Nigerian email scam causes Americans to loiter in London hotel lobbies

And the firm said, quoting the UK National Criminal Intelligence Service, that up to five Americans per day have been seen waiting in London hotels to meet people about liberating funds.

This one is new to us. How can you tell an American in a hotel lobby has fallen victim to the Nigerian 419 scam? Does he or she have a big sign saying: "Are you the son of the finance minister of Nigeria?"

Or, as the latest one we've received says: "I am hon Dr John cabora. A diplomant from the republic gabon, also the owner of trans Atlantic crossing company".

Message Labs claims that these operations are going to gross over two billion dollars in 2003, making it the second biggest Nigerian industry.

The firm said: "Recently, Americans in particular seem to be falling victim to the scam. A recent report by the U.K.'s National Criminal Intelligence Service stated that up to five Americans per day have been witnessed waiting in London hotel lobbies to meet people connected with the scam. If this trend continues, MessageLabs predicts that Nigerian scam operations will gross over two billion dollars in 2003, becoming the second largest industry in the country."

If this trend continues, and if Message Labs is right, we think that London hotel lobbies will be packed full of people and you won't be able to get to the concierge to ask: "Where is the Porcupine pub?" (Answer: The home of roadmaps is on the Charing Cross Road.)

The firm said it intercepted a virus in one in every 212 emails in 2002, up from one in 380 the year before.

The Klez virus was the biggest threat, with five million copies captured.

Message Labs also estimated that 30% of all email is now unsolicited mail or spam.

Blended email threats, including spams and viruses are also on the rise, while Trojans aimed at individuals or companies are also on the increase.

It says the rise in virus to email ratio is because home users and small businesses neglect security. Viruses in this year include "spoofing the sender's email address" - we know this bit is true because we're currently suffering one of those at the INQUIRER. µ

See Also
Missouri attorney general wants to make spam illegal
US government issues ultimatum to Nigeria
New variant on 419 scam -- liberate Enron money
Nigerian scam logs now have audio
INQ readers bait Nigerian scamsters

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