Scams

A 1939 movie written and starred W.C. Fields and a 1998 book written by James Walsh both titled "you can't cheat an honest man" is about why people get scammed.
In Singapore, scams come in all forms. Kidnapping, timeshare, magic stones, lucky draws and most current, scams targetting businesses.




"you can't cheat an honest man" is that, an honest man cannot be enticed with either ill gotten gains, or excessive promises of profits.
Practically any industry is ripe for scam artists, from real estate to travel to technology. Their continued success is based on several human emotions. Family ties are very strong; people are reluctant to attack, or sue, the uncle or cousin who got them into this scheme. People are also reluctant to let others know that they have been scammed; it's easier to keep quiet. The most important emotions are pure greed and gullibility. Who can resist a "no-risk" investment with a double digit return?


But judging from the horror stories of scams, particularly those from Nigeria, and that there are people actually responding to the baits, it can be safe to conclude honest man are far and few in the world. The bait look like this:

FROM CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
HEAD OF BANKING OPERATIONS
Tinubu square - Lagos

Dear sir/madam,
CONTRACT PAYMENT BY CASH CALL SYSTEM
Sequel to the secret arrangement in regards to the Shipment of your total contract sum(US$18.5m), I wish to inform you that all necessary modalities have been automatically concluded and the fund has left C.B.N office through the Diplomatic Courier Services today by Express Cargo Flight to your home country.
Note carefully that the content of the box are your total contract value but the CBN did not disclose the content to the Courier Services,rather it was registered as Vital "DIPLOMATIC DOCUMENTS" belonging to the CBN client (That?s you).
Furthermore, the box is (1) in number and about 75kg. However, you are advised not to disclose the content of the box to the Courier Services to avoid Betrayal in any circumstances In the mean time, you are kindly advised to furnish us with your direct telephone/mobile number, your valid I.D/Drivers License and your office/house address or where ever you wish to receive the diplomat to enable him identify you when he arrives to your address with the box For more information, we advise you to contact this office as soon as you receive this mail to enable us fax you the necessary documents which you will need to deposit your funds into your bank account.
Congratulations and remain blessed.
Sincerely,
Mr -snip-
C. B .N HEAD BANKING OPERATIONS


The most infamous scam ever unravelled - the Madoff Ponzi scam.
The perpetuation of the scheme requires an ever-increasing flow of money from investors in order to keep it going. Borrowing from Peter to pay Paul, so to speak.
29th June 2009 saw Madoff 71, sentenced to 150 years in jail.

The retired head of a cheating syndicate in Hongkong called Tin Sin Kuk said "For the cheating to succeed, the victim must have greed in his heart, the greater the better,” he said. “If he’s honest and not greedy, we cannot swindle him.”