Woman out $400K to 'Nigerian scam' con artists - Seriouisly. She fell for it.

[T_R_Oglodyte]

Woman out $400K to 'Nigerian scam' con artists

SWEET HOME, Ore. – Janella Spears doesn’t think she’s a sucker or an easy mark.

…Spears received just such an e-mail, promising her that she’d get $20.5 million if she would only help out a long-lost relative – identified in the e-mail as J.B. Spears – with a little money up front. "That's what got me to believe it," Spears said.

It turned out to be a lot of money up front, but it started with just $100.

The scammers ran Spears through the whole program. They said President Bush and FBI Director "Robert Muller" (their spelling) were in on the deal and needed her help.

They sent official-looking documents and certificates from the Bank of Nigeria and even from the United Nations. Her payment was "guaranteed."

Then the amount she would get jumped up to $26.6 million – if she would just send $8,300. Spears sent the money.

…For more than two years, Spears sent tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars. Everyone she knew, including law enforcement officials, her family and bank officials, told her to stop, that it was all a scam. She persisted.

Spears said she kept sending money because the scammers kept telling her that the next payment would be the last one, that the big money was inbound. Spears said she became obsessed with getting paid.

 

[Cathy in Boston]

So, then, in other words, the name "Spears" is pretty much synonymous with "idiot"....:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

 

[Patri]

Maybe someone should be given power of attorney over her financial affairs.

 

[Brett]

Maybe someone should be given power of attorney over her financial affairs.

unfortunately that's the advice (after the fact) for a lot of these scam victims. hard to believe anyone falling for those stupid email scams

 

[Phill12]

With the acts of this women you have described I'm surprised she was smart enough to have $400K.

I have always said that some get taken and others seem to work harder to lose their money!


PHIL

 

[M. Henley]

Must Have...

Surely she either won the lottery or inherited the money.

 

["Roger"]

What the article failed to mention is that she also bought twenty-seven timeshare units, all from a developer.

 

[teachingmyown]

So, then, in other words, the name "Spears" is pretty much synonymous with "idiot"....:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Oh, PLEASE don't make THAT assumption! Some of my favorite people are named "Spears" (like my KIDS!)


"teachingmyown"

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

What the article failed to mention is that she also bought twenty-seven timeshare units, all from a developer.

Actually the e-mail that finally hooked her for sure was when they promised to sell those timeshare units in 90 days, guaranteed, for 50% more than she paid for them.

 

[Bill4728]

…For more than two years, Spears sent tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars. Everyone she knew, including law enforcement officials, her family and bank officials, told her to stop, that it was all a scam. She persisted.

Spears said she kept sending money because the scammers kept telling her that the next payment would be the last one, that the big money was inbound. Spears said she became obsessed with getting paid.

It would be sad if she had sent $400K all at once. BUT how can someone be so stupid!! Everyone she knew, including law enforcement officials, her family and bank officials, told her to stop, that it was all a scam

It is like that old saying "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me ".

Janella Spears doesn’t think she’s a sucker or an easy mark.

BUT SHE IS!! Both a sucker and an easy mark.

 

[Kal]

It ...It is like that old saying "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me "....

Didn't I hear somewhere that the old saying actually states (at least in Texas) as:

"fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again." :whoopie:

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

It would be sad if she had sent $400K all at once. BUT how can someone be so stupid!! Everyone she knew, including law enforcement officials, her family and bank officials, told her to stop, that it was all a scam

It is like that old saying "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me ".

BUT SHE IS!! Both a sucker and an easy mark.

That's like being in a poker game for half an hour and not being sure who's the patsie. If you don't know, then the patsie is you.

 

[Chrisky]

There is also a saying - 'there's a sucker born everyday'!

 

[Passepartout]

We've seen this several times, well, not the Nigerian scam, but others. Mostly Canadian scams. People come in to DW's (family)law practice for a conservatorship on an elderly parent who has fallen for it. Our Eldest DS's wife's Grandfather sent thousands to some Canadian outfit who promised bazillions. His kids- the other inlaws had to take away all his cards, checks, change his address to theirs, disconnect his phone. No dummy, he's a retired dentist. So many elderly want to give a bundle to their heirs, and these scammers play on every emotion these people have.

Jim Ricks