While I was working as a detective I was amazed at the sheer number of people who called the police because they had fallen for these Nigerian scams. These scams known as "419s" in Nigeria. Have several different approaches to the victim. Via e-mail or snail mail a letter is sent to the victim claiming to be a Nigerian Prince who has been exiled. With your help, financially of course, you can help obtain his millions of dollars that are being held from him. The prince will reward you handsomely for your help.
The other most common approach is an "official" letter from the Canadian Lottery letting you know that you have won some large amount of money. However, because you live in the United States they can't release these funds until you until you pay a certain amount of taxes for the lottery winnings.
Each of these methods will ask for the funds to be sent via Western Union to a specific address. This makes it seem legit because you know where your money will be sent. However, once money is sent via Western Union it can be picked up anywhere in the world, regardless of intended destination. The other part that really irks me is that after they have gotten money from you they continue to prod at you for more money. They up the stakes and ask for more because they believe that you don't care about the money, or you are just gullible.
Sadly it is the elderly that have faith in humanity that fall prey to these hopeful scams the most. In the end there is very little your local government can do. These crooks usually live outside the United States and are not possible for them to find. If you know someone who receives these letters please let them know that it is without a doubt a scam and if they give away there money it will be gone forever.
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