Local students warned about e-mail scam
The Secret Service is warning local college students about an e-mail scam that seeks to lure them into a counterfeit check-cashing scheme with the promise of easy money.
Two students from the College of Charleston received bogus travelers checks last week after replying to e-mails sent by foreign con artists. They grew suspicious, and their parents contacted the Secret Service before any bogus checks were cashed, said John Kenney, resident agent in charge of the U.S. Secret Service in Charleston.
Agents seized about $10,000 in phony travelers checks, Kenney said.
The scam is a variation of the infamous Nigerian e-mail swindles that promise quick riches in return for investments that end up being funneled to criminal groups. According to Kenney, the scam works like this:
The recipient receives an e-mail from someone claiming to be conducting environmental or animal research in West Africa. The "researcher" claims that the country he is in lacks a mechanism for cashing the travelers checks he needs to fund his research. He offers the e-mail recipient 10 percent of the checks' value if they will cash the checks for him at their bank and wire the money.
The travelers checks — supposedly from American Express, Visa or Thomas Cook — are decent fakes, but they come in $500 denominations, which the real companies do not offer, Kenney said.
The scam is not new, but the con artists now seem to be targeting students through their college e-mail accounts, which concerns investigators, Kenney said.
Reach Glenn Smith at 937-5556 or gsmith@postandcourier.com.
E-mail this story
Printer-friendly version
Comments
hawneena (anonymous) says...
Like the old saying goes "if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is".
I would think that most people would be too intelligent to fall for this.
September 7, 2007 at 9:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
juniemoon1957 (anonymous) says...
I agree Hawneena. I could use a few extra bucks, but would not fall for that.
September 7, 2007 at 9:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
majorjohnson (anonymous) says...
Yeah, but you'd think most people would be too intelligent to forward those "bill gates will send you $1.67 for every time you forward this email" emails too, but I've sure gotten my share of em. People aren't as smart as we generally give them credit for.
I got the comments section up on my web site now too if you want to go back and check it out again. Thanks for the look. Saw that the faggots seemed to confuse you a bit, but there is an explation page on the subject...guess you missed it.
http://tom/fitf/index.asp?page=__Fagg...
September 7, 2007 at 9:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
billyjoejimbob (anonymous) says...
there ain't no easy money!
September 7, 2007 at 10:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hawneena (anonymous) says...
No, major, I had some problems with my connection at first, but then I was able to navigate on your website.
I was in for a surprise to say the least. LOL
September 7, 2007 at 10:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
crankyyankee (anonymous) says...
These aren't your normal College students. Their from South Carolina public schools. More than likely their friends of Miss Teen South Carolina!
September 7, 2007 at 12:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bubba1218 (anonymous) says...
Wow Cranky, that post sure sounds like the pot calling the kettle black...I believe the word you are looking for is "they're", not "their". Hey what do you know, my South Carolina (Chas Co!) edu-macation IS good for something other than graduate school! Cranky, it looks like the joke is on you!
September 7, 2007 at 2:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bribetaker (anonymous) says...
"These aren't your normal College students. Their from South Carolina public schools. More than likely their friends of Miss Teen South Carolina!"
Yeah...those folks in South Carolina are almost as dumb as the yankees who don't know the proper use of there/their/they're.
September 7, 2007 at 2:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hawneena (anonymous) says...
To crankyyankee, do you realize how many college students come down here from up North to get their degrees?
C of C is an excellent school that is still relatively much less expensive than most colleges.
September 7, 2007 at 4:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
juniemoon1957 (anonymous) says...
Well....DELTA is ready when YOU are. Delta, A MAJOR airline will fly you anywhar you wanna go....WORLD WIDE! Interstates run north and south, east and west. Harpo, don't pick up the rocks, they'll scatter.
September 7, 2007 at 5:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
majorjohnson (anonymous) says...
I'm not commenting on anyones grammar. It is kinda funny that he did it commenting on the local education levels, but I suspect I can find a grammical or speling problem with every poster who ever made a coment (I is excepted of course, as me don't make them they're tipes of errs).
Hey haweena...i got my pictures section working if you care to see what an old conservative hippie looks like.
September 7, 2007 at 8:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
stephaniem (anonymous) says...
I usually feel like a zombie after being on the computer after a couple hours and I know that my spelling/grammer sucks at times on the internet esp around 2am
Do you think crankyyankee was joking around with sarcasism?
the high school all over our country are going downhill.
I don't know about up north but in SC we have the exit exam that I passed the first time around and thought it was a joke but some of my classmates couldn't pass it until right before graduation.
September 7, 2007 at 9:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hawneena (anonymous) says...
Awesome, major, I will definitely take another look.
When I first started reading your posts I always figured you were the military haircut, chinos, polo shirt, kind of guy.
I just might be in for another surprise. I still can't quit laughing about faggots in the fire. That could definitely be misconstrued.
September 7, 2007 at 10:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
majorjohnson (anonymous) says...
Well, i'm not exactly that kinda guy haweena. The pictures section is a work in progress, but you can get to some pics of me that will surprise you I suspect.
September 7, 2007 at 10:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bubba1218 (anonymous) says...
Well said, Harpo.
Stephanie: I think it goes without saying that crankyyankee was not joking around with "sarcasism"...or is it sarcasm? ;) And you should also know that it is spelled grammar...not "grammer". WOW.
September 7, 2007 at 10:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
juniemoon1957 (anonymous) says...
Well, you know, all rocks aside, typing and talking are two different things. The other day, in the cafeteria, I was asked by this lady to help her with the vending machine. She stated she wanted "some of 'em areos's". I had no idea what she wanted until I saw her choose the OREOS.
September 7, 2007 at 11:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Postandcourier.com is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Postandcourier.com does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not postandcourier.com. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "report abuse" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website.
Users can now build user-to-user connections, follow friends' recent posts, add an avatar that fits their personality, and more. If you have posted here before you'll need to sign up again, or if you've never posted before, start now by signing up!
Full terms and conditions can be read here.