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Μία ενδιαφέρουσα κατηγορία απατών είναι τα λεγόμενα
Nigerian Scams (απάτες Νιγηρίας). Κάποτε κυκλοφορούσαν με ταχυδρομείο,
τώρα όμως τρέχουν μέσω e-mail. Στην Αμερική, είναι γνωστά επίσης
σαν "Advance Fee fraud" ή "419 fraud" (το 419
έρχεται από το άρθρο 419 του Νιγηριανού Ποινικού Κώδικα, το οποίο
απαγορεύει και καθιστά παράνομες τέτοιες απάτες).
Η όλη ιστορία είναι ως εξής: Λαμβάνετε ένα e-mail
από κάποιον με αφρικανικό όνομα, που υποστηρίζει ότι έχει ένα μεγάλο
ποσό "παγιδευμένο" σε μία χώρα της Αφρικής (η ιστορία
ξεκίνησε από την Νιγηρία, γι αυτό και ονομάστηκαν Nigerian scams)
και χρειάζεται την εταιρεία σας για να το βγάλει στο εξωτερικό.
Από την μεταβίβαση αυτή εσείς θα κρατήσετε ένα ποσοστό 10-30% του
ποσού αυτού. Οι λόγοι που τον εμποδιζουν να βγάλει τα χρήματα από
τη χώρα διαφέρουν αλλά πάντα σαν λύση προβάλλεται η διαμεσολάβηση
της εταιρείας σας. Το γράμμα ή e-mail ξεκινά με μία έκκληση για
εχεμύθεια και ζητά τη βοήθειά σας καθώς σας εμπιστεύονται για να
εκτελέστε την όλη διαδικασία.
Στην αρχή ακούγεται ακίνδυνο άφού δεν έχετε να χάσετε
τίποτε αν κάποιος μεταφέρει χρήματα στο λογαριασμό σας, αλλά σύντομα
τα πράγματα περιπλέκονται. Οι απατεώνες θα σας ζητήσουν επίσημα
χαρτιά που επιβεβαιώνουν την ύπαρξη της εταιρείας σας και θα σας
στείλουν πλαστά έγγραφα που υποτίθεται επιβεβαιώνουν ότι τα όσα
λένε ισχύουν. Αφού γίνει η πρώτη συνεννόηση (θα σας δώσουν τηλέφωνα,
fax, ονόματα δικηγόρων που συνεργάζονται μαζί τους ή δρουν ως αντιπρόσωποί
τους) σας ενημερώνουν ότι πρέπει να επισκεφθείτε τη χώρα τους για
να υπογράψετε κάποια χαρτιά. Σας διαβεβαιώνουν ότι πρόκειται για
απλές γραφειοκρατικές υποθέσεις και σε καμιά βδομάδα θα έχει τελειώσει
η όλη διαδικασία και θα έπρεπε να κρατάτε κάποιο μικροποσό για πιθανά
έξοδα (λαδώματα, .
Εδώ αρχίζουν τα ωραία. Αν όντως κάνετε το ταξίδι προς
τη χώρα αυτή, συμβαίνουν τα παρακάτω σενάρια:
- Αφού φτάσετε εκεί σας απαγάγουν, σας παίρνουν ότι χρήματα έχετε
και σας αφήνουν νύχτα στο αεροδρόμιο να φύγετε.
- Αφού φτάσετε εκεί σας απαγάγουν και απαιτούν λύτρα από την οικογένειά
σας. Μην φαντάζεστε ότι ζητάνε μόνο πολλά εκατομμύρια, ακόμη και
10.000 Euros φτάνουν, αλλά ανάλογα με την οικονομική επιφάνεια
του θύματος οι τιμές μπορούν ν' ανέβουν. Πολλές φορές αυτή η εκδοχή
ακολουθεί την πρώτη και μετά είτε σας αφήνουν στο αεροδρόμιο νύχτα
είτε σας σκοτώνουν (...).
Πολλοί άνθρωποι έχουν χάσει τη ζωή τους και ακόμη
περισσότεροι ολόκληρες περιουσίες ακολουθώντας τέτοιες υποσχέσεις.
