| Author | Message | ||
| J. Grande (Jay)
Intermediate Member Username: Jay Post Number: 1111 Registered: 10-2001 |
 | ||
| Horsefly (Arlie)
Member Username: Arlie Post Number: 785 Registered: 5-2002 |
Jay, next time, just call me a donkey or a burro. Don't paint all equines with the same brush! | ||
| J. Grande (Jay)
Intermediate Member Username: Jay Post Number: 1108 Registered: 10-2001 |
Okay, so now can we agree that these are sophisticated people? I mean to fool a bank...they couldn't have done this in a straw hut. Arlie, sorry for calling you an ass, that was wrong, but I feel very strongly about painting all people with one broad brush and Liberia is not like Nigeria. Yes there are scams that come from there but I seem to recall a certain Canadian company that made millions off of retired Americans...Con artists come from every nation and every walk of life. | ||
| Kevin Butler (Challenge)
Junior Member Username: Challenge Post Number: 101 Registered: 9-2002 |
Mark, good for them! That was exactly what I was talking about in my post! Kevin | ||
| Mark Eberhardt (Me_k)
Member Username: Me_k Post Number: 411 Registered: 5-2002 |
2 guys I work with that sold vehicles recently were contacted with a Nigerian buyer with the "can I send extra money that you give to so and so". They both told the person "sure and when the check clears, I'll pay your friend and ship the vehicle. They never heard back from the Nigerians. We talked about it at work, knew it was a scam, but couldn't figure out how it would work since the check would be clear. We thought it was a money-laundering scheme. I�ll send the links to them. | ||
| Dr Tommy Cosgrove (Vwalfa4re)
Member Username: Vwalfa4re Post Number: 572 Registered: 5-2001 |
They are probably still working straight out of Nigeria because it is (sadly) still working just fine. | ||
| Jeff Whitley (Phuket_jeff)
New member Username: Phuket_jeff Post Number: 15 Registered: 4-2002 |
Why don't these hucksters in Nigeria say they are from another country and use a proxy server or something? You'd think they would have learned by now, but obviously not as I have around 40 websites and everyday I get the same spam from NIgeria to all the different sites. I love having a spam filter to just bounce the mail. | ||
| James Glickenhaus (Napolis)
Member Username: Napolis Post Number: 612 Registered: 10-2002 |
There's a difference between not noticing what a foreign phone co charges to call the US, collect only means billing those costs rather than paying them upfront and being fruadulanty induced to incur a cost: ie. your wife needs bail money call this number. One is valid, one is a criminal act and in no way incurs a legal debt. | ||
| Dr Tommy Cosgrove (Vwalfa4re)
Member Username: Vwalfa4re Post Number: 566 Registered: 5-2001 |
In that case should the bank share some responsibility? | ||
| Brian W Dimetres (Acnberlin)
Junior Member Username: Acnberlin Post Number: 65 Registered: 11-2002 |
The whole scam almost worked because my father's bank thought the check was real! Almost a month went by before the bank contacted him and told him that the check was no good. Brian | ||
| Brian W Dimetres (Acnberlin)
Junior Member Username: Acnberlin Post Number: 64 Registered: 11-2002 |
This happened to my father! He sold his Mercedes SL500 on eBay about a month ago to someone from Nigeria who pressed the "Buy It Now" button. He received a check for the purchase price and estimated shipping costs. He deposited the check in his bank and then spent something like $19K (which had been included in the check) in transportation and other associated fees, before finding out from his bank that the check was forged. Luckily he was able to retrieve the car BEFORE it was actually shipped. Unfortunately, he lost the $19K. Brian | ||
| Howie/ExoticAutoBrokers.com (Brokerofexotics)
Member Username: Brokerofexotics Post Number: 422 Registered: 11-2001 |
"Another question: why would ANYONE not wait for funds to clear prior to shipping ANYTHING when the method of payment originated in Nigeria?" People do not wait because the scamsters overpay using a very genuine looking cashiers check. Most people think cashiers checks clear immediately...they do not!!! I saw one of these cashiers checks, and they look like the real thing. The check even had watermarks! A very educational link: http://www.nigerianscams.org/ Be careful. | ||
| Jim E (Jimpo1)
Intermediate Member Username: Jimpo1 Post Number: 1347 Registered: 7-2001 |
Because I called COLLECT. The charges were on my monthly phone bill. AT&T was not the least bit sympathetic. | ||
| Horsefly (Arlie)
Member Username: Arlie Post Number: 781 Registered: 5-2002 |
Why would you have to pay? Is the St. Martin phone company going to send thugs to kick your door in? Or do they shake you down while on the island before you leave? | ||
| Jim E (Jimpo1)
Intermediate Member Username: Jimpo1 Post Number: 1344 Registered: 7-2001 |
I experienced a legal phone scam while in St Martin (and thinking about Ferrari's, have to stay on topic). I called home collect so I wouldn't have to pay usurous rates. I did this maybe three times and talked maybe a total of 20 minutes. My phone bill was over $400. Turns out the local phone company has a little monopoly going and since the call was 'accepted', I had no choice but to pay. | ||
| Henryk (Henryk)
Member Username: Henryk Post Number: 491 Registered: 8-2001 |
Chris: This is amazing!!!!!!.......thanks for the info. | ||
| DreamBig (Fcar124)
New member Username: Fcar124 Post Number: 2 Registered: 11-2002 |
