A few weeks ago I got an out-of-the-blue page on Yahoo Messenger. It was
someone who had found me on their directory and "liked my name". Further
this person claimed to be a "model" ("princess amanda" is the Yahoo nic
name) who had come over to Canada for a photo shoot and needed help to get
her modeling fees (Cdn$14,000 approx) "wired" by Western Union to Holland.
None of this makes sense, but due to perverse curiosity I played along.
(There's no reason that I know why money could be not sent directly to
anyone in Holland from Canada !) I was phoned by the model on a very bad
phone line .... apparently from Holland ... a first-world nation ! She sent me her photo. She looks
black but says she is " 1/2 black, 1/2 Dutch". I got phone calls from "the
company" issuing the payment. Everyone seems to have an African accent ...
though some numbers are coming from the company supposedly here in Canada. Using online reverse directory gives "no listing"
Anyway, in due course (about 3 weeks from the initial contact) a check for
in excess of Cdn$14,000 has arrived by courier to the address I gave. The
idea is that I am supposed to deposit into my account and then use Western
Union to wire the money in 2 installments. The check is a company cheque on
a major Canadian bank. It is not certified. I have not yet taken it to my
bank. They have been phoning to see if I have taken the cheque in to be cashed ... and ask how long it will take at my end.
When will the other shoe drop?
Thanks for any insights !
To find out how to complain or to find the scammers known email address go to:
=>
http://www.secretservice.gov/alert419.shtml
