| I've often wondered when in human history the | | | | HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO REQUEST FOR YOUR |
| concept of the scam originated. At what point in | | | | ASSISTANCE TO TRANSFER THE SUM OF |
| civilization did the first man or woman decide to | | | | $47,500,000.00 (FORTY SEVEN MILLION, FIVE |
| broker an exchange of currency and goods on a | | | | HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES |
| deceptive premise? Was it a corrupt Egyptian | | | | DOLLARS) INTO YOUR ACCOUNTS. THE ABOVE |
| chariot dealer who sold poorly refurbished vehicles | | | | SUM RESULTED FROM AN OVER-INVOICED |
| at top market value? Or perhaps an unscrupulous | | | | CONTRACT, EXECUTED COMMISSIONED AND |
| Babylonian alchemist who sold colored water in | | | | PAID FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS (5) AGO BY A |
| the guise of powerful love potions? There is no | | | | FOREIGN CONTRACTOR. THIS ACTION WAS |
| clear historical indication of when the act of | | | | HOWEVER INTENTIONAL AND SINCE THEN THE |
| cheating an individual out of their money, wares, | | | | FUND HAS BEEN IN A SUSPENSE ACCOUNT AT |
| or other assets was pioneered.The American | | | | THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA APEX |
| Heritage Dictionary cites the origin of the word | | | | BANK.These emails then go on to explain how the |
| "scam" as unknown. Some scholars have | | | | recipient can receive this enormous transfer of |
| suggested the word derives from"scamp", which | | | | funds within a few business days. All that is |
| is the 19th century British slang for cheater or | | | | required is a routing number so the money can be |
| swindler. Other sources indicate the word first | | | | easily wired into the correct account, and an |
| enjoyed common usage in the 1960s. I have yet | | | | advance fee of between $1,000 and $10,000 for |
| to find a study that actually pins down the coining | | | | "adminitrative purposes".Let's see. An email from |
| of the term.Despite the ambiguous background of | | | | someone you have never met, who claims you |
| both the word and the practice, one thing is | | | | are entitled to 47.5 million dollars, if you'll just |
| certain. Scamming, swindling, hoodwinking, and | | | | shoot them your bank account info, complete |
| duping of all kinds does not by any stretch appear | | | | with wire access number, and an administrative |
| to be a short lived phenomenon.We are warned | | | | fee of up to $10k.Could this be a scam of some |
| on a regular basis about some kind of shady | | | | sort?Would you believe the "Nigerian Scam" model |
| operation that has cheated victims out of x | | | | had resulted in losses exceeding 6 billion dollars by |
| amount of dollars. For confirmation of this, just | | | | 2002? Absolutely incredible that anyone could be |
| tune in to the evening news or click on over to | | | | duped by such a transparent ruse.Another point |
| your favorite news site.Regrettably, it is common | | | | of interest is that, according to an FTC study |
| knowledge that cyberspace is brimming with | | | | conducted last year, nearly 20% of all consumer |
| identity thieves, con artists, ponzi schemes, email | | | | fraud victims were scammed on at least two |
| phishing, and an endless array of unethical | | | | occasions, and almost 10% were duped a third |
| "business opportunities". Millions of dollars each | | | | time. Impressive learning curve for a twelve |
| year are lost by victims of such scams.If you're | | | | month period, eh?If so many people weren't |
| like me, you probably get angry when you hear | | | | allowing themselves to be robbed blind by anyone |
| about a life insurance scam that targets senior | | | | with a trick up their sleeves, maybe there would |
| citizens and disappears into the night with | | | | be less scams to worry about. Without victims |
| thousands of dollars, or a false charity that solicits | | | | who are (apparantly) willing to buy into even the |
| massive donations from middle to lower class | | | | most absurd pitches, I imagine many con artists |
| households before vanishing without a trace. I | | | | would be forced to get day jobs.I've been a little |
| mean, it's appalling to think of these crooks who, | | | | coarse in an effort to make a point, but now I'll |
| for whatever reason, feel they don't have to | | | | be honest. I've been scammed myself on multiple |
| work an honest job like the rest of us. How can | | | | occasions.Granted, I've never fallen for anything |
| these people call themselves human when they | | | | quite as ridiculous as the "Nigerian Scam", but I |
| go to such despicable lengths to steal from people | | | | have done my share to fund the scam industry |
| who probably need every dollar they have just to | | | | by taking risks despite my better judgement. |
| pay the light bill and feed their households?On the | | | | During the first eight months I spent in the net |
| other hand...Life is a two way street. We can't | | | | marketing arena, I blew more money than I care |
| push all the responsibility for the outcome of an | | | | to admit on stuff that I knew deep down would |
| interaction onto only one party.Clearly, I'm not | | | | never pay off.Why did I do it? Because I wanted |
| justifying the actions of those who operate | | | | to believe that I was in the right place at the right |
| scams at the expense of the innocent. I am | | | | time, or that I was somehow entitled to a lucky |
| saying, however, that "it takes two to tango".In | | | | break.I'm not ashamed to tell you this, because I |
| many cases, a little common sense, or some time | | | | know I'm not alone. I know quite a few intelligent, |
| spent on careful investigation of the | | | | successful people who have allowed themselves |
| circumstances, would dispel the efforts of a would | | | | to be fleeced on at least one occasion.The |
| be scammer before any money changed hands. | | | | important thing is that we learn from our bad |
| All too often when people are conned, they are | | | | decisions, and accept at least part of the |
| hoping against hope, and buying into an idea that is | | | | responsibility for our loss. It seems personal |
| obvioualy too good to be true.I'm sure you've | | | | accountability is not a popular ideal in our society, |
| received at least a couple of emails that fit into | | | | but pointing fingers and laying blame has |
| the "Nigerian Scam" category. These messages | | | | historically done very little toward creating a real |
| usually run along the lines of:DEAR | | | | solution to any problem.As the saying goes...Fool |
| SIR,CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS | | | | me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame |
| PROPOSALHAVING CONSULTED WITH MY | | | | on me.****************************Tim |
| COLLEAGUES AND BASED ON THE | | | | Whiston is a full-time entrepreneur and internet |
| INFORMATION GATHERED FROM THE NIGERIAN | | | | marketer. He publishes a monthly ezine, and is the |
| CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, I | | | | author of a popular internet marketing ebook. |