‘I’m Sister Maria. Please help me’: A lexical study of 4-1-9 international advance fee fraud email communications

Abstract

4-1-9 is a multi-billion-dollar international email scam that is believed to have originated from Nigeria. This study examines the framing of email communications used in this fraud and content-analyzes their lexical features. Findings indicate that the scammers used Realism as the main persuasive lexical characteristic in the messages, that is, language that suggests meeting tangible needs in people’s everyday lives. The scammers also framed their messages as ‘business’ proposals to disguise their fraudulent tactics and plans. But while the scam may have originated from Nigeria, it appears that it may no longer be operationally restricted to that country.

Detecting advance fee fraud emails using self-referential pronouns: A preliminary analysis

“…Note that the author cheekily uses the name "Dr. Kemy Kazy" -euphony for "kamikaze"? For other examples see Blommaert and Omoniyi (2006) and Onyebadi and Park (2012).…”

“…They form a false illusion of reality and this results in them incurring pecuniary and non-pecuniary losses. Chawki (2009) and Onyebadi and Park (2012) claim that 419ers frame the discourse of their email deceptively to limit the potential victim's perception of the situation. The vulnerability of some victims is exacerbated by their gullibility and poor ability to detect lies and deceit.…”

“…Most attempts to promote awareness involve warning recipients not to provide confidential information via email, not to pay advance fees in online transactions, and not to engage lightly with any correspondence containing even fleeting mention of Nigeria or Africa (Datar et al, 2014). Despite strong and unambiguous warnings, and regulatory and preventive counter-actions taken locally and internationally, AFF scams have prospered through unsolicited emails in the Internet era (Adogame, 2009;Onyebadi & Park, 2012;Holt & Graves, 2007).…”

“…Language use is crucial in understanding the psychology of the human mind and the cognitive processes embedded in the language choice of individuals (Pennebaker, Mehl, & Niederhoffer, 2003). Several studies have concluded that deceptive individuals are adept at manipulating language to achieve credibility and success with their fraudulent schemes (Blommaert & Omoniyi, 2006;Onyebadi & Park, 2012;Carter, 2015). Nonetheless, few studies of 419 emails have delved into the ramifications of the language used (exceptions include Blommaert & Omoniyi, 2006;Ofulue, 2010;Freiermuth, 2011a;Onyebadi & Park, 2012).…”

“…Several studies have concluded that deceptive individuals are adept at manipulating language to achieve credibility and success with their fraudulent schemes (Blommaert & Omoniyi, 2006;Onyebadi & Park, 2012;Carter, 2015). Nonetheless, few studies of 419 emails have delved into the ramifications of the language used (exceptions include Blommaert & Omoniyi, 2006;Ofulue, 2010;Freiermuth, 2011a;Onyebadi & Park, 2012). Holt and Graves (2007) pointed to scammers' use of unique words and phrases such as "risk-free", "urgent", "confidential" and references to monetary activities.…”