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The continuing conflict and the complex political situation in Syria have created the perfect conditions for new ‘Nigerian’ scams. In recent months, there has been a surge in the number of Nigerian letters that contained some sort of reference to Syria; scammers sent messages both in the names of ordinary citizens of that country and on behalf of representatives of banks and humanitarian organizations. The texts of the messages made frequent use of words such as “turmoil”, “crisis” or “revolution”.
The scam messages, written in the names of representatives of reputed Syrian and UK banks, stated that their clients would like to transfer their multi-million savings from their accounts because of the unrest in Syria, and were looking for a partner who would help them to do so. Naturally, “compensation” was offered, of which the scammers were ready to tell the recipient either immediately or once they had received a reply. The scammers gave a contact phone number and an email address; the latter could be either the sender’s address or the personal email of the “bank’s client” who allegedly needed help. The scammer’s aim was to entice the victim into an email exhange. After all details of the future partnership are discussed, the victim will most probably be asked to perform a service, e.g. transfer a small amount of money to pay for the mediator’s services. When the money is transferred, the scammers will vanish just as suddenly as they appeared.
The scammers posed as members of the International Committee of the Red Cross, and told the sad story of an oil trader who had died in the Syria turmoil, and whose fortune was saved by a Red Cross employee. As you might expect, the sender asks for help in transferring and looking after the money. The recipient of the letter would supposedly receive the promised millions in a parcel that would first be delivered to Iraq and then to the recipient’s country of residence. For his or her help, the recipient is promised half of the money. In addition, the scammers state they would welcome any advice or assistance on how to make a profitable investment. The scammers give a personal email address for contacting them.
Some of the emails we have seen appear to have been sent using the names of ordinary people, and came in a variety of flavors. For instance, a “teacher from Syria” asked in one message to help orphaned children who had inherited a large sum from their parents to leave the country and invest the money.
Other Nigerian letters are allegedly written on behalf of people who are critically ill and who would like to donate some of their money. The letters ask their potential victims to help them do so. Other messages are very brief, contain no proposals for cooperation and only suggest getting to know the recipient better. This is a trick aimed at getting the victim’s attention and enticing them into further communication.
The Nigerian scammers use a wide variety of tricks; one thing they have in common, however, is that all messages take advantage of people’s natural desire for “easy” money and to help people in distress. The scammers concoct all sorts of stories – at times, far-fetched – and use the names of well-known people and major events to make the victim believe them. Of course, users should not respond to these types of emails. Otherwise, once you find yourself in communication with a Nigerian scammer, you risk losing your money.
‘Nigerian’ Letters – Now With a Syrian Twist
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sharlene ball
I have been a victim of email fraud, A Nigerian emailed me and posed as a U.S Soldier. “My Name is Rosine Diatta,i hope all is well with you? I am a soldier working as United Nations peace keeping troop in Afghanistan,
on war against terrorism. I have in my possession the sum of $3.5million USD Which i made here in Afghanistan,
I deposited this money with a Red Cross agent. I want you to stand as my beneficiary and receive the fund and
keep it safe so that as soon as am through with my mission here in Afghanistan,you will assist me to invest it in a good profitable venture,
I will give you 50% of the total money for your assistance after you have receive the money.
please reply back to me if you are willing to work with me so that i can send you the information
where the money is been deposited your urgent reply is needed.”
I had a conversation with this person for days , I have more emails from this person
Mary jane Diaz
I been a scam one month ago, and he is A US Army marine.he said that he deploy in Syria,which is his payment he want to be safe,so he told his gf which is my cousin that he will send the money he will be put on a box .and my counsin ask me if i want to accept the parcel as a reciever then i agree.so i didn’t expect that i have a part of there that i need to pay the receipt.then i do my part i went to money gram and send to Philippines ,i ask why is in the Philippines,he said that they will release the receipt there.so ignore.and i send the money the amount of 750SD.and now we recover that we being a scam coz he ask again a money so my cousin didn’t give.i hope you will help me to get back my money.
Alvina Mason
Thank you fore posting this because we were almost cought up in a similar scam. We did loose 365 but no more, but they wanted us to pay 625 to deliver the boxes again. His name was Morris bally and he sais he works for 5he syrian red cross.
