This story was first published on June 15, 2011
Advance fee scammers use a seemingly never-ending variety of back stories as vehicles for finding new victims. And they often tend to target people that have been previously caught out in such scams.
The scammers perhaps go on the assumption that if a person has fallen for an advance fee scam previously they just might be naive enough to fall for it a second time.
Sadly, this assumption often proves to be correct. I have heard of several cases in which victims have been repeatedly scammed in various incarnations of advance fee scams, sometimes over a period of years. While I would hope that the old adage “once bitten, twice shy” holds true for many if not most scam victims, there are apparently still a significant number of people that are in the right mindset to be taken a second or even a third or fourth time.
Quite possibly, their sometimes baffling propensity to NOT see the truth in front of their eyes is governed by an escalation of commitment mindset. A victim who has already lost a substantial sum to advance fee scammers may become desperate to recoup his or her losses. Such desperation may lead to a peculiar sort of intellectual tunnel vision in which the victim will swallow even the most outlandish tale in the vain hope of getting at least some of his or her money back.
Thus, if canny scammers send out enough messages like the one below, they will likely trap at least a few return victims. In this version, the scammer pretends to be a past victim who has discovered a way of getting his money back via a “helpful” outfit called the “COMPENSATION AWARD AUTHORITY”.
Of course, this message is itself an advance fee scam. Past victims who fall for the ruse, will again find themselves forking at various fees. And, once again, they will never see a cent of the money they send.
An example:
Subject: FROM A FELLOW SCAM VICTIM
Hello,
I’m Mr.George Nino, of Tampa, FL 33629.am a US citizen from Florida, I’m 51yrs Old. And I strongly and meant to believed that you are also a US citizen I suppose, I’m one of those that took part in the Compensation in Nigeria, London, Malaysia and Spain two year’s ago. I was even contacted through email by an individual claiming to be my country (FBI) and they told me that they will help me too and they too sucks me dry by me sending them money to help retrieved my money and me having a new and better life and they all refused to pay me, I had paid over $91,320 while in the US my Wife and family had to leave me because I refused to listen to them when they are telling me to stop, trying to get my payment all to no avail.
So I decided to travel down to Nigeria with all my compensation documents, and I was directed to meet Barrister Anthony Wilson K. C. Esq, who is the member of COMPENSATION AWARD AUTHORITY and a Human Rights Activist (Lawyer), and I contacted him and he explained everything to me. He said whoever is contacting us through emails are fake and that they are all working together as different gangs and partners. It all started with one man Barrister Frank Okoh who contacted me to help me and since then my life was hell till now.
All the above name and many more were listed to me and showed to me by Barrister Anthony Wilson K. C., because I was scammed by Mark Welling, Barrister Frank Okoh & Mr. Charles Ubess. But I was disappointed when I went to my country FBI face to face to seek that I have been paying money to them. And they was very annoyed with me because they say that I am going above the law by dealing with people that are claiming to be them, I was heart broken and ashamed of my own self all of that I lost my hard earn money and my entire family at that. That’s when I took the mind and spirit to go down to Nigeria when it all began? There are still real transactions in the world globe today but the scammers are just much than the real transaction so we are all confused so is better you gets the compensation money instead of pursuing empty dreams.
When I went to the U.S.A embassy I was directed to Barrister Anthony Wilson K. C. Esq, He took me to the paying bank for the claim of my Compensation payment
You have to contact him directly on this information below.
COMPENSATION AWARD AUTHORITY
Name: Barrister Anthony Wilson K. C. (Legal Practitioner and Consultant)
Email:barr.anthonywilson@w.cnYou really have to stop dealing with those people that are contacting you am telling you that your fund is with them, it is not in anyway with them, they are only taking advantage of you and they will dry you up until you have nothing. The only money I paid after I met Barrister Anthony K. C. was just $225.00, so you have to take note of that. Don’t worry at all as you do not need to go down to his country Nigeria all he need’s from you is for you to identify yourself briefly and he will take it from there. I am traveling to Mexico to find my family now and start a new and better life but I had to do some good before I take my live as I will not be coming to the computer for long again till I see my family and start a new and better life. Once again my brother and friends do not waste your time and money on those empty promises. Instead, go ahead and contact Barrister Anthony K. C. immediately you can call him if you like.
Thank You and Be Blessed.
Mr.George nino
Trustee/Treasurer, Triad Foundation Inc.
1902 South Wykagyl Street
Tampa, FL USA. 33629
Education: BS, Business Administration.
Original Source : https://www.hoax-slayer.net/scammers-target-previous-victims/