I came across this news article and I was shocked that so many people still fall for the “Nigerian email scam.”    Unfortunately, people’s greed overtakes their common sense. Why in the world would a complete stranger contact you to “help” them claim $20 million dollars?

Fox News Reports:

An Oregon woman who is out $400,000 after falling for a well-known Internet scam says she wasn’t a sucker or an easy mark.

Janella Spears of Sweet Home, says she simply became curious when she received an e-mail promising her $20.5 million, if she would only help out a long-lost relative identified as J.B. Spears with a little money up front.

Spears told KATU-TV about the scammers’ ability to identify her relative by name was persuasive. “That’s what got me to believe it,” She said. “So, why wouldn’t you send over $100?”

Spears, who is a nursing administrator and CPR teacher, said she mortgaged the house and took a lien out on the family car, and ran through her husband’s retirement account.

“The retirement he was dreaming of — cruising and going around and seeing America — is pretty much gone for him right now,” she said. She estimates it will take two years to clear the debt that accumulated in the more than two years she spent sending money to con artists.

Poor lady, where was her husband? I can’t believe he let her empty out his retirement account. I’m surprised they’re still married. Yes Janella, you WERE scammed and DEFINITELY an easy mark. That’s crazy!