NIGERIAN SCAM- ADVANCE FEE FRAUD:
This Nigerian scam escalates rapidly once you show the interest in it. Let us make it clear with an example.
Assume that you have received a purchase order for your company's product. However, intentionally, the initial order won't be large; the scammers will usually start off with a sample order which will be paid with a bogus credit card or a draft. These fake importers will lure you, saying that they will be placing a big order soon. Aiming at the big order, you will send the sample to them. After some days, you will receive an email stating that your sample has been approved for sale and all you have to do is to send 500 U.S. dollars (sometimes even more) to get you registered to trade your products in their country. Falling into temptation you will send the cash for registration also. However, you won't receive any bulk order thereafter, and you won't be able to contact the importers also. Simply, your money is gone!
However, this Nigerian scam can be avoided easily. Credit cards and demand drafts from Nigeria, Togo, Cameroon, Benin, Senegal, Ivory Coast and Ghana can be avoided. Ship the goods only after receiving the money in your account, which you can withdraw. In addition, keep in mind that it takes up to three weeks to clear an International deposit. Even your bank should confirm it in writing.
Moreover, this Nigerian scam is often dangerous physically too. Wondering how? In some cases you will be asked to travel to Nigeria to complete a transaction. You will also be told that no visa is required to enter the country. “Entering Nigeria without a valid visa is a serious offense.” So how do the scammers get benefited in this? These cunning scammers bribe the airport officials and tell them to allow the marketer to pass the immigration and customs. Hence the victim's illegal entry into the country will be used by the scammers as leverage to coerce the victim into releasing funds. If the victims don't obey to what the scammers say, then the will be killed!
To protect yourself, say no any offer if you feel something fishy. Never provide any personal details if you are not sure about the genuineness of the importer. The main thing is to report the abuse if found so that thousands of people will be saved from it.
WESTERN UNION SCAM:
“Exiting offer! Aluminium for sale-just 883.19 USD. Hurry, limited offer! Select your transaction method!” Please don't search for the location where you can get it. We are not gonna mention it, as it is simply impossible, as everyone knows, and this is an example for scam advertisement.
A Western Union scam is any scam that uses Western Union method of payment. If anyone sees an advertisement as the one above, they will be anxious in getting Aluminium for just 883.19 USD which will actually cost 2883.19 USD and you will straight away agree to send the money through a transfer service. Anyway the money will be sent, but you will not receive even a gram of Aluminium. Unfortunately the money will be already picked up. It means that you've been a victim of online auction fraud. If you are lucky enough you will atleast receive one kg of Aluminium.
About western Union:
The Western Union money transfer service is the great way to sent money to the people you know and trust. And Western Union recommends not using western union money transfer service to pay for online auction purchases as they do not offer any types of purchase protections or escrow service. To make it simple, once the money is sent, there is no protection on it, and no way to get it back.
TIPS TO AVOID WESTERN UNION SCAM:
• Be cautious if the online seller will accept only one type of money transfer. Most legitimate sellers will accept more than one form of payment.
• Make sure that you check out any seller references or feedback before making a purchase. However, often this method won't work because the seller can himself create the feedback or reference and may be bogus.
• Western union money transfer is the 100% preferred payment method of scammers. Because the moment the scammer gets the MTCN number or the money transfer number he can get the money and disappear into cyberspace, leaving you with an empty box, damaged pride and a hole in your pocket. So even if sellers say that there paypal accounts are down, don't pay them through western union.