The Tragic Circumstances: The traveler allegedly becomes a victim of a violent crime, and is robbed of all of her belongings. The manager at the hotel where she is staying has seized her passport and is refusing to allow her to leave the premises until she pays her outstanding bill. Alternatively, her mother who was accompanying her on the trip has suddenly fallen ill. She is unable to pay for the unexpected expenses, and needs assistance taking care of the hospital bill. Often, she claims that she has contacted the U.S. Embassy, but has been refused help.
The Expected Payoff: If he is sympathetic and assists her through her sudden crisis, the boyfriend stands to gain a large degree of gratitude from the young lady. If all goes well, her gratitude for his emotional support will translate, he hopes, into significant goodwill and affection from her when they finally meet.
The Financial Catch: Part 1: Eventually her needs change from emotional support to financial assistance. The tragedy that befell her entails monetary costs – she must pay the hotel bill or take care of hospital fees before she can return to see her new beau. The financial needs range from $500 for the hotel bill to $2,000 for the hospital. The unfortunate traveler ends up having serious problems on her way to America. Even after her American boyfriend pays her visa fees and contributes several hundred dollars toward her plane ticket, there are still many more unforeseen expenses.
Part 2: She discovers the host government has a requirement that all departing citizens must prove that they have sufficient funds for travel.
Part 3: To make matters worse, when she finally overcomes all the bureaucratic hurdles – thanks to the boyfriend’s largesse – she has trouble in transit. During her stopover en route, she is allegedly detained by airport immigration authorities who believe her visa to be fake. Now she needs additional funds to pay a fine before embarking for America.
The Emotional Catch: In an effort to move the on-line relationship forward, the scam artist is quick to identify herself as the victim’s “girlfriend,” or even “fiancée,” sometimes with promises of marriage as soon as she can return.
The Bottom Line: The above-described scenario is particularly effective because it is not random spam, but is targeted at a specific victim. This scam has innumerable variations. Sometimes the young woman – or man -- in distress claims to be an American self-employed businessman, or Nigerian-American (thus the need to return to Nigeria for family reasons), a British citizen, but occasionally not even American at all. Sometimes victims hear from a Nigerian “doctor” who claims to be treating the victim’s friend. Often the victim claims to have been kidnapped in the Niger Delta (the oil-producing region of southern Nigeria). What all the alleged unlucky travelers to Nigeria have in common, of course, is that they are all very attractive, and they all need money. The scam artist may not even be the same gender as his/her on-line identity. Some victims speak on the phone with their on-line friend/scammer. In some cases, victims have already met their on-line correspondent in person once or twice; other aspects of the scam remain identical.
In all, the American citizen victim can lose any or all of the following: Over $10,000 for hospital bills, $200 for visa fees, $800 for supplementing the plane ticket, $1,000 to supply the BTA [requirement that no longer exists], $500 for the fine at Heathrow, and hundreds in international phone bills.
Given the amount of time and effort spent by the perpetrator laying the groundwork, many American victims have trouble believing they are being scammed. Victims often report that they had been corresponding with the love interest (scammer) for several months, and only grudgingly recognize the scam for what it is after they learn of the economic realities of life in Nigeria.
Victims of this scam should review our brochure on Resources for Victims of International Financial Scams.
Message 1:
Through Yahoo Personals, I was chatting with a woman who claims to be held against her will in a hotel in Lagos for her inability to pay the bill, which she claims wasn't hers to pay in the first place. She also claims the hotel manager seized her passport and her return flight ticket to the US, and will not give them back to her until she pays.
Message 2:
I received the following communiqué from an American citizen named Ms. D. She claims that she had traveled to Nigeria and had her belongings stolen and is "stranded" there. Ms. D. tells me that her return airline ticket is being held "hostage" pending payment of a $500 hotel bill. She indicated that she is at the M. Hotel and that the manager there is named Mr. S.
Ms. D. has stated that she had her American Express charge card stolen but was told by AmEx that nothing could be done about it.......... I find this a bit strange; however, in light of the state of the world's attitude towards Americans, I believe some prudence be exercised in this situation. Accordingly, would you please investigate this situation and help this lady as much as you can.
Message 3:
My boyfriend is stranded in Lagos. His personal assistant has left him there with no money and has stolen his money. He has no way of getting home. I have sent him all the money I can to help him get a plane ticket home. He still needs $300. Is there anything that can be done? He is a United States citizen. He is from Jacksonville, Florida.
He is in the hospital now, because of the stress of being stranded there. He is in a very bad condition. Having severe pains in his chest. His name is J.A. I am not sure how many hospitals are in Lagos. I am still trying to get more details. If there is anything that can be done, please contact me and let me know please.
Message 4:
My fiancée is there in Lagos, Nigeria. She has been there for about 2 years in school. Thursday evening she was in a car accident and rushed to S. Hospital. She is an American and her name is S.J. from Kinston, NC. She speaks with a heavy African accent after being there for two years.
I have attempted to send her money so that she can leave the country, and both times the guy at Western Union stole the money.
Please help her. Nigeria is no place for an American – especially a woman with no friends, no family and no money.
Message 5:
I am writing to you because I have a very unsettling situation that has occurred. My fiancée departed Lagos via British Airways. She was detained by immigration officials at London’s Heathrow Airport. I received a telephone call from an immigration officer. She told me that my fiancée had been detained for expired documents and that they were going to deport my fiancée, unless I, being her fiancé and sponsor, would pay $2,500 in total fines for violating immigration law. She said that if I can raise the money in time, that they would release her and provide her with new documents so that she could continue her travel to the U.S.
The officer contacted me later and we began discussion over the fines total amount. She stated that there was an actual fine of $1,200 for the violation. I stated that I think I could raise $1,200 to pay. She said if I do that, then my fiancée could still be released and given new documents to continue travel.
On 9 Oct 2004, I collected $1,200 and sent the money electronically, via the Money Gram Store. I was happy to send the money because I thought that the immigration officials would release my fiancée.
Since Tuesday, 12 Oct. 2004, I have not heard from the immigration officer or my fiancée. I have attempted to contact her via telephone but she never answers. Only the voice messaging service answers to leave a message.
I have been very stressed, worrying and hoping that my fiancée, be released and be allowed to continue travel to U.S. to be with me. I have not heard from her since this ordeal has happened. I want to know if she is in good health and that she is okay. Please, I request of you for help in this terrible situation and I thank you, in advance, for any help you may provide.
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