Three Defendants Plead Guilty in Nigerian Fraud Scheme

Three men have plead guilty to stealing more than $1.2 million in an advance payment, or Nigerian 419, fraud scheme. The federal courthouse in Brooklyn, New York heard the men admit to charges that they targeted computer users by pretending they had won millions of dollars in a lottery or were due to inherit a fortune. In one of the more elaborate scams perpetrated by the gang, the men also sent e-mails which claimed to come from a victim of terminal throat cancer who wanted to distribute $55 million to charity. One of the gang, Nnamdi Chizuba Ainsiobi, is then said to have telephoned recipients, disguising his voice to pretend he was that suffering from the disease.

Ainsiobi (who went by pseudonyms such as "Yellowman" and "Jiggaman"), Anthony Friday Ehis (who sometimes called himself "Mr. T"), and Kesandu Egwuonwu were arrested in Amsterdam two years ago and subsequently extradited to the United States.

"Most people with an e-mail account have probably received e-mails claiming that they have won a fortune, or asking them to enter a business relationship to move funds out of a country, but these are almost always con-tricks being perpetrated by unscrupulous scammers," explained Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos. "These three men stole over $1.2 million with their scam e-mails, proving that there are still plenty of people waiting to have their bank accounts emptied by criminals on the net."

Anisiobi and Egwuonwu are both citizens of Nigeria, whereas Ehis comes from Senegal. A fourth defendant, Lenn Nwokeafor, was arrested by the Nigerian Economic & Financial Crimes Commission in July 2006 and is awaiting extradition to the United States.

"Although this kind of e-mail scam can come from anywhere in the world, Western Africa is a hub for this kind of activity where a cottage industry of 'Letters from Nigeria' has flourished over the years," continued Cluley. "The advice for all internet users is not to believe everything you read in your e-mail."

The e-mail con-tricks, sometimes called a 419 scam, are named after the relevant section of the Nigerian penal code where many of the scams originated and are unsolicited e-mails where the author typically offers a large amount of money. Once a victim has been drawn in, requests are made from the fraudster for private information which may lead to requests for money, stolen identities, and financial theft.

Other examples of 419 e-mail scams include a message claiming to come from a U.S. Sergeant serving in Baghdad, the grandson of the late General Pinochet, Christian workers offering a puppy being offered for adoption, and even an African astronaut stranded on the Mir space station.

"These defendants preyed upon the kindness and charity of their victims by sending thousands of scam e-mails aimed at their recipients' heartstrings," stated United States Attorney Benton J. Campbell. "If you receive an e-mail offering you money in exchange for an advance fee, you would be well advised to delete it."