 Nigeria, U.S, others adopt anti-scam strategy |
December 20 2001, 05:26 pm |
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NIGERIA, with the assistance of some European nations and the United States (U.S), is putting in place a more sophisticated, almost fool-proof of method checking the activities of fraudsters who this year alone, milked their foreign victims an estimated $500 million (about N50 billion). Already, no fewer than 200 businesses including investment houses are under the lenses of security agents whose investigations are now boosted by foreign experts among whom are U.S. Secret Service Personnel and men of the Internal Revenue Department. Recently, at the Louis Edet Building Police Headquarters in Abuja, the preliminary report of advance fee fraud investigators metamorphosed into a National Committee on Advance Fee Fraud (NCAFF) inaugurated by President Olusegun Obasanjo to formulate the more effective strategy against fraud perpetrators and their cohorts in Nigeria. Haz Iwendi, spokesman of the Nigeria Police told The Guardian that alarming reports of continuing activities of fraudsters in the country despite government efforts to check them led the Presidency to set up the national committee. "This committee shall analyse reports from field agents, and make recommendations to governments," Iwendi, an assistant police commissioner, said. The committee is among a few of such similar think-tanks to comprise members of the diplomatic community such as the U.S, Britain, France and Spain whose citizens are more vulnerable to the antics of fraudsters. Iwendi declined to give an insight into the much taunted method security operatives now use to thwart fraud. "I can only tell you that we have devised an early warning system to alert mugus(vulnerable people) and steer them away from paying to a criminal," The Guardian, however, learnt that the police early warning system is internet-based and enhanced with state-of-the-art equipment capable of intercepting especially outbox information from a target personality or audience. A U.S. secret service agent who asked not to be named explained that whereas it is known that some marked out fraudsters of Nigerian origin operate from bases outside Nigeria, it is also true much of their funds are channelled back through certain investment houses. Asked if a concerted effort against investment houses such as banks would not be against the interest of Nigeria, the agent said possible foreign investors are being scared away by continuing scam so that Nigeria stands to gain on the long run if business are properly done. The amount allegedly lost to fraudsters this year is a total estimate of monies allegedly sent to bogus business associates in Nigeria by Europeans who later complained to their home countries. It is said that the purported $500 million may have been grossly exaggerated considering that some of the supposed victims may have borrowed money with particularly high interest hoping to pay off their soon as the expected amounts usually in hundreds of millions of dollars is cleared through the Nigerian banking system.
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| Posted by: By Ben Akparanta: Amebo | |
| Nigerian Jailed in UK for Fraud |
December 19 2001, 12:19 am |
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A 23-year-old Nigerian, Victor Marquis has been sentenced to three-years and nine months for committing a one-million pound fraud in Britain. Described as an illegal immigrant who came o the U.K. in 1995, Marquis used his computer skills to commit the ``sophisticated attacks'' on the British economy, according to the Evening Standard. Marquis set up 90 fake accounts with forged passports, stolen birth certificates and false names and addresses to perpetrate the crime. ``He stole more than one million pounds from banks by coning other people's identities'', the paper reported, adding that he used the money to fund his expensive lifestyle. It further stated that the culprit even used the name of Stephen Lawrence, a murdered black teenager for one account before going on a shopping spree to New York with his wife, Kajal Jathani. Maquis also went on holiday to Germany, Greece and other cities in America, spending his loot on Armani suits and Vintage Champaign, among other things. His purchase of a 30,000 pounds sports car however, led to his down fall as he was caught by the police for speeding and drink-driving, and investigations led to the exposition of the fraud. Marquis, of Plaistow, was sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court, north London, while his wife was fined 4,000 pounds for her part in the fraud. |
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| Posted by: Staff | |
| Idahoans warned of Nigerian bank scam |
October 24 2001, 09:40 pm |
