From the 1500′s on there has been a scam that has proven very lucrative for thieves and has left thousand of victims destitute. It’s called the Spanish Prisoner due to its origins. It seems that back then Spain was a constant threat to many countries resulting in much mistrust. “Marks,” or victims, would be notified that a royal person was being held prisoner and to set them free would require bribes. In exchange the victim would receive not only a generous reward, but also the hand of the princess in marriage.
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Tags: 419 fraud, Email, internet, scams, spanish prisoner scam
This particular scam has its origins in the 1500s, where thieves took advantage of many victims and left them without any money. Due to how it started, it’s known as the Spanish Prisoner. Apparently, the powerful nature of Spain left it with a lot of enemies, leaving suspicions high. Scammers would tell victims that a member of Spanish royalty had been taken prisoner, and bribes would be required to release them. By offering their money to release the reward, not only would they be promised large rewards, but a princess would be offered as well.
Tags: Email, fraud, scams, spanish prisoner
In the past hundred years, no scam has generated more dollars world wide, than the Lottery scam. Criminals will target innocent victims by employing any possible strategies. They used to rely strictly on contacting people by mail, but have now added internet spyware, business directories, or any other avenue that can provide the person’s name. The con artist informs the individual that they are the winner of a huge lottery or money sweepstakes, and the web begins to be spun.