SCAM Junction

Known Scams
and
General tips to protect yourself from them

It is a sad truth that this site is a fertile hunting ground for scammers. There is nothing that can be done to prevent it as far as we know. If people who want to help you are to be able to contact you then your information must be public and you become a target for others as well.

Posting here marks you as fairly desperate and makes you a good target. Scammers are looking for people who may be desperate enough to not think things through or to take a chance thinking they have nothing left to lose. You need to be on your guard to make sure you aren't caught.

General Tips

It will not be possible to list all the kinds of scams there are. To some extent even listing the ones that are known may only serve to force scammers to try or invent others. There are certain things you should always be wary of:

Nigeria. Anything that arrives to you from Nigeria is suspect. This is not to knock Nigeria, but there are a lot of scams from Nigeria. By and large, you should assume if Nigeria is involved, you are being scammed. It is so famous it has its own name "419" and a coalition aimed at defeating it.

Cashier's Checks. Beware of anyone sending you a certified or cashier's check from which you are to send some money and keep the rest. Usually, this scam requires you to wire them money or to cut them a cashier's check too. When there's turns out to be a forgery, you'll be out the money. Your bank may tell you the check is good and make the money available but they won't fix it. This scam is also used to purchase items.

Third Parties. Any time the person who wants to help you wants to have some third party mixed in the transaction, be nervous. Usually this will be someone who will give you a check that you will cash and forward for them to the scammer, but there are other variations.

Titles Many scammers claim to be Doctors, Lawyers, Attornies, Barristers, Professors, Reverends or Pastors. They use these titles to help convince you to trust them.

In all cases, you should be skeptical, particularly if the amount of money being offered is more than $50. The average donation seems to be a buck or two. Some donors may go bigger, but rarely do any of the sites we see report single donors over $25 at a time.

When all else fails, think of a name you would call this if it were a scam and try doing a search on Google or Snopes to see what they have to say about it. Very few scams are not listed there.

Another thing to think about: if the message is coming to you from a charitable organization, look at the email and think for a second. Do they have email from a free service like Yahoo or Hotmail? Is it full of spelling and grammatical errors? Do they have a website that does not work or seems poorly executed? Any of these can tip you off that the sender is a scammer.

Known Scams

With the above in mind, here are some scams that we know have been mailed to people listed on this site. If you receive an email that you aren't sure about, feel free to contact us.

The Ceet Foundation (www.ceetfoundation.org) is aggressively seeking information and eventually wants fees to send you loan information. (Reported on July 7, 2006 by Email)

Linda Sue Miller (lindamillerdgreat2006@yahoo.com) wants to send you a $10,000 cashier's check which you'll send $8,000 of to someone she'll name when you get the check. She says she's the Coordinating Officer for Afro/America of Epicore Group (Reported on July 4, 2006 by Email)

Reverend Richard James wants you to send $110 to someone in Africa and then you'll get a loan. (Reported on July 4, 2006 by Email)

Pa Iolta or Jean Meyers from Harrisburg PA and Fl will send you a check for $20000 and you cash it immediately and you keep $5000 and send the rest to someone in CA (Reported on July 4, 2006 by Email)

Richard Smith (smithrichard02@yahoo.com) will mail you a check just as soon as you give him all your identifying details. (Reported on June 7, 2006 by Email)

Kerry Spencer (kerrycoded@yahoo.com) has sent at least one fake money order (Reported on June 7, 2006 by Email)

Kunle Olanrewaju (kulezocares@yahoo.com) wants to mail you a money order. (Reported on June 7, 2006 by email)

Sly Raymond (Sly_the_white_dove@yahoo.com) wants to mail you a money order. (Reported on June 7, 2006 by email)

Bill Dandridge (Daandridge_bill_cwfi@yahoo.com) wants fee up front for a loan. (Reported on June 7, 2006 by email)

Collins Wright (donation_loan_needy@yahoo.com) wants bank information. (Reported on June 7, 2006 by email)

Benedict Okoise (Benedictthefirst@yahoo.com) wants loan fees up front (Reported on June 7, 2006 by email)

