419 Diplomatic Consignment Scam

At the beginning of this summer (2014) I got into correspondence with a charming 'Captain Robert Morgan' who offered me certain irresistible business opportunities that would end my financial difficulties and make it possible to develop the projects I work on, both personal and for the betterment of the country I live in. Contacting him seemed like the answer to my many prayers. The only hitch was that there was no Captain Robert Morgan and no investment plan: it was a '419 Scam, ' so named after the article in Nigeria's Criminal Code dealing with fraud. Actually, it was a variety of the 419 Advance Fee Scam (remember Phillip K.Dick's story 'Second Variety'?). I don't know which order this variety is, but it's called 'Diplomatic Consignment Scam'. Unwittingly, I started 'scam baiting': I played along to see what his game was. And I found out that it was dirty and harmful. I have documented my whole 'romance' with 'Captain Robert' and included useful data that may give a clue on what to do in a similar situation. Nowadays, when we all actively use the Internet, any of us is a potential target of scammers. And these guys have no scruples. I believe my experience will be useful. Please, read it and warn others.

The various forms of "Advance Fee Fraud" make up a five-billion-US-dollar (1996 figures, now much more) worldwide scam, which has run since the early 1980s under successive governments of Nigeria. It is generally referred to as "419 Fraud" (Four-One-Nine) or "The Nigerian Connection." This book describes the problem, its origins, extent and various permutations. I have drawn on my own experiences of being defrauded by "419 scammers", as well as those of other such victims. Hopefully it will prevent others from becoming embroiled in these scams. The Advance Fee Fraud is perpetrated by enticing the victim with a bogus "business" proposal which promises millions of US dollars as a reward. Most of these scams involve requests to help move large sums of money from one part of the world to another, with the promise of a substantial share of the cash in return.

The "419" scam is an aspect of transnational financial crime with a 'modus operandi' peculiar to the Nigerian swindler. The most recurrent type of transnational "419" scam is the "advance fee fraud". It is usually introduced in the form of a business contract, a transfer of stolen money or money from over-invoiced contract, the purchase of crude oil from Nigeria at a relatively cheap rate, and transfer of money left by a deceased person (will scam). In all situations, the victim is eventually lured into an endless period of advance fee payment. The "black money" scam is almost as popular as the advance fee fraud and is sometimes, practiced in continuation of advance fee scam. The victim is introduced to a large sum of money that needs to be cleaned by a special liquid solution. The victim parts with money upon the supposition that the black money would be cleaned and given to him. The con man gets away with the victim's money leaving him with a bunch of worthless papers. The 419 Scam business is not restricted to defrauding foreigners. There are two groups of con men in Nigeria: The local and the International "419ners". The local groups specialize in defrauding Nigerians while the more advanced International syndicates fish out victims from Europe, America, Asia and South Africa. The local ones eventually grow to international status after they have made enough money to acquire computers, facsimile and telephone lines and other gadgets necessary for the scam business. "Tive's insight of the perpetrators behind the advance fee fraud coupled with his knowledge on the topic show that he is a true authority on the subject."- Ralph A. Gonzales, Special Agent-in-Charge, United States Secret Service "This book by Charles Tive is an excellent portrayal of the 419 scam, its operators, and its basic operations."-Gary M. Gibson, Regional Security Officer, U.S. Consulate Lagos. ".is a scholarly but readable summary of the history of and methods used by Nigerian scam / 419 operations."-The 419 Coalition, USA.

If you walk around the street expecting to find a scammer, you'll never find one until the scammer makes a fool of you, then you will know that they exist. 'There are hours when crime pays, when stolen waters are sweet, and punishment although lame, will come.' Crimes originate from the hearts of men. Crime can lead to many circumstances such as murder, imprisonment, and death. This novel explains how the advance fee fraud is executed based on both the testimonies of victims and perpetuators. It exposes the cunning of the perpetuators and the greed of the victims. The advance fee fraud is believed to have originated in West Africa during the 1970s, otherwise called the 419 scam after the Nigeria criminal code. It has spread throughout other parts of the world in spite of warnings by various security agents. An average fraudster believes and understands the rule of the scamming game. The terrain for the game isn't a place for truth, but for dupe. The rule of the game is characterized by, love, hope, fear and faith. The fraudsters see themselves as heroes and not criminals, unless ill luck catches up with them. Even then, they never agree that they did anything wrong.

The author believes that the religious arena has turned into a market place hence anyone can buy God and religious institutions can also canvass for membership to increase their sales. He expresses his dismay at most religions of the world and their levels of hypocrisy, particularly within the Pentecostal Christian community that is fragmenting into untold numbers and has turned into a tool of fraud and deceit; selling God, selling salvation, selling false dreams and false hopes; deploying stage- managed miracles as catch tools and also as tools of mind slavery. He is not comfortable with suicide bombers within the Islamic community who erroneously claim that such extreme level of ugliness will lead them into heaven. He says that the ways religious institutions are conducting themselves lately; we no longer know who created who; whether God created Man or Man created him for a purpose. According to the Christian Bible, Christ did say do unto others as you will have them do unto you; love one another hence the Author begs to know whether others and one another according to Christ mean all races and religious faiths since those golden rules are not being applied by those who told us about Christ. In the name of Capitalism and Materialism, Man has almost turned into a base animal hence making this earth look like a jungle where no rules apply and where conscience and love no more have a place. We live in times when Man create diseases and create their cures. The author believes that since most people especially Africans believe in the Bible information and Bible stories, and the Bible has it that the Pharaohs of Africa did enslave the Israelites in the past, then colonialism and slavery may be human nature and a form of revenge which one must also strive to resist. Colonialism seems to be a form of ugliness just like Apartheid, forceful dominance, slavery and other forms of Mans oppressions and inhumanity against fellow Man which happens from time to time in human history which humanity must also fight to outlive. The author disagrees with the notion that God chooses some people to rule over others, hence he believes that people choose themselves. According to the Christian Bible, Christ did say to his disciples that, greater things shall they do in his name, hence it is time that the so called Christian anointed men of God who are performing miracles only on church stages also walk on water for all to see. Unfortunately, the continent of Africa where it is said that civilization began, has more churches than factories yet the continent has failed to develop.

Nigerian crude oil is being stolen on an industrial scale. Some proceeds are laundered through world financial centers, polluting markets and financial institutions overseas. This report explores what the international community could do about it.