Edward Teach
Blackbeard
offline
Registered: Feb 2003
Local time: 03:08 AM
Location: The Seven Seas or the Outer Banks.
Posts: 6052
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This was not an Internet or Email Scam but it doesn't mean that it may not happen in the future.
A coworker of mine recently got divorced, had a new girlfriend and wanted to buy her an expensive engagement ring. Having bad credit and very little money he saw an ad in the newspaper saying they he could get a $5000 loan secured by the fact that he was employed full time. So he called the 1800 number listed in the ad. The person on the other end took all of his information and told him that all he needed to do to secure the loan was send in $500 for processing and originating fee which he sent to a P.O. Box in Canada. After several weeks past and many calls to the company it was evident that although he was approved for the loan, that he was not going to get the money. Yes it was a scam. And because the company (or person) was in Canada then they were not subject to U.S. Laws. The P.O. Box was in a Mailboxes Etc type of business. U.S authorities wouldn't help him because the perp was in Canada. Canadian authorities wouldn't help him because he was in America.
His only recourse was to constantly call the 1 800 number and run up their phone bill, and to set up a fax machine with a continuous role on it and fax to their 1 800 fax line. They eventually shut off their phones and disappeared.
Oh and not only was he out $500 but he also didn't have a ring. And the fake loan company told him they could expedite his loan for another $250.
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07-25-2004 05:24 PM
