Honolulu police are warning Internet users about a new type of scam that left two residents out thousands of dollars. Internet scam claims
2 Hawaii victimsBy Rod Antone
rantone@starbulletin.comBoth victims were attempting to sell items on the Internet, and they both received what later turned out to be fraudulent checks from the Ilu Peju branch of the United Bank for Africa PLC in Lagos, Nigeria, police said.
Police said that in the first case a woman placed her automobile for sale on the Internet and received an offer from the suspect. Money was sent via a cashier's check from the United Bank of Africa and was held until it was believed to have cleared, police said.
The suspect then changed his mind and said he did not want the vehicle, and so the victim agreed to wire the money back to the suspect, police said. A week later, however, bank officials notified the victim that the original check was returned because it was fraudulent, and so the victim lost $11,950.
In the other case, a victim received a cashier's check for the purchase of an item in the amount of $5,335 -- $2,000 more than the amount agreed upon for the item. The victim then cashed the check and sent back the "difference" to the suspect via Western Union despite warnings from Western Union officials.
The victim later discovered that the check originally sent to him was fraudulent.
Police said this Internet scam was first reported in the United States on Feb. 14.
The Internet scheme is not the only one using the name Nigeria. According to police, another Nigerian-themed scam usually involved different individuals, possibly working as a group, contacting local residents and businesses and requesting assistance in transferring funds out of a foreign country to a local bank account in exchange for receiving a percentage of the transferred funds.
After receiving personal financial information, the suspects usually drain money out of the victim's account.
Anyone who has received a letter, fax or e-mail in pursuit of either scheme is asked to contact the Honolulu office of the U.S. Secret Service at 541-1912. Anonymous calls may also be made to CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cellular phone.
Honolulu Police Department