Θα μας πείτε "μα καλα, ποιός θα πήγαινε στη Νιγηρία έτσι εύκολα;"
κι εμάς μας φαίνεται πολύ ύποπτο για να το ακολουθήσουμε αλλά στην
έρευνά μας, βρήκαμε φίλο του οποίου ο πατέρας την είχε πατήσει έτσι
πριν καμιά δεκαριά χρόνια. Πήγε με φίλους εκεί και ίσα που την γλύτωσε
ζωντανός... Πολλές φορές πληρώνουν και το εισητήριο του θύματος
για να κάνουν την απάτη πιο πιστευτή.
Οι αριθμοί είναι εντυπωσιακοί: Σύμφωνα με το Internet
Fraud Report του FBI για το 2001, περίπου 2,600 άτομα στις Ηνωμένες
Πολιτείες ανέφεραν προβλήματα με τα Nigerian Scams το 2001, και
από αυτά 16 άτομα δήλωσαν απώλειες συνολικά $345,000. Βεβαίως, τα
επιτυχημένα κόλπα είναι πολύ περισσότερα και σύμφωνα με στατιστικές
του FBI, μόνο 1 στα 10 Nigerian Scams καταγγέλεται στις αρχές. Επιπλέον,
25 περιπτώσεις Αμερικανών που εξαφανίστηκαν (και πιθανότατα δολοφονήθηκαν)
σε χώρες της Αφρικής συνδέονται άμεσα με Nigerian Scams.
Η όλη απάτη είναι δύσκολο να καταγγελθεί αφού γίνει
γιατί ποιός θα πήγαινε να πει στις αρχές μίας χώρας ότι ήρθε από
το εξωτερικό για να ξεπλύνει χρήματα και τον εξαπάτησαν; Επίσης,
οι εκεί απατεώνες φροντίζουν τα θύματα να έρχονται χωρίς τα απαραίτητα
χαρτιά για να πληρώνουν πολλά όταν χρειαστεί να φύγουν. Κορώνα ή
γράμματα χάνεις...
Δείτε ένα τέτοιο γράμμα:
l am DR. MRS MIRIAM ABACHA, wife of the late
Nigeria Head of State, General Sanni Abacha who died on the 8th
of June, 1998 while still on active duty. l am contacting you in
view of the fact that we will be of great assistance to each other
likeness developing a cordial relationship.
I currently have within my reach the sum of
Twenty Two Million US Dollars (US$22,000,000.00) cash which l intend
to use for investment, like Real Estate Development specifically
in your country. This money came as a payback contract deal between
my late husband and a Russian Firm on our countries multi-billion
dollars Ajaokuta Steel Plant.
The Russian Partners returned my husband's share
of USD$22,000,000.00 after the death of my husband and lodged in
my husband's security company of which l am director right now,
the new Civilian Government have intensified their probe on my husband's
financial and oil company. In view
of these, l acted fast to withdraw the US$22,000,000.00 from the
company's vault and deposited it in a West African Security Company
in Accra-Ghana. I have since declared the Security Company bankrupt.
No record ever existed concerning the money traceable by the government
because there is
no documentation showing that we received the money from the Russian.
Due to the current situation in the country
concerning government attitude towards my family, it has become
quite impossible for me to make use of this money within. Let me
refer you to the front page of this day newspapers of 10th March
2001. You can check it through their website
(www.thisdayonline.com/archives/2001).
The present government in Nigeria had frozen and seized all my bank
accounts both here in Nigeria and abroad. Thus consent l shall expect
you to contact me urgently to enable us discuss in detail about
this transaction. Bearing in mind that your assistance is needed
to transfer this fund, l proposed a percentage of 30% of the total
sum to you for the expected service and assistance, 15% for offsetting
minor expenses incurred in the course of this transaction. Your
urgent response is highly needed as to stop further contacts. All
correspondence must be by the email address above. l will give you
my tel/fax numbers where you can contact me when l hear from you.
l must use this opportunity to implore you to exercise the utmost
indulgence to keep this matter extraordinarily confidential whatever
your decision while await your prompt response.
NB: Because of the security being mounted on
the members of my family, l have decided That this transaction be
kept in utmost secrecy, remember to include your private Tel/fax
or mobile number for easy communication.
Best Regards.
DR. (MRS) MIRIAM ABACHA.
ή επίσης και το παρακάτω:
Prince Mark Alloy
tel:221 6635155
Attn:D
Dear sir,
I have got your contact in the cause of my serious
search for a reliable foreign partner through a profile in which
convinced me of your honesty accountability in handling business
investment.
