Nigerian Scam!

This is warning I wanna send to all who is on online business inclusive but not limited to Sulit.com.ph, ayosdito.com.ph, Craiglist...

I'm new to online selling and the scammer almost got me. To others, it's a lesson learned the hard way and we don't want this bitter end be an experience to those who are genuinely just trying to make a living online.

Scam in Nigeria is BUSINESS! Scammers are educated Nigerians hence they can communicate well in english. It's rampant yet I believe they righteously defend themselves that it's alright to victimize others like stealing to the rich and greedy people.

Scams always involve one or any of the following:

inquiry from someone far away, often in another country, to be sent to yet another country
since they are 'away' they are unable for face-to-face meet up
wiring money via Western Union, Money Gram, cashier's check, money order, shipping, escrow service, a 'guarantee' and DHL

Note that they can always change their accounts, it's easy and its free online. But so far, here are some of the latest names and email addresses they used:

Rose Williams from UK: rosewilliams8091@yahoo.com
Mary James: maryj882@gmail.com
Anita Odole: anitaodole10@gmail.com
Linda Cecelia
Melissa Spencer: ladyspencer21@gmail.com
Sarah Lewis

The Modus Operandi:

1. They will inquire if the item is still available.

2. They will say that they are located in London, UK or England and they will give the item as a gift to his/her relative in Nigeria, specifically (Oyo Road, Ibadan, Nigeria). example:

NAME: Kayode Odole
ADDRESS: No 4 Onireke
CITY: IBADAN
STATE: OYO
COUNTRY: NIGERIA
ZIP CODE: 23402
Phone: +2348023753377

3. They will ask for your bank details and will offer to add a shipping fee.

4. They will "release" the money through their "bank" and the "bank" will send an email of verification of on-hold wire money transfer that will be "given" after the shipment tracking number was sent to the "bank account holder" (your so-called client)

5. After giving the tracking number the "bank' needs 3hours to more than 3days to verify. If you ask the client why its taking too long they will assure you that they'll call the bank, they will hold the payment longer, until they will no longer reply... :3

6. or, they will "accidentally" deposit more than the item's price, like $500 more on-hold transfer, and their "bank" will require you to send the $500 (from your own pocket) because they cannot deduct the amount because it's 'on-hold', they will require you to send for the tracking number of the money transfer 'before' they will release the 'on-hold payment' then in the end,you'll undergo number 5. :3

That's the general modus but the scammers are smart, so be smarter. More or less, some changes can occur, but know you now.

What banks are they using?
Bank of England, Royal Bank of Scotland, PayPal, etc

How to spot a Nigerian Scammer?
they are good in English but not good enough on grammar and spelling and easily interchangeable words like fell-file, etc.
the icons and seals of their "bank" are blurred, different in color shade and sometimes inverted.
if it's from Nigeria, it's 99% SCAM!

How to avoid being scammed? (from Craiglist Help Forum)

DEAL LOCALLY WITH FOLKS YOU CAN MEET IN PERSON - follow this one rule and avoid 99% of scam attempts.

NEVER WIRE FUNDS VIA WESTERN UNION, MONEYGRAM or any other wire service - anyone who asks you to do so is a scammer.

FAKE CASHIER CHECKS & MONEY ORDERS ARE COMMON, and BANKS WILL CASH THEM AND THEN HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE when the fake is discovered weeks later.

CRAIGSLIST IS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY TRANSACTION, and does not handle payments, guarantee transactions, provide escrow services, or offer "buyer protection" or "seller certification"

NEVER GIVE OUT FINANCIAL INFORMATION(bank account number, social security number, eBay/PayPal info, etc.)

AVOID DEALS INVOLVING SHIPPING OR ESCROW SERVICES and know that ONLY A SCAMMER WILL "GUARANTEE" YOUR TRANSACTION.


DO NOT RENT HOUSING WITHOUT SEEING THE INTERIOR, OR PURCHASE EXPENSIVE ITEMS SIGHT-UNSEEN - in all likelihood that housing unit is not actually for rent and that cheap item does not exist.

DO NOT SUBMIT TO CREDIT CHECKS OR BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR A JOB OR FOR HOUSING UNTIL YOU HAVE MET THE INTERVIEWER OR LANDLORD/AGENT IN PERSON.

Who to contact for these cyber crimes?

First,  contact the "bank" they are using and inquire if the "email address" of the "bank"  your prospect client is using is legit.

U. K.
FSA.CO.UK

U.S. Federal

• Internet Fraud Complaint Center
• FTC Video: How to report scams to the FTC
• FTC online complaint form
• FTC toll free hotline: 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357)
• Consumer Sentinel/Military (for reports from services members or their families)
• SIIA Software and Content Piracy reporting
• Ohio Attorney General Consumer Complaints

Canada

• Canadian Anti-Fraud Centreor 888-495-8501 (toll-free)
• RCMP

She's currently talking to me but found it very illogical to buy a 2nd hand item from the Philippines, pay the shipping fee and ship it to his son in Nigeria. Why buy second-hand item plus shipping fee if you could afford a brand new using the sum? Doesn't make sense :-)

I know I cannot make them fully stop, maybe its their way to have food for their stomach or a chance to experience luxury in life. Nevertheless, I hope this post could save others from these cyber crimes. Stay SAFE! :)