Questões de Inglês

SCAM: The Nigerian Advance Fee Scheme

The Nigerian Advance Fee Scam has been around for quite a while,

but, despite many warnings, continues to draw in many victims. In

fact, the Financial Crimes Division of the Secret Service receives

approximately 100 telephone calls from victims/ potential victims and

[5] 300-500 pieces of related correspondence per day about this scam!

Here is a sample of a letter a victim may receive:

“Dear Sir,

Confidential Business Proposal

Having consulted with my colleagues and based on the information

[10] gathered from the Nigerian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, I

have the privilege to request for your assistance to transfer the sum

of $47,500,000.00 (forty seven million, five hundred thousand United

States dollars) into your accounts. The above sum resulted from an

over-invoiced contract, executed, commissioned and paid for about

[15] five (5) years ago by a foreign contractor. This action was however

intentional and since then the fund has been in a suspense account

at the Central Bank of Nigeria Apex Bank.

We are now ready to transfer the fund overseas and that is where

you come in. It is important to inform you that, as civil servants, we

[20] are forbidden to operate a foreign account; that is why we require your

assistance. The total sum will be shared as follows: 70% for us, 25% for

you and 5% for local and international expenses incident to the transfer.

The transfer is risk free on both sides. I am an accountant with the

Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). If you find this

[25] proposal acceptable, we shall require the following documents:

(A) Your Banker’s name, telephone, account and fax numbers.

(B) Your private telephone and fax numbers  for confidential and

easy communication.

(C) Your letter-headed papers stamped and signed.

[30] Alternatively we will furnish you with the text of what to type

into your letter-headed paper along with a breakdown explaining

comprehensively what we require of you. The business will take us

thirty (30) working days to accomplish.

Please reply urgently.

[35] Best regards”

Be careful. This scam can be physically dangerous as well as

dangerous to your finances.

Avoid these scams like the plague! Don’t let promises of large

amounts of money impair your judgment.

http://www.scambusters.org/NigerianFee.html Access: 28th April, 2007 (Adapted)

SCAM: The Nigerian Advance Fee Scheme

The Nigerian Advance Fee Scam has been around for quite a while,

but, despite many warnings, continues to draw in many victims. In

fact, the Financial Crimes Division of the Secret Service receives

approximately 100 telephone calls from victims/ potential victims and

[5] 300-500 pieces of related correspondence per day about this scam!

Here is a sample of a letter a victim may receive:

“Dear Sir,

Confidential Business Proposal

Having consulted with my colleagues and based on the information

[10] gathered from the Nigerian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, I

have the privilege to request for your assistance to transfer the sum

of $47,500,000.00 (forty seven million, five hundred thousand United

States dollars) into your accounts. The above sum resulted from an

over-invoiced contract, executed, commissioned and paid for about

[15] five (5) years ago by a foreign contractor. This action was however

intentional and since then the fund has been in a suspense account

at the Central Bank of Nigeria Apex Bank.

We are now ready to transfer the fund overseas and that is where

you come in. It is important to inform you that, as civil servants, we

[20] are forbidden to operate a foreign account; that is why we require your

assistance. The total sum will be shared as follows: 70% for us, 25% for

you and 5% for local and international expenses incident to the transfer.

The transfer is risk free on both sides. I am an accountant with the

Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). If you find this

[25] proposal acceptable, we shall require the following documents:

(A) Your Banker’s name, telephone, account and fax numbers.

(B) Your private telephone and fax numbers  for confidential and

easy communication.

(C) Your letter-headed papers stamped and signed.

[30] Alternatively we will furnish you with the text of what to type

into your letter-headed paper along with a breakdown explaining

comprehensively what we require of you. The business will take us

thirty (30) working days to accomplish.

Please reply urgently.

[35] Best regards”

Be careful. This scam can be physically dangerous as well as

dangerous to your finances.

