Nigerian CommunicationWeek

Abacha, Nigerian Astronaut Trapped in Space for 25 years?

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The most inventive email scam of all time may have got on the shelf no thanks to the now viral scheme dropped by fraudsters recently which claimed that a Nigerian astronaut has been trapped in space for the last 25 years and needs $3 million to get back to Earth.

There’s been speculation that the obviously fraudulent email is actually a parody of a scam.

However, research suggested that it has been around for a while.

According to the email, Abacha Tunde — allegedly Africa’s first man in space — was left trapped on board a Soviet spacecraft when the USSR dissolved.

“His other Soviet crew members returned to Earth on the Soyuz T-16Z, but his place was taken up by return cargo,” his cousin Dr. Bakara Tunde claimed.

It claimed that Tunde remains in “good humour” despite his secret mission going spectacularly wrong.

“There have been occasional Progrez supply flights to keep him going since that time,” explained a man who claims to be his brother in the email.

It added: “In the 14 years since he has been on the station, he has accumulated flight pay and interest amounting to almost $15 million. This is held in a trust at the Lagos National Savings and Trust Association.

“If we can obtain access to this money, we can place a down payment with the Russian Space Authorities for a Soyuz return flight to bring him back to Earth. I am told this will cost $3 million. In order to access this trust fund we need your assistance.

“My colleagues and I are willing to transfer the total amount to your account or subsequent disbursement.”

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