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Nigeria Demands Apology From Sony For Mentioning Nigerian Fraud In A Commercial?

from the really? dept

Mon, Sep 21st 2009 12:18pm — Mike Masnick

I have to admit that this story seems so bizarre that I'm not quite sure I believe it. A bunch of folks have been submitting the news that the Nigerian government is apparently so upset by a Sony Playstation commercial that it's demanding an apology from Sony for allegedly "portraying Nigeria as a home of fraud where its citizens hardly do genuine business." Must be quite a commercial right? The only problem is that the commercial does no such thing:

It just mentions, in passing, as a part of the joke of the commercial that "You can't believe everything you read on the Internet. Otherwise I'd be a Nigerian millionaire by now." I don't quite see how that implies that Nigerian citizens hardly do genuine business. It just suggests that there are Nigerian scammers out there -- which is hardly something the government can credibly deny. Hell, there are popular songs in Nigeria all about fleecing dumb Americans in online scams. Honestly, the whole complaint from the Nigerian gov't seems so odd, that it feels like part of Sony's marketing campaign...

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Filed Under: commercials, fraud, nigeria, ps3, scams
Companies: sony

28 Comments

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william (profile), 21 Sep 2009 @ 12:11pm

Funny, the Nigerians are also complaining about "District 9" for "portraying Nigeria as full of gangsters and cannibals"

http://consumerist.com/5364321/nigeria-demands-apology-for-district-9

Did someone over at the Nigerian government suddenly got enlightened or just went brain dead?

BTW, I though Nigeria is known for its proliferating and lively sex trade, not scam, gangsters and cannibals. /end sarcasm/
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- Robert Ring (profile), 21 Sep 2009 @ 12:44pm
  
  Re:
  Yeah, I that District 9 debacle is pretty absurd. I wrote up an article about it on my website making the point that if they want people to be angry about it -- and if it really is as offensive as they claim it is -- they should ALLOW it to be played so that Nigerians have a reason to be angry. Instead, Nigeria becomes the bad guy by disallowing the theaters freedom to show the films they want to show. Sony and director Neill Blomkamp must be loving it.
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Chronno S. Trigger (profile), 21 Sep 2009 @ 12:25pm

I don't know
Maybe instead of freaking out at Sony for making a crack at Nigerian scammers (and to some extent, the idiots that fall for them), how about doing something about those scammers? Maybe their name wouldn't be so tarnished if it looked like they actually had a problem with the scammers.
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Rebel Freek (profile), 21 Sep 2009 @ 12:44pm

Im gu8es wondering where this is going to get them, Its not like most of the world hasn't heard about the infamous spam about giving you millions if you let them use your bank account...
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Dark Helmet (profile), 21 Sep 2009 @ 12:58pm

Nigerian Government to do list:
1. Get an apology Sony and movie producers for hurting our feelings (this is our #1 actionable item, people!).

2. Curtail all those extrajudicial killings that keep getting brought up in pesky UN Human Rights meetings.

3. See if we can figure out how to get more than 26% of the population to go to school as children.

4. Figure out why a Next Eleven nation and the world's fastest growing economy still has 70% of its population living below the world poverty line (according to the CIA factbook).

But first, we MUST get our apology!!!
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Anonymous Coward, 21 Sep 2009 @ 1:23pm

Oh yeah?
Well I demand an apology from Nigeria for mentioning Nigerian fraud in my spam box! *double middle finger* UP YOURS!
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- The Infamous Joe (profile), 21 Sep 2009 @ 2:32pm
  
  Re: Oh yeah?
  *double middle finger*
  
  Was that a Su-Fi or dual middle fingers? I'm confused!
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cybearDJM (profile), 21 Sep 2009 @ 1:33pm

Oyinbo, I go chop your $ - video
Here's a fun song/video (including lyrics)
http://www.kotonteej.com/?p=240
Sincerely
DJM
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Chuck Norris' Enemy (deceased) (profile), 21 Sep 2009 @ 1:33pm

From Sony...with Love
We're sorry.
Sony
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Sony CEO, 21 Sep 2009 @ 1:35pm

Refund for Greviences
Dear Leader of Nigeria.

I am the presidant of Sony Corp, and wish to make up to you for the missunderstanding. we are willing to pay $5,999,999 to your goverbment to appologize for any inconvience.

If you can send the following information, we can transfer the funds to your banking account.

