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PandaLabs the anti-malware laboratory of Panda Security recently published one list of Internet scams that occurred most often during the current decade, while placing Nigerian scams (419) first on the list in terms of frequency and distribution.

Said PandaLabs that the Nigerian scam, which emerged before any other online scam, was still a highly-favored scheme amongst the present-day cyber-criminals. The company explained that the scam involved an e-mail sent to a person, with the sender stating that he required a huge amount of cash to get out of Nigeria.

The sender then promised the victim a major payment in return for his assist. But, once the recipient accepted the lure, another e-mail followed directing him to remit a preliminary fund for submitting bank fees. Normally this amount was $1,000, which once remitted was followed with snapping of all contacts and the disappearance of the money altogether.

Alongside Nigerian 419 scam, a few others also made it to the list. These are "The girlfriend ploy," "Lotteries," "Facebook/Hotmail scam," "Job offers," "The mistake" and "Compensation."

States Panda, these scams most typically work in a similar manner. First, the criminals make an acquaintance with the target user on a website for social networking or via e-mail after which the user is directed for sending a reply through e-mail, fax, phone or any other means. Gradually after acquiring the victim's trust, the criminals approach him with a false reason and plea for money.

Thus for anyone who has been victimized with any of the above mentioned scams, PandaLabs advises that he quickly contact the police.

Technical director Luis Corrons of PandaLabs explains that similar to all the frauds which happened before the Internet-age, numerous people who get trapped into these tricks as also lose precious money act with restraint towards reporting the offense. While, it was previously hard to regain the stolen funds, the same is even more difficult at present, as criminals' tracks frequently vanish in the expansive Web. So says Corrons that the best way for remaining protected is by recognizing these scams while not accepting the lure.