A Nigerian Scam Scam

[Jim Wynne]

This is a new angle, at least to me.

This is to officially inform you that the United Nations Organization compensation payment committee, have mapped out funds running into Millions of United States Dollars for the settlement of all funds that have been lost to Nigerian Scams via Lottery Winnings, Contract payments, Fake Bank Transfer scams, Inheritance Funds payments, fake money orders, fraudulent online shopping, dating scams, charity scams, check transfer and ATM scams etc. This compensation is been sponsored and done by the Nigerian Government in collaboration with the World Bank, United Nations Organization and Western Union Money Transfer.
We have been directed by the United Nations Security Council to make a compensation payment of $50,000.00 USD (Fifty Thousand United States Dollars Only) to you being one of the listed beneficiaries. Be informed that a first part payment of sum of $2,000.00 (Two Thousand United States Dollars Only) shall be sent to you on a daily basis for 25 days.
===================================================
Below is the Western Union information for the first payment pick up:
MTCN: 987-651-7649
SENDER NAME: Enoma Clark
Question: MONTH
Answer: DECEMBER
Amount: $2,000.00 USD
===================================================
RECEIVER INFORMATION:
NAME:
ADDRESS:
TELEPHONE NUMBER:
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
ALL INFORMATIONS SHOULD BE SENT TO THE TRANSFER AGENT BELOW:
AGENT: Helen White
EMAIL: TEL: +2348085424282
===================================================
Kindly get back to us via email and phone (+2348085424282) immediately confirming your name, address and telephone number, Once we receive your email, we shall give you more information on what you need to do to activate the above MTCN(987-651-7649) to start up your transfer.
KINDLY SEND YOUR REPLY TO:Mrs. Helen White

 

[Wes Bucey]

The footer says it all:

Kindly get back to us via email and phone (+2348085424282) immediately confirming your name, address and telephone number, Once we receive your email, we shall give you more information on what you need to do to activate the above MTCN(987-651-7649) to start up your transfer.
KINDLY SEND YOUR REPLY TO:Mrs. Helen White
​

It's part of a long con to facilitate identity theft. You would probably be asked to scan and/or fax driver's license or passport to "prove" you are the rightful recipient. Perhaps they'll offer to send it direct to your bank account, just send them account number and routing info, which, together with your ID will allow them to draft against your account just like any other bill you pay online.

 

[Mikishots]

But...I've spent some of the money already. Do I have to give it back?

 

[Wes Bucey]

This past week, I've been hit by a new scam which sends me an unsolicited text to my cell phone which says I've won a $1,000 gift certificate to WalMart. So far, I've gotten five texts, each purporting to be from a different phone but All instructing me to the same website.The instructions list a website to "get details." Turns out the website was only created last Friday - owner listed on an offshore island nation. The instructions turn out to be a big phishing [walmart uses the term "smishing"] site to steal identities and create targeted emails for the perpetrator to sell to others.

Walmart Gift Card Text Message Scams - March 9, 2012
In the last few days there has been a sudden increase in scam text messages referring people to a site where they can “claim a Walmart Gift Card” by entering certain private personal information. These attacks that take place through SMS Text message technologies to personal mobile phones are scams and are in no way sponsored by or affiliated with Walmart.

I thought signing up for no unsolicited calls [no call list run by the feds] would protect me from such stuff - alas, I still get calls from strangers offering to clean my air ducts, check my HVAC, which my local police say are scams by "gypsies" to gain entry to houses of "elderly and/or clueless" where one team member distracts the owner while the other scours the house for stealable items.

 

[Jim Wynne]

This past week, I've been hit by a new scam which sends me an unsolicited text to my cell phone which says I've won a $1,000 gift certificate to WalMart. So far, I've gotten five texts, each purporting to be from a different phone but All instructing me to the same website.The instructions list a website to "get details." Turns out the website was only created last Friday - owner listed on an offshore island nation. The instructions turn out to be a big phishing [walmart uses the term "smishing"] site to steal identities and create targeted emails for the perpetrator to sell to others.I thought signing up for no unsolicited calls [no call list run by the feds] would protect me from such stuff - alas, I still get calls from strangers offering to clean my air ducts, check my HVAC, which my local police say are scams by "gypsies" to gain entry to houses of "elderly and/or clueless" where one team member distracts the owner while the other scours the house for stealable items.

I've gotten three of those Wal-Mart texts in the last two weeks. I'm not sure the no-call thing protects against SMS spam, and I'm pretty sure that scammers aren't likely to honor it.

 

[Wes Bucey]

I've gotten three of those Wal-Mart texts in the last two weeks. I'm not sure the no-call thing protects against SMS spam, and I'm pretty sure that scammers aren't likely to honor it.

Of course not!

The whole point of "no call" is to prevent legitimate phone centers from violating a person's privacy. The folks operating with a robo-caller can start up anywhere with a phone - the crooks are gone to a new phone before the first phone bill arrives. They most likely stiff the phone company, too. Woe betide the phone company that gives such a crook an unlimited call/data/message package for $99/month.

If a guy is a crook, he sure isn't going to worry about violating "no call" is he?

 

[howste]

I have a sure-fire way to avoid scam texts like the one above. In fact, I've never received any scam texts ever. I cancelled all text services on my phone a few years back.

 

[Wes Bucey]

I have a sure-fire way to avoid scam texts like the one above. In fact, I've never received any scam texts ever. I cancelled all text services on my phone a few years back.

yeah, maybe. Even an old guy such as I can't resist being part of the 21st century. I think my grandchildren have forgotten how to talk on a phone - everything with them is TEXT TEXT TEXT.

I took 2 of them on a 1,000 mile car trip and they didn't even talk to each other - they sat in the back seat and texted each other and listened to music on their headphones (between watching DVDs on the player mounted in the ceiling of my car, using wireless headphones.) On the plus side, my wife and I had a lovely, uninterrupted conversation.

 

[aliasJohnQ]

Let everyone answer these scams by a made up email, and say something like You first! I did that once for a car selling online, so I said I have to have my mechanic look at it first, give me the address. They never responded, and they took off their ad. It works for some things...

 

[Wes Bucey]

Let everyone answer these scams by a made up email, and say something like You first! I did that once for a car selling online, so I said I have to have my mechanic look at it first, give me the address. They never responded, and they took off their ad. It works for some things...

A scam artist can instantly recognize someone who is NOT a potential victim, or worse, a cop. Sad to say, there will always be someone who thinks he can game the scam artist and all he gets for his trouble is wasted time.

Education and ignoring the come ons from scam artists are the best deterrent. Nobody bothers to send spam or try a scam like phishing unless it works.