Nigerian scams involve offering you a share in a large sum of money on the condition you help them to transfer it out of their country.
How this scam works
The scammer will tell you an elaborate fake story about large amounts of money 'trapped' in central banks during civil wars or coups, often in countries currently in the news. Or they may tell you about a large inheritance that is 'difficult to access' because of government restrictions or taxes in their country.
The scammer may contact you by email, letter, text message or social networking message. They will offer you a large sum of money to help them transfer their personal fortune out of their country.
These scams are often known as 'Nigerian 419' scams because the first wave of them came from Nigeria. The '419' part of the name comes from the section of Nigeria’s Criminal Code which outlaws the practice. These scams now come from anywhere in the world.
Scammers may ask for your bank account details to 'help them transfer the money' and use this information to later steal your funds.
Or they may ask you to pay fees, charges or taxes to 'help release or transfer the money out of the country' through your bank. These fees may even start out as quite small amounts. If paid, the scammer may make up new fees that require payment before you can receive your reward. They will keep asking for more money as long as you are willing to part with it.
You will never be sent the money that was promised.
List of Scams
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La Primitiva
Read More...Consumers are receiving emails and letters claiming they have won money in the La Primitiva or Primitiva lottery, promotion or sweepstake. La Primitiva and El Gordo are legitimate Spanish lotteries, not sweepstakes, and are endorsed by government. But the letters and emails that consumers receive are fake and commonly known as advance fee frauds or Nigerian scams.
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Nigerian scam refund
Read More...The Nigerian Government is going to compensate victims of Nigerian scams to the tune of US$150,000 each, the email claims. If only!
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Primitiva Award or Lottery
Read More...Consumers are receiving emails and letters claiming they have won money in the La Primitiva or Primitiva lottery, promotion or sweepstake. La Primitiva and El Gordo are legitimate Spanish lotteries, not sweepstakes, and are endorsed by government. But the letters and emails that consumers receive are fake and commonly known as advance fee frauds or Nigerian scams.
