| An overview on Nigeria and its Scam Operations | | | | Some guidelines to avoid being a victim: |
| With approximately 2 billion people now accessing | | | | 1. Be skeptical from the beginning with anyone in |
| the Internet, it's no wonder that online scams and | | | | Nigeria. |
| fraud are affecting more innocent people. Even as | | | | 2. Don't send money to any person whom you've |
| the word gets out about relationship fraud, 419 | | | | never met. |
| fraud, dating scams, advance fee and other types | | | | 3. Be skeptical of any claims of inheritance, or |
| of fraud practices via the Internet, the number of | | | | other reward. |
| victims has risen substantially. One of the | | | | 4. Verify claims of emergencies with a |
| countries leading the increase in scams, along with | | | | background check firm. |
| S. Africa, Ghana, Philippines, and Russia, is Nigeria. | | | | 5. Know money sent via Western Union is likely |
| Nigerian criminals range from beginners to | | | | lost if fraud. |
| professional scammers. On the professional level, | | | | Lastly, if you've been in a relationship with |
| scams can be so convincing that it is truly difficult | | | | someone working or living in Nigeria, and you're |
| to differentiate the truth from fraud. In many | | | | aware of all the warning signs and the problems |
| cases, it is impossible for the average person | | | | with fraud in that country, and you're still not |
| outside of Nigeria. While many Nigerian relationships | | | | sure, or if you are considering sending money, get |
| established online are fraudulent, such as | | | | a background check. The cost can be a small |
| misrepresentation, or as advance fee scams, it | | | | price to pay to prevent fraud and find out the |
| would be wrong to say that all Nigerians or | | | | truth. Wymoo International, based in the U.S. with |
| foreigners working in Nigeria are conducting fraud. | | | | an office in Lagos, specializes in verifying |
| Many good citizens and foreigners in Nigeria are | | | | relationships in Nigeria. |
| honest. With the overwhelming level of fraud via | | | | Proceed with caution, |
| the Internet, the question is how tell the | | | | A. Hathaway |
| difference. | | | | Copyright © 2005-2007 A. |