Beware of Martial Arts Scam...

[Tim Mousel]

Hi,

I've been getting a lot of emails lately from loser people that want me to teach their child. The scammers will send a check that will cash. They will then want you to send a portion of that money to the person arranging the trip for their child. A few weeks later, the check they sent you will bounce (and no, I didn't fall for the scam!). Here is an example of such an email:

Return-Path: rooker_james@yahoo.com
Delivered-To: 52-tim@defend.net
Received: (qmail 48707 invoked from network); 6 May 2006 15:01:39 -0000
Received: from web37401.mail.mud.yahoo.com (209.191.87.54)


Hello
Good day to you over there, I need a tutor for my son (Brian), i got your advert while surfring through the internet and i really want my child to be taught byn you.Brian is 17 year old and easily catch up.Although,i understand you are in (usa} but i've arranged with my cousin sister living there that my son is coming to stay with her for his period of tutoring and she had agreed with me,i reside in uk . So i will like you to get back to me the following detail:

1.CHARGE FOR AN HOUR....
2.TOTAL CHARGES FOR 2 MONTH THAT HE WILL BE TAUGHT 3 TIMES PER WEEK..
3.FULL NAME
4.HOME ADDRESS
5.YOUR PHONE NUMBER...
6.YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
My mode of payment will be by CHECK.willing to read from you as soon as possible Regards.............
Rev.rooker.

[GotaDeGuerra]

Hi,

I've been getting a lot of emails lately from loser people that want me to teach their child. The scammers will send a check that will cash. They will then want you to send a portion of that money to the person arranging the trip for their child. A few weeks later, the check they sent you will bounce (and no, I didn't fall for the scam!). Here is an example of such an email:

This is often called a "419 scam", originating out of Nigeria (and all over West Africa).

It's often used with many scenarios- most including western union. They'll wire the money to you, of which you wire only a portion back. Yours clears before theirs does and.. wham.

I've seen Americans, Dutch, Brits, everybody really, get scammed for anywhere from $500 to $60,000 USD!

I've read that an estimated $5 billion dollars was lost to these scams from the US in 2005 alone.

And if that's not bad enough- no 419 scam artist has EVER been successfully prosecuted in the United States to date.

Kinda makes your blood boil a little bit doesn't it?

[Tim Mousel]

Yeah, it does make my blood boil! I had someone send me a credit card number for an order to Nigeria. It was a definite scam so I called the credit card company and they said it was a stolen card. I had an address and name of where to ship an order to. The credit card company didn't want any of that info cause they weren't going to follow up on it! Looks like no penalty for the scammers!

Tim

[elitecombatives]

I knew something was questionable!!

I just received an email inquiry like this as well. The guy said he's from Nigeria but staying in Florida with his Sponsor urging him to train at my school! I thought that it was such bull so ignoed it for a few days but then decided to write back. They replied and said "please send info." which was the same details Tim mentioned / posted on the above email string. I took the next best action on this email...."CLICK DELETE" TRASH

INDEED BEWARE!

[ryangruhn]

Here is the one I got:

Titled: Thaiboxing Lesson

Hello,
I am Mr Desmon Richard from UK. My Son (David) is coming to stay for some couple of weeks in the USA and he loves Sport, I want you to help me teaching him lesson. I got your profile from a Sport teaching directory. Note: my Son David is just 16 years old and he is a beginner. So, please teach him well. The arrangement for his accomodation will be made near you , so that the lesson will be confortable for the both of you.he will arrive there First week in April. Let me know your charges cost per month in other for me to arrange for his payment before he travells down to your side. The payment will be made with check from my associate.He will be staying there for 2 months and I want Him to learn for that 2 months.
Please Advise back on:
1. The cost for the lesson (For the 2 months) and books (if needed)
2. The complete details for the payment(Name address and cell phone
number).
I look up to your reply regarding that.
Regards,
Desmon Richard

__________________________________________________

**What scares me is how it was customized to say "Thaiboxing Lesson"

Gruhn

[Hardball]

It's a modified version of the Pigeion Drop scam. I lost 40 bucks when I was a 15 year old kid. I recently got an email from what was supposed to be a pretty blonde in a small town in russia. It was also a modified version of the pigeon drop scam.

[Tom Yum]

I hear you, Tim. I posted an example of one of those scams. If we can't prosecute them in the United States, what can we do...?