Nigerian Letter/Email scam

I just wanted to let you know that I think I have been a potential victim of the Nigerian Letter Scam. I have checked on the Internet and it appears to be an old fraud that is now been applied to people who are selling something on the Internet. I wanted to let you know, so that you can warn other people who advertise on your site in case they fall victim.

My story is that on the 18th of October I had an enquiry through one of my websites from someone called chiko from chikotradings@yahoo.com, saying he was from South Africa and wanted to rent my studio for 2 people from the 1st – 30th November, and to please give me the price. This I did. He said that he wanted to book and to please send my name, address and telephone number and he would organise his PA to forward me a cheque. My first alert, was that I have been to South Africa and I know that it is spring/summer at this time of year, so why come to a sleepy village in France in the winter. On the 26th I emailed him again, saying I had not received anything, so please confirm that he was coming and what was his flight details. He said that he was still coming, but maybe not on the 1st November, but maybe the 10th, but not to worry as I would still receive the full amount for the month’s rental. The 1st and the 10th of November passed and nobody and nothing arrived so at this point I put it down to some sort of joke. Two days ago (19th November) he emailed again to say (I quote – now in bad english) "How are you doing today? So I just want you to let me know as soon as you have received the cheque today, tomorrow or Monday morning. So also my client just made know to me that he sent a cheque of (Euro 4,500) so please you are to get the cheque cashed immediately in a post office near you or at your bank, so you are to remove your money and have the rest of the money send through Western Union money transfer to my PA whose name and address info is as follows below: Mr. Adebayo David 42 Allen Avenue Ikeja, Lagos 23401 Nigeria. So also I will want you to deduct the sum of Euro50 for yourself for the transportation to the Western Union office where you are going to send the money OK. So I think this is very clear to you and I will want you to please get back to me as soon as possible concerning these. Thanks and have a nice day also my greetings to your family. Chiko" When I had received this, I was surprised. I still thought some stupid joke, and very strange, but I would wait to see if anything arrived before I would respond. If it was a joke, then by responding would only add fuel to the fire of stupity . Yesterday, 20th November, I received just a Bank cheque (no letter) from Wales, in a Woolworths envelope, drawn on Allied Irish Banks plc for Euro 4500. I have since spoken with a number of friends on the subject and also checked on the Internet and have found that this is fraud. Where the fraudsters get you is that when you receive the cheque it is a Bank Cheque (which normally guarantees payment), you place your cheque into the bank, which initially clears, and once this has happens, you then send the balance as requested (then thinking that as the email enquiries are written in bad English, maybe the enquirer is not very clever). I have since discovered that your bank has 10 days to bounce the cheque, which normally happens after you have sent the balance of the money back. Net result – you lose out. Please have a look at http://www.crimes-of-persuasion.com/ for reporting procedures. I am very happy for you to forward this email and my details to your other advertisers, as I think it is important to inform other people quickly before they fall into the same trap. Also if anyone wants to ask me any questions, I am happy to try and help.

Regards Cathy Holmes

Rental Properties: http://www.search-villas.com/list-rentals.asp?uid=185&site=2