Have
you ever got letters purportedly from your friends, telling you pathetic
stories about their predicament and asking you to pay money into certain bank
accounts to help them solve one problem or another? If you have, you may be a
potential victim of fraudsters, who hack into the mailboxes of unsuspecting
people and sending mails using the owners’ names. It’s another brand of advance
fee fraud, popularly called 419, in the country.
you ever got letters purportedly from your friends, telling you pathetic
stories about their predicament and asking you to pay money into certain bank
accounts to help them solve one problem or another? If you have, you may be a
potential victim of fraudsters, who hack into the mailboxes of unsuspecting
people and sending mails using the owners’ names. It’s another brand of advance
fee fraud, popularly called 419, in the country.
Saturday Sun investigation has revealed how the fraudsters
operate and has actually got bank account numbers they use.
operate and has actually got bank account numbers they use.
Our investigation had started when letters purportedly written
by Sunny Ojeriakhi were sent from his mailbox. Some curious friends who got the
letters had called him to sympathise with him over the predicament the letter
stated. Such unsolicited sympathy from friends threw him aback.
On enquiry, Ojeriakhi learnt that mails in his name had been
sent to his friends and associates asking for financial assistance to pay his
niece’s hospital bill. He has become one of those, whose electronic mailbox
have been hacked into by Internet fraudsters, with the intention of duping
unsuspecting people.
sent to his friends and associates asking for financial assistance to pay his
niece’s hospital bill. He has become one of those, whose electronic mailbox
have been hacked into by Internet fraudsters, with the intention of duping
unsuspecting people.
Checks revealed that the letters sent in Ojeriakhi’s name said
that his niece was involved in ghastly motor accident and was admitted at a
certain hospital. It claimed that the man was out of town, therefore, requested
from each recipient the sum of N90,000 to take care of the medical bill, with a
promise that he would pay back when he returned.
that his niece was involved in ghastly motor accident and was admitted at a
certain hospital. It claimed that the man was out of town, therefore, requested
from each recipient the sum of N90,000 to take care of the medical bill, with a
promise that he would pay back when he returned.
The letter also stated the name of the doctor treating the said
accident victim and ended up with the bank account number for payment.
accident victim and ended up with the bank account number for payment.
Narrating his experience, Ojeriakhi said that his friends could
have fallen for the fraudsters if they were not smart enough to have called
him, at least to first sympathise with him before making any payment. He
also said some of his friends that didn’t call him knew that it was a scam mail
and played along with the criminals.
have fallen for the fraudsters if they were not smart enough to have called
him, at least to first sympathise with him before making any payment. He
also said some of his friends that didn’t call him knew that it was a scam mail
and played along with the criminals.
He was, therefore, happy, to say: “ Nobody paid anything to
them.”
them.”
According to him, when he realised that his mail had been hacked
into, he couldn’t abandon the mail because of the numerous contacts he had
established with it. Instead, he tried to change the password himself, but
couldn’t until he called an information technology expert who helped him out.
into, he couldn’t abandon the mail because of the numerous contacts he had
established with it. Instead, he tried to change the password himself, but
couldn’t until he called an information technology expert who helped him out.
Mr. Ojeriakhi is not the only person that has experienced
similar embarrassments in the hands of fraudsters who hack into the mails of
unsuspecting people and begin to send letters to the contact addresses in the
mails. These letters, usually concise and straight to the point, are
intended to paint a gloomy picture or predicament situation of the sender in
order to elicit sympathy and favour from the receiver. The fraudsters usually
bank on the assumption that any contact in an email must have a close affinity
or relationship with the mail owner and, therefore, would respond by paying
money as requested.
similar embarrassments in the hands of fraudsters who hack into the mails of
unsuspecting people and begin to send letters to the contact addresses in the
mails. These letters, usually concise and straight to the point, are
intended to paint a gloomy picture or predicament situation of the sender in
order to elicit sympathy and favour from the receiver. The fraudsters usually
bank on the assumption that any contact in an email must have a close affinity
or relationship with the mail owner and, therefore, would respond by paying
money as requested.
