Rob
16 June 2006, 23:54
Member Super_spurs has kindly agreed to let me repost his story. It is about a typical 419scam and the impact it had on him and his family. Thank you super_spurs!
Hi all.
I'm new here, but wish I'd seen this site 2 years ago, when I was drawn into a scam in the Ivory Coast and, as a consequence, am in debt to the tune of £68,000 (a mere £975 per month for the next 10 years should see it paid off :cry: )
With hindsight, just HOW many times was I taken for a fool ? I'm disgusted with myself for being so naive, but once you have paid even smaller amounts, it is hard to walk away and I made myself believe that things would come through (I'd never heard of these scams at the time, so why shouldn't I?).
Unfortunately, every time I paid another 'instalment' towards Bank Costs and administration, it would then be taxes and backhanders to bent bank officials to sign off the paperwork, and so the list went on.
Believe me, these thieving *******s were clever. EVERY payment was the final payment (yeah, yeah), until the next little hiccup occurred along the way and just that LITLE bit MORE was needed to finalise the procedure. Always through Western Union and always untraceable (so I found out afterwards).
Eventually, 'my fund' was transferred to a Candian Bank, who were actually contactable via both Web and telephone and then I started to believe the fund was mine. It was in MY NAME and had the full balance transferred into it. However, it 'appears' the Ivory Cost had transferred the money without paying any of the taxes and the account was 'frozen' pending clearance of these tax debts (only £45,000 !!!). I had it in writing on the Bank's Headed Paper that it was only the outstanding Tax Clearance payment that was preventing me from withdrawing my money. So, totally stupid gullible idiot that I was, I persuaded my mum to take out more Bank Loans to cover these expenses and duly sent them off.
CONGRATULATIONS on opening your new account letters arrived from Canada, with my account details and (rather nice) bank balance showing on them. Hooray I thought (after dancing round the living room with my 3 kids, shouting I'm Rich, I'm Rich !!) at last I can settle all the debts and start to change my life for the better ! I even logged into the Canadian Bank Account and, sure enough, there was the healthy balance just waiting for me to get my hands on ! Still doubtful to a certain degree, I decided to try transferring some of the money (£70,000) to various UK accounts and it instantly showed on the Canadian Account as being withdrawn and transferred to those UK Banks !! Way Hay, I thought - this is it - all that expense and I can now pay it back. If I didn't get my hands on another penny, at least the loans and credit cards would now be paid off. I checked with my UK Banks as to whether the money was due to arrive - they even stated they were in the pipeline !
Alas, however, within 48 hours of the money appearing in Canada, the account was frozen by the authorities who stated The Ivory Coast had broken the transfer rules by sending the money to Canada. All they required was the fine to be paid (a further £75,000 and the tax on the transfer, which was about another £25,000). But guess who was meant to pay it ? Yes, muggins here, who was already £68,000 in debt. By this time, both my mum and I had borrowed to the hilt and were up to our eyeballs in ever-spiralling debt (and, three years on, still are and look to be for approximtely the next 10 years). Even the UK transfers were re-called and never made it !
I was at this point I was made bankrupt and lost my house, my car, my pensions and everything else in my name they could seize. This, however, only cleared the the most minor of debts. There was nothing left on the sale of the house or car, but I guess it did free me from the burden of one £10000 loan. Unfortunately, the rest of the finance was in my mum's name and it still that £58,000 we are struggling to pay off.
It is even harder, as my mum daren't tell me dad she has so many debts, as it will end their 60 year marriage. Instead she is having to work full-time still at the age of 68, to try to make a dent in these loans. I am struggling to help her, as I had a nervous breakdown and find it difficult to shake of the resulting depression and can't find work, because I can barely cope to get through each week intact.
This is not a sob story - but a true one and should be taken as A WARNING to anyone else who feels these things are an easy way to make money. They are, indeed, but for the SCAMMERS, not the likes of you and I.
In short, I lost £68,000 (£58,000 of which still needs to be paid back), I am now Bankrupt, living in Rented Accommodation, suffer from severe depression, following a total mental breakdown and live from hand to mouth.
IS IT WORTH ALL THAT TO YOU TOO ?????? I sincerely hope not !
If I have posted this on the wrong part of the site, please accept my apologies. I just wanted people to know it DOES happen and it DOES RUIN LIVES !
