Efforts taken by the United States to inform Americans about
such schemes.
3. Other such actions which are or should be undertaken, including
the possible imposition of sanctions on the Nigerian Government.
4. What efforts are being undertaken by executive branch agencies
and officials to address these issues and coordinate U.S. Government
policies on such fraud.
# # # #
23 APR 98
The Nigerian newspaper ThisDay reports on 3 APR that joint raids by
US and Nigerian authorities have resulted in the arrest of 100 419ers
in various parts of Lagos State. Although US Government sources put
the number of arrests at closer to 50, they view the joint operation as
a success and hope to mount many similar operations in the future. 419
Coalition trusts that the arrestees will receive prompt trials and that
the monies they stole will be promptly repatriated, only time will tell.
23 APR 98
The Nigerian newspaper PM News reported in March that Hong Kong
Police have arrested 54 primarily Nigerian 419ers responsible for
an estimated $70 million in monies scammed worldwide. 13,350 fraud
related letters were also seized, 95% of which came from Nigeria,
most with forged stamps and postmarks, according to Hong Kong
Police Commercial Crime Bureau Chief Inspector Matthew Hemmings.
23 APR 98
As reported in the Guardian ( Nigerian newspaper ) in article "Seminar
Identifies Panacea to 419" on 29 MAR, page 3, which covers a two day
seminar in Lagos on 419 organized by the Nigerian - American Chamber
of Commerce, Paul Ogwuma, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria,
states that "about 244,300 scam letters had so far originated from
Nigeria to 30 Countries, out of which 70 victims have been recorded..."
Mr. Ogwuma must be in la-la land :) :) We here at 419 Coalition have had
reports from at least 60 countries in the last year alone, as has the US
Secret Service Task Force. Plus the 244,300 total letter figure is absurd,
given that the Governments of several western nations recently returned
something like 5 MILLION letters to the GOV of Nigeria and this was
reported in the Nigerian media and in 419 Coalition news. As to the 70
victims figure, Task Force has about that many a WEEK from the US alone,
not to mention the Rest of the World. 419 Coalition wonders why Ogwuma,
Nigeria's top Banking guy, who certainly knows better, would put out in
public such patently inaccurate information... more use of Goebbel's
Big Lie technique perhaps? :) :) C'mon, Paul, you can do better than
this, you disappoint us :) :)
Special Agent Jim Caldwell of the US Secret Service Task Force on 419
was also a key speaker at the seminar. He emphasized the need for
multinational efforts against 419 in order to bring it under control.
15 APR 98
This piece appeared in the 14 APR News Du Jour in the soc.culture.nigeria
newsgroup and was forwarded to 419 Coalition by a concerned Nigerian who
asks that it be noted that the great majority of Nigerians are Not 419ers:
>Nigerian News Du Jour - Tuesday 14 April, 1998
>A Daily Selection of Public and Private News On Nigeria
>
>=========================================================================
>
>In Today's NNDJ:
>=================
>
>"419" FRAUDSTERS MILK OVER $7M FROM WASHINGTON RESIDENTS :
>
>United States law enforcement officials have warned that Nigerians with
>connections with the military regime have duped Washington DC area
>residents out of more than $7 million in a variety of "419" fraud
>schemes in recent months, despite hundreds of arrests made by a task force
>of investigators in the last six years. "Watch out," said Helen F. Fahey,
>U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. Joining other federal
>and local authorities at a news conference Fahey said of those involved in
>the scams: "These people are very good at pulling cons on others." In one
>popular scam, authorities said, unsolicited letters or faxes are sent to
>people on official-looking stationery. The letter will contain a
>"confidential business proposal" from a purported Nigerian government or
>bank official. The letter writer states that he needs assistance moving
>millions of dollars out of Nigeria and promises a 30 percent commission in
>return for help. But first, the victim must send "transaction fees" and
>"tax fees" to the letter writer in Nigeria. "Greed supersedes common
>sense," said Peter Dowling, a Secret Service agent in charge of the
>Washington field office. He said 1,000 people with ties to Nigeria have
>been arrested in connection with scams in the last six years, and many
>have been deported. "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,"
>said Thomas Motley, of the U.S. attorney's office in the District.
