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MSNBC.com
Inside
the Dark Art of Phone Fraud (continued)
How the prize
scheme works
- It usually starts with mailings that offer chances to
enter sweepstakes or join lottery clubs, often based in
foreign countries. If you respond to one of these, you are
marking yourself as a potential victim. Your name will go
on a sucker list and you will be hounded relentlessly. Even
if you don't participate initially, they will keep trying
in the hopes of eventually breaking you down.
- You will get a call telling you you have won a prize.
They will urge you not to tell anyone or your jackpot could
be jeopardized.
- You will be advised you need to pay advance taxes or fees
(for attorneys, money transportation, international transfers,
money exchange rates). They will ask for the payments in
cashier's checks or most often by wire. And, you will be
hit again and again for various fees until you start balking.
If you stop paying, you may be threatened that you'll lose
everything if you don't pay, or, you've broken some law.
They may even say though your prize hasn't been delivered,
you can be prosecuted for tax evasion.
Sound clip:
"You're dealing with an officer. And I am within my right
to arrest you right now if I would want to. Okay? So let's
get things clear. You're going to get some money at the
bank. Right now."
- You may even be bilked by phone conmen linked to organized
crime like the mafia and motorcycle gangs. Here's a conman
showing his true colors:
Sound clip:
"Who the f*** you think you're talking to? I'll come down
there and break your f***ing knee caps."
- If that doesn't work, conman may try a "comeback" or "reloading"
scheme. They might call you posing as police, judges, investigators
or an IRS investigator. That person may tell you he/she
is investigating the conmen who scammed you. That usually
comes as a big relief to victims who want very much to believe
someone can help them. Again you will be told to keep this
a secret because the investigations are under grand jury
gag order or something along those lines. The conmen will
work very hard to prevent others who care about you from
finding out what is going on.
- Often, the supposed authority figure will ask you for
money so he/she can use it for a sting to catch the crooks
red-handed.
- Even if you run out of money, they will press you to pay.
They will threaten you, scare you, suggest you cash-in investments
or mortgage your home. Here's a conman trying to get money
out of a man who is a stroke victim, a man who has already
lost everything to conmen:
Conman: "You've
paid $37,000, so the balance of $50,000. Now I need to
know how fast these taxes can be paid sir."
Victim: "I'm very, very, very broke."'
Conman: "Oh, you're broke? You don't have any investments
you can borrow from sir?"
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