I believe scams (particularly scams that involve something along the lines of "Give us 10,000 dollars and we'll make you a million") are the third or fourth largest industry in Nigeria. | ||
| James Glickenhaus (Napolis)
Member Username: Napolis Post Number: 611 Registered: 10-2002 |
No debt caused by fraud is collectable. No phone co would waste 2 seconds trying to collect it. | ||
| Christopher McCormick (92_348ts)
Junior Member Username: 92_348ts Post Number: 93 Registered: 6-2002 |
I know this isn't exactly auto related, however this came across my desk yesterday and you must read it. DON'T EVER DIAL AREA CODE 809 MAJOR SCAM: Don't respond to Emails, phone calls, or web pages which tell you to call an "809" Phone Number. HERE'S HOW IT WORKS: You will receive a message on your answering machine or your pager, which asks you to call a number beginning with area code 809. The reason you're asked to call varies. It can be to receive information about a family member who has been ill, to tell you someone has been arrested, died, to let you know you have won a wonderful prize, etc. In each case, you are told to call the 809 number right away. Since there are so many new area codes these days, people unknowingly return these calls. If you call from the US, you will apparently be charged $2425 per-minute. Or, you'll get a long recorded message. The point is, they will try to keep you on the phone as long as possible to increase the charges. Unfortunately, when you get your phone bill, you'll often be charged more than $24,100.00. WHY IT WORKS: The 809 area code is located in the British Virgin Islands (The Bahamas). The 809 area code can be used as a "pay-per-call" number, similar to 900 numbers in the US. Since 809 is not in the US, it is not covered by U.S. regulations of 900 numbers, which require that you be notified and warned of charges and rates involved when you call a pay-per-call" number. There is also no requirement that the company provide a time period during which you may terminate the call without being charged. Further, where as many U.S. homes that have 900 number blocking to avoid these kinds of charges, do not work in preventing calls to the 809 area code. We recommend that no matter how you get the message, if you are asked to call a number with an 809 area code that you don't recognize just disregard the message. Be wary of email or calls asking you to call an 809 area code number. It's important to prevent becoming a victim of this scam, since trying to fight the charges afterwards can become a real nightmare. That's because you did actually make the call. If you complain, both your local phone company and your long distance carrier will not want to get involved and will most likely tell you that they are simply providing the billing for the foreign company. You'll end up dealing with a foreign company that argues they have done nothing wrong. | ||
| Dr Tommy Cosgrove (Vwalfa4re)
Member Username: Vwalfa4re Post Number: 558 Registered: 5-2001 |
The Nigerians must think we will believe anything and apparently most people over here do. | ||
| Horsefly (Arlie)
Member Username: Arlie Post Number: 778 Registered: 5-2002 |
But look at it another way. For the price of a used 308, you could move over there and live like a king with your vast financial holdings. Assuming that some rival war lord doesn't bump you off. | ||
| Ric Rainbolt (Ricrain)
Member Username: Ricrain Post Number: 484 Registered: 2-2002 |
The average Nigerian lives to 51 years of age and has a GDP per capita of $840. 45% of the population is impoverished (by local standards). Those numbers are startlingly close to Afghanistan. Sounds like a real paradise to me... | ||
| Red (Redhead)
Junior Member Username: Redhead Post Number: 139 Registered: 12-2001 |
Well, we can fly into one of the 70 airports. Just choose if you want to fly into one that has a paved runway or one that is unpaved. 50/50 split. | ||
| Horsefly (Arlie)
Member Username: Arlie Post Number: 775 Registered: 5-2002 |
I like the part where they say; "much of the road system is barely usable". That sounds like real classic collector car country to me, doesn't it? Anybody up for a Ferrari run through the beautiful war torn, rebel invested, Nigerian countryside? | ||
| Red (Redhead)
Junior Member Username: Redhead Post Number: 137 Registered: 12-2001 |
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ni.html Not trying to get in the middle of war here, and I have had a pleasure dealing with you Jay, but, scroll down on our CIA's report, and read about the roads. The fact that out of 115920 miles of road, 79984 is unpaved, and only 35935 is?? | ||
| Horsefly (Arlie)
Member Username: Arlie Post Number: 773 Registered: 5-2002 |
Excellent links you posted Red. I'm sure that Jay will be packing his bag and checkbook and heading for Nigeria to do some excellent business deals. Hope he makes it from the airport to Lagos without being hijacked or worse! | ||
| Red (Redhead)
Junior Member Username: Redhead Post Number: 136 Registered: 12-2001 |
Arlie---This is how much cars are valued over there..... http://classifieds.nigeria.com/cgi-bin/classifieds/classifieds.cgi?db=autos&website=&language=&session_key= And this is from a great "backpackers" guide to the world..... Scroll down and read the warning. http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/africa/nigeria/ | ||
| Kevin Butler (Challenge)
Junior Member Username: Challenge Post Number: 100 Registered: 9-2002 |
