Murder by email
Tuesday July 20, 2004
Nigerian 419 schemes are quite old, dating back to pre-Internet days when the scam was carried out via fax. Basically, someone (usually from Nigeria or South Africa), claims to be the deceased relative of some dignitary who has been left large sums of cash, and needs your help laundering it. What many don't realize is that these 'too good to be true' scams have sometimes ended in kidnapping and murder - so they are hardly benign.
But now, instead of capitalizing off of the gullibility and greed of the recipient, the Nigerian 419 scammers are turning to threats of violence and using fear as their vehicle to compliance. According to this article in The Register, the scams demand an immediate $40,000 payment, or the recipient - they threaten - will be gunned down.
But now, instead of capitalizing off of the gullibility and greed of the recipient, the Nigerian 419 scammers are turning to threats of violence and using fear as their vehicle to compliance. According to this article in The Register, the scams demand an immediate $40,000 payment, or the recipient - they threaten - will be gunned down.
Comments
I received a threatening email and I contacted the police and my internet provider who did nothing about it no IP address nothing to help bring justice.