Interview in San Diego City Beat

Budapest Business Journal
The scam busters
An intrepid writer and a team of consultants have probed the murky world of the 'Nigerian' e-mail scheme — and offer some crystal-clear advice  —  Peter Olah

People like you give me renewed confidence in the
human spirit. Thank you for all you do. - Brenda

(Click Here for the complete full page article and photo)

Read a letter of recognition from US Senator Ron Wyden (click here)

Correio da Bahia (article in Portuguese)

US Congressman Greg Walden recognizes Brian Wizard's work on 419 Scam (click here)

Click here for interview on KRES Radio.

Thanks Brian...meeting you has really lifted my spirits over this deal. I have an inner peace about the whole situation in so far as counting my loss of funds...it is only money, could of been worse.  — PK

For our Russian readers, click here for a review in Russian.

419 As Interactive Entertainment
Soldier of Fortune, December 2001

". . .Another who realized the creative possibilities inherent in the 'I got a scam letter' scenario is Oregon author Brian Wizard. He thought about it and being a writer, decided to risk a few grand for travel in pursuit of a story. He got the story, which he is publishing as a work of "historical fiction." The volume is entertaining, is spot on - more historical than fiction - and one of the best tools available to illustrate how 419 scams work. Log on to his web site at www.brianwizard.com for more information on his adventures, and informaiton on how to get his book Game Over." - F.H.

SATURDAY EAST OREGONIAN
Oct. 7, 2000
Oregonians Lose Millions To Scam
Fraud involves letter or fax claiming to be from Nigerian official
By Allen Moody

Billions of dollars have been lost to the Nigerian 419 scam, including millions from Oregonians, and there appears to be no end in sight. The 419 scam, or advance fee fraud, ranks as the third-to-fifth largest industry operating in Nigeria today.

"It's embarrassing for people," said Wallowa author Brian Wizard, who chronicled his transactions with Nigerian con men in a book titled, "Nigerian 419 Scam `Game Over!`" "I get things sent to me from people all the time who can't believe they've been scammed."

"People will rent office space at the Central Bank of Nigeria," said Wizard. "If somebody goes to Nigeria and sees the person at the bank, they'll believe it's for real."

The scammers are also quick to change their methods and their stories, depending on the latest world events.

"The U.S. government is about to send millions to Nigeria as foreign aid," Wizard said. "Pretty soon we'll see, `Looted U.S. foreign aid money stolen and available to you!` scams. That's how they operate." The Internet has done nothing but make the work of the scammers easier. Multiple e-mail addresses and companies that offer free fax services have all been added tot he arsenal of the con men.

Anybody receiving a suspicious offer from Nigeria should mail it to the Department of Justice at:
Consumer Protection/Financial Fraud
1162 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97310

"I think everybody should know they're a potential target," said Wizard. "We have to shut this thing down at the source.

Brian Wizard give readers an entertaining yet informative view of Nigerian Black Currency scams with his latest book, `"Nigerian 419 Scam: Game Over!`" The Wallowa-based novelist and investigative journalist chronicles his adventures from the time he receives his first unsolicited proposal. "I couldn't have made this stuff up," said Wizard. "It was like living live theater."

Wizard said he spent nearly $4,000 to willingly participate in the scam operations, money he hopes to recoup through his book. Wizard believes the best way to combat the scammers is information. "We have to get the word out," he said. "Knowledge is your power to defend yourselves from these guys."

Wizard's book has earned praise from the 419 Coalition, a Virginia based group that has been formed to fight the many different Nigerian scams. For more information on ordering this book, or any of Wizard's other books, visit his web site at: http://www.brian-wizard.com.

Too Good To Be True
Americans Losing Millions on Nigerian-based Scams; Secret Service Steps Up Efforts
In one type of scam, con artists propose the victim pay thousands of dollars to help buy special chemicals to clean ink covering the faces of $100 bills, in order to get a cut of the supposedly millions in soon-to-be "cleaned" money. (Artville)
By David Ruppe
abcNEWS.com

Sept. 5- Nigerian based confidence scammers are bilking American businesses and everyday citizens at such alarming rates that the U.S. Secret Service has set up shop in the oil-rich African nation to help stop rip-offs and other criminal activity at their source...

Nigerian Scam Chronicles
The 4-1-9 scams come in a number of varieties. An Oregon man named Brian Wizard in July published a book about his experience with Nigerian scammers, in which they worked a bizarre 4-1-9 variant called, Black Currency Scam.

In his book, Nigerian 419 Scam, Game Over!, Wizard describes how Nigerian cons proposed he pay $8,000 to help them buy special chemicals to "clean" a suitcase supposedly full of illicit U.S. $100 bills, and another $2 million in a vault.

"They just tell you their story about why they need your money," says Wizard. "They needed to buy the chemicals, and they just happened to be out." For souvenirs, he has a swath of forged and faxed documents. "I'm thinking, cool, wallpaper," he says.

For counseling about possible 4-1-9 scams, call the Nigerian desk officer at the U.S. Department of Commerce at (202) 482-5149. TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE
Americans Losing Millions on Nigerian-based Scams; Secret Service Steps Up Efforts