Online protection requires more than just anti-virus software. Viruses, spyware, malware and adware are certainly dangerous, but they are not the only threats in an online environment. Some hazards are not quite as obvious to detect. Viruses cause your computer to slow. Malware can freeze your system. But imagine a computer hazard that could affect more than just your virtual life. Nigerian bank scams are a far-worse threat than viruses.
The Nigerian 419 or Advance Fee Fraud scam is a type of online threat that is especially alarming because you’re intimately involved. With viruses, you aren’t fully involved. With the 419 scam, you’re exchanging correspondence with people trying to rip you off. The scam works like this: You receive an email from Nigeria or another (usually African) foreign country. The email tells tales of a government in trouble that needs your help. You’re promised large sums of money in return for your assistance.
If you decide to pay a small sum to help, some sort of snag will happen on their end, and you’ll need to send more for various reasons. These snags will continue until you’re out of money, and the Nigerians will cease contact. You’ll never get the large reward you were promised, and there’s no way to contact the scammers.
In another version of the scam, you will receive an e-mail congratulating you on winning the lottery in some foreign country. You won’t have remembered entering such a lottery, but the huge prize will keep you interested. The scam kicks in when you’re asked to pay a number of fees in order to collect the prize. The fees will seem small in the grand scheme of the colossal prize. But you’ll never receive that prize.
It’s easy to become a victim of this type of scam, but it’s just as easy to prevent. If you receive an email or letter that promises something outlandish, you’d be shrewd to be skeptical. If someone you don’t know asks you for money, always decline. If you’re unsure, ask for a friend’s opinion. But it’s best to leave it alone.