If you're not a regular reader of the Manawatu Standard, you might have missed a sad story about a 71-year old New Zealand lady and her son having been taken in by 419 scammers to the tune of over $200,000 to date. Even with advice from the New Zealand police, still they play along. "The pair are trusting who they believe to be the Central Bank of Nigeria to 'investigate' the fraudulent email scam and have paid a further $10,000 for the privilege." Psychologists probably have a term for the situation the pair are in. Over the course of 18 months, they have fallen for the scam hook, line and sinker to the point that they barely even acknowledge the possibility of fraud that is as clear as day to most of us looking on. They forlornly hope that the last payment to the 'investigator's will bring a resolution, and if it doesn't, their natural inclination is to pay again, whether it's 'court fees' or 'late payment charges' or whatever.
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