Beware of Nigerian Scam
Fraudulent Checks from Overseas Swindlers can Create Unwanted Debt
There are a number of scam operations, that are more frequent recently, that consist of fraudulent checks that are to be cashed by victims who wire money to the swindlers
Beware of Nigerian Scam
Fraudulent Checks from Overseas Swindlers can Create Unwanted Debt
An e-mail message was sent to a business owner in Mankato, Minn. from a so-called wedding planner by the name of Suzanna Brown. "Brown" asked the owner of a disc jockey entertainment service to provide four hours worth of music for a wedding taking place in Lakeville, Minn. Seeing an opportunity for income, the business owner agreed to do it. Several e-mails were exchanged between the two. Brown asked for payment information and was told to either pay the DJ at the event or send a check or money order to a certain address. A day later an express package arrived. Enclosed was a check from Washinton Mutual Bank for $5000. The package was mailed from the University of Georgia in Atlanta. An email from Brown suggested that the bride sent a check for that amount, and that the DJ was supposed to deposit the check, and mail the rest of the money back to a given address so the bride could buy a gown and pay the wedding planner after the DJ took his cut. The DJ went to Wells Fargo, where his business account was held, and presented the check to a teller. The teller was immediately suspicious of the check. They could not reach the issuer. They said that the check was most likely fraudulent. The DJ became curious, and called 411 to find the number of Washington Mutual Bank. The address on the check for the bank was accurate. However, the check was labeled as cashier's check, which Washington Mutual Bank does not issue. Washington Mutual Bank said that the check was definately fraudulent. The DJ contacted the local police -- who were not surprised by the matter.
There has been frequent scams similar to this one that have been going on, preying on many victims in the same city according to the Mankato Police Department. They referred to it as the Nigerian Scam. It involves people who send their victims a fraudulent check that is sometimes cashed or deposited. The victim is instructed to send a certain ammount of the check back, usually by wire, to a certain address. The swindler recieves the wired cash before anyone realizes that check has bounced. In most cases the victim is responsible for the stolen cash when it cannot be retrieved.
Many of the scams involve some type of lottery, possibly in a foreign country. They send a check for a large sum of money, and tell the person who has "won" to send a certain amount back for taxes or the like.
The scam probably got its name from incidents invovling someone who says that their country of Nigeria is in turmoil and it is not safe for them. They claim that they need a safe place for their money and mail it to someone insisting that they will pay them a sum of cash to cash their fake check and send the rest of the money to a different address outside of Africa. Emails, telephone calls, and even postal mail is used to lure the victim into their trap. The checks are usually printed on a laser printer with official bank or financial institution logos on them.
Victims should contact local police or even the local FBI if a similar thing has happened to them. These criminals are often tricky and very hard to catch. They use temporary P.O. boxes and pre-paid cell phones to cover their tracks.
