[Moderator David@stives]

Maine Window Washer Victim Of Foreign Scam Pulls Off His Own

A Maine man who was the victim of an Internet scam is now facing up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to defrauding several other people.

Todd Denson, 46, pleaded guilty Thursday to mail and wire fraud in U.S. District Court in Portland. The Westbrook man faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. In addition, Denson owes restitution to his seven victims.

The case started when Denson fell for a fraudulent Internet scheme run out of Africa. Denson, who owns a window-washing business, sent $60,000 of his own money after being told he could get an inheritance of $9 million.

After he ran out of money, Denson used a variety of stories to get $78,600 from other people.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald Clark said there's a lesson to be learned from the case: If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Similar scams have become widespread.


Shame he didnt come to Cleanitup for advice

[DASERVICES]

 I get these in my hotmail account each week, main group are the Nigerians.
 
 Problem is people fall for this and get stung.

  Also the lottery scam as below just received :-

  FROM THE LOTTERY PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
THE UNITED KINGDOM INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY,
PO BOX 287, WATFORD WD18 9TT,
UNITED KINGDOM.

INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY PRIZE RELEASE CENTRE WINNING ANNOUNCED TODAY 24/11/2006 Ref: 475061725, Batch: 7056490902/188 WINNING NUMBER: (2) (3) (17) (22) (40) (42) (12).


                                                !!! CONGRATULATIONS !!!

We are delighted to inform you of your prize release from the United Kingdom International
Lottery program. Your name was attached to Ticket number; 475061725, Batch number; 7056490902, Winning number (2) (3) (17) (22) (40) (42) (12).  Bonus number 18, which consequently won the lottery in the first category. You hereby have been approved a lump sum pay of (250,000,00) (TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND POUNDS STERLING) in cash credit file ref: ILP/HW 47509/02 from the total cash prize of (POUND STERLING 33.6 million) shared amongst eighty lucky winners in this category.

All participants were selected through a computer balloting system drawn form Nine hundred
thousand names from Canada, Australia, United States, Asia, Europe, Middle East, Africa and
Oceanic as part of our international promotions program. This Lottery was promoted and sponsored
by a conglomerate of some multinational companies as part of their social responsibility to the
citizens in the communities where they have operational base. Further more your name falls within
our  representative office in UNITED KINGDOM. as indicated in your play coupon
and your prize of (TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND POUNDS STERLING) will be released to you from our paying banks. We hope with part of your prize, you will participate in our Middle of the year high stakes for POUNDS STERLIN 1.3 Billion international draw.

How to claim your prize Simply contact our fiduciary agents, Dr. ANNI MORGAN or Mrs. NANCY VAN,
EMAIL ADDRESS(agentukinterlottery@yahoo.co.uk) to file for your claim. Please quote your reference, batch and winning number which can be found on the top of this notification as well as the below listed informations:

FULL NAMES:

CONTACT ADDRESS:

TELEPHONE/FAX:

WINNING NUMBER:

For security reasons, we advice all winners to keep this information confidential from the public
until your claim is processed and your prize released to you. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted taking advantage of this program by non-participant or unofficial personnel. Note, all winnings MUST be claimed before the 30th of NOVEMBER 2006 otherwise all funds will be returned as Unclaimed and eventually donated to charity organizations.


CONTACT YOUR CLAIMS AGENTS

Dr. ANNI MORGAN Mrs. NANCY VAN
EMAIL CONTACT: agentukinterlottery@yahoo.co.uk
FOREIGN SERVICE MANAGER,
UNITED KINGDOM INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY,
PO BOX 287, WATFORD WD18 9TT,
UNITED KINGDOM.

YOU ARE ADVICE TO CONTACT YOUR CLAIMING AGENTS IMMEDIATELY. ANY BREACH OF CONFIDENTIALITY ON THE PART OF THE WINNERS WILL RESULT TO DISQUALIFICATION. FORWARD YOUR WINNING NUMBERS, YOUR FULL NAME, YOUR PHONE AND FAX NUMBERS AND YOUR FULL ADDRESS.

KIND REGARDS,

J. HANSON

PROMOTIONS MANAGER.

[supernova77]

I can't believe that some people actually fall for scams like this! - Muppets!  :

[DASERVICES]

And just had this in this second, surely the Police should be looking into this :-

DEAR SIR/MADAM,
         
 I'M DR SALAMI MILA A CITIZEN OF IRAQ WHO WORK WITH AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK BURKINA FASO, ONE OF SADAM'S LOYALISTS AND CRONIES DURING HIS REIGN OF MANY YEARS OVER IRAQ.
 
