How the Scam Works:

Romance scammers are in this for one purpose only . . .

TO MAKE A PROFIT.

Learn how these scams work so you can protect yourself.

How the Scam Works:

Scams are BIG business. Run just like any "for profit" organization, there is a hierarchy and an organizational structure: the peons, the managers, the big bosses, the pimp daddies. Internet cafes are shut down to normal business so scammers can do "their jobs". Home computers are a rare commodity. Most households in West Africa and other third world countries cannot afford them nor can they afford the cost of a monthly connection. Because of the easy money made from victims, scammers are well-to-do respected businessmen/women who quit their "normal" day jobs.

Scammers work in shifts. They have a script to follow, just like telemarketers. This is why they all sound the same. This is why the words are so similar. They are taught what to say and when to say it. They normally work in groups of six people. This is why they are always on the computer and at times it seems you are talking to different people. There may be times when they have forgotten what you talked about before or call you a different name. They take time to respond to you because they are talking to other people. When they are gone from the computers for any amount of time they are either looking up information to answer you or are consulting with a more experienced member of their "team".

Scammers send sweet words, poems, and love letters...all stolen from sites on the internet. The people behind these scams are men, women, and teenagers of ALL ages. The male victims, who think they're talking to a real beauty, may in fact be talking to a male as young as 13 years old.

The pictures are stolen from various sites and previous victims. We have some modeling sites listed. Recently scammers have been using previous victims' photos from dating and social networking sites.

Nigeria is cash cash-based society. All services, all hotel rooms, and all hospital services must be paid for in advance. The norm in Nigerian culture is to call a family meeting when a problem occurs. They have family meetings for everything. They do not get on the internet, pick a stranger off a dating site, fall in love within a few days, and immediately ask for money. Scammers know victims might be aware of this and this is one of the reasons why they almost immediately begin calling the victim their husband or wife.

Scammers may claim they're being held hostage in the hospital. Call the hospital directly and ask about the "patient". If they are asking for money to be released from the hospital, they aren't really in the hospital. Again, Nigeria is a cash-based society. ALL HOSPITAL SERVICES MUST BE PAID IN ADVANCE.

When anyone you are in contact or relationship with online claims they are an American overseas, direct them to the American Embassy for help. The Embassy will help send them home. The American Embassy highly recommends that individuals doing business in Nigeria be registered with the Embassy for their safety.