David_jenas@yahoo.com either has many accomplices or many emails. He works with Rev_david@yahoo.com, Princesswhytecolle@yahoo.com, and BruseBernhard@yahoo.com to attempt to get information from you. they are very aggressive. (Reported on June 7, 2006 by email)

Mary Johnson of the CEET Foundation (mary_jay2007@yahoo.ca) wants to send you a check but you have to pay a mailing fee to get it. This is standard Nigerian 419. (Reported on May 28, 2006 by Website)

Michael Traore (dansekou55@yahoo.com) wants you to be his agent in the US. You'll deposit checks and send him 90% of the money. This is another classic as the checks will be counterfeit cashier's checks which your bank will refuse to honor typically a few days after you've sent off the money. (Reported on May 28, 2006 by Website)

Pastor Chris David (giverswillneverlack@yahoo.com) is at it again. He'll send you a donation, you keep 20% and forward the rest to Africa. (Reported on May 28, 2006 by Website)

Linda Miller (lindamiller1954@yahoo.com) says she's with Foristell Ministries and wants to send a cashier's check if you meet all the requirements. (Reported on May 28, 2006 by Website)

Williams Randa (thelegalhome@consultant.com) says he's with chapel of peace. He wants you to buy check paper so he can email you a check that you print, cash, and forward most of to another person. (Reported on May 23, 2006 by Website)

Kevin (kevin234_bilaro@yahoo.com) says he's with chapel of peace. He wants you to buy check paper so he can email you a check that you print, cash, and forward most of to another person. (Reported on May 23, 2006 by Website)

Reverend David Scott (rev_davidscott@yahoo.com) says he's with Churchill Charity. He wants you to send you a check that you cash and forward most of to another person. (Reported on May 23, 2006 by Website)

Steve Roben (chrismole002@yahoo.com) wants you to pay him an advance fee to insure your loan. This is classic Nigerian 419. (Reported on May 23, 2006 by Website)

Mr SMITH RICHARD WILLIAMS wants all your bank info so he can wire you funds. (Reported on May 20, 2006 by Website)

James Pennant (james_pennant@yahoo.com) wants to send you a cashier's check that you can keep part of and send the rest to a Katrina victim. This is always a scam. (Reported on May 18, 2006 by Website)

Mr Thomson (financial_insurer@counsellor.com) wants to loan you money but only after you prepay your loan insurance to his company Nicon Insurance Company of Nigeria. (Reported on May 8, 2006 by website)

Rev Oliver Zeal (christ_embassy_life_ministry03@yahoo.com) wants to send you a check for 10,000. You keep 2,000 and wire the rest to his friend who is also in need. (Reported on March 12, 2006 by Website)

Jeff Banks is a persistent and aggressive scammer who will send you a large check if you give him a small one first. This is a classic Nigerian 419 (or Advance Fee) scam. (Reported on March 12, 2006 by Website)

Mary (mary_morgan99@yahoo.com) wants to send you check for 10,000 and you can wire 8,000 to her friend (aka accomplice) and keep 2,000 for your trouble. (Reported on March 8, 2006 by Website)

Ian Westford (ianwestford@hotmail.com) is looking for a US agent for his textile business He'll need all your financial info or a processing fee or both. (Reported on February 12, 2006 by Website)

Harry West is referenced in the emails sent by Ian Westford. Chances are that name will show up in some of the scams too. (Reported on February 12, 2006 by Website)

Donald Pascal (donmanpee@yahoo.com) will send you a check and you should keep some and forward the rest to his other donees. He says he's part of the International Assistance Group, so think twice about anyone else associated with that group. (Reported on January 9, 2006 by Website)

Cynthia Habib Bank aka Cynthia Joe (cynthia_hbl@yahoo.com) wants to send you a check for more than you've asked for and have you western union the balance to someone else. (Reported on January 9, 2006 by website)

Patricia Clemons aka P A Clemons (pat_clemons2010@lycos.com) wants to get your bank info (or have you open an account) from a specific list of banks so she can wire you money. (Reported on January 9, 2006 by Website`)

Richard Curtis sends forged money orders and asks that you forward money to an accomplice in Alabama. (Reported on December 19, 2005 by Website)

Dawn Jones (applejack123@usa.com) doesn't even read your posting and she offers 2000 if you open an account at Wells Fargo or Bank of America and send her your details. (Reported on December 7, 2005 by Website)

