Woman sends scammers $400k over two years; is not an "easy mark"

aidan_walsh

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,453125,00.html?sPage=fnc/scitech/cybersecurity

SWEET HOME, Ore. — An Oregon woman who is out $400,000 after falling for a well-known Internet scam says she wasn't a sucker or an easy mark.

Janella Spears of Sweet Home says she simply became curious when she received an e-mail promising her $20.5 million if she would only help out a long-lost relative identified as J.B. Spears with a little money up front.

Spears told KATU-TV about the scammers' ability to identify her relative by name was persuasive.

"That's what got me to believe it," She said. "So, why wouldn't you send over $100?"

Spears, who is a nursing administrator and CPR teacher, said she mortgaged the house and took a lien out on the family car, and ran through her husband's retirement account.

"The retirement he was dreaming of — cruising and going around and seeing America — is pretty much gone for him right now," she said.

She estimates it will take two years to clear the debt that accumulated in the more than two years she spent sending money to con artists.

Her family and bank officials told her it was all a scam, she said, and begged her to stop, but she persisted because she became obsessed with getting paid.

The scheme is often called the "Nigerian scam" and it's familiar to many people with e-mail accounts. It still exists and it still works.

Spears first sent $100 through an untraceable wire service as directed by the scammers. Then, more multimillion dollar promises followed so long as she sent more money.

The scammers sent Spears official-looking documents and certificates from the Bank of Nigeria and the United Nations. President Bush and FBI Director Robert Mueller were also involved, the e-mails said, and needed her help.

They sent official-looking documents and certificates from the Bank of Nigeria and even from the United Nations, saying her payment was "guaranteed."

But it wasn't and now Spears is paying the price for her costly lesson.

"The hope is [other people] are not going to fall as hard as I fell," Spears said.

Well if President Bush and the FBI director told you to send money to a random Nigerian stranger, why wouldn't you?

DarkJager

Her family and bank officials told her it was all a scam, she said, and begged her to stop, but she persisted because she became obsessed with getting paid.

Fully ****ing deserved in that case. Some people are so idiotic its unbelievable...

galwayrush

I think i'll write to her.:D

humanji

I thought Sweet Home was in Alabama?

Cunny-Funt

What a ****ing idiot. Hate to be her husband..

anti-venom

Why the fcuk did her family and bank let her continue to send money knowing it was a scam? Maybe she wasn't the only idiot involved in this? This woman was blinded by greed - simple as that. No sympathy here for greed suckers.

Sharpshooter

Stupid greedy woman.:rolleyes:
I can't believe people still fall for that kind of scam.
The only truth in that e-mail is that George Bush needs Help.

1966

What a mug -

Takes all sorts

---

wouldnt believe my luck today - got letter from Spain to say I just won €715,000 in Spanish Lottery - happy days !!!!!

tony1kenobi

Whatever about scams and this stupid woman....Is JB Spears ok or not?......

Frisbee

Absolute Dope.
I really hope she never reproduces...

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

she deserves a bailout, hop to it obama!

Jimbo

This is the unfortunate result of inbreeding in redneck America

javaboy

anti-venom wrote: »

Why the fcuk did her family and bank let her continue to send money knowing it was a scam? Maybe she wasn't the only idiot involved in this? This woman was blinded by greed - simple as that. No sympathy here for greed suckers.

Her family and bank told her it was a scam and begged her to stop. But if it's her money, there's very little they can do. I wonder though what she put on her mortgage application? That's one serious sub-prime loan.

Red Sleeping Beauty

Lotsa spelling mistakes there imo

Wertz

The FBI have released a photofit of a suspect...

https://ww2.fbi.gov/usg12/fraud/100_most_wanted/07.jpg

Jimbo

Wertz wrote: »

The FBI have released a photofit of a suspect...

https://ww2.fbi.gov/usg12/fraud/100_most_wanted/07.jpg

That's no scammer, that's George Agadukaduguengo from my bank

Oswald Osbourne

aidan_walsh wrote: »

Well if President Bush and the FBI director told you to send money to a random Nigerian stranger, why wouldn't you?

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me 4,000 and... and... you can't get fooled again!

javaboy

Oswald Osbourne wrote: »

Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me 4,000 and... and... you can't get fooled again!

I'm gonna miss him.

RoundyMooney

And with that, another ten thousand stout honest young Nigerians headed to the internet cafes about Lagos, their heads filled, no longer with thought of emigration to a pc-bound welfare state (sorry, fleeing as refugees), but with notions of riches in waiting from greedy Americans with closed minds and open wallets.

Stupid bitch. Her greed has ensured that many more will suffer.

xOxSinéadxOx

Wow. What a complete and utter tool.