So happy to see you guys do this!!

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Hello I'm New here! Joined: 18 Jul 2008 Posts: 2

Hey everyone,

My parents recently just lost $1.5 million dollars to these scammers. It has changed our whole life and it has caused so much pain and grief that is almost unbearable. We are not sure what the next course of action is, they believe that they have somehow done something wrong and are afraid to report it to the authorities.

Meanwhile, I just want to say how great this is scambaiting is. Thank you so much guys as this has brought at least a tiny bit of comfort in my life. Keep baiting, and fight on!!

Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 10:53 pm

Wow. That's a lot of money. I am sorry that happened to you.

The reason we scam bait here is to prevent the scammers from actually finding real victims. The bonus is that it is also fun.

Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 11:02 pm

Have them visit www.scamwarners.com

They are not the only people who have lost money to these scammers and unfortunately, they'll probably never get the money back. However, if you like, baiting does give you some revenge and wastes scammer's time that they could be spending on victims like your parents.

If you are comfortable with it, post up any emails you have from those scammers, with the headers and I'm sure many, many members of this forum will be more than happy to make these scammer's lives hell.

Baiting Guru Joined: 03 May 2007 Posts: 18313

Hi dannyboy, and welcome to Eater.

I'm so sorry to hear of your family's loss to the scammers. That is indeed a huge amount of money.

As sir scam a lot said, we have a sister site for supporting victims, please do visit ScamWarners and post your story. Additionally, posting information you have about the scammers and the type of scam there will make it searchable and possibly prevent other people from being victims to these scammers.

You should urge your parents to contact authorities regarding their loss. It can be very difficult for victims to come forward, but doing so, and spreading the word, does help the cause in the long run. Unfortunately, there is no chance of them recovering the money stolen from them.

Please continue to read the forums, and vicariously enjoy the paybacks the scammers receive at our hands, or read up on how to bait safely, and join in. Very Happy

Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 12:37 am

How did they pay the money?
Thats a lot of trips to western union. If is was via bank transfers there will be a paper trail and worth following up.
Try and get them to report it.

Hello I'm New here! Joined: 18 Jul 2008 Posts: 2

No need to quote post immediately above yours, it is there^^ - SB Wink

They went through western union and money gram every time. Eventually, since you cant send it through the same name too many times, they had to get one of their friends who owns a small grocery store and runs western union, to send the money under different people's names and ID. That is what they are afraid of. The fact that they might get themselves and their friend in trouble for using people's ID without their permission. It is so sad that it has come down to this that they cant even report it to authorities because they are afraid. If anyone knows the exact laws on this please let me know. I would hate for their friend to get in trouble as he is a good friend and he merely tried to help my parents out. Thanks guys.

Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 3:12 am

That's more money than I'd probably make in 30 years. I'm sorry you had to go through this. Be vigilant, and warn your friends.

My rule of thumb is to bite the bullet and tell the whole truth. I don't like lying (baiting excluded - lesser or two evils, you know Smile

) and I'm usually straight-up whenever I have an opportunity to lie my way out of trouble. Emperically, I really do end up not getting into trouble (or less of it, anyway) due to the honesty. That's not just some maxim - that's from putting it to the test.

If there's legal ramifications, I sympathize, but if it was illegal as you convey, that's just the way it has to be.

Again, my sympathies.

Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 8:48 am

dannyboy wrote:

I would hate for their friend to get in trouble as he is a good friend and he merely tried to help my parents out. Thanks guys.

That's the bit that bothers me. I'm not convinced that WU and MG and their agents couldn't do more to dissuade people from sending large sums to fraudsters. Aren't their agents aware of 419 scams? This friend apparently wasn't. He seems to have told them how to get round measures intended to protect customers.

Your parents now need to watch out for the recovery scam, so warn them. They may well get emails claiming to be from the Nigerian authorities, FBI, etc, saying that the scammers have been arrested, the money recovered, which will be returned once they pay further fees.

Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 6:17 pm

Question? Do WU agents receive a percentage of the fee that is charged to send the money? If so perhaps that is why the friend was willing to continue to send the money for your parents.

I am sorry for your family's loss. Please encourage them to talk to the authorities. You never know they may be able to catch one of these scammers.

Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 7:18 pm

Go talk to a lawyer, first talk is free (usually here) and he can't tell anyone else unless you agree he does so.

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