Many of the unsolicited emails that arrive in our inboxes daily contain scams or false advertisements. 4-1-9 is the name for a fund transfer scam or con commonly believed to originate from Nigeria. Over the last year we’ve collected a number of these emails. We are drawn to the ways in which these narratives are structurally identical, though distinct in terms of content. Each email tells the story of a modern African tragedy in fewer than five hundred words. Each letter offers the reader the opportunity to play hero. Despite the differences in these stories, each one also enables the reader/potential hero to benefit financially from the relationship.
Here is a sample from our collection:
My dear Friend,4-1-9 letters are actually created around the world. However, these letters often use names and locations that are particular to Nigeria or other parts of Africa. What idea of Africa do the composers of these letters hope to invoke? Some readers will recognize the names and places mentioned, but some simply experience them as foreign. Because our name – Obadike – is a Nigerian name, we receive these letters in large quantities; perhaps those who send the letters assume we will be sympathetic. But many others for whom Nigeria and Africa are distant planets are now accustomed to receiving these letters. How do they respond when they receive emails from us or from people with names like ours?I am highly compelled upon strict recommendation, to write you this very urgent and confidential letter. I do hope my letter will not embarrass you since I had no previous correspondence with you. I hope this mail will not come to you as a surprise. I am sending this proposal with due sense of humanity, responsibility and with few awareness that you will give it a sympathetic attention. I regret the inconvenience it may cause you based on the condition that we have not met before.
I am Mrs. Salatu Mustapha, the wife of Al Mustapha, personal assistant to the Late head of state of Federal Republic of Nigeria - General Sani Abacha. I am contacting you in view of the fact that we will be of great assistance to each other like wise developing a cordial relationship. My husband along with the head of state and top officials of their past administration has been accused of looting several Billion United States Dollars from the Nigeria Government. The current attitude of the present government towards my family has indeed made life quite unbearable for us.
Fortunately, Al Mustapha my Husband has Six million and eight hundred thousand United States Dollars(US$6.8 million) cash, which he intended to use for investment purposes overseas. This money is kept in a private security company. This money was deposited for safe keeping in the security vault of a freighting agency here by my husband preparatory to being air lifted abroad for investment purposes before his arrest leaving a clause that it could only be claimed by an expatriate partner. It is only my husband and myself that know where the money is kept.
Due to the current situation in the country concerning government’s vendettas towards my family, we seek your assistance to transfer this money out of Nigeria for the purpose of investment as intended by my husband. Note that my family is currently being probed by this present government for alleged involvement in misappropriation of public funds during their regime. Towards this effect, an embargo restricting my family members from traveling or carrying out financial transactions without their express permission is in force.
Right now, my husband (Al Mustapha) is under arrest and is being detained in connection to the above and other activities of his late Boss. However, I have an arrangement on how to freight this money to you after receiving some assurances from you of the safety our own share and that you will only take the commission that we will offer you. This money personally belongs to my husband and he intends that it still be used for investment. No record ever existed concerning this money, neither is the money traceable by the government because there is no Documentation concerning the funds in the Federal Treasury. The freighting company to be used has now been introduced to me and as so on as we receive your readiness to assist us receive this fund we shall formalize the deposit documents in your name and reach an agreement with them to air lift the consignment for your pick up.
Bearing in mind that your assistance is needed to transfer this fund, we propose a commission of 15%(Fifteen Percent) of the total sum to you for the expected services and assistance. While 5% is mapped out for miscellaneous expenses. On your positive consent, I shall expect you to contact me urgently to enable us discuss about this. Your urgent response is highly needed. I must use this opportunity to implore you to exercise utmost indulgence to keep this matter extraordinarily confidential, while I await your prompt response.
Best regards, MRS. SALATU AL MUSTAPHA
4-1-9, OR YOU CAN’T VIEW A MASQUERADE BY STANDING IN ONE PLACE is a conceptual suite with modules including text-sound works and songs, an online game, and an interactive form based on 4-1-9 emails. The project explores the structure of tragedy, archetypal African identities on the web, and the notion of scams. In order to highlight the proposed exchange of funds, we have housed the work in an ATM machine. You are invited to engage with the project through four concept doors: STATEMENT (where you are now), WITHDRAWAL, DEPOSIT, and BALANCE.
At the DEPOSIT module, you are invited to construct your own 4-1-9 letter. Using the elements of the letters we have collected, you may remix phrases from several different letters to give your letter its own distinctive voice. You also have the opportunity to insert your own language in places. The letters we receive from participants at the DEPOSIT site will feed the WITHDRAWAL area.
At the WITHDRAWAL module, you will find audio pieces based on the 4-1-9 scam. These initial sound pieces are meditations on the repeated structures of the letters: the apologies, the no-risk guarantees, the calls to secrecy, and the descriptions of loss or violence. As participants create letters in the DEPOSIT area, we will use these texts as the source for new audio pieces.
Finally, at the BALANCE module, you can play an online game called BALANCE. In this game, icons of the United States and a computer play ping pong with a ball of mercy. As the player, you are the computer. Note, however, that each time you hit the ball, you will appear to be something else.
We welcome you to stand in more than one place, to view the masquerade, and to play.