Do you even know what a Nigerian prince e-mail scam is? That’s an advanced name to 419. This code is intended to describe the fraudulent activities of Nigeria.
Nigeria’s prince email scam has been in transition since its inception in the 19th century.
It started with the use of fax and letters, then it went to email and now it’s even on social networks.
The Prince email scam did not only surface in Nigeria, there is someone who began this fraudulent activity. That’s why we took the initiative to find out who was the mastermind behind this metamorphosed criminal activity.
We’re also going to look at the period that it started and how it’s going in Nigeria.
After passing through this article, you will get crinkled with their corning strategy.
When 419 Stated in Nigeria
According to research, the price e-mail scam originated in Nigeria in the 1920s, although it has been in existence since the 18th century in Spain.
They called it ‘confidence trick’, where they ask victims to pay a huge sum of cash to get their wealthy relative out of the prison in another rural area.
Ultimately, it’s not going to be a positive outcome.
As it metamorphoses due to modernity in Nigeria, these scammers will now demand some money or will request account details in the name of unlocking one’s money in the money box.
In case you don’t know, a lot of billions have been missed due to fraud and more than half of Schaffer obtain their 419 emails in Nigeria more than other African countries.
Founder of 419 in Nigeria
You will be surprised to learn that it was not a Nigerian who launched this criminal activity in the country. The person that started this dirty game was a white man by the name of Professor Crentsil.
Today, however, Nigerians have become experts in fraud around the world. Crentsil did his first rip-off while he was an employee of the colonial government in the state of Lagos.
According to the report, Crentcil wrote several letters to the British colony about Goal’s shore.
In his letter, he showed to be a Ghanaian who has lived for several years in Nigeria and that he possesses some powers that could be of benefit to his correspondent colony.
He thus signed the letter under the title of Professor Crentsil. Those letters were sent to different places.
In this way, he took money from the British and sent it to him.
Around December 1921, Crentsil was taken into police custody and charged with fraud. That was under Criminal Code 419 concerning fraud.
From there, Nigerians started to call any fraudulent activity 419.
And What Happens Now?
Now scam in Nigeria has gone beyond writing letters to online dating, brandjacking and phishing e-mails extorting companies, bit trading and hacking Facebook accounts and so on.
These cybercriminals will create fake profiles on dating sites and other applications and then get in touch with the person they want to rip off.
They obtain their contacts on Instagram, Facebook, or even Google search.
When it comes to phishing company emails, they attack an e-mail belonging to any person working in the targeted company and send them a special web portal to connect.
As such, the individual will receive phishing notices from the bank and other financial institutions and attach a false brand name for deception.
Straight off the victim login the web portal and submit his or the company credentials, they will begin to monitor the email and any other important data that will give them a lead.
Once they get what they’re looking for, these crooks will start embezzling corporate funds.
How Do I Know that I’m Going to be Ripped Off?
Fraudsters use multiple means of defrauding people in Nigeria and elsewhere. If you are unfamiliar with them, you may easily drop a victim.
As such, you should be aware of the following:
- You will receive an email or call from someone you do not know or who does not have any common transactions.
- You will be asked to submit your bank details or credentials, such as a password or PIN from someone you are still not aware of. It could be in a text message.
- You will be prompted to send money to an account fast, he is a crook.
- You will be asked to open a link to a webpage, particularly online stores and the shipping line.
- You will be contacted to assist people in need by sending money to an account. Please inquire first.
- Advertisement of products without any form of trademark.
What’s the Way Forward
Having experienced prince email scams, you don’t need to wait until it’s your turn to get scammed. Therefore, you have to take a step and avoid such occurrences.
In this respect, we will show you how you can avoid falling into the hands of fraudsters.
-
Construct a Security Fence
Even though your social media accounts and email have passwords, it doesn’t mean they’re secure.
These scam artists can still access your account when you leave your registration photos and other activities open.
This is because these activities use data connection which in turn opens up access to them to use it against you.
-
Avoid Signing in Suspicious Link
As we mentioned earlier, there are a few links that will land you securely in the hands of scammers, especially the one that comes with attachments.
Therefore, you must check any website page before you connect or preferably you type the URL directly and search for it.
Do not respond to an application When you are prompted to send emergency money for something or a transaction with an unknown person, just know this is a scam. It’s a scam.
Responding to such a request will only get you in trouble and if you are not careful, you will end up sending money to those fraudsters.
Professor Crentcil has hurt our nation more than good. Since the introduction of “Prince Email Scam”, many Nigerians have been paralyzed for more than a century and this continues to be the case.
Looking at what we have discussed so far, you should know how these scam artists work and how you can stop yourself from falling victim.