On the 8th of December, ABC news aired a fresh episode of 20/20 in which it spent thirty minutes focusing on the internet phenomenon widely known as the "Nigerian e-mail scam." At best, the reporting is reminiscent of the western media bias and unfair name-calling. While this writer may not plunge into a self-denial about Nigerians' involvement in the age-long cyber crime, it is undoubtedly true that the crime has other willing perpetrators across the globe and the labelling "Nigerian ..." only serves to give a dog a bad name and then hang it. It is not unusual for the media to pay attention to Africa when the subject matter is derogatory, criminal, or violent. However, whenever the focus is on something progressive, likely involving development, economic or political, they are often silent. Even when covering elections in the continent, the spotlight is often on rigging rather than democratic succession. This attitude of the western media has inevitably thrown the continent further into the abyss of neglect and poverty, creating a culture of corruption in the process. Younger generations of Africans are often reminded of not the goodness that comes from their continent, but of only the "badness" that could be found among them).

The said ABC report highlights the nature of the e-mail fraud and traced it to Nigeria, where a sting by ABC's investigator, Brian Ross led to a confrontation and apprehension of some of the alleged suspects in an internet cafe. I find it ridiculous that someone in the United States (with all the country's sophistication and technological edge) could be duped by another in a country where less than fifteen percent of its population could boast of internet access. The only reason this is possible is because the West thinks of Africans as corrupt, so whenever they hear that someone plans to transfer funds (to the tune of $41m for instance), they easily become gullible. The problem is not Africans' involvement in financial fraud; it is not their nature to be fraudulent. It is the willingness of culprits such as those interviewed in the report that feed and perpetuate crime of this nature. It calls for the West to c

In a crime of this nature, the thief, as well as the "victim" is guilty. The only reason e-mail scams are successful is because the so-called victims are willing to engage in an act that they know, and are certain, is unlawful. Isn't that why it is hard in the first place to contact the FBI when they eventually get duped?

I receive hundreds of e-mails soliciting for money from me and promising huge sums of money if I could send some money to ensure the transfer of the said sum to my account. My reaction each time has always been the same: I open the mails, read them - sometimes only the titles, and then delete. I also report them as spam. I doubt if all the e-mails are from Nigeria, and I don't waste my time wondering about their sources either. It is stupid to assume that one with so much money will be seeking my help in transferring such staggering amount of money unless of course he must have stolen it or seeking to defraud me.All their stories are similar and never seem plausible. Remember the old adage, if it is too good to be true, it probably is.

While the western media, in its trademark fashion, would have us believe that e-mail scams started in Nigeria, the fraud is as old as the internet itself. Since Nigeria is only just joining the cyber world, it is unlikely that the cyber fraud initially began there.

The ABC report is unfortunately prejudicial to the efforts by the Nigerian Government in combating crimes. Instead of highlighting and commending the success of the anti-graft agency in the country (as it would normally do if the focus were one of the industrialized nations), the report sought to portray Nigeria as a corrupt nation whose citizens mostly engage in crime. Nothing could be more distasteful! The ultimate end of the report therefore, is to popularize the infamous label, "Nigerian e-mail scam."