NIGERIAN SCAM, WHAT YOU MUST KNOW! - an article by Rose Alexander.

The Nigerian Advance Fee scam, better known as the '419' Letter scam has been around since the early 80s. Millions have fallen for this scam and the count just keeps getting bigger. Victims of the Nigerian 419 letter scam lose USD $3000 on the average, according to reports. Hundreds have also died chasing the 419 scheme dream? '419' is that section of Nigeria's penal code that prohibits and punishes the fraud of obtaining by false pretence.

The accompanying photographs are real 419 operators who were tricked into sending their photgraphs across with their name tags, just to verify that they are the real beneficiaries of the money being transfered? Notice particularly the guy below left whose name is Hajia Mariam Abacha and he is a man? Then you have Evangelist Ojukwa Damisa? Lucas Kabongo? Joseph Otumba? Dr. Ahmed Ibrahim? Icheoku says, what a group of dopes, these fraudulent criminals are?

On how the scam works, now read the following expose` by a commentator:-

Nigerian scams usually begin with an urgent e-mail from a foreign country in the name of a government leader or ex-leader, and possibly from a family scion or heir. The Nigerian e-mail scam earned its name because so many of the messages were from Nigerian addresses or named the Central Bank of Nigeria as the financial institution through which funds would be transferred if the recipient of the e-mail decided to fall for the scam. Although not the first or only of its kind, the Nigerian scam has bilked millions from Americans who were duped into participating, as well as similar sums from residents in countries like Great Britain. Here’s how it works: - It starts with a plea for assistance The present-day scam is actually an updated version of a classic con called “The Spanish Prisoner” that dates back to the 1920s. Early versions of the con involved letters promised to reward anyone who would help a prominent Spanish family free their imprisoned son by advancing funds for taxes, bribes, and other fees that could result in the boy’s release. Of course, there was no prisoner. And anyone who “lent” money to help the imaginary prisoner with the prospect of gaining a sizable reward in return simply lost all funds advanced to the cause. Later years involved faxes or e-mails rather than letters, but still in an attempt to draw unsuspecting people into the scam of earning easy cash by aiding a hapless victim in a foreign country. Thus, the first assault is to play on the recipient’s emotions. All of us want to help others, especially in less-developed countries—and especially when a sizable price tag to be paid to us is involved.

The second characteristic of this scam is the promise of earning thousands or even millions of dollars for doing nothing, or almost nothing, except to facilitate the proposed transfer of funds into an American (or British, etc.) bank account. The victim will be asked to open an account and simply wait for the funds to arrive, usually promised within seven to ten days. Typically, the American or European recipient will be told that he or she can expect a sizable percentage of the total transfer amount, perhaps ten or twenty percent. Just as people keep buying lottery tickets in hopes of winning “the big one” someday, they don’t realize that buying tickets is a long shot toward big winnings. The same is true of this scam—people feel that paying one fee after another brings them that much closer to receiving their funds, which, in fact, do not exist. Red flags appear after a short time, perhaps a few days, the victim is advised of a snare in the transfer plans and asked to contribute a “small amount” toward an unexpected but critical expense. This can be an unpaid debt on the property in question, a tax bill, and a bribe for officials with jurisdiction over the issue or person, or any number of other questionable factors. Thinking that an advance of perhaps $5,000 is a small amount to pay in anticipation of $100,000, many people fall for the scam and send their own money to facilitate the imaginary transfer that will never take place. A few days later, another message arrives, asking the victim to send another “small” amount of maybe $2,000, and the victim complies with the hope of speeding his reward along. In this manner, the scammers take advantage of numerous victims by teasing them with the prospect of easy money that never materializes. Unfortunately, although we ought to know better, many of us still give in to the temptation of easy money. In 1997, one newspaper account reported that $15 million had been taken from Americans by Nigerian scam artists over a period of 15 months according to snopes.com. Check it out the Nigerian money scam sounds too good to be true—and it is. Sadly, there are many such confidence tricks being played on innocent and unknowing persons who want to help others and make a quick buck. Here are some tips to keep in mind when evaluating money-making schemes that reach you by telephone, mail or e-mail:- If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Think through any startling claims and look for logical fallacies.

Consult business reporting systems such as the Better Business Bureau and the National Fraud Information Center. You should also forward the scam information to the Secret Service Financial Crimes Division, 950 H Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20223, or telephone (202) 406-5850. These resource offices can give you information about specific scams, con artists, and possible fraud schemes that concern you. Your sharing information with them may contribute to the successful tracking of those involved with criminal activities.- Ask friends and family members if they have received similar offers. It is amazing how far and wide the Nigerian scam letters traveled—to all corners of the globe. There are many such schemes, such as the recent Lottery Prize Award announcement that tells victims they have won tens of thousands of dollars in a European lottery, and all they have to do is send a few dollars for processing fees. Another comes in the form of an offer to enrich a special church or charitable organization because the sender feels guilty or admires the work being done—but this, too, turns out to be a plea for your assets.- Explore resources. If an offer sounds especially realistic or appealing, contact the bank or individuals whose names are attached and ask for more information. Try to make telephone contact so you can get first-hand information, not just an email auto-response that can be part of the scam.

Chances are you will not be able to reach anyone by phone that can convince you of the validity of an e-mail offer of riches.- Don’t send money that you cannot afford to lose. Too often, victims surrender their monthly pension check, rent money, or other budget needs in an effort to cash in on their good luck via the Nigerian scam. It’s one thing to throw away money sitting in a savings account that you don’t plan on using anytime soon. It’s quite another to spend money you have allocated to more important needs, such as food, housing, medicine or transportation. Avoid trading funds for uncertain returns on your investment. In general, e-mail solicitations to make you rich are unlikely to be genuine. Usually they are con artist attempts to separate a fool and his money. While many people have avoided the lure of easy riches, many have not, which suggests that greater awareness of this problem is needed, particularly in isolated segments of our population, such as the uneducated, the illiterate, the home-bound, and the desperate poor. Don’t fall for a scheme that tries to take advantage of someone by offering a glittery deal while providing minimal information. Remember the example of the Nigerian scam and question every such offer that comes your way by any means.