2006年VOA标准英语-Nigerian Online Scammers Face Further Clamp Dow

By Gilbert da Costa
Abuja
26 July 2006

Nigeria's anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has warned Internet service providers that they risk 20 years imprisonment¹ if they aid online scams. 

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The newly introduced Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Fraud Offenses² Act of 2006 stipulates³ that anyone who provides Internet service in Nigeria will be held directly liable for any online fraud that involves the use of their systems or network.

Nigerians surrounded by warning signs about sending fraudulent e-mail wait to use the Internet in an Internet cafe in Lagos (file photo)   
  
Banks, telecommunications companies, Internet service providers, cyber cafe operators, property owners and transporters have been warned about lapses⁴ that could lead to Internet corruption⁵.

The law also provides for a 20-year jail term and the revocation⁶ of license⁷ for offenders⁸. In addition, all Internet service providers, including cyber cafes, are required to register with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Corporate⁹ Affairs Commission, and the Nigerian Communications Commission. 

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission spokesman Osita Nwajah, says regulating the Internet space in Nigeria is a move to instill some control and discipline over use of the Internet in Nigeria.

"We expect that the same principle of know-your-customer, which we are applying in the banking¹⁰ industry will also be applied¹¹ in that very important industry, which has given Nigeria a very, very bad image abroad," said Nwajah. "So, people should know who is operating what and where because what we have anybody from any corner, from anywhere can just bring one or two computers and then they are hooked on to some service provider who is not known to the country. The person is operating from outside the shores of Nigeria and they begin to use their systems to do funny, funny things. Now we want to regulate all of that."

The Nigerian government established the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to fight financial crimes, some of which are perpetrated online by Nigerians who dupe foreigners by proposing attractive fake business deals running into millions of dollars.

In some cases, the fraudsters steal personal details and then use such information to steal money from their victim's bank account.

Internet-based fraud schemes are also known as 419 scams in Nigeria, named after the relevant section of the country's criminal code. Nwajah says the incidence of Internet scams has declined as a result of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission's relentless¹² clamp down.

"One of the things that has happened in the last three years that EFCC has been cracking down on 419ers, is that they have actually moved, physically¹³ moved out of the Nigerian space, some of the big-time ones," he said. "The other ones we have reigned¹⁴ in and we have convicted. Most of the convictions we have are 419 cases.

When the middle level cadre [if you allow me to use that description], saw that their top guns were already decimated, they moved out," continued Nwajah. "So you find them operating from the West Africa sub region and other countries."

The EFCC has arrested more than 200 e-mail fraudsters in the past three years. But analysts¹⁵ say the agency has a huge task ahead in eliminating fraudulent activities on the Internet. Economic conditions remain very difficult and with the prospect¹⁶ of a job for most Nigerian youths diminishing, a growing number are turning to cyber crimes.

1 imprisonment   

n.关押，监禁，坐牢

参考例句：

• His sentence was commuted from death to life imprisonment.他的判决由死刑减为无期徒刑。
• He was sentenced to one year's imprisonment for committing bigamy.他因为犯重婚罪被判入狱一年。

2 offenses   

n.进攻( offense的名词复数 )；（球队的）前锋；进攻方法；攻势

参考例句：

• It's wrong of you to take the child to task for such trifling offenses. 因这类小毛病责备那孩子是你的不对。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Thus, Congress cannot remove an executive official except for impeachable offenses. 因此，除非有可弹劾的行为，否则国会不能罢免行政官员。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法

3 stipulates   

n.（尤指在协议或建议中）规定，约定，讲明（条件等）( stipulate的名词复数 )；规定，明确要求v.（尤指在协议或建议中）规定，约定，讲明（条件等）( stipulate的第三人称单数 )；规定，明确要求

参考例句：

• The trade contract stipulates for the settlement of balances in RMB. 贸易合同规定余额以人民币结算。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The contract stipulates for the use of seasoned timber. 合同上订明用干透的木料。 来自辞典例句

4 lapses   

n.失误，过失( lapse的名词复数 )；小毛病；行为失检；偏离正道v.退步( lapse的第三人称单数 )；陷入；倒退；丧失

参考例句：

• He sometimes lapses from good behavior. 他有时行为失检。 来自辞典例句
• He could forgive attacks of nerves, panic, bad unexplainable actions, all sorts of lapses. 他可以宽恕突然发作的歇斯底里，惊慌失措，恶劣的莫名其妙的动作，各种各样的失误。 来自辞典例句

5 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

6 revocation   

n.废止，撤回

参考例句：

• the revocation of planning permission 建筑许可的撤销
• The revocation of the Edict of Nantes was signed here in 1685. 1685年南特敕令的废除是在这里宣布的。 来自互联网

7 license   

n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许

参考例句：

• The foreign guest has a license on the person.这个外国客人随身携带执照。
• The driver was arrested for having false license plates on his car.司机由于使用假车牌而被捕。

8 offenders   

n.冒犯者( offender的名词复数 )；犯规者；罪犯；妨害…的人（或事物）

参考例句：

• Long prison sentences can be a very effective deterrent for offenders. 判处长期徒刑可对违法者起到强有力的威慑作用。
• Purposeful work is an important part of the regime for young offenders. 使从事有意义的劳动是管理少年犯的重要方法。

9 corporate   

adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的

参考例句：

• This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
• His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。

10 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

11 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

12 relentless   

adj.残酷的，不留情的，无怜悯心的

参考例句：

• The traffic noise is relentless.交通车辆的噪音一刻也不停止。
• Their training has to be relentless.他们的训练必须是无情的。

13 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

14 reigned   

vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式）

参考例句：

• Silence reigned in the hall. 全场肃静。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Night was deep and dead silence reigned everywhere. 夜深人静，一片死寂。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

15 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

16 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。