Nigerian Scam

[MeDiCo_BrUjO]

Well, I am pretty sure that most of you (if not all of you) should have bumped with one of these at some point, but this time I decided to play along to actually make them think that I was going to fall for it, so here is my story:

I have a Craigslist ad in Tampa that I run on a permanent basis and one day I received this email:

-----Mensaje original-----
De: Jeremy Douglas [mailto:jeremyweddingplanninginc@googlemail.com]
Enviado el: Tuesday, February 24, 2009 12:43 PM
Para: serv-1041100113@craigslist.org
Asunto: Concerning Your Computer Service

** CRAIGSLIST ADVISORY --- AVOID SCAMS BY DEALING LOCALLY
** Avoid: wiring money, cross-border deals, work-at-home
** Beware: cashier checks, money orders, escrow, shipping
** More Info: http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams.html

My name is Jeremy Douglas, from Ocala, Florida work in Elizabethton,
Tennessee. I brought some computers and they are are laptops HP 530
computer. I want you to Format, Install software such as Microsoft
Office(2003), Antivirus(Avast), Corel Draw9, PhotoShop, Clean Inner &
Outer Computer components, update software to current status,

Get back to me with your total cost for the services of 8 Computers (Laptops).

I await your urgent response so that i can put the arrangement in order

Regard

Now, this particular message I have seen before, but instead of telling him to f*ck 0ff as I usually do, I decided to play along to see how this developed.

After stating that I was more than able to do the job, he replied: (I've obviously changed references to my name for my nick here.)

> Hi MeDiCo_BrUjO,
>
> Thank for your response tomy email... I have all necessary software's
> i need you to install on the laptops.I have a shipper who will bring
> them down to you to work on them and also pick them back as soon as
> you are done with them. The shipper will come over with the laptops
> with the softwares including the recovery disc of each of the laptops.
>
> Get back to me with your fee for doing the computers.
>
> Awaiting your quick response
>
> Jeremy

So I tell him I would do the job for 800 washingtons.

MeDiCo_BrUjO,

Thanks for your quick response to my email.. I have 8 laptops. Since you charge $100 per laptop, the total fee for doing all 8 laptops will be $800. Get back to me if my calculation is correct.

Get back to me as soon as possible.

Thanks

My reply was "Yes, that's right".

Hi MeDiCo_BrUjO,
I really do appreciate your effort and i will love to do payment with
you soon. I must confess I'm comfortable with the cost and its quite
reasonable and affordable. I had like to make the payment for the 8
computer (Laptops) ahead of my shipper arrival.
My shipper will be coming with necessary Softwares you need to install
on the Computers, which includes The Operating System, Microsoft
Office, Antivirus (Avast), Recovery CD for each Laptop. I'll be
sending you a $2850.95 Check for payment, from which you'll deduct the
fees for the 8 Computers (Laptops) and help me send the rest balance
to the shipper who will bring the Computer to your location for
service.
I will keep you posted as when you'll receive payment. If this is okay
with you let me have the following information, Name which check will
be drawn in, Address and Phone Number for the payment to be made out
to you.
I hope i can trust you and i can as well be trusted.
Hope to hear from you soon. Have a good time.

After that, received this last email:

Hello MeDiCo_BrUjO,
I got an email from my client now, let me know that the Payment has been sent to you at the address provided and will be delivered to you by today via UPS and here is the tracking Number (J221 650463 7), you can track it on there website on www.ups.com/us to confirm when it will be delivered, But my client made me understand the amount sent on the Payment ($2850.95) is meant for Computers service fee and shipment fees for 8 computers (laptops) to your location.I instructed him to make payment for your Service to you and the other to my Shipper but he made mistake of issuing all sum to you.
So I need your help so badly now. All you need do is go deposit the check at your local bank, withdraw the difference, deduct your Computers service fee and get the rest cash sent to thr shipper via WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER with below information:
NAME : OYEWOLE NURUDEEN
ADDRESS : P.O BOX 1901
SEME, COTONOU
BENIN
Once you get the funds sent, get back to me with the below information:
Full Sender's Name
Sender's Address
MTCN number # (which must be 10digit )
Actual amount sent for the transaction.

