AIBU to assume that any and all emails originating in Nigeria are scams?

[Graciescotland]

Moving back to the UK and am house hunting for somewhere to rent. I put an ad up on Gumtree wanted. AIBU to assume the Nigerian missionary with the slightly too good to be true offer is a scammer. Or am I utterly prejudiced.

Oooooh, let's see? Nah, think you're on the right track!

"Any and all emails originating in Nigeria"? Well, obviously that's not true. There are many normal, non-crooked people living in Nigeria, you know.

I'm sure your right that this particular email is a scam, but how do you know that the person who emailed you is genuinely Nigerian?

You really should change your thread title.

YANBU. I assumed everyone knew this.

So my nice Dr who is working out in Nigeria is a scammer fosho? :(

YANBU.......of course!

If only someone would be give US$5,000,000.00 if I just give them my bank details but somehow I dont think its gonna happen!

YANBU. And it mystifies me why the people of Nigeria don't rise up as one and have a mass Scammer Hunt for the people who are bringing their country's name into disrepute.

Well I'm sure there are lots of non-crooked people living in Nigeria but I don't imagine they're trawling UK message boards. I can't know for sure he was Nigerian but he stated that he was and the telephone number comes with a Nigerian international dialling code.

I'm sure it is a scam but I'm also sure that people fall for the lovely photos, cheap deposit, low rent in a nice area because they want it to be true. Perhaps the title was a bit but just wanted to remind people that if it sounds too good to be true then it probably is.

How about:

"AIBU to assume that this email is a scam?"

Simple, effective, says what you want, and without making offensive sweeping generalisations about the 170 million people living in Nigeria. I'm sure you'd take offense to a similarly worded statement making offensive assumptions about Brits, wouldn't you?

Anyone can find out the Nigerian international dialling code: it's 00234. There. Easy-peasy. So you still don't know whether the writer is Nigerian.

Of course many, if not most of the Nigerian scams will have originated from dodgy Nigerians, but I seriously doubt that that characterises the majority of Nigerian people. Which is what makes your thread title and assumption so offensive.

So to come back to your original question, yes, YABVU.

"why the people of Nigeria don't rise up as one and have a mass Scammer Hunt"

Just read that again, Cogito. Are you expecting this suggestion to be taken seriously?

YANBU, dodgy dodgy dodgy.

I think the op's point has been slightly muddied. She didn't say aibu to think all nigerians are scammers, she said to think emails originating from Nigeria (implication being to UK/European recievers) are scams.

And she does have a bit of a point. Just a small bit.

YANBU

Let's just say a high percentage of scam emails that have been sent to me personally have actually come from Nigeria.

EVERY email I've ever received originating from Nigeria has been a scam.

I don't know anyone in Nigeria.

Yes it's a scam.

I actually find them quite amusing - but I don't know why I'm here talking to you losers when, as the rightful heir to the Coca Cola fortune, I'm in line for £66million.

Joan, she said "any and all emails originating in Nigeria". In other words, every single email written in Nigeria. And then she went on to say that actually, she was referring to a specific email offering her something, from someone who claims to be Nigerian.

They may well be Nigerian. And I'm sure that email is a scan. But it cannot, and does not represent "any and all emails originating in Nigeria".

I am staggered by the easygoing attitude on this thread to such a prejudiced generalisation! Can I assume that nobody here but me actually knows any real-life Nigerians?

Here are some stereotypes of British people; presumably all 60 million+ of us are:

Cold, calculating, snobbish, have bad teeth and eat horrendous food, liars (I've heard that one many times).

What if I started a thread saying "AIBU to think that any and all statements originating in Britain are lies?" Would you not think that offensive?

I think it was hyperbole to make a point, but if for some reason you'd prefer to get hot and bothered and accuse OP of being racist, thats your prerogative.

I know quite a few nigerians, who are well aware of the countries notoriety for email scamming.

"Accuse the OP of being racist?" Please show where.

Maya

Don't be so precious and PC. As a rule of thumb any e-mail from Nigeria is a scam.

I have lots of Nigerian friends and they are appalled at the 419ers and scammers. Two of my Nigerian friends have themselves been 419 victims. They bring down the name of a beautiful country. My friends are appalled that the Nigerian government does nothing to shut down this nonsense.

My mistake, I thought that was your implication. Apologies.

Tis a sad fact of life that pretty much any unsolicited email from Nigeria is a scam. Not nice at all, but it's a fact that would go away if Nigeria did something about it. However, I think as a country they probably have more important things to focus on, and Nigerian scammers are probably fairly close to the bottom of their general To Do list.

I think the endemic corruption and extensive bribery of the depts with responsibility to combat fraud rules out an end to the 419 scams for the time being.

"Can I assume that nobody here but me actually knows any real-life Nigerians?"

I think it is a pretty safe assumption that lots of people on here don't know anyone from Nigeria, myself included. Hence, if they / I receive an email from Nigeria then the overwhelming possibility is that it will be a scam.

But the scammers must have some success to continue to do it. People must give them their bank details.

I was recently emailed by Sandra Bullock, who is now apparently living in difficult circumstances in Nigeria and needs to use my bank account to send her money out of the country in exchange for a cut. I'm sure I can trust her, I mean, it's Sandra Bullock, she wouldn't lie ...

If you give me your bank details madam I'll be able to check if you've been scammed.