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(Date Posted:05/14/2006 12:52 AM)
I'm going to post some links and relevant quotes from published articles on the wide spread problem of Nigerian scams using relay. If anyone finds any articles they'd like to post, please do! I'll start......http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advance_fee_fraudWikipedia gives an overview of the basics here.From the article:Credit card use through IP RelayIn another variation of the scam, the scammer places calls through IP Relay (www.ip-relay.com), a federally-funded internet telerelay service for deaf/hard of hearing/speech disabled individuals. The scammer calls various businesses, attempting to purchase items with stolen or fraudulent credit cards. Oftentimes, individuals are targeted as well, most of whom being those who advertise a product or service online.Typically, in an IP-Relay scam call, the scammer will place several calls using a Relay Operator. Calling to businesses or private parties, the scammer will inquire about merchandise/services offered, and then immediately and with few questions asked, attempt to purchase the merchandise. The Scammer then proceeds to ask for an e-mail address, by which he can contact the victim to proceed with the closing of the fraudulent transaction.The scammer proceeds to send the victim a counterfeit money order, with instructions requiring that it be cashed, and that excess funds be sent back to the scammer (advanced fee fraud). When it is determined that the money order is counterfeit, the victim is usually arrested by the authorities for playing a role in the scam.It is worth noting that credit card fraud is not the only kind of fraud reported through IP Relay. A relay scammer typically will use IP Relay for all fraudulent-related transactions/telephone calls within the United States. This includes the "love bug " scam, as detailed below.
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I may be your operator, but I am NOT your bitch!
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