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The latest scam. Don't get caught out.

I got this E mail today. 13-04-05.

The following message was sent to you by another member of
Meetup.com: jennifer. The message from jennifer is:

CRY FOR HELP

My name is Miss sandra Williams During the civil and
political crisis in our country, my father together
with my three sisters were assassinated by heartless
elements that planted a bomb on my father’s official
car. Fortunately for me i was in the school when the tragedy
took place. I was in coma for almost two weeks. But I thank the
almighty God because I never knew that I could support the
shock of losing almost my whole family. That is by the way.
Right now I am still here in Cote d’Ivoire but very
unsafe for me. I are living in great fear and bondage. I intend
leaving this country as soon as possible but only one thing
kept me back. My late father has deposited with a security
company here in abidjan which has a branch office in EUROPE a
large sum of money which is in a trunk box and he registered
the consignment as family valuables/african art facts not as
money but I told you the truth because we intend to do this
transaction together, $4.5Million USD.
But during the civil war here in cote d'ivoire and before his death,he instructed the security company here to use their international diplomatic courier agent to lift the consignment out of this country to their branch office in amsterdam when he found out that this country is no more safe as I am talking to you now? the consignment is in Europe
But unfortunately he did not complete the transaction
before he died. I have met with the security director here in
abidjan cote d'ivoire who has certified our claims to the
consignment. I have the deposit documents, and receipt of
deposit with which my late father made the deposit. So now I
need a trustworthy person to transact with. I do not know you
much but and I feel I need to talk to you. It took me great
pains and courage to make this move because it looks stupid for
me trying to confide in a total stranger I never met before .

By instinct I am convinced you are an honest person and you have the capacity to handle this transaction with me. As soon as it is done, I will come over to
meet you and spend the rest of our lives in your
country. I wish to invest the money into estate
business and other good business you may propose. I
promise to greatly compensate you with 15% for all assistance
you may offer us. I do not know how you may feel about
this but I want you to take this very serious and
confidential. Down here, I am living in fear because
enemies of my fathers are hunting for me.
Please let me know your mind concerning my proposal to
you. EMAIL WITH MY PRIVATE (sandra_williams011 at yahoo.fr)
May God bless you.
Your sincerely,
sandra

**** off
James.

By ARMacleod on Apr 13, 2005, 10:30 in Friendly Talkzone.

Cerealkiller says on Apr 13, 2005, 10:37:

I get that all the time. Its quite annoying, but then again I am a little concerned with the sum, I mean how stingy!!! I have never been offered 4,5 million...I got a 21 million bucks offer yesterday. I agree with you, she better **** off.

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

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fill says on Apr 13, 2005, 10:40:

I get one of these about every week

fill

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Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Apr 13, 2005, 10:41:

got the very same one today...
Cheers,
Desi

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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Miguel says on Apr 13, 2005, 10:44:

Here is the solution To this problem; let's all pony up money to Elmo's nephew John, pay his travel expenses and tell him to visit this poster wearing his "Fuck You You Fucking Fuck" camiseta, with his hand gun. End of problem. Gotta tell you board, Elmo's nephew John is one bad/good modofoque.

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cali373 says on Apr 13, 2005, 10:45:

I used to get these from a so-called Nigerian official. Even scams have been globalized.

Smile if you are a thinker!

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poco says on Apr 13, 2005, 11:23:

The only email I've seen with Good advise Removed the BS. Pay attention,, the biggest problem is NOT having the numbers to call.

1. The next time you order checks have only your initials (instead of first name) and last name put on them. If someone takes your checkbook, they will not know if you sign your checks with just your initials or your first name, but your bank will know how you sign your checks.

. 2. Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put "PHOTO ID REQUIRED".

. 3. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the "For" line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have access to it.

4. Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have a PO Box use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO Box, use your work address. Never have your SS# printed on your checks. (DUH!) You can add it if it is necessary. But if you have it printed, anyone can get it.

5. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place. I also carry a photocopy of my passport when I travel either here or abroad. We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed on us in stealing a name, address, Social Security number, credit cards.

This is firsthand knowledge because my wallet was stolen last month. Within a week, the thief ordered an expensive monthly cell phone package , applied for a VISA credit card, had a credit line approved to buy a Gateway computer, received a PIN number from DMV to change my driving record information online, and more. But here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know:

1. We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately. But the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them.

2. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc., were stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one).

But here's what is perhaps most important of all : (I never even thought to do this.)

3. Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and Social Security number. I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for credit was made over the Internet in my name. The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen, and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.

By the time I was advised to do this, almost two weeks after the theft, all the damage had been done. There are records of all the credit checks initiated by the thieves' purchases, none of which I knew about before placing the alert. Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the thieves threw my wallet away This weekend someone turned it in. It seems to have stopped them dead in their tracks.

Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet, etc., has been stolen:

1. Equifax: 1-800-525-6285

2. Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742

3. Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289

4. Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

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Lauthra says on Apr 13, 2005, 13:16:

Me too She's spamming everyone at the meetup.com, it makes me sad that someone could actually believe such a load of rubbish!
Nato ;)

Nato (='.'=)

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daver says on Apr 22, 2005, 14:22:

I get a much better version... some late relative of mine keeps passing away every week or so in Africa, and I am promised 40% of his fortune. I actually responded once that I was interested, but to no avail. I guess they need the credit card number.... sigh.

Dave

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Chevere33 says on Apr 23, 2005, 12:05:

I get these, too, and... ...it's usually someone claiming to either be rich and unable to get their inheritance without putting it in my bank account, or a long lost relative with the same last name.

Funny, EVERY time, I write them back and say that I am broke, too, and to just put the money into my PayPal account where it will be safe.

I'm still WAAAAiiiting!

Constancia

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ARMacleod says on Apr 23, 2005, 12:27:

Chevere33, I must be too well closeted. This was the first time I had received such obvious nonsense. I cannot believe that anyone would be conned by this kind of thing until I saw a program on C4, it was interviewing a man who had paid in to some account or other £12,000. And was asking when and how could he get his promised fortune?

I hate to say this, but I am almost glad that he got scammed. I feel sorry for him, but the truth is there are a lot of greedy and also stupid people out there and it perhaps is good because it warns the rest of us as to what to expect.

Being of unsound mind and dubious disposition, I cannot be held legally liable for any indiscretions."¡El diablo me hizo hacerlo!" But don't worry, be happy.

The brain is like a parachute, it only functions correctly when it is open. Pax vobiscum.

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