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Difference between revisions of "Online and Computer Scams"
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→West African scam
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==West African scam== | ==West African scam== | ||
This scam, which has been around for long time, has gone online. It is sometimes called the "4-1-9 scam", after the section of the Nigerian criminal code that addresses fraud schemes. | This scam, which has been around for long time, has gone online. It is sometimes called the "4-1-9 scam", after the section of the Nigerian criminal code that addresses fraud schemes. | ||
Typically an email comes from overseas, usually from somewhere in Africa.The email claims that an important event (e.g., a change of government) has resulted in a person having a large sum of money which needs to be transferred overseas. The sender claims that if you help with the <span class="noglossary">transfer</span>, you can keep a portion of the money. If you <span class="noglossary">reply</span> to the email, you receive official-looking correspondence and are requested to provide your financial details, such as bank <span class="noglossary">account</span> information. Then something “goes wrong” and you are pressured to save the deal. The scammer demands <span class="noglossary">advance</span> fees for various taxes, legal fees, transaction fees or bribes. There are many variations of the scam, but all aim to steal your money. | Typically an email comes from overseas, usually from somewhere in Africa. The email claims that an important event (e.g., a change of government) has resulted in a person having a large sum of money which needs to be transferred overseas. The sender claims that if you help with the <span class="noglossary">transfer</span>, you can keep a portion of the money. If you <span class="noglossary">reply</span> to the email, you receive official-looking correspondence and are requested to provide your financial details, such as bank <span class="noglossary">account</span> information. Then something “goes wrong” and you are pressured to save the deal. The scammer demands <span class="noglossary">advance</span> fees for various taxes, legal fees, transaction fees or bribes. There are many variations of the scam, but all aim to steal your money. | ||
{{REVIEWED | reviewer = [[People's Law School]], 2013}} | {{REVIEWED | reviewer = [[People's Law School]], 2013}} | ||