Bank Account Number:
Bank Routing Number:
Bank Passwords (For Deposit Authority)
First & last Name of Account:

Thank you.
Presadent of Sony.
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- Anonymous Coward, 21 Sep 2009 @ 1:43pm
  
  Re: Refund for Greviences
  ROTFLAMO!
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- william (profile), 21 Sep 2009 @ 3:38pm
  
  Re: Refund for Greviences
  *pat on the back for good job*
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- CrushU, 21 Sep 2009 @ 4:50pm
  
  Re: Refund for Greviences
  You have just won one (1) internet. To collect your prize please email...
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Michele, 22 Sep 2009 @ 3:11am
  
  Re: Refund for Greviences
  PRICELESS!
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- ibforum (profile), 22 Sep 2009 @ 7:34am
  
  Re: Refund for Greviences
  I am about compliment my very furst presadunt! You made my day keep up the gud wurk!
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Almost Anonymous (profile), 22 Sep 2009 @ 7:44am
  
  Re: Refund for Greviences
  I find your ideas intriguing and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 21 Sep 2009 @ 2:04pm

I know that Nigeria needs to apologize for all the scams that they've pulled on American Citizens and even Banks. I have a friend that was taken by a Nigerian Scam.

What some may simply say is that we have racial mistrust. It's not that he's worse than me.

Listen, I don't trust people based on experience, I don't trust people based on their life experience, I don't trust people based on where they originate from or who they know, and where they've been. I know Whites, Hispanics and Asians that I don't trust because of who they are.

And I might think that an African American is automatically coming from an experience that's so different than mine. It doesn't make them worse than me, it's just that it's so different than me that I have a trust issue going on.

It's not that I don't trust African Americans, in fact in Middle School I really thought I was going to marry into an African-American family.

Do you see what I'm saying? It's that racism is the belief that one race is inferior, or superior. That there is something that is something biologic, physiologic, psychological different and that those guys are superior.

I just don't think that's what is going on our country anymore. I think it's this discomfort from the idea that we're equal, and that's cool... Um, how do we do this?

I mean, a lot of my best friends say "Their best friends are black," and, "They don't have a problem with black people." This is a joke. An absolute joke when you hear this from a white person.

I typically try not to embarrass them but sometimes, I sometimes follow this up with a question of:
"How many black folks have you had to your house"? But I know that the answer honestly would be "Well, last week, there was um.. actually none."

This is about people feeling superior, or the others feeling inferior or is there just this discomfort, and I don't know how else to put it, but between races that we're not getting at, and I think the way we're handing is just making the situation worse.

But, having that said that, you need to look at this from the other side of the coin. I really think there's this problem with anyone within Nigeria's governance requesting Sony an apology for Nigerian Fraud, when these cats put sons of their presidency in key positions to ensure their most profitable export stayed in place.

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20080822/0315012062.shtml
http://www.techdirt.com/arti cles/20080602/0003451286.shtml
http://www.techdirt.com/blog.php?tag=419
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- Dark Helmet (profile), 21 Sep 2009 @ 2:13pm
  
  Re:
  What you're trying to say, if I'm picking up on what I believe is our similar disposition, is that this is becoming less and less of a racial issue in America, and more of a cultural issue.
  
  I for instance do not believe that blacks and whites are inferior or superior to each other biologically in any significant way. There are physical and biological differences, but few to none of any actual consequence. Blacks and whites, in general, are equally able in 99.9% of endeavors.
  
  On the other hand, I DO truly believe that there is serious cultural problem in the African American community today, particularly in major metropolitan areas. It stems from a lack of proper role models, an identity that is traditionally tied to their history of being oppressed by whites, and a general lack of valuing education. This stems from a variety of reasons, some on the black community, some on the white.
  
  I just think that instead of trying to find someone to blame, the black community is seriously due for some self-correction of their priorities. I have no idea how that happens, only that it must come from within. The good news is they can do it. The bad news is that to date, they haven't seemed all that interested.
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  - The Infamous Joe (profile), 21 Sep 2009 @ 2:36pm
    
    Re: Re:
    What's the .01%? Yup, jumping. Word on the street is I can't do it.
    
    You win this round, non-white people.
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    - Dark Helmet (profile), 21 Sep 2009 @ 2:42pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      "What's the .01%? Yup, jumping. Word on the street is I can't do it."
      