10 APR 98
419 Coalition has received a report that a Church run soup kitchen
in Kentucky was recently targeted for 419 by Nigerian Scammers.
A Soup Kitchen, for God's Sake. C'mon people, give us a break...
10 APR 98
"GARDEN GROVE--At least a dozen local business owners have been
targeted in recent weeks by an international fraud ring and
police on Wednesday were warning others to be wary of letters
from overseas that promise easy money.
A barrage of letters from Lagos, Nigeria, are arriving at local
businesses with a bogus offer: Get thousands of dollars for
accepting a covert, international money transfer to your bank
account. Only later is the victim told of a last-minute expense
--a tax, government bribe or transaction fee--that needs to be
sent first.
The scam is well-known and often called the "Nigerian advance-
fee fraud." The scams likely take in hundreds of millions of
dollars each year from victims across the country, according
to the U.S. Secret Service, which handles about 100 calls every
day from people nationwide who have received the letters.
The letters have arrived in recent weeks at a local restaurant,
a computer store and a small roofing company, Eggen said, and
he suspects that the addresses and owners' names were accessed
via the Internet or a business licensing list.
So far, no one targeted by the recent Garden Grove mailing has
reported losing any money, but Eggen said he is concerned that
it may take weeks or months before victims realize they have
been scammed.
"And then they basically have no recourse," Eggen said, adding
that police and federal agents can offer little hope of recovering
the money.
The Nigerian government has refused to cooperate with extradition
efforts regarding the suspected culprits behind the advance-fee
fraud, and victims have had little or no luck trying to recoup
their losses, officials said.
Authorities said they believe that 15 foreign businessmen have been
murdered while traveling to Nigeria to confront their victimizers
and recover their money.... " Copyright Los Angeles Times.
Note: 419 Coalition was informed of this article by a concerned
Nigerian citizen, who asks us to note once again that the Vast
Majority of Nigerians are Not 419ers.
29 MAR 1998
This appeared the Friday 27 MAR "News Du Jour" in the soc.culture.nigeria
newsgroup and is confirmed by article "Royal Father faces 419 Charge"
in the Vanguard ( Nigerian newspaper ) of 27 MAR, page 3:
"TRADITIONAL RULER ARRAIGNED FOR ADVANCE FEE FRAUD
The Traditional ruler of Awkuzu in Anambra State, Igwe John Nebolisa,
was yesterday docked along with two others over alleged advance fee fraud
otherwise known as '419' at the Miscellaneous Offences Tribunal, Victoria
Island, Lagos. Igwe Nebolisa, Dr Akinsanya and John Achionye reportedly
defrauded a London-based Portuguese, Jose Manuel Santos-Periera of over
$300,000."
There was also another recent article in the newsgroup indicating that
there had been a 419 conviction in Nigeria, bringing the total number of
convictions to five, as we recall, ( two in absentia ).
As a side note, 419 Coalition has not noticed any decline in 419 efforts
from Nigeria so far in 1998, it seems to be business as usual, with the
site still receiving an average of 60+ hits per day and reports of scam
attempts, some successful - some not, from all over the world. We even
had a report recently from the island of Yap out in the middle of the
Pacific. FYI.
What 419 Coalition wants to know is When is the GOV of Nigeria going
to start arresting its own internal 419ers and 419er collaborators? Now
that will be an interesting day :) :) And, of course, our standard
question of 'Where Is the Money' is still very much on point in this
matter.
25 FEB 1998
The German media is reporting 1.62 million marks confiscated from
Nigerian 419ers. Here is the translation of the article:
"1.62 Million Confiscated - dpa Hannover. The state attorney of Hannover
has confiscated six accounts in Hamburg belonging to the world wide
operating fraudsters 'Nigera Connection'. State attorney Uwe Gorlich
just confirmed a report of the 'Welt am Sonntag'. The newspaper reports
that by this action first time money of this group was confiscated."
"The more than 100 victims have had good luck. "We will try to return the
money to them" said Gorlich. The 'Nigeria Connection' is active since 1988
in Germany with dubious business offers where members of the gang pretend
to be serious members of the Nigerian Government. By this manner the group
has made already several million DM."
For the original article in German Click Here.
