A Nigerian official claims that the victims of “Nigerian scams” are greedy and should be jailed. Nigerian high commissioner Sunday Olu Agbi says that the people who hand over money to the scammers are just as responsible as the scammers. Olu Agbi wishes the victims would stop giving money because it is giving Nigeria a bad name. He claims that it is getting harder to make international deals because people question anything coming from Nigeria.

“People who send their money are as guilty as those who are asking them to send the money,” Olu Agbi said.

The Nigerian scams often involve a financial windfall or overpayment of some type. The victim sends a sizable amount of money as an act of good faith or reimbursement, but never receives anything in return.

Olu Agbi does understand that the perpetuators bear responsibility as well.” The Nigerian government frowns very seriously on these scams … and every day tries to track down those who are involved,” said Olu Agbi.

Now if only those victims would wise up, Nigeria could get its good name back.