22 year-old John Rempel gave Nigerian scammers $150,000 while chasing what he thought was a $12.8 million inheritance. Rempel ended up borrowing money from his parents and uncle, and even traveled all the way to London to meet with the scammers in person.

They met Rempel the next day with a suitcase. They said it had $10.6 million in shrink-wrapped U.S. bills. Rempel wanted more proof. His new friends pulled out one bill and “cleansed” it with a liquid “formula,” which washed off some kind of stamp. Rempel was told that process made the money “legal tender.”

“I was like holy crap, is that mine?” he said. “They said ‘yes sir, it’s yours.’ It all sounded legit.”

Rempel returned to his hotel room clutching the formula and waited for the others so they could cleanse all his money. They never showed, and later told him they got held up. In the meantime, Rempel dropped the formula. The bottle broke. He called his contact who said he’d get more. Rempel returned to Leamington and waited.

A few weeks later Rempel got a call. They found more formula. It would cost $120,000.

“I thought, ‘let’s work on it, nothing is impossible,’” said Rempel.

Don’t believe the internet when it says you’re a big lottery winner or surprise heir. We’re sure you’re nice and all, but Nigerian Princes aren’t going to email you. Hell, Nigeria’s government is modeled after our own; they don’t even have princes, something you should remember next time Africa’s supposed royalty asks you to wire them money.

As with most advance fee fraud stories, Rempel’s tale ends in bankruptcy and woe. “I really thought in my heart this was true,” he said.

Leamington man loses $150,000 in Nigerian scam [The Windsor Star]

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.