New angle on a scam... help?

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Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2018 10:48 am

Well it might not be new to most but it is to me. I rarely answer the "You have an ATM card with 10 million dollars on it" as they end up going nowhere but I just replied with a simple "Tell me more, I am excited" and they sent the script over and gave me the choice of having the ATM card mailed for a fee or flying to Freetown, Sierra Leone to pick up in person. Of course I chose that.

Here's where it gets weird. I basically blew them off (was busy) and kept sending random questions but they stayed on me and we had a nice chat on the phone. The lad was very well spoken. He conferenced in his travel agent who got all of my details, passport number etc. Obviously my details are all fake.

Here's where it gets weird. He actually bought me a ticket on Delta which I confirmed, booked a hotel room (which I confirmed), gave me my drivers information (which is a legitimate car service) etc. It's all confirmed. Obviously I think the travel agent is fake but still working on that as the company name is real.

Aside from the obvious (stolen credit cards paying?) has anyone encountered this? Do I alert Delta now?

Thoughts?

Baiting Guru Joined: 10 Oct 2010 Posts: 3876

and then, your character will be kidnapped.

a very despicable type of scam.

EDIT: consider, that flight and hotel are paid with a stolen credit card.

Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2018 5:54 pm

Yes, why I mentioned that I assume all was paid with a stolen card but some of the people they have booked to assist me have "legitimate" companies. Maybe they are in on it?

I guess I am trying to get advice as to whether to call Delta Airlines etc and tell them these things were paid by a crook or just keep rolling with it? I've been engaged with them all day because I have a slow work day today and they are very happy to see me so engaged but I can't quite figure out the angle.

I reiterated to them that I am 61 year old a poor farmer with no family, no credit cards and no money in my bank account ( that was in my first response and I reiterated it today - even told them I don't even have enough money for a cab so they need to pick me up)

I am getting sick of using my fake farmer accent. HA

Hmmmm. To be continued. Where is guru Just Cold when you need advice? Probably at a cookout Wink

!!

Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2018 6:03 am

I think you should contact a mod with the flight details rather than contacting Delta and the hotel yourself. As to the travel agent, does he have a website?

Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2018 4:54 pm

UPDATE ON THIS WEIRD BAIT:

I have been stuck in Freetown, Sierra Leone for 4 days. I arrived at the airport and my phone didn't work and I couldn't find my driver. I stopped at an internet cafe and sent the lad all over the city looking for me. I told him I was having trouble with maps etc in that area. I cannot believe he hasn't given up.

I was then taken in by a nice family (I thought was nice) and they robbed me of all I had left. I went to the US Embassy and they told me there was no ATM card and it is a scam. I told the lad and he said that for security reasons I must fly to Mali as now the US government is on to us and I will have to pay taxes. He has sent me a plane ticket. This time I demanded that he pre-pay the hotel and send a car service for me on both ends of the trip. I confirmed that both the plane ticket from Freetown to Mali and the hotel have been pre-paid.

I googled a seedy hotel in Freetown and that is where I told him I was staying and where the car service will pick me up to take me to the airport tomorrow. I am trying to confirm he is in Freetown and will travel to Mali. Maybe a safari?

Another odd angle is that he wants to send me $300 via Western Union for expenses. I haven't responded to that (no cash baiting). I am beginning to think that I haven't paid attention to the set-up and my main day to day contact (there are three people involved) is a mule expecting $$$$ as well??

I was on vacation and now slammed so hard to keep up but they keep wanting to stay engaged. I will have some time this weekend to really dig into the emails but it has been entertaining to say the least.

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