ASSISTANCE FOR MUTUAL BENEFITS

[Anthony Naggs]

In message <3B654F4E.A8B3B626@algroup.co.uk>, Ben Laurie
<ben@algroup.co.uk> wrote
>
>BTW, I've been trying to figure out how these scams actually work - my

I've been getting quite a lot by email in the last month or so,
particularly via some email lists, which I just bin.  I've also, a long
time ago, seen the telexed and faxed ones.  

>assumption is that if you are stupid enough to bite, they will then hit
>you for some money required to process paperwork or some such - but is
>there anything more cunning going on?

The proposal as far as I remember is that you should pay some amount (a
few thousand pounds) into a foreign bank account.  This will then be
used to facilitate (fees/bribes) the transfer of a large amount of money
out of, most often, Nigeria, and you will get a big slice of this (e.g.
ten times as much as you originally paid).

The message also asks for details of your bank account, (to transfer the
money into, of course), and a copy of your company letter paper.

If you transfer the money requested you will certainly not see it again.
If you give out your company's bank details with all the signatures and
letter paper that usually enough for your bank to take their
instructions.


There was dozy old chap from Norwich (I think) a couple of weeks ago,
who obviously thought at the time he was being clever in going out to
South Africa to meet someone who had sent such an email.  He was
kidnapped, held for ransom for several days and rescued by the SA
Police's Flying Squad.  Not an experience I would wish on anyone, but it
is hard to believe that a former business owner and town mayor could be
so credulous that a complete stranger in a foreign country could really
offer 100 or 1000 times return on 5000 pounds in a few days.



ttfn, Tony