J. Richard Kulerski P.C (richardkulerski@yahoo.com) says he works for Poverty alleviation Ministries worldwide and wants your complete details so he can Western Union you some money. (Reported on December 4, 2005 by website)

L Fernandez (luisfernandez9@aim.com) says he'll give you money if you open the right account. (Reported on December 4, 2005 by Website)

Jeff Banks (jeffbanks4real@yahoo.com) also offers to send money but doesn't but you do have to give him your bank info. (Reported on December 4, 2005 by website)

Rev. Sam Richard (frd_organization@yahoo.com) is part of an in international organisations that wants to help. (Reported on November 23, 2005 by Website)

Mrs Marian Dushane (HOPETEAM2001@aol.com) wants your account number so she can wire you money. (Reported on November 23, 2005 by Website)

Mrs. J. Tozer (TOZERFAOUNDATION@lycos.com) has a very similar letter and just wants your account numbers to wire you money from her Venezualan oil rig home. (Reported on November 23, 2005 by Website)

phoward213@myway.com is yet another guy who would like your bank account numbers so he can send you $1500 (Reported on November 23, 2005 by Website)

Malcom Thomas (malcomceo@math.net) is a ceo of oil and gas in Britain and ready to wire you money once you give him your account numbers. (Reported on November 23, 2005 by Website)

Patience Odion has an inheritance she needs to share with you. (Reported on November 7, 2005 by Website)

Pat Neil (pat_neil01@yahoo.com) needs you to send postage then a money order will follow. (Reported on November 7, 2005 by Website)

Rev (Dr) Max Casella looks to be running a typical western union scam where he sends you a check then you pay part of it to someone in Africa. (Reported on November 6, 2005 by Website)

Bobby Martins (givetothehumanity@yahoo.com) is another private real estate investor who wants all your info plus a passport photograph. (Reported on November 6, 2005 by Website)

Pierre K Yu (admin@eaglemortgageloan.org) has no problem trying multiple scams including getting you to open an account, asking for postage to mail you a cashier's check, and asking you to then wire most of to someone else. Needless to say, he should be avoided. (Reported on November 3, 2005 by Website)

Howard Green will have his personal assistant mail you a cashier's check which you should then wire most of to ibrahim oyeniyi in Nigeria. (Reported on November 3, 2005 by Website)

Johnston Hoovers (jhovinreal@yahoo.com) would like you to open a new account and then give him many details about yoursef and your new bank account. (Reported on November 3, 2005 by Website)

Armstrong Palmer is the most prolific scammer on the site. He claims to be a minister or to lead a charity in Africa. His scams usually involve sending you money that you then keep part of. He has also tried the Nigerian 419, where he gets you to send him an application or postage fee and will then send you a check. (Reported on October 20, 2005 by Website)

Kelly (ms_starkitten@yahoo.com) has offered several people her jewelry if they can cover postage. (Reported on October 20, 2005 by Website)

Phillip Williams Jr (queencyfm@yahoo.com) is looking for bank info so he can wire you money. (Reported on October 20, 2005 by Website)

Robert J .Mashina (ywlfm@yahoo.com) wants you to open an account and send him the account number so he can transfer funds to it. (Reported on October 20, 2005 by Website)

Mrs. Knott (natuqueen@yahoo.com) offered to help with a $4,000 wire transfer. As you can imagine that this never happened. (Reported on August 28, 2005 by Website)

Rev. John (revjohn08082@yahoo.com) is back. He offered to help with a $20,000 check and later advised that he wanted to send a $17,000 dollar check. The catch is you keep $2,000 and send the rest via Western Union to a man who needs face surgery (Reported on August 28, 2005 by Website)

Jenny (jenny_kathy05@yahoo.com) starts by thanking God for all that she has, then offers to have a third-party send you a check for more than the amount of her donation so you can forward the rest to an orphanage in, of course, Africa. This is a standard scam. (Reported on August 22, 2005 by Website)

Paul James (revjohn0808@yahoo.com) sends a note with many typographical errors. He wants to send you cash but the check will be for a larger amount. You take what he offers you and forward the rest. This is a classic scam. (Reported on August 17, 2005 by Website)

kenny larry nelson (kennylarrynelson@yahoo.com) wants you to open an account with wells fargo or bank of america and send him the number so he can wire you money. (Reported on August 17, 2005 by Website)