With thanks
Super_Spurs
Hi all.
I'm new here, but wish I'd seen this site 2 years ago, when I was drawn into a scam in the Ivory Coast and, as a consequence, am in debt to the tune of £68,000 (a mere £975 per month for the next 10 years should see it paid off :cry: )
With hindsight, just HOW many times was I taken for a fool ? I'm disgusted with myself for being so naive, but once you have paid even smaller amounts, it is hard to walk away and I made myself believe that things would come through (I'd never heard of these scams at the time, so why shouldn't I?).
Unfortunately, every time I paid another 'instalment' towards Bank Costs and administration, it would then be taxes and backhanders to bent bank officials to sign off the paperwork, and so the list went on.
Believe me, these thieving *******s were clever. EVERY payment was the final payment (yeah, yeah), until the next little hiccup occurred along the way and just that LITLE bit MORE was needed to finalise the procedure. Always through Western Union and always untraceable (so I found out afterwards).
Eventually, 'my fund' was transferred to a Candian Bank, who were actually contactable via both Web and telephone and then I started to believe the fund was mine. It was in MY NAME and had the full balance transferred into it. However, it 'appears' the Ivory Cost had transferred the money without paying any of the taxes and the account was 'frozen' pending clearance of these tax debts (only £45,000 !!!). I had it in writing on the Bank's Headed Paper that it was only the outstanding Tax Clearance payment that was preventing me from withdrawing my money. So, totally stupid gullible idiot that I was, I persuaded my mum to take out more Bank Loans to cover these expenses and duly sent them off.
CONGRATULATIONS on opening your new account letters arrived from Canada, with my account details and (rather nice) bank balance showing on them. Hooray I thought (after dancing round the living room with my 3 kids, shouting I'm Rich, I'm Rich !!) at last I can settle all the debts and start to change my life for the better ! I even logged into the Canadian Bank Account and, sure enough, there was the healthy balance just waiting for me to get my hands on ! Still doubtful to a certain degree, I decided to try transferring some of the money (£70,000) to various UK accounts and it instantly showed on the Canadian Account as being withdrawn and transferred to those UK Banks !! Way Hay, I thought - this is it - all that expense and I can now pay it back. If I didn't get my hands on another penny, at least the loans and credit cards would now be paid off. I checked with my UK Banks as to whether the money was due to arrive - they even stated they were in the pipeline !
Alas, however, within 48 hours of the money appearing in Canada, the account was frozen by the authorities who stated The Ivory Coast had broken the transfer rules by sending the money to Canada. All they required was the fine to be paid (a further £75,000 and the tax on the transfer, which was about another £25,000). But guess who was meant to pay it ? Yes, muggins here, who was already £68,000 in debt. By this time, both my mum and I had borrowed to the hilt and were up to our eyeballs in ever-spiralling debt (and, three years on, still are and look to be for approximtely the next 10 years). Even the UK transfers were re-called and never made it !
I was at this point I was made bankrupt and lost my house, my car, my pensions and everything else in my name they could seize. This, however, only cleared the the most minor of debts. There was nothing left on the sale of the house or car, but I guess it did free me from the burden of one £10000 loan. Unfortunately, the rest of the finance was in my mum's name and it still that £58,000 we are struggling to pay off.
It is even harder, as my mum daren't tell me dad she has so many debts, as it will end their 60 year marriage. Instead she is having to work full-time still at the age of 68, to try to make a dent in these loans. I am struggling to help her, as I had a nervous breakdown and find it difficult to shake of the resulting depression and can't find work, because I can barely cope to get through each week intact.
This is not a sob story - but a true one and should be taken as A WARNING to anyone else who feels these things are an easy way to make money. They are, indeed, but for the SCAMMERS, not the likes of you and I.
In short, I lost £68,000 (£58,000 of which still needs to be paid back), I am now Bankrupt, living in Rented Accommodation, suffer from severe depression, following a total mental breakdown and live from hand to mouth.
IS IT WORTH ALL THAT TO YOU TOO ?????? I sincerely hope not !
If I have posted this on the wrong part of the site, please accept my apologies. I just wanted people to know it DOES happen and it DOES RUIN LIVES !
With thanks
Super_Spurs