Woman turns tables, steals $33K from Nigerian scam artists
Sometime at the dawn of the Internet, email inboxes began filling up with the stuff of dreams.
In a far-off African country, usually Nigeria, a deposed emissary, wealthy and generous to anyone that would hear his pleas, had had funds seized by his oppressive government. He needed your help.
If you would, the man, often with a name like Ndaye Banya, would ask, please send a few thousand dollars to pay for his administrative costs to free up the cash. Once it was withdrawn, Ndaye would gladly share his fortune with you.
Of course, we know now that’s the textbook rip-off known as 419 fraud, and it’s duped plenty in its time, like this woman from Oregon, who lost $400,000 in the ruse and still believes her millions are coming.
Here’s a refreshing story, though.
*Bing: How to spot an online scam
In one of the great tales of scammer revenge, a woman in Australia allegedly fired back at Nigerian fraudsters, making off with more than $30,000 of their bogus funds.
According to the Courier-Mail, a 23-year-old Brisbane woman, who’s not a total hero since she was once employed by the very same Nigerian con men, swiped AUD$33,350 from a stash of cash ripped off from scam victims.
The woman, who was an agent that was to provide an Australian bank account for the scammers to funnel illicit cash through, instead kept two payments for herself, spending it on personal items.
Remarkably, the Nigerian swindlers reported the matter to police. The woman’s case is still before the courts (sentencing will be next month). No official word on what will happen to the African crooks.
Posted by: anne lundgren | Mar 3, 2022 2:48:52 AM
I know what it feels like as i got scammed by a nigerian too who posed as a geologist from the UK and was down there buying gemstones and he was good looking too and i am sure the real guy is still out there somewhere and i do know that someday what he has done to others will come back and bit him so good for her they will eventually catch these scam artists for who they are and if they get convicted i hope they all rot in jail forever.
Posted by: L. Corbitt | Mar 3, 2022 10:58:21 AM
It is hard to believe in this day and age that people still are willing to give their money to anyone with a clever story. I would think that the warning lights would go on in the form of a gut reaction - if it doesn't feel right, don't do it. I have also gotten those goofy nigerian emails and deleted them.
Posted by: SHaking head in annoyance | Mar 3, 2022 1:56:33 PM
I think they need to teach these fraudulent scams in hghs school to the youth to look at what to avoid in their adult life. Maybe less people will get scammed, it's hilarious to me how many people do not have common sense in the world.
As far as this case goes the women should not be held responsible for exposing those groups of people. they should take the money and donate it to a charity of choice and hold her former con artist boss responsible. As judge judy says you can't expect justice with dirty hands.
Posted by: N Dowell | Mar 3, 2022 3:27:49 PM
WHAT A TERRIBLE ARTICLE! Did the authors think of reading the articles they linked to? The woman that lost $400K knows it is a scam and is not still expecting money, according to the link. The article is from 2008, on top of that.
The woman that scammed the scammers "has a history of stealing and property offenses" and was hiredby the scammers to provide a bank account to funnel scammed funds from suckers in Australia to the Nigerians. She claims she didn't know it was a scam. She didn't scam them,though, she just stole & spent the money as you said. How does that make her even a partial hero? She is a career thief. It was the Australian suckers that called the cops, not the Nigerians.
Pathetic article.
Posted by: francine | Mar 3, 2022 5:26:01 PM
i have some who tried and believe me they tell u all kinds of bs when u get scammed once u know twice. they are everywhere all over the damn internet. they put false pictures and they tell u just about anything. they sure didnt go far with me after the 3rd email i knew what was coming up and i got rid of them and yet they still come back i wish there was a delete button in yahoo but there isnt so i changed my yahoo so they cant keep coming bk
Posted by: clee | Mar 3, 2022 7:27:13 PM
francine, if you are in Canada, here is a website you can report the scammers to www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca and give them the info about the scammer.
Posted by: dave | Mar 3, 2022 8:52:21 PM
I too have had the nigerian scam tried on me but knew what it was so played them for a bit. The latest was from a canadian online dating site on two occasions lovely young ladies {lol} promised me the world if i would just send some money to help them out. Its easy to figure out, names that do not exist, no telephone, addresses that are only a box number. Lonely old guys and women take care check them out send nobody any money
Posted by: patsullivan | Mar 4, 2022 3:40:31 PM
not only this fake cell phone scams, welfare fraud, stealing rented cars putting dope in other peopls luggage a filipina was executed in singapore because of this fake cell phone blls they can duplicate the stationery how can anyone get taken by these people your smart enough to achieve wealth and than dumb to give these bums money
Posted by: Anonymous | Mar 4, 2022 5:43:12 PM
Anyone DUMB enough to fall for that, should be put in jail for "stupidity".
Posted by: Ray Lockhart | Mar 4, 2022 6:31:50 PM
In my recent new status as single once again, I joined 3 dating sites. It's become quite entertaining. I estimate 98% of the females on the site are somebody in Ghana ( male or female, I wouldn't know for sure ) who are all beautiful and about 29 years old. Many have "fallen in love" with me within a day (LOL) and seek my personal info "in order to further the relationship". Some have ask for my bank info so that they can send me huge sums of money to hold in trust for them. I'm guessing that the pictured female isn't the one who is responding. And some local "legitimate" women that I've talked to get all the Nigerian scammers. Like I said, "entertainment". These people are not very good at their game !!!