Nigerian Internet Fraud...
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I read a news item recently that dumbfounded me. Apparently this scam, which I am sure needs no introduction here, whereby the mark is asked to pay thousands in fees to get millions in leftover Nigerian government funds, turns out to be exceptionally effective. Reported losses (people taken in by the fraud) in the US last year were $24M, which is probably 1/100th of the amount really lost, because of the embarassment of having to come forward and admit that you are dumber than a shoelace and more gullible than a day old child. What I find astonishing is that in my experience people are very reluctant to part with their cash, and are extremely suspicious of anything you tell them. Ever had a yard sale? Ever spent 20 minutes arguing with people that you can't possibly sell your child's old toy for less than $0.50 (when it was marked at $1.00) while they insist they are absolutely unwilling to consider any price over $0.25 (true story)? Ever been beat up by an old Polish immigrant at the same yard sale who balks at the $0.25 cents you want for the "pile of odd cutlery" in the bowl... who says they are only worth $0.05 but might be willing to go as high as $0.10? So how is it that people can lose tens of millions of dollars on a scam that is so patently ridiculous? People amaze me!! JM
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I read a news item recently that dumbfounded me. Apparently this scam, which I am sure needs no introduction here, whereby the mark is asked to pay thousands in fees to get millions in leftover Nigerian government funds, turns out to be exceptionally effective. Reported losses (people taken in by the fraud) in the US last year were $24M, which is probably 1/100th of the amount really lost, because of the embarassment of having to come forward and admit that you are dumber than a shoelace and more gullible than a day old child. What I find astonishing is that in my experience people are very reluctant to part with their cash, and are extremely suspicious of anything you tell them. Ever had a yard sale? Ever spent 20 minutes arguing with people that you can't possibly sell your child's old toy for less than $0.50 (when it was marked at $1.00) while they insist they are absolutely unwilling to consider any price over $0.25 (true story)? Ever been beat up by an old Polish immigrant at the same yard sale who balks at the $0.25 cents you want for the "pile of odd cutlery" in the bowl... who says they are only worth $0.05 but might be willing to go as high as $0.10? So how is it that people can lose tens of millions of dollars on a scam that is so patently ridiculous? People amaze me!! JM
Most cons rely on other peoples greed....:suss: Elaine :rose; The tigress is here :-D
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I read a news item recently that dumbfounded me. Apparently this scam, which I am sure needs no introduction here, whereby the mark is asked to pay thousands in fees to get millions in leftover Nigerian government funds, turns out to be exceptionally effective. Reported losses (people taken in by the fraud) in the US last year were $24M, which is probably 1/100th of the amount really lost, because of the embarassment of having to come forward and admit that you are dumber than a shoelace and more gullible than a day old child. What I find astonishing is that in my experience people are very reluctant to part with their cash, and are extremely suspicious of anything you tell them. Ever had a yard sale? Ever spent 20 minutes arguing with people that you can't possibly sell your child's old toy for less than $0.50 (when it was marked at $1.00) while they insist they are absolutely unwilling to consider any price over $0.25 (true story)? Ever been beat up by an old Polish immigrant at the same yard sale who balks at the $0.25 cents you want for the "pile of odd cutlery" in the bowl... who says they are only worth $0.05 but might be willing to go as high as $0.10? So how is it that people can lose tens of millions of dollars on a scam that is so patently ridiculous? People amaze me!! JM
John McIlroy wrote: So how is it that people can lose tens of millions of dollars on a scam that is so patently ridiculous? There is nothing to be surprised about here. It all boils down to one sad human factor: Greed. The biggest fool in the world is not yet born. The Nigerians will make more money, surely enough. 'Problems worthy of attack prove their worth by hitting back.' Piet Hein
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John McIlroy wrote: So how is it that people can lose tens of millions of dollars on a scam that is so patently ridiculous? There is nothing to be surprised about here. It all boils down to one sad human factor: Greed. The biggest fool in the world is not yet born. The Nigerians will make more money, surely enough. 'Problems worthy of attack prove their worth by hitting back.' Piet Hein
Haakon S. wrote: The biggest fool in the world is not yet born. Are you sure? My mom thinks otherwise. :rolleyes:
Regards,Rohit Sinha
Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.
- Mother Teresa -
Haakon S. wrote: The biggest fool in the world is not yet born. Are you sure? My mom thinks otherwise. :rolleyes:
Regards,Rohit Sinha
Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.
