HiChris, I can't describe my appreciation for you catching all the sexual predators. My father is one of them as well! I am one of 4 sisters that was molested when we were children and it was from age 3 or what I remember to at least 9 or so. I told him when my parents kicked me out of the house that I would never want to see him again. Then 30yrs later I got a call from my Aunt in TN and she told me he was in the paper for molesting another 2 children, It Made Me Sick! One was 9yrs old the other 15yrs old. Long story short I helped the police   find him because they could not find him. There are so many children that stay quite about molesting because they are ashamed but it just protects them and I would love to tell the children of the world SPEAK OUT save yourself and the children that might be the next target of the predators that they are and won't change. Thank yOU FOR TRYING TO KEEP THEM OFF THE STREET AND IN OUR KIDS HOMES!

Online businesses are being hit by "jane_usaa004@yahoo.com", claiming to be Sgt. Jane Usaa in Irag wanting price quotes for products and then offering a cashier's check above the price of the order.  

I got one of these emails that looked like it came from my website.  I redirected the person to my website, advising that the total due would show as they ordered my products and that they would have to pay by credit card in advance.  The order was for nearly five thousand dollars.  I then did an online search and found that this had also happened to an online furniture salesperson.

I assumed that I would not hear from them again since I did not give them a price quote.  But the next day I had an email requesting that I "be more specific".

I emailed back stating, "I know that you are running a cashier's check scam and I have reported you."

I have not heard from them since.

if they are hiding in iran now, just go undercover again, and when they e-mail you, send back pornography and statements against islam. when the iranian clerics see this, i'll bet you they put the thiefs to death within days, problem solved

A day or so before I saw your show on id theft, Africa, etc., i received an email from a Mary Jack concerning a couple of million dollars in a bank in Nigeria.  I did not respond to that email, but wonder if I should look for someone to do a sting like you did.  I'm sure that there are so many others that have gotten the same or similar, that you cannot help or respond to every one of them.  If you would like to check the one that I received, let me know.  Surely there must be something that is bigger than those criminal and their scams, to , at the very least, put a huge dent in their pockets.  Your show did a great thing, lets do it again.

Wonderful investigative jourmalism at it's best. Bravo.You are the most compelling show on television. This is true "reality" TV.

How can I obtain a video or DVD copy of your "To catch an ID Theif" investigation (both part 1 and 2) My mother-in-law is a victim mych like Jeff in your investigation and although we have sent her news clippings about Nigerian scams and such I dont think that she wants to believe that the "love of her life" she met online is not real. She has lost alot of money and has received alot of packages as well. I was hoping that by making her watch the show she will realize once and for all that she is being used and scammed. What is happening to her is almost the same thing that you have shown on your show. She is a single widow and has been duped by some guy online. Please let me know how to get a copy as I want her to get herself out of this whole mess>
Thank you!!

Hi Chris,first let me say I am amazed by your show of catch an ID theif.I live in Ohio and I have two friends who have had this attempted to them.I also have been scammed with a check that came in my mail.My friends that was attempted by this,the one person that tried to get my best friend he came from a site on the web a dating site,he said he was from africa.Let me tell you I'd love to be on watch for these kind of scammers.I got plenty of time on my hands..Thanks Chris

