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By: Joyce Kane, Tue Jul 13th, 2010
Queenslanders are being swindled out of up $1 million a month by Nigerian internet scams, but Queensland police are on the forefront of fighting the broadband bandits, according to Police Minister Judy Spence.
If you've ever opened an email account, chances are you have received an email promising great wealth, romance or some other benefit in return for forwarding your bank account details to the sender. The emails are known as Nigerian internet scams because they usually purport to be from a Nigerian person seeking help.
However, scammers from other countries have also taken up the trick.
Detective Superintendent Brian Hay, of the Queensland Police Service Fraud and Corporate Crime Group, said: "An examination of 37 case studies showed that for every $1 sent to Nigeria, $1.04 is sent to other countries as part of this fraud.
The latest success against the scammers came as a Nigerian national was arrested in an international sting over an alleged internet-based romance scam which swindled about $20,000 from a 45-year-old Queensland man.
The woman who appeared to be befriending the Brisbane man on an online personal website turned out to be a 23-year-old Nigerian man, who was this week charged with fraud offences.
The overseas arrest was a result of cooperation between the Queensland Police Service and the Nigerian Economic Financial Crimes Commission.
"This week's result is a testament to the hard work and expertise of our officers," Ms Spence said.
"The case serves as a strong reminder to people that they need to be careful when it comes to online relationships."
"Requests to send money or personal information like account details overseas to an online companion should be treated with extreme caution."
"These huge losses can so easily be avoided if people think with their heads, not their hearts."
Brisbane will play host to the National Advance Fee Fraud Symposium in October, bringing together law enforcement experts in fighting internet scams.
