One of the most common types of Internet scams, a Nigeria or 419 scam is a type of fraudulent email in which the sender assumes the persona of an individual in need of help, sometimes a Nigerian Prince, hence the name Nigeria scam. The sender claims to need your help to access a large sum of money and offers the recipient a significant portion of that money for their help.
Recipients who respond to the initial email are then drawn deeper into the scam and will eventually be asked to provide personal information and pay fees required to allow the deal to proceed and procure the funds. In reality, the supposed funds do not exist and the scammer will slowly suck more and more money out of the trusting recipient. And in severe cases, scammers gain enough information to access the recipient’s bank account directly or steal the victim’s identity.
Believe it or not, these types of scams still work! Many people around the world are still being conned out of substantial sums of money each and every year.
Dealing with Nigeria Scams
- If you have received a Nigerian Scam Email: If you receive one of these emails, DO NOT respond. You can, however, report the scam by forwarding the email to the address supplied on the FraudWatch International website.
- If you have submitted Information to Nigerian Scammers: read the information about identity theft published by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
- If you have given Money to Nigerian Scammers: There is most likely very little you can do to recoup that money. What you can do, however, is inform your local law enforcement agency as soon as possible. You should also take the necessary steps to protect your identity. To do this, read the information about identity theft published by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
If you have any questions about Nigeria Scams and IT Security, please contact Working Nets by calling (443) 992-7394 or visit WorkingNets.com today!
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