Internet scam is very rampant these days. These possess a great threat to people that are new to the internet or those that have not fully understood how things work over the internet.
There have been a countless stories of how millions or even billions of cash can be made genuinely over the internet; this is very true but on the other hand the reverse could be the case if one is not careful. Many have fallen victim and many could still be victimized. In this article, I’m going to tell you my experience with internet scammers so you could learn and be on the safer side.
Have you ever woken up to a (girl’s) message on your Facebook box or email asking you to stand as a trustee to help (her) transfer huge sum of dollars into your account? Did you debunk the message? If you did, you are a genius! You are not a potential victim. This is actually one of the numerous ways through which one could be swindled over the internet.
Some years ago, I was checking my mail when I bounced into a message from a “lady” that claims to be in a refugee camp in Dakar, Senegal. The story reads and I quote “Good morning dearie, I think I love you and would love to have a lasting relationship with you. Please I need a reply to show your interest so I could explain myself better”. Attached to the message was a picture of a pretty young lady. Wow! Could this be a dream I said to myself. I was so selfish and without hesitation, I accepted the offer. I replied the message signalling my interest in the “relationship”.
Within some hours, I got the second message; the explanatory message of course. It reads again “thanks love for your reply. My name is Vivian Abel; the only surviving daughter of Mac Abel. I’m from Scotland and my father was one of the renowned politicians in my country. But three years ago, he was assassinated alongside with my mom and my two brothers by group of people believed to be hired by his political rivals. I noticed my life was in danger after the death of my parents and my siblings that’s why I had to travel down to a refugee camp in Senegal where I could stay and seek legal actions against the killers of my people. I have been here for over two years and life in here hasn’t been favourable. I believe you are trustworthy that’s why I’m telling you all this. My father had $6.4 million dollars deposited in the royal bank of Scotland before he died; and as the first daughter, my name was used as the next of keen. I wanted to withdraw the money and get out of this hell but due to my conditions as an illegal immigrant and due to my age, I couldn’t be allowed access to withdraw such huge amount of money. Instead, I have been asked to bring a trustee from anywhere that could sign on my behalf and the money could be transferred to the person (trustee’s) account. So baby all I want you to do is to write the royal bank of Scotland telling them that you are Miss Vivian Abel’s trustee and the transfer could be processed then I can come over to your country and invest the money. I love you”.
I thought that was the beginning of my luxurious life. I quickly converted the “millions dollars” into naira; did all mathematics to determine how much my share could be at the end of the deal. It was a business worth investing on I thought.
The journey began. I wrote to different “lawyers, banks, priests” on the request of Miss Vivian. Luckily to me, the request was “granted” on a condition that we should bring so many affidavits signed by a lawyer. I contacted Miss Abel telling her the latest and she said that won’t be a problem that she knows a lawyer that used to visit rev. father Adam Williams in the refugee camp. She contacted him and he promised to “help”. Some hours later I got a message from the “lawyer” detailing me on how much each documents could cost and it totalled $1000. The game has entered a critical stage. Miss Abel was persuading me then to rally round and send the money to the lawyer. OMG! Their plan was manifesting. I told her that I don’t have such amount of money and asked that she speak to the lawyer or the priest and see if they could help so that when we finally succeed in the deal we pay them back. Days later, I got a mail from the supposed lawyer offering to help us with $500 and that I should try and provide the rest ASAP as he was about to travel out of the country. I felt some desperation in their action so I had to hold back… I stopped replying their text.
Some months later I was telling a friend about the incident and he then told me that his own brother was swindled in that way… wow! LUCKY ME RIGHT?
NOW THAT YOU KNOW THE TRICK; PLAY SMART…
In our next article, we will be revealing some other fascinating tricks… anticipate it.