The affect of this ad on the Nigerian tourism industry has cost Nigeria untold millions of dollars.

they also demanded Sony's Bank account numbers.

Umm...but they *are*

As soon as Nigeria apologizes for all the spam and scams their people have sent to me, I'll ask Sony to apologize.

The truth hurts. Butt hurts, apparently.

Just for once Sony has managed not to do something stupid.

They are a source for scams. I saw that commercial on TV and although the PS3 is garbage the nigeria comment was the only good thing in the commercial.

Sure thing...as soon as they apologize for this:

[www.crunchgear.com]

@RobertBaron: I'm apparently owed $889,000 by someone in Nigeria. They can have it if they want. I'll forward the e-mail.

I hadn't laughed so hard at an article on the Consumerist in a while. Sure.. I laugh at the comments.. but the actual articles? Not usually.

I just find this really really funny and completely ridiculous.

Dear Government of Nigeria,

We at Sony apologize for our insensitive portrayal of your country as a hive of scam artists. We have the utmost respect for the great country of Nigeria and its people. In recompense, we would like to give you $1,000,000 as our way of saying sorry. All we will need from you is a number for a checking account in which to deposit the funds and a processing fee of $5000 (this will be added to the deposit of $1,000,000 to reimburse you.) Once again, we humbly apologize.

Yours,

President of Sony

@diasdiem: winner winner chicken dinner

@diasdiem: Damn, you beat me to it.

It's okay, the Nigerian government will stop agree not to Sue you in the Court of Justice court if you wier $3000 USD to you're agent, Mr Nagird, imediately through Western union.

Considering the fact that my mother's office regularly got Nigerian scam letters via snail mail and fax in the '80s, I don't think they have a leg to stand on.

Sorry Nigeria.

/Checks spam folder and notes the 36 messages scam messages originating from Nigeria...

Yup, Nigeria is fucked.

@Chumas: And someone over at Kotaku beat us all to it. Like a week ago.

oh well, maybe they should do something about the number of scammers in their country before they start caring about the global perception of them...

Nigeria already has a bad image. Making a big deal about it is just making it worse. In my opinion, they should apologize to Sony, and move on.

Yeah, good luck with that

Comon, Sony! It's only the *people* of Nigeria that are the scammers, not Nigeria itself.

@threadislocked: At least they dont have a 60% failure rate...

@Cyberxion101: That's okay. We allowed to be late to the game as long as it stays in our little world alone.

@Triterion: actually nobody does. those are inflated numbers.

Maybe if the goverment employees stoped watching tv they could bust some of these scam artists that are giving their country such a bad neme.

This version of the commercial was taken out almost two weeks ago and the infamous quote was replaced with:

"You can't believe everything you hear/read on the internet, that's how World War I got started."

This article now needs an "UPDATE" in it somewhere. You are welcome Consumerist.

@scoobydoo: That raises a good question... Do all those nigerian scams originate in nigeria or is it just a cover?

"Fuck 'em, if they can't take a joke."

That is like Hitler demanding Jews apologize for saying he was a murderer.

@tomok97: For one thing, the song is a parody of how gullible greedy people get swindled by crooks.

Second, when the time comes for a country to apologize for the music of a few individuals in that country, the United States should be the first to apologize.

Every time I list something on eBay or Craiglist that is worth anything, I *always* get a few 419 scammers from either Nigeria or the UK.

Shoot...now Nigeria's government is going to demand I apologize for this comment.

Maybe I will after they compensate me for my time reading their citizen's bogus emails. I charge competitive rates of $150 per second, payable via Western Union.

@savdavid: You have here brough Godwin's law to fruition in near-record time.

Also, no it isn't. To adapt your poor analogy, It's more like Germany asking that Mitsubishi apologize for saying that German millionaires are genocidal murderers.

I'm sorry to disagree with the Internet mob here, but one of the first rules of advertising should be to avoid xenophobia.

Dear Nigeria,

STFU and send me my $200,000 in exchange for the $10K I sent you!

I'm waiting.

@jarhead906: Honestly I think they should do two or three (or several) other versions as well, maybe one about cat pictures, and just make other silly claims. It has potential!

@RandomHookup: That's fair. I'm just upset that someone got to the joke before I did. :P

In response to this false, defamatory and confidential claim

Confidential? I can see their point (but may not agree with it) with false and defamatory (after all, can we b sure that the scammers are from Nigeria? But at the same time, he doesn't blame Nigeria for originating it, but says he would be a Nigerian millionaire). But how the f is this confidential?

@Skipweasel: I know. If I didn't already own a PS3 I would have bought one because of the ad and price drop.

Technically, I did get my PS3 for around $300 because it came with a free remote, Blu-Ray movie, and game.

@MostlyHarmless: They are overwhelmingly located in Nigeria. Lagos to be specific. They have started expanding into neighboring countries, but some (Burkina Faso) take a very dim view to that sort of activity. But yes, Lagos has a culture of scammers, or "guymen" as they refer to themselves. So, until the Government of Nigeria actually starts doing something to enforce section 419 of their penal code, said government can fuck itself gently with a chainsaw.

@ArcanaJ: Even if that weren't true, he says he'd be a Nigerian millionaire, not that Nigeria propagates scams. They're really trying to be offended here.

@TCama: So says Professor Charles Soludo.

Dear Sony,

I was Prince Abubamat the Third Hair of my Country Nigeria and I am very misgivings on reference with your deslanderous offensives which have been honorably strewn at my persons. I humbly and formerly beseech the sendings of $450US at which timings I will send you in response not only forgiveness of all insults but too your winnings of foreign debt instrument speculations for tax purposes.

Yours Grandiosly,

Prince Abumamat

And if Sony doesn't apologize, Nigeria will do *what* exactly? *Not* scam Sony employees/customers?

Is Nigeria even a significant source of revenue for... anybody but Nigeria? (Serious question here, not sarcasm)

Truth hurts

@Michael Belisle: Xenophobia is an irrational fear or dislike of someone or something that is different from you. I'm not sure how making a silly joke referring to a long-running, well documented issue qualifies.

The sad thing is that I can almost imagine why you would have gone there. The idea is on the tip of my tongue, but it's almost like it's too stupid a notion to bother coalescing into a complete thought. Maybe you just wanted to assert your sense of moral superiority over the rest of the internet? I dunno...

@jarhead906: Wait until someone gets butt hurt over WWI, what will they use then?

Dear Mr. Consummerist,

I am the brother to the proud prince Numumbu and after the recent PS3 ad caused a civil war in my country, my family was exiled to the island of Mufasa. My father's fortune was frozen in the bank. I am willing to share the fortune with someone in the United States if only you will please enclose $50,000 for a transfer fee, I will share 20% of the 79 million dollar fortune with you. Please Telex your identification papers and and bank account numbers so I may process the transaction.

Sincerely,

I. Amma Scamma
Island of Mufasa
Republic of Nigeria

Does anyone else think by responding to what's a subtle reference at best, that Nigerian government is just confirming that yes, they are indeed the source of the scam bearing their name?

I mean it's not as though the ad specifically said something like "I'd be a millionaire due to all those scam emails I get from Nigera". It was a rather subtle reference - and they got it. Exactly.

I'm just sorry Sony caved and revised the ad. If I were Sony, I'd grab this opportunity and run with it. Heck, I'd use it as a slogan! "PS3 - it's not a Nigerian millionaire"

Although very late in posting this amusing story I am still glad you did. I really wish Sony hadn't caved. I mean if the ENTIRE WORLD gets the joke then guess what Nigeria????