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TwitThisBreaking the Con
For the first time, the Nigerian government has begun to go after 419 perpetrators -- for good reason. "419 Fraud has ruined the reputation of Nigeria," says Alhaji Nihu Ribadu, chairman of the country's two-year-old Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. "No one wants to come here and do business. How can we survive?"To date, the Nigerians have jailed more than 300 fraudsters perpetrating 419-type scams, including several politicians. More than $300 million in cash and property has been seized. As for the victims, most concede that, looking back, they had doubts long before throwing in the towel. Others have trouble facing the truth.
"It's hard to admit that you've been suckered," says FBI Special Agent James Hoppe of the bureau's Detroit office. "People often hold out hope and continue to throw money away instead of admitting they've been foolish enough to be had."
Put Don Holton into that category: "I have this fantasy of going back and getting that money somehow. Maybe pulling off something like on that old TV show 'Mission Impossible.' " He couldn't have picked a more appropriate title.
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