1. Avoid wire transfers.

2. Use a search engine. If it’s a scam, it’s likely someone else on the Internet will have published a complaint

3. Use the telephone. Nigerians will be very reluctant to give out a phone number and will try to negotiate most of the transaction over e-mail. That buys them time to answer hard questions

4. Verify the legitimacy of a bank

5. Always use a credit card. Consumers have wide protection when paying for Internet-based transactions with a credit card. Cheques are easily forged