Because of the internet, financial schemes have significantly increased. Americans have lost anywhere from a couple of hundred dollars to thousands of dollars. The Department of State receives inquiries from victims of these scams on a daily bases. The U.S. Consulate General in Lagos received 3,000 inquires from victims alone. The purpose of this brochure is to help individuals identify the indicators for certain common scams and actions that should be taken to avoid the scams. The brochure provides key warning signs and components of the scam and the name and telephone number of whom to call if one suspects they might have been a victim of a scam. Lastly the brochure lists several examples of the various scams, such as the targeted person believing that he or she has a chance to attain something of great personal value (financial reward, a romantic relationship, etc) in return for a small up-front monetary outlay.