Beware of e-mails that promise to make you rich

Found on The Royal Gazette on Tuesday, 27 April 2004
Browse Pranks

Switzerland's police latest annual report on money laundering in the country outlines some of the amazing Internet scams that have managed to fool investors in that country over the past year. Chief among these cases is the 'Nigerian letter' case, during which, despite warnings about the scam, an investor ended up sending about $115,000 to Nigeria over a period of time, where it promptly disappeared.

In the case, a money transmitter, following the country's anti-money laundering procedures, asked a Swiss national why he had transferred about $100,000 to various recipients in Nigeria. The sender explained that he had invested the money into an oil company based in West Africa and that he soon expected high returns. Following a check of the documents provided by the client, the money transmitter told him he was sure he had been the victim of Nigerian swindlers.

Six months later another money transmitter reported the same Swiss national to the money laundering reporting office because he had again transferred another $38.000 to Nigeria.

Every day, some idiot gets up. All you have to do is find him. It can be depressive to see how effortless all tries to educate people sometimes are. This is one of the cases where I'd say "You asked for it". Of course the Nigeria-scams are illegal, but after all that press coverage, the victims somehow deserve it.