Saturday Sun investigation revealed that most time the content
of the letters borders on health challenges. They also tell stories of the
person travelling abroad and losing his documents and money. It’s the new
face of 419 or advance fee fraud.
of the letters borders on health challenges. They also tell stories of the
person travelling abroad and losing his documents and money. It’s the new
face of 419 or advance fee fraud.
Just as in the case of Ojeriakhi, letters were sent out from the
mailbox of Ikechukwu Amaechi, a top journalist, to some names in his contact
address, saying that an agent clearing the car he shipped needed N144,000 and
that because he travelled outside the country for dialysis and was currently in
the hospital could not raise such money.
mailbox of Ikechukwu Amaechi, a top journalist, to some names in his contact
address, saying that an agent clearing the car he shipped needed N144,000 and
that because he travelled outside the country for dialysis and was currently in
the hospital could not raise such money.
The letter requested that the recipient should help him pay the
money, promising that when he was discharged from the hospital and returned, he
would refund the money. It asked if the recipients could do as he requested, so
that he would send the bank account details of his clearing agent at the port.
money, promising that when he was discharged from the hospital and returned, he
would refund the money. It asked if the recipients could do as he requested, so
that he would send the bank account details of his clearing agent at the port.
Saturday Sun gathered that Amaechi never travelled outside the
country. Also, the journalist does not have liver problem and, therefore,
needed no dialysis.
country. Also, the journalist does not have liver problem and, therefore,
needed no dialysis.
Another letter sent by scammers from the box of Femi Nasir to
his friends, entitled: ‘My Dubai trip, urgent help needed,’ said that Nasir
went on holiday with his family to Dubai, United Arab Emirate and was mugged.
In the purported attack, the letter claimed he lost his bag containing his
travelling documents, credit cards and cash, making him stranded. The letter
requested for $2,450, which he would refund when he returned.
his friends, entitled: ‘My Dubai trip, urgent help needed,’ said that Nasir
went on holiday with his family to Dubai, United Arab Emirate and was mugged.
In the purported attack, the letter claimed he lost his bag containing his
travelling documents, credit cards and cash, making him stranded. The letter
requested for $2,450, which he would refund when he returned.
Another letter from the box of Kalu Kalu to his friends was
entitled: ‘Please help.’ In the letter, written on January 22, 2013, he said he
was on trip to United Kingdom and his niece had an automobile accident a night
before the letter was written and needed to undergo surgery that would cost
N167, 000. He requested that the amount to be lent to him, which he would pay
back on his return.
entitled: ‘Please help.’ In the letter, written on January 22, 2013, he said he
was on trip to United Kingdom and his niece had an automobile accident a night
before the letter was written and needed to undergo surgery that would cost
N167, 000. He requested that the amount to be lent to him, which he would pay
back on his return.
The receiver of Kalu’s letter got confused and requested to know
further. He got a reply introducing himself more to the receiver. The receiver
got confused and decided to call Kalu. After three attempts, his number didn’t
go through, making the recipient of the letter to believe that it was true.
However, to be sure, he called the number again and got through. It was a scam
letter.
further. He got a reply introducing himself more to the receiver. The receiver
got confused and decided to call Kalu. After three attempts, his number didn’t
go through, making the recipient of the letter to believe that it was true.
However, to be sure, he called the number again and got through. It was a scam
letter.
Kalu told him that he was the seventh person to call him that
morning after receiving the scam letter.
morning after receiving the scam letter.
Saturday Sun followed the case of Ike Ibe, whose box was
also hacked into. A letter dated February 12, 2013, with the subject: ‘Urgent,’
was sent out from his mailbox.
also hacked into. A letter dated February 12, 2013, with the subject: ‘Urgent,’
was sent out from his mailbox.
