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September 28, 2006, 3:48 pm PDT
 Quote From: ameliathemom I just recently am a victim myself. we are a one person working household. I am a mother of five. when I say recently i'm talking about one week ago. It actally statred early August I was looking for extra work from home.I had two buisness's online but they hadn't yet started to flourish. So I had someone contact me thru my bulk e-mail about a job offer. It was a job offer for an online bookeeper. Now this is not my field so I really didn't no what bookeepers did.I asked this person if it consisted in any investment of course he said no.I said good. I said ok what do I have to do.He said I will be sending packages via UPS.I would use that money to pay his vendors for cloth.he said he was a texan working from the UK.I would then take the funds a westrn union and money gram the funds. His company wich was called gracefabrics made womens clothing.So I said how did you get my name he said from the better buisness of better pepole.So I excepted. The first package I received it was four thousand dollars in American Express cashiers checks.Wich I cashed at my bank. I then got the names of the people wich I was to pay.They were all within the states.Then the second package arrived this time it was five thousand in American express cashier checks.I took them to my bank and cashed them. This time he wanted me to send the funds to Ghana,West Africa. Wich I did. Then He aske dme could up accounts with a website wich gave leads to companys.I said why can't you he said because i'm not at my desk so I did. This was on a friday.So after the western unions I stated feeling like something wasn't right.so I wrote him an e-mail and told him if this is illegal I want no part of it.That I have a family and didn't need to be part of something that was illegal.Well i to also talked to him on instant message.I didn't here from him all weekend on monday I stated digging I called information and got the numbers to the people who supposdly sent me .Actally it was victims of fraud,.One was a retired vet.The other was a chemical company out of los angeles.I then contacted the FBI they said put in an complaint to the IC3 database for internet scames.Then I cotacted my local police and made a police report.After that I received my third package.This time it was 4,950 dollars in US Postal money orders at that point I knew it was fraud so I didn't try to cash.I turned them into the US Postal service and opened a mail fraud case.Then he poppes up on instant message and I told him I knew what he was doing.He disappered.After that all that I went to check my bank account and all the american express cashiers checks slowly but surely started coming back.As it stands right now I owe my bank four thousand dollars.They said they couldn't help me they have to have there money back.It is nine thousand all together.I have tried to call everyone .lawyers,state general attorney, FBI,Governor,Secret Service because they have a special task fource for this crime (419 West African fraud)no response.I feel like no one cares. I no some of you are thinking lady are you crazy.The answer is yes ,and stupid.My family is paying for my mistake.the only reason why i did this is to releive my husband of all the burden.He works alot of overtime and sometimes he's really tired.we have five children money is stretched to the limit.We just purchaseda new home our first.Thank you for your time So sorry to hear your story. To be brutally honest you probably can't do much at this point. It's extremely difficult to bring these people to justice because of the international nature of their crimes. The FBI is probably your best bet but don't hold your breath. They have much more serious crimes to investigate and since 9/11 much of their resources have gone into fighting terrorism. Also they need the cooperation of the country where the crimes took place, usually Nigeria and with scamming being the 5th largest industry in that country the chances of cooperation with the US authorities is slim. Usually when they do arrest a scammer they pay a small fine somewhere around $5 and go back to their computer. I am glad you did contact the police as soon as you learned you were being scammed. In this type of scam it isn't unheard of for the victim to actually be charged with being an accomplice to check fraud and some people have gone to prison for participating like you did. The fact that you brought it to the authorities first is probably why you haven't been charged. This is one of the most dangerous scams out there. I know it isn't as satisfying as getting your money back or bringing this criminal to justice but here is a link to a website for victims of internet scams. You will find a lot of people in the same position you are in and maybe find some solace. http://scamvictimsunited.com |
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September 28, 2006, 4:14 pm PDT
