According to Mikko Hypponen, chief research office with F-Secure, this latest scam preys on the fact that people who have already fallen for one con are quite likely to fall for another – which is the logic, he says for the latest twist, with compensation being offered. Provided you pay a modest fee.
Incredibly, Hypponen reports that some people are falling for this scam, with a typical message looking like this:
From: "Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nigeria" (hr@wdzy.net)
Subject: Swindled by Nigerian? Apply for compensation now!
Reply-To: cn.verification@07168.cn
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Federal Republic of Nigeria
Maputo Street
off Abidjan Street
Wuse Zone 3,
P.M.B. 130, Garki
Abuja.
Our Ref: FGN/WB/MFA/CitiBank/2011 (1/1)
Dear Sir/Madam
This is to announce to you that the Federal Government of Nigeria supported by the
World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund (IMF) have allocated $50.000
each for every scam victims for monetary loss and damages.
The compensation funds were deposited at Citibank Nigeria (CN) and the funds will be
transferred free of charge by Citibank Nigeria (CN) as instructed by the Federal
Government of Nigeria so you do not need to pay any transfer fee or tax of any kind
and the transfer will also be monitored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for confirmation
reasons. The funds have been insured to avoid unnecessary deductions until they get
to their various destinations.
Take note that we have never held any scam victims compensation program in Nigeria.
This is the First-Of-Its-Kind. Do not be deceived by anybody, any organization
or any Ministry!
If you have been scammed send your NAME and ADDRESS for verification to any of the
two (2) email addresses listed below, the email addresses are set up by Citibank
Nigeria (CN) for this compensation purpose only:
Email1: cn-verification@07168.cn
Email2: cn.verification@07168.cn
The means of verification is via Western Union and MoneyGram, if truly you have
sent money to Nigeria your name will be in their database
Please do not respond to any email which asks you to send your username and password
for any reason, if you have already done that kindly change your password immediately.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs. Irewolede Janet Michael
(Public Relations Officer)
Oversea Communication Department
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Nigeria.
As Hypponen says in his latest security posting: [please] don't fall for these type of scams.