John Harrison (milders@yahoo.com) offers help but asks for your account number then removes funds from your account. (Reported on August 11, 2005 by Various)

Spice Collins (Spicecorder@yahoo.com) offers help but asks for your account number then removes funds from your account. (Reported on August 11, 2005 by Various)

James Karlon (jameskarlon4me@yahoo.com) offers help but asks for your account number then removes funds from your account. (Reported on August 11, 2005 by Various)

Jide Ogunbiyi (livethstone@yahoo.com) offers to help you get a loan for a grant fee. Questions may be answered by Macrich Armstrong (email unknown). They offer references from past clients like Julian Kwok, Barrister Lewis, Mr. Toyin, Mr. Shola, Mr. Steve Collins, Mrs Linder, and Mrs. Alice Cooper. All of them have free email and it is likely the scammer (or his associates) control all those emails too. (Reported on August 11, 2005 by Various)

Pastor George Brown from Sherman Oaks, California wants to have an associate send you a check or money order, let you keep part and send the rest to Africa. (Reported on July 31, 2005 by Website)

Mr. Gilbert Taylor Chief Accountant of a London Bank needs some info so you can help him steal the estate of a customer of his bank who has died. (Reported on July 31, 2005 by Website)

Prof. Cosmin Solano (name may be fake), and email, mycarcompany@yahoo.com sent someone a wire transfer then demanded they send cash to JESSIE BLACK of FORT MYER FL 33905and FELIX HARRISON of NIGERIA. When it didn't happent he started making threats. His initial transfer hasn't gone through yet and may prove invalid. (Reported on July 24, 2005 by Website)

Charles More (charl_mor@yahoo.com). He sent $2000 but wanted $1000 fowarded to someone else (who supposedly needed surgery) The check bounced. Luckily, the person he scammed was suspicious and the check bounced before the $1000 got sent. (Reported on July 23, 2005 by Website)

JAMES BOST JR. claims he is a minister traveling abroad and wants to help. He has a friend who will send you money, you keep some and send the rest out as a money order or cashier's check. The check you receive is a fake and you wind up out the money. (Reported on July 22, 2005 by Website)

Roberto Adams doesn't tell you how he's going to help you but there are enough warning signs in his message (claims to be a minister, African charity) that you should probably consider it a scam. (Reported on July 22, 2005 by Website)

Dickerson Gazi says he's dying and wants to help you but you have to pay it forward. Barrister David Anderson will send you a money order on his behalf to help and then you help someone in return. The money orders are from Walmart and are fraudulent. Known serial numbers for the money orders are 53914352140, 53914352160, and 53914352150. (Reported on July 20, 2005 by Various)

Pastor Paul wants you to cash a check, pocket some and send him the rest. (Reported on July 20, 2005 by Various)

Sir Silas Rutherford (pscharityhome@yahoo.com) and his accomplice Charles Robbinson (pscharityfinanceteam@yahoo.com) want to give you a loan or grant that doesn't exist. (Reported on July 20, 2005 by Various)

Larry Collins needs your help to get one more paycheck from his US employer now that he lives abroad. (Reported on July 20, 2005 by Various)

Lois Anspache (loipache@yahoo.com) aka Dr. Lois is looking to send someone a check for $2500, have them keep $500 and send the rest to him (her?) Western Union. (Reported on July 20, 2005 by Various)

Charles Adeniyi Walter, Mr. Rutherford, and Hajia Mariam Abacha are also apparently running scams on those who list here. (Reported on July 20, 2005 by Various)

Any of these scams could show up with a new name tomorrow.

The key is to stop, think, and ask "Why?"
If you can not come up with a good answer, then it may be a scam. Most donors do not need anything more from you than a paypal account. If you must use a mailing address, consider using a friend's address (with their permission) and your name. Most donors will not be offended or put off by this small untruth.

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Collection of Known scams, Don't be become a victim...

Known Scams and General tips to protect yourself from them

General Tips

Known Scams

Known Scams
and
General tips to protect yourself from them