Quote From: temi1010 I am Nigerian and it breaks my heart to see how innocent women and other people are caused so much pain by these scammers. Nigerians are intelligent and hard working people but these few unscrupulous ones are out to give us a bad name. It's also sad to see a country full of mostly honest and decent people characterized like this by a few criminals. You make a good point. The scammers are in a huge minority compared to the number of good people living in Nigeria. It's just that this is what people see and hear about most often. It's kind of like the old adage about if a dog bites a man then that isn't news but when a man bites a dog it is. The good people go about their daily business and we never hear about them. Even worse it's damaging the reputation of your country and hurting it's ability to attract legitimate businesses from oveseas. This is the chief reason this kind of thing has to be stopped. I'd also like to point out that these scams aren't just from Nigeria. You can also find this kind of scam being run from countries like Benin, Togo, Ghana as well as the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Increasingly many scams are also originating in China and other Asian countries. It's just that we hear of this out of Nigeria because it's so prevalent possibly because the authorities either can't or won't do much about it. They don't realize that their inaction is doing so much damage. |
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September 28, 2006, 4:40 pm PDT
Quote From: noquitnow I hope this gets to you Dr. Phil. Nigerian and scammers was a headline I heard on your promos this week.... my attention focused quickly. Nigerian scammers have hacked into my computer, stolen my identity, have been emailing friends and family on my email address book trying to scam money from them - so that the scammers will not kill myself and my kids. this is not a joke. All my personal information has been stolen from my home hard drive by way of Yahoo mail - then they trashed my system with a virus. They have been sending me death threats and now are starting to send personal information on me to make me believe that they know where I am... which they do - they have my address, my phone numbers, cell number - everything. I want to warn people about answering online mail... and how easy it is to innocently click on a mail and your life change in an instant. Please contact me thru your email message system - thank you. Forget Dr. Phil. Contact the police. Most likely they won't bother you and the threats are only to force you to send money but don't be complacent. Turn it all over to the police and inform the scammers that you have contacted the police. Most likely when they realize they won't get any money out of you they will go on to another victim. |
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September 28, 2006, 4:42 pm PDT
Quote From: linda_b56 Yes I have been contacted by so many of these nigerian scammers that I have learned the scripts better than some of them. I think they must be passing my name thru all of them . My blocked list has been so full that I had to clear some out and they contact me again. I know that there must be some good people living in Nigeria, ghana and lagos but I don't chat with them online. There are too many that are just scammers to be bothered with them. would be great if the internet brains could figure out how to block communication with whole countries. but I seem to be contacted by west african scammers at least 4-5 times every week or recieve letters from Bank clerks that are looking for partners to claim money of a deceased depositor. Besides reporting these as spam to yahoo or msn, is there anyone else I should be reporting them too? They are. It's part of the business. Scripts and email addresses are bought and sold among the scammers all the time. That's why these emails come in batches. If you don't answer them the scammer will give up trying to contact you and will eventually sell your email to someone else and the emails will start again. |
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September 28, 2006, 4:49 pm PDT
Quote From: tigress528 HERE ARE THE LATEST IN SCAMS TODAY, SO PLEASE BE AWARE OF THESE....ESPECIALLY THE LOTTERY PART, THEY TAKE ALOT OF YOUR MONEY PROMISAING YOU MORE...GOOD LUCK, PEOPLE....
NO. 1... FRAUDULENT FBI E-MAIL BEING SENT BY LOTTERY SCAMMERS 09/08/06We have been alerted to a fraudulent e-mail that claims to be from the FBI and attempts to convince recipients to send money to secure prizes won in an international lottery. The e-mail contains FBI Director Robert Mueller's name and office address and typically includes the subject line, "FBI Internet Fraud Watch/Alert". The return e-mail address may be listed as FBIfraudalert@hotmail.co.uk or FBIfraudwatch@hotmail.co.uk. The e-mail informs the recipient that the FBI, in conjunction with Scotland Yard, has been made aware that he or she has won a substantial prize in a UK lottery that was sponsored by a well-known corporation. Recent variations of the phony lottery scams have claimed affiliation with Microsoft Corporation and MasterCard Worldwide. The e-mail claims that the FBI and Scotland Yard have screened the "Lottery House" and verified that the transaction is legal. It also claims that both agencies have examined the Lottery House's legal procedure and that both have confirmed that it is legal as well. The e-mail instructs recipients to proceed with the transaction, claiming that their funds have been insured and that the FBI and Scotland Yard are monitoring all transactions. This e-mail and the associated lottery are fraudulent. Victims are instructed to pay thousands of dollars in up-front fees to secure what eventually prove to be nonexistent prizes. Consumers should be very skeptical if they are notified that they have won sweepstakes or lotteries that they have not directly entered themselves. CONSUMERS ARE FURTHER ADVISED THAT SITUATIONS REQUIRING UP-FRONT PAYMENTS TO SECURE LOTTERY OR SWEEPSTAKES WINNINGS TYPICALLY ARE FRAUDULENT.
