While there’s little chance of recovering your money, there are several things you can and should do to help authorities track down and prosecute these thieves:
1) Report the scam to your local police.
2) If you sent a scan of your passport or other personal ID to the scammer, be sure to tell police. Keep a look out for any illegal activity being done under your identity by doing regular web searches of your name.
3) Report the scam to any third-party service providers used by the scammer, i.e. Western Union, Moneygram, Craigslist, Yahoo mail, and the Internet Service Provider used by the scammer to connect to the Internet (found in long message headers – see 4 below).
Contacts:
– Western Union: Please report the scam to the local Western Union Agent you used to transfer funds.
Alternatively, use this form. https://wumt.westernunion.com
- Moneygram: Report the scam to the Moneygram agent you used to transfer funds. For more information, visit this site: https://www.moneygram.com
customerservice@moneygram.com
- Craigslist: Report the scam to Craigslist and ask them to do more to block scam activity on its website.
http://paris.en.craigslist.org/cgi-bin/emailForm.cgi
- Yahoo Mail: Report the scam to Yahoo and ask them to do more to block scammers from abusing this service.
http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/abuse/abuse.html
4) Be sure to include the full message headers of any emails you include in your reports.
You can determine the scammer’s Internet Service Provider and geographical location by locating the originating IP address, then looking it up using http://whois.domaintools.com. For a tutorial on how to do this, click here: http://www.johnru.com/active-whois/trace-email.html
5) File a report with the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
http://www.efccnigeria.org/index.php?option=com_contact&task=view&contact_id=3&Itemid=56
6) File a complaint with one of these organisations:
If you’re in the U.S., file a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx
In Australia, check the ScamWatch website to see where to report the scam: http://www.scamwatch.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemid/694011
In Canada, file a complaint on the Reporting Economic Crime On-line (RECOL) website: https://www.recol.ca/intro.aspx?lang=en
In France, file a report here: https://www.internet-signalement.gouv.fr
7) Tell those around you what happened in order to increase awareness. Post warnings on internet forums and websites like craigslist and expatriates.com. Spread the word and help put scammers out of business!
Comments
I don’t know if I’ve been scammed for sure. I met a man through match.com. to make a long story short. He landed a construction job in Lagos Nigeria building a road from a village to the main city. He said profusely that he has fallen inlove with me. As time went on he said he’s financialy well off and this last contract has enables him to retire if he chooses. He wants to meet me, the love of his life. But, he didn’t have enough money to get back to the states, he needed an additional $500 to pay for his airfare. He also said due to payment of $9,000,000,000 for the gov’t of Nigeria he wouldn’t be able to get the money transfered to his USA bank to Nigeria to pay for his airfare. He e-mailed me documents confirming payment of the $9 mil from the Nigerian government. I’m not familiar with any type of money transfers from one country to another and the money not being able to use until that person is in the coumtry that the money was transfer. Is there such a thing? Or was I duped? Please I need to know ASAP this person says that he’s on his way to the USA to see me.
You most certainly have been duped and I am sure he never even came to see you. Anyone that says money cannot be transferred to the USA from a foreign country is a scammer because it can be done.
You should never even give them the satisfaction of responding to them.
you have to to be kidding me…this is such an obvious scam its absurd…how rediculous of a story is that? do not sed this moron any $$$…he emailed you documents from a Nigerian government…bwhahahahaha…anyone can email anyone anything…that makes it official? stop being so damn naive…hes guarenteed 9 billion from the Nigerian government, a shit poor 3rd world country, yet he needs you to wire him $500…cmon…i wanna smack in in the head thru this message like WAKE UP!!! i know you wanna believe in the good of mankind and love but the reality is theres pieces of shit in this world willing to take advantage of anyone…not being cynical…its true…this is a common scam going on…dont fall for it
Hi ,
Thank you for your interest in my 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe LTZ (68,600 miles). Is in absolutely perfect condition and well maintained. I sell it at this price ($3,800) because I just finished the divorce with my husband. When the divorce was finished I owned this car. Anyway in this situation I can only watch it. I have some financial problems right now so I want to sell it asap and a fast sale can be done only at a low price. Unfortunately for me my daughter is in hospital and I can’t do this transaction personally, the transaction will be made through eBay protection program for the safety of both of us. The total price is $3,800 and it includes delivery to your address. If you want to buy it I just need your full name and address so I can open a case. You must know that eBay will contact you without any obligation to buy it or fees.
Please reply me asap if interested.
For more pictures Click the link bellow.
https://picasaweb.google.com/101278318425413339474/2007ChevroletTahoeLTZ
That was our scam… to good to be true
I had been scammed by a US lady, that is what she told me and she was in Nigeria, she wanted help from me of USD500, which I did and later she told me that she will arrange a visa for me to the US. I had almost sent her USD11000, in less then 6 months of time and later on I realised it was a scam. So can anyone help me in getting back my money. I still have her contact number.
Hi. I was browsing YouTube, when I saw a suggested video that was interesting to me. It was a PS3 giveaway, and I entered. Shortly after, around 1-3 days, he had messaged me back saying I had won. However, he claims to be in Iceland and since I was living in the US, the shipping was going to be rough on him. I was to pay $25 with an Amazon Gift Card, which I did, but then it was raised to $52. I had currently given him only $50, but his channel is now closed and sent me an email of his new one. I then contacted the new channel, but had no idea who I was. Also his email is no longer replying. Was I scammed?