Queensland Australia action against scammers

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Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 7:58 am

FYI - sourced from www.thecouriermail.com.au

Esq.

====================================

NIGERIA'S financial crime watchdog has joined forces with Australian police in a world-first to catch internet mail and romance scammers.

It's estimated Queenslanders alone are swindled out of about $600,000 each month by internet scammers.

Under the joint venture, anyone receiving an email asking for money and pushing rich quick schemes can forward the letter to the Queensland police through their website, which would then be passed on to Nigeria's fraud squad.

Detective Superintendent Brian Hay said the service was available to every Australian.

He said it was a major breakthrough in the fight against internet fraud and also provides anonymity for those who are embarrassed about being a victim.

"This will give any Australian, not just any Queenslander, the opportunity to go online and dialogue directly with the Nigerian Economic Financial Crime Commission," Mr Hay said.

"This has never been done in the world before."

Nigeria's High Commissioner Sunday Agbi told reporters in Brisbane scammers were besmirching the reputation of the African country which had recently passed stricter laws governing internet fraud.

"Scams have brought a lot of slur on the image of Nigeria," Mr Agbi said.

"People should not respond to scam letters and the amount of letters coming here are reduced."

The website is www.police.qld.gov.au

Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 8:11 am

Good for Queensland, shame this is not done in Europe.

One question how do you know the police in Nigeria are prosecuting?

Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 11:47 am

ABC news had a report in which it was said that ten arrests of Nigerian scammers had been made (I know - drop in the bucket) and some victims had been repaid in part.

At the risk of being thought flippant - Sunday Agbi appeared in the report and made a comment about "greedy victims" - but I missed the rest as I was marvelling at the fact that he had (apparently) only about five teeth, and all of them discoloured.

Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 12:03 pm

Yes, I read it in the paper today as well. Unfortunately, it wasn't a story inviting comments otherwise I would have asked is there a charge for the service (payment via WU of course!).

Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 12:09 pm

Quote:

Under the joint venture, anyone receiving an email asking for money and pushing rich quick schemes can forward the letter to the Queensland police through their website, which would then be passed on to Nigeria's fraud squad.

"Nigeria's fraud squad" will probably fund the project by selling the collected formats to lads.

Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 12:39 pm

Quote:

which had recently passed stricter laws governing internet fraud.

Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 12:50 pm

Quote:

anyone receiving an email asking for money and pushing rich quick schemes can forward the letter to the Queensland police through their website

The problem is, the idiots who become vics won't do this. Only people who have enough brain cells to realise it's a scam will forward the mails.

A TV ad campaign (shown at half time during State of Origin) with beaches and XXXX is much more likely to get through to Queenslanders.

Still, Brian Hay has been a tireless anti-419 campaigner, so all power to him. Thumbs up

419Eater is my life Joined: 29 Oct 2005 Posts: 266

Yeah /\

I was talking to an idiot victim the other week...she had been chatting with a man online for about 6 months,he sent her flowers ,presents etc and she was stupid enough to believe he loved her.He sent her a counterfeit check and she was silly enough not to read up the banking regulations concerning "clearing" and "available funds" etc!

She still believes that it was a business partner of his that scammed her so she is probably inline for another fake check.

Greedy idiot hey?

Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 2:04 pm

The unshakeable, trustworthy Nigeria Government Officials I'm sure wouldn't be gathering their own intel on how their, uh...err... the lads, schemes can be improved by haveing the Australian Govenment collect the info for them. Like anyone should trust a Government that wantonly allows 419 to continue while only arresting those who, no doubt, are not sanctioned or have connections in the said Government.

The best way to combat 419ers would be to put us on Gov't pay and let us get the lads so worked up through dolla chops that we can arrange meetings so they can fight (fataly harm) each other, leaving only "the chairman" as di chief 0ga!!

Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 4:53 pm

@create

Quote:

an idiot victim

Rather the unfortunate victim was speaking to an idiot. IMHO of course.

@Badgerbait

I like your idea, we could target one internet cafe at a time with that nice LOUD 'sniperkillsinsurgent' clip someone told us about, but I don't know how to post the link.

Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2009 8:49 am

I think there are many reasons why people fall victim to these crimes, including naivety or simply being too trusting of their newly found friend on the internet. I don’t think it helps to lump them all together and brand them as greedy or idiots. If a victim finds their way to this site, I’d be happier if they read supportive comments and signposts on where to get the best advice. Let’s keep our scorn for the scum who make their squalid living from the misery of others.

Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2009 3:04 pm

<----- Queenslander here

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