Jaana Hemminki
Hello from Finland. We had problems with Facebook, there are lot of USA military soldiers who want’s to be your friend. It always starts the same way; Hello my friend, how are you today…plaap-plaap…And as soon as you are honey and darling, wife and the military wants to come to you. The only problem is the money, he has it but needs it to get out of the country. The country is Afghanistan, Syria or anyone else…
Do your article these the US “soldiers”, they are using genuine soldiers in their profile photos and if you make a accusation to Facebook, it often does not lead to anything.
Manuela Rijkse
This is what I just received after getting a legot inquiry over a real estate website.
So sad.
Hello, I hope my message finds you well. Thank you for your reply, My names are Mrs Joram Yiesha Clemira, D.O.B 04/10/1978. I’m from Syria. My address is (Lot 13 Autostrade Mezzeh, District Al_Hasakah Syria). I’m interested in real estate, I have read briefly details about you, your property description on the real estate website, i thought as much for contacting you over my live and present situation here in my country Syria. I am a heartbroken widow seeking for a new and better live in your country, i am interested in investing, buying, paying the indicated price of your property from you as soon as possible i arrive in your country. with your help to relocate to live a better life over there.
However, it may not be possible for me to get to your country until the beginning of next month, May 13th. I am writing to you with great confidence, in the hope that you will be a person of trust. I am not able to communicate with you over the phone call because of the bad network in my city Bab Al Salaam, because it was blocked by the government over their selfish desires and interest which has caused a heavy traumatic moment in the country…I’ll need this resource as I will be relocating to your country due to my current situation in my country Syria, as well as brutality and daily life-threatening attacks by terrorist group, I already lost my husband and two kids, to the attack, and today my life is in danger at the hands of Assad’s army and the ISIS terrorist group honestly. As a result, it will be important for me to speak of honesty, and let you know that I discovered and have in my possession the sum of $6,753,000. that I saved on the land of my late husband, my late husband Joram Abdul Eissa, who is in the chemical attack, was killed. . . being a highly successful businessman in the oil city of Kuwait before his untimely death. The continuous unrest in my country, Syria, has changed my future and when we reach a concrete agreement, you will receive the money in your custody until very soon I will meet you in your country. Please help me to achieve it and start a new life in your country.
Sincerely, you may or may not know, the restrictions, sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union make it almost impossible to successfully work with any type of investment here in Syria or transfer money to abroad and other parts of the world from here through a bank. Therefore, I hope, with great confidence, to ask you to receive this money through the jet of the Red Cross that came from abroad to transport emergency supplies, so that the money in the Safe box can be sent by the jet of the Red Cross. . Before leaving for your country to be delivered for my survival in your country. I decided to look for someone who is genuine and not untrustworthy, that’s why I visited this secure website, where I can be sure that the person is real and trustworthy person. Do I think I can trust you? I will give 10% of the total amount $6,753,000. for your support please, I hope to agree to the offer. At the moment, I am very careful in how I communicate to reduce any type of risk until the money finally leaves, comes to your care. Where I am now, we can communicate only through the Red Cross communication facilities, Café which only allow me to send emails, and now I cannot make calls because of monitoring, although there is no network in the area because it has been blocked and used. because Assad uses these means to monitor and destroys the government.
Please my dear, all I ask is that you allow me to complete the registration of the shipment in your name as a family treasure, please you must retrieve it when it is in Europe London. There will be no risk in this deal, I have coordinated the safe delivery of the shipping box with a Red Cross agent that came from abroad in Europe who will bring the box to your country. I assume that you can handle a business of this magnitude and I also trust that you will maintain absolute secrecy and confidentiality to protect and help me achieve a better live. In less than 6 days, the Safe box will be in your possession if it is quick on your part and I will join you right away. I took the precautionary measures carefully to secure this money. The box is encrypted with a high security device and I am the only one with the correct combination to unlock the combination code. if you agree with me and able to help me, you will be entitled to 10% of the total sum of $6,753,000. while 90% will be mine. I will give you 10% of the money for your assistance, and cooperation. 90%. I think you can help me. Write back to me for more details, if you agree to help me, please.
I look forward to your positive response, and upon receipt of your confirmation, I will provide more details. We can’t afford to waste time please, I’d really like to get out of here, so please reply as soon as possible you see and read my letter.
I would be the owner of my life if you can help me please. I am waiting for your quick reply, so that I can give you more information on how to listen. Can i ask to please reserve the property for me while considering my request for mutual benefit? Sorry for my long message, I honestly hope that you understand my situation.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Mrs Joram Clemira.