HOW TO DETECT INTERNET SCAMS
Lottery winnings
Imagine being sent an e- mail that you’d won “K million dollars/pounds”, because your name popped up as the winner . They tell you to visit the lottery site (bear in mind that some don’t ). You do and it looks authentic, and you’re thrilled about being a Millionaire, imagine all the stuff you’d buy with the money… but hold on a second “It might not be real”. There are authentic lottery sites no doubt, but you’ve got to be careful that you’re not on the wrong track as ‘Mr X” also uses lottery sites to perpetuate his illegal activities.
“Mr X” is aware of the ongoing lottery in “P country” he visits the site and designs a similar one, generates e-mail addresses, gets their information and sends it to various people, (not in his country, except to those he knows) and tells them they’ve won and should visit the site. You do and he has even placed the team’s photos (fake) and the country it’s being carried out in. You reply the message and you’re informed of series of things that would be done in order for you to get the money. Again out of excitement you send “M dollars”, and the excuses keep coming in, while you keep paying and then you soon realize “you’re the Mugu”
Non-existent Business deals
Most oftentimes than not “Mr X” sends an e-mail to “H company” in another country filled with all sorts of business ideas, information, opportunities, projected financial yields ‘H company’ would have if they did business together (became partners). Of course, opportunity to expand the business and make tons of profit causes ‘H company’ to jump at the sweet package. One thing leads to another and ‘H company’ unaware of the legal processes to take in establishing a business/joint venture in ‘X’s country or unable to confirm the authenticity of the deal and about his company readily agrees to and gives into the various demands of ‘Mr X’. He later finds out its all been a lie and oh ! well the “contact man of H company was the Mugu”.
Foreigners and indigenes alike should not be in the habit of jumping into partnership/business deals of any kind without verifying the legality of such proposed businesses initiated by an individual/company. One of the steps to take is to engage the services of a lawyer who will help in the verification process amongst other things.
Winning streak
Blue chip companies do not conduct promos without advertising same through the Media (electronic and print). They’ll never tell you to send details of your bank account, address, or tell you to call them so that they can inform you of where to pick up your prize. Winners are always contacted or told to go to the Redemption centres to get them. It is no longer news that some unpatriotic Nigerians are involved in internet scams and have tarnished the country’s image abroad. Nigerians generally are viewed with suspicion and are seen as unreliable, untrustworthy, fraudulent people. This notion is however wrong as a few bad apples doesn’t necessarily mean the others are rotten, but the country without blemish should first cast a stone!.
Nigeria’s Minister of Information Prof. Dora Akunyili spurring on the Re –branding campaign, with the slogan, “Nigeria good people, great Nation” is ready to correct the wrong impression most foreigners have about Nigerians. The Economic and financial crimes commission (EFCC) has been haunting down Cyber criminals with the cyber raid approach and the latest electronic mechanism in partnership with Microsoft to monitor, detect, scam mails over the net which is generating a 100% success result. Illegal sites are being shut down, reducing by the day the number of millions of people who fall as victims. Mails perceived as scams based on reasons expounded herein or otherwise should be reported to the EFCC.
Nigerians are good, warm, hospitable, friendly people and the fertile soil gives investors (foreign and local) the opportunity of ploughing their financial/technical resources into it with mouth watering financial returns. It’s a great place to be in and without mincing words “I’m proudly Nigerian”.
So long… [email protected]
Augusta Okon is a lawyer, novelist and runs ‘wise Insight’, an information hunting/writing services outfit in Lagos, Nigeria.Wise Insight helps Nigerians and foreigners to have access to credible, authentic information in topics,issues,areas, where they have little or no knowledge about within the Nigerian jurisdiction.