Take the following email I literally just received (after starting this column). This is another example of what is known as the “419-Nigerian Scam” and is one of the currently most widespread. I probably get 8 or 10 a month at least.

DR.PAUL OBI.
EMAIL:pobi2@techemail.com
FAX: 234-1-7597267

Sir,

URGENT BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP

First, I must solicit your confidence in this transaction, which is of mutual benefit. This is by virtue of its nature of being utterly confidential. I am sure and have confidence of your ability, and reliability to prosecute a transaction of this great magnitude.

We are top Officials of the Federal Government Contract review Panel who are interested in importation of goods into our country with funds, which are presently trapped in Nigeria. In order to commence this business, we need your assistance to enable us transfer funds into your account. As members of the Contract Review Panel set up by the Government of Nigeria to review all contracts from 1983 to the present, we have identified a lot of inflated contract funds, which are presently floating in the Central Bank of Nigeria ready for payment.

By virtue of our position as Civil Servants and members of this Panel, we cannot acquire this money in our names, in this regard I have been delegated by my colleagues of the review Panel to look for an overseas partner into whose account we would transfer the sum of US$21,320,000.00 (Twenty -One Million, Three Hundred and Twenty Thousand United States Dollars) hence we take the liberty to write you.
(Remainder of scam solicitation deleted)

Well, you get the drift. This scam appears in numerous forms, and can originate almost anywhere, but predominately Nigeria. It is called the “Nigerian 419 Scam” because that is the criminal code it falls under. Invariably the scam involves supposed money that needs to be laundered.

Right away the “deal” stinks of dishonesty. Next, the gullible “victim” is manipulated into giving up bank information, and then fees to help with the “transfer” and so on. There are reported cases where “victims” have been lured to Africa and murdered. It is a serious, deadly game, and yet you have to wonder how people cannot have heard of it (the scam pre-dates the internet), but would fall for something so obviously fake.

For Pete’s sake, why would a complete stranger send me or you an “utterly confidential” e-mail out of the blue? Get a grip!

Luckily, just as we go to press, six people have been arrested in South Africa for not only participating in this scam, but for drug dealing as well. I venture to say, this is probably just the tip of the iceberg.

There are several hoaxes and scams that continue to make the rounds. How about the infamous “Post Office” hoax?

“Bill 602P will permit the Federal Government to charge a 5 cent surcharge on every email delivered, by billing Internet Service Providers at source. The consumer would then be billed in turn by the ISP.”

Nonsense. Utter, easily refutable, unmitigated nonsense. Yet folks just keep right on complaining to the postmaster and their friendly local Congress Critter with each new wave of this old hoax.

Another example that has been making the rounds for more than 25 years is the “Madeline Murray O’Hare” hoax. According to this hoax, religious broadcasters will lose their licenses because of a “separation of church and state” argument. From the FCC:

The rumor that the FCC has before it a proposal to deny licenses to religious broadcasters still continues to circulate, 25 years after the Commission denied that request. – Federal Communications Commission

This hoax continues, even though Mrs. O’Hare is dead, the apparent victim of foul play in the early 1990’s. A variation purports to take “Touched by an Angel” off the air.

Then there are the “Pump-and-Dump” Spam-scams. A penny stock is touted, enough fools buy the stock to run it up, the scammer dumps his stock, and the stock quickly returns to the dumper it came from.

The list is nearly endless. Don’t take my word for it. Go to http://www.ftc.gov/reports/Fraud and check it out yourself.

The bottom line is; for crying out loud, listen to your father’s advice! (Or whoever the real adult in your life was). If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! If it sounds thoroughly nutso, trust your instincts. And for Pete’s sake, DON’T pass them on to a few thousand of your closest friends! Resist the temptation. Hit the delete key!