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:
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.
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 ***.
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.
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.
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.
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.
If you're asking for technical help, please be sure to include all your system info, including operating system, model number, and any other specifics related to the problem. Also please exercise your best judgment when posting in the forums--revealing personal information such as your e-mail address, telephone number, and address is not recommended.
TR Member doing Nigerian-style scam
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