The letter said Ibe made an emergency trip to Ghana the previous
day and that he was meant to pay N140,000 to an individual and discovered that
he forgot his “token device” for online transfer in Nigeria. It requested
that the payment should be made for him and noted that whatever the recipient
can afford will be highly appreciated, as he would make refunds as soon as he
got back over the weekend.
day and that he was meant to pay N140,000 to an individual and discovered that
he forgot his “token device” for online transfer in Nigeria. It requested
that the payment should be made for him and noted that whatever the recipient
can afford will be highly appreciated, as he would make refunds as soon as he
got back over the weekend.
Our reporter had replied the mail, saying: “Sorry, Ike. I just
read your mail. Please, forward the account details so I could help. Take it
easy.”
read your mail. Please, forward the account details so I could help. Take it
easy.”
Another reply came in Ibe’s name, saying: “Ok, thank you very
much. Kindly make the payment to the account details below: Account name: Okeh
Emmanuel G. Account number: 0228379104. Wema Bank. Let me
know when you make the payment so I can contact the beneficiary accordingly.
Thanks and regards.”
much. Kindly make the payment to the account details below: Account name: Okeh
Emmanuel G. Account number: 0228379104. Wema Bank. Let me
know when you make the payment so I can contact the beneficiary accordingly.
Thanks and regards.”
When Ibe realised that his mail had been hacked into, he sent a
rejoinder, entitled: “Disclaimer on scam letter” to his contact addresses in
his box. The letter reads: “Dear all, earlier today, an (some) unscrupulous
element(s) hacked into my gmail account and sent an e-mail suggesting that I
was stranded in Accra and needed financial rescue. I tried to log into the
account to quickly send a disclaimer only to realise that my inbox and contacts
have been wiped clean.
rejoinder, entitled: “Disclaimer on scam letter” to his contact addresses in
his box. The letter reads: “Dear all, earlier today, an (some) unscrupulous
element(s) hacked into my gmail account and sent an e-mail suggesting that I
was stranded in Accra and needed financial rescue. I tried to log into the
account to quickly send a disclaimer only to realise that my inbox and contacts
have been wiped clean.
“I, however, sent a disclaimer using my official e-mail account,
which is forwarded with this message to you at this time and decided to follow
through with my yahoo mail as well. If you had earlier received an e-mail
supposedly from my gmail account asking for a payment of any kind of money,
please IGNORE IT as this did not originate from me. Thanks for understanding
and sorry for any inconveniences.”
which is forwarded with this message to you at this time and decided to follow
through with my yahoo mail as well. If you had earlier received an e-mail
supposedly from my gmail account asking for a payment of any kind of money,
please IGNORE IT as this did not originate from me. Thanks for understanding
and sorry for any inconveniences.”
In the same vein, another letter said to have originated from
Cdon Adinuba entitled: ‘Important matters,’ dated February 1, 2013, requested a
particular receiver to pay in N200,000 to his client in Nigeria, as he was
outside the country and had misplaced his “token device” for online banking and
that he would refund next week when he returns home. He asked the recipient to
indicate if he was going to help him in this direction, so that he can send his
account details to him.
Cdon Adinuba entitled: ‘Important matters,’ dated February 1, 2013, requested a
particular receiver to pay in N200,000 to his client in Nigeria, as he was
outside the country and had misplaced his “token device” for online banking and
that he would refund next week when he returns home. He asked the recipient to
indicate if he was going to help him in this direction, so that he can send his
account details to him.
Saturday Sun had followed up by replying the mail. In the reply,
our reporter wrote: “Oh my gosh. Sorry for that. Send the account details and I
will act immediately.”
our reporter wrote: “Oh my gosh. Sorry for that. Send the account details and I
will act immediately.”
The fraudster, thinking that our reporter was gullible replied:
“ Thanks for your response Please, find bank details for transfer below. Acct
Name: Okeke Chidozie, Acct Number: 3066422672. Bank: First Bank. Let me know
when u make payment as my client is waiting.”