NO. 2...
07/24/06We have received reports concerning a fraudulent e-mail claiming to be from the FBI. The new e-mail hoax is similar to one described in a November 22, 2005, posting on the Internet Crime Complaint Center website. The e-mail includes a virus-laden attachment. This hoax e-mail contains the following text: Dear Sir/Madam, We have logged your IP address on more than 30 illegal Websites. Important: Please answer our questions! The list of questions are attached. Yours faithfully, This e-mail is a hoax. Do not download its attachment. If you receive this e-mail or one similar to it, delete the message and do not open the attachment.
NO. 3....
SCAM PREYING ON AMERICANS EMOTIONS FOR U.S. DEPLOYED SOLDIERS 08/10/06 We have received reports concerning multiple e-mail hoaxes claiming to be from a soldier deployed to Iraq. The individual claims to possess millions of dollars and requests assistance in moving the funds. The funds allegedly came from a soldier who was an orphan and recently died while on a mission in Iraq. The individual claims he needs assistance donating the funds to an American orphanage. THIS E-MAIL IS A HOAX. DO NOT RESPOND TO IT. Be cautious when responding to requests delivered through unsolicited e-mail:
If you have received this, or a similar hoax, please file a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
It's called the "Reload". They will scam you once with either the advance fee fraud, lottery scam or love letter scam then reload it and pretend to be some government agency working to get your money back. Of course you will have to help out with a few costs. And that's where the reload begins. Wash ring repeat. As many times as you will send them money. Just remember that the FBI doesn't use Yahoo as their email provider as in contact Agent Gibbs AGibbs@yahoo.com or FBI@yahoo.com. |
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September 28, 2006, 7:13 pm PDT
Quote From: samanthaf63 The story I got is that "John" an extremely handsome Native American (and yet he was blond) was doing charity work in Nigeria as an engineer. He said he was a millionaire but couldn't access his funds... and in the midst of it, I ended up with a "cheque" - his word, not mine) for $4,000 that I took to the bank 'cos it looked fishy to me. Fortunately, it was made out to the wrong last name. I have a scanned copy of a passport (wonder if it's real?). Interestingly, the return address came from a location in Florida? I was expected to send the money to Florida as soon as it was cashed...
And fortunately, I gave him my PO box, not my home address.
He called once and I told him that he did not sound American. He said it was a poor connection. I pointed out every piece of Oxford English he used and he brushed past all of it.
I am wondering (and I sent a note to Dr. Phil) if the poor guy whose pic it is knows about it? I have a scanned image of a passport and I'm curious if this guy knows his identity was stolen.
If you're in an emotional low spot, it's very easy to be vulnerable to a scam artist. On the show, these poor women were asked for money after about a month. This guy waited at least two or three. I still get messages now, and frankly, I'm curious to see how long he'll try before he realizes he's not getting anything. The passport copy is probably from another scam victim. One of the first things the scammers try to get is a copy of a passport or driver's license. Not that there's much they can do with them right away but they can use them in future scams to look more credible to a potential victim. It also proves they are dealing with a real person and gets you into the habit of following their orders. This is a piece of phychology that Dr. Phil will be famiiar with. If a person has cooperated with someone before they are more likely to do so in the future. For example if you copy your license or passport you are more likely to send money when they ask you. These scammers are professionals. The reuse of the identification was first discovered by scam baiters (people who waste the scammer's time to foil them) who found their faked up joke driver's licenses turning up in other scam emails. They quickly learned that to provide even an obvious fake to a scammer is to provide them a tool that may fool someone from another country who doesn't speak English or know the conventions of a typical US driver's license. Now what they do is misdirect and delay when asked for a driver's license or passport scan. One trick is to take a very large system file from your computer, copy it and give it a .jpg extension (an extension used in photos) then rename it MyPassport and send it to the scammer who then spends half an hour downloading it while renting a computer in some internet cafe only to find a page full of goop when he tries ot open it. Another trick is to not include the photo but instead add an addendum to the email saying the Department of Homeland Security has censored it because it's illegal to reproduce a passport. That usually shuts them up when they want a passport or driver's license. |
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