This article is more than 1 year old

419ers seek project manager

$180k contract with Bolex Comms

The Lads from Lagos have been a bit quiet of late, which led us to suspect that they may have all gone and got proper jobs which do not involve attempting to part fools from their hard-earned cash with promises of riches beyond the wildest dreams of avarice.

But no, mercifully for those of us who like our scams with a Nigerian 419 flavour, the Boys from Abuja continue to eschew traditional employment in favour of fleecing hapless punters. Here's the latest line of attack: post highly attractive job ad on monster.co.uk and wait for eager jobseekers to submit their applications:

BACKLEYS RECRUITERS COMPANY,
25 AJAOKUTA STREET,
VICTORIA ISLAND,
LAGOS, NIGERIA,
23401.
E-mail: backleysrecruiters@yahoo.com
From the Desk of Mr. James Backley
ATTN:

BACKLEYS RECRUITERS COMPANY, pursuant to the service contract with BOLEX COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY, intends to Invite experienced and reputable persons having prime experience and capable of providing an Information Technology support services (as individuals or in a team).

You are liable to contact The project Co-Ordinator of BOLEX COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY for any confirmation in regards to the project at hand through as follows: (Mr. Fran Oge) project_coordinator@myway.com TEL: 234-805-581-7164.

The ideal candidates will have commercial acumen and people skills, and must be forward thinking, flexible, committed and passionate. Must demonstrate previous experience from within a similar role.

This article is been advertised, so as to confirm your application for the project. If you are interested in the offer please select one of the skill sets below, in which you feel you can work well. We would not be giving contractors a telephone interview due to logistics, so a personal interview is scheduled to hold one on one as soon as you resume for duty.

Contractors should be aware that as soon as we receive your CV, you will eventually be qualified based on your CV and your work experiences,and we will automatically get back to you soonest as soon as you are been shorlisted due to the limited time factor before the date of resumption for duty.

Contractors are hereby mandated to respond to this article as soon as possible because the project will eventually be proceeding on the 1st of June, 2005. In Respect to this offer if interested, you are required to contact the project Co-Ordinator,

Mr. Fran Oge
project_coordinator@myway.com
TEL: 234-805-581-7164

And so on and so forth. Looks legit-ish, but here come the sting:

You are liable to make charges of about USD$950.00 for the procurement of your working and residential permit documents which covers:

  • Administrative charges:
  • Diplomatic Courier Charges:
  • Working Permit charges:
  • Residential Permit charges:
  • Hard copies of the terms:

Expenses incurred, in respect to the procurement of your working and residential permit must be substantiated with receipt and this should be forwarded to me for later re-embursement after 14 days of procurement. You are to receive the hard copies of the contract terms and agreement and also your working and residential permit altogether, it will be delivered through Diplomatic Courier Services(DHL) to your various designated addresses respectively.

Yup, they don't call it advance fee fraud for nothing. The above was sent to us by reader Jon, who notes that Monster pulled the ad as soon as he informed them of the outrage. However, it's clear that our Nigerian friends have lots and lots of job opportunities, because the following email (forwarded by a reader who wishes to remain anonymous) is in response to a query regarding a Project Manager position for Evans Petroleum Company in Madrid. Interestingly, it's identical to the job description posted for the BOLEX COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY advertisement:

From: Carl Fiorentino <csprojectcordinator@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: projectcordinat1@eresmas.com
To: XXXX
Subject: offer of appointment
Date: Tue, 3 May 2005 04:04:30 -0700 (PDT)

Attention Mr XXXX,

I want you to know that the company has offered you the position as the Project Managet for this 6 months contract. this are you responsibilities as the project manager.

Specific anticipated duties are as follows,

1.Plans,directs, and coordinates project activities to ensure that goals or objectives of project are accomplished within prescribed time frame and funding parameters:

2.Reviews project proposal or plan to determine time frame, funding limitations, procedures for accomplishing project, staffing requirements, and allotment of available resources to various phases of project.

3.Establishes work plan and staffing for each phase of project, and arranges for assignment of project personnel.

4.Confers with project staff to outline work plan and to assign duties,responsibilities, and scope of authority.

5.Directs and coordinates activities of proje ct personnel to ensure project progresses on schedule and within prescribed budget.

6.Reviews status reports prepared by project personnel and modifies schedules or plans as required.

7.Prepares project reports for management, client, or others.

8.Confers with project personnel to provide technical advice and to resolve problems.

This is a preview of your letter of appointment and entitlements

PLACEMENT TERMS FOR PROFESSIONAL CONSULTING SERVICES PROVIDER (S)

The management Evans Petroleum Company hereby wishes to present to you the following terms of job.

JOB PERIOD: You shall resume for duty on the 10th of May 2005

ENTITLEMENTS: All salary and expense figures shall be in U.S. Dollars (USD).

SALARY: Expatriates shall be entitled to a Net Salary of US$180,000.00 in (6) months. This salary shall be paid monthly at US$30,000.00. Work time shall be 40 hours workweek for the 26 weeks job term. Any work performed beyond the normal 40 hrs a week, work time, shall be due for an overtime benefit to be paid at $300.00 per hour.

LODGING: First class accommodation will be provided.

TRAVEL: US$3,000.00 flat rate travel/entertainment allowance, shall be paid to employee by employer for each intercontinental trip.

MEDICAL EXPENSES : Employer will provide employee with comprehensive healthcare for the term of job, and follow-on care for injuries suffered during the term of job.

VACATION : Employees shall be authorized two weeks of paid vacation during the term of the job.

Office Assets: Employees are entitled to a laptop.

LOCAL TRANSPORT : Vehicles and other means of transport shall be adequately provided for .

MOBILIZATION: the first monthly salary and other entitlement shall be paid upon arrival to resume duty in nigeria.

I will be looking forward to hear from you soonest.

Best Regards

Carl Fiorentino

And there you have it. As the old saying goes: if it looks too good to be true, then it probably is. Jobseekers should consider themselves duly warned. ®

Bootnote

The "Carl Fiorentino" bit is a nice touch. Good to see the Lads from Lagos have a sense of humour - an essential prerequisite for laughing all the way to the bank.

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