Lagos — Unarmed but very dangerous criminals have taken over the internet leaving in their wake losses, frustrations and pains for victims and for Nigeria dirty image among comity of nations.

Crime on the Internet, as opposed to crime in the physical world, generally does not involve physical danger or high risk of exposure and it seems to pay more for the fraudster.

Those bent on Internet crime do not need masks, dangerous weapons but simply a computer, a modem and a clever plan to rob the unsuspecting victim.

The internet criminal is an original con artist whose stock in trade is a bag of white lies.

The Internet's tentacles reach deeply into almost all facets of business and personal life, leaving companies and consumers vulnerable to attack and making it easier for criminals to remain anonymous.

Cases have continued to rise despite efforts by the federal government and well meaning Nigerians to project the country in a positive light.

The government for instance has set up a lot of units, to fight the fraud, but many people are still being lured and ripped off.

It is so bad that it is feared that the number of people who are currently walking around on the streets with bad intentions and the capability [to commit crime] far exceeds the number of people who can do the same on the internet.

According to a Sociologist, Mr. Beret Emeka, "the growing unemployment, and the strong demands from school leavers has made internet crime rather very lucrative, again, the scammers are growing very bold and are not faceless anymore".

It should a source of worry for everybody because with wireless networks going up each day at a dizzying pace, everyone is more vulnerable to attack than ever before.

Common email scams include, Lucky Day - Congratulations! where the victim just got an email saying he won a million dollars. and asked him to send his bank information so they can transfer the funds. Transfer funds they will but it is yours - right out of your account.

Cashier's Cheque Scam - You are trying to sell an item on the Internet. You get an offer from someone from a foreign country to buy your item. He/she tells you that someone in the US owes him money which is more than what you are asking for your item. He offers to have that person send you a cashier's cheque for the amount owed to him. You should then deposit the cheque, arrange for delivery of the item you are selling and mail him a personal cheque for the balance (because he/she trusts you so much!). Although a cashier's cheque can "clear" in a few hours, it can come back as counterfeit up to months later. The amount of the cashier's cheque will then be deducted from your checking account and the scammer has long since cashed your cheque.

"Spamouflage" - A professional looking email arrives with an offer that sounds reasonable. It includes language that makes is seem even more legitimate

"Nigerian" Scam - This one has been around for years. The scam is now somewhat of a misnomer. It comes from a variety of African countries, as well as Eastern Europe and Asia. The email, or sometimes fax, is from an alleged "official" or family member of an official of a foreign government or agency. Usually there is some sad story involved. A request is made to transfer millions of dollars into your personal bank account so that they can get it out of their country. In return you will be given a hefty percentage of the money.

The "Nigerian" scam is the commonest but it is gradually making way for the Cashier Cheque Scam.

According to FBI officials (America's Federal Bureau of Intelligence) the scam artists attempt to purchase items over the Internet, such as cars, bikes and horses.

The apparent buyer sends a cheque for more than the amount of the purchase and asks the seller to wire funds for the overpayment to an overseas address.

The cheques, sometimes cashier's cheques, look authentic, complete with watermarks, but the cheques and bank accounts are fake.

Here is how the scheme works:

- The victim is selling some item of value via the Internet.

- A buyer sends an e-mail that he wants to buy the item. The buyer says he will pay with a cashier's cheque or corporate cheque from a U.S. bank.

- The buyer sends a cashier's cheque for thousands of dollars more than the purchase price. When questioned, he will make an excuse and ask the seller to deposit the cheque and return the difference by wire transfer after the cheque clears.

- The victim thinks the cheque must be good when his or her bank accepts it and provides the funds. But, in a week or so, the cheque turns out to be counterfeit.

- By that time, the victim has wired thousands of dollars overseas, never to be seen again.

- The bank requires the victim to pay back the money to cover the phony cheque.

Gordon Powell hoped the sale of his Harley Davidson (Motorbike) would help pay off some of his loans. Instead, it kicked off a financial nightmare after he was stung by the latest version of the Nigerian email scam.

"It's pretty embarrassing," Powell said. "I mean, you feel bad."

Powell was selling his motorcycle online for $1600 dollars. He received an email from a man offering to buy the bike. The potential buyer said he would send a third party cashier's cheque from Florida in the amount of $21,500 Powell was asked to send the difference, fifty-five hundred dollars, back to Nigeria.

His bank, Gerber Federal Credit Union, cashed the cheque on the spot and Powell sent fifty-five hundred dollars to Nigeria. Days later, the bank informed Powell that the cheque was counterfeit and asked him to repay the $21000 dollars.

Powell was able to return $16,000 but couldn't recover the $5500 he sent to Nigeria. He says the bank should be liable for the missing money because they accepted his cheque.

Nigerian government and indeed a lot of Nigerians are worried and have all pointed to the damaging effects of the scam to the country's image.

The preponderance of crime has discouraged numerous would be investors leading to decreased Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) while Nigerian banks lose viable businesses.

There is also economic instability resulting in business failures and unemployment and loss of the much needed revenue.

Executive Chairman, EFCC Nigeria, Nuhu Ribadu told the participants at the Monaco World Summit 5th International Summit on Transnational Crime Monte Carlo last year that "Over the past years Nigeria has become notorious for financial crimes, Advance fee fraud has brought disrepute to Nigeria all over the world and that Nigerians are treated with suspicion in all business dealings while honest (majority) Nigerians suffer as a result"

The menace of the crimes and the recognition of the magnitude and gravity of the situation led to the establishment of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The Commission is one the international bodies that have sprung up for the purpose of fighting internet crime.

These include 419 Coalition (US), 419 Fraud (US) ,419 Legal (South Africa) 419letter.org, African Anti-Fraud Control Agency (AAFA) (Norway) Africaservice.com (Norway), AnthonyParsons.com , Artists Against 419 (US) Australian Institute of Criminology, Avant Solutions Inc. (US),BankersOnline.com (US) Bart De Wolf's Site (El Salvador), Brian Wizard Inc.

Others are Fighting back at Nigerian 419 Advance Fee Fraud Scammers (UK),Financial Scandals Website (UK),Forensic Services SA (South Africa), FraudAid (US), Freeman Institute (US), G2 (US),Globrocks Information Systems (US), GreaterThings.com (US), Idaho Department of Finance (US) , InterGOV (US), International Investigation Services (IIS) (Iceland), Internet Crime Prevention and Control Institute (US), Internet Fraud Complaint Center (IFCC) (US), Internet Scambusters E-Zine (US) , Involution.Org (US).

There are also Joao Roque Dias' Technical Translator site (Portugal-English or Portuguese language),Lads Of Lagos (US), London Metropolitan Police (UK), Loss Prevention Concepts Ltd. (US), Ministry of Fair Trading, Government of Western Australia, Motherland Nigeria (US), and so on.

The fight against the scam should however involve all and must enjoy high level support from the Presidency, the Legislature and key security and law enforcement agencies in Nigeria to succeed.

The EFCC as the key player in the fight must also as it has already pointed out to combat economic and financial crimes through the establishment of cooperative working relationship with established enforcement and regulatory to achieve a flourishing economy where industry, hard work and dedication to duty remain the yardstick for measuring success rather than the existing recognition of ill gotten wealth through criminal activities.