Possible scam?

BillTrac

Sorry if this is the wrong place, I have searched but really dont know where else to post, and thought the services forum would be best..

Anyway, an aquaintance of the family is a divorcee, not really worldly-wise, and lonely. All the ingredients needed for problems.

She has been in contact (on-line only!)with someone who claims he is in the British Army serving in Iraq. He wants her to send him £1000 so he can buy himself out of Iraq(I assume he means out of the Army so therefore out of Iraq), apparently he cant access his money from Iraq,and of course he will pay it back when he gets home.

I smell a rat, cynical I know, but she has never met him, or spoke to him, only on the net. I keep reading about scams where people pretend to be just what someone is looking for, and then they turn out to be just scammers.

Simply asking if
a)you can buy yourself out of Iraq/Army? I thought the restrictions had changed,but if so how much?
b) can anybody advise how to wisen her up?

It is sad/bad enough we have to send our boys to fight across there without possible rip off merchants using it as an excuse to con naive people.

All help/advise appreciated

davetrousers

Of course it's a scam.

Why would you give £1000 to someone you have never met?

BillTrac

That is EXACTLY what I thought. But I need something to show her why he is lying. ie that you cannot buy yourself out like suggested

thanks for the reply

davetrousers

How was contact made with your aquaintance? Email/Facebook?

Do you know this person's name or internet name?

BillTrac

Dave, not too sure but I will try to find out later

thanks

JimBear

I am sure that you can't buy yourself out of the army. He will not be allowed to leave while on an operational tour, or indeed in the 3 (or is it 6) months before. Outside these time constraints, and assuming that he is not time-barred because he has been on a course, he can leave whenever he likes. I don't know your friend, and I don't know what rank this bloke purports to be, but he will be on a good wage, with very little to spend his money on while on tour (no food costs, no accomodation costs) so I'd suggest that he could easily save up £1000 himself. You are very right to be cynical.

foreign_correspondent

its a nigerian romance scam - tell her to steer very well clear, but be prepard for the emotional blackmail, threats etc which will ensue unless she blocks his emails/msn etc.

ICATQ

Believe me its a SCAM !!

Ask the person for their Regimental number, Unit and postal address. That will be interesting !!

This cannot happen! Simple.

Pass his email address on for investigation...

foreign_correspondent

ICATQ wrote: »

Ask the person for their Regimental number, Unit and postal address. That will be interesting !!

I would put a tenner on him saying he 'cannot give out that information for security reasons', or because it will put his life at risk!

BillTrac

I wondered about getting her to tell him that a relative was being posted there soon, and could get the money across that way as it would be safer(lol)

foreign_correspondent

One of my family was almost caught out by a very convincing scammer, who posed as a general in the Army - he sent photos, etc, - he had photoshopped pictures (very, very well) to change the name on the nametape on the uniforms to his assumed name...

It was all incredibly well done, and very convincing...

Maybe these links would help your friend -

Trevor McDonald 'tonight' programme re romance scammers -
http://www.itv.com/News/tonight/episodes/Tocatchaloverat/default.html

A similar Army scam
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2007/12/marine_datingcon_071230w/

A times article
http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/the_way_we_live/article3313434.ece