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WHAT IS THE VICTIM THINKING?

What is going on in John's mind?  Let's take a look.

Dr Piedo writes, "As it may intrest you to know, I got your impressive information through my good friend who works with chamber of commerce on foriegn business relations here in Lome-Togo."

This is just one of his enticing sentences, beginning with the $$$ signs.  Here are some typical thoughts that anyone might have after reading a Nigerian Scam Letter:

         "Wow!  I've been recommended by the Chamber of Commerce in a foreign country.  Wait 'til  I tell the guys.  Are they gonna' be impressed or what?!" 

    "Maybe I shouldn't tell anybody.  If I tell my friends, they'll want in on it."

     "Man. This is really exciting.  Beats working myself to death for nothing behind this desk."

     "I make it big, and I can tell the boss to go to hell.  And I can pay off all those damn credit cards."

     "Hey, I make it big, and I can send the kids to college - no sweat!  And what about that new  (fill in the blank)" 

    "Maybe I'd better set up one of those offshore accounts."

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And on and on...  All the swindlers have to do is spark John's imagination and the dreams take over.  No problem - John will talk himself into it.  The more financially desperate he is, the faster the dreams fly. 

Not that there isn't a little voice inside John trying to make itself heard, John is simply overriding it with his desire to be able to pat himself on the back for making a big chunk of money by being clever and his desire to get out from under his debt load.

So John answers the letter and receives another one in turn from the good doctor, along with official-looking documents.  The documents may look absolutely genuine, but then how would John know unless he is experienced in verifying government and bank documents?  The accompanying letter is a little more specific and informs John that he will have to provide some money for the funds to be released.  

It may specify just how much John will need to give the doctor, may have other instructions for John, or the letter may only lead John a little deeper into the web.  Phone numbers and addresses will be exchanged.  If John is lucky, he will only lose his money.  If he travels to Togo or meets the swindlers in the United States (they may have been in the US all along) he could get mugged or be killed.  

Oh yes - that does happen with this particular scam.

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