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MINI-CASSIA -- Looking to get rich quick? Don't consider using that letter you may have received from someone in Nigeria, promising you 40 percent of someone else's fortune. U.S. Secret Service officials, who are investigating the recent surge of "Nigerian Bank Scam" letters say this is one of the oldest cons on earth, but noted that it can be dangerous for unsuspecting victims. An Idaho Secret Service agent in Boise, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they receive so many of these letters from Idahoans who were faxed, e-mailed or sent this letter that they could "wallpaper our offices with them." He noted that because of the large number of letters received, they usually don't even pay attention to them, unless they receive a report that someone has been bilked by the swindle. "We investigate only those incidents where someone has fallen prey to their scam," the official said. "We try to warn everyone who receives a letter not to even correspond with the person who sent it. What they do it try to win your confidence, then steal your bank account." Secret Service officials in Washington, D.C., said there are so many of these letters generated from Nigeria that the Secret Service has opened an office in Nigeria just to investigate claims made by Americans who were conned. Idaho Attorney General Al Lance released a warning to the people of Idaho concerning these letters that have recently inundated Idaho homes and businesses. Lance and Lois Bauer, Administrator of the Idaho Commission on Aging, warned Idahoans to ignore all faxes, letters and e-mails from Nigerian sources, or anywhere else, that promise easy money. Lance said that the sources in Nigeria seek to obtain a bank account number, which, if successful, they will immediately empty. He noted, though, that this is only a beginning. "Part of the criminal's ruse is to have the victim travel to Nigeria to meet with a Nigerian government official," according to a 1997 U.S. State Department report Nigerian Advance Fee Fraud. "Once in Nigeria, these criminals will attempt to solicit more money from the victim. Over the last three years, 15 foreign businessmen, including one American, have been murdered in Nigeria in these scams." Secret Service official Jim Mackin in Washington, D.C., said the people perpetrating these swindles attempt to build trust with their victims. They convince them that they need to travel to Nigeria to "help free up" the money. Then, once the victim is in Nigeria, the cons artists make it difficult or impossible for the victim to leave the country. "We have an office in Lagos, Nigeria, and are working closely with the local law enforcement there trying to thwart these kinds of scams," Mackin said. "But what once came mostly through the U.S. Postal Service is now arriving in many American homes via the Internet. These criminals are using technology to reach unsuspecting victims." Mackin said the Secret Service has a website which instructs people how to deal with these letters. It can be found at www.treas.gov/usss. "We encourage people who receive these letters to look in this site and see how to best handle the issue," Mackin said. "We tell people if something seems too good to be true, it is." The Idaho Attorney General's office recommends anyone receiving a letter should mail a copy to the U.S. Secret Service, 550 W. Fort St., Room 732, Boise, ID, 83724. Individuals should include their name, address and telephone number.
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| Posted by: By RENEE WELLS, South Idaho Press | |
| 'Nigerian Scam' fails |
October 21 2001, 02:42 pm |
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What police call the "Nigerian Scam" unsuccessfully struck a Decatur manufacturer this week, causing authorities to warn other businesses in the area. This apparently is the same attempt to get bank account information that residents in Limestone County reported this week. But unlike the Limestone residents who received a letter in the mail, Lakeland Industries received its letter via fax machine. "It appears too good be true when you first see it, but all it is is just a rip-off," said Tom Murphy, Lakeland plant manager. Lakeland makes chemical protective clothing and has international customers, so it is accustomed to receiving international mail. Police said the letter attempts to fool its victims into believing they received the letter by accident. The sender identifies himself at Dr. S.I. Ibeh, director of wire transfers of Central Bank of Nigeria. Ibeh claims he got mixed up in an attempt to launder large sums of money made illegally from inflated contracts. To help him launder the money, he says he needs a bank customer's account number. He claims he is angry at the people threatening to make him comply and will get even with them by keeping part of the money for himself and letting whoever responds keep the rest, as much as $100,000. "If you send your bank account information, they're going to clean out your bank account," Murphy said. Lakeland tried calling the telephone number on the letter to get a name or more incriminating information, but received only a recording. Employees then notified police. Leave feedbackon this oranotherstory. |
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| Posted by: By Paul Huggins: Decatur Daily Staff Writer | |
| Nigerian scam reported again |
October 14 2001, 10:51 am |
