Some time ago I registered at some (very popular) forum and a day after I received a letter from a forum member with a "business offer". I think this "offer" is a classical scam. But judge for yourself.
In the letter it was written:
"Good day Dear One, Greetings and How are you today, I am Michael D* I would like you to permit me to apply through this medium for your co-operation and to secure an opportunity to invest and do joint relationship and business with you in your country. I have a substantial capital I honourably Inherited from my late father…". And so on…
In short, the Sender wrote:
- He has money.
- The money is legitimately made.
- There is a war in his country and he wants to escape (with the money).
- Because of the urgency, he is ready to generously pay for helping him.
What he did not write was why he selected me to make "an offer I could not refuse"? But I think the Sender needs not to bother himself with this question: the ego and greediness of a potential victim will make him believe that he is the right person to get a lot of money for doing absolutely nothing.
If the victim swallows the bait, usually, he is asked to provide blank forms and invoices to the company that will transfer money to him. These documents may be used by the scammers as an invitation to get a visa and also to deceive other victims.
After that, the victim is told that some clerk makes problems with funds transferring, and that it is necessary to bribe this clerk with a sum of money that is only a small part of the future "income". After the victim transfers the first amount of money, he will continue hearing endless stories about "unexpected" (but always the "very last") fees, bribes and taxes. The victim can't stop paying all this "fees" since he already gave an essential amount of money and hopes that this is indeed the "last fee" and the "treasure chest" is on the way. But at some moment, the victim refuses to pay the next fee: either because he can not raise more money, or because he realized that he failed.
What will happen after that?
- First option: the criminals disappear in their country. I think this is the Happy Ending!
- Second possibility: the victim is invited to the country to see for himself that "there are almost no obstacles to money transfer". And this is a very dangerous scenario: if the victim decides to accept the invitation he will surely pay a lot of money and may even be killed by the criminals.
The Author: Samuel Stambler. Owner of http://www.readerspot.com |
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