Everybody Loves Your Money

A Version Of The Nigerian Scam IN PERSON

Every now and then I like to read the crime reports in our local newspapers.  This one caught my attention.  Something doesn’t sound quite right.  The fact that the “victim” had $25,000 in cash and $12,000 in diamonds to lose tells me something is fishy.  I especially like the part at the end where the victim falls for the old, “We just need to get out of your sight for a minute to prove you trust us”.  So, for your reading pleasure, here it is:

“On 4-18-07 the victim was approached in the US Post Office parking lot at S.37th and G Streets by a b/m who showed him a stash of money in a satchel. The suspect said he wanted to give the man $70,000 to keep and to give to charities. He said he was looking for a “good man” whom he could trust, but first the man would have to give the suspect $20,000 just to show his good faith.

The victim gave the suspect a ride to S. 56th and Pacific, where they “found” another man, whom suspect No. 1 claimed he did not know. They told this man the story and said they needed him to produce cash also, which he did.

The victim then drove both men to a 3rd location and the victim gave the suspects $25,000 cash plus $12,000 in loose diamonds.

The suspects left on foot, saying they just needed to get out of sight to prove the victim trusted them, and they never returned.

Suspect No. 1: b/m 40-50 yrs. 5 feet 2, 140 pounds.
Suspect No. 2: Pacific Islander/male 40-50 5 feet 9, 200 pounds, shaved “buzzed” hair, not bald, large stomach”

5 Responses to “A Version Of The Nigerian Scam IN PERSON”

Comment from Punny Money
Time May 24, 2007 at 12:02 pm

Wow, that has to be the stupidest person in the whole world right there.

Comment from The Big Saver
Time May 28, 2007 at 5:34 pm

I just don’t understand how people fall for craziness like this…just doesn’t make sense to me.

Comment from Special Ed
Time May 30, 2007 at 1:36 pm

I wonder how many people get scammed, but are too embarrassed to report it?

Comment from Rob
Time June 2, 2007 at 10:21 am

Shows you how much greed affects people’s judgment. This is exactly why we keep having financial bubbles throughout history.