However,I am Prince mark Alloy.sierra leonian
by nationality, my father was one of the fodeh sankoh Revolutionary
United Front (R.U.F)in sierra Leone in West African.
I confide in you hoping you will never betray
me at last. My most required concern is for you to recognised me
as your best friend while establishing a long lasting business relationship
for our future.
Presently,I am in Dakar-senegal with the sum
of fifteen point five million United States Dollars(US$15.5m).These
money was appropriated by my father before his death thruogh Diamond
sales when Rrevolutionary Movement (R.U.F)conquered one of the Diamond
region,by then my father was the Chief in my region and the Director
of KONO Gold and Diamond Site CO-OP the money was kept under my
father care for the purchase of arms from Ukraine.
It was a sitution of war so my father died,
I consider it my chance and then move immediately to Dakar-
Senegal and Deposited this fund in a security company for save keeping
since then I have beimg looking for a nice business to invest this
fund into.
My aim of contacting you is to assist me in
two ways (1)to help and transfer the money to your country
(2)and to help me get a profitable business for importation or help
me to investment any where in oversea all is base on your professional
advise and accptance to get together without minding my age.
Note that a substantial portion of these money
would be compensated to you for all your assistance.as soon as i
hear positive anwser from you i will make arrangement on how to
move this fund with your name whereby you will receive as my partner.
Finally, keep this with your utmost secrecy
and confidentality as you can understand my present condition in
Dakar-Senegal because i am into hiding as you can understand.
Thanks for your co-operation.
Faithfully Yours
Prince mark Alloy
NB:you can include you private phone and fax
number
when replying for direct contact on this arrangment.
δείτε κι άλλο ένα:
TO: THE DIRECTOR
DEAR SIR,
I AM DR. RAMOS ORLANDO, DEPUTY SECRETARY TO
THE NIGERIAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION, PARENT BODY OF THE WORLD YOUTH
CHAMPIONSHIP, NIGERIA '99 LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE (LOC), AND
AFFILIATE OF FEDERATION OF INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION (FIFA.
IN THE COURSE OF OUR PREPARATION TO HOST THE
WORLD YOUTH SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP TAGGED (NIG. '990 EARLY LAST TWO
YEARS, HUGE SUMS OF MONEY RUNNING INTO MILLIONS OF UNITED STATES
DOLLARS WAS BUDGETED BY THE THEN MILITARY GOVERNMENT FOR THE SUCCESSFUL
HOSTING OF THE TOURNAMENT. IN THE SAME VEIN, FIFA VIA ITS PRESIDENT,
MR. JOSEPH (SEPP) BLATTER ALSO MADE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AVAILABLE
FOR THE SAME PROJECT, THIS IS ASIDE FROM VOLUNTARY DONATIONS FROM
CORPORATE BODIES AND SOCCER LOVING INDIVIDUALS ALL AIMED AT A SUCCESSFUL
STAGING OF THE TOURNAMENT.
HOWEVER IN MY CAPACITY AS THE DEPUTY SECRETARY
TO BOTH THE LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE (LOC), AND THE NIGERIAN FOOTBALL
ASSOCIATION (NFA), I, ALONG WITH TWO OF MY COLLEAGUES IN SENSITIVE
POSITIONS WERE ABLE TO OVER-INVOICE MOST OF THE CONTRACTS, WHICH
WE RE-AWARDED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND REFURBISHING OF THE 8 STADIA
USED FOR THE COMPETITION.
THE CONTRACTORS THAT HANDLED THE PROJECTS HAVE
BEEN PAID OFF WHILE A STAGGERING SUM OF US$30,000,000.00 WAS REALIZED
AS OVER-INVOICED AFTER THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION AND COMMISSIONING
OF THE PROJECTS.
THIS OVER-INVOICED SUM IS LYING IN MY ORGANIZATION'S
(NFA) SUSPENSE ACCOUNT WITH THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA AWAITING
PROCESSING AND TRANSMISSION TO THE BENEFICIARY'S ACCOUNT OVERSEA
SINCE THE MAJOR CONTRACTS WERE AWARDED TO FOREIGN CONTRACTORS.