I'll then get my shipper ready and my computers will be shipped to your location once the funds has been made.
Get back to me now when you read this message.
Jeremy

And this jewel arrived 30 minutes ago via UPS overnight.



I just wrote them confirming that I received the check and that I was going to deposit it and wait until I received confirmation from my bank that it cleared without problems (Which of course I won't do)

Now, my big question is.... what should I do?, to whom I report this?.

Do I just go to the cops with basically a copy of this thread where I am telling the whole story?, or do I just laught it up knowing that at least I made them spend at least $50 in that overnight shipping fee?.

Your thoughts please.

[gadgetguy]

I believe the FBI investigates mail fraud and illegal activities across state lines. I would start there. Check your phonebook for the office nearest to you.

[Xylob the Destroyer]

Start (because this part is quick & easy) by filling out and submitting the form here: https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/forms/MailFraudComplaint.aspx
Definitely contact your local law enforcement agency - they may not be able to help much but should be able to quickly point you to the proper Federal authorities.

[stiltman]

I would call the people on the check Chamberino...
Ask them who that check was made out to.
Then I would try to cash it for cash at a Wash Mutual Bank

[MeDiCo_BrUjO]

I think the whole check is a falsification. I have never seen a check printed in Comic Sans MS.

Also, take a look at this:



One of this two houses is the supposed address of the office that sent the check.I don't know about you but it doesn't look like an office to me.

[Number Six]

Generally in these schemes, the check that they send is a fake or even could be a stolen account. The idea is that you deposit the check in your account and return the excess funds to them before the check has any chance to be processed - this is where they get you because you are sending them your money, and as a result you will take the hit when the fraud is revealed.

The check is allegedly drawn on Washington Mutual - which is now Chase - and does not even display the Washington Mutual Logo (see logo below).

You should definitely contact Washington Mutual - Chase about the check. Do not try to deposit or cash it - I'm sure you already know this. Also, contact the FBI. The Postal Inspectors can't do anything for you because it was delivered by UPS, so it is not Mail Fraud.

I searched for the bank - it is there:

11220 FONDREN RD
HOUSTON, TX 77096-5508
(713) 988-8780

[Supreme2k]

I can help you on this matter, as i know you great uncle, who is sick at this time.

In order to process this to the proper authorities, I will need your bank account information, which will be given to your great uncle for ssecurity purposes. Once I receive the information, there will be no further action on your part. You will not need to call the police or anyone else.

In compensation for capturing these frauds, you will receive several million dollars, transferred directly to your bank account from your great uncle.

I will be awaiting your response.

[MeDiCo_BrUjO]

Yeah, I knew all the time that he was going to send me a phony check and then to ask me to send money to somebody. I just felt the need to make him waste time and money by actually making him send the check to me overnight... lol and he fell for it.
I wonder how many people still fall for this.

Now... the dude that wants the wire transfer is in Nigeria or Benin or whatever... BUT the one that sent the UPS package overnight is in Jacksonville, FL. I wonder what's his part on this...
Is he getting a cut or what?

[Number Six]

There is no way of knowing who is in Jacksonville - it could be an accomplice, relative, etc. I'm sure that , whoever it is, they are getting something. Just be careful that they did not get any important info on you that would let them steal your identity.

[Webster]

Now... the dude that wants the wire transfer is in Nigeria or Benin or whatever... BUT the one that sent the UPS package overnight is in Jacksonville, FL. I wonder what's his part on this...

Why don't you email him and said the check was damaged/ripped/wet/ink faded in transit and is not in usable form. And ask him to send another one........ .

