Warning Of Nigerian Email Scam Mentioning State Police Involvement

[Don Becker]

News Release from: Oregon State Police
WARNING OF NIGERIAN EMAIL SCAM MENTIONING STATE POLICE INVOLVEMENT
Posted: September 12th, 2008 1:42 PM

(The following is a Department of Justice news release dated September 11, 2008)

Oregon Attorney General Hardy Myers warned the public Thursday to be alert for a new email scam promising to compensate individuals who have been defrauded by previous Nigerian email scams. The new scam claims that fraud victims have been awarded a large sum by the Nigerian courts and, after a victim supplies his or her personal information and pays a $675 fee, state police will be contacted to assist in delivering the awarded funds to the victim.

"Oregonians should not be fooled by this latest twist on a classic scam. These false offers to help victims, with the apparent assistance of the Oregon State Police, are only designed to take advantage of the public," said Myers. "People should be on the lookout for such scams and always be extremely careful whenever sharing their personal information."

The email scam informs recipients that funds awarded to them are being held on their behalf by an attorney in Africa, who is waiting to transfer the monies to the United States upon receipt of the fee and the victim's personal information including name, address, phone number and passport or state driver's license numbers. In addition, it promises upon receipt to alert the U.S. government and state police of the monies being sent to ensure their prompt arrival. The Oregon State Police confirms that they are not involved in any such activities.

Victims may contact the Attorney General's consumer hotline at (503) 378-4320 (Salem area only), (503) 229-5576 (Portland area only) or toll-free at 1-877-877-9392. The Oregon Department of Justice is online at www.doj.state.or.us.