A Manipuri woman duped

Gautam Singh *

Nigerian arrested for cheating, black dollar racket smashed

A Nigerian was held here for allegedly duping a Manipuri woman to the tune of Rs 6.5 lakh after promising to marry her with police today claiming that they have also smashed a black dollar racket with the arrest.

Leonard Amaechi alias Jackson was apprehended from DDA Market in south Delhi's Safdarjung Enclave on Tuesday evening, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ashok Chand said.

The Times of India - Link here

If we look at the history of such frauds, all the victims are educated, meaning they can read, write and understand the contents of the mails (email frauds). Not only that all of them are computer literate and tech savvy.

If they know how to read, write and understand english (as a Manipuri) and are computer literate, tech savvy, then I am sure they must have invested a sizable amount of money on education. Now my question is was the investment worth it?

One can understand and sympathize with the victim if this fraud is new, but such frauds are in existence for quiet long time. There are articles in newspapers alerting the readers of such frauds. There are discussions among groups of people.

So the best way to stay safe from such frauds is – start socializing, discuss with friends, don't stay in isolation in this world, start reading newspapers, articles. And most importantly don't look for easy money. There is no free lunch that one should understand.

Many of us may be aware, but the below information is for the benefit of new comers. These are some of the forms of internet frauds that one can come across.

Lottery win :- You may get notification that you have won a lottery. It is common sense that when you have not bought any ticket or taken part in any lottery how could you win any.

But the greed takes over and we start responding to such mails and end up sharing our bank account details. Or they will ask us to deposit certain amount as processing fee.

Business Proposal :- You may get mails from Mr. So and so who is the CEO of so and so company. He is looking for partners to start a business in your country. He wants you to be his partner.

One should understand people do businesses to make profits. And to make profits one is very careful to select partners. So why would someone just select business partners randomly. Would you just like that take someone as your business partner?

Nominee :- You may get mails from either a lawyer or a banker informing that his client (say Mr. William Goodwill) has died and he has left a huge fortune. The client has no heir and there is no one to claim. The fund is just lying in the bank and the government is trying to seized it.

The lawyer or the banker will ask you to act as a relative of his client. Now tell me, as a Manipuri what are your chances of proving that you are the relative of Mr. William Goodwill.

Job offer :- You may get mails informing that you have been hired. The job offer could be from domestic or overseas companies. Once you respond, they will ask you to deposit certain amount as either ticket fair or visa processing fees and it goes on.

What one should understand is that when a company decides to hire someone, there are many processes involved. Technical interview, HR interview, and many more tests such as aptitude test, physical, etc. So how could a company skip all these processes and hire you directly.

And most importantly how could you be hired for a job which you have never applied.

I am sure other than the above listed types, many readers must have come across many more types. Please do share with us and help stop more innocents from falling prey to such frauds.

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* Gautam Singh contributes regularly to e-pao.net. The writer can be contacted at gsingh_03(at)yahoo(dot)com
This article was webcasted on November 23, 2010.

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