18 FEB 1998
In the 16 FEB issue of Barron's magazine an article titled "Nigeria
Confidential" by Vincent S. Castellano, producer and host of "Real
Estate Nightmares," a talk show on WEVD, a New York radio station,
gives a first person humorous and detailed account of his experience
as a target of Nigerian 419ers. A must read :) :)
17 FEB 1998
In the January 1998 Periscope, the Newsletter of the Association of
Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO), there is an article on International
Crime, which deals primarily with Russian organized crime. However, in
the article General Barry McCaffrey, the national drug control policy
officer, is quoted as saying: "the Russians, along with the Nigerians,
are the most threatening criminal organizations based in the United
States."
10 FEB 1998
We had a request to post up in its entirety the latest article from
Nigeria Today on the Four Convictions for 419 in Nigeria that we
reported on over a week ago. Accordingly, here it is:
>> > _________________________________________________________________
>> >
>> > TODAY NEWSPAPER: FEBRUARY 8-14, 1998
>> > _________________________________________________________________
>> >
>> > Police make breakthrough: '419' specialists jailed
>> >
>> > Four notorious Advance Fee Fraud '419' criminal suspects have been
>> > convicted by the Miscellaneous Offences Tribunal in Lagos.
>> >
>> > Those convicted were Bright Ezekusi, Benjamin Inana, Helen Osuntuyi
>> > and Wilson Egbon. The four were arraigned on April 18, 1996 before the
>> > Miscellaneous Offences Tribunal, sitting at Plot 707 Adeola Hopewell
>> > Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, on a seven (7) count charge of
>> > conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretence, use of premises,
>> > fraudulent invitation and impersonation under the Advance Fee Fraud
>> > Decree.
>> >
>> > Tribunal Chairman, Justice Dorothy Edem, said that having reviewed the
>> > submission of the prosecution including the exhibits rendered, she was
>> > convinced that they were guilty of the crime and sentenced them as
>> > follows:
>> >
>> > On the first count, Bright Ezekusi and Benjamin Inana (1st and 2nd
>> > accused) were found guilty of conspiracy to the commission of the
>> > crime and were sentenced to 10 years each with hard labour, while the
>> > 3rd and 4th accused, Helen Osuntuyi and Wilson Egbon, were discharged
>> > and acquitted.
>> >
>> > On the second count, both first and second accused were found guilty
>> > of obtaining 60,000 US dollars from one Mr. Sigh Bajwa and sentenced
>> > to 15 years each on that count.
>> >
>> > Similarly, they were found guilty of obtaining 285,000 US dollars from
>> > the complainant, which bagged them another 15 years with hard labour.
>> > Benjamin Inana was also guilty of obtaining 6,900 US dollars worth of
>> > gift items and was sentenced to 10 years.
>> >
>> > On count 5, the second, third and fourth accused were found guilty of
>> > attempting to collect the sum of 1,534,000 US dollars from one German,
>> > Mrs. Springer-Beck and were sentenced to 10 years each.
>> >
>> > Additionally, the first, second and fourth accused were each sentenced
>> > to 7 years for fraudulent invitation while the first accuse, Bright
>> > Ezekusi, is to face another five years imprisonment for using his
>> > premises at No. 7A Type "D" LKSDPC Isolo for the purpose of Advance
>> > Fee Fraud, otherwise known as 419. All sentences are to run
>> > concurrently.
>> >
>> > The Tribunal chairman further ordered that Bright Ezekusi, the
>> > principal accused, pay restitution of 50,000 and 285,000 US dollars
>> > fraudulently obtained from the victims through the police.
>> >
>> > Failure to comply, said the judge, all his assets, moveable and
>> > immovable, should be auctioned and the proceeds paid to the
>> > complainant or their representative, while the balance is to be paid
>> > to the Government of Nigeria through the Accountant General of the
>> > Federation.
>> >
>> > Immediately after the judgement, the German lady, Mrs. Springer-Beck,
>> > jumped with joy and expressed appreciation to the Nigeria Police for
>> > bringing the culprits to book.
>> >
>> > Today learnt that Mrs. Springer-Beck is one of the few expatriate
>> > victims of 419 who have cooperated fully with the Nigeria Police in
>> > their investigations thus leading to the first ever conviction of a
>> > 419 case in a Nigerian court (See Editorial).