      That's part of the .01%
      
      The other parts are:
      
      1. Running short distances really, really fast
      2. Running super long distances really, really fast
      3. Dancing
      4. Appearing to be muscular and "cut" no matter how overweight they are.
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  - Anonymous Coward, 21 Sep 2009 @ 3:13pm
    
    Re: Re:
    Part of what you say is true, however, I don't want the credit report companies to dictate my ability to be, and provide insight to be, a positive influence in society, based on any "ideal" internal risk models they've created.
    
    This "exception process" is especially true when their own model has you positioned to something less. Their inability to find and put in place exception models is what I know, and what I will continue to fight for.
    
    http://techdirt.com/article.php?sid=20090918/0307366238#c162
    
    For far too many companies, this exception process doesn't exist.
    
    What ever happened to "Hey, the guy/gal pays their bill on time, let's keep them around" The problem is that a lot of people try to bring in other information, stupid statistics, and models that try again to pin one person against another, all based on their educational background. But deviation from this has multiple issues, and issues I'm not willing to give up.
    
    Kenneth Chenault will continue to be my one and only hero, regardless of anything else.
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Anonymous Coward, 21 Sep 2009 @ 2:38pm

Nigerian Scam
What is this Nigerian scam... All I know is that I am in the process of transferring money to a Nigerian business man and collecting a fee for doing it. He says there is no such thing as a Nigerian scam.
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- Shawn (profile), 21 Sep 2009 @ 3:11pm
  
  Re: Nigerian Scam
  You may be making a big mistake!! There are many scams that seem to be a way to get rich quick. I am a barrister and can help you legitimately help King Yahoobiedoobie's son's fortune out of the country and make a sizable profit in the process. Please do not send any monies to your Nigerian business contact, allow me to mediate and your fortune will be assured!
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faceless (profile), 22 Sep 2009 @ 12:44pm

Old News, and...
The commercial was already changed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Eg9TLWJS6Q

I assume they did multiple takes with different lines. That or this was a part of Sony's marketing plan all along...
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Ronald J Riley (profile), 22 Sep 2009 @ 3:46pm

How Many Nigerians Approve
America should do a study to determine what percentage of Nigerians approve the frauds. That number should be a factor in our public policy.

See: http://www.usaid.gov/policy/budget/cbj2010/

"The resources in this request put the United States on a path to double U.S. foreign assistance by 2015, thereby providing the resources needed to help the world’s weakest states reduce poverty, combat global health threats, develop markets, govern peacefully, and expand democracy worldwide. The FY 2010 Function 150 International Affairs request totals $53.9 billion, an increase of 9 percent over the FY 2009 total, which includes both enacted and requested emergency supplemental funding."

It seems to me that America should reallocate about $50 million of aid and block Nigerian internet traffic from entering the US (and yes, I understand that we cannot effectively block all of it).

Ronald J. Riley,

I am speaking only on my own behalf.
Affiliations:
President - www.PIAUSA.org - RJR act PIAUSA.org
Executive Director - www.InventorEd.org - RJR at InvEd.org
Senior Fellow - www.PatentPolicy.org
President - Alliance for American Innovation
Caretaker of Intellectual Property Creators on behalf of deceased founder Paul Heckel
Washington, DC
Direct (810) 597-0194 / (202) 318-1595 - 9 am to 8 pm EST.
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Afro, 29 Oct 2009 @ 6:34pm

Re: Nigerian Scam
Its funny how all of you THIEVES cry fowl when your money gets taken. In America, there are laws against receiving stolen property. So, if somebody across the world emails and say they have some money they want to “wire into” your account...why would you want to "open up" your account to stolen property? Just a thought.
Secondly, Madoff, Enron, which crippled the world economy, is not seen as "American scam" but simply Madoff...why would you ascribe a scam committed by individuals to a specific country?....it is born out of prejudice (my opinion). Just because an African American robs a bank...does that mean that all blacks are thieves (try, and see what happens to you!)….get it right people. Nigeria has a problem i agree. I am sure they have crime fighting outfits that are trying to combat this problem. BTW, when is the “western banks “going to stop receiving STOLEN money from fraudulent “third world” government official. Your banks harbor their money but nobody…not even the UN wants to address that.
Just a random thought!
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CHIKEZIE UWAZIE, 30 Oct 2009 @ 10:34am

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Anonymous Coward, 27 May 2010 @ 8:13pm

if the utterance is that nigeria hardly do genuine business if not fraud...... the how fool are those that fall as a victim..... if you feel you can't work harder for survial and yet you fall as a victim to such matter by claiming what you dont when you won or even a program. then u re fool.
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