A West Australian single mother is out of pocket by nearly $9000 after being ripped off by Nigerian internet scammers who impersonated the state's consumer fraud regulator.

The woman, who did not want to be named, was conned into transferring the money overseas with the promise of a $US250,000 ($A278,000) windfall from the Nigerian government.

The hoaxers used fake emails from WA ScamNet, eBay, PayPal and the Nigerian Police, Customs and Central Bank in the elaborate sting.

WA ScamNet is the fraud advisory arm of the WA Department of Consumer and Employment Protection (DOCEP), which profiles scams targeting local consumers and businesses.

Consumer Protection Commissioner Anne Driscoll said the victim was targeted after selling a $250 portable PlayStation on eBay last month.

A bogus buyer made an offer, but asked for the item to be shipped to Nigeria, claiming to have transferred the funds via PayPal.

The seller received a fake email from PayPal confirming the funds had been deposited, and was then asked by the scammers to pay additional shipping costs and duty.

Fake Nigerian Customs forms and phony PayPal emails again `confirmed' payment.

Suspecting a scam, the victim contacted WA ScamNet, which advised her to break off contact with the fraudsters.

But after forwarding the email to the scammers themselves, they sent her fake emails with WA ScamNet and WA government logos, advising her to co-operate with Nigerian authorities.

She then received a phony eBay email saying the case had been reported to the Nigerian police, who had arrested the fraudster.

Later, a fake police email told her the Nigerian president had awarded her $US250,000 ($A279,485) in compensation.

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/nigerian-scammers-con-wa-woman-of-9000-20100513-v0yb.html

Omo! See better scam. These boy's could actually be used for Prof. Mobinga's brilliant plot to cripple the NSA.

unbelievable assignment by the same pple or a group of pple