MY CONTACTING YOU FOR THIS TRANSACTION AT THIS
POINT IN TIME THEREFORE WAS BASED ON A RECENT DIRECTIVE BY OUR FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TO THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (OUR APEX BANK) TO COMPILE
THE NAMES OF ALL FOREIGN CONTRACTORS BEING OWED OVER THE YEARS BY
THE VARIOUS GOVERNMENT MINISTRIES AND OF WHICH
NIGERIAN NIGERIAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION (NFA) IS ONE, AND ALSO THE
DETERMINATION OF THE PRESENT CIVILIAN ADMINISTRATION TO OFF-SET
ALL SUCH DEBTS, WE HAVE THUS DECIDED TO UTILIZE THIS OPPORTUNITY
BY PRESENTING YOUR COMPANY AS ONE OF THOSE BEING OWED BY OUR CORPORATION
(NFA) SO THAT WE CAN USE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRANSFER THE OVER-INVOICED
US$30,000,000.00 INTO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT FOR OUR MUTUAL BENEFIT.
NOTE THAT YOUR LINE OF BUSINESS DOES NOT NECESSARILY MATTER AS WE
HAVE DONE OUR HOME WORK PERFECTLY WELL TO ENSURE A SMOOTH AND HITCH-FREE
TRANSACTION.
I AND MY COLLEAGUES HAVE AGREED AMONG OURSELVES
THAT 30% OF THIS TOTAL AMOUNT SHALL BE FOR WHOEVER SHALL COLLABORATE
WITH US TO FACILITATE THIS FUND TRANSFER, 60% FOR US AND THE BALANCE
OF 10% TO BE MAPPED OUT FOR INCIDENTAL EXPENSES THAT MIGHT BE INCURRED
IN THE COURSE OF THE TRANSACTION.
FINALLY, I WISH TO ASSURE YOU THAT EVERYTHING
WE SHALL BE DOING IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THE TRANSACTION WILL NEITHER
HAVE ANY LEGAL IMPLICATION BOTH ON YOU AS A PERSON NOR ON YOUR COMPANY
AS AN ENTITY EITHER NOW OR IN THE FUTURE. THE GOVERNMENT IS QUITE
AWARE THAT THERE IS AN OUTSTANDING US$30 MILLION TO BE PAID TO A
FOREIGN CONTRACTOR WHO DULY EXECUTED A CONTRACT, THE ONLY THING
THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF IS THAT IT IS OUR DESIGN BY OVER-INVOICING
THE CONTRACT FOR OUR OWN BENEFIT. AS SUCH YOU SHOULD NOT ENTERTAIN
ANY FEAR AT ALL, YOUR SECURITY AND PROTECTION IS HIGHLY GUARANTEED
AND YOU SHOULD TAKE ME FOR MY WORDS, AS WE ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE
CITIZENS HERE IN MY COUNTRY.
PLEASE REACH ME THROUGH MY FAX NUMBER OR E-MAIL
ADDRESS ABOVE SIGNIFYING YOUR INTEREST IN THIS BUSINESS. THIS INFORMATION
IS HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL AND URGENT. FURTHER INFORMATION WILL BE CONVEYED
TO YOU AS SOON AS I RECEIVE YOUR ACCEPTANCE LETTER. ENDEAVOUR TO
INCLUDE YOUR CONFIDENTIAL TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS, AND POSSIBLY
YOUR MOBILE NUMBER TO ENHANCE AN EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION.
BEST REGARDS,
DR. RAMOS ORLANDO
Υπάρχουν πολλές παραλλαγές όπως κάποιος που ζητά να
επενδύσει στην επιχείρησή σας (δείτε παρακάτω) τεράστια ποσά, και
αφού σας τραβήξει στην Αφρική, σας απαγάγουν και η κατάληξη είναι
η ίδια. Αυτή η παραλλαγή λέγεται Nairobi scam και έχει σαν στόχο
επιχειρηματίες. Δείτε το παρακάτω παράδειγμα:
Dear Sir,
I am a legal practitioners and an import-export
consultant in West African region.
One of my clients is interested in investing
multi Million Dollars in your country and she is interested in investing
with your company . kindly forward all your companys activities
to me
for immediate deccission on the investment program
Total amount to be invested=
$75,000,000,00.usd...................................Cash investment
4Metric tons of AU in dust...........................Treasure investment
Precious stones, quantity not decleared..............Treasure investment
Origin Democratic republic of congo.
Immediately i receive your details i will inform
her and feed you with her arrangements.
anticipating your immediate reply.
Best regards.
Evans Cosky.
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