There are huge volumes of scam messages sent out each day and even though sometimes less than one in a million recipients fall for the scam, that’s enough to keep the money rolling in for the criminals.
Some scammers like to target people who have already been scammed, hoping they can be conned a second time.
There are sets of these scams targeting victims of scams and most commonly for those who have fallen for a 419 scam – ones where a fortune is promised but the victim pays small amounts again and again till they realise there is no fortune.
Typical Elements of the Scam
- A story about a common scam
- An authority has investigated the scams
- A decision to give you a large sum in compensation
- How to claim the money
The ‘sales’ pitch is this latest type of scam message is something like:-
“The Camelot National Lottery Group has noted the wide spread of fraud activities that are being committed by charlatans & impostures within United Kingdom, Africa & the World in general. The World Bank/Paris Club & British CFP in collaboration with the Camelot National Lottery has set up a welfare program to compensate all those that have fallen victims and lost their money in transactions of this nature World wide.”
Then the decision.
“After going through your last uncompleted financial transaction records with one of the commercial Banks, we have ascertained that you are one of scam victims and you have been approved to receive a compensation fund of £500,000.00. Therefore, the British CFP in collaboration with the CAMELOT NATIONAL LOTTERY is hereby issuing you a compensation payment prize £500,000 following the reveals made on your last abandoned fund transfer. Your compensation fund Winning Numbers are: XVX189298.”
To collect the money, I just have to re-confirm my details, including – Full Name, Address, Telephone number, Mobile Number, Occupation and Age, to a Yandex email address (loved by scammers) and they will confirm my money within 24 hours.
Of course, there is no compensation. I haven’t been conned therefore it is ridiculous to believe I would receive compensation, especially as they don’t even know my name.
For people who have been conned, there can be a temptation to go for this in the hope it is real, but how could anyone believe they will get £500,000?
If you have any experiences with these scams do let me know, by email.