I watched your story, twice, about the Nigerian scams (Wendy Scam).  I enjoyed watching you "enlighten" clueless people about the scam they were in and actually cornering one of the Nigerian scammer in a hotel room.  I just wish you could have had him arrested!  The chat sight that I use as well as a few of the "Dating" sights I have used, the African scammers are flooding in seemingly hoping to catch some lonely sucker that they can con out of products and money.  I have never been scammed out of anything since I know better than to send money or anything to someone I do not know over the internet.  I have also made a choice for myself to not even converse with anyone claiming to be from any African country or even claims to do business or visits there.  Save myself the trouble.  I have heard every story imaginable to get me to send money, but in the end it is quite easy to tell they are fake stories.  Then when I refuse to send money, they try to use the "guilt" trip to try to make me feel bad that I am not sending money that they demand I send.  And yes, these demands are accompanied by pictures of some good looking girl and instant claims to love and romance.  I don't buy any of it!
With that said, I decided one time to play along with the scam to see how it would play out, but never committing any of my money or promising to send any products.  I met Juliet Wiliams online, claiming to be of Greek heritage but living in the US, and was e-mailed a pretty picture of some girl.  I told "Juilet" that I was poor and really could use some help paying bills.  (The hook was cast)  Juilet instantly told me that she would send me a check for $6500.  1/2 of the money was to buy 2 lap top computers, sending at least one computer to her in, where else, Nigeria. (Later on she wanted both sent to her)  She claimed to be in the Gold business there and traveled to Nigeria regularly.  Gotta love the stories they come up with, but they are full of holes that are easy to see through.  So, the check for $6500 does show up at my home post marked in Seattle WA, and from a bank in Kentucky.  It didn't take an expert to look at this check to see if was fake as fake can be!  I called the bank it was "issued" against and they confirmed that this check was indeed fake.  During this time "Juliet" gave me an address in Indiana that she claimed to live at and a flight agenda "she" claimed to be taking to return to the US with a stop at my home to meet me in person.  I use "maps" on Yahoo to pin point this the loctaion "she claimed" to live at.  Naturally no address was found.  I called the city police department, told them what I was doing and gave the address.  Sure enough, no such address existed in that town.  The flight agend was also fake.  I knew right away because "she" claimed she would fly from Pairs direct to Dayton Ohio on Air France.   Air France does not fly into Dayton directly from Europe nor does it indirectly.  But to make sure, I called Air France and all the airlines assoicated with Air France.  The flight numbers I was given were real numbers, but they ended in Germany, not the US.  In the end I confronted "Juliet", now claiming to be in London, that I knew everything was fake.  That I had turned the fake check over to US authorities and all information I had about "Juliet".  "She" start claiming it was not her fault that a business partener did all of this and that she would take care of the issue herself.  I am sure a ploy trying to not have me report this to authorities, but I reported it all just the same.  "Juliet" does not bother me any more!  Now I do not recomend that everyone do what I did.  But I just would like to add to the story that Date Line ran about the "Wendy" Scam.  It is unfortunite that the scamers have a "safe haven" and have grown as they have.  It is also a shame that there are still people that are fooled by these scams!  As I said, I have decided to not converse at all with anyone claiming anything to do with Africa, expecially Nigeria.  Yes, I know there are good people in Africa.  But my expereince, I have yet to converse with a single person online that has anything to do with Africa that has not tried to run a scam.  Everyone, just be carful online.  There are many good people out there, it is just sad that there are enough bad people out there that makes all of us have to be on guard when online.

Hi, My name is Mamie and I have a friend that is suppose to be in a hospital in Lagos Nigeria, Africa. They are asking me for money to pay for his meds. I have their email address and the note they sent me. I will foward it to you if I hear back from you. It is from a Dr. Larry Stoneman at Lagos Teaching Hospital Lagos Nigeria, Africa. Could you please help me find out what is going on there?

Dear Chris,

I have a scam that I would love to have you investigate.  Have you tried to purchase concert tickets lately?  My daughter loves Hannah Montana and I wanted to get concert tickets for her.  The tickets are sold through TicketMaster.  There is a presale date you can purchase tickets through if you are a member of her fan club.  We are and when I tried at the exact time of opening for the presale (I wanted 4 tickets) it immediately came back as no tickets available.  When you try at the time for the general sale to the public, same story - immediate return of no tickets available.  I understand that she is immensely popular, but it is more than coincidence that the many ticket brokers online have lots of tickets to sell at hundrends, even thousands of dollars over the original ticket price.  If you check some of her upcoming concerts in which the presale or the general sale to the public has not even been opened - lots of the ticket brokers online already have tickets!  They list exact seats and locations and the tickets aren't even on sale yet.

There is a connection somewhere, in which TicketMaster is getting these tickets to the brokers in order that they may sell them for a giant increase.  Is TicketMaster getting a cut of the humongous profits?  

The entertainment world is ripping off lots of consumers; it should be investigated and brought to light so that these con men (and companies) don't line their unscrupulous pockets at the expense of the public.

I would like to get a copy of the identity theft broadcast to show in some of my classes.  I teach computers to beginning students and this fits nicely in with some of our lessons.

my friend has become victim of identity terf and i want to know if you can help us stop these guys (i dont want this message to be post on message board)can you send me a email address where i can tell you more about this.