10 FEB 1998
In the FEB 8 - 14 issue of the Nigeria Today newspaper, an Editorial
on Nigerian 419 titled "A Show of Shame" appeared. 419 Coalition
responded to that editorial on a point by point basis in the newsgroup
soc.culture.nigeria in an article titled "Nigeria Today 419 Editorial"
which gives the original piece and responds to it paragraph by
paragraph. Here it is:
TODAY NEWSPAPER: FEBRUARY 8-14, 1998
( and 419 Coalition Paragraph by Paragraph Responses)
_________________________________________________________________
Editorial: A Show of Shame
BRITISH newspapers take delight in informing the British readers of
how fraudsters, crime syndicates and drug rings, mainly operated by
Nigerians have been ripping off Britain and USA of billions of dollars
a year.
True enough, Educating their citizens on this matter is a very useful
service performed by the press - and not just the Western press. Helps
deal with the "demand - pull" aspect of 419 the GOV of Nigeria is so
fond of citing, which is constructive in 419 Coalition view.
In an attempt to show the level of seriousness of the crimes, it is
said that the National Criminal Intelligence Service is expanding its
work against the gangs, while MI5 and MI6 have been drafted to
infiltrate them.
True enough, as we reported on our site over a week ago in the Latest
News section. 419 Coalition position on this is that we will take all
the help we can get and work with any group, government, or agency
which fights 419.
Variously referred to as 'Nigerian criminals' or 'West African
criminals', a reluctant admittance that they could not all be
Nigerians, these criminals are said to have been discovered working
inside government departments, the police and tax offices.
This is true enough, except that the piece we saw noted that the
criminals were "principally Nigerian" and no 'reluctance' to say
that was anywhere evident.
Individuals and companies are lured into believing that they would
profit handsomely by helping to transfer millions of non-existing
government money out of Nigeria. Once booked they are asked for an
advance or have money removed from their accounts.
Yes, that is Classic 419, the most common form. However, there are
other forms like the Will Scam, the Real Estate Scam, and Contract
Fraud Scam, and the nonpayment for Goods and Services scam.
Yet, in all their treatise of the Nigerian criminals, the British
tabloids neglect to mention that greed and fortune hunting by these
British individuals and organisations lead them to fall victims to
these criminal gangs.
Well, in Classic 419 the Nigerian GOV may have a point here, but
they do not in the so called "Legal" versions of the Scam like the
Will Scam, the Real Estate Scam, Contract Fraud, nonpayment for
Goods and Services etc. versions of 419. And then there is the
outright Extortion versions, of course, which tell the victim to
pay up or be killed. And the Nigerian Government certainly does
not address the greed and fortune hunting by its own citizens who
Make the Money in any degree commensurate with the magnitude
of Nigerian 419 operations.
For, how can one explain a situation whereby a reputable company will
agree to transfer money it knows nothing about, and even advance some
funds to facilitate the deal?
Once again, the focus on Classic 419, but even so, like it or not,
an element of trust is inherent in all business transactions, and
in Nigeria it is impossible to tell the players without a programme
and there is no programme :) :) The only way to be absolutely
certain one is not going to be ripped off in doing business with
Nigeria is to follow the 5 Rules for Doing Business with Nigeria
given on the 419 Coalition site.
There is a popular saying that "it takes two to tango". If Nigerian or
West African criminals are guilty of fraud, so are their British,
American or European victims.
In Classic 419, maybe, but once again this does not address the so
called "legal" versions of 419 operations is which there is no reason
whatever to call the victim anything but a victim, and concerning
which there is very little recourse for the victims in Nigeria.
Most significantly, however, is the sheer arrogance of their security
outfits who refuse to co-operate with their Nigerian or West African
counterparts in the fight against fraudsters, criminal gangs and drug
rings.