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The recurring Nigeria scam is hitting Montana again, the Federal Bureau of Investigation warned Friday. “It’s so blatantly, obviously fraudulent,” said Dan Vierthaler, supervisor resident agent of the Billings FBI office. “As far as I know there have been no financial losses by anyone. But the possibility always exists.” Vierthaler said there has been a substantial increase in the number of calls and e-mails to the FBI office regarding the scam. A number of businesses have been receiving the solicitations lately, he said. An Oct. 7 fax purportedly from Nigerian Dr. Benson Uka asked for the recipient’s bank account information so he could transfer $30 million in U.S. dollars to the person’s account. He said that amount was what he deliberately overcharged some client while he worked as senior accountant of the Capital Petroleum Corp. Because he cheated someone out of $30 million he could share that money with an American. Later in the letter he demanded secrecy about his request, saying, “I want you to understand that having put in over 19 years in civil service of my country, I am adverse to having my image and career dented.” And a Billings woman said someone faxed her house on Saturday asking for her bank address, account number and other information so a Nigerian “official” could transfer $9 million to her account. She reported the fax to the Federal Scam/Fraud Hotline at 1-800-876-7060. The scammers typically represents themselves as officials of a country, primarily Nigeria. Because of turmoil in the country, they need to find a place to deposit substantial amounts of money. They request bank account information and promise the recipient a percentage of the money in exchange for using the account. Vierthaler said recipients of the solicitations can forward them to the FBI for monitoring. The FBI’s address is 2929 Third Ave. N., Suite 205, Billings, Mt., 59101. |
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| Posted by: By CLAIR JOHNSON- BILLINGS MONTANA GAZETTE | |
| Residents Warn of Nigerian crime |
October 12 2001, 06:47 pm |
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BROOKFIELD -- Some scam artists have apparently been attempting to victimize Brookfield residents of late. Brookfield Police Chief Dave Hane says, "The Department has received several calls regarding form letters requesting business assistants. These letters are supposedly coming from the Nigerian Petroleum Corp. or Capital Petroleum Corp., allegedly located in Nigeria. Letters vary-some want the recipient to transfer up to $41 million into foreign accounts. The sender apparently says he will deposit those funds into a U.S. account." Furthermore, according to Hane, "the letters circulating request personal information, including the receiver's bank account number". "For this use of the recipient's account and account information, huge sums of money are promised", warns the Brookfield Police Chief. He further advises, "Some letters ask the recipient to telephone a response and promise strict confidence and offer a password". The trouble is, the same password is being given to many respondents, obviously indicating this offer isn't on the level. Hane says, "Due to the events of Sept. 11, many residents have become suspicious". For the rest of the story, see Friday's DNB
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| Posted by: The Bulletin news | |
| N23 Billion '419' Swindle |
October 9 2001, 11:49 am |
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A Brazilian bizman is duped of N23 billion by a group of Nigerian conmen. Itis the biggest money scam ever. Nelson Sakaguchi, Brazilian and a director in Banco Noereste Brazil, willforever curse that day in 1994 when he was introduced to a group ofNigerians by a man who claimed to be his friend, Dr. Hakim Ukeh, an Enugubusinessman. Sakaguchi who was on a business trip to Nigeria was introducedto three Nigerians, two of whom supposedly controlled Nigeria's CentralBank. They were Chief Paul Ogwuma, the bank's governor; Alhaji Mahey RafindadiRasheed, the deputy governor, in charge of foreign operations. The thirdcharacter was cast that night as Mrs. Agbakoba. She was not for real. Inreal life, her name was Amaka Anajemba, the real wife of character RafindadiRasheed. The entire cast, except Sakaguchi and Ukeh were impostors. Amaka's husband, Ikechukwu Anajemba had posed as Rasheed, while ChiefEmmanuel Nwude-Odinigwe, now a director of Union Bank, posed as Paul Ogwuma. The characters had rehearsed their script well enough, ahead of thisencounter. Only Sakaguchi played real, plain, innocent. He came all the wayfrom Brazil to explore business prospects in Nigeria. But the guys who cameto meet with him had other business ideas. It was an investment scheme inwhich Sakaguchi would pour a lot of dollars, millions of it, all down thedrain, reaping nothing but sorrow and tears. The nature of the business theywould do together would be unfolded later. That night's meeting was merelyexploratory, to size up, and even psyche up their potential prey. The Brazilian believed the theatrics of his guests. He did not know theywere merely imitating the real characters. He didn't know that these threemen and a woman would soon throw him into a deep financial