A Scam?

InchicoreDude

I arrived in Paris train station a few weeks ago and went to a nearby internet cafe. While there, I was approached by a guy who said he had arrived in Paris but had forgotten his money & passport.

He asked me if I would give him his name so that his family could send money to him via western union and I would be able to collect the money for him [as I would be able to present my passport]. While I would like to help someone who is genuinely in that position, I was suspicious of him. His demeanour suggested to me that this might be a scam. And the fact that he handed me one telephone to text my name and then took a different telephone to answer a call made alarm bells go in my head. I told him I didnt believe him and then he followed me around the street for a few minutes saying nobody would help him....

Was this a scam? Could he have used information from my passport to scam money from me?

Lingua Franca

Google "western union lost passport scam".

FouxDaFaFa

The scam here is that this sounds logistically okay, it seems like the only thing they could do is rip off your passport details.

However, when you agree to help them, the Western Union will be mysteriously closed. They will act distressed and get their fictional spouse to transfer flight money to your bank account/credit card.

They will make you feel guilty for "having their money" and you'll feel obliged to give them cash to get their "urgent" flight (too urgent to wait one banking day for the transfer money to show up in your account). In reality, they haven't transferred anything and you've been scammed out of your cash.

It sounds ridiculous but it works so often. People often feel bad about not helping a traveller in distress.
If you're approached again, tell them to go to their embassy and walk away. Don't even listen to their spiel.

InchicoreDude

Thanks.

Yeah, very soon after he started talking to me I figured it was a scam. But I couldnt understand how he could use my passport to get the money....

I'm astounded that this would work on some people though.

Louche Lad

Just the mention of Western Union would make me disengage a.s.a.p.

FouxDaFaFa

InchicoreDude wrote: »

I'm astounded that this would work on some people though.

I'd say part of it is that by the time they realise something is up, they're alone with a conman on a quiet street and feel unsafe, so would rather play along.

bamboozle

Louche Lad wrote: »

Just the mention of Western Union would make me disengage a.s.a.p.

+1 anything to do with western union and i get suspicious.

there's a lad that hangs about Portobello/Rathmines area with the scam where he comes up to you all flustered saying his flatmate/wife/sister/kid etc has been rushed to hospital and...after a long spiel...needs taxi fare...

guy tried it on me twice in one week, saw him at it another time and walked by asked him in front of his targets if he needed taxi fare to the hospital again...very funny he chased me down the street.

ladymary

Scam i recieved this morning

Dear Friend,

This mail may not be surprising to you if you have been following current
events in the international media with reference to the recent protest in
Egypt.I am Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak, the wife of Deposed Egyptian president
Hosni Mubarak who was recently jailed by the government of Egypt.

Ever since the turn out of events and even prior to the protest,I have
been thrown into a state of antagonism, confusion,humiliation, frustration
and hopelessness by the present military leadership of the Egyptian
Liberation Organization.I have even been subjected to physical and
psychological torture.As a woman that is so traumatized, I have lost
confidence with everybody in the country at the moment.

You must have heard over the media reports and the Internet on the
discovery of some fund in my husband secret bank account and companies and
the allegations of some huge sums of money deposited by my husband in my
name of which I have refuses to disclose or give up to the corrupt
Egyptian Government. In fact the total sum allegedly discovered by the
Government so far is in the tune of about $6.5 Billion Dollars.And they
are not relenting on their effort to make me and my sons(Gamal & Alaa
Mubarak) poor for life.

As you know, the Moslem community has no regards for women, more
importantly when the woman is from a Christian background, hence my desire
for a foreign assistance.

I have the sum of 60.5USD(Sixty Million Five Hundred Thousand United
States Dollars) with a financial firm in Europe whose name I can not
disclose for now for security reasons until we open up communication. I
shall be grateful if you could receive this fund into your bank account
for safe keeping and any Investment opportunity.

This arrangement will be known to you and I alone and all our
correspondence should be strictly on email alone because our government
has tapped all our lines and are monitoring all my moves.In view of the
above, if you are willing to assist for our mutual benefits, you shall be
compensated with 20% of the funds after the completion and transfer of
fund to your possession.

Please note that this is a golden opportunity that comes once in life time
and more so, if you are honest, I am going to entrust more funds in your
care as this is one of the legacy we keep for our children.In case you
don't accept please do not let me out to the security and international
media as I am giving you this information in total trust and confidence I
will greatly appreciate if you accept my proposal in good faith.I am aware
of the consequences of this proposal. So I ask that if you find no
interest in this project that you should discard this mail.

I ask that you do not be vindictive and destructive. If my offer is of no
appeal to you, delete this message and forget I ever contacted you.Do not
destroy my family reputation because you do not approve of my proposal.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak

ladymary

Oh and here is another


Hello,

I am a dying woman who has decided to donate my estates and
Sum of 20million pounds to you. You will claim legally for
charitable purpose and good work of the Lord

I am 59 years old and was diagnosed for cancer about 2 years ago,
kindly get back to me if willing to accept my benevolence to you.
So I can have my lawyer immediately transfer all ownership
title to you.

Certainly I never met with you but my mind instincts me to do this.

I hope you act sincerely.

Thank you and God bless you.

[Might be a fake name and email but will snip it anyway - dory]

dukedalton

Personally, if anyone mentions Western Union I'd run a mile.

I had a not dis-similar experience when I lived in London. I was only there a short while when I was leaving Tower Hill tube station, which is the station most tourists going to the Tower of London use. A reasonably well dressed man came up to me and explained, with seeming embarassment, how he had lost his wallet and needed two pounds to get the tube home. I happened to have some change, which I gave to him.

Over the next six months I saw him at various tube stations around London, telling the same story, and more often than not, extracting sympathy (and money!) from people.

therewillbe

Scam.I love those emails as I always reply with a dodgy account.Me loves doing their heads in!

jhegarty

You may just be receiving the money from a scam.

ncmc

dukedalton wrote: »

Personally, if anyone mentions Western Union I'd run a mile.

I had a not dis-similar experience when I lived in London. I was only there a short while when I was leaving Tower Hill tube station, which is the station most tourists going to the Tower of London use. A reasonably well dressed man came up to me and explained, with seeming embarassment, how he had lost his wallet and needed two pounds to get the tube home. I happened to have some change, which I gave to him.

Over the next six months I saw him at various tube stations around London, telling the same story, and more often than not, extracting sympathy (and money!) from people.

Happened us in Rome last month, very well dressed, genuine looking woman came up to us at the Spanish Steps and some spiel about needing money for the metro, blah, blah, blah. I didn’t give her any money, because I knew Rome was rife with scams. Saw her pull the same stunt with several people and saw her there the next day. I could totally understand why people would have given to her as she looked very plausible and didn’t look like a stereotypical scam artist.

Wonder how much these guys make on an average day. I suppose if 4 people per hour give €2 it’s more than the minimum wage!