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The 419 Business Case
Chances are you have probably received a Nigerian Prince Email at least once in your lifetime.
And not all of them originate from Nigeria!
These frauds are referred to as 419 crimes, after the Nigerian penal code section for a scam.
Time for a thread
Chances are you have probably received a Nigerian Prince Email at least once in your lifetime.
And not all of them originate from Nigeria!
These frauds are referred to as 419 crimes, after the Nigerian penal code section for a scam.
Time for a thread
1. When you read one you are probably mistaken on making a few wrong assumptions and misconceptions about these emails.
For starters, you might assume the authors are bad at English.
In many cases, they are actually quite good.
For starters, you might assume the authors are bad at English.
In many cases, they are actually quite good.
2. They use poorly constructed English for 2 reasons:
- To prey on the gullible. They don’t want smart ones to respond as they waste time.
- To convey that they are from a far off land. Preying on stereotypes that Africa is so tech-free that people need help completing tasks.
- To prey on the gullible. They don’t want smart ones to respond as they waste time.
- To convey that they are from a far off land. Preying on stereotypes that Africa is so tech-free that people need help completing tasks.
3. It takes an insane effort to score a mark.
More than a hundred thousand emails are sent for every single response.
But don’t let that fool you.
Hundreds of billions are sent annually, and these organizations make millions, often from smart people like yourself
More than a hundred thousand emails are sent for every single response.
But don’t let that fool you.
Hundreds of billions are sent annually, and these organizations make millions, often from smart people like yourself
4. The biggest misconception is that these scammers are from Nigeria.
Did you know, 61% of internet fraud originates from the US?
Take Michael Neu, for example, from Louisiana who was convicted of wire fraud and money laundering while pretended to be a top Nigerian official.
Did you know, 61% of internet fraud originates from the US?
Take Michael Neu, for example, from Louisiana who was convicted of wire fraud and money laundering while pretended to be a top Nigerian official.
5. The scammer is usually a lone individual or sophisticated organization, looking for a sucker.
These guys usually have no moral objections to their means.
There’s a vindictive element to their mindset: “These people can afford to lose a few bucks. The system is against me.”
These guys usually have no moral objections to their means.
There’s a vindictive element to their mindset: “These people can afford to lose a few bucks. The system is against me.”
6. It’s hard to imagine how people fall for such an oxymoron:
''I have so much money, but I need help getting it to you''
People who fall for scams are often convinced to do it a 2nd and 3rd time
“Your prize is not $5 million, but $25 million! We just need ___ more dollars!”
''I have so much money, but I need help getting it to you''
People who fall for scams are often convinced to do it a 2nd and 3rd time
“Your prize is not $5 million, but $25 million! We just need ___ more dollars!”
7. The sad fact remains that the victims are usually the disadvantaged or the elderly, people who actually need the money.
But many highly capable people still get snagged too.
But many highly capable people still get snagged too.
8. Many men reading this might also have met the Facebook Pretty girl.
A super attractive woman, lots of cleavage and she adds you despite not having any shared connections.
Her account looks recently created. All of her friends are men! https://www.psafe.com/en/blog/pretty-girl-friending-you-on-facebook-be-cautious/
A super attractive woman, lots of cleavage and she adds you despite not having any shared connections.
Her account looks recently created. All of her friends are men! https://www.psafe.com/en/blog/pretty-girl-friending-you-on-facebook-be-cautious/
9. Regrettably, most guys rain comments on her cleavage updates, “Yeh babee luking so goooood!”
What they do not realise is that she is likely a dude with a beard.
She asks you a lot of questions & they pry enough information out of you to steal your identity and defraud you!
What they do not realise is that she is likely a dude with a beard.
She asks you a lot of questions & they pry enough information out of you to steal your identity and defraud you!
10. The big lesson here is don’t be a sucker
These scams are getting more sophisticated & a lot more people have fallen for them than are willing to admit.
Those that have a pile of treasure don’t need help splitting it with you.
If it seems too good to be true, it usually is
These scams are getting more sophisticated & a lot more people have fallen for them than are willing to admit.
Those that have a pile of treasure don’t need help splitting it with you.
If it seems too good to be true, it usually is
Bonus:Â Nigeria has 200 million people, including 2,000 ethnicities.
There is no official prince but there are hundreds of unofficial princes spread throughout.
Also, don’t make Nigerian prince jokes to Nigerians. They are probably tired of hearing them
It’s a super basic joke!
There is no official prince but there are hundreds of unofficial princes spread throughout.
Also, don’t make Nigerian prince jokes to Nigerians. They are probably tired of hearing them
It’s a super basic joke!
If you enjoyed this thread like and follow for more!
Sources:
https://www.psafe.com/en/blog/pretty-girl-friending-you-on-facebook-be-cautious/
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/12/30/nigerian-prince-email-scammer-louisiana/992073001/
https://medium.com/better-marketing/who-are-all-these-nigerian-princes-97a21a63345c
http://www.ourfreakingbudget.com/pen-pals-with-nigerian-princes/
https://www.psafe.com/en/blog/pretty-girl-friending-you-on-facebook-be-cautious/
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/12/30/nigerian-prince-email-scammer-louisiana/992073001/
https://medium.com/better-marketing/who-are-all-these-nigerian-princes-97a21a63345c
http://www.ourfreakingbudget.com/pen-pals-with-nigerian-princes/
