Beware of conmen in UK, Nigeria tells citizens
Nigeria, which is ranked as the world's seventh most corrupt country and famous for its so-called 419 email scam, warns its citizens to watch out for conmen in UK.
I do not doubt about the fact that the number of crimes and assaults against Nigerians visiting UK has been increasing. However, how do British consider to be named like more corrupt country than Nigeria? Though I visited both countries, personally I did not have any bad ideas on both countries.
Japan once seemed to be famous for its safety. So, Japanese going abroad thought that all countries outside Japan were dangerous. But, in fact Japan was so dangerous compared with many other countries and the number of crimes was extraordinary even in the past. We just compared with the country which is located at the different side of the Pacific Ocean.
Anyway, Japanese thinking that other countries are dangerous well prepared when we went abroad. There were lots of guide books to teach how to hide the passport, the wallet, and others. Some even taught the way to hide the money in the shoes. So, when we went abroad, each person was like James Bond who hides lots of stuff everywhere in the body.
If they are interested, Nigerians should come to Japan to study the way before going to UK…
In any case, how can the email scam become the country’s main foreign exchange?
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Beware of conmen in UK, Nigeria tells citizens?|?Top News?|?Reuters.co.uk
LAGOS (Reuters) - Crime-infested Nigeria, famed for its email scams, has warned citizens travelling to Britain to watch out for conmen who use tricks to rob or rip off visitors.
Fraudsters in Britain might pour tomato juice or other substances on your dress and then offer to help remove it, robbing you in the process, the information ministry warned in its first-ever travel advisory obtained by Reuters on Thursday.
The conmen, who are mainly white, but also include east Europeans and north Africans, might also pretend to pick up an object from under a potential victim's seat to distract his attention while he robs him, it added.
"Nigerian travellers are hereby warned not to carry large amount of money on their body and ensure that their air tickets, passports, expensive wrist-watches as well as trinkets are securely hidden," the advisory said.
Nigeria itself has seen a sharp rise in violent crime since President Olusegun Obasanjo was elected in 1999, ending 15 years of military rule.
Africa's top oil producer, ranked by Berlin-based sleaze watchdog Transparency International as the world's seventh most corrupt country, is also famous for junk mail scams.
The advisory said favourite British blackspots include airports, high streets, markets, hotels and restaurants, shopping centres, tube stations, bus stops and buses.
It said the Nigerian High Commission in the United Kingdom had reported an upsurge in crime and assault against Nigerians visiting London in the recent past.
There is no evidence that Nigerians are being specially targeted, "but ostentatious dressing, spending and ancillary actions may identify a target," the advisory said.
Nigeria's so-called 419 email scam, named after an article in Nigeria's criminal code, was so successful that campaigners said it became the country's main foreign exchange earner after oil.
The fraud swindled hundreds of millions of dollars every year from people across the globe, who respond to emails promising them a share of non-existent fortunes in return for an advance fee.
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