'Nigerian Scams' Reported In Carroll County

The Carroll County Sheriff’s Office is asking consumers to be aware of possible scams. The well-publicized scheme labeled the “Nigerian Advanced Fee Fraud” has once again begun to resurface.

In these schemes people are offered often large sums of money to help either move funds from a supposed inheritance or offer to pay a substantially large amount of fees to person for their help and most recently to purchase an item listed for sale. In this new approach people selling items will be contacted usually by email to arrange the purchase of the item being sold. The scammer will tell the seller that they are sending a money order for a larger amount with instructions to take out the sale price, along with shipping and a “handling fee” and to return the difference to them. The problem is that the check or money order is fraudulent.

The Federal Trade Commission offers good advice and information on their website (http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt117.shtm)

The recommended advice is If you're tempted to respond to an offer, the FTC suggests you stop and ask yourself two important questions: Why would a perfect stranger pick you — also a perfect stranger — to share a fortune with, and why would you share your personal or business information, including your bank account numbers or your company letterhead, with someone you don't know? And the U.S. Department of State cautions against traveling to the destination mentioned in the letters. According to State Department reports, people who have responded to these "advance-fee" solicitations have been beaten, subjected to threats and extortion, and in some cases, murdered.