A scam victim tells all

[rosetrees]

If this is too off topic, please move it or delete it.

I run an anti-scam blog. A couple of months ago a scam victim from a Middle East country contacted me, keen to tell me the story of how he was scammed out of several thousands of pounds.

Over the last couple of months he has forwarded me nearly 200 emails. Today he contacted me again as the scammer doesn't give up and contacted him again yesterday. He now believes he has been dealing with a scammer from Nigeria, but has also been contacted by someone from his own country and possibly from the UK.

I feel he has been the victim of an international gang of criminals.

He wants me to publish his story. I am writing it up now - removing all references to the victim and his country.

However - I wonder if even this is safe? I don't want to endager my source. Am I meddling with something I don't understand? Should I contact the UK Police - would they even be interested?

What would you do in my position?

Carol

[Dal.K]

Hi Carol,

This is as you know common. There was a BBC documentary about Nigerian scammers last year which reported how deep the problem is.

Surely, if the victim feels so compelled to tell all online, they should also tell all to the Police.

If he's telling his story anonymously without details being published, I don't see there being any come back.

But if I was in your shoes, I'd do all I could do urge the victim to go to the police.

Other than that, I think it's a good idea to publish the story to raise awareness.

[Kay King]

I would be very hesitant to get involved - especially as this person seems to want the story told without his own involvement being revealed. He seems to think you taking on the story may help him - but the money is long gone if it was sent.

Has he reported the scam to authorities? Why hasn't he blocked further emails from the scammers? Why would scammers continue to contact him if they've already fleeced him? Is he continuing to answer the emails?

The scammers may be one organization - or may be different ones contacting him because his name has been shared as a "mark".

The forwarding of 200 emails bothers me. Have you tracked the send info for those emails? Has he provided evidence of money being sent? Do you have bank account info showing money lost in the scam? Sorry to sound suspicious but there are some red flags on this for me.

Sorry to sound so suspicious but some things just don't make sense on this from what I've read above.

kay

[rosetrees]

Kay - I have absolutely not doubt that the victim is genuine. Yes - he's forwarded me evidence. The reason there are so many emails is that this scam took place over a period of nearly two years. The victim was a brand new email/internet user when he fell for the first scam. He immediately fell for a second and asked the first scammer if he could claim the money for him (allegedly National Lottery) as the first scammer claimed to be in the UK.

It is my decision not to publish his personal information. He hasn't asked for that.

I think I'll continue collating the story and then reassess.

Carol

[Charles Washington]

The thing you need to consider is - Is their a Federal or international investigation being administered on this very "Gang" you speak of. If so, and you bring too much info out, you could cause the group to go underground - killing the investigation.

I also offer assistance to victims of scams at no cost. (I am a licensed private investigator.) I have work hundreds of cases, but one involved an international gang of fraudsters. I was able to get in with them, and learn a whole lot about the inner workings of these groups. It is crazy what they do.

Anyway, a couple years later Interpol busted them at the very locations I gave my client. I could have went public and bragged about what I had done, but I kept it too myself knowing that some one else with a larger budget was most likely investigating that group.

Dont endanger any potential investigations!

[rosetrees]

Charles - I wish I thought these scams were investigated, but sadly I believe that most aren't.

I'm going to PM you.

Carol

[Charles Washington]

Originally Posted by rosetrees

Charles - I wish I thought these scams were investigated, but sadly I believe that most aren't.

I'm going to PM you.

Carol

You are right. Most are not. In fact, most police agencies could care less even after you are scammed.

If this is a large group, and they are that determined that they send 200 emails, I would bet on the side that they are being watched.

Why dont you try to start a dialogue with the scammer? Pretext him and pretend to be a scammer yourself. Become a fellow scammer. Communicate via email and IM only. Learn what they do, who they are, where they are located and get the info to the right authorities. That's what I did.

[frankgotgame818]

All I can say is proceed with extreme caution. Scammers at the level you describe run an extremely tight operation and leave little to chance.

Having been stung by a different and sophisticated scam years ago even while it was being watched and investigated they did nothing after the fact. The authorities only decided to stop the scam operation when lives were being threatened.

Be safe,

Frank C

[rosetrees]

Charles - I don't think I really want to get involved at the level of engaging with the scammers. You have more knowledge than I do about how to do that safely.

Frank - thanks for the warning - I want to try and keep my correspondent safe.

I'm thinking now that I might try contacting some Police authorities to see if they are interested. I doubt if they will be - but the correspondence the victim has sent me is so comprehensive that if it could be of use then I'm think he would agree to me forwarding them.

He tells me he exchanged around 500 emails over 2 years.