abyss. By thetime he woke up to his senses, four years after, he had lost $181.6 million,about N23 billion. He lost his job too as a director of Bank Noroeste in SaoPaulo. He was declared wanted by the police after the auditors, PriceWaterhouse found that $181.6 million had disappeared from the coffers of thebank that is Latin America's 46th largest, according to a 1996 ranking ofbanks in that region. All the money paid at various times between 1995 and 1997 were parceled intovarious bank accounts in Switzerland, China, United States , England andNigeria. All the monies were all destined to three beneficiaries in Nigeriaand their host of phantom companies and fronts. As far as 419 operations go, the swindle carried out against the Brazilianwas the biggest in the history of 419 heists. At $181 million, the amountwas too staggering to comprehend. At N23 billion, in the hands of a fewNigerians, it is enough to bankroll a guerrilla war against any democraticgovernment. How the Anajembas and Nwude Odinigwe carried out the record swindle followedthe same pattern of advance fee fraud operation. Except that this time, theoperation was easier. They knew their prey inside out. They knew which button to press to make him disgorge mouth watering dollars. For a start, they sent a fax about a phantom contract won by Sakaguchi inNigeria. This was in 1995. Of course to facilitate the contract, Sakaguchibegan to send money to designated accounts controlled by the Anajemba andOdinigwe gang. When the phantom job was said to have been completed andpayment was not forthcoming, the fraudsters devised another method to milkSakaguchi further. Enter the phantom contract review panel . On the CentralBank of Nigeria's letter head, the fake panel wrote to Sakaguchi, informinghim of its decision to pay all foreign contractors, including himself alloutstanding debts. According to the letter, Sakaguchi was said to have had a contract worth$187 million with the Ministry of Aviation. The job having been done andmoney not paid on time, the phantom review panel recommended that Sakaguchibe paid his money, with interest. The amount to be paid now stood at $200.8million! But to facilitate this, Sakaguchi, recommended the contract panel, mustforward "fluctuational charges" of $6.7 million. That money was deposited inthe foreign banks recommended by the gang. Then all other demands followed:money to bribe "His Excellency"; money to bribe the "minister" and otherpersons as concocted by the gang in Nigeria. Sakaguchi kept sending millionsafter millions of dollars, hoping that his pay day would come soonest. Therewas no pay day for Sakaguchi, till now, only sorrow-day. The systematic looting of Sakaguchi reached a climax with the said letter bythe so-called review panel. The unsigned letter that was written on a forgedCBN letterhead and that sounded so illiterate read: "It has been brought toour notice that a contract sum of $187,381,000 excluding an overridinginterest accrued which is $13,470,070 which sums it up to $200,851.07, thisincludes the first, second and final phase respectively for contract number(FMA/132/019/82) by Federal Ministry of Aviation, which was duly completedhas not been paid for." Furthermore, the letter goes, "we confirmed that weirrevocably hold (on) to your $200,851,000 until we receive thefluctuational charges of $6,730,000, this payment schedule is to be made onor before 18 October 1996. As soon as we receive the above sum, we shallforward your fund simultaneously to the Chemical Bank of New York." On 16October same year, another letter was written to the Brazilian informing himthat all necessary documentations have been duly perfected for the immediaterelease and transfer of his fund by telegraphic transfer to the designatedaccounts. As the swindling continued, the Lagos gang kept concocting all kinds ofobstacles to be overcome to get the so-called debt out of the CBN vaults. Inan amusing letter sent by a phantom "Rasheed", the letter urged Sakaguchi topay $1.75 million into the Dockland branch of Barclays Bank in London tobribe officials who would do "the second phase of indeginisation andcompletion certificate ", preparatory to making payment. The letter actuallydemanded $4.5 million, but asked Sakaguchi to pay an advance of $1.75million, and pay the rest after collecting the so-called acknowledged debtof $200 million. In the course of the operation, the phantom debt balloonedto $387 million, enough to make sakaguchi go bananas if paid into hisaccount. Meanwhile, Sakaguchi got desperate to get the windfall from Lagos as hisbankers began to raise queries about the uni-direction of the transactions.But he mollified them and still squeezed $4.2 million out of the bank, whichhe wired to his financial emasculators in Lagos, Nigeria. The money was senton 6 August 1997, to Standard Finance Clearing House, New York, in care ofhis excellency, Paul Ogwuma, CBN governor. The letter entitled Re: FinalCable Charges Phase One, Two and Final On FMA 132/019/82, reads: "After avery tough and strong argument with senior bankers, they finally agreed torelease an additional last portion of this $4,200,000. With conditions thatyou will be transferring immediately