Chris,
Just yesterday I received an e-mail form a man who claims to be banker in South Africa, and of course, wants to share 11.6 million dollars with me.(60/30 & 10% for expenses)Is there an authority to report these suspected scams?
Thanks
Darla

I HAVE BEEN READING SOME OF THE COMMENTS AND I HAVENT HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT LETTERS THAT COME BY SNAIL MAIL.  I RECENTLY RECEIVED A LETTER WITH A CHECK AND IT STATED THAT I WAS A 3RD PLACE WINNER IN A CONTEST.  IT SAID THAT I HAD TO CALL TO CONFIRM MY ADDRESS AND THEN I WOULD BE SENT THE FINAL CHECK.  I AM SKEPTICAL BUT I AM A PERSON WHO ENTERS ALOT OF CONTESTS.  HOW DO I KNOW IF ITS ONE THAT I REALLY ENTERED OR A SCAM?  I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY TIPS YOU COULD GIVE ME TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

Chris, at present, someone is trying to pull an online scam on me.  I have been a victim of this scam before.  Here's the way it works.  This person who posted an ad about a car for sale (a 2003 Lexus), contacts me after I asked him how many miles were on the car.  In his response email, he tells me that he can sell me this car through eBay's trust fund, where they hold the money till I get the car.  When I tell them the car is ok, then they pay him.  Here's the scam:  He is generating the fake emails from eBay (I have contacted eBay).  eBay (this person) says they need the confirmation numbers on the money order before they can receive the money.  Anyone who deals with money orders knows that the confimation number is never needed to pick up a money order.  It enables him to pick up the money order without being the person to which it was addressed.  Right now he thinks that I am onboard with him and will send the money.  Is there anyway you can spotlight this criminal so that others are not ripped off?

I hope that Chris Hansen gets to read this, to me it is important.  I watch the show about Mr.  Ball and the international theft ring he was involved in.  Well since then I have been keeping my eye out for weird stuff like this.  Today i received a letter in my email asking me if I would have some money transferd to my american bank account, from an account in south east africa.  I know that is where a lot of the id theifs are from.  I saved the email and his email address and immediatly contacted MSNBC.  So if you are interested email me back.

Hi Chris, I really love the identity theft segments.
I got a letter today from a scammer in Spain. Says I have inherited money from one of the victims of the Madrid train bombing. Want to call him? phone +34697795261 (direct line) his email is denadvocado@yahoo.es. The police in Los Angeles County don't have time to do anything about this. I bet this guy sent out hundreds or even thousands of letters..Somebody IS going to fall for this! I'd love to see him on dateline!

Great story!  
Recently I've been the victim of credit card fraud; I had noticed hundreds missing from my account and strange charges appearing that I had not made. As it turns out, some idiot in Palma Mallorca, Spain had stolen my number and made several fraudulent charges and of all things a bottle of colon cleanser!
The card has since been invalidated and a new one has been sent to me along with several credits back into my account.
Please continue to warn consumers about these international jerks who'll rob you blind.

Dear Mr. Hansen,
I thought I'd forward an email I recieved today.  I know what it is (scam) due to watching your program.
Thank you for exposing preditors and scam artists!
Sincerely, Mrs. Carlene Pearson
PS it came from e-mail fredwilliams102@yahoo.com.

Hello Chris,
I have been recieving emails from an online Sweep  International Lottery They said I won but that I would have to fly to London to get it or pay $710.00 for the package to be sent to me (a check of my winnings)I believe this is a scam there info:
p-barrister-paul@yahoo.co.uk (joe johnson) Location: London, Great Britain Phone: +44-704-571-5797
Please check in to this they are calling my employment    

I receive about five of these type emails each week.
Please let me know if you need copies of them.

M Hartness

Hello Mr Hansen
I actually know of someone who is involved in recieving shipments of items which I believe are purchased with stolen idenity information.  I don't have all of the details.  I do know that this person was recruited via the internet to perform a job by agreeing to recieve packages and then resending them to another party.  I actually saw your show on to catch a theif and I do believe that this is exactly what this person is involved in.  Do you have any idea what their criminal liability is in participating as a "middle man"?  This person has recieved and resent thousands of dollars in items.  I actually saw some of the merchandise and made reference to your show explaining that this is what most likely is going on and that the person should contact the FBI.  I found your show very informative and helpful.  What should someone do in this situation?

