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The 419 internet scam or what is known in local parlance as yahoo yahoo has continued to grow unabated. Could this be as a result of the methods adopted in fighting the menace?
Nigerian Views is of the opinion that rather than trying to clamp down on the thousands scammers located worldwide, a pragmatic approach should be adopted, such as mass enlightenment.
In view of this, Nigerian Views, (no pun intended) decided to lend a hand in this huge fight against the scourge by publishing a list of tips by the EFCC*.
We couldn’t however resist the urge to add a bit of humor to it…after all what better way to learn than with a bit of humor, right?

TIP No. 1
DO NOT BE GREEDY:
This vice according to “Yellow Kid” Weil, one of the most successful co artists of the 20th century, is the most common vice that con artists prey upon. He believed the success of his swindles was made possible by his fellow humans greed. “I took money only from those who could afford it and were willing to go in with me in schemes they fancied will fleece others”.
Unfortunately, this is the mindset of most con artists, hence the self-justification for their misdeeds.

TIP No. 2
NEVER RESPOND TO MAILS ASKING FOR PERSONAL DETAILS, SUCH AS BANK ACCOUNTS OR CREDIT CARD DETAILS, UNLESS YOU ARE SURE OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DEMAND.
“Er… did you say 345 or 245?”

Also if ever you must, make sure when giving out information over the phone, the guy on the other end doesn’t keep repeating everything you say.

TIP No. 3
IF YOU HAVE NOT PARTICIPATED IN ANY BUSINESS DEAL, DO NOT ACCEPT ANY PROPOSAL FROM ANY SOURCE TO SHARE IN THE PROCEEDS,

(FORMAT)

This scam actually bears great resemblance to the “Drake Swindle.” Made popular in the 1920’s by a con man Oscar Hartzell. It basically involved promising any sucker or “mugu” surnamed “Drake” a substantial share in the long lost “Drake Treasure” to which he, Hartzell, had access. Thousands of people fell for the scam, which Hartzell succeeded in turning into a crusade against the government and all opposed to keep the Drake fortune from their rightful heirs. And in the process he made himself a quick fortune.

TIP No. 4
UNLESS YOU HAVE PARTICIPATED IN A LOTTERY SCHEME, DO NOT RESPOND TO ANY MAILS THAT INFORM YOU THAT YOU HAVE WON A LOTTERY.

This may come as a shocker to some, but the honest truth is: if you didn’t enter for that lottery, YOU CANT WIN!!

TIP No. 5
UNLESS YOU HAVE A RELATION THAT DIED IN ANY TRAGIC CIRCUMSTANCE LIKE AN AIR CRASH AND EVEN TSUNAMI, DO NOT ACCEPT AN OFFER TO SHARE IN A BOGUS COMPENSATION.

Really, I hate to be the one to tell you this, but waiting for that rich uncle of yours to die is sick…plus it might take a while.

Please see Tip No. 3

TIP No. 6
THAT LADY YOU MET IN THE CHAT ROOM MAY JUST BE A MAN LIKE YOU. SO DOUBLE-CHECK BEFORE YOU START SENDING MONEY TO HER.

Didn’t you see that Julia Roberts movie, Closer? The one where Jude Law (a guy) met Clive Owen (also a guy) in a chat room and fooled him into thinking he was a woman, no? Go see it!

TIP No. 7
BE CAREFUL ABOUT MARRIAGE PROPOSALS AND TREAT SCANNED PHOTOGRAPHS MAILED TO YOU WITH GREAT CIRCUMSPECTION.

TIP No. 8
DO NOT BE FOOLED BY THE COUNTRY’S CODE IN PHONE CALLS YOU RECEIVE. FRAUDSTERS ARE KNOWN TO CLONE THE PHONE CODE OF FOREIGN NATIONS TO DECEIVE THEIR VICTIMS INTO BELIEVING THEY ARE CALLING FROM THOSE COUNTRIES.

“Er… did you say Lagos or Laos?”

TIP No. 9
IN THE CASE OF BUSINESS PROPOSALS OR CONTRACTS SUPPOSEDLY SIGNED BY HIGH RANKING NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, CHECK WITH THE COUNTRY’S EMBASSY OR HIGH COMMISSION IN YOUR COUNTRY OR CALL EFCC.

TIP No. 10
DO NOT HESITATE TO REPORT FRAUDULENT TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING NIGERIAN SCAMMERS TO THE EFCC.
TIP NO. 11
AFRICAN TREASURIES ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR LOOTING. REFUSE TO BE PART OF ANY SCHEME THAT PROMISES A SLICE OF UNEXECUTED CONTRACT PAY-OFF FROM ANY COUNTRY.

TIP NO. 12
FINALLY AS A BONUS, NIGERIAN VIEWS ADVISES ANY RECIPIENT OF SCAM MAILS TO REPORT ABUSE

If you receive a scam mail via email: write their email provider at their “abuse” address (abuse@yahoo.com, abuse@onebox.com etc.) and include the 419er message with its headers; complain about the 419 message; and ask that the account be shut down. Please remember that it is important to include the message’s full header information. This is necessary for tracking the message’s point of origin.

Spam mails are a worldwide problem and it will be erroneous to assume that most Nigerians are guilty just because a few miscreants in our midst have soiled the image of this country. Nigerians are honest, hard-working people who are doing their best in a difficult environment where government have frequently distanced themselves from the real problems of the people. According to the Australian anti-spam solutions vendor, New Millennium solutions. Nigeria accounts for 0.15% of spam worldwide. This a far cry, when compared to USA, China, Republic of Korea, Australia and the United Kingdom whom account for 25.19%, 10.04%, 5.79%, 4.26% and 3.0% respectively (to the knowledge of this writer the contents of the spam in the survey were not considered).

The point being made here however is that a scam is a scam whether it is done across boarders (i.e. via the internet) or in ones backyard. Unfortunately a study of the far-reaching impacts of the menace of internet (419) scam has not been conducted. It is like a double-edged sword. While on one end it robs people of their hard-earned money. It tends to do more damage at home where it has succeeded in breeding a generation of young people who devote their time and energy in the endless pursuits of gullible “mugus.” Young people who have sold their souls for fast cars and material things. Young people forever stuck in cyber cafes who often speak of a “spiritual repercussion” or karma they are certain awaits all con men. But who readily blame their choices on a system they believe has failed them.

Let us collectively help fight scam. When next you receive a scam mail, don’t just delete, report abuse.

*EFCC: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Ref. Punch Newspaper