on 8 August 1997 by wire/swift the fullamount of $374,682,000.15 only to the account at Chase Manhattan Bank, NewYork (former Chemical Bank New York) account number 544/7/07768 of BankNoreste SA Kayman Island Branch in favour of Stanton Development Company."The Lagos gang was unperturbed by Sakaguchi's desperation. Sakaguchi'sdesperation triggered another desperation of their own. They pestered himwith demands for more money. A minister was the new obstacle to payment, notthe people in charge of the "indigenisation and completion certificate".They therefore sent a letter to him on 1 October 1997 to ginger him intoaction. According to the letter, the fraudsters told their victim that anydelay was dangerous, and they assumed that the fund would be released intotheir nominated accounts. They, therefore asked him to wire immediately to"EXCEL" account the sum of $5 million as agreed with the minister. Theletter concluded that it was confidential. Poor Sakaguchi. Like a zombie in the hands of voodoo priests, the Lagosletter spurred him into action. He mobilized all the money in his bank(Banco Noroeste) and his company, Stanton Development Corporation,desperately to meet the targets of his 'business partners.' He informed thechairman of his company who is also his father in-law. They went cap in handborrowing money from different sources. The money was remitted to designatedaccounts to facilitate the 'business.' The whole operation was of coursespurious. There was no dime coming from Lagos. And none came. Sakaguchi hadbeen an unsuspecting sucker! He had lost $181 million. When he started calling Lagos for the money, theLagos gang sent him a letter, reeking with wicked humour. The letter dated19 February 2001 and set on a Paul Ogwuma and Associates letterheadannounced to Sakaguchi. "I regret to inform you that I have already paid the sum of $250 million tothe bank of Noroute, which was collected on July 1998". There is no bank ofNoroute anywhere in the world. The letter was signed by chairman Paul Ogwumaand a lawyer, John Nemota and a Jose Lavana of the Brazilian embassy inLagos. All the names of course were fictitious. The huge sums of money stolen from Sakaguchi were got by instalments. Thefirst instalment of $1.2 million was paid into an account in Crystal Bank ofAfrica on 9 August 1995 with O.E. Odinigwe, who represented Stanton, asbeneficiary. On 25 August 1995, $1.5 million was paid to Commercial TrustBank with FynBaz Nigeria Ltd as beneficiary, 31 August 1995, $500,000 intoNwude Christian Kachi as beneficiary. On 27 September 1995 the sum of $2.55million was paid to UWS Landmark as beneficiary; 8 December 1995, the sum of$2 million was paid into an account of Gulf Bank of Nigeria with Fynbaz asbeneficiary. Others are Nigeria Intercontinental Merchant Bank in which $2 million waspaid on the 12 of February 1996. $1.3 million was paid into the account of Stanton Development Corporation On1 January 1996 and 28 October 1997, $4.75 million was paid to Pentagon Co. Ltd. and $1.35 million was paid through an account in NigeriaIntercontinental Merchant Bank Ltd., to Emrus Nigeria Limited. When Sakaguchi finally came to his senses that he had been a victim of amonumental fraud, he nearly went berserk. First of all, his employers sackedhim. Then they dragged him to court, asking him to repay all the money hehad wired to the Lagos gang. Then he became a fugitive running away fromjustice. For him, it was time to be desperate again and to hope that he would recoverthe money. Not knowing where to begin, he contacted his "friend" in Nigeria,Dr. Kim Ukeh, the Enugu based businessman who had introduced the phantomRasheed and Paul Ogwuma and the phantom Mrs. Agbakoba to Sakaguchi in 1994. Whether Dr. Ukeh was part of the swindling is not very clear. But closesources to the gang told TheNEWS that Emmanuel Nwude Odinigwe gave him N200million, out of the proceeds that ran into N23 billion. When we called Dr.Ukeh last week, he was not available in Enugu. We also called his mobilephone. He was also not reachable. But significantly, Ukeh has turned the recovery agent for Sakaguchi, who ina letter last August pleaded with Ukeh to help him recover his "robbed moneyfrom Paul Ogwuma" and send to his account at Chase Manhattan in New York. Ukeh, in difference to his smitten friend has petitioned the InspectorGeneral of Police on the matter. He has informed the Fraud Squad atMilverton Road, Ikoyi. And the squad is said to be disinterested in thematter, which should be their big concern. He has taken Emmanuel NwudeOdinigwe to the Arochukwu shrine in Igbo heartland. He has reported him tothe elders. And sources said he is contemplating a legal action. Ukeh of course knew he is walking a mine field and he could get bombed alongthe way. He has already had a foretaste of the dangers that confront him inhis bid to square up with the con men, his former pals, who swindled theBrazilian, so mercilessly and so callously. Last October , the police in Enugu framed what is believed to be a concoctedcharge of firearms possession against Ukeh. The case is still pending at amagistrate court in Enugu. And Ukeh now goes about watching his shoulders.He has real reasons to