Why Nigerian email scammers are smart to be so blatantly obvious

Few assume that a lot of brainpower goes into these transparent scams, but a Microsoft researcher argues that they're actually highly sophisticated

By weeding out everyone but the most gullible with their obviously scamming email, Nigerian scammers can maximize efficiency.
(Image credit: Thinkstock/iStockphoto)

The emails usually begin with "Dear Sir/Madam," says Bailey Johnson at CBS News. "And then come the promises of quick money, the assurances that a royal family member will make good on the bargain (accompanied by numerous typos)." The Nigerian email scam has become such a familiar feature of the internet era that it has its own extensive Wikipedia page. With such heavy exposure, it's puzzling that the scammers continue to send out their predictable messages. What recipient would still believe that he's just a few clicks away from receiving a fortune from a Nigerian prince? However, there is actually a solid mathematical method behind the complete obviousness of the Nigerian email scam, says Corman Herley, a Microsoft researcher. Here, a guide to Herley's findings:

What is Herley's rationale?

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