FOR MY CLOSENESS TO HIM AND THE CONFIDENCE HE REPOSED IN ME,HE SET UP AN ACCOUNT WITH THE BANK I AM WORKING WITH IN BURKINA FASO THROUGH A PROXY.THE INITIAL DEPOSIT WAS   120,000,000(ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY MILLION POUNDS STERLING)BUT WAS REDUCED TO   25,000,000(TWENTY FIVE MILLION POUNDS STERLING),AFTER A LARGE-SCALE WEAPONS PURCHASE FROM CHINA TO HELP THE  IMPENDING ARMED CONFRONTATION THEN WITH AMERICA BEFORE HIS DEPOSITION.
 
I WAS THE ONLY EMPLOYEE OF THE BANK PRIVY TO THE TRANSACTION AND THE REASON SUCH A HUGE SUM WAS TRANSFERED TO ONE OF THE MEGA BANKS IN CHINA.THE SAID ACCOUNT WAS OPENED WITH THE NAME OF THE PROXY AND HE WAS THE PERSON WHO MINDED THE WEAPONS PURCHASE ON BEHALF THE SADAM'S GOVERNMENT.BECAUSE OF HIS UNDILUTED LOYALITY TO SADAM,HE BECAME PART OF THE VANGUARD AGAINST THE AMERICAN INVASION OF IRAQ AND LOST HIS LIFE AS A RESULT.
 
TODAY,WE ALL KNOW THAT SADAM HAS SINCE BEEN DEPOSED,CAPTURED AND ARRAIGNED BEFORE A WAR CRIMES COURT BY AMERICA AND CAN PREDICT THAT DEATH AND EXECUTION ARE HANGING OVER HIS HEAD.WITH THIS DEVELOPMENTS,IT IS CLEAR THAT THE MONEY DOES NOT BELONG TO ANYBODY BUT THE BANK,EVEN THOUGH IT DOES NOT KNOW ABOUT IT.
 
ON THIS ACCOUNT,I AM LOOKING FOR A RELIABLE PERSON TO IMPERSONATE SADAM'S PROXY'S NEXT OF KIN AND INHERIT THE MONEY.AS AN INSIDER,I WILL ALTER THE RECORDS OF THE SAID ACCOUNT AT ITS OPENING TO REFLECT HE OR SHE AS SUCH.IF THE DEAL GOES THROUGH,AS IS LIKELY,WE WOULD SHARE THE PROCEEDS LESS EXPENSES ON 50:50 BASIS.I DO NOT WANT TO BE GREEDY AS MY MAIN CONCERN IS TO FIND A RELIABLE PERSON,WHO WOULD NOT THINK OF,MUCH LESS ATTEMPT, CHEATING ME OUT OF THE DEAL BECAUSE OF ITS NATURE,EVEN THOUGH I BROUGHT HIM IN.
 
PLEASE,THE INTERESTED PERSON 'S TRUSTWORTHINESS MEANS MUCH TO ME AND I EXPECT THE VOLUNTEER TO BEAR THIS IN MIND!ON MY PART,I WILL PROVE TO THE PERSON THAT I AM TO BE COUNTED ON,AS I AM PREPARED TO PROVIDE ,AS MUCH AS I CAN, RELEVANT DOCUMENTS TO THIS ACCOUNT INCLUDING WHAT IS REFERRED TO AS BCL(BANK CONFIRMED LETTER) OR PROOF OF FUNDS(POF) TO AUTHENTICATE THE DEAL AND ENSURE THE PERSON'S TRUST AND CONFIDENCE BEFORE WE PROGRESS.
IF YOU ARE  INTERESTED PLEASE FORWARD TO ME YOUR NAME,ADDRESS,SEX,AGE,PHONE AND FAX NOS Country Of ResidenceTO THE EMAIL ADDRESS BELOW.
 
  dr_salami_mila@yahoo.co.uk
 
REGARDS,
DR SALAMI MILA


WHAT A SAUSAGE 

[WavieDavie]

Hmmm, talking of scams . . .

"To view my display picture hold down Alt + F4"

Har de har

[jeff1]

Tosh will have a field day with this one 

'O' bye the way my avitar to delete all Trad users from the forum click here.  I wonder how many people on here have really clicked the button. (I'm still Trad)  :

[Ian Lancaster]

Obviously these are all scams and only an idiot would respond, but I can't see how they profit from the information they ask for?  Name, address, phone number, fax no and e-mail???

Anyone could find all that information about me simply by looking me up in Yellow Pages, or visiting my website

Cheers,

Ian

[aderyn06]

Hi
did anyone hear the phone in on the radio a few weeks ago? Someone out there scammed the scammers and said he would be willing to send them the money but he needed a few hundred first...they sent it him..works both ways it seems.

[jeff1]

If you ask me that sounds like Tosh, or one of his mates who are good at getting the scammers back.

[mark dew]

Obviously these are all scams and only an idiot would respond, but I can't see how they profit from the information they ask for?  Name, address, phone number, fax no and e-mail???
Anyone could find all that information about me simply by looking me up in Yellow Pages, or visiting my website
Cheers,
Ian

All you then need is a date of birth and NI number and you have a new ID. And that can be found in their rubbish bin.