Thank you everyone who joined the writing competition with 25 steem prize.

Overall the quality of the blogs was very high. There were some really interesting stories and I learned alot. These will save me from being scammed in the future. I could have awarded the first prize ten-times over.

The number one thing which struck me was the large number of entries from Nigeria. Is Nigeria the scam capital of the world? Several people writing from Nigeria told me that scamming is very common in Nigeria.

The scams came from all over the world. I learned about inheritance scams, romance scams, advance fee scams, job scams, switch scams, internet scams, lottery scams, car purchase scams and many more. I learned what “Yahoo Boys” are. I had never heard this term before. I learned about the “419ers”, another term I did not know.

Some of the stories were so touching, I will remeber them forever. Here is a small selection of those I will never forget.

Hive account@hartfloe wrote a gripping story - called “Dan the man with the master-plan”. She hired a web-designer to start an online alternative music business. He filled the young girl’s head with dreams, and she fell for his stories, borrowing money from her poor mother to lend to Dan. Then he dissappeard with her money. She got in big trouble with her mother and sister.

Hive account@eonwarped wrote about Sally and an IRS gift -card scam. Sally was a young immigrant to the USA, applying for US status. She got a call from the IRS to say that she had not filed her taxes correctly. The scammer persuaded her to pay her taxes by buying Target gift cards and telling him the secret scratch-off codes.

Hive account@levitated-mind thought he and some friends were applying for an airline job with a Nigerian airline. They were told they needed a medical report, so they went to Lagos hospital to get it. There a “Hospital employee” took the fee for the report. That was the last they ever saw of their money or the fake employee.

Hive account@herberholes sent us an Extremely funny text conversation with a scammer after he advertised that he was looking for work on Craigslist.

Hive account@svetozernaya met a man on the internet. He was working abroad. She fell in love with him. She sent him money by Western Union to pay the shipping charges on a fake package he was sending her containing an engagement ring.

These are just some examples of the great stories. There were many others that I should be mentioning here.

First prize of 25 steem goes to Hive account@svetozernaya met a man on the internet.

The runner up prizes have been paid as has the main prize winner. runners up are as below. There were many more stories which are equally excellent. I just don't have time to pay everyone who deserved it.

Runners up are below

Transfer 1.000 STEEM toluisveco88 Runner up prize in Scammers competition for https://steemit.com/scammers/@luisveco88/my-story-of-scammers-from-hunter-to-hunted
Transfer 1.000 STEEM tomaverickinvictus Runner up prize in Scammers competition for https://steemit.com/scammers/@maverickinvictus/online-paluwagan-mlm-and-the-lure-of-easy-money
Transfer 1.000 STEEM topaigegirl Runner up prize in scammers competition for https://steemit.com/scammers/@paigegirl/my-scam-story-welcome-to-lagos
Transfer 1.000 STEEM topetoz Runner up prize in scammers competition for https://steemit.com/scammers/@petoz/i-almost-turned-a-yahoo-boy-a3b10f9ba6141
Transfer 1.000 STEEM tosamueloption Runner up prize in Scammers competition for https://steemit.com/scammers/@samueloption/how-i-witnessed-a-scammer-beaten-to-comatose
Transfer 1.000 STEEM todee-y Runner up prize in scammers competition for https://steemit.com/scammers/@dee-y/dagger-of-betrayal
Transfer 1.000 STEEM toderonke Runner-up prize for https://steemit.com/scammers/@deronke/how-i-got-scammed-of-my-earings-contest-by-swissclive
Transfer 25.000 STEEM tosvetozarnaya First Prize in the competition "Scammers"

Update Tuesday 6th March.

There are still some more runner up prizes = 1 steem, and some joint second place prizes to give out = 2 steem. Please check back tonight.

Update Tuesday evening.

Today I added some winners as follows:

3 hours ago Transfer 2.000 STEEM to herbertholmes second prize in scammers competition for https://steemit.com/scammers/@herbertholmes/how-i-handle-craigslist-scammers-scammers-contest-entry#@swissclive/re-herbertholmes-how-i-handle-craigslist-scammers-scammers-contest-entry-20180304t075844761z

3 hours ago Transfer 2.000 STEEM to levitated-mind Joint 2nd prize in the competition “scammers” for https://steemit.com/scammers/@levitated-mind/how-i-got-scammed-in-my-quest-to-get-a-job

4 hours ago Transfer 2.000 STEEM to eonwarped Joint 2nd prize in competition « scammers » for https://steemit.com/scammers/@eonwarped/the-irs-gift-cards

4 hours ago Transfer 2.000 STEEM to hartfloe Joint 2nd prize for writing competition «scammers » for https://steemit.com/scammers/@hartfloe/everybody-meet-dan-the-man-with-the-master-plan