Posts Tagged ‘ Consumer Fraud ’

FBI delivery guy detained in Nigeria…needs your help

July 21st, 2009. By AbiK

So that’s basically what landed in my friend’s email inbox last week. I’d just blogged about Consumer Fraud scams and here was this gem. Seems if my friend forks over $500 (via Moneygram or Western Union) these kind folks will ensure he gets $5.8 million that’s just sitting there being detained at a Nigerian airport. Sounds like an email scam to me…

An email scam happens when something like this gets plopped in your inbox—I’m including the whole thing so you see how it works (my comments are in [brackets] ):

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION SEEKING TO WIRETAP THE INTERNET [sounds important!]

Dear Esteem Beneficiary, [shouldn’t that be “Esteemed”?] Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Consumer Fraud, scam
Posted in Emerging Issues | No Comments »

What is a Moneygram Scam?

July 17th, 2009. By AbiK

Pleading Ignorance takes a look at Moneygram scams—what are they, what do you need to look out for?

First and foremost, it’s the misfortune of Moneygram—a reputable company—that its name rhymes with “scam”. Moneygram is probably best known for its money transfer and money order services. Western Union is perhaps a more well-known competitor to Moneygram, offering similar services. Regardless, any money order/transfer service can find itself in the middle of a scam operation—so the point here is not to point the finger at Moneygram. It’s to make you aware of those who try to put Moneygram’s services to illegal use—the scammers.

So Moneygram’s got the rhyming mishap, but…

What is a “Moneygram Scam”?

It’s a coined phrase that refers to a Consumer Fraud Scam. In all instances it involves a hapless victim sending money to a would-be relative, lover or bearer of good news (“have you claimed your sweepstakes prize?”). Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Consumer Fraud, Moneygram Scam, Pleading Ignorance
Posted in Personal Injury, Pleading Ignorance | 147 Comments »