Commentary By Kenneth Martin

Scam E-Mail Letters

I received another scam e-mail today. Like I always do I forwarded it to the Federal Trade Commission. Only today I got my e-mail back. These crooks in these other countries are stealing or trying to,  from the American people. I checked on my list of people to contact, on my list

 http://www.wgn.org/relsites.htm

I was given by the attorney general and the F.T.C. was the only one I was given a E-Mail address to.

Federal Trade Commission at
uce@ftc.gov

So that means if someone from Africa or so, is trying to steal your money in America our government is not trying to help us get them. Or they should give us a e-mail address to send these crooks letters to that really want to get them. Instead of just add their name to a spam database, what a joke.

I have right now, copies of 35 Scam letters on my computer that I have forwarded to the Federal Trade Commission. All similar to the one below. Where's our government fighting to protect the American people.

I have had people call me  and ask me what they could de to get their money back and what they should do because they were hooked in already. I had a man shouting at me once, He was the scammer.

I hope this information will help some, to protect you from being scammed by these crooks.

*************************

"The E-mail Below Kenneth Martin Received Today" e-mail address removed

*************************

*************************

I hope This Website Below will Help You Not Fall for These Crooks Scams

*************************

http://www.popsubculture.com/pop/bio_project/nigeria-fraud.html

What is the Nigerian Scam, anyway?

  In a nutshell the scam works like this: you get an email from someone claiming to have access to a very large sum of money, and all they want in return is to use your bank account to transfer the funds. In exchange for your services they will give you some healthy percentage of the funds, usually 20% or more. Sometimes they request that you furnish them with blank company letterhead, and/or bank account information.

  First off, they often use your letterhead to make fake Visa sponsorship requests to the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria to get into the US, alternatively, they use the letterhead to send recommendations to other companies that will be enticed into the scam in the future. With your banking information they will draw up false financial instruments against your account and suck it dry.

  Second, as you fall into the scam, they explain that all they need is a few thousand dollars to get appropriate documents prepare, to create a will, a dummy corporation, licensing fees or what have you.

  Of course, after this initial fee is paid, yet another payment is required. Perhaps this time, a bank or government official has discovered the goings-on, and requires a bribe. Finally, they convince you that the only way to close the transaction is to go to Africa personally, after all, how can they trust you with all that money?

  Upon your arrival in Africa, to put it bluntly, you are screwed. They usually smuggle you into Nigeria without a visa (which is a serious crime there). Once you are in their hands, the moment you stop cooperating (i.e., paying them money), you will be threatened with arrest for illegally entering the country, your life will be threatened, most likely you will be severely beaten, and many times the victims are held for ransom. For this reason, it is common practice for the scammers to ask for the contact information of your spouse and other family members.

  According to the US Secret Service page about the Nigerian 419 scheme, an American involved in the scam was found dead in Lagos in 1995. According to this State Department report on Nigerian Advance Fee Fraud (PDF file), over 25 murders of Americans have been directly linked to the "Four One Nine" fraud. This scam is perpetuated worldwide now, mostly thanks to the internet. Many people from other nations have also been killed, and many, many more are still officially "missing"....