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The amount of money lost from
international fraud and scams is
now estimated at well over $2
Billion USD per year, and the
number is growing rapidly.
International Fraud and Scams
are becoming more and more
complex, with more accessible
and advanced technology more
widely available worldwide.
The leading countries in the
world for originating fraud cases
and scams are Nigeria, Ghana,
Russia and the Philippines.
Criminal fraud and scams have
grown rapidly in the regions of
the world like Africa, Eastern
Europe, and Southeast Asia.
However, no part of the world is
immune to the scam operations.
International criminals and fraud
groups target both businesses
and individuals. These people
are experts at what they do and
can be very difficult to prosecute
due to their use of the Internet.
Romance scams often are run
by men portraying themselves
as women, or even forcing or
hiring women to play certain
roles until the scam is over.
Scams are often conducted via
public Internet cafes, making the
criminals quite difficult to trace.
Most photos and information
used during a scam or fraud
scheme is not that of the person
committing the fraud. Persons
picking up money in Russia or
the Philippines from Western
Union, for example, often use
false identifications and agents
(paid women) to do the work.
Public Internet blacklists have
limited impact since the scam
criminals change their name,
email and profiles frequently.
Anyone can be a victim of fraud,
but many scam operations now
target the older Western men.
international fraud and scams is
now estimated at well over $2
Billion USD per year, and the
number is growing rapidly.
International Fraud and Scams
are becoming more and more
complex, with more accessible
and advanced technology more
widely available worldwide.
The leading countries in the
world for originating fraud cases
and scams are Nigeria, Ghana,
Russia and the Philippines.
Criminal fraud and scams have
grown rapidly in the regions of
the world like Africa, Eastern
Europe, and Southeast Asia.
However, no part of the world is
immune to the scam operations.
International criminals and fraud
groups target both businesses
and individuals. These people
are experts at what they do and
can be very difficult to prosecute
due to their use of the Internet.
Romance scams often are run
by men portraying themselves
as women, or even forcing or
hiring women to play certain
roles until the scam is over.
Scams are often conducted via
public Internet cafes, making the
criminals quite difficult to trace.
Most photos and information
used during a scam or fraud
scheme is not that of the person
committing the fraud. Persons
picking up money in Russia or
the Philippines from Western
Union, for example, often use
false identifications and agents
(paid women) to do the work.
Public Internet blacklists have
limited impact since the scam
criminals change their name,
email and profiles frequently.
Anyone can be a victim of fraud,
but many scam operations now
target the older Western men.
A SUMMARY OF FRAUD
Romance Scam
Mainly in countries like Russia and
the Philippines, but increasingly
widespread in Asia and Eastern
Europe, this scam now results in
estimated losses in excess of $500
Million USD per year worldwide.
• Victim is targeted on websites
such as mail order bride sites,
online dating, foreign romance.
• Love is soon professed, followed
by requests for financial support for
visa or sudden "emergencies".
• Criminal slowly drains victim of
funds through wire transfers sent
via Western Union or Money Gram.
Advance Fee Fraud
Also known as Nigeria 419 Fraud,
originating in Nigeria in the early
1990's. The victim is requested to
pay an advance fee to receive a
large promised reward in return.
• Typically involves precious gems,
large sums of cash, or other claim.
• Some Nigeria fraud operations
now combine the romance scam
with the Nigeria 419 methods.
• Perhaps the most versatile of all
the scams and can take on endless
variations with the same theme, an
advance payment. Annual loss is
estimated at nearly $1 Billion USD
• Targets victims via the internet via
spam email or online dating sites.
Phishing
Scammers attempt to acquire
personal information by sending
emails which appear to be legit, but
in error. The emails might appear
to be from a bank or institution
requesting your verification.
• Victims are typically contacted via
email and/or by telephone.
• Information obtained is likely to be
used for criminal identity theft.
• Emails can appear very authentic.
Do not reply to links in the email.
Mainly in countries like Russia and
the Philippines, but increasingly
widespread in Asia and Eastern
Europe, this scam now results in
estimated losses in excess of $500
Million USD per year worldwide.
• Victim is targeted on websites
such as mail order bride sites,
online dating, foreign romance.
• Love is soon professed, followed
by requests for financial support for
visa or sudden "emergencies".
• Criminal slowly drains victim of
funds through wire transfers sent
via Western Union or Money Gram.
Advance Fee Fraud
Also known as Nigeria 419 Fraud,
originating in Nigeria in the early
1990's. The victim is requested to
pay an advance fee to receive a
large promised reward in return.
• Typically involves precious gems,
large sums of cash, or other claim.
• Some Nigeria fraud operations
now combine the romance scam
with the Nigeria 419 methods.