- Mother Teresa -
Most cons rely on other peoples greed....:suss: Elaine :rose; The tigress is here :-D
Trollslayer wrote: greed Exactly. Regardz Colin J Davies
Sonork ID 100.9197:Colin
Warning Link to the minion's animation, do not use. It's a real shame that people as stupid as you can work out how to use a computer. said by Christian Graus in the Soapbox
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I read a news item recently that dumbfounded me. Apparently this scam, which I am sure needs no introduction here, whereby the mark is asked to pay thousands in fees to get millions in leftover Nigerian government funds, turns out to be exceptionally effective. Reported losses (people taken in by the fraud) in the US last year were $24M, which is probably 1/100th of the amount really lost, because of the embarassment of having to come forward and admit that you are dumber than a shoelace and more gullible than a day old child. What I find astonishing is that in my experience people are very reluctant to part with their cash, and are extremely suspicious of anything you tell them. Ever had a yard sale? Ever spent 20 minutes arguing with people that you can't possibly sell your child's old toy for less than $0.50 (when it was marked at $1.00) while they insist they are absolutely unwilling to consider any price over $0.25 (true story)? Ever been beat up by an old Polish immigrant at the same yard sale who balks at the $0.25 cents you want for the "pile of odd cutlery" in the bowl... who says they are only worth $0.05 but might be willing to go as high as $0.10? So how is it that people can lose tens of millions of dollars on a scam that is so patently ridiculous? People amaze me!! JM
What is also amazing is how some of the people who have lost money in the Nigerian scam, are well educated, knowledgable. And in some cases even have backgrounds in finance. Definitly not the folk you would expect to be conned. There have been several businesses bankrupted I believe because of employees embezelling money to "invest" in the Nigerian scam. Regardz Colin J Davies
Sonork ID 100.9197:Colin
Warning Link to the minion's animation, do not use. It's a real shame that people as stupid as you can work out how to use a computer. said by Christian Graus in the Soapbox
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I read a news item recently that dumbfounded me. Apparently this scam, which I am sure needs no introduction here, whereby the mark is asked to pay thousands in fees to get millions in leftover Nigerian government funds, turns out to be exceptionally effective. Reported losses (people taken in by the fraud) in the US last year were $24M, which is probably 1/100th of the amount really lost, because of the embarassment of having to come forward and admit that you are dumber than a shoelace and more gullible than a day old child. What I find astonishing is that in my experience people are very reluctant to part with their cash, and are extremely suspicious of anything you tell them. Ever had a yard sale? Ever spent 20 minutes arguing with people that you can't possibly sell your child's old toy for less than $0.50 (when it was marked at $1.00) while they insist they are absolutely unwilling to consider any price over $0.25 (true story)? Ever been beat up by an old Polish immigrant at the same yard sale who balks at the $0.25 cents you want for the "pile of odd cutlery" in the bowl... who says they are only worth $0.05 but might be willing to go as high as $0.10? So how is it that people can lose tens of millions of dollars on a scam that is so patently ridiculous? People amaze me!! JM
It works for the same reason spam works: it's not the percentage of people that buy into it, it's making sure you contact a huge number of people. (Huge number of people) x (very low "buy-in" rate) = lots of sales or scammed people ------------------------------------------ "What happened in that Rhode Island club is shocking. To think that over a hundred people would attend a Great White concert." - The Onion
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I read a news item recently that dumbfounded me. Apparently this scam, which I am sure needs no introduction here, whereby the mark is asked to pay thousands in fees to get millions in leftover Nigerian government funds, turns out to be exceptionally effective. Reported losses (people taken in by the fraud) in the US last year were $24M, which is probably 1/100th of the amount really lost, because of the embarassment of having to come forward and admit that you are dumber than a shoelace and more gullible than a day old child. What I find astonishing is that in my experience people are very reluctant to part with their cash, and are extremely suspicious of anything you tell them. Ever had a yard sale? Ever spent 20 minutes arguing with people that you can't possibly sell your child's old toy for less than $0.50 (when it was marked at $1.00) while they insist they are absolutely unwilling to consider any price over $0.25 (true story)? Ever been beat up by an old Polish immigrant at the same yard sale who balks at the $0.25 cents you want for the "pile of odd cutlery" in the bowl... who says they are only worth $0.05 but might be willing to go as high as $0.10? So how is it that people can lose tens of millions of dollars on a scam that is so patently ridiculous? People amaze me!! JM
John McIlroy wrote: So how is it that people can lose tens of millions of dollars on a scam that is so patently ridiculous? What really hurts me is that the Nigerians are giving us genuine political refugees who want to get money out of Africa a bad name. I have $20million here in SA, but ever since those damned Nigerians went AWOL I have not been able to get a cent out. Please John, can you help me? All I need are your details and a deposit of... :rolleyes: As the others said; Greed.
Paul Watson
Bluegrass
Cape Town, South Africabrianwelsch wrote: I find my day goes by more smoothly if I never question other peoples fantasies. My own disturb me enough.