You’d think no-one would fall for the scam – known as a 419, after the relevant section of Nigeria’s criminal code. But you’d be wrong: a few years ago, the Nigerian government placed ads in the FT, warning people not to be greedy and not to be suckers. If you got trapped, it was your own fault, so don’t go running to the Nigerian government for your money back.
If you have never gotten one of these little gems, you’re lucky. You’d think people would realize it’s a scam. The most recent one I read claimed the money — tens of millions — was the result of overbilled contracts: in other words, fraud. Any sensible person would immediately press “delete.” Not if your greed impairs your judgment, apparently.