I get my share of those via e-mail but...

They have a new scam now and I was entangled with them briefly. I played it out longer then need be in hopes of trying to be a force for good but to no avail.

Here's the deal, in case it should happen to you.

I got a phone call at work, it came through a legit sevice that is run for the hearing / speech impaired. They contact an operator at this service via keyboard. The voice on the phone translates between you and the mystery caller.

They told me they were interested in a piece of equipment, they knew the make and model and requested a quote. They told me they were in Crossville, TN, even supplied an address. ( I'm in TN too )

They requested we take the dealings to e-mail. I sent them a quote which was in .pdf format and this seemed to baffle them. I was growing suspicious at this point, the e-mail address "[email protected] was my first twinge of the bullshit meter.

They then told me the item would be shipping to an orphanage in Ghana, then I really knew things weren't what they seemed.They requested I use a particular freight company, another e-mail address that smelled funny. Just for funnzies, I wrote and requested a freight quote as instructed. The supposed freight company wanted their money via Western Union. ( yea, right )

I started to Google. No evidence of said shipping company. I check the address of my new friend Sherry.Chuck, it was a car lot. I called them, which was a waste because I knew the answer, no Sherry.Chuck.

I found internet sites where the IP Relay operators are discussing this scam matter. Seems they know what is going on but they are under strict policy not to get involved lest they lose their job. They really want to tell people and some of them have found ways to do so.

So, anyway, I did some research to find out what legal entity would be contacted in these situation, The F.B.I. - Financial Division. I had a nice chat with a fairly local F.B.I. agent who informed me what Gene has already told us, there is nothing that can be done, avoid all contact and be glad you didn't get scammed.

I told Sherry.Chuck I was ready to do business.    :-)

I then recieved via e-mail TWO credit card numbers and a request to split the fees between the two cards.

The cards had the exact smae number except for the last four digits. They gave me the three digit "security code" for each card.

I got MasterCard on the phone, which is no easy feat. I knew what was going on but I just wanted to follow any avenue that might lead to some more information.

The guy at MC told me that, like I already knew, they have a good card number and they randomize the last four digits. The two cards did indeed belong to "other" people and MC contacted them to let them know about the "not so" near miss. The security codes did match either card.

So, it was a fun excercise in futility but very educational.

Chapter two:

A friend told me, after hearing my story, that another friend of ours had been contacted in a similar manner regarding a piano she had for sale in the "local paper". They were going to pay her with fake cashier's checks. I stepped in and saved the day.  Yipppeee  !!!!

Be careful out there folks.

The government, while wishing they could help, say that the government in Africa is happy about all the money coming in through these frauds and have no interest in cooperation.

Google: IP Relay scam to learn more