Nigerian Scam
The Nigerian scam is so attractive, that still makes a lot of victims, about three to five hundred daily, in spite of all the warnings and even it has been flooding email accounts, for quite a while. It is also known as the “advance fee scam” or the “4-1-9 scam”, by the section of the Nigerian Penal Code which refers to it.
The Nigerian scam targets less individuals and more small or medium businesses and charities. It targets worldwide. It lures victims into believing that a high Nigerian official, either working for a bank or for the Nigerian government, needs help from a serious foreign company, to deposit money into its account. The fake official claims that the money has been overpaid, through a power of attorney or something similar. The email sounds flattering for the targeted business, as solely being chosen and trusted, for this “very lucrative” enterprise.
Further more, if the victim responds, the “official” is able to build trust, with forged documents that seem like the real deal and even with proof that all the contacts mentioned in his correspondence are real and trustworthy. He may arrange meetings, in fake or even real government offices and he may do whatever it takes, until the victim's trust is won.
From that moment on, things start going wrong and the victim is forced to pay money, to save the situation. Through threat and pressure, the scammers squeeze the victim, of money, repeatedly, for an extended period of time. Sometimes, they bribe airport officials, to sneak their victims through customs, without a visa and then they blackmail the victims for entering illegally, into Nigeria.
The Nigerian scam is not only a threat to one's finances but also to one's personal safety. The scammers, even if located in other countries are all members of Nigerian gangs. As soon as the victims move on their territory, they are able to physically harm and even murder them. Many have been reported missing, after taking the bait of the Nigerian scam.
These scam should be avoided, by all means and reported to authorities, by those who feel endangered. It may be the only way to stay alive after being involved with the Nigerian gangsters. This scam is so dangerous, that many websites are dedicated, solely, to educate the public, about it. They all recommend never to pay, upfront, to get involved in such a business proposition, to expect nor positive outcome or help from the real Nigerian officials, if things go wrong. “The 419 Coalition Website” is one of the best places to get information on what to do, if you receive the 4-1-9 scam emails. The least you can do about them is to forward the emails to the internet service provider, to shut their accounts down. You will find out the server through which they have been sent, by reading the headers, in the source of the messages. Also, report the unsolicited propositions, to the Organized Crime Division, in your own country.
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