Now, this is an outright lie. Every security outfit in the World
that we ever heard of which deals with this thing states outright,
flatly, that it is the NIGERIAN authorities which are uncooperative
in this matter, and 419 Coalition has on file a statement from the
US Department of State dated less than two weeks ago which
confirms that. Frankly, it is appalling that Anyone would see fit to
print the above statement in outright defiance of the Huge mass of
data available as to the unresponsiveness of the Nigerian Goverment
in this matter. 419 Coalition can only assume that Goebbels has been
resurrected and moved to Nigeria, as, if he hasn't, his Big Lie technique
sure has :) :)
Times without number the Nigeria Police and specialised agencies such
as the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have appealed for
do-operation from the security networks of Western countries. Their
appeals have turned on deaf ears.
This is also an outright lie. The basic problem here is that the
security agencies of other countries ( not just the West ) want to
see some PERFORMANCE by the Nigerian authorities in dealing with
this matter, and there just isn't much given the extent of Nigerian
419 operations. The security services of other nations have no
intention whatever of being "419ed" by the Nigerian security
services in this regard, they would be glad to provide assistance,
but they want to see some home-grown Performance first.
Perhaps the reason may be that they do not wish to expose their own
citizens as fraudsters. But the fact cannot be hidden that '419'
thrives in Europe and America, which explains why they are ready
victims to the crime.
Once again, the focus on Classic 419 and no mention of the "legal"
versions. And perhaps the victims of it are "ready" victims, but
then the Nigerian 419ers who Make the Money are certainly Ready
Thieves :) :) And no country in the world is going to do anything
to its citizens who have been punished by Losing the Money until
Nigeria does something IN A VERY BIG WAY to those who Make It
commensurate with the magnitude of Nigerian 419 operations.
Mention must therefore be made of Mrs. Springer-Beck, the German
national who co-operated fully with Nigerian authorities when such
fraudsters attempted to dupe her. The effect has yielded positive
results with a notorious Advance Fee Fraud gang behind bars.
Yes, 419 Coalition reported on this case on our site over a week ago
and complimented the Government of Nigeria on their performance in
this case, which resulted in Four convictions. We also expressed our
fervent hope that there would be many more - commensurate with the
magnitude of Nigerian 419 operations - to follow. And in terms of
cooperating with Nigerian authorities, it is a canard that 419
victims are not willing to cooperate. There are publicly reported
cases of a Canadian and an Indonesian who were willing, for example,
( see Asia magazine ) and once the Indonesian volunteered to testify
he never heard from the Nigerian authorities again. There are many
others similar, ask any security agency anywhere in the world that
deals with this matter It would also be a bit overexuberant for
the Nigerian media to wax too lyrical over Four Convictions in this
matter ( though they are welcome ) when last year in US alone there
were some 500 convictions of those who illegally benefited from 419
and in UK in 1995 111 convictions were reported.
It is a show of shame that with all their sophistry in crime
detection, British and American police forces consider Nigerian or
West African criminal gangs a threat. After all, these criminal gangs
can never be as sophisticated and as well connected as the Mafia or
the drug cartels whose home base is the same western countries.
Well, in reality, the Nigerian 419ers are indeed not very sophisticated
and the only real problem any security agency has in controlling them
is that they have a Safe Haven in Nigeria and can hide under the
protection of Nigerian Sovereignty. That is the major problem which
faces the security agencies of the rest of the world, and indeed
that is the primary obstacle to controlling Nigerian 419 - period.
Pascale
Coordinator
419 Coalition
http://home.rica.net/alphae/419coal/
3 FEB 1998
UK National Criminal Intelligence Service and Reuters report that in
an effort to combat rising West African gang-related crime in the UK,
the NCIS set up the West African Organized Crime Section to pool
intelligence from police, customs, Interpol, and other agencies. A
NCIS spokesman said "In the past, there have been various agencies
probing various aspects of the crimes. Now we have a multi-agency
unit able to investigate all aspects." The West African gangs, principally
composed of Nigerians, operate international fraud and drug smuggling
operations. The new agency is expected to collect and analyze data
and then pass the information to police and customs agents.
