An excellent, eye-opening interview with Samuel, an ex-419 scammer.
There’s even a theme tune:
Their anthem, “I Go Chop Your Dollars,” hugely popular in Lagos, hit the airwaves a few months ago as a CD penned by an artist called Osofia:
“419 is just a game, you are the losers, we are the winners.
White people are greedy, I can say they are greedy
White men, I will eat your dollars, will take your money and disappear.
419 is just a game, we are the masters, you are the losers.”
Reportedly, Lagos inhabitants paint “This House Is Not For Sale” in big letters on their homes, in case someone posing as the owner tries to put it on the market.
Regarding the workings of the scam:
[Samuel] sent 500 e-mails a day and usually received about seven replies. Shepherd would then take over. “When you get a reply [to a 419 spam], it’s 70% sure that you’ll get the money,” Samuel said.
(via Nelson.)