Excellent following email was sent to me today. The comments follow.
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Hello Mr, Mrs
I am Mr. George Bahi, as part of our visit to your country, I would like to book in your office two dishes for 2 people in total.
That is to say 10/04 / 2006 16 / 04 / 2006.
I would like to make a payment in advance (prepayment) via my credit card. Is this possible?
I am waiting for the pro forma invoice to you my card no credit for the prepayment.
I ask you a service : I wish the same time as you adjust the travel agency that deals with our tickets.
ie you draw on my credit card No note of reservation and the sum of 3,000 euros for our tickets and send them via Western Union to the agency Babany - TRAVELCI located in Côte d'Ivoire which I will provide contact information. In fact, we have a discount with this agency and have planned to settle our bills.
In addition, we are currently in Morocco for a seminar a week or more, then we will start directly in your country.
So you made an estimate of the rooms including the 3,000 euros for the agency.
We also ask us to provide this service because the travel agency does have a terminal, but it would have to our credit cards before making physical collection, while we are currently in Morocco.
I remind you that knowing that this is not your business, we offer a commission for this service 500 • .
Pending the total bill (note + 3000 • Booking air tickets + your commission)
Very Sincerely,
Mr George Bahi
Tel International: +225 08 62 26 61
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course, this is a gross fraud and fairly common judging communicated to the Embassy of France in Côte d'Ivoire. ( http://www.ambafrance-ci.org/article.php3?id_article=307&var_recherche=arnaque # sommaire_4 )
This fraud acts similarly to the famous Nigerian fraud or Mr. X, son a fallen minister of a previous government, asks you to help free up money in exchange for which he will pay you a generous commission. Obviously, the money never comes, and you often lose your shirt.
But how these scams work?
- First, it delivers a perfectly legitimate transaction ( here to book ).
- Then you request a service, favor, do a deal for "help" ( pay the travel agency ).
- using a credit card or check (here, the "blue card" that is to say, Visa)
- After a short delay, the money is put into your account.
- You then transfer to your new "friend" the agreed amount and keep your commission.
- few days later, the original store (here in Ivory Coast ...) accepts the transaction.
- Your bank will then request reimbursement full of unauthorized transactions.
- You must pay your commission and the amount of service you have rendered to your "friend".
- him, disappeared with her ... with your money!