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AG warns anew against “Nigerian scam”
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Posted on Jul 13 1999
The Attorney General’s Office is warning the public that the operators of the so-called “Nigerian Scam” may be active again in the Commonwealth, but this time through Internet solicitation.
According to a news release issued by acting Attorney General Maya B. Kara, at least one individual on Saipan received an e-mail, supposedly from a high-ranking Nigerian army officer, soliciting the receiver’s assistance on laundering several millions of dollars in bonus the sender had supposedly received from the former Nigerian military government.
This “Nigerian Scam” can take several forms. Sometimes, it originates with a letter to a potential victim promising large sums of money for doing “favors” for the sender. Many of these letters have originated from Nigeria, hence the name.
These “favors” will, at some time, require the use of the victim’s bank account, either to “hold” money or for some other purpose, and the victim will have to disclose the bank account number to the sender of the letter.
Upon receipt of the bank account number, the scammer then develops a ruse to clean out the victim’s savings.
The advice given by the AGO is to never give your bank account or credit numbers to anyone for any purpose. Never use your credit cards for any purpose except to purchase merchandise or to use a bank machine.
Those seeking further information may contact David Lochabay at the Attorney General’s Office at 664-2341.