“ Thanks for your response Please, find bank details for transfer below. Acct
Name: Okeke Chidozie, Acct Number: 3066422672. Bank: First Bank. Let me know
when u make payment as my client is waiting.”
Saturday Sun had further replied the mail, saying: “I just saw
the account details you sent. Something just occurred to me. Tell the man to
call me, so that we will agree on where to meet for me to hand over cash to him.
I have already drawn the money. Transferring the money will slow down the
process, going by the urgency of your demand.”
the account details you sent. Something just occurred to me. Tell the man to
call me, so that we will agree on where to meet for me to hand over cash to him.
I have already drawn the money. Transferring the money will slow down the
process, going by the urgency of your demand.”
The fraudster had replied: “Mr. Peter is in Ijebu-Ode at
present. Kindly effect transfer and revert upon confirmation.”
present. Kindly effect transfer and revert upon confirmation.”
Saturday Sun replied also, saying: “In Ijebu Ode? What a
coincidence! I am in Ijebu Ode at the moment. Let him call me and collect the
cash. I will be here till tomorrow.”
coincidence! I am in Ijebu Ode at the moment. Let him call me and collect the
cash. I will be here till tomorrow.”
That was the end of the communication, as the scammer realised
his folly, but he had already given out the accounts details.
his folly, but he had already given out the accounts details.
A letter written in the name of Daniel Ehiogu, from e-mail,
edanieljjr@yahoo.com, is also flying around. The letter said: “I hope you are
doing well. I made a trip to London and unfortunately my niece had a nearly
fatal accident yesterday night and needs to undergo surgery, which needs sum
146,000 naira to start the treatment on her. I’ve made contact with my bank but
it would take me 3-5 working days to access funds in my account from London.
Please I am asking you to lend me some quick funds that I can give back as soon
as I come back. Sorry for the inconvenience but I heard she is in a very bad
condition and needs attention as fast as possible. I really need to be on the
next available flight. I can forward you details on how to pay the funds to
her. You can only reach me via my email for now. I await your response.”
edanieljjr@yahoo.com, is also flying around. The letter said: “I hope you are
doing well. I made a trip to London and unfortunately my niece had a nearly
fatal accident yesterday night and needs to undergo surgery, which needs sum
146,000 naira to start the treatment on her. I’ve made contact with my bank but
it would take me 3-5 working days to access funds in my account from London.
Please I am asking you to lend me some quick funds that I can give back as soon
as I come back. Sorry for the inconvenience but I heard she is in a very bad
condition and needs attention as fast as possible. I really need to be on the
next available flight. I can forward you details on how to pay the funds to
her. You can only reach me via my email for now. I await your response.”
Saturday Sun replied this mail thus: “Sorry for your niece. God
who saved her from the accident will complete her healing. Please, send account
number, where I could pay in my widow’s mite. Let me know when you return.”
who saved her from the accident will complete her healing. Please, send account
number, where I could pay in my widow’s mite. Let me know when you return.”
A reply came to Saturday Sun’s mail. “Sorry for the
inconveniences. I want to confirm the last mail with the doctor’s bank details,
as the doctor’s mail says my niece is in a critical situation. Regards.”
inconveniences. I want to confirm the last mail with the doctor’s bank details,
as the doctor’s mail says my niece is in a critical situation. Regards.”
Saturday Sun replied again: “Ok. When you confirm, let me have
the bank details.”
the bank details.”
Yet another mail came in response to our reporter’s mail, giving
the account details, where money should be paid.
the account details, where money should be paid.
The mail said: “You are a live saver. Sorry for the inconvenience
this may cause you.
this may cause you.
This is the Doctors name: Humphery Ehoro, A/C No.
1015271441, Bank Name: UBA Plc. You can get it across to the doctor; he will
handle it from there. Kindly notify me once payment is made. Thanks.”
1015271441, Bank Name: UBA Plc. You can get it across to the doctor; he will
handle it from there. Kindly notify me once payment is made. Thanks.”
