Most of you know that I blog here and also at SWIFTCommunity's website.
I log on this morning to the SWIFT site, and find I have 1 unread message, so I open it ... and laugh and laugh and laugh. My tea splutters out of my mouth and my family believe that I really have become finally very unhinged.
What could be the matter?
Well, bear in mind that SWIFT's website is a secure (https) banking website for bankers with banking matters discussed every day. So you would think that you wouldn't try to send someone in there an email like this:
From The Desk Of Mr.Molawa Elias
Coordinator of the northern states Programmes
ADB Bank (ANNEXE)
EMAIL:mecheikfallbf@yahoo.com
PERSONAL INVESTMENT PROPOSAL STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
ATTN: Skinner Chris
Actually, I decided to send you this proposal directly for your appraisal on a possible business proposition for you & for our overall mutual interest.I was the coordinator on technical cooperation and procurement officer to the Bank Of African Development and the African funds development Projects/Contract awards.I need your assurance to help conclude a very good transaction wish I feel you will be very much interested .
BUSINESS
I had a very nice deal with one Mr.Najah Moghrabia from the united states of America, who was a contractor here that won the 2002 contract to supply engineering equipments. Mr.Najah Moghrabia had since withdraw his total contract fund of $100 million for the execution of the contract with the left over of the over invoiced sum of $19,056 million which we had agreed that he will later transfer from this bank to his foreign account for our mutual sharing once the contract is executed and approved.
Unfortunately , Mr.Najah Moghrabia died while in the States in 2006.
I think you know the rest although, just in case you don't, this is known as the Nigerian 419 scam and I blogged about it last year.
A tired old scam.
However, the fact that this idiot posted it on a private, secure banking website read by bankers, and registered to get a username and password, is what made me laugh. Is he desperate to be caught?
I mean, anyone can register with SWIFT's community website, but this guy is walking into a den of dragons with a match!!
Ah well, Mr. Molawa Elias who asked me to email you back via "my private mail for privacy mecheikfallbf@aol.com or mecheikfallbf@yahoo.com", please go and take a long walk off a short pier.
Chris M Skinner
Chris Skinner is best known as an independent commentator on the financial markets through his blog, TheFinanser.com, as author of the bestselling book Digital Bank, and Chair of the European networking forum the Financial Services Club. He has been voted one of the most influential people in banking by The Financial Brand (as well as one of the best blogs), a FinTech Titan (Next Bank), one of the Fintech Leaders you need to follow (City AM, Deluxe and Jax Finance), as well as one of the Top 40 most influential people in financial technology by the Wall Street Journal's Financial News. To learn more click here...