fear. A friend of his, Ikechukwu Anajemba with whom he introduced Emmanuel NwudeOdinigwe to Sakaguchi, along with Amaka in 1994, was mysteriously killedlast year. His death came after the scam had been completed and the mind-blowing megabucks raked in. Death by robbery was what was reported about Ikechukwu, butit is believed that he was murdered. Sakaguchi himself is going through hard times. At present, he is a fugitive.Unable to bear the psychological trauma and prosecution, he has left Brazilfor Africa.. A source revealed to this magazine that the former director ofBanco Noereste wanted to come to Nigeria to claim his money, but he wasafraid that he might be assassinated. Emmanuel Nwude Odinigwe is not going through any hassle. He is stillcelebrating his triumphant execution of the unprecendented 419 scam. Helives big on Victoria Island, Lagos. He junkets around the world. He sits onthe board of Nigeria's leading bank since 1999. He has acquired a string ofassets in Abuja, Lagos, Enugu and Onitsha. He chairs a host of companies. Heis the wonder boy of the nouveau riche in Nigeria, stupendously rich. Emmanuel Nwude Odinigwe came from the blues in September 1998 and boughtshares that were worth $1.2 million from Union Bank. His shares total 4.1million, making him the largest shareholder in the bank. In Abagana, heproduces Lamour Water. He is a socialite, who on the surface looks like agentleman, but possessing the sting of a bee. He also bought shares in morethan 20 companies both locally and internationally, within five years. Ikechukwu Anajemba, before he was killed also lived big. He had about 28houses scattered in special areas in Lagos, Abuja and Enugu. But he has lefteverything to his surviving wife, Amaka, a.k.a Mrs. Agbakoba. The stung Brazilian requires help for the recovery of $181 million plus theaccrued compound interests of $70 million. Whether he can get the money fromthe Nigerian crooks will be an acid test of Nigeria's avowed war against the419ners, giving our nation bad name internationally. Last week, when we spoke with Nwude Odinigwe on his role in this monumentalfraud, he pestered us to enter a deal with him to kill the story. When wepersisted that he must speak on his role, he offered a taciturn response: "Iam not in the mood to talk now. All I can say is that the person that canspeak about the matter is dead", a reference to his partner who died incircumstances very mysterious. TheNEWS also spoke with Sakaguchi where he was holed in Africa. He said hewould only talk after getting clarifications from his contacts in Nigeria.He promised to get back to us. He never did. |
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| Posted by: Bamidele Adebayo, Lagos - the News | |
| Scams circulating in Beadle County |
September 27 2001, 05:23 pm |
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Phones are ringing with offers of ways for people to get rich, but authorities are warning them they are likely scams. One of them, called the Nigerian scam, is circulating once again and Beadle County state's attorney Mike Moore said the public is advising his office they have been targeted. "I think everybody knows it's a scam," he said Tuesday. "People are calling to say the scam is back again." Two weeks ago, South Dakota attorney general Mark Barnett said citizens have lost more than $200,000 in just the last few months to adept scam artists. One of the schemes, which has been around for a few years, is the Nigerian scam. A person posing as a Nigerian attorney or a banking committee member contacts people, most often the elderly. The alleged representative attempts to convince people to wire money to Nigeria or some other foreign country. "An effective technique used by the scam artist is that he will stress the need for confidentiality; this is an attempt to keep the victim from talking to anyone about the alleged investment," Barnett said in a statement. He said an elderly person who wanted to withdraw a large sum of cash for a Nigerian investment approached a bank employee at a South Dakota bank. The employee was aware of the notice sent out about the recent scams and attempted to talk the customer into looking into the investment further before sending the money. The customer was still not convinced that the investment was a scam. After the customer spoke with the state Division of Criminal Investigation about the investment, he was finally convinced it was a scam. Barnett is advising people to be cautious. "It is sad to see an elderly person lose most, if not all their life savings to one of these scams," he said. Moore and Barnett said if something sounds too good to be true, it is. The DCI has been working with the South Dakota Bankers Association and recently sent out the notice to banks advising them of the scams. Bank employees should be suspect of large cash withdrawals that are a deviation of a particular customer's normal course of business. Also, a Canadian lottery scam has victimized some people. People are contacted and told they have won a large sum of money, but in order to collect it they must first send money to cover the fees and expenses. In one recent case, the requested amount was $10,000.
