I received one of those Nigerian 419 email scams in my GMail account today and I really couldn't resist. I had read this article on Slashdot, "419 Scammers Get Scammed" and this article from BBC about how a guy managed to con $80 out of a scammer. I really couldn't resist, so I set up an email address and went along with the scam, to see if I can scam money out of them. This site, 419 Eater, is a collection of stories of people who have successfully scammed the 419ers. Click "Read More" for the latest happenings, which I will update as I go.

Let me advise you that it is very dangerous to reveal your true name or identity so I have assumed a false identity as well as a false email address.

Last Updated: July 25, 2004

Original email from the scammer:

DEAR SIR,

IT IS A PLEASURE TO CONTACT YOU AT THIS IMPORTANT TIME FOR A POSSIBLE
BUSINESS TRANSACTION. HOWEVER, I GOT YOUR CONTACT THROUGH A SEARCH ON THE
INTERNET WEBSITE AND YOUR PROFILE GOT ME CONVINCED OF YOUR WIDE IN BUSINESS.

I AM MR.UBI SAVIMBI, A FAMILY BROTHER TO THE LATE GENERAL JONAS SAVIMBI,
LEADER OF THE ANGOLAN UNITA REBEL WHO WAS SHOT DEAD ON MONDAY 25TH FEBUARY
2002 BY THE OPPOSING FORCES OF ANGOLAN ARMY. FOR THE PAST YEARS NOW OUR
COUNTRY HAVE BEEN IN POLITICAL CRISIS AND CONFLITS BETWWEN THE UNITA REBEL
AND GOVERMENT ALLIED FORCES. AS A MATTER OF FACT,BEFORE THE DEATH OF GENERAL
JONAS SAVIMBI, I WAS GIVEN US$29.8MILLION DOLLARS,45,550 CARAT DIAMOND AND
5400 POUNCE GOLD FOR THE PURCHASING OF FIRE ARMS AND ARMUNATIONS FROM RUSSIA
AND A MINI LAFEYETTE FRIGATE FROM UKRAIN. I CONSIDERED IT A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY AS HE IS NOW LATE CONSPHICATED THE PACKAGE AND DIVERTED IT TO
LOME-TOGO IN WEST AFRICAN NATION, WHERE IT HAS BEEN DEPOSITED IN A SECURITY
COMPANY ON A SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT AS A TREASURE. PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT THIS
WEB PAGE FOR IT SAYS IT ALL.

(http://www.the-idler.com/IDLER-02/316.html)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/africa/newsid_1839000/1839252.stm

THEREFORE, MY AIM OF CONTACTING YOU IS FOR YOU TO ASSIST ME WITH YOUR
PERSONALITY AND INFLUENCE TO TRANSFER AND SECURE THE SAID TREASURE OVER TO
YOUR COUNTRY, INTO YOUR POSSESSION. I HAVE THE AMBITION OF INVESTING THIS
MONEY AND AS WELL KEEPING A LONG LASTING RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU.

PRESENTLY, I AM IN LOME CAPITAL CITY OF TOGO WEST AFRICA WHERE I HAVE BEEN
IN HIDE-OUT SINCE THE PAST THREE WEEKS I WAS SENT ON THIS ASSIGNMENT BEFORE
HIS DEATH. I WOULD LIKE TO APPEAL TO YOU THAT TIME IS NOT MY FRIEND AS I AM
ANXIOUSLY LOOKING FORWARD FOR A RESPONSIBLE, RELIABLE AND HONEST PERSON TO
ACT AS MY CLIENT OR BENEFICIARY SO THAT I WILL TRANSFER THIS TREASURE OUT OF
AFRICA BECAUSE I AM NOT SAFE HERE IN AFRICA.
SIR, IF YOU CAN SINCERELY ASSIST ME TOWARDS MY PROPOSAL, WITH ALL YOUR
TRUST, WE SHALL DISCUSS ABOUT YOUR PERCENTAGE SHARE FIRST AS SOON AS I
RECEIVE YOUR URGENT AND POSITIVE REPLY.

PLEASE KINDLY, HANDLE THIS PROPOSAL WITH YOUR UTMOST SECRECY AND
CONFIDENTIAL AS ALL THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS AND PROVES AS REGARDS TO THIS
TREASURE WILL BE FORWARDED TO YOU ON YOUR REQUEST. HOPING THAT OUR
TRANSACTION WILL BE CONSIDERED WITH EVERY CONFIDENTIALITY.

THANK AND GOD BLESS YOU.
MR.UBI SAVIMBI.
Reply Email:ubisavimbi@favo.net

Dear Mr. Ubi Savimbi,

First let me start off by saying that my heart goes out to you for the
loss of your brother.

My name is Baxter Gangis. I am the president of a multimillion-dollar
corporation, Kokoro Studios. We produce quality Role Playing Games for the
computer, Playstation 2, XBox and Gamecube.

My e-mail address isn't publicily available, so if you were able to email
me, then I have every confidence that you received it from a trusted
friend. Please tell me, sir, how can I help you reclaim your rightful
treasure? I will do everything in my power to help a fellow entrepreneuer.
Thank you very much.

Baxter Gangis, President and C.E.O., Kokoro Studios
gangis@kokorostudio.com