Nigerian net scammer is Australian!! (Well, one of them was)

But who can believe people fall for it! Is it really theft, or just a tax on stupidity? Ok, ok, I know it is really serious. Still.......


Nigerian Net Scammer Convicted


Wired News Report

09:50 AM Nov. 08, 2004 PT

A Sydney man was imprisoned for more than five years for duping people into sending him millions of dollars in a global internet ruse known as the Nigerian scam.

Nick Marinellis pleaded guilty in the New South Wales District Court to 10 counts of fraud for taking part in the scam promising people millions from Nigerian bank accounts in return for an "administration fee."

Culprits in the Nigerian scam typically present themselves as people who need access to a Western bank account in order to transfer a large sum of money out of a politically troubled country. They promise a cut of the money but ask for a smaller upfront cost before the larger sum can be transferred. Prosecutors said Marinellis fleeced his victims of AU$5 million ($3.8 million).

http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,65631,00.html?tw=rss.TOP