Crux Polaris
14 November 2005, 09:00
RECORDED CONSEQUENCES OF 419 FRAUD
Note: There will be no specific references to individuals or individual organizations or companies in this article. The information is, however, verified through dependable sources; in many cases the staff and advisors of Fraudwatchers.org.
The most obvious consequence of being the victim of a 419 scam is, of course, the financial loss. As the article on loss estimation says, the median loss per victim in this type of fraud is $5575 US, in many cases less, and in many cases much much more.
The loss of almost 6000 US dollars is very harsh for the average family or individual, and though most are able to overcome that loss in a financial sense, the knowledge that they have been robbed is harder to bear. That is what we must always remember – the worst consequence of, e.g., a burglary, is not the loss of property but the loss of privacy, dignity, and the trauma of tresspass. This is also the case when it comes to 419 fraud.
Many of these things will occur when it comes to losing money to criminals through the types of fraud this website deals with.
Earlier this year, a victim of 419 fraud took his own life. As a consequence of being robbed, made a fool of, used and discarded after being promised a better life for him and his family, he decided that he could not handle life.The losses he suffered financially were grave, and his actions in regards to paying the scammers caused a lot of pain in the end, both for himself and for the people around him. There is no blame to be placed, however, because people all over the world get taken in by this crime every day. This victim could not cope with the idea of living with the shame he percieved followed his actions, and ended it dramatically.
This is not one single case. It is a one of several reported and documented suicides that have occurred as a result of people not being able to handle the psychological pressure and stress that the invasion of being robbed brings with it. Even if it does not come to the extreme point of suicide, victims get depressed, have anxiety, and other personal problems that often go hidden or unnoticed by the people around them for a long time. They often think they are alone in having fallen for the scams, and they are ashamed. That is something which is important to address.
Other problems that have been documented are the results of the financial loss. Victims of this kind of fraud have lost their homes, their cars, their credit, even their families, because they have spent all their money “helping” someone in a far off country, hoping against hope that the promised money will get to them eventually, bringing an end to their problems. When it doesn’t happen, they and their loved ones suffer.
The shame of having let oneself be used is something that is seen very often in the victims of fraud – not only 419 fraud, but also other types of “white collar” crime. Whenever we feel we have acted foolishly, or stupid, we have an urge to hide it from those around us lest they think less of us.
This is a very natural reaction, however, it is almost certainly unfounded. Here at Fraudwatchers.org, we make no assumptions or draw any conclusions about a victim – we have seen so many different kinds of people fall for this: doctors, engineers, politicians, and so on, that we know there is no stereotype victim. Anyone, literally, can fall for this. Remember that it is the criminal who should be ashamed to show his or her face, it is the criminal that is in the wrong, no matter what the victim’s motives were for entering into communication with them. We will gladly help you if you have been a victim or know someone who is a victim.
You need only ask.
This article Copyright: Fraudwatchers.org 2005
Written by Crux Polaris
Note: There will be no specific references to individuals or individual organizations or companies in this article. The information is, however, verified through dependable sources; in many cases the staff and advisors of Fraudwatchers.org.
The most obvious consequence of being the victim of a 419 scam is, of course, the financial loss. As the article on loss estimation says, the median loss per victim in this type of fraud is $5575 US, in many cases less, and in many cases much much more.
The loss of almost 6000 US dollars is very harsh for the average family or individual, and though most are able to overcome that loss in a financial sense, the knowledge that they have been robbed is harder to bear. That is what we must always remember – the worst consequence of, e.g., a burglary, is not the loss of property but the loss of privacy, dignity, and the trauma of tresspass. This is also the case when it comes to 419 fraud.
Many of these things will occur when it comes to losing money to criminals through the types of fraud this website deals with.
Earlier this year, a victim of 419 fraud took his own life. As a consequence of being robbed, made a fool of, used and discarded after being promised a better life for him and his family, he decided that he could not handle life.The losses he suffered financially were grave, and his actions in regards to paying the scammers caused a lot of pain in the end, both for himself and for the people around him. There is no blame to be placed, however, because people all over the world get taken in by this crime every day. This victim could not cope with the idea of living with the shame he percieved followed his actions, and ended it dramatically.
This is not one single case. It is a one of several reported and documented suicides that have occurred as a result of people not being able to handle the psychological pressure and stress that the invasion of being robbed brings with it. Even if it does not come to the extreme point of suicide, victims get depressed, have anxiety, and other personal problems that often go hidden or unnoticed by the people around them for a long time. They often think they are alone in having fallen for the scams, and they are ashamed. That is something which is important to address.
Other problems that have been documented are the results of the financial loss. Victims of this kind of fraud have lost their homes, their cars, their credit, even their families, because they have spent all their money “helping” someone in a far off country, hoping against hope that the promised money will get to them eventually, bringing an end to their problems. When it doesn’t happen, they and their loved ones suffer.
The shame of having let oneself be used is something that is seen very often in the victims of fraud – not only 419 fraud, but also other types of “white collar” crime. Whenever we feel we have acted foolishly, or stupid, we have an urge to hide it from those around us lest they think less of us.
This is a very natural reaction, however, it is almost certainly unfounded. Here at Fraudwatchers.org, we make no assumptions or draw any conclusions about a victim – we have seen so many different kinds of people fall for this: doctors, engineers, politicians, and so on, that we know there is no stereotype victim. Anyone, literally, can fall for this. Remember that it is the criminal who should be ashamed to show his or her face, it is the criminal that is in the wrong, no matter what the victim’s motives were for entering into communication with them. We will gladly help you if you have been a victim or know someone who is a victim.
You need only ask.
This article Copyright: Fraudwatchers.org 2005
Written by Crux Polaris