Call from Congo, was it a scam?

I had someone call me up on my landline the other day, saying they were from Congo and needed someone to open an account for an exiled Officer. I can tell scams quiet easy, but this seemed different because, the person calling me wanted me to collect a cheque from France and it was for 5 million US dollars. I asked him why he could not send it to the UK and he replied that it had already been sent and was waiting to be collected and deposited into a bank account.

I was offered 10% for doing this, but I refused since it all seemed a bit dodgy and when I asked how the caller got hold of my phone number, he said it was classified. Did I do the right thing be refusing or did I pass on a good deal.

I've thought it through and can't see where the profit would be to the other party if it was a scam.

Five Fingaz

Sounds very legit go for it..you are very lucky to get this opportunity,, lucky you

Balistic

i don't think it was a scam. i got call saying i won 3.5 milliion dollars and just to wire some money so they could do the paper work. pretty soon i will be a millionaire.

Kittysue

It's a scam - the profit is that you are providing all of your personal details and bank account information to a scammer, who can easily create a fake ID in your name within 2 hours, go into your bank, fill out a withdrawal slip with your account number, show a fake drivers license/passport with your name on it but their picture, and withdraw all the money from your account.

Also, all transactions over $10,000 need to be reported to the Treasury Department and IRS and you are required to fill out a Form 8300 within 15 days. This is to investigate possibly money laundering, which this is a textbook case of. You are liable to pay income taxes on this $5 million even if you transfer it out of the country.

If you deposit this check, you are an accomplice in felony money laundering and will be imprisoned

macattakk2000

scam 100% i have been offered this at least 10 times and many different variations

David

It is a scam alright Matey! The world is full of them these days. I had a similar call from Canada last night and I live in the UK, it is always the same set up, a little foreign voice gives you a load of spiel and they think you'll be stupid enough to fall for it.

I have had lots of spam with similar proposals, they are always written by somebody who's English spelling and grammar is poor.

It is a way for them to launder money and when some bright spark at your bank notices the error, you are the one who goes off to jail for a long time, unless you have a spare $5,000,000 in your other bank account!

I do not mean to upset anyone with a foreign accent, but I'm totally fed up with people invading my space and trying to con me, I just want to punch their faces in!!

You asked so...

Definitely a scam. Here's the key right here:

"sent and was waiting to be collected and deposited into a bank account."

You deposit this check and write another check, their check bounces and so do yours. Also, someone is sending $5 million and they can't tell you how they got your number, SCAM SCAM SCAM.

It is either a scam, or some other criminal activity is involved.
You did well to reject it.

lol

There's this old saying "Nothing in life is free"!
It was a scam!
Don't feel bad you did the right thing!

Smokies Hiker

Definitely a SCAM! You saved yourself a lot of money and a lot of problems!

Hugo Wagner

You were right to refuse, sounds like a new type of scam to me. They would probably have gone on to obtain account details and clean you out.

Krete

Obviously, YES, it's a scam.

PS. There was something about *scams* like this one on the American news a few months back. Think about it: if you are opening the account, don't you have to provide the bank with YOUR personal information? Once the check is deposited, it would likely have the account number stamped on the check. Scam artists can use this info in their own ways to compromise and/or steal YOUR identity.

Drew

Lmao, yes I have had a few of these via email.

They are all the same regardless, my sister tried hers after informing the police and they kept an eye out for the 'scammer' during the process, basically the checks bounce, but not before you have withdrew the money, some banks will allow you access to the money before the check has been fully processed.

You take out the money or send it forward, the check bounces and your the one in the ****.

You did right for refusing.
Don't forget it might of been your landline but you can basically buy lists of numbers off companies, its how they do coldcalling.

Five Fingaz your an ****.

George L

of course it's a scam. the only interesting question is how this person acquired your telephone number. now that's unusual. maybe you've got a virus on your computer.

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