Ein so genannter "Vorauskasse-Betrug", bei dem Kriminelle unbedarfte Zeitgenossen unter Vorspiegelung gewaltiger Gewinnaussichten dazu verleiten wollen, ihnen Geld zu überweisen. Die Nigeria-Connection ist seit ungefähr 1988 aktiv. Zunächst setzte man nur auf das Fax. Heute laufen die Kontaktanbahnungen ausschließlich über E-Mail ab. Üblicherweise nehmen die Betrüger Kontakt zum potenziellen Opfer auf, indem sie schriftlich um Hilfe beim Transferieren großer Geldbeträge aus Afrika bitten. Diese meistens in englischer Sprache verfassten Spam-E-Mails enthalten abenteuerliche Geschichten, die alle darauf hinauslaufen, dass das Opfer eine Belohung in Millionenhöhe erhalten soll, wenn es beim Transfer des Geldes behilflich ist. Zunächst sollen die Angeschriebenen aber eine Vorauszahlung für Notarkosten oder Überweisungsgebühren zahlen. Gehen Sie darauf ein, ist das Geld verschwunden und die Nigeria-Connection meldet sich nicht wieder.
Ursprünglich gingen diese Betrugsversuche nur aus Nigeria aus. Inzwischen werden in den E-Mails viele andere Länder aus dem afrikanischen Raum oder aus Krisengebieten wie dem Irak genannt. Nigeria hat inzwischen einen eigenen Strafrechts-Paragrafen für den verwendeten "Vorauskasse-Betrug" eingeführt. Nach einem Bericht des "Internet Fraud Complaint Center" entstand im Jahr 2003 im Schnitt ein Schaden von 3864 US-Dollar pro erfolgreichem Betrug.
Beispiel für eine E-Mail der Nigeria-Connection:
Von: maryamabacha55 maryam
Gesendet am: Montag, 6. Januar 2003 15:16
An: mmaryamabacha55@caramail.com
Betreff: PLEASE HELP ME
A Very Good day to you
I am Mrs Mariam Abacha. I got your contact from a close Associate of mine who works with the Nigerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry who visited your country for an International Trade Fair upon my quest for a trusted and reliable foreign businessman or company.
He however gave me the assurance that you can be trusted to handle a transaction of this magnitude. Following the sudden death of my husband General Sani Abacha the late Former Head of State of Nigeria in 1998, I have been thrown into a state of utter confusion, frustration and hopelessness by the present civilian administration, I have been subjected to physical and psychological torture by the security agents in the country.
As a widow that is so traumatized, I have lost confidence with anybody within the country.
You must have heard over the media reports and the internet on the recovery of various huge sums of money deposited by my husband in different security firms abroad, some companies willingly give up their secrets and disclosed our money confidently lodged there or many outright blackmail.
In fact the total sum discovered by the Government so far is in the tune of $700. Million dollars. And they are not relenting to make me poor for life. I will give you more information as to this regard as soon as you reply.
I repose great confidence in you hence my approach to you due to security network placed on my day to day affairs I cannot afford to visit the embassy so that is why I decided to contact you and I hope you will not betray my confidence in you. I have deposited the sum of US$72 million dollars with a security firm abroad whose name is withheld for now until we open communication.
I shall be grateful if you could receive this fund into your account for safekeeping. This arrangement is known to you and my family lawyer who shall deal directly with you as I am still under house arrest. I am seriously considering to settle down abroad as soon as this fund get into your account so that I can start all over again if only you wish, but if it is possible, just help me in diverting this funds into your bank account which will accrue you 20% of this fund. Please honesty is the watchword in this transaction.
And should you accept my terms, kindly send me an email signifying your interest to my email box as this is only safe for me now so that we can commence communication immediately. And upon receipt of your message of interest, I shall give you a more detailed picture of things.
In case you don't accept please do not let me out to the security as I am giving you this information in total trust and confidence.NO RISK IS INVOLVED AS IAM STILL IN CONTROL OF MY HUSBANDS AFFAIRS. I will greatly appreciate if you accept my proposal in good faith. Please expedite action.
Prefer all further correspondence be sent via (mmaryamabacha55@caramail.com) sincerely yours
Hajia Mariam Abacha.
Rückfragen und Anregungen zum Glossar bitte an glossar@heise.de.
