Why are there so many variations of the Nigerian 419
email scam? The answer is because so many people fall for it.
No doubt millions of these emails flood the globe with its
false promise of getting rich quick by laundering money
though your bank account. And even if only a fraction of one
percent of the population falls for the scam, the senders
stand to make millions.
The latest documented case is this Florida retiree who
sold his stock, got a second mortgage on his home, and hocked
his two cars. For more than a year, he gave virtual strangers
$300,000. In essence, every dollar he had or could borrow. He
even bought them gold pens, cell phones and a laptop
computer.
The saddest thing about this episode is that to this day,
this guy does not think he was scammed. He ignored police
warnings that the deal was bogus and instead blames his
losses on corrupt foreign governments. He has not filed a
complaint with authorities. He is well and truly blinded by
greed. A greed so strong that if he could, he would give them
more money.
If only the right official were paid off. If only he
didn’t have to pay so many fees. If only he didn’t have to
hire an “attorney” in West Africa to help grease the deal. If
only he had not fallen for one of the oldest scams out
there.