Ditto Arlie. A few years back I worked at a major bank in their credit card operations. My good buddy was the fraud prevention manager. The continent of Africa--specifically Nigeria--has always been a hotbed of total and complete corruption, especially with credit cards and money laundering. There are cartels that do nothing but identity theft and credit card scams there. It's nothing new. What a POS. Another question: why would ANYONE not wait for funds to clear prior to shipping ANYTHING when the method of payment originated in Nigeria? | ||
| Horsefly (Arlie)
Member Username: Arlie Post Number: 772 Registered: 5-2002 |
Hey Jay, how many car races are held in Nigeria? How many car shows are held in Nigeria? How many car clubs hold meetings in Nigeria? How many car dealerships are in Nigeria? How many automobile plants are in Nigeria? You get the point? Nigeria is hardly a bastion of great automotive collectors so a little bit of doubt could have save some folks from being swindled. As for no lions in the streets of Nigeria, I don't doubt that. If it's anything like Liberia (500 miles west), then any lion roaming the streets would be filled with bullet holes from all the guerilla street fighting and civil wars. I have 20 minutes of video that I recorded off an international satellite utility feed that shows graphic street fighting among rebel factions in Liberia. Machine guns are blazing, shoulder launched rockets are firing, bodies are LITERALLY burning in the streets and total chaos and civil disorder was the order of the day. And yes, there were plenty of modern buildings among all the street fighting. So feel free to conduct your business transactions with that sort of situation. I'll pass. If Nigeria is such a great place, how come so many internet and mail scams originate there??? | ||
| J. Grande (Jay)
Intermediate Member Username: Jay Post Number: 1103 Registered: 10-2001 |
Barely have roads in Nigeria? Arlie, you really are an ass! Nigeria is far from being a 3rd world country,there are some very rich people in Nigeria. They have buildings just as tall as any American city and despite what you may think there aren't any lions running through the street! People aren't running around naked and they don't live in straw huts. There are scams going around that originate in every country of the world. | ||
| Horsefly (Arlie)
Member Username: Arlie Post Number: 771 Registered: 5-2002 |
They barely even have roads in Nigeria. Why would somebody be so stupid as to try and conduct a big money transaction concerning a collector car with somebody in Nigeria? I smell a rat. | ||
| Tim N (Timn88)
Intermediate Member Username: Timn88 Post Number: 2415 Registered: 6-2001 |
Is it just me, or does every scheme to steal someones money originate in nigeria? I think its best to avoid business with peolpe located in nigeria. | ||
| Martin - Cavallino Motors (Miami348ts)
Advanced Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 3862 Registered: 5-2001 |
I am posting this in general because I know some of you never check off topic and it eventually is a Ferrari problem as well. I know somebody that has encountered this scam but with England and with computers. This was forwarded to me from a website I am advertising in. Please read and act accordingly! Don't know why it is always Nigeria! Scam Alert from Auto101.Com We have been informed by several of our advertisers that they have been contacted by some people from Africa who stated that they wanted to buy their collector car. This sounds very similar to a recent scam that caught one customer of another site. We would like to urge our customers to be cautious. Here's the way the scam reportedly worked: The advertiser was contacted by some people from Nigeria who stated that they wanted to buy their collector car and sent them a fake cashier's check. The crooks sent more money than the price of the car stating that the extra money was to be sent to someone in the US to ship the car to Africa. The amount of money to be used for shipping was even close to what the actual shipping cost would be. Once the American seller sent the money to the person who was supposed to ship the car they discovered that the original cashier's check was a fake. These individuals lost $8000 of their own money in the scam. Apparently the scam has been tried on others. According to the people who lost their money it can take over three weeks for a bank to realize that a check is fake. They also suggest that you contact the issuing bank and get any verification in writing. The money you save may be your own! This type of scam is called "4-1-9" fraud after the section of the Nigerian penal code that addresses such schemes. You can find out more about it on the Secret Service Web site. If you have copies of emails from -- or accounts of -- similar encounters, it may be useful to forward them to the Secret Service Financial Crimes Division at [email protected]. Anyone who has lost money can contact the FBI and they will assist directly or put you in touch with other federal agencies dealing with African banking scams. Anyone who has been contacted can forward email to [email protected], which reports the scammers to African authorities. If you have been contacted by anyone wanting to buy your car with a plan that fits the description above, the folks who were scammed would like to hear from you. They have started a Yahoo group about this matter to discuss it with others who may have encountered these crooks. The more leads they have the better the chances of catching them. To sign up for their Yahoo group click here. You can read the CBS News Report on the story if you click here. |