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.