It was a joke that pervaded numerous noughties stand-up routines and comedy shows; a person would receive an email or phone call in which a cartoonish voice would say, “I’m a Nigerian prince and I am offering to deposit money into your bank account, all I need is your security details.” On the genius comedy series Fonejacker, which ran in the UK from 2006-2008, there was a recurring character called George Agdgdgwngo based around that very joke.
However, online scams remain a serious and profitable criminal activity, and a new report from the Dutch government shows that one in ten people in the Netherlands – 1.4 million – were scammed just last year. Even more startling is that 66% of the population over 15 received either a phishing email or message in 2023. Phishing, as defined by the Computer Security Response Centre, is “a technique for attempting to acquire sensitive data, such as bank account numbers, through a fraudulent solicitation in email or on a website, in which the perpetrator masquerades as a legitimate business or reputable person.”
In response to these findings, and the financial and emotional toll suffering from fraud has upon individuals and families, the government has launched a “Don’t Be Scammed!” campaign. This campaign is part of the broader European Cyber Security Month organised annually by the European Union. In it, the government explains the techniques that scammers use to defraud their victims:
- They impersonate others: Online scammers pretend to be a family member or friend, or use the names and branding of reputable organisations – like the government, delivery services, or banks – in emails, phone calls, or text messages. This makes these communications appear trustworthy.
- They manipulate your emotions: Online scammers often play on your feelings. They aim to make you curious or frightened, taking advantage of your trust, sympathy or lack of awareness.
- They create urgency: Scammers pressure you to act quickly, leaving little time to recognize their deception. Genuine organisations, like banks or government bodies, will never rush you into decisions.
- They fabricate crises: Scammers claim that immediate action is required to avoid severe consequences, such as a blocked account or cancelled service, to prevent you from questioning their story and to evoke fear.
- They promise incredible deals: Scammers lure you in with discounts or offers that seem too good to be true. These “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunities are intended to entice you but are often fraudulent.
- They personalise the approach: Scammers use personal information found online or pretend to know details about you, creating a sense of familiarity.
- They act overly friendly: Scammers often try to build trust by appearing friendly and helpful, posing as a friend to make you feel at ease and unaware of any hidden motives.
Being scammed has consequences beyond the obvious financial cost; it can create enormous emotional stress on the victim. I myself was scammed online last year. I was taken in by an Instagram ad offering ludicrously cheap prices on books. I dutifully spent a decent amount of money without really thinking, excited as I was at the prospect of such a deal. It slowly dawned in the weeks following that maybe this was too good to be true, and when the books failed to be delivered and my messages to customer service were met with radio silence, I knew I had been had. I was lucky that my bank paid back the money I had been defrauded of, but the shame and embarrassment I felt were much more difficult to deal with. How could I be so stupid? Of course it was a scam! I’m such an idiot, etc etc.
But should you become a victim of an online scam, you should keep in mind the simple words of Yoanne Spoormans, cybercrime specialist with the Dutch police force: “Online fraud can happen to anyone.”
Written by James Turrell