First published: 31st August 2009
The stereotype of unscrupulous email scams originating from Nigeria has achieved some sort of cult status with the appearance of a YouTube video of Prince Obi Matumbe Akumbe making an appeal for help. Various clues suggest this is a joke, including the references to other correspondent's disbelief, and using YouTube for a public appeal, rather than a more "personal" appeal in email. There is also a response from a "victim", and Prince Obi has a twitter account.
While laughing at these well-produced jokes, people should remember that scammers are using a wide variety of stories to hook victims, and they are certainly not limited to one country.