Received an email from a US Soldier in Iraq who wants to send me illegal Iraqi money found until he returns to the US?

Answer 1

It is a most obvious scam email. When I began to research I ran across a website that stated it was Nigerian scammers who were sending the email. The website address I am speaking of is http://www.military-quotes.com/forum/Nigerian-scammers-now-posing-American-t74943.HTML. I ran across one much like yours in my email tonite, and I sent a rather scathing email back though I doubt the account is truly active. The website I included above suggests reporting the abuse to the FBI, as it falls under the Stolen Valor Act. I doubt that the FBI would honestly be able to do much, as their juristiction doesn't fall that far away, in theory at least. To quote a suggestion on the above mentioned website:

"Frankly I wouldn't bother its not worth it. I had dealt with this type of thing on a business level (yes these guys target businesses too), its hardly worth persuing with the authorities. Trust me, it will go nowhere.

Do you understand how these scammers work? First of all they are based in Nigeria, or other countries which are well outside the jurisdiction of the FBI. Second of all, Nigeria is the corruption capital of the world from the very top of power to the very bottom. Its also a extremely poor country. (And that goes for other countries that hatch these frauds). You imagine the sympathy they have for wealthly white and Asian people who are too dumb to watch over their wallets.

Secondly, the local governments won't help (they are often in on these scams, by "taxing" the fraudsters). The FBI/Secret Service has bigger fish to fry, I can guerentee you they don't give a rats as*. The fact is VERY VERY few of these crooks are actually prosecuted.

Thirdly bombing their email wont work either, these guys work out of cybercafes with dozens of email addresses and false IDs. I am sure you know how easy it is to create a free email account? All can do is a few minutes inconvience...its not worth the effort, trust me.

Fourthly, some of these fraudsters are often involved in organized crime. Do you want to mess with that?

So if you want I best course of action? Whenever you get these emails click the "delete" key. The only reason these guys are still around is because of stupid people in America and Europe whose greed/fear/ego/heart is bigger than their brain.

Old Addage: "A fool and his money are soon parted"."

Good advice.