Nigerian 419 scams on the rise

[Juha-Matti Laurio <juha-matti.laurio () netti fi>]

"Internet scammers had a bumper year in 2009 with people around the world continue to be duped by so-called 419 frauds,
with one Dutch private investigation company estimating the highest ever annual losses occurred in 2009.

Victims lost at least US$9.3 billion last year, up from $6.3 billion in 2008, said Frank Engelsman of Ultrascan,
a Dutch company that investigates 419 scams - also known as advance-fee frauds (AFFs) -
and other types of crime. Ultrascan will release a complete report on Friday on its website.

AFF scams originating in Nigeria were so pervasive that the country's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
stepped up law enforcement efforts in recent years to crack down on scammers."
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More at
http://www.computerworlduk.com/management/security/cybercrime/news/index.cfm?newsid=18581

It appears that the report is here:
http://www.ultrascan-agi.com/public_html/html/public_research_reports.html

Juha-Matti
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