Nigeria

Now, we all know about Nigerian (or '419') scams.

I was thinking about them today as I had a work email from someone who had fallen for it completely. He wanted to know whether it was legit, because he'd already sent them all his information, except for his bank details. I responded quite firmly that it was a classic of the genre, pointed him towards the page where snopes cover them in detail, and strongly advised him to not give them his bank details.

He had sent the original email on Friday, I had responded on Sunday, and I got an email back today. He said that since he hadn't received a response from me (I guess a day and a half is too long to wait to find out whether someone's trying to nick all your money), and although he thought it was probably a scam, he'd gone ahead and sent (and this is my favourite bit) his wife's account details (although not her SWIFT code).

And now, of course, he's freaking out because the scammers have their details, and he doesn't know what to do.

I... have mixed feelings about this issue. I'm pleased he decided to find out from a relevant source whether this was a real offer or not (although if he'd tried some googling, it might have been quicker) but then his actions after that just have me shaking my head in puzzlement.

The other reason I've been thinking about them is that... well, they have furnished my brain with a delightful mental picture of what Nigeria should be like. Filled with beautiful princesses, assassinations, nighttime smuggling runs with diamond filled small planes taking off from lush jungles, swarthy men with big moustaches, machine guns, political intrigue, rich ambassadors with dark secrets in their pasts... Indiana Jones or James Bond-like, really.

That would be fun...

Goon 1: "Well, what have you got on Wednesday?"

Goon 2: "Let me see... ok." *flicks through his diary* "Assassination, assassination, diamond run, then back home just in time for an assignation with a princess..."

Goon 1: "Damnit. I was hoping you might be able to cover for my 3.40 attempted assassination gig. Jim's wife is due on Wednesday, and I said I might be able to cover his shift at the gold mines. I've been growing my moustache especially."

Goon 2: "I might be able to fit it in on my way to the plane..."