Absolutely right, Azizi. And on that website I linked to, you'll find that issue addressed. It's unfortunate that a small but highly visible criminal minority can give an entire nation a bad name. It happens way too often. The fact is that this particular kind of scam does seem to be carried out most often by people from Nigeria, and the fact that it's done by indiscriminate emailing means that it's a scam that most of us have already come into contact with. (My first experience with it was by regular mail, around 1995.) There's no question that most "phishers," identity thieves, and other internet crooks do NOT come from Nigeria. But those crooks are not nearly as don't promise vast riches with flamboyant and tantalizing stories, and the schemes are not nearly as intricate as the 419's--nor do they generally threaten people with bodily harm. Yes, I know, there are many criminals in the US and Asia and Europe who threaten people with bodily harm. But they don't usually send emails promising millions of dollars for nothing. You can find dirt in lots of places; it just depends on where you choose to look.

Aloha,
Mark