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| Posted by: By: Roger Larsen, of the Plainsman | |
| Nigerian Mail fraud targets area business, too | September 10 2001, 10:49 am |
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They're back the messages from Nigeria seeking to defraud Americans. This time there's a twist: Businesses as well as individuals are the targets. "I decided to contact you in confidence that I was able to move out the sum of US $35.4 Million Dollars, which was secretly defaced and is sealed in two Metal Boxes for security reasons," reads one e-mail received by several Business Journal staffers Aug. 30. "...as soon as you indicate your interest my Lawyer shall send you the Air-Way Bill of the Luggage. ...we have agreed to offer you 30% of the total sum." Thousands of Americans have received similar bogus offers in the mail and by fax and now, increasingly, by e-mail but lately, said Allen Lowe, spokesman for a Secret Service task force charged with busting up identity theft and mail and e-mail frauds, American businesses are being victimized through product orders. The orders are paid for with counterfeit checks, Lowe said, adding, "They're very good at counterfeiting." One Seattle company was cheated out of $400,000 worth of ink jet printer cartridges, the agent said. On a personal level, it might seem crazy to respond to an e-mail like one allegedly sent by a "Mrs. Mariam Abacha, the widow of the late Gen. Sanni Abacha former Nigerian Military Head of State who died mysteriously as a result of Cardiac Arrest," but not everyone in South Florida agrees. "I get calls every day" from people who have fallen for the e-mail scam and been defrauded, sometimes out of thousands of dollars, Lowe said. "We've had 12 or 15 cases involving $5 million to $7 million in South Florida this year alone." Officially, Lowe is the acting assistant to the special agent in charge of the Secret Service's South Florida Organized Fraud Task Force. A half-dozen federal agencies, including the U.S. Postal Service and FBI, participate in task force investigations, said Bill Lewis, a Miramar postal inspector who has been assigned to task force duty. The South Florida task force is one of a dozen the Secret Service runs across the country, Lowe said. He wouldn't discuss how much the Secret Service and other agencies spend to protect Americans from mail, e-mail and product order fraud, but conceded the problem has been around for years and isn't near a solution. "I'd say we're closer to wiping out the Mafia than getting rid of the frauds out of Nigeria," Lowe said. For businessmen, he advised being leery of product orders out of Nigeria that specify overnight delivery. The fraud operators always seem to want quick shipment, Lowe said. For everyone else, he advised using common sense. "I don't know of anyone who's just giving away millions of dollars."
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| Posted by: The Business Journal | |
| 2 Nigerians arrested on drug-related charges in Korea | September 9 2001, 10:39 pm |
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Two Nigerians were arrested Saturday on charges of selling drugs in the Itaewon area, often frequented by foreigners and young Koreans, police said. The Seoul Metropolitan Agency said it also put two other Nigerians on a wanted list in connection with the case. The men are suspected of having sold 2 million ($1,560) worth of drugs such as marijuana and ecstasy to Egyptians at an Itaewon bar since July, it said. The agency said it is expanding its probe into the drug case as it believes that the suspects might be connected to drug-trafficking rings. (sjkang@koreaherald.co.kr |
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| Posted by: Copyright: Korean Herald news | |
| Don't fall for 'Nigerian scams,' detectives warn |
September 8 2001, 12:13 am |
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SANTA BARBARA -- Sheriff's detectives are warning the public about arash of "Nigerian scams" that have reportedly surfaced in Santa BarbaraCounty this week. Detectives have received about 10 calls in the last two days from residentsquestioning the authenticity of faxes and e-mail they received from someoneclaiming to be from the Nigerian royal family and promising quick and easycash. The letters indicate that the "royal family member" has millions of dollarsavailable for investment. But first, the sender claims, the money needs to betransferred to the United States."The letter seeks your assistance in the transfer of funds," said Lt. JimPeterson. The "royal family member" then offers a percentage of the money ifyou call the number provided. "This is a scam," Lt. Peterson said. "There is no money and there is no royalfamily involved. Do not respond to this communication."The U.S. Secret Service has been investigating a group based in Lagos,Nigeria, they suspect is involved. Anyone who receives one of the letters maycontact agents at 339-9180. |
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| Posted by: Copyright: Santa Barbara County News | |
| Letter Scam In Jersey | August 26 2001, 03:30 pm |
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New Jersey Consumer Affairs officials are warning an old scam that has resurfaced, which comes in the form of a letter. The fraud comes in the form of a letter from a foreign government asking for your telephone and fax numbers with back account information with the promise of depositing millions of dollars in your account. Deputy New Jersey Consumer Affairs Director Edie Brower says its a variation on an old illegal theme: "And it's coming from a new area. It used to come from Nigeria and now the claim is the letters are coming in from Sierra Leone." Brower says the letter promises to deposit 41 million dollars in risk free money into your account. Officials say if you are approached with this kind of pitch, call the Secret Service 973-756-4500. |
