What additional or meaningful response do you have on student's paragraphs below regarding Nigerian money offers? See picture of Nigerian money offer example and student's paragraphs below.
Student's Paragraphs:
Characteristics found in this fraud that are similar to the characteristics found in all types of Nigerian money offers: The characteristics found in all types of Nigerian money offers per our text and those characteristics in the example are as follows: Money Promise - the promise of 25% of $50.2m or $12.55m Help Request - asking the recipient to "help" the auditor commit the fraud Relationship builder - calling the recipient "reliable and honest" and they "will never let me down". Also stating they will invest their share in "your country" Urgency - stating the money will revert to the government if they do not perpetrate the fraud, although this letter states that it will take five years Special recipient - stating they require "your" assistance as though no one else can help Face to Face Meeting - this is common although the example does not request a face to face meeting High Ranking official - the letter states the sender has "position and connection in the banks in South Africa"
Focus on why many people become victims of this type of fraud: In this case it seems that there is no risk to the victim. The perpetrator is allowing the victim to open a new, empty bank account so there is not a risk of theft by the sender. It may be tempting for some to give it a try since seemingly there would be no consequences. However, once trapped the victim could be blackmailed or the ruse would continue where they perpetrator would then request up front funds for fees or some other expense related to the transaction. I hope that most people know that they should never respond when they are approached, that they should be the ones initiating financial transactions. The saying if it looks too good to be true it probably is is true. Folks who fall victim to these types of scams are most likely in desperate need and are blinded by that. Per our text the elderly often fall victim to this type of scam because they are lonely, and the perpetrator is willing to spend time with them to gain their trust. This abhorrent behavior against our senior citizens should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law in my opinion, although per our text it often goes unreported because victims are ashamed to admit they were duped.
Original Message Subject: Fruitful Transaction From: Gardiah Mfana
Reply-To: inquiriesgm5@yahoo.com To: steve_albrecht@byu.edu Gardiah Mfana #45 Pine Way, Close Sandton-Johannesburg, South Africa. Dear Sir In order to transfer from a Bank some amount of money, I have the courage to look for a reliable and honest person who will be capable for this important business believing that you will never let me down either now or in the future. I am Gardiah Mfana, a consulting auditor of prime banks here in South Africa. On June 6, 2000 an American Mining Consultant/Contractor with the South African Mining Corporation, Mr. Gregory A. Williams made a numbered time (fixed) deposit for twelve calendar months, value US $50,200,000.00 an account. On maturity, the bank sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, the bank sent another reminder and finally his contract employers, the South African Mining Corporation, wrote to inform the bank that Mr. Gregory A. Williams died from an automobile accident, that he died without making a will, and all attempts by the American Embassy to trace his next of kin was fruitless. I therefore, made further investigation and discovered that Mr. Gregory A. Williams in fact was an immigrant from Jamaica and only recently obtained American citizenship. He did not declare any kin or relations in all his official documents, including his Bank deposit paper work. This money, total US $ 50,200,000.00, is still sitting in my bank as a dormant account. No one will ever come forward to claim it, and according to South African banking policy, after 5 years, the money will revert to the ownership of the South African Government if the account owner is certified dead. This is the situation, and my proposal is that I am looking for a foreigner who will stand in as the next of kin to Mr. Gregory A. Williams, and a Bank Account abroad will then facilitate the transfer of this money to the beneficiaryext of kin. This is simple, all you have to do is to immediately send me a bank account anywhere in the world for me to arrange the proper money transfer paperwork. This money (total USD $50.2M) will then be paid into this Account for us to share in the ratio of 70% for me, 25% for you and 5% for expenses that might come up during transfer process. There is no risk at all, and all the paper work for this transaction will be done by me using my position and connection in the banks in South Africa. This business transaction is guaranteed. If you are interested, please reply immediately, sending the following details: 1. Your full name/Address 2. Your private telephone/Fax number 3. Your full bank account details, where these funds will be transferred into, a newlan empty account can serve Please observe the utmost confidentiality, and rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to invest my share in your country. You have to note that you must send me a private fax number where I will be sending you documents in case I cannot e-mail it to you. I look forward to your earliest reply. Yours. Gardiah Mfana Original Message Subject: Fruitful Transaction From: Gardiah Mfana Reply-To: inquiriesgm5@yahoo.com To: steve_albrecht@byu.edu Gardiah Mfana #45 Pine Way, Close Sandton-Johannesburg, South Africa. Dear Sir In order to transfer from a Bank some amount of money, I have the courage to look for a reliable and honest person who will be capable for this important business believing that you will never let me down either now or in the future. I am Gardiah Mfana, a consulting auditor of prime banks here in South Africa. On June 6, 2000 an American Mining Consultant/Contractor with the South African Mining Corporation, Mr. Gregory A. Williams made a numbered time (fixed) deposit for twelve calendar months, value US $50,200,000.00 an account. On maturity, the bank sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, the bank sent another reminder and finally his contract employers, the South African Mining Corporation, wrote to inform the bank that Mr. Gregory A. Williams died from an automobile accident, that he died without making a will, and all attempts by the American Embassy to trace his next of kin was fruitless. I therefore, made further investigation and discovered that Mr. Gregory A. Williams in fact was an immigrant from Jamaica and only recently obtained American citizenship. He did not declare any kin or relations in all his official documents, including his Bank deposit paper work. This money, total US $ 50,200,000.00, is still sitting in my bank as a dormant account. No one will ever come forward to claim it, and according to South African banking policy, after 5 years, the money will revert to the ownership of the South African Government if the account owner is certified dead. This is the situation, and my proposal is that I am looking for a foreigner who will stand in as the next of kin to Mr. Gregory A. Williams, and a Bank Account abroad will then facilitate the transfer of this money to the beneficiaryext of kin. This is simple, all you have to do is to immediately send me a bank account anywhere in the world for me to arrange the proper money transfer paperwork. This money (total USD $50.2M) will then be paid into this Account for us to share in the ratio of 70% for me, 25% for you and 5% for expenses that might come up during transfer process. There is no risk at all, and all the paper work for this transaction will be done by me using my position and connection in the banks in South Africa. This business transaction is guaranteed. If you are interested, please reply immediately, sending the following details: 1. Your full name/Address 2. Your private telephone/Fax number 3. Your full bank account details, where these funds will be transferred into, a newlan empty account can serve Please observe the utmost confidentiality, and rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to invest my share in your country. You have to note that you must send me a private fax number where I will be sending you documents in case I cannot e-mail it to you. I look forward to your earliest reply. Yours. Gardiah Mfana
