The Nigerian Email Scam

The Bait: This style of e-mail scam often purports to come from high ranking officials, business men or relations of government officials in Nigeria (as an example). The e-mail explains that the individual has a large amount of money tied up in an account that they need help in accessing. They ask you to pay a fee or maybe some taxes and then promise to transfer a very large sum of money into your account. If you respond to this request, you may receive a quantity of very realistic looking documents with details of how and where you should send the initial payments. You may also be asked many personal details including your bank account information. It has been known for the fraudsters to encourage their victims to travel to the country in question to complete the paperwork. They use staged photography and complicated but believable stories to gain your trust at every stage of the scam.

The Catch: If you respond to these e-mails, it is highly likely that you will lose money and / or your identity as it is both of these that the con men are after. There will be many reasons why the transaction sending you the money has been delayed and they will Request you to send more money to cover unforeseen or emergency situations that have happened. There is no money, there are no profits to be made and it has been known for threats, intimidation and even personal harm to happen to those who have unwittingly responded.

Kind regards,
COO of www.dontbeconned.com