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Show October 18, 2002 - The Eureka Reporter - Page Three Nigerian letter scam is raking in millions The letters often look like they came from a government or bank office. They start off with a dash of conspiratorial intimacy and fancy language and lead into promises of vast, easy riches. For nearly 20 years these letters have arrived in mailboxes, across fax machines and now, more recentAnd, for two ly, through decades, consumers across the country have fallen prey to the Nigerian letter scam. One version of the letter promises a nice windfall if youll only help move $23 million into American banks from Nigeria. "You will retain 20 percent of the total amount, 75 percent for us, and 5 percent will be set aside on completion of this business to offset any expenses we E-m- ail. might have incurred during the processing of these funds," the letter says. "Include your confidential telephone and fax numbers in your reply so that I can let you know how we are going to proceed." "These letters basically ask you to help embezzle a huge sum of money out of Africa," said Franc ine Giani, Director of the Utah Division of Consumer Protection. "Many of the letters say something like the government of Nigeria made a mistake, they gave us too much money ami if you dont help us get it out of the country, they are going to take it back. But, if you help us, we will reward you.'" It is a scam, Giani says, that despite extensive efforts by law enforcement, consumer protection advocates and even the media to warn people about, it refuses to die. "The name of the person sending the letter might change, the name of the company chang es," Giani says. "But year after tential victims either at home or year, the scam keeps popping up throughout the world." If you are a small business owner, sometime over the past two decades, you probably have received a similar letter, often complete with misspellings and convoluted language. If you use theres a good chance youve received the plea, or something like it. Like most of us, you probably deleted it without responding. But federal authorities say hundreds or even thousands of people across the country have fallen prey to the elaborate confidence scheme. Officials say the spread of the Internet in Africa has meant a worsening of the scheme, and some victims get so sucked in that they end up giving away their life savings in the hope that one big transaction will justify it all. "These fraudsters are very, very good at what they do. They are well educated, well spoken and they know how to mix just the right amounts of truth and lies. They are very bold, aggressive and, most of all, once they have someone hooked, they are very, very persistent," says Giani. The scam started in the early 1980s, when a handful of letters, usually written on onionskin airmail paper, started appearing in mailboxes. The scam started gaining traction and expanding in scope with the advent of fax machines. But the Nigerian letter scam really hit the big time with the availability of the Internet. "With email, the cost of doing business for these criminals is almost nothing, says Giani. "And they have the potential to be able to reach millions of po e-m- at work. If you receive one of these letters please mail or fax it to: US Secret Service, 57 W. 200 South, Suite 450, Salt Lake City, UT 84101. Their fax number is 801-524-62- He who would have nothing to do with thorns must never attempt to gather flowers. Dont let the seeds spoil your enjoyment of a watermelon. Just spit out the seeds. Saturday, October 1 9th 1 to 3 p.m. Great Prices on Candles, Pictures, and More between 65F and 68F, if your health permits. Each degree you lower your thermostat can save you up to 3 percent on your bill Tackle some easy and inexpensive eneigy-savin-g projects around your house. Insulating, caulking and weatherstripping can add up to big savings of energy and money. Close vents and doors in unused rooms. energy-savin- g and ask for a copy of our Bright Ideas tips or visit www.utahpower.net. UTAH POWER Making it happen. taiv to an cAnrirATi Lofgren Keep your thermostat set booklet for more JUAB COUNTY COMMISSIONER "B" 27748 South Hwy 36 Make sure your registers are unobstructed so air can flow freely. Keep them clear of furniture, clutter and pets. Here are some other tips that can help you make saving energy a habit. And, in most cases, save you money, too!: 800-222-43- JIM MAXWELL Janet Larson when you keep your registers clear. I VOTE Home Interior and Gifts Inventory Sale Independent Contractor Going Out of Business Your heating system uses less energy at THE PEOPLE HAVE A CHOICE ON NOV: 5TH Little and often fills the purse. et it flow Call us LEADERSHIPINTEORITYRESULTS X " ' t J |