2 FEB 1998
The UK National Criminal Intelligence Service and The Independent
( London ) report that West African criminal gang activity in the UK is
becoming such a problem that the UK Security Service (MI5) and the
Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) have been used to clamp down on
crime. Criminals, principally Nigerians, have been discovered working
in UK government departments, police, and tax offices. The problem
has escalated to such a serious level that the NCIS is expected to
announce an expansion of its current efforts to thwart the criminal
operations. Allegedly, agents and eavesdropping equipment from
MI5, MI6, and the listening post at the Government Communications
Headquarters (GCHQ) in Cheltenham are being used to investigate
crime in Nigeria. Intelligence agencies are assisting the NCIS in the
more serious crimes perpetrated by the gangs, including benefit
fraud, cocaine trafficking, fraud, and illegal immigration. The agencies
are providing expertise in infiltration, bugging, covert surveillance,
and identification of the targets. The gangs are alleged to have
strongholds in Europe and the US.
2 FEB 1998
The United States Secret Service Task Force is reporting that they
are seeing increased use of counterfeit stamps and fake franking ( the
cancellation of stamps ) on 419 materials originating from Nigeria.
Now, the use of counterfeit stamps and fake franking is nothing new
for the Bad Guys, but given the 5 Million Letters, most of which were 419
letters, returned to the Nigerian Government last year by several GOVs for
counterfeit stamps and fake franking ( and those were just the ones that
happened to be noticed - see 1997 News ) it gives one a feel for the actual
magnitude of Nigerian 419 operations. Additionally, C'mon There Bad Guys,
you simply Have to accept Some cost of sales for all these mailings, hell,
the least you could do is be Patriotic, Buy Your Stamps, and quit 419ing
your own Countrymen :) :)
29 JAN 1998
US Embassy Lagos is reporting that the Nigerian media is reporting
the Conviction of Four Nigerian 419ers who Made the Money, in these
cases about N105.38M ( in USD that's $4,790,000 at the internal Nigerian
GOV rate of about 22-1 and $1,405,066 at the everybody else rate of
about 75-1 ).
The aggregate of all four sentences is reported to be 106 years, with
two 419ers on hand to serve the time, the other two being abscondees
apparently convicted in absentia.
Restitution is to be paid in the case, along with fines and police costs.
If these are not paid in short order, the assets of those convicted are
to be liquidated and used for these purposes, the Nigerian media said.
419 Coalition supports efforts by anyone or any agency to fight 419,
and in this very welcome and precedent setting case the Government
of Nigeria has earned its salt. Our compliments to the Government of
Nigeria, and we at 419 Coalition hope that this case will be the first of
many such until "supply-push" 419 is brought under control in Nigeria.
26 JAN 1998
The Los Angeles Times of 24 JAN 1998 in an article titled "Nigerian
Con Artists Netting Millions in Advance-Fee Schemes" by Jack Nelson,
Chief Washington Correspondent, has the following items of interest:
"Over the last three years 15 foreign businessmen have been killed
after travelling to Nigeria and pushing too hard to recover money lost
to Nigerian con men.... British authorities say it [419 fraud] has reached
epidemic proportions... police here [UK] arrested 111 Nigerians in
1995 in connection with the scams - only a fraction of the number that
they say were involved."
Mr. Nelson adds "Authorities [US and UK] warn that money derived from
the schemes is often used to support more violent crimes, especially
those involving drug trafficking... Corrupt Nigerian Government officials
also play a large role in the schemes, according to a State Department
official... Perpetrators of the fraud are seldom prosecuted."
He notes that "In August 1995 the US, Britain, and 33 other countries had
sent a letter to Nigeria protesting its failure to do anything about the
extradition issue [Nigeria has repeatedly refused to extradite 419 type
criminals to the US and elsewhere] or the advance-fee fraud." He quotes
State Department official Jonathan Winer as saying "We got two replies
from them. First, they blame greediness of foreigners for falling for the
fraud schemes and say 'We need your help, we don't know what to do.'
Or they say they have done something about it, which is patently untrue."
Mr. Nelson closes with "Because of Nigeria's lack of cooperation, the
country has been decertified for US foreign aid since 1993" and notes
that "Victims have invariably failed when they tried to recover their
losses."
7 JAN 1998
The NECA News, an industry trade publication, has published its second
article on 419. It is an excellent summary of the situation, and while it
is not usually 419 Coalition policy to scan in articles on the Scam ( there
are simply too many ) we just Had to scan this one in for you, we Loved the
Graphic :) :) Looks like the Coordinator's Cousin Guido from South Philly
:) :) Visit Cousin Guido Here
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