Sunshine Coast couple fleeced in a Nigerian money scam have been charged with fraud after allegedly netting more than $4m in the same operation.

Sunshine Coast couple fleeced in a Nigerian money scam have been charged with fraud after allegedly netting more than $4m in the same operation.Police allege the 48-year-old man and 40-year-old woman became victims of fraud when they sent money to suspected Nigerian fraudsters in September, 2003.It is believed they were invited to take part in a Nigerian oil contract but the contract did not exist.The couple then allegedly invited people to take part in the fraud and 12 people sent more than $4.3 million to the alleged Nigerian criminals.The pair are among six people charged in relation to the scam.Police minister Judy Spence said people continued to fall victim to the schemes despite warnings by police.Ms Spence said the scams were not new but in the current economic climate, people were more likely to fall for get-rich-quick schemes."People looking for an easy way out of their financial and mortgage stress can make for easy victims," she said."People need to realise there is no such thing as easy money and any scheme that promises massive returns for a small investment will inevitably turn out to be a scam that could cost a victim their entire life savings."Most amazing of all, even after police issue warnings to individuals who have already sent money police often find themselves going back to find these same people have sent even more money. They end up losing massive amounts."Queensland Police fraud and corporate crime Detective Superintendent Brian Hay said there were precautions people could take to make sure they did not fall victim to Nigerian scams."If you don’t know the person asking you for money or don’t know enough about the operation then don’t send the money," he said."Fraudsters operate on the assumption that victims will see the opportunity rather than applying common sense or logic to these schemes."Time and time again we state that if it seems too good to be true, then it often is."He warned that fraudsters may also send what appeared to be legitimate paperwork as evidence but the documents would also be fraudulent.More information about how to protect yourself from the scams can be found on the Queensland Police website.The Coast couple are each due to face two counts of fraud in a Maroochydore Magistrates Court today.