I've just been scammed.  From match.com.  A man portraying a professional business man from San Diego.  He went on a business trip, and called and said that his luggage had been lost and that B of A wouldn't let him use his credit card there.  I fell for it.  I sent some money to him.  That ended up being taken in Ghana, Africa.  He was a real sweet talker and promiser.  I was stupid...I should have seen it coming.  I have stopped any and all communication with him.  Ladies, watch out for Match.com.  

I am a respected PR/media person who recently got scammed by an Internet company who scammed 9000 people out of 45 million $ they are now under investifgation by SEC & no one is doing anything about it! this is a story you need to expose--I think some politicians are behind it

I recently received a letter from the Chinese & French
government lottery--with a cashiers check drawn on a bank here is the US.  I called the bank in Washington that it was drawn on--it was a fraud--I have the letter & the check

Hi Chris, I really must thank you for taking up the fight that the average man just could not possibly do. I consider myself a web savy man and have been using it longer than most. I am of the belief that not everyone online is a crook but my GOD where are they, lol? Yes I have been scammed but I at least made sure that it was not more than I could afford to loose. Only $700.00 bucks and there is a slim possiblity that I could get it back. Mine was in a dating scheme. I also get email after email for these million dollar ripoffs and have played with them but not lost anything to them. The real purpose of this entry is to let you know that I would all but kill to join up with you to fight this mess as it is ruining something that should be so special. I am watching one of your shows on this subject as I write this email. Anyway, I would love to help. More over I would love to be hired and make this my finale lifetime job, lol. Feel free to contact me for any reason. Your friend, Daryl

Chris
I received an email from Sir RIchard K Lloyd at the UK NATIONAL LOTTERY <cwtw@cox.net> telling me i won 500,000 GBP...They request that I email all kinds of personl info including Bank transfer info to Mr Harry Smith @: agentharrysmith1@yahoo.ie

I have also received many emails from what sure seem like scammers to me after posting expensive items on Craigslit...the emails are in a broken english and insist upon me shipping items / sending a certified check or money order even after I repeatedly state I will deal with locals only...they usually have some long story about how they are traveling etc...they will pay shipping no matter how expensive

If you like I can forward you the Lottery email

Thanks...T

Mr Hansen, just finished reading all the scams that have happened to people.  I am in the midst of one right now.  It was through Match.com.  I have ended any conversations by way of email, relay, etc. changed phone numbers, etc. I was scammed.  He got a computer, and some cash.  Not too much, but enough to figure out that he was a scammer.  I was lucky not have had forked out thousands.  I have contacted the FBI already, not that they have time for something like this, but keep up the good work of promoting this kind of theft.  Women out there, becareful of dating sites, the predators are hiding there too.  

Someone who is madly in love with me, yeah right wants me to receive packages and forward them over seas for the orphans, wouldn't that be nice of me.
Shuree

Hi, Great show, I have personally been a targeted by these scam artist. I was selling a 1965 VW Beetle, that I had invested over 3 years and alot of money. I had the vehicle advertised in the autrader and shortly thereafter the calls and emails came in offering to purchase my car. I received an email from Smirth Brown who said he had a client in London looking for a car like mine. He offered to purchased, i requested a cashiers check be sent to my PO Box and then I would release the car. He sent a cashiers check for $11,000.00 drawn on US Bank, I thought it look rather different, and I was suspicious since I was only selling the car for $6,000.00. He said that I was to deposit the 11k into my account and western union him the difference. He called me several times daily and demanded his money. I attempted to verify the check and turned out that it was fraudelent. I called the Finanical Crimes Division of the Secret Service, since this guy was calling me from out of the country, I was quickly told that most of the Country of Nigeria was corrupt and anyone buying my car from there was probable up to no good.
I thought I would share this experience, Your show is great and commend you for your brave work on the scoundrels.

CHRIS,
BOY DO I HAVE SOME NEWS... I HAVE SEEN THE EPISODES OF SCAMS, AND NOW I HAVE LIVED IT! MY HUSBAND WAS SELLING A BIKE ON CRAIG'S LIST AND WE WERE SCAMMED. AFTER A FEW EMAILS AND DESPERATE CRIES FOR US TO WIRE MONEY TO AFRICA, WE RECEIVED A $22,000.00 CHECK FOR A $100.00 ITEM. THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO COME TO OUR HOUSE AND PICK UP THE ITEM...WHAT IS SCARY IS THAT THESE PEOPLE ACTUALLY GET OUR ADDRESS AND PERSONAL INFORMATION. ANY WAY, I AM GLAD THAT SOMEONE LIKE YOU TAKES THE TIME TO SHARE EXPERIENCES LIKE THIS . IT TEACHES US TO BE AWARE AND MAYBE WILL HELP STOP THE NEXT VICTIM BEFORE THEY ACTUALLY BECOME A BROKE VICTIM! THANK YOU

I saw the piece both times it aired on NBC.  I was amased at those that took advantage of this.  I was even more surprised at how the contacts are made.  That was until today.  I got a fax at my business (I work from Home).  Hope you can use it.  Maybe it is one you already have dealt with.

