Is She A Victim?

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Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 12:21 pm

I had some business to attend to at the local post office.
I approached the man at the counter to do my business.
I could hear the conversation a few feet away.
"And have you sent money to this person before?"
"Yes"
"Okay $8,000 on card?"
"Yes."

Missed a bit here I was talking to the PO clerk.

"Oh yes. This does need the question and answer to this country"

I could now see the form. WU.
Alarm bells started ringing

"Nigeria" Was uttered

I thought I better catch her before she goes.
I was still involved in my transaction. Finished. Turned to see her and she'd gone.
I raced out to see her drive off.
My intention was to talk to the woman outside. Not to embarrass her in front of customers and staff.
The card transaction could have been cancelled. But only by her. I was not sure if it was coincidence or she was a victim.
Privacy laws meant I could not intevene aftrewards.

What has happened in the same PO. A man handed a staff member his driver's license. Then said Oops this one. He was an undercover policeman. Two licenses. I Know they have been conducting stings on Nigerian scammers.

Hopefully it was something of the sort.

Cheers

Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 1:01 pm

Does the PO staff know this woman as 'local'?, if so use your tact & diplomacy & explain your concern to them and try and get her name etc ( they might just tell you to 'bugger off' ), then either do some discrete enquiries yourself or get your friendly neighbourhood LE to tip her off.

Not a lot else can be done unfortunately, (and it may be totally legit anyway).

Baiting Guru Joined: 10 Oct 2003 Posts: 4747

I am confused was it Western Union or the Postal Service? I have heard both are supposed to have programs that should have set off alarm bells when someone is sending money. I am not saying that she was warned by the staff, but she should have been.

I would contact a supervisor in either case and give them relevant information ie time place, etc. It is very important to make sure people receive some sort of warning when they send any large amount of money, anywhere.

Another point of view could be that this person was warned and they’ve ignored the warning.

Yet another could be for whatever reason the person could have a legitimate reason to send the money.

Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2011 5:42 am

Re: The question was asked by the serving staff member. "Have you sent money to this person before?"

"Yes" She also added something which I did not hear. It was kind of like she was convincing the staff member that she knew what she was doing.
But I did not hear the actual words.

I will ask around to see what I can find out.

Cheers

Baiting Guru Joined: 10 Oct 2003 Posts: 4747

I encourage you to follow up, but always be ready for a disappointment.

Over time you’ll learn that some people are born to be a victim. If the scammer is arrested for internet fraud, they’d run down and post bail.

All you can do, is all you can do. Follow up in trying to make sure the woman is aware. Also make sure all workers are aware and will try to make patrons aware.

This is everything you can do.

Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2011 9:01 am

Hi B U 419 E,

Yes I agree I will follow up. I don't expect any thing great. In fact I expect no joy at all.

Yes to the other statement. Some people seem to be dreamers and are a soft touch for scammers. Without them we would not be having our fun here.

Its not a nice way to explain it but its reality.

Kind of like war. Your friend gets killed. You feel a huge loss but at the same time you feel fortunate that you yourself didn't cop the bullet.

I envisage a time when schools will have time set aside for teaching about scam wise awareness. The money that is going out of the country is detrimental to the economies.

This State has about 3 million people. About $900,000 per month leaves the state in scams.

Cheers

Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

Remember, as one of our illustrious moderators once said, "You can't unfuck the world".

Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 4:55 am

Hi PF,

I agree with that moderator. Well said. I do maintain that it does not mean its not comfortably livable. In some places. Laughing

Cheers