The
Terrorist Connection vs. The Real 419 Scammers
419 Scams - The
Real Scammers
The Motivation Behind 419 Scams
Will the 419 Sanction Threat Work?
Adaora
Reports
Monday,
November 16, 2002
The
Terrorist Connection vs. the Real 419 Scammers
Moslem
North not involved The
Southern elite • The
real reason
behind Nigerian scam letters
There
has been some speculation in the western media about the destination of money
acquired from 419 advanced fee scams. Among some of the wild theories put
forward by some analysts is the terrorist connection. This is not only
far-fetched but highly unlikely. The background and most importantly religion
of the perpetrators make this connection improbable. At least in
Nigeria.
Although
this type of crime originated in Nigeria, it has now spread to many other
countries in various forms but the objective remains the same - to relieve the
victim of money without giving anything in return. Some of those operating from
other African countries are identified as Nigerians because they carry Nigerian
passports. It is not very difficult to obtain this document for the
right 'fee'.
Back
to top
Moslem
North not involved
To
explain the improbability of Nigerian 419 scammers funding terrorism I would go
into the make up of the country. Nigeria has over 120 million
inhabitants spread over 36 States and a Federal Capital Territory (Abuja). It
has over 250 ethnic groups and about the same number of dialects. The three main
tribes are Hausa/Fulani (Moslems) in the North, Igbo (Christians) in the
Southeast and Yoruba (mainly Christians) in the Southwest.
The
Hausa/Fulani Moslems of Northern Nigeria are largely backward economically,
educationally, infrastructurally, industrially. Although there is universal free
education in the country, they rarely complete elementary school and will more
often than not send their children to Arabic schools to study the
Koran instead. Most follow the strict Islamic code of Sharia that espouses
amputation of limbs for stealing and the stoning of women to death for
committing adultery. Women are subjugated and do not have the same rights as men.
Back
to top
The
Southern elite
In
the South the picture is a stark opposite. The Igbos are the most educated in
Nigeria and are known for their aggressive entrepreneurial endeavors. They bore
the full brunt of the 1967-1970 Nigeria civil war when the entire southeast was
raised to the ground by the Nigerian army. Within 8 years of the war ending
everything was rebuilt and they continue to prosper. The Yorubas follow very
closely behind the Igbos. They are mostly academicians and have excelled in
various fields.
The
majority
of the 419 scammers come from the Southeastern/ Southwestern of Nigeria. It
is very difficult to say precisely why. One theory is that the sheer complexity,
audacity and 'intelligence' required to plan and execute this crime is way beyond
the faculties of the illiterate Northerners.
Back
to top
The
real reason behind Nigerian scam letters
Poverty
is not the reason why people indulge in 419 because a large percentage of them
are already wealthy in their own right (not through 419). They employ people to
scam for them while using their legitimate business as a front. Lower down the
ladder, you get the newly qualified professionals who are caught up in the
'get rich quick syndrome' pervading southern Nigeria in current times. This
group would rather wait for the maturity of one scam than work their way up
the employment ladder.
Why
do they do it, I hear you ask? Because the input is miniscule and the returns
astronomical. If a scammer sends out 2000 letters or emails, with a response of
1% or lower, s/he has hit the JACKPOT!!! As long as some greedy individuals
continue to respond, they will stay in business as they are always one step
ahead of they law.
The
money from these crimes finance mainly drug trafficking, mistresses, property, exotic
cars. It is all about ostentation, ostentation and more ostentation. There
is a story about one of them that had so many cars that his palatial
mansion resembled a car dealership. His wife use to drive a car to color co-ordinate what she was wearing. If she
drove a different car everyday
it would take over six months to drive all the cars.
There
certainly is no terrorist connection. The religion of the perpetrators make it
highly improbable. Even if there were Northern Nigerian advanced fee fraudsters
(which is doubtful), their fanaticism is not sophisticated. The typical Nigerian
is too selfish for that kind of sponsorship.
Back
to top
-
Adaora, Editor, Fraud Aid.com Nigerian Desk
fraudaid@fraudaid.com,
Attn: Adaora
©
Fraud
Aid.com 2002,
All Rights Reserved