Even after reading the comments here and seeing the story I am having trouble understanding how it is that people get caught in these plots.

I recently got an IM from a guy that seemed nice and I started chatting with him.  After only one week he said he lived in Georgia and was taking a business trip to Nigeria.  He then said he wanted to get me a motorcycle I have been wanting but his daughter left his credit card at home and he needed me to help with the shipping.  I got an e-mail from a shipping company that I could not find existed and an address in Nigeria that the maps could not find the road, stating the shipping would be $3,000.  I told him he was crazy.  I hadn't heard from him again for 2 weeks till today.  He asked me not to be mad at him because he had been sick and need a favor.  He needed me to cash a money order for him to be able to get back home.  The amount was $1,250.  The scams are not just fake businesses.  They are also people who put up fake pictures and pretend they have fallen head over heals for you......

I work in the relay industry and I encounter these every working day! For those who do not know, relay is a way for the deaf and hard of hearing to make phone calls and instead of serving the deaf community, most of the calls we receive are these scammers and fraudsters buying stuff from people (big businesses and personal ads included) and fooling people with love and the promise of forever (as long as they can help in delivering their goods and giving them money). When naive people fall for it, it just feels like we are a part of the whole scam. I get affected from these more than I care to show or admit! When I saw your episode, I was just boiling mad! But I feel so helpless because the government cannot really stop this rampant (international) cheating and scamming. It's just sad.

Hi Chris,

I watch your show all the time, and I just received an e-mail from someone in Nigeria needing help from a foriener to help get some hidden money, in which, I will then get 25% of that hidden money.  I wish to give you the name of the e-mail so perhaps you can follow up with this sure scam. His e-mail address is nasir_rufai@yahoo.com.  I hope this is someone else who will get caught since there are so many victims.  Please let me know if this information is helpful in a finding another con man.  

Discovered almost a year ago (while overseas) that someone was fraudulently using a credit card (tipped of by automatic email message that account had gone over $1000). Immediately contacted issuer on secure website.  They responded that I had to call the U.S. to report lost or missing card (my card is with me,so it is neither lost nor stolen) and would not close the account.  I called the number listed for international callers (U.S.? I don't know) and was put on hold for 4 minutes. Operator came back on and said he could not close the account and I would have to call a number in China.  Chinese number did not answer.  I finally got the issuer to close the account (via the secure site) by saying that I work in China. In one of their responses they threatened me that if I live outside the country but was not in the military, then the account would have to be close.  An ironic threat, because I was asking them to immediately close the account because of the fraud, and they said they could not - unless I made that expensive call to the u.s. So, based on residency, they closed my account, but my attempts to warn them of fraud were rebuffed.  When they closed my account, they blocked my ability to use the secure site, so I can't see the messages they posted, yet they sent me several emails "please go to the secure website for answers to your inquiries."  Sometimes the issuers are stupid, too.  This problem has still not resolved itself.  It's bad being scammed in the U.S., but having it happen while you are living overseas is also a nightmare.

I loved the "To Catch a Con-Man" series! I get scam-mail like that all the time! If you need new leads, I'll forward them ALL TO YOU! Keep up the good work!

Chris,
I write this to you as a recent victim in internet scams.  I consider myself pretty internet savvy, however, as I further investigated a recent transaction that I had 'completed' with a buyer via Craigslist.org and Paypal.com, I've come to the conclusion that I have been taken advantage of.  Please note that I do not blame Craigslist nor Paypal.  I was caught off guard through the sophisticated methods that I was not but now have come to be aware of.  My primary contact with the buyer has been via email so I have all correspondence documented.  I don't know if this case will ever be solved, of which I hope, however, at the very least I wish to disclose my recent discoveries to either catch the criminal and/or to prevent others from being taken advantage of.  Thank you for your time and any assistance you may have.  
Sincerely,
David Lee

Dear Chris:

Shortly after watching your show on ID theft, my son was a victim.  He received an email that appeared to be from his bank.  Unfortunately, he responded.  His savings was depleted by $1,000 and his passwords were changed.  Luckily, I was able to give him advice and pointers from your show and he was able to nip it in the bud. He still monitors his credit report regularly and is much more careful with his personal information.

