31 Mar 2018

Good Business

by | posted in: Email Hoax | 0

I can’t believe that after these many years, these scams from Nigeria are still going around.  People may still be falling for them; it only takes one person to respond for these guys to make money.

Here are some tips on how to spot a fake email:

  • All text in CAPS.
  • No one wants to give you free money, specially $10.5m
  • The email is from the Central Bank of Nigeria, yet the email address is from a gmail account – The email address should match the name of the organization
  • Supposedly they have my name so why do they address the email as DEAR SIR/MADAM?
  • I have never done business in Nigeria so why would I have an outstanding payment record with the Government of Nigeria?
  • Some improper grammar/inconsistencies highlighted in orange

 

From: Alex Ugo<ikeminno@gmail.com>

Sent: Tuesday, March 20, 2018 7:46 PM

To:

Subject: Good Business

Body Content:

 MR ALEX UGO
    DIRECTOR INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT
    CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA(CBN)
                      VERIFICATION OF YOUR PAYMENT/WINNINGS FILE.
    DEAR SIR/MADAM
    THIS IS TO INFORM YOU THAT FROM THE RECORDS OF OUTSTANDING PAYMENT WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA,YOUR NAME/PARTICULARS WAS DISCOVERED AS NEXT
    ON THE LIST OF OUTSTANDING CONTRACTOR/INHERITANCE/LOTTERY WINNER WHO HAVE NOT RECEIVED THEIR PAYMENT.
    I WISH TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR PAYMENT IS BEING PROCESSED FROM THE ABOVE PAN AFRICAN BANK(CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA) AND WILL BE RELEASED TO YOU AS SOON AS
    YOU RESPOND TO THIS LETTER. ALSO NOTE THAT FROM THE RECORD IN MY FILE, YOU ARE FOUND AS ONE OF THE ABOVE BENEFICIARIES FROM THE ABOVE MENTIONED NATIONS YET
    TO RECEIVE OUTSTANDING PAYMENT OF(US$10.5m)
    KINDLY RE-CONFIRM TO ME THE FOLLOWING:
    1) YOUR FULL NAMES
    2) YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS
    3) YOUR FULL BANKING PARTICULAR
    4) YOUR DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBER
    5) YOUR OCCUPATION
    6) YOUR I.D CARD
    KINDLY CHOOSE ONE OPTION BELLOW HOW YOU WANT TO RECEIVE THIS PAYMENT
    A. AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINE (ATM)
    B. DIRECT WIRE TRANSFER TO YOUR NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNT
    C. DIPLOMATIC  CASH DELIVERY TO YOUR HOME COUNTRY
    CONTACT ME AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE THIS MEMO FOR MORE DETAILS AND DO CALL ME OR SEND ME SMS ON MY PRIVET CELL NUMBER
    WAITING TO HEAR YOUR URGENT RESPONSE
    MR ALEX UGO

As a general rule:

  1. If you don’t recognize the sender, don’t open or click on the link.
  2. If the email is from someone that you know but the email looks suspicious or too good to be true, don’t open it; confirm with your friend that he/she intended to send you the email by call or text; don’t reply to the email.
  3. Ignore and delete any emails that ask for your bank account information, SSN, drivers license number, Passport number, etc.
  4. Don’t open any attachments from unsolicited emails, they usually contain a virus.
  5. Place the cursor on top of the link (Don’t click it!) to reveal the address location where the link will take you (the link may be displayed at the lower left corner of the screen)
  6. Never, ever, ever provide personal information to an idividual that just approached you out of nowhere (Phone, email, text)