MWSA Book Review

Don’t Be Scammed! Be Informed!

Authors:  Brian Wizard

Publisher:  The Starquill Publisher

Reviewer: Bill McDonald – President of the MWSA

Everyone should listen to what the author is saying!

Billions of dollars have been ripped off from people around the world by Nigerian scammers through various email schemes called 4-1-9 scams. Anyone who has a computer with an internet connection has or will have contact with them. These are those emails you get from strangers in foreign countries seeking to give you unclaimed millions of dollars. They may tell you someone died and left you money, or that you won some lottery money. These scams seem on the surface so amateurish; yet, millions of people have taken the bait and lost not only their own money but even their freedom. Author, Vietnam veteran, award winning film maker, recording artist, crusader and anti-scam expert, Brain Wizard has been fighting a long and sometimes lonely battle against these “financial terrorists” for at least a decade. He has been speaking out here in the USA and internationally in Eastern and Western Europe. He has been interviewed on the BBC in England and dozens of radio and TV stations around the world. In his newest book on this subject “Don’t Be Scammed! Be Informed!” he shares more stories of victims and gives sound advice.

His expert knowledge is sought out by law enforcement in Europe and America and he is  frequently on talk shows across the country helping people to fully understand how really huge this problem is world wide. I personally never thought anyone could be so naive until I had an ordained priest friend take a hit on this scam. Not only did he lose his own money but that of his parishioners to the tune of over $800,000! It was this reality – that even an educated man with a compassionate heart could be conned – that woke me up to how ruthless and cruel this is. These Nigerians play hard ball and they are experts at making you feel comfortable enough to send them thousands of your dollars to get some amount of money in return back.

This book is an educational journey that helps in the fight against this international crime. The author writes an enlightening book that more people need to become aware of. Mr. Wizard is a force to reckon with; however, he is only a force of one. It is his goal to enlist more people into the fight through education. Part of your education should begin with the reading of this book and the others he has written on this subject.

Wizard writes with good sense of humor and truthfulness. He has a flare for phrasing and wording things that make reading any of his books both entertaining and enjoyable. The bottom line is that this book is a passport to understanding how the scams work and what you can do to protect yourself.

I give this book the MWSA’s highest rating of FIVE STARS! I also personally endorse it. I

Reviewer: Joe Fabel – MWSA Review Board

Brian Wizard has investigated a large number of scams which have originated in Nigeria under the code name 4-1-9, a part of the Nigerian Criminal Code for Fraudulent activities.

Brian lists several individuals he has dealt with and who have accepted his counseling to rid themselves of the burden of being victims of expensive scams. The stories read as if they happened to your neighbor or possibly to you - the reader.

The victim usually has a gullibility for being scammed, a disposition to trust the perpetrators since the appeal is usually based upon a closely held belief (religious, doing good to others, helping the underprivileged, etc.).

Brian’s belief is that a victim can overcome the effects of scams only by employing an individual who is trained in ferreting out the makeup of the scam. Knowledge is a powerful tool in combating perpetrators of scams. His book lists several successes due to his dedication. He labels himself as an Anti-419 Activist.