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| Posted by: Copyright By KYW's Gene Dillard | |
| Nigerian nationals target area residents with scams | August 26 2001, 03:27 pm |
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In a Houston hotel room last March, Nigerian national Victor Okiti opened two steamer trunks to reveal what he claimed was $12 million in $100 bills. Most of the stacks of "bills" were actually paper filler, and the $100 bills that were visible were actually counterfeit. But the Portland businessman who was ogling the cash wasn't supposed to know that. Okiti said his only problem was that the bills had been stamped in Nigeria with the letters "U.N." and could only be spent in Europe as long as the "United Nations" mark was on the bills. But he said he knew of a chemical that could erase the letters. Okiti said he would be willing to share the fortune with the Portland man if the man gave him $23,000 up front to buy the chemical. That's when Secret Service agents burst into the room. What Okiti didn't know was that the Portland businessman had contacted authorities after the scam artist randomly targeted him via electronic mail last year. The Portland man agreed to meet with Okiti in Houston, the hotel room was wired for sound and video and the trap was set. The con man had been conned. On Friday, Okiti was sentenced to 18 months in a federal prison for wire fraud and counterfeiting. Okiti is one of the latest targets of an ongoing investigation into a growing number of scams perpetrated in the Houston area by Nigerian nationals. Other nationals operate similar cons, officials say, but for now, ones involving Nigerians appear to be more prevalent. Since the early 1980s, federal authorities estimate that Nigerian scam artists have bilked victims out of more than $5 billion worldwide in what are known as "advance fee" fraud schemes. The Secret Service estimates that in the United States, losses to these scams amount to more than $100 million a year. Federal authorities in Houston would not hazard a guess as to how much money is lost locally. But since a Secret Service task force began investigating these schemes in Houston in 1999, it has received tips about the scams almost on a daily basis. "They target Americans with a promise of a pot of gold down the road," Assistant U.S. Attorney James Buchanan said."Then they bilk them for so-called advance fees. They say they need money up front to pay bribes, or storage and shipping fees and the victims pay time and again until finally they realize its a scam or they run out of money. "But it's like an iceberg. It's all under water so we can't see it," Buchanan said. "When people realize they have been scammed, they are too embarrassed or ashamed to report it." Buchanan said authorities in Houston began hearing about Nigerian scams in the early 1990s. But around the world, authorities believe these scams have been going on since the 1980s. Other nationalities run the same type of cons, but not on the level of the Nigerians, he said. About a quarter of major fraud cases investigated by the Secret Service nationwide involve Nigerians, the Secret Service says. Nigeria is a perfect haven for the scam artists, Buchanan said. The country has been mired in poverty and corruption after 30 years of looting by military regimes, according to widely published accounts. They target Houston not only because it is a port of entry, but because of the city's connection to the oil industry. Oil is Nigeria's No. 1 industry, and con artists use oil as a lure in some way. For example, they'll say the government paid for oil it never got, so a pot of money is available to split. Victims receive unsolicited letters or electronic mail promising them a stake in a get-rich scheme. The only catch is that they have to pay a fee in advance. Greed overcomes the victim's common sense. The letters often contain official-looking Nigerian government seals or bank letterheads. The scams usually involve claims of "over-invoiced" or "double-invoiced" goods or services, meaning there supposedly is a stash of money somewhere that was paid by some company for goods or services that were never delivered. But "fees" need to be paid up front before the money can be accessed. If the victim pays the advance fee, often "complications" arise which require more payments. Another typical scam is a letter stating that the sender is seeking a reputable individual in the United States. The letter says the sender needs a bank account into which he can deposit millions of dollars that the Nigerian government supposedly overpaid on some procurement contract. The scammers usually hold themselves out to be senior Nigerian government officials in some ministry, typically an agency called the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. The recipients of the letters are told they will receive a commission for the service. Later, the victims are told that the deal is in jeopardy and an up-front payment is needed to save it. Perhaps a bribe is supposedly needed to pay off a government official to release the money. Or maybe an unforeseen tax or fee has to be paid before the money can be transferred. The victims are told that the fee is the last one required. But invariably,"oversights" or "errors" crop up requiring more payments. In almost every case, the scammers convey a sense of urgency. Since 1999, Buchanan has been involved in 20 scam investigations involving Nigerians. Six of them, including the Okiti case, have resulted in successful prosecutions. The remainder involved sting operations in which the target never showed up. But Buchanan says hundreds, if not thousands, of Houstonians are probably getting these e-mails on a daily basis. "We're getting the word out not to respond to them. These are scams, and they need to be reported," Buchanan said. "But the best advice is that old saying, if it sounds too good to be true, it is."
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| Posted by: Copyright 2001 Houston Chronicle | |
