Need some help proving "This is a SCAM, you fool!"

[badgerpup]

The story:
Ex-Sig Other (ESO) has supposedly this new on-line girlfriend, a "...traveling nurse, but right now, she is stuck in Nigeria. She can't cash her check, because she doesn't trust the exchange rates and is afraid of getting the shaft so she wants me (meaning him) to do it for her."
DING DING DING ALARM BELLS! RED FLAGS! DANGER WILL ROBINSON!!!
"No, really! this isn't a scam!"

He's received a 'check' (I haven't seen it, I'm receiving info by third party, Ms. L, who wasn't born yesterday and is no fool) for $4,500 and the request that he cash it.
ESO has no checking account and about a snowball's chance in hell of getting one.
Ms. L won't cash it for him...she's tried to explain that cashing a check of this size means she needs to have this much in her account already in case it bounces...and he just doesn't get it. She wouldn't do it even if she had...as I said, she's no fool.
Me? I am a suspicious badgerpup and have HEARD about scams like this and won't touch it with a ten foot pole.

Dope-slapping him doesn't get his attention, as he has already been burned once and didn't get the hint until he had the actual PROOF that he was being screwed in his grubby little paws.

How does one check out, verify, prove...what earmarks to look for?
Any help would be MUCH APPRECIATED!!!

:grouphug: :yourock:

[Warpy]

1. The fraud squad at the local cop shop would be a good place

to start. Also check with the state AG office for this scam.

It's a scam, IMO.

[dipsydoodle]

2. It's a 419 Nigerian scam

and "she" probably isn't. Just a guy sitting in an Internet Cafe phishing. They need whoever's bank details so's they can empty that account at a later date. Just search Nigerian fraud for details.

edit - the cheque will be revoked at a later date and whoever was silly enough to cash it will suffer as a result.

[angstlessk]

3. What are his instructions, once he cashes the check? Mission Impossible?

just the word Nigeria gives me the creeps. Try a google search for Nigerian nurses and checks? Maybe you will find some other sites that have experienced this fool's game?

[warrens]

4. This is clearly a scam

They cannot find out if that check is good without depositing it. It will then take at least a week to clear. By then, the money will be gone. Flat out scam.

[Jim__]

5. Let's see. She can't cash the check because she is afraid of getting

screwed on exchange rates. So, she mails the entire check to someone she's never met. Is that credible?

[Bobbieo]

10. It's a version of the old "Nigerian Scam"

I get them all the time as I use my email address to get submissions for my column. When I see "Nigeria" on my stats I know another ons is on the way.

[warrens]

6. Another point

What nurse in Nigeria makes $4500, even in a month? Total scam.

[Bozita]

7. search for: Nigerian check scam

get this:

http://www.ask.com/web?q=Nigerian+check+scam&qsrc=0&o=0&l=dir

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[LiberalFighter]

8. Warning!!!

Just because the bank says it will clear does not mean they will come back and tell you it is a counterfeit. And then he ends up paying the money back or in his case whoever has a bank account that cashes it for him.

IF this person is willing to wait until her check "clears" then it must not be that urgent that she can't wait until she arrives at a location that will provide the exchange rate she wants.

[Crabby Appleton]

9. it is definately a 419 scam

read:

http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/060515fa_fact


in this 419 variation, your ESO (you should be glad of the ex part) would then be asked to wire money to an ofshore account, by the time the bank discovered the check was bad, it would be too late. BTW - this is apparently a scam that the minister's wife in TN that shotgunned her hubby had fallen for; the argument overwhich ended in him being shot.

[Ian David]

11. Heh heh... if he's THAT stupid, I'd be tempted to let him do it

Please tell me you didn't reproduce with that loser?

[catmandu57]

14. Sometimes it takes a good dopeslap

and this would be a doozy, sounds like he's thinking with the little head instead of the big one.

[badgerpup]

16. Not to worry...

Didn't happen. Wasn't an issue.
In both senses.
:evilgrin:

[SeattleVet]

12. Call the local office of the US Secret Service in Billings

They will give you all the info you need. (They are the investigative body for financial crimes.)

US Secret Service Field Office: BILLINGS 406-245-8585

[ComerPerro]

13. good advice

[Odin2005]

15. any such thing from Nigeria = SCAM.

[badgerpup]

17. MANY THANKS TO Y'ALL!

From Ms. L and meself.
It's hard to just stop caring about someone even when they are all of a sudden no longer your Beloved Sig Other...
and I honestly don't wish this person actual ill; on the contrary.

I think there may be an organic reason why he went 'stupid' on me...happened very abruptly, no warning...and it's not just me who was shocked here.
The fact that he was badly burned online once already and the lesson didn't take makes me wonder if there isn't something else going on here besides "little head thinking".

Thanks for all your advice, input, and patience!
:loveya: :grouphug: :toast: