Nigerian 419 scam for mastering studios?

[Silver Sonya]

Wow. Check out the email I just received.

Umm... my instinct says 419.

I can't quite see how this would end in profit for this person, though.

What do you think?

- c





Good day.
I would like to take a visit to your studio to discuss the mastering of my 8 tracks Hip Hop Rap to a professional
level. And I would also like you to advise based on your charges, costs, procedures and your schedules as well.
Kindly get back to me with your advice.
Sincerely yours.
Femi.
--
Femi Farinmaking
Smash Hits records
Envisage Future
18, Oguntade Rd. Shasha
Akowonjo, Lagos.
Nigeria.
+234-01-7947697
+234-8074534272
+91 9985727480 India
femibynet@yahoo.com
smashits records work finale
wrclub.net

[blaugruen7]

quite a blinking homepage they have.
they want to visit in person your studio?
only the adress is connected to scams at the moment, right?

[Edward_Vinatea]

This is probably a dumb question, but have you tried calling that number?

EDIT: look at their company details on the web

Regards,

[bob katz]

Originally Posted by Silver Sonya

Wow. Check out the email I just received.

Umm... my instinct says 419.

I can't quite see how this would end in profit for this person, though.

What do you think?

- c





Good day.
I would like to take a visit to your studio to discuss the mastering of my 8 tracks Hip Hop Rap to a professional
level. And I would also like you to advise based on your charges, costs, procedures and your schedules as well.
Kindly get back to me with your advice.
Sincerely yours.
Femi.
--
Femi Farinmaking
Smash Hits records
Envisage Future
18, Oguntade Rd. Shasha
Akowonjo, Lagos.
Nigeria.
+234-01-7947697
+234-8074534272
+91 9985727480 India
femibynet@yahoo.com
smashits records work finale
wrclub.net

Sounds like some form of a scam, yet it is not evident what kind of scame. Where are you located? Why not play him on a bit, not revealing any form of delicate personal or financial information, nor the exact address of your studio. Find out more about what he exactly wants. For example, ask him to give you a list of the titles of the songs and the name of the artist and the name of the album. Ask him to tell you how the recording was recorded and with what kinds of microphones, so you can learn more about the sound he created. Ask him the label name and if he has a label. Ask him how he will be paying for your services and how he will be traveling and his suggested date of travel. Get him to reveal himself to you. If he acts more mysterious and reveals nothing specific, as I suspect he will, then it is clear he is not genuine, he wants something from you (a scam) and you should drop the ball.

How's that?

BK

[Silver Sonya]

Is it worth the energy to engage?

I think I'm just going to press "delete."

I feel certain this is a scam. I just can't see how it could work.

Unless the goal is robbing me... in which case, our studio's address is plainly available on our website.

- c

[Edward_Vinatea]

This could be a letter of introduction to the ensuing scam. The more you follow up the deeper the deception will become. It comes to a point that the scammer will offer to pay in advance and payment will be made - intentionally - way over and above of any agreed price {they'll even ask you to keep some money for your trouble } so that the studio {You} can send a check / money wire for the difference. That's just my feeling though. There is so much scam coming from Nigeria, it's refreshing to see this twist: they actually want you to know that it's a Nigerian company

[jdg]

next they'll say they can't make it to the studio, but will gladly pay a deposit of $5000 to book you for the week of xxxx.


i get these sometimes.

[hams]

My experience with these in the past is that they want a letter of invitation, to help them come to America to visit your facility, do business, etc.

I received that same smashhits email.

[ONDRAY]

Originally Posted by hams

My experience with these in the past is that they want a letter of invitation, to help them come to America to visit your facility, do business, etc.

I received that same smashhits email.

BINGO... and then when they visit, they'll rob your place clean. You know some starting off funds

[Alécio Costa]

If you guys send me a letter of invitation, to help go to UK/Australia/USA to visit your facility, do business I promise to not steal anything.

[hams]

Originally Posted by ONDRAY

BINGO... and then when they visit, they'll rob your place clean. You know some starting off funds

I don't think it's necessarily that insidious. I've had conversations with Nigerians who seemed at least semi-legit in the past, they wanted my "sponsorship" to get the necessary visa and whatnot to come to Canada. I'm not saying this is always the case, just in the ones I've pursued.

[ONDRAY]

Originally Posted by hams

I don't think it's necessarily that insidious. I've had conversations with Nigerians who seemed at least semi-legit in the past, they wanted my "sponsorship" to get the necessary visa and whatnot to come to Canada. I'm not saying this is always the case, just in the ones I've pursued.

I was kidding around, I don't know what their intentions are and I meant no direct disrespect to Nigerians. I've worked with them in the past, good hearted people in general.

[PieterS]

I got exactly the same email today.

[Paul Frindle]

Originally Posted by PieterS

I got exactly the same email today.

That does tend to suggest it is a scam then. But still it's difficult to see what these people would get out of it?

[Thomas W. Bethe]

I get these emails all the time.

There are basically three reasons for the emails.

1. The person writing the email wants to come to the USA to set up residency and if they can prove there is job waiting for them then it is easier for them to get an entrance visa. They use your email or letter as a way to prove that they have some work in the USA.

2. They want to send you a check for way over the amount of the mastering but want you to forward the extra amount to someone in a far distant state who is their accomplice. They say it is for "travel funds" or "touring expenses" You cash their check, take out your money and forward a check to the accomplice. Their check bounces higher than a basketball but you have already sent your check to the accomplice. You may not know about this for weeks afterward.

3. They send you a check for the correct amount. They show up. They do the work and leave. Six weeks later your bank says that the account the check was drawn on has "insufficient funds" and it took this long for the check to go though all the international clearing houses. The bank wants you to give back the funds and charge you a fee for a bad check. The group has the mastering done and have not had to pay for it and are in the country at some undisclosed location. The immigration service is no help since they have not committed a crime (it is not a crime to have insufficient funds UNLESS you were trying to commit fraud and that is very hard to prove especially with overseas accounts and laws in foreign countries)

Best advice is to stay away from these at all costs.

I have gotten these emails from Africa, England, Scotland, the Middle east and even got one from Canada.

If you do want to take someone up on this then tell them that they have to pay you in US dollars when the session is finished and make sure you have one of these...Counterfeit Detectors - ABC Office or one of these DRI MARK PRODUCTS Dri Mark 1pk Smart Money Counterfeit Detector Pen: Compare Prices, View Price History and Read Reviews at NexTag and use it before they leave.

Good topic!!!!

[streaky]

I've not received these emails...WHY...am I not in the gang anymore??

I do know where to get good Viagra though!!!

[rhythmtech]

Originally Posted by streaky

I've not received these emails...WHY...am I not in the gang anymore??

I do know where to get good Viagra though!!!

i have some here, ill swap you for a penis enlarger (realised i didnt actually need it! )

[elchupacabra]

In short what is nigerian 419 Scam ? I dont have time to read all infos on page you posted here,

From what and how profiting nigerian 419 scammers from this type of scam ?

thanks

[Thor]

For a never ending barrel of laughs and entertainment, as well as a thorough introduction to 419 scams, head on over to:

Welcome to the 419 Eater

They even offer apprenticeships for those of you who would like to be an intern before running your own shop

If you check into the forum, there are some amazing tales told there, all true, and mostly funny as h***. Some of the more accomplished 'baiters have gotten adept at sending scammers on 'safari' to other (usually African) countries, where they are too busy with other issues to worry about scamming unknowing victims.

One guy managed to get a few Nigerians to reenact Monty Pythons 'Dead Parrot' skit in it's entirety (on the scammers dollar/time), it's on YouTube.

Cheers,
Thor

[inlinenl]

a few years ago I had some Nigerian guys over in the studio, they had wealthy parents and some relatives living in holland , they bought a lot off gear ( mac's and synths ) and we had a lot off fun .. they paid cash and had to get to the airport ... really true

and now nobody want's to master them ....

lot's off good music in Nigeria ...

[Thomas W. Bethe]

I keep getting these emails.

thanks i thought you won't reply,i'm very far and crazy about music
i wrote lots of songs and now i'm wondering that when, and will i ever
release them
i gat a demo done i need a label to sign me someone who can help me release this songs

if you reply to this mail i will mail you one of my song to listen to and commend aswell
please i'm far you won't like to know cause you may loose interest
but if you're really about music like me than it does'nt matter

i wrote more than 200 song,i look at guys like tyrese,akon and others i start first
but here i'm not a single song released cause where i'm r&b don't make it

please hear me crying out for you're help and help me
ask for my demo
invite me
sign me
and let me sing

r&b my song my style my flow

dosh aka raining man
music love

From NA which is Namibia

Scam or genuine? You be the judge. I get two of these in my email box from this person every week.

[Thor]

Be polite, be professional, be clear, and be smart.

That way you're covered in any event.

Just an idea....

Thor

Originally Posted by Thomas W. Bethe

thanks i thought you won't reply,i'm very far and crazy about music
i wrote lots of songs and now i'm wondering that when, and will i ever
release them
i gat a demo done i need a label to sign me someone who can help me release this songs

if you reply to this mail i will mail you one of my song to listen to and commend aswell
please i'm far you won't like to know cause you may loose interest
but if you're really about music like me than it does'nt matter

i wrote more than 200 song,i look at guys like tyrese,akon and others i start first
but here i'm not a single song released cause where i'm r&b don't make it

please hear me crying out for you're help and help me
ask for my demo
invite me
sign me
and let me sing

r&b my song my style my flow

dosh aka raining man
music love

From NA which is Namibia

Scam or genuine. You be the judge. I get two of these in my email box from this person every week.

[starseed]

Originally Posted by ONDRAY

I was kidding around, I don't know what their intentions are and I meant no direct disrespect to Nigerians. I've worked with them in the past, good hearted people in general.

I was going to say similarly. I have done some mastering for a Nigerian artist, you know Afrobeat (Fela Kuti style)...no scam, different culture, sure, very respectful...honest, upfront, no troubles.

If it is for papers to have a legitimate, or if they choose not to master at your place, I guess an *excuse* to be in your country....that is up to your conscience.

Try traveling to Japan without on of those papers yourself one time, and maybe you will resonate with their predicament a little more.

For many nationalities, the world is a wicked place.

I'm half Swedish/born American...two passports...very fortunate that way.

Respectfully,

Jeremy Barnes

[meminor]

I agree with shiadoo, starseed.

You could simply ask them for their demo/music files and decide from there if they're serious. It should be no big deal to have them DHL you a copy, seeing as they are prepared to spend the money to come to the US to record/master.

Or alternatively send 'em my way and I'll pretend I know how to master, tweak lots of bypassed knobs and faders until they're convinced it sounds "professional".