• Perhaps the most versatile of all
the scams and can take on endless
variations with the same theme, an
advance payment. Annual loss is
estimated at nearly $1 Billion USD
• Targets victims via the internet via
spam email or online dating sites.
Phishing
Scammers attempt to acquire
personal information by sending
emails which appear to be legit, but
in error. The emails might appear
to be from a bank or institution
requesting your verification.
• Victims are typically contacted via
email and/or by telephone.
• Information obtained is likely to be
used for criminal identity theft.
• Emails can appear very authentic.
Do not reply to links in the email.
MOST COMMON TYPES OF SCAMS
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
PRECAUTION AND PREVENTION
• Never give personal information
or send money to any individual
you have not yet met in person.
• Be suspicious of anyone who
asks for money in advance for a
reward, visa, or emergency.
• Know that money sent through
Western Union is likely lost in the
event you are a victim of fraud.
• Understand that most scam and
fraud is conducted by professional
criminals who can be convincing.
Protect yourself from fraud. Let
Wymoo investigate and verify the
foreign organization or individual.
• If something seems just to good
to be true, then chances are, it is.
• Know that no dating or foreign
bride site is immune from scam.
• Do not attempt to recover any
losses without professional help.
• Beware of sites claiming free or
$20 to $50 background checks.
or send money to any individual
you have not yet met in person.
• Be suspicious of anyone who
asks for money in advance for a
reward, visa, or emergency.
• Know that money sent through
Western Union is likely lost in the
event you are a victim of fraud.
• Understand that most scam and
fraud is conducted by professional
criminals who can be convincing.
Protect yourself from fraud. Let
Wymoo investigate and verify the
foreign organization or individual.
• If something seems just to good
to be true, then chances are, it is.
• Know that no dating or foreign
bride site is immune from scam.
• Do not attempt to recover any
losses without professional help.
• Beware of sites claiming free or
$20 to $50 background checks.
Federal Bureau of Investigation
www.fbi.gov
National Fraud Information Center
www.fraud.org
US Department of Justice
www.internetfraud.usdoj.gov
Internet Crime Complaint Center
www.ic3.gov
Better Business Bureau
www.bbb.org
Association of Attorney Generals
www.naag.org
US Department of State
www.travel.state.gov
Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
Romance Scam
Phishing
Lottery Scam
Advance Fee Fraud
Internet Fraud
Western Union
www.westernunion.com
Metropolitan Police Service
www.met.police.uk/index
Australian Attorney General
www.ag.gov.au
Australian Federal Police
www.afp.gov.au
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
www.rcmp.ca
Interpol
www.interpol.int
European Anti Fraud Office
www.ec.europa.eu/anti_fraud
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
www.fco.gov.uk
National Anti Fraud Network
www.nafn.gov.uk
Certified Fraud Examiners
www.acfe.com
www.fbi.gov
National Fraud Information Center
www.fraud.org
US Department of Justice
www.internetfraud.usdoj.gov
Internet Crime Complaint Center
www.ic3.gov
Better Business Bureau
www.bbb.org
Association of Attorney Generals
www.naag.org
US Department of State
www.travel.state.gov
Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
Romance Scam
Phishing
Lottery Scam
Advance Fee Fraud
Internet Fraud
Western Union
www.westernunion.com
Metropolitan Police Service
www.met.police.uk/index
Australian Attorney General
www.ag.gov.au
Australian Federal Police
www.afp.gov.au
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
www.rcmp.ca
Interpol
www.interpol.int
European Anti Fraud Office
www.ec.europa.eu/anti_fraud
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
www.fco.gov.uk
National Anti Fraud Network
www.nafn.gov.uk
Certified Fraud Examiners
www.acfe.com
Lottery Scams
Normally sent by email, this scam
informs the victim that he or she
has won a sum of money and to
contact an agent for details. The
agent will inform the individual to
pay a fee to receive the winnings.
• Common in UK and S. Africa.
• Fee can be described as taxes
or form of release or commission.
Auction or Merchandise
In most cases, the individual or
business places an order via the
Internet in an e-commerce web
site or auction. Payment is made
but the goods or service is never
delivered or misrepresented.
• Annual losses over $600 Million
• Occurs on fraudulent websites
and on major auctions like Ebay.
Normally sent by email, this scam
informs the victim that he or she
has won a sum of money and to
contact an agent for details. The
agent will inform the individual to
pay a fee to receive the winnings.
• Common in UK and S. Africa.
• Fee can be described as taxes
or form of release or commission.
Auction or Merchandise
In most cases, the individual or
business places an order via the
Internet in an e-commerce web
site or auction. Payment is made
but the goods or service is never
delivered or misrepresented.
• Annual losses over $600 Million
• Occurs on fraudulent websites
and on major auctions like Ebay.
