ASSISTANCE FOR MUTUAL BENEFITS

[Owen Lewis]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: ukcrypto-admin@chiark.greenend.org.uk
> [mailto:ukcrypto-admin@chiark.greenend.org.uk]On Behalf Of Roland Perry
> Sent: 31 July 2001 09:55
> To: ukcrypto@chiark.greenend.org.uk
> Subject: Re: ASSISTANCE FOR MUTUAL BENEFITS
>
>
> In message <FMEFLOMOCGIMKOKKKLFIGEOGCBAA.oml@eloka.demon.co.uk>, Owen
> Lewis <oml@eloka.demon.co.uk> writes
> >>do the NCIS
> >> actually want them?
> >
>
> >Probably not - though they should be polite enough about it.
>
> >Firstly they're a national squad.
>
> They are also the agency which handles co-ordination with overseas
> police forces.

You mean that they are the national interface for the exchange of criminal
intelligence? AIR Interpol is the coordinating body.

I think Richard's post sums up the position perfectly.

....'I received a similar but different 419 letter today (to an ancient
email address - so a coincidence). So I sent it off to the NCIS address
Simon recommended.

They send back an acknowledgement email containing a Word document --
which doesn't inspire much confidence :(  [perhaps they feel that seeing
their logo in colour and being able to see a pretty layout will matter!]

The document explains that it's really just a stats gathering exercise -
though there is a phone number to call if you've been dim enough to lose
money (or have had an extended correspondence with the bad guys).
- --
richard @ highwayman . com '

It is interesting though that NCIS has put out a press release claiming that
'it has warned British businesses and individuals'. I received no warning
nor did my company; nor it would seem did Richard or his company; nor
perhaps did you and yours? Still a press release always looks good.

The truth is that those caught in these scams are foolish and greedy to the
point where:

	-	They are prepared to subordinate commonsense to their greed (most
hunter's prey is caught by one variety or another of this age old and
non-species specific mechanism).

	-	They are prepared to perform or conspire to perform one or more unlawful
acts to service their greed. If not clear from the outset (as with Junior's
letter?) it must become clear before any money is parted with (as a 'gesture
of good faith', 'facilitating fund' etc.) that criminal acts are involved.

The element of criminal involvement is by no means coincidental. It is a
considerable incentive for the target not to make a complaint about his loss
but to sneak away quietly.

It's true that those foolish, greedy and willing to enter a criminal
conspiracy are not deprived of protection of law as such protection may
apply. However, one can see why no one busts a gut to bring their fraudulent
'co-conspirators' to justice.

Tracing down some of those operating such scams really should not be too
hard and one would imagine that with or even without international
cooperation, several concurrent 'sting' operations would have a high
probability of a successful outcome and do much (repeated as necessary) to
discourage further activity of this sort. The fact that the press release
mumbles about 'warnings' rather than blazoning the successful arrest and
prosecution of a slack handful of the current operators speaks volumes, I
think.

What will NCIS be 'warning' about next? That promiscuous sex may lead to
venereal disease? Or that giving your money every week to the National
Lottery makes a few other people very rich?

Owen