20 years ago today: Neil Mitchell calls a Nigerian scam artist

It’s October 8, 1999. The internet is still pretty new, and the scammers are a bit more old-school.

But, other than the form of communication, the tactics are very recognisable.

“Every now and again we are sent copies of an international rort that’s been going on for a while,” Neil Mitchell tells his audience on that day in 1999.

“The latest one I have been sent is from Nigeria. They are offering to put $45.5 million into your account as the result of an over-invoiced contract.”

He reads: “The transfer is risk free on both sides. I’m an accountant with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. If you find this proposal acceptable we will fax you a foreign contractor payment application form which you will have to complete and fax back to us. Call directly, if the line is busy keep dialling until you get through. Please reply immediately. Yomi Williams”

Neil says “It’s been going on for years, variations of this, and a lot of them based in Nigeria.  The difference with this one that’s been passed on to me is that they give us a phone number”.

We will ring it now and see if we can get on to Mr Yomi Williams, from Nigeria.

Click PLAY above to hear the call — apart from the fact they’re talking about fax machines, Neil could conduct the same call on October 8, 2019!