Nigerian scams

Nigerian official: greedy marks as guilty as 419 scammers

By Jacqui Cheng | Published: August 22, 2008 - 10:40AM CT

People who fall for so-called "Nigerian scams" aren't victims at all—in fact, they're greedy and should be jailed, according to Nigerian high commissioner Sunday Olu Agbi. He said today that Nigeria has gained a bad reputation because of the scams perpetrated by a minuscule number of people, and that those who find themselves involved with the scams are equally as guilty as those running them.

"The Nigerian Government frowns very seriously on these scams... and every day tries to track down those who are involved," Olu Agbi told the Sydney Morning Herald in response to a previous article on Australians falling for Nigerian scams. "People who send their money are as guilty as those who are asking them to send the money."

Out of the 140 million people in Nigeria, Olu Agbi said that fewer than 0.1 percent were involved in Nigerian scams. The scams, also referred to as 419 scams or advance-fee fraud, predate the Internet, but have exploded in recent years thanks to the proliferation of e-mail and instant money transfers. Although the scams can take on many forms—from payments for products sold on eBay or Craigslist, to deposits on houses and purchases of plane tickets for "true love" on the other side of the ocean—they all follow the same general theme.

Scammers send huge checks to unsuspecting victims with some story attached to explain the overpayment, and the victim is expected to wire back the difference immediately. Eventually when the checks are deposited, they bounce and the victim is out a lot of money. Sometimes, victims are tricked into thinking they'll eventually be paid back and continue to participate in this endless cycle of sending money, especially if the scammer is wooing them romantically (which happens more commonly than one might think, to both men and women).

Although this kind of fraud originates from all over the world, it seems to have an unusually high concentration in Africa and, specifically, Nigeria. This has, unsurprisingly, cast Nigeria in a negative light. Olu Agbi said that Nigeria's reputation for being involved with the scams has even hurt the country's ability to land business deals. "[T]hose who want to transact business with us are always very suspicious," he told the newspaper.

Still, Olu Agbi's "blame the victim" mentality won't help Nigeria win any friends, but education on how to spot 419 scams and avoid falling for them can certainly go a long way in curbing their growth. After all, once victims stop blindly forking over cash, scammers will have to figure out some other way to make money.

WIG SURPRISE

Me and my mother went shopping for wigs 8 hours straight yesterday. She just finished her 2nd chemo and is loosing her hair so we decided to go on a trip to the north malls to scan for wigs.

YOU ARE SUCH A CUTE KITTY DERISO

This is our new cat, He is named after Pauld, my ever "favorite" boss. Deriso. We nick named it D just incase it turns out to be a girl.

Hi

:)

Truth Serum - Dishwalla

I just want to share with you lyrics of one of my favorite Dishwalla songs.

Truth Serum

You're not angry at me
You're just angry
And I'm just standing here while you're down
Now I see the real world
When it's too late
When it's too late to matter now

Bridge
Truth serum is in your veins
Saying things I can't explain
Truth serum is in your veins
Saying things I can't explain

Chorus
They always say, truth will find a way
It makes you sick, cause you can't take it
They always say, the truth will find a way
Truth serum is in your veins

Now I see you strip down
Never need for
Have I ever seen you drown?
‘Cause your not angry at me
You're just angry
And I am standing here while you're down

Bridge

Chorus

Truth serum is in your veins
Saying things I can't explain
You tell me more
It's spectacular

They always say, truth will find a way
It makes you sick, cause you can't fake it
They always say, truth will find a way
Truth serum is in your veins

Chorus

Planner for a cause: THE JOURNAL THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE 2009

After the outstanding sales of the 2008 Journals, Lifeline Foundation brings about its new planner: THE JOURNAL THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE 2009. This Hard Bound collectible features everything that you would need in a journal. A monthly expense page, mood chart, wider spaces for notes. Cool snippets featuring factoids you thought you know but didn't.

This full-color planner has the usual -calendar, month-at-a-glance and the days of the week- but the difference is it is LOADED with tons of interesting features. You’ll get quarterly checkups, fun-filled & amazing facts from all over the world, figures and days you've never heard of before, fillers that would make you laugh, think, or simply move your heart, plus a whole lot more.

We ourselves loved this planner and we got good feedback from customers last year. Not only do customers get to purchase a very interesting and useful product, they also help support one of our project partners, Lifeline Foundation Support Team, Inc. (www.ineedalifeline.org), who shall benefit from all sales proceeds of this venture. It's definitely a good deal that is worth your money.
We are pleased to offer our product to you as a corporate giveaway to your clients or a company gift to your employees in December. This will be a one-of-a-kind gift that they will surely appreciate.

Contact us for further inquiries at (632) 7720429 or email at freespeechpublications@yahoo.com. We give out corporate rates for bulk orders.

Lifeline Foundation's Annual Cool Planner

I have found in my email the latest planner from lifeline foundation. Its new and improved hardbound book style is neat. Their planner was known for its interactive pages and cool snippets.

to view the planner you can check it out at www.ineedalifeline.org.

Moments that make your day.

A while ago while in the shower after a thigh beating leg abuse and core torture ( I am talking about exercise) I put my face right in the strong flow of the shower feeling a tingling sensation in my tensed facial muscles and though...MAN THIS IS IT... THIS MAKES THE DAY.


I keep treasure of something today and it goes: Heb:14-15 Since the children are made of flesh and blood, it's logical that the Savior (Jesus) took on flesh and blood in order to rescue them by his death. By embracing death, taking it into himself, he destroyed the Devil's hold on death and freed all who cower through life, scared to death of death.

Man , when we were born we get up and get ready for pre school in preparation for elementary. In elementary we are groomed to be ready with high school. In high school we are preparing ourselves for college. In college we prepare to hit the workforce. We hit the workforce we are set up for something better and save money for retirement. In between, some get married and have children. In between some encounter issues and get comfortable with themselves. In between all of these life happens. We get hurt, We loose trust and we fear. Some get tired, some escape but the truth is we are all looking for something better than ourselves. We chase it and we chase it we think we got it but we end up looking until we find ourselves spinning, spinning in fear. The worst things we fear, death and rejection. The best wish we had in the world is for someone to take us out and carry us to bliss, we chase this knowing not where we will get it or not. Some give up and take their lives and some seek for answers and end up in the very same spot where it all begins and ends.

And i will not end with some answer. Seek and you shall find.