My day is now complete - a scam from Nigeria

[Rhys]

I just had this response to a Craigslist advert. I can't be bothered to look at the headers - I know it comes from Lagos.


Hello,
My name is muhammeed and My fiancee is christerna and i are
getting married on MARCH 7th,2009 at Ceresville Mansion Frederick,
Maryland
I need a photographer who will come and snaps hot on that day and
when i came across your advert i was impressed.
We will want you to work for at least 6 Hours at the occasion,we
will pay the transportation charges to and from the party venue.At
this moment,my wife and i are in our Hawaii for our preweedding
honeymoon and will try get in touch with you personally when we
return. Let me know if you would be available for that date. muhammeed
and chris

I just replied, telling him it would cost $250,000 and that 20x16 prints were $2,000 each, asking him how many 20x16s he wanted.

ROTFL

[cdifoto]

That's about what I'd charge.

[jayfixit]

He wants you to "snaps hot"...you underbid.

[Rhys]

It's so much utter crap. I'm just glad Nigerians can't spell and don't have a clue about grammar - otherwise it might be harder to spot the scammers.

[gilly]

Recently I've had the 30D advertised online at a very reasonable £300. The only 4 responses to my ad have all wanted me to send it to Nigeria. A few months ago I advertised my BMW online - I was even lucky enough to receive a PHONECALL from Nigeria, man those guys must be busy, scamming the whole world repeatedly.

I've given up selling the 30D, I'm keeping it!

[Mark_48]

I had a similar incident last year when I was selling a car on craigslist. Presumed buyer was going to wire me check and arrange for a "mover" to pick up the car. I responded with an email to contact me here (http://www.ic3.gov/contact/default.aspx) with the details.

Out of curiousity I shot a quick email to the Ceresville Mansion about bookings on that date with the named parties. This is the response...

"Hello -
We do have a wedding here but with another couple who booked about a year out. "They" use urgency as part of their plea.

This is a scam - something like the Nigerian pay it forward scam. They say
they'll pay by credit card or cashiers check and you in turn use your funds
to help procure other services etc. Many times they are pre-honeymooning
and need your help. Also never give last names and spelling/grammar is
poor.

By the time you find out their card is fraudulent or the check is
counterfeit they've emptied your bank account. (unfortunately happened to a gal in Baltimore - as being in the area we service she was not as
suspicious).

We had a major problem with this last June, then it lessened but I've had
about 9 inquiries this week, so here we go again. Many times the "customer"
is getting info on vendors through craigslist. Craigslist has info on their
website too.

We've been told to just delete the email. Many times I send on to
spam@uce.gov. Or I think the FBI has an ic3 form that it uses - more for the scams about winning lotteries or the passing of funds between countries - using your account - for persons deceased.

Glad you checked it out and hope you have a healthy and prosperous '09.

Barb Miles
Business Office
Ceresville Mansion"

[adam75south]

oh i wouldn't say they're all that bad, i got a few million i'm waiting to transfer in my account from the PRESIDENT of nigeria!!! isn't that great?

[Rhys]

I baited one of those scammers for weeks. Never got a fake check from him though :( I wanted one to frame and hang on my wall.

[JMWallace]

HA! They are fun to play with.

I had one that said he was in the Cleveland area, gave me a cell phone number from Washington state registered to a company in California, a street address in Virginia (I looked it up...the house was actually for sale!!) for a wedding in Savannah, GA.

It was hilarious...I told him that my accounts had been closed at the bank and was no longer able to take checks. Oddly he stopped communicating when I told him that since he was only 2 1/2 hours away that I would pick up the cash.

Didn't even tell him I was planning on bringing a few friends with me

[TheWengler]

I always liked this Fox Trot...
44370

[Rhys]

Ooh. I had a reply...

I would need the following informations to forward to my firm accountant who will be handling the monetary aspect on our behalf.
FULL NAME
POSTAL AND CONTACT ADDRESS(not p.o box address)
CONTACT PHONE NUMBER

I would like you to please send these informations asap,in order to start the proccessing of your payment asap.I would also like to know if payment by certified check in American dollars is fine,because my firm is an American owned firm,so all transactions are been made in us dollars. I hope to read form you soonest.
Have a lovely Day

Umm... Why is his firm involved if it's him getting married to some slapper? American owned firms don't pay for weddings - especially not in a recession!

I'll respond and give him my PO Box - lol!

[JMWallace]

A couple things I know about these scams.

- You did well with your response...I have a feeling his is misreading tho. I think he is taking it as $2500.

- Most often, transactions under $5000 aren't suspicious in the banking world and arn't a cause for alarm.

- A bank can, at ANY time file a "Suspicious Activity Report" if they feel something isn't right.

- At $10,000 they are required to file a "Currency Transaction Report" any time at amount in CASH is deposited or withdrawn in a single day at the bank.

- Therefore you most often see these "offers" in the $2500 range because the tend to fly under the radar. Think of it as "Economies of Scale". Do more at lower amounts than risk a couple of big hits.

At this point...even though its nothing more than to just play with the guy, reinforce your $250,000 price point and require 25% as a down payment.

IF he bites, it might be time to get some type of authority involved. They will guide you on what to do.

There was a post on Digital Wedding Forum from a guy that does photography and IS a Police Officer. In the end, he was able to coordinate a capture of (if memory serves) at least 3 people in 2 states and was working with local Federal Government to maneuver with International officials.

Althought these are fun to post about, they are still illegal AND take advantage of very innocent people.

When I was a Manager at the bank, I had to withdrawl $15,000 from a customers account to cover losses the bank incurred due to a "lottery" scam.

They DO happen and people fall for them.

Sad really.

[Rhys]

Well, he bit and asked for my PO Box. I sent that to him and he says he's sending a cheque :D. If that arrives, I'll have something to frame and hang on my wall :D

[Mark_48]

Report the scumbags http://www.ic3.gov/contact/default.aspx

[Multi-Media Memories]

Hello - all thanks for all the great ideas. I'm located near Toronto and I can't wait to mess with this guy!!!! I really like the idea of getting a huge cheque to frame for my studio.....awesome!

[Rhys]

I'll probably end up passing it to a friend that works for the FBI and will probably frame a copy of the check :D