Avoid these scams like the plague! Don’t let promises of large

amounts of money impair your judgment.

http://www.scambusters.org/NigerianFee.html Access: 28th April, 2007 (Adapted)

Safety Rules For Online Dating

There are many stories out there about

the perils of online dating. Some are

urban legends, and some are alarmist

or driven by contempt. Others ring true

[5] because we hear them from friends or

read about them in the newspaper. The

truth of the matter is that yes, there are

creeps out there who prey on people

that reveal personal information on the internet. It is also true that there

[10] are basic precautions you can take to keep them at bay. Follow these

strategies to date online safely:

Stay anonymous

This is basic, but it is easy to let things slip in your initial excitement when

someone contacts you. First, only use dating services that do not disclose

[15] personal information. Second, don’t reveal identifying information about

your neighborhood, apartment building, or workplace. Third, if you have

children, do not name them or their school.

Meet in a public place

It is not a good idea to go hiking on a secluded trail or rafting down

[20] a river on the first date. Instead, meet at a restaurant, coffee shop, or

mall some distance away from your home. Carry your cell phone and

keep it on at all times. At your meeting, if you have any reason to feel

uncomfortable or unsafe, leave.

Go with your instincts

[25]  Usually, everything checks out and the person you meet is normal.

If your gut tells you otherwise, trust your intuitive judgment.

http://www.eromance.com/advice/onlinedating/article161.htm  Access: 15th June, 2007 (Adapted) 

Safety Rules For Online Dating

There are many stories out there about

the perils of online dating. Some are

urban legends, and some are alarmist

or driven by contempt. Others ring true

[5] because we hear them from friends or

read about them in the newspaper. The

truth of the matter is that yes, there are

creeps out there who prey on people

that reveal personal information on the internet. It is also true that there

[10] are basic precautions you can take to keep them at bay. Follow these

strategies to date online safely:

Stay anonymous

This is basic, but it is easy to let things slip in your initial excitement when

someone contacts you. First, only use dating services that do not disclose

[15] personal information. Second, don’t reveal identifying information about

your neighborhood, apartment building, or workplace. Third, if you have

children, do not name them or their school.

Meet in a public place

It is not a good idea to go hiking on a secluded trail or rafting down

[20] a river on the first date. Instead, meet at a restaurant, coffee shop, or

mall some distance away from your home. Carry your cell phone and

keep it on at all times. At your meeting, if you have any reason to feel

uncomfortable or unsafe, leave.

Go with your instincts

[25]  Usually, everything checks out and the person you meet is normal.

If your gut tells you otherwise, trust your intuitive judgment.

http://www.eromance.com/advice/onlinedating/article161.htm  Access: 15th June, 2007 (Adapted) 

Safety Rules For Online Dating

There are many stories out there about

the perils of online dating. Some are

urban legends, and some are alarmist

or driven by contempt. Others ring true

[5] because we hear them from friends or

read about them in the newspaper. The

truth of the matter is that yes, there are

creeps out there who prey on people

that reveal personal information on the internet. It is also true that there

[10] are basic precautions you can take to keep them at bay. Follow these

strategies to date online safely:

Stay anonymous

This is basic, but it is easy to let things slip in your initial excitement when

someone contacts you. First, only use dating services that do not disclose

[15] personal information. Second, don’t reveal identifying information about

your neighborhood, apartment building, or workplace. Third, if you have

children, do not name them or their school.

Meet in a public place

It is not a good idea to go hiking on a secluded trail or rafting down

[20] a river on the first date. Instead, meet at a restaurant, coffee shop, or

mall some distance away from your home. Carry your cell phone and

keep it on at all times. At your meeting, if you have any reason to feel

uncomfortable or unsafe, leave.

Go with your instincts

[25]  Usually, everything checks out and the person you meet is normal.

If your gut tells you otherwise, trust your intuitive judgment.

http://www.eromance.com/advice/onlinedating/article161.htm  Access: 15th June, 2007 (Adapted)