Today I received and email from a gentleman in Beijing, China who wants me to go to work for him as a "represtative/bookkeeper" in the USA.  I'm thinking about looking into to it just to find out how illicit it is.  What do you think?

Hi Chris,

I love your show.  It's nice to know that someone out there is unmasking all of the fraudulent activity that goes on.  It seems that the government doesn't do anything about it.  

I have a friend that was duped on the internet by a person or a group of people who contacted her via instant message and email.  They claimed to be a celebrity.  In the beginning she was very skepital and did not believe this person at all, however as time progressed.. this person(s) continually gave them information before anything ever came out on the news or celebrity gossip.  Over the course of 4 months this so called celebrity introduced her to several othere so called celebrites online and during the entire time this person gave her information that my friend would check out and it would later come out to be true.  The "star" pretended to be in love with her and my friend evenutaully fell in with the celebrity.  Until one day the person dropped out of her life.

My friend was able to track down that she was contacted by this celebrity via an email that was forwared with her email address on it.   She contacted the FCC and reported it, and she contacted the celebrity who was inpersonated with a letter informing them of what happened.  She has since tried with no avail to look for information online about other people this may have happened to and she doesn't understand why the person or people did this but she has had no luck.   She was humiliated and embarrassed but I believe that this is probably much more prevaliant than she realizes.  

I have looked online and I have found a site called be a celeb.   It is an online game where people impersonate stars and keep a journal and they interact with people via AIM.  This is how my friend was originally contacted.   I have also found other fake celebrity sits but I have not found anything about anyone else that this has happened to and my friend is not a naive person.   Who ever did this put alot of time and energy into knowing all that they could about the star they were impersonating.  I can't help but wonder who else this is happening to that may be, like my friend, too embarrassed to come forward.  

Please, look into this.   It has not only broken her heart but has turned her against hollyhood and has taken the only source of entertainment away from her.  My friend is handicapped so TV is her life.  This scam ruined her life and I'm sure she is not the only one.

thank you
J

I "naively" answered lottery scams from the UK about me winning the lottery but that I had to contact Nigeria to claim my money- red flag right there.  Too late now because before i realized i was being scammed ( my twin sister phoned me the day after i answered my "scams" and warned me about them as she watched these scams on Dateline which i missed.  I e-mailed these smammers back by giving them my full name, phone number,nationality, address, etc, except they did not ask for my SSN so i was thinking it might be ok. Does that make me immune to identity theft?  I emailed them back the day after to let them know they are in big trouble, that i know they just scammed me.  Did i do the right thing?  I learned something- never answer e-mails, period, esp. if they are from overseas.  Should i change my phone number since i gave it to them?  Pls. i would appreciate any kind of advices.

i watched your show on nigeria scams and have recieved a multitude of scams???? they are from british global lottery asking for between 2000 pounds sterling to 4000 to open a account to claim winnings by my url of my computer!!!! also nigeria has a multitude of (free money ) . i have recieved over 30 in 2 days and am on permanent disability and am raising 2 children and have a 3x bypass back problems /melanoma and parkinsons desease!!!! if not for your show i may have borrowed the funds to do it !!!! but it still goes on and all people that don't know are in trouble please help !!!! dave balestra. 321-779-2838

Hello (again),
I LOVE the Dateline programs! I sent a message back in July about another type of scam.  It was in regards to 'Property for Sale'.  I did not see my message posted in archive from before, so I thought I would attempt again to give others a 'heads-up'. As I had indicated in my last message, I have a home for sale (no realtor) with my own personal WEB site and I also have it on 'For Sale By Owner'.  I have received contact from many scam artists (mostly from the UK and one as recently as 9/5/07) that want to buy my home, sight-unseen and in some cases for more than I am asking - but there's a catch...They 'ALL' want to send a deposit but that amount will be slighty larger than what we are requiring for earnest money because they want us to send back the extra via check (from our personal account).  Now, I used to be a title company real estate closer, so I am very aware of how property closing/transactions must be handled and did not fall for this but there may be some who would.  I get contacted by 'these people' atleast every other month and one went as far as to say they were 'Prince Kasim Abdalla, a sultan of the country of Jordan, a relative to the King'(I have saved all the emails that went back and forth).  They claim they have seen my posting at www.lakeloghomeforsale.com and the 'For Sale By Owner' one as well, and they want to buy it immediately.  I just want others to know that 'they' are out there and with many different venues for fraud.  In this example, they want my personal bank account # - which they would get off of the return check they hope I will be sending them.  They will have a long wait! Be careful everyone and please share my story with others. TAKE CARE and Thank You for exposing these scams!