[Noahtuck]

I would e-mail him in a week and say the check cleared and that you are keeping all the money for yourself!!!!!
SUCKER!!!!!!!



Personally, i would have never even given out my name or address
Even just to mess with them!!

Nigeria, getting someone busted ??

Good luck with that

EDIT:

Okay, don't mind me, i've had a few (20) shots
Have not read everything but, after looking again at the post with the photos, this si someone from texas trying to pull this scam ??

Yep... get their asses busted!!!!!!

Hmmm....

[Poppa_Meth]

I've had a couple of different schemes pop up here at the store. All originating from the Nigerian scammers.
1) Japanese girl wants me to help her claim her inheritance and invest it.
2) 100 gallons of pool paint shipped halfway across the country.....for a habitat home.
3) Granite countertops shipped halfway across the country to a preacher......for an orphanage.
4) 3 rolls of dirt cheap carpet shipped to Africa via a shipping company with a hotmail email address.

Sometimes they really don't think these things out well.

[lordsmurf]

You might want to also contact TBI (Tennessee version of FBI), in case the operation really is based from that state. They have been somewhat active in prosecuting these crimes in the past couple of years. I know some people who helped set up a sting last year, and TBI oversaw it, before handing it off the the FBI (because it was traced back to Canada, too).

It was not Nigerian, it was Canadians.

[freebird73717]

[sarcasm]Hey wait a minute. This could be real[/sarcasm]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Br6dK5yZQk

[MeDiCo_BrUjO]

Come on!!!, am I a magnet for these guys or what?

I just got this 5 min. ago... (direct reply to my Craigslist Ad)

Hello to you overthere?

I am Originally from good year AZ ,am nurse in Arizona,i and my husband are presently in China and will be coming back from china next month,we are going to settle and put up our big computer store as this is what we are here for. Checking on the craigslist ,I read your description and am interested in your service,we have about 20 laptops that we want to install softwares on and clean them up.We are sending the computers over and they are laptops Hp centrino(intel) computer ..i want you to Install softwares such as Microsoft Office and Antivirus, clean inner & outercomputer components, update software to current status.We will like to know if you will be able handle this job.so please get back to us with you total cost for the services of 20 computer excluding the shipping cost cus we have a shipper that will come with the computers and the necessary Softwares to you.

We await your urgent response so that we can put the arrangement in order.

Thanks

NOTE: I also have all necessary softwares

[stiltman]

Come on!!!, am I a magnet for these guys or what?

I just got this 5 min. ago... (direct reply to my Craigslist Ad)

That's because you are posting the WRONG type of ads on Craigslist

[MeDiCo_BrUjO]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090316/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_nigeria_australia_scam

Nigerian student gets 19 years' jail for love scam


LAGOS (Reuters) – A Nigerian undergraduate has been sentenced to 19 years in prison for obtaining $47,000 (33,382 pounds) from an Australian woman by convincing her over the Internet that he was 57 years old, white, and madly in love with her.

Lawal Adekunle Nurudeen met his victim on the Internet in 2007 and convinced her that he was a British widower called Benson Lawson. He said he was an engineer working in Lagos whose wife and only child had been killed in a car accident.

"The victim, a 56-year-old woman from Australia, told the convict that she wanted a husband and all the men she had met always disappointed her," said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria's anti-corruption police.

"The convict, who is married with three children, instantly replied and told the victim she had met her Mr Right ... He sent the picture of a white man to foreclose any suspicions."

The woman sent Nurudeen money for medical treatment and travel costs to visit Australia. He spent the funds on two plots of land and a Honda Prelude car.

Nigerian confidence tricksters have a long history of extorting money via the Internet through "419" scams, named after the clause that outlaws them in Nigeria's penal code. Many are never caught.

The EFCC said Nurudeen was ordered to pay around $10,000 immediately and a further $250 a month to his victim until the full amount stolen was returned. She would also receive the proceeds of the sale of his land and car.

[zoobie]

the lonely are always targets...