Quick Answer: Police warn that 76% of email investment scam victims continue sending money even after being told they’re being deceived, with Queenslanders alone transferring $2 million monthly to Nigerian and Ghanaian scammers. Red flags include requests for money to unlock inheritance payments, business opportunities, or romantic appeals asking for large sums.
In Australia police are saying that 76 percent of e-mail investment scam victims continue to send money even after police warn them that they’re being deceived.
The most common e-mail frauds and scams are those that request money to unlock a promised inheritance payment or to reap rewards from a business opportunity. One of the more famous e-mail scams that hit in years prior was the Nigerian Oil scam.
Last week investigators from Nigeria, Ghana, Queensland Australia and the United States met to focus on the tackling of our global “fraud pandemic.”
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It was reported that around 2,000 Queenslanders transfer $2 million to scammers in Nigeria and Ghana every month. Many of these victims have a hard time believing they’ve actually been duped and will continue to send money even after the police’s warnings.
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Another common fraud hitting Queensland right now are love scams where one tricks another that they’ve fallen in love and then asks for tens of thousands of dollars. When heavy emotions, like love and lust, get thrown into the mix it can be very hard to convince someone that they have in fact been scammed.
Detective Superintendent Brian Hay is urging people to have greater compassion for scam victims.
“We as a society tend to say, they’re stupid or greedy, [but] anyone approached at the right time in their lives with right stories will be vulnerable to a fraud. Fraud victims are victims of a crime, they need our respect and need our support and need our help to rebuild their lives” – Source.
Queensland is urging more fraud and scam victims to come forward and share their stories with the public. Fraud can happen to anyone. Remember to share and care.
If you have been scammed and would like to file a scam report, please click here.
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