The business I am currently employed with recently was given a fraudulent credit card for an order in Nigeria. This occurred about 1 to 2 years ago. We recently received an e-mail from someone again, asking if we ship to Nigeria and accept credit cards. Their e-mail address is "more2goodhenry43@hotmail.com". I am trying to get more information from this person because we believe they maybe using stolen credit cards.

I hope this gets to Cris Hansen or someone that may be interested in investigating it.
I would consider investigating it myself, but I am afraid that it may be illegal.
My name is Sandy Rabideau and recently I have been receiveing some suspisious emails, I would like to forward them to you.
The most recent one is requesting that I accept checks or money orders  cahing them and then keep 10 percent.
Of course stating that I will make lots of money.
Just thought this might be of some interest to you
Thank you
Sandy

Hello my name is Vern.  My parents have been scammed by the internet scammers.  They send $3000.00 and they were told that they were to invest or RECEIVE $30,000.00 in the mail.  Only if I knew what they were doing.  Now, they don't know what to do.  May you please help me.  Verna

September 30, 2007

Dear Chris,
I would like to add another comment on your series in which you set up a internet account & tracked down the crooks over seas. YOU DID A FABULOUS JOB!! Keep up the great work! Speaking of work, I got a story that I think your gonna wanna look into? There is a web site that out local news has told about down here in Florida, called Craigslist.com. Apparently, some prostitutes have been caught using this site in Polk County, Florida & also in Daytona. You should do a story on this, I believe there is more going on in this site.

Keep up the great work,
Mark

I did watch this show and was just fascinated, especially when a lot of the scammers were from Nigeria.  While on Holiday in Thailand, I would frequently check my email at an internet cafe' and also check my ebay account feedback.  Then one night while checking on ebay, my password wasn't working.  evidently, someone had managed to get into my personal account and change my information.  I immediatley notified Ebay Security.  They put a hold on my account until I arrived home so I could fax them ID.  In my Hotmail there were about 15 messages from people who were notified by this person requesting info about computers and the postage if shipped to a certain address in the U.S.  I went to my Ebay Account and changed my password by answering certain security questions.  While doing this, the person, had changed my name for his as the registered user, kept my payment name and address, but had changed the shipping address to Illinois.  His name was really strange, so I googled it and discovered it was quite common in Nigeria.  I was so enraged, because I immediately flashed back to the Dateline Show.  Ebay is investigating the matter, but I'm sure I'll prevail.  It's a shame these people are so smart, but use their intelligence in a corrupt way, when they could really do something with their lives.

Hello,

My company is a small graphic design firm in Nashville, TN.  We do good work for good people.  Recently, we did a website for a man, who conned us out of about $4000.  He had us build the site over a couple of days, then threatened to sue us.  Then never paid us.  I have since found out that he is running an investment scam.  I have pictures of him, I know quite a bit about him, I just don't have the where-with-all to actually catch him in the act.   I would love help with this.  Thanks.

OH MY GOD!!!! I was just sharing a situation with my friends at work and they directed me to your story on web scams.  A man sent me a request to ship 60 perfumes to an address in Africa.  I advised I could not ship out of the country.  Asked him to provide me with a cashiers check instead of a credit card because I thought it strange someone would want this many fragrances.  I advised him that I don't have these in stock and it would take 1 week and that I would have to wait 2 weeks for the cashiers check to clear before I could send anything out.  He emailed me back and said he would send the cashiers check but wanted my home address so he could have some 'phones' shipped to me.  He would send me address labels with an address to ship them to.  I replied that I was no longer interested in working with him.  This is CRAZY!!  I did keep his emails because I thought it was all so strange in the first place.  If they would help you catch another person you are welcome to them.

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