advice needed

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Hello I'm New here! Joined: 12 Apr 2008 Posts: 2

Hello,
I'm a new member looking for advice on keeping some loved ones safe.
Certain family members have been approached about some sort of convoluted investment opportunity that involves opening their own offshore bank, developing a south american resort village, and becoming a citizen of a micronation among other things. They've also been advised by the solicitors to read up on the new world order and how bush sr. is running the world. Even better, one of the guys claims to be ex-cia. Personally i think it sounds like a scam wrapped in crazy talk and would really like some direction as to how I can investigate these people to see if they are legitimate or not. Is there a government agency i can contact or a website that will let me search for outstanding lawsuits or complaints? Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 9:27 pm

bns wrote:

convoluted investment opportunity that involves opening their own offshore bank, developing a south american resort village, and becoming a citizen of a micronation among other things.

Dunno about the crazy talk, but this reeks of scam. We need more information, though. If you don't want to post it in the open fora, feel free to PM it to either me or a moderator so that it can be looked into.

Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 9:34 pm

It doesn't initially sound like the run of the mill advance fee that we deal with here because of all the new world order gubbins, but you're right to think "scam" because at the end of the day these things are never sent out for our benefit, only for the benefit of the person sending them out. After re-reading your post, the mention of "Investment opportunity", "Solicitors" and "Ex CIA" do make me tend towards 419. 419 scammers like to play solicitors, barristers, FBI, CIA etc etc. It supposedly adds to their beleivability factor.

What I'd do first of all (without knowing any of the background or seeing the emails) is to google search the names and email addresses of those who are writing to your relative. Google will often come up with many results linking them to a scam.

Secondly, I'd encourage you, wherever possible (I appreciate this may be difficult) to get a copy of those emails and post them here for us to see. We'd like to see the full original, with headers. That can tell us a lot.

It's also worth trying to get your relative to register with our colleagues at www.scamwarners.com
They are extremely good at identifying scammers, and are experienced in pointing potential victims towards the right courses of action and all the official organisations who can help. I say this as we are more geared to baiting scammers here at 419eater, and not to actual victim support.

Good luck, and get back to us if you need anything.

Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 10:08 pm

Welcome to Eater.

I'm a member of a micro-nation, it's called Boloxnia (silent 'x'). Google it. We are firmly and proudly stuck in the glorious year of 1957.

Sorry to disappoint you, but in answer to your question, the chances of bringing these b*ggers to book is about as likely as Queen Of The South reaching the Scottish Cup Final. Laughing

Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 10:18 pm

To be fair Tommo, bns isn't looking to bring them to book, he's just looking (and correct me if I'm wrong) to prove to his relative that they're not legit:

Quote:

....would really like some direction as to how I can investigate these people to see if they are legitimate or not

For what it's worth though, yes I agree that these chumps are unlikely ever to be brought to book. Although my bookmaker has offered me attractive odds on Queen of the South winning the Scottish cup! Wink

Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 10:53 pm

I'm in contact with bns via PM.

Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 10:55 pm

Welcome BNS Very Happy

Scammers often do say they are looking for someone to invest their millions in real estate. Was this something she received in her email? Could you possibly give us more information? Do you have a name for the person or company? The initial letter received would be very helpful.
The ex CIA sounds rather fishy to me.....

edit:
typing at the same time as SF

Hello I'm New here! Joined: 12 Apr 2008 Posts: 2

Thanks for the help so far. Slayer faith seems to believe it's a ponzi scheme which makes sense to me.

Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 6:21 pm

Yep, it's a ponzi. Not my area of expertise, but there are some on here who know quite a bit about them. From the age of the website (started Aug last year), this one is probably in full swing by now. I couldn't find a reference to them on Talkgold, so they are probably still gaining steam.

Honestly, how could you not trust a financial investment company named "Trillion Stars" that is run by a guy named "Joe Galaxy"
Rolling Eyes

Baiting Guru Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 3193

It sounds a lot like the founders story on http://www.fraudaid.org/about.htm right down to the CIA involvement.