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TR Member doing Nigerian-style scam

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by montgomery gator

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

I got a "Message from a TechRepublic Member" e-mail with a twist on the Nigerian-style scam, this time from Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone. Looks like the scam is being exported to other countries in western Africa. So, if you get this e-mail from Hassan Mohammed, don't fall for it.

Text of email:

One of your fellow TechRepublic members has sent you a private message:

From: hasmohammed@...
Subject: Management
Message:
Dear Sir,

Based on the information and recommendation satisfactorily gathered concerning your profile, I hereby wish to acquaint you with a business proposal that will be of benefit to both of us.

I am the son of the former chairman of Sierra Leone Diamond Corporation, Late Col. Sanni Mohammed. Due to political instability and war in my country which claimed the live of my father, I am now residing in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire on political assylum.

I have an inheritance as contained in my father's WILL. This has been with a Trust Company here in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire for the past past few years now. I was able to identify myself to the said Trust Company and all rights and privilages issued to me.

As a result of African economic and political instability, I am prompted to look for credible, reliable and trust worthy person or company whom to transfer his inheritance to which is in form of cash deposited in this Trust Company as 'Precious Family Treasure' for the sole purpose of INVESTMENT/MANAGEMENT

Meanwhile, all relevant documents partaining to this 'Precious Family Treasure' are with me and will be issued to you at your request.

Kindly send to me your acceptance mail and other details will follow.

Expecting to hear from you soonest.

Hassan Mohammed
hasmohammed@yahoo.com

24 replies

by jck

1 million in Turkish money...hahaha

Howard Stern does that...it's like...US$3

by m_a_r_k

As expected, this jerk became a member within the last few weeks. Has had no other account activity such as posting messages. Is there a TR rep who can be contacted to get this piece of trash removed as a user? The guy has a yahoo email address. Some free online services do not allow users to register using free email addresses (yahoo, hotmail, etc) because of scammers like this ass.

https://www.techrepublic.com.com/5213-6257-0.html?id=4228005&redirectTo=%2f1320-22-20.html

by jaqui

forward the spam to beth blakely, or any of the tr staff.

they will do what they can.

I also will forward the email to the person's email provider.

by m_a_r_k

He has freemail. His email provider is yahoo. You're not going to get much response from them about something like this.

by bfilmfan

Then I will not be getting anymore email, since I use my Yahoo email address due to this kind of spam.

by jdclyde

(he said member)

I have LONG advocated that to join you should HAVE to use a valid NON-free email address.

If you wish to use a second free account to actually RECIEVE your membership information, that is fine but a REAL email address should be REQUIRED!

The mojority of the people that would be scared off by this aproach are the scumbags that only lessen the value of the site anyways, so it would be a good thing all the way around.

by jmgarvin

You know, the wrath of god will come down on him and destroy all that he holds dear before smiting him?

Ah, to dream.

by jamesrl

That these things are not self limiting.

They existed before the Internet, but they were fewer in number when someone had to use stamps. And postal fraud legislation in most jurisdictions was pretty good.

But there must be a certain percentage of people who are too greedy to listne to the voice in their head thats says - "This is to good to be true" and "How did they decide on me?"

I can't remember which one, but I saw a investigative piece on it where they actually replied and arranged to meet some of these scammers in Nigeria, with hidden cameras etc. It was quite entertaining, but sad at the same time, that some people fall for it.

James

by itgirli

The way I look at it is, if people are stupid enough to fall for it, they deserve to be taken advantage of. I have no sympathy for the stupid. Of course, that is not to say that I wouldn't mind seeing the people behind these scams to be impaled, then quartered.

by malnas4u

I am a Nigerian. It sicken me when I read such trash from supposedly other Nigerians. But it amazes me more if some gullible fellow somewhere falls for this types of gimmick. The main thing to look out for is the "too good to be true" scenario. Nothing comes easy in this world. if you think you will lie down and expect manna to fall in your mouth, then you are living in a fools paradise.
This has nothing to do with free email providers. It has all to do with GREED. it takes two to tango.

by jdclyde

like in the wild, the weak and STUPID get culled from the herd where the jackels tear them to pieces.

We (humans) are the only animal that activly helps the weak and stupid to breed, and what happens when TWO weak and stupid people breed? You got it! Even Weaker stupid people to protect.

Not the most sensitive thing in the world to say, but just because it isn't sensitive doesn't mean it isn't true.

by m_a_r_k

...these scammers have been using very similar wording in their letters and the same pretense since these scams started a dozen years ago. You'd think they'd change their tactics every now and then. I guess that means they are still fooling as many idiots now as they always have.

by antuck

Makes me wonder do we prosecute both parties. The scammer for the scam and the people who fall for it for being stupid.

by bob in calgary

Forward a copy to the FBI for them to look at. Went to a presentation on this stuff a couple of weeks ago, believe it or not it is a $500 Million a year industry and the cops in North America would like to shut it down.
One case they reviewed, some guy spent 25,000 on the original scam and then another 20,000 to another scammer who told him they could get his money back. Apparently if you respond you get put on a sucker list which is then sold as it shows you're an easy target.

by montgomery gator

By any chance, do you have the e-mail address for the FBI department that handles the Nigerian type of scams like this?

by jaqui

forward as file attachment to thier abuse@yahoo.com
or .co.uk or whichever extention for address.

within 48 hours ( 2 business days ) you get a response.
I have forwarded several to them and gotten responses every time, always indicating that the offender has been cut off from thier service.

by dmambo

And are they selling condos there? It almost sounds too good to be true, but I'm willing to take a chance.

by dmambo

I mean this IS a tech site and I'm sure most of the members are too savvy to fall for this, or at least connected enough to have heard about this scam already. Since nobody else posting here has received a similar message, it seems that Hassan must have taken the time to sign-up and send the private message(s). I don't think the sign-up process can be automated.

Of course, that's all of 8 minutes work and if one person per month responds, they probably make a nice profit.

Perhaps the local governments should do more to stop this type of trade activity to be eligible for western foreign aid. Same goes for counterfeiting products in Asia. A global economy should have global rules to play by.

by jdclyde

That after becoming members, they looked for someone that they could pull this over on and Tom wins the lottery?

Is it something you said Tom? Did you look like a victom? :p

I have some swamp land down in florida for sale if your interested! ;\

by montgomery gator

How did you find out about the valuable swamp land? I am originally from Florida (Go Gators!!!), and my parents used to own some valuable swamp land in Lee County, Florida, that they sold off to Yankees from Michigan at a great profit. By any chance are you one of the Yankees that bought it? :-)

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