Posted on Cobra Country
 

RED ALERT: counterfeit cashier's check con-artist scam. Today (Monday, 21 April 2003) it has been brought to our attention that there is a scam, currently operating out of Africa, whereby someone advertising for sale an automobile (or any other high-value item), is contacted by someone alleging that he's interested in the purchase of your motorcar, and that he's representing a potential buyer in Africa. This inquiry commonly attempts to arrange the purchase of the car with a cashiers check covering the price of the car and shipping. After the car (or other valuable item) has been shipped, you are perhaps requested to refund the shipping charges as part of a "finders' fee" arrangement. They may also send you a check larger than the purchase price and ask for a refund of the difference. This scenario sounds like it was hatched by the same folks who bring you the nefarious "I am Dr. Obutu Mugabe, Nigerian Minister of Commerce" scam. And their emails seem to always be composed in vision-blinding ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, another dead giveaway. Beware, beware, beware! You should heed the old adage, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." You may also forward suspected scam email directly to:uce@ftc.gov. Canadian: contact The Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Mike, I was recently selling a horse trailer on an online site and I got 3 of these emails! They wanted to pay me the asking price less a finders fee, they would ship it to South Africa, etc. Thank God I deleted these emails as I felt there was something fishy going on. We also get those Nigerian scam emails all the time :(

Lots of examples and info at my site. Just click on 'Latest Nigerian Scams'

http://www.priveye.com

Roscoe

This is a very recent one regarding a teaching job scam:

Dear xxxxxxxx

Thank you very much for your interest in my teaching offer.
My first letter was not detailed, and therefore let me provide more background
information.
The Unity University Project is a result of the desire of the Federal
Government of Nigeria to establish a world class university. This is
why Government deliberately decided that at least 50% of its teaching staff
should be expatriates in order to give the University international
flavour. Therefore, if you are hired, you will be one of the pioneer staff of
the University.

The welfare package of the employment, including salary and fringe benefits
including free Housing and official car are designed deliberately
to make a foreigner feel at home in Nigeria; Abuja records an average of 30
degrees temperature, and is sunny, bright, and the serene
location is highly conducive to learning , teaching and research. You will
find a window into Nigeria by going to
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/...os/ni.html#Geo

It is a publication by the CIA called the World fact Book 2002: Nigeria ; you
will be able to learn a lot about Nigeria if you take time to
study it in some detail.

Nigeria is rapidly becoming stable after almost 30 years of Military rule; A
democracy ushered in the democratically elected Government of
President Olusegun Obasanjo 4 years ago; another election is scheduled for
April 18, 2003 in which the President is seeking re-election.
This is a lot of progress, by African standards.

Regarding the teaching offer, please permit me to explain my position. I am
the Public Relations Officer (PRO) to the Federal Recruitment
Board headed by Chief Jonathan Ozigbo. My job is Media and Public relations
work for the Board. The Chairman, Chief Jonathan Ozigbo
instructed me to advertise the vacancies which are listed in detail in the
document “APPENDIX A” attached below. Please
go through it carefully, and select your appropriate Department.

Also attached is a Circular issued by Chief Jonathan Ozigbo titled
“Teaching / Administrative Vacancies at Unity University,
Abuja” Please study this document too in detail to get the requirements
for application, and also a taste of the welfare package,
including salary and fringe benefits. It is more than generous by world
standards, and was designed to attract the best expatriate
minds…A 2 year contract will net you at least half a million USD, and
that is just for Salary alone.
In order to provide further incentive, Government will pay the 2 years salary
in front immediately you sign the teaching contract. The
modality is therefore as follows:

1. You will please kindly write a formal Application addressed as follows:
THE CHAIRMAN,
FEDERAL RECRUITMENT BOARD
RM 1004, FEDERAL SECRETARIAT COMPLEX
GARKI ABUJA

You will please date and sign this application, and fax it to me via 00 87 47
62 12 78 23; your application should be simple, and must
refer to your Department of choice, clearly typed as Subject.

2. You will send me your detailed resume ( CV) in WORD FORMAT ONLY); Please
send it as an email attachment (in Word) so that I
can print it out.
3. I will submit your application to the FRB for collation, vetting, and
review.
4. If you are successful, you will be so informed in writing via a Letter of
Appointment as staff of Unity University
5. A return Air ticket plus 25,000.00USD ( For your general expenses) will be
sent to you.
6. Once you receive the Letter of Appointment and money for your general
expenses, you will then proceed straight to the Nigerian
Embassy/High Commission in your Country, and you will be issued a 5 year
multiple re-entry Visa. This will be automatic because your
letter of Appointment will be copied the Nigerian Embassy / High Commission in
your Country. Therefore, all you will require is a valid
International Passport.
7. Finally, you will travel to Nigeria and be received by the Vice Chancellor
and Registrar; You will be assigned your living quarters, and
official car
8. You will then be required to sign your Contract; upon signing, you will
receive your 2 years salary immediately.
9. You will then obtain a 2 week leave to travel home to bring your family (
You will of course list your family members and the
Registrar will write to the Nigerian Embassy/High Commission, and they will
all be issued visas)
10. All the above steps will be concluded before June so that you will be
ready to start your job in June ( The effective date will be
communicated to you in your letter of Appointment)


Yours sincerely,
Madu Festus

It never ceases to amaze me that people continue to fall for these scams, especially with all the warnings floating around. Does no one have any common sense any more?

Was it PT Barnum that said "There's a sucker born every minute"?

I have no doubt that there is a scam out there with my name on it... Somehow, somewhere, there is a person who will figure out how to get to me.... I know I'm vulnerable on some level... Unfortunately, I don't know what it is just yet...
The last one was the Caribbean area code thing where they call you and leave a message to return this call because a loved one is in trouble... My daughter was living in St. Thomas at the time and I got tripped up... I made the call and incurred a monumental phone bill for a three minute call. It amazes me that the phone company will forward the charges on to you even when they know it's a scam... I refused to pay and won... I got lucky that time.
The bottom line is that we are all a target and susceptible on some level....
The one most prevalent scam is medical billing. Gosh, they seem to make mistakes in their favor on a daily basis...

Chaplin,
There are only two motivating factors to human behavior:

Fear
Greed

Roscoe

Casaleenie,
Have I got a deal for you!

http://www.jpringlephoto.com/Photos/Brooklyn-Bridge.jpg

Roscoe

Hey,
That's MY bridge. I own THAT!

I am supposed to be getting the tolls collected any day now!

TURK
I think it was a good investment.