EFCC: How to spot scam Internet love affairs

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recorded a spate of convictions of scammers, who use the Internet for their advance fee frauds, online banking fraud and other scam activities. But the EFCC says that whether online or in the real world, scam activities share common traits that we must always watch out for. “It is an illusion for anyone to believe that it is impossible to fall victim of fraud. Conventional wisdom recommends that we be on guard always as scammers everywhere are incredibly deceptive and can ensnare even the most intelligent amongst us”, according to the EFCC advisory, which underscores that victims have been known to cut across different social strata. The criminals are no respecter of social status and anyone could easily fall prey, particularly, when they have been known to work on a range of human emotions. [blockquote right="pull-right" cite="EFCC"] The common string that runs through most scams is that their objective is simply “to steal your money, not through violent means as in armed robbery but through the deployment of a bag of tricks they appeals to the human emotion ... The quintessential scammer is a confidence artist who exploit the emotions of dishonesty, honesty, vanity, compassion, naivety greed, among others; to fleece their victim. ” [/blockquote] [caption id="attachment_30138" align="alignright" width="1344"] Ibrahim Lamorde, EFCC Chairman[/caption] How scammers work “They operate with guile and strike when you least expects. The most educated and the high net worth as well as the most impoverish members of the society have been victim at one time or the other. The young as well as the aged have been targeted. Scammers don't care who their victims are. They strike wherever, and whenever they believe they have the chance to succeed. They are ever alert, setting traps to ensnare their victims”, EFCC says. Traditionally, scammers have operated in the physical world, but thanks to advances in communication technology, the men and women of the underworld, have always been know to be steps ahead in using them for their nefarious activities. “On the Internet, through the telephone and even physical interaction, they stalk us like the deadly predators that they are.” How scams evolved Every single day, scammers hatch new ways to con us EFCC says. “But the way to avert becoming a prey is to be conscious of the modus operandi of scammers and the different shades of scam (even though scammers are ever ingenious as new schemes emerge almost on daily basis). The common string that runs through most scams is that their objective is simply “to steal your money, not through violent means as in armed robbery but through the deployment of a bag of tricks they appeals to the human emotion.” EFCCC warns that, “The quintessential scammer is a confidence artist who exploit the emotions of dishonesty, honesty, vanity, compassion, naivety greed, among others; to fleece their victim.” Several genres of scams have emerged by working on these basic human emotions and have hatched variants including 419, the classic advance fee fraud commonly found in the country. [blockquote right="pull-right" cite="EFCC"] “There is the classical 419 where scammers obtain money from their victims by false pretence ; there is love or marriage scam where fraudster use the promise of wedlock as bail to fleece their victims; there is lottery scam where people are asked to pay fees to redeem prizes supposedly won in a sweep stake ; there is inheritance scam, and more.” [/blockquote] “There is the classical 419 where scammers obtain money from their victims by false pretence; there is love or marriage scam where fraudster use the promise of wedlock as bail to fleece their victims; there is lottery scam where people are asked to pay fees to redeem prizes supposedly won in a sweep stake; there is inheritance scam, and more.” According to the anti-graft agency, “to a considerable extent, most scams are promoted by the greed of victims. For instance, a person who has not entered for a lottery ought not to expect to win yet people, out of greed, believe they can be winners in a game they have not played! So, the starting point is for people to check the appetite for unmerited windfalls.” EFCC says that if you want to be immune from scam, “the innoculation you need is adequate information. Arm yourself with relevant information on the different types of scams, and the tell-tale signs that could trigger alarm in your consciousness. “ According to EFCC, the checklist of actions below could save you from the snare of scammers: It pays not be too emotional and to double check every information you are given in any business or social relationship. Do not give out information about yourself to anybody you don't know or trust. Never respond to any mail except you are sure of the source. Be very circumspect about stories you are told by strangers and supposed lovers in an internet affair. Above all, never send money or disclose your banking details to anyone you do not know or trust. Never part with your money until you are 100 percent certain that the business is genuine. Don't be part of any transaction that seems dubious or which you might not be comfortable discussing with family, friends and associates. Any transaction cloaked in secrecy is an expressway to financial ruin.

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