Q: Can a foreign government file a lawsuit against me for alleged involvement in a scam?
I was the victim of a romance scam from 2017 to 2020, with the scammer based in Nigeria while I am in the United States. After cutting ties with the scammer, federal agents and lawyers have contacted me, claiming that the Nigerian government is filing a class action lawsuit against me for $122,000 because I was allegedly involved in the scam. They provided a case number (FC90867892) and mentioned the case is confidential. I was initially told to pay a fine, and now there's mention of a lawsuit. How can I verify the legitimacy of this situation, and do foreign governments actually file lawsuits against individuals in such a manner?
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A:
You should be very cautious when receiving such claims because foreign governments rarely file lawsuits against individuals in this manner. It is common for scammers to use intimidating language, fake case numbers, and urgent payment requests to pressure you into making a mistake.
You can verify the legitimacy of the claim by contacting local law enforcement or a trusted legal professional using official contact details, not those provided in the suspicious communication. Reaching out to your state attorney general’s office or the Nigerian embassy may also help confirm if there is any actual case.
Avoid sending any money or personal information until you have independently confirmed the details through reliable, official sources.
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