There are over 100 countries and regions in the world. Which of these countries should you be wary of? What countries have the highest number of fraudsters? Keep reading to find out!
Top Scamming Countries in the World
The world is gradually becoming a global village. This has led to endless opportunities and possibilities. Unfortunately, internet fraud has also taken a hike. In no particular order, these are the top 10 Fraudster countries in the world.
Nigeria
Nigeria, the giant Africa- as it’s fondly called is the home to over two hundred million people. A significant amount of that figure is involved in fraudulent activities. Nigerian fraudsters are generally categorized into two groups. The first group are known as 419 and the country’s locals are their victims. They are mostly found in big cities where they use the promise of large sums of money to attract unsuspecting victims.
The second category is called Yahoo Yahoo. These are a group of young people whose target audience is foreigners or Nigerians with access to the internet. Social media and emails are their channels of connection. So, be careful on these platforms. They may even hack the social media accounts of your friends just to get money from you.
Most Nigerian scam attempts include advance-fee fraud, romance scams, and phishing.
US
This might come as a shock to you, but the internet exposure a typical American child enjoys makes this plausible. A large population of their youths are tech-savvy. These youths have opted for internet scamming as a means to wealth. Most American scammers target corporations and individuals using attempts like phishing (sending emails from trusted sources- like account managers, network providers, and others- so victims can reveal personal information). Others employ lottery scams and romance scams to get unsuspecting victims.
India
Just like they are portrayed in their Bollywood movies, India is filled with many cut-throats who will not hesitate to dupe you of your hard-earned income. India is another country with tech-savvy youths who want to get money by hook or by crook. There are reports of financial fraud, phishing and other elaborate scam attempts by Indians.
These individuals have also developed intelligent ways to get the OTP (One-time Password) from their victims. A reliable source, the Chief Technology Officer of Easebuzz says: “Operating with cunning tactics, these scammers request the OTP under the guise of needing it for the delivery process. Once they receive the OTP, scammers use illicit techniques, such as phone cloning or hacking, to gain access to sensitive information. Fake QR codes and UPI links( Unified Payment Interface) are also the latest tools for scamming.
China
Due to Chinese youths’ early exposure to technology, they are very resourceful with the internet and gadgets. This has led to an increase in online scammers who use the pillars of education and family against Chinese locals. Foreigners are susceptible to counterfeit products, investment scams and other advanced cyber crimes like phishing.
UK
According to a survey by the Global Anti Scams Alliance (GASA), around 10% of UK adults fell prey to a scam last year, while 53% said they have come across more scams than usual over the last year. Popular scams in the UK include Loan fee fraud, Authorized push payment scams ( victims directly send money to the scammer), parcel delivery scams, identity theft, ghost brokers (selling invalid vehicle insurance policies below standard rates), insurance, charity, and pension scams.
Ben Fletcher, director of the Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB) said: “Young and vulnerable people are constantly being targeted online with fake car insurance deals that are too good to be true, and if they fall for them they’re immediately left out of pocket and face having their car seized by the police for no insurance.
These fraudsters take advantage of the high cost of living and offer non-existent services that are attractive to their victims.
The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) advises UK residents to verify if potential loan providers are authorized by the FCA.
Russia
Russia is another hub of technology. From Russian spies to the mafia stories we hear, several fraudulent activities can be accounted for. Apart from the regular scams prevalent in most countries, Russian scammers are skilled hackers, malware attackers, and credit card fraudsters.
Brazil
Brazil is a beautiful country but fraudulent activities are prevalent in this territory. Online fraudsters disguise themselves as attractive women to deceive their victims. After all, few people will suspect malicious intent from beautiful people.
Other activities include public Wifi logins, Airport pickup, and being excessively friendly with tourists.
South Africa
Investment scams have been on the rise, with fraudsters enticing victims with promises of high returns. Ponzi schemes, where returns to existing investors are paid from funds contributed by new investors, have caused financial losses for many South Africans. It’s crucial to thoroughly research and verify investment opportunities before committing funds. Job seekers are frequently targeted through fake job offers and recruitment scams. Scammers may pose as legitimate companies, promising lucrative positions in exchange for upfront payments or personal information. Aspiring employees should be cautious and verify the legitimacy of job offers before providing any details.
Romania
In recent years, fraudulent activities in Romania have increased. Online dating scams, auction fraud, credit card fraud, phishing, and fictitious item sales are tools utilized by Romanian con artists to ensnare unsuspecting individuals. Their tactics might not be headline-worthy, but they consistently achieve their objectives.
Canada
The dream of better living and working conditions caused the influx of foreigners into Canada. Unfortunately, this makes immigrants susceptible to scam attacks. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre indicate that in the first half of 2023 alone, $283.5 million CAD was lost to fraud and over 21,200 people were scammed.
Scamming activities include Lottery scams, identity theft, phishing, compromised SIN, employment scams and many others.
Conclusion
Scammers have taken advantage of the increased standard of living to lure unsuspecting victims into their nests. Emotions like greed, fear, and trust are mostly used to entice their victims. So, be careful when interacting with people in the online space.
