10. ‘The Nigerian Prince’
You open your email one day and see a letter penned by a Nigerian prince. The prince needs help! He has millions of dollars locked away and it can only be freed if you send some of your own money. The details may vary, but essentially the promise is that if you send enough money it will be used to pay fines, fees or bribes that will allow the Nigerian prince to free up his millions and send you a huge cut.
Why ‘the Nigerian Prince’ Is Toxic
The Nigerian Prince (or “419”) was one of the original, well-publicized email scams, and by now most people have gotten wind that it’s toxic. However, variations of this original scam have gotten increasingly more sophisticated. In addition to requesting money, these scams may ask for your bank account information and even impersonate you to take over your financial life. If you ever get any type of unsolicited “investment opportunity,” be very wary and do your due diligence. Even if it seems like an investment opportunity is from a legitimate firm, consult a financial advisor to verify the sender — and never provide your personal and financial information to an unknown source.