A scam letter in the name of Chief Goddy Uwazurike, a chieftain
of Aka Ikenga, is also being sent to people. The mail from uwazurike@yahoo.com,
entitled: Get back to me…” said: “I am sorry for having to reach out to you for
help like this, as I am writing you in a tensed mood. I have no one else now to
turn to. I made a quick trip out of the country and just got an information
that my cousin is really sick and in the hospital. She needs to undergo an
operation for critical uterine fibroid in the lower part of her womb. Now, they
need money for the hospital deposit but I cannot do anything from here since am
not in the country and also without my Nigeria bank account token device for an
online transfer. Please, I will immensely be grateful if you can help them back
home for me with the needed sum of N105, 000 (700US$) or possibly any
substantial sum of amount as I promise to refund as soon as I return home
shortly. Please kindly let me know if you can help, so I can forward you bank
account details to pay-in/effect a transfer.”
of Aka Ikenga, is also being sent to people. The mail from uwazurike@yahoo.com,
entitled: Get back to me…” said: “I am sorry for having to reach out to you for
help like this, as I am writing you in a tensed mood. I have no one else now to
turn to. I made a quick trip out of the country and just got an information
that my cousin is really sick and in the hospital. She needs to undergo an
operation for critical uterine fibroid in the lower part of her womb. Now, they
need money for the hospital deposit but I cannot do anything from here since am
not in the country and also without my Nigeria bank account token device for an
online transfer. Please, I will immensely be grateful if you can help them back
home for me with the needed sum of N105, 000 (700US$) or possibly any
substantial sum of amount as I promise to refund as soon as I return home
shortly. Please kindly let me know if you can help, so I can forward you bank
account details to pay-in/effect a transfer.”
Saturday Sun, playing along, also replied the mail, saying:
“Sorry, Chief for your misfortune. Could you send the account details, so I can
help?”
“Sorry, Chief for your misfortune. Could you send the account details, so I can
help?”
A prompt reply came from the other end: “Thank you for the
urgent response. My cousin said she would not be able to go to the bank because
of her condition and she has been waiting for the doctor treating her to
collect his details but he is not around. Just tell me when you would be able
to go pay it, so she can send me the details of someone that would be with her
at that time or you can tell me where you are, so she would send someone to
come collect it from you. I await your response.”
urgent response. My cousin said she would not be able to go to the bank because
of her condition and she has been waiting for the doctor treating her to
collect his details but he is not around. Just tell me when you would be able
to go pay it, so she can send me the details of someone that would be with her
at that time or you can tell me where you are, so she would send someone to
come collect it from you. I await your response.”
Saturday Sun replied again: “I would have paid today if you sent
the account details as soon as I requested. However, if you send the details I
will pay tomorrow using ATM.”
the account details as soon as I requested. However, if you send the details I
will pay tomorrow using ATM.”
The replied came, stating an account detail: “She said the
doctor is back and this is his account: Dr. Innocent David Goodluck,
3067794413, First Bank. Let me know immediately you do it. I await your
response.”
doctor is back and this is his account: Dr. Innocent David Goodluck,
3067794413, First Bank. Let me know immediately you do it. I await your
response.”
When Saturday Sun spoke to Chief Uwazurike yesterday, he said
many people, who got the mail, had called him. He said that he could not get
access to the mailbox again, as those who sent out the letter, with the view to
defraud his friends, had blocked his access.
many people, who got the mail, had called him. He said that he could not get
access to the mailbox again, as those who sent out the letter, with the view to
defraud his friends, had blocked his access.
With the phasing out of scam letter to foreigners, following a
campaign mounted by Nigerian authorities, especially the Central Bank of
Nigeria (CBN) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), outside
the shores of the country, warning unsuspecting foreigners not to fall into any
business proposal by con Nigerians, fraudsters have resorted to writing to
Nigerians. In the new scam, every e-mail address is inundated with letters
telling one story or another and asking for help.
campaign mounted by Nigerian authorities, especially the Central Bank of
Nigeria (CBN) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), outside
the shores of the country, warning unsuspecting foreigners not to fall into any
business proposal by con Nigerians, fraudsters have resorted to writing to
Nigerians. In the new scam, every e-mail address is inundated with letters
telling one story or another and asking for help.
Saturday Sun gathered that the scammer hacks into mailboxes and
change the original password so that the owner would not have access to it
again.
change the original password so that the owner would not have access to it
again.
A close study of the scam letters shows that some of them are
usually illiterate, with many grammatical errors.
usually illiterate, with many grammatical errors.
The desperation of these cyber criminals has put the banks on
their toes, as they continuously warn their customers not to update their
personal information on any website because of requests by conmen to update
their personal information. This message is posted on banking hall and
displayed on the screen of ATM machines.
their toes, as they continuously warn their customers not to update their
personal information on any website because of requests by conmen to update
their personal information. This message is posted on banking hall and
displayed on the screen of ATM machines.
Samuel Uwem, a businessman, opened his mailbox early in the
month and saw a letter supposedly from a Liberian refugee in Togo. The refugee,
a lady, explained to him, how life had been hard on her and would need his
assistance. The young man was carried away by the story and requested the girl
to send her photograph and she did. The photograph showed a very
beautiful girl with a traffic-stopping figure. The photograph hypnotised Samuel
and other thoughts started coming his way. Conversation changed from
Internet to phone conversation and he started planning to rent an apartment for
the lady, where he would be visiting him from his matrimonial home.
month and saw a letter supposedly from a Liberian refugee in Togo. The refugee,
a lady, explained to him, how life had been hard on her and would need his
assistance. The young man was carried away by the story and requested the girl
to send her photograph and she did. The photograph showed a very
beautiful girl with a traffic-stopping figure. The photograph hypnotised Samuel
and other thoughts started coming his way. Conversation changed from
Internet to phone conversation and he started planning to rent an apartment for
the lady, where he would be visiting him from his matrimonial home.
The lady requested that he sent her $1, 000 through electronic
transfer for her to go shopping and transport fare to Nigeria and that Samuel
should come to Seme, the boarder town between Nigeria and Benin Republic, to
pick her on agreed date.
transfer for her to go shopping and transport fare to Nigeria and that Samuel
should come to Seme, the boarder town between Nigeria and Benin Republic, to
pick her on agreed date.
The young man bought the proposal and hurriedly went to the bank
and wired the money to her account. On the agreed day, he went to Seme Border
to wait for her from morning and they were talking over the phone. When evening
was approaching, he called again and man’s voice came of the other line, saying
he was answering from FESTAC Town. He told Samuel that he was stupid and
gullible and hung up.
and wired the money to her account. On the agreed day, he went to Seme Border
to wait for her from morning and they were talking over the phone. When evening
was approaching, he called again and man’s voice came of the other line, saying
he was answering from FESTAC Town. He told Samuel that he was stupid and
gullible and hung up.
Checks revealed that many Nigerians have been duped like Samuel.
On what to do when your mail is hacked into, Steve, an
information technology specialist, said victims should change their passwords.
information technology specialist, said victims should change their passwords.
According to him, it is only a person who knows your password
that can hack into your mail and advised that the best thing to do is to keep
passwords secure, noting that instances of messages in your box asking you to
update your email profile or bank account should be ignored.
that can hack into your mail and advised that the best thing to do is to keep
passwords secure, noting that instances of messages in your box asking you to
update your email profile or bank account should be ignored.
Reacting to the increasing scam phenomenon, Police Public
Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, Ngozi Briade, said that whenever the
command arrests the people involved they are handed over to EFCC, which is
statutorily set up for such crimes.
Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, Ngozi Briade, said that whenever the
command arrests the people involved they are handed over to EFCC, which is
statutorily set up for such crimes.
Culled from Sun
