Is she being Scammed?

Senseicads · 21 June 2018 at 3:55PM

Hi Everyone,

ok bare with me as I don't know too many of the details for this, but it sounds dodgy and I wasn't 100% sure which forum to post it into.

My Fiance's best friend has been chatting to a chap in America, she likes him, he appears to like her, lots of photos being passed back and forth. Now he says that he wants to come over and visit. she is excited about this and would obvs like to see where it could go in terms of a relationship. I was already suspicious at this point but then my Fiance said that this chap had asked her friend to open a bank account in her name over here that he could use while he is here as that would just be easier...to me this sounded strange straight away. I thought about money laundering, handling stolen money, all kinds of things that could be done with that. From what I understand it would be in her name...it wouldn't be in his. Is it just me who would have a problem with it? I don't know how the scam would work, but I am really worried that she might agree to it, and I don't know what to point her to that shows her that this is definitely a scam. I mean if it's not that's cool and everyone on here thinks its kosher, as I'd like to see her happy, but my spidey sense is tingling and I don't want to see her scammed!

Any advice anyone can help me with for this would be appreciated.

cheers

AndyPix · 21 June 2018 at 3:59PM

Friend opens account
Chap funds account with money from fraud
Chap comes up with reason to ask friend to withdraw the money and send it to him via Western union
Chap dissapears
Friend gets arrested

Mojisola · 21 June 2018 at 4:00PM

The bank account is totally unnecessary so I would guess it's a scam.

Photos are one thing - have they Skyped so she can see if the man matches the pictures?

[Deleted User] · 21 June 2018 at 4:02PM

Friend gets email from a brand new American best friend and the cycle begins again...

Flobberchops · 21 June 2018 at 4:07PM

I agree with Andypix, some kind of beneficiary scam is likely. Either it would be used for money laundering, or possibly they could try to milk your friend by claiming an outgoing transaction failed and that your friend should reimburse them "until the bank reverses the payment" or somesuch.

If the guy is legitimate he can use a prepaid card, traveller's cheques, buy Sterling at the airport, whatever.

Please do your best to warn your friend off this, as if she opens an account using her own details she could end up out of pocket, with a CIFAS marker against her, prosecuted, or all of the above. Being involved in financial crime is no joke and WOULD cause her severe and lasting detriment. It's just not worth the risk.

Zanderman · 21 June 2018 at 4:13PM

It definitely looks like a scam. And almost certainly is a scam.

Why would he want a bank account here? It makes it easier for what?

If she does open an account and gives him access to it she is breaking the bank's rules. So, even if he does nothing illegal she could still find the bank closes her accounts - not just the 'new' one but the existing one(s) too.

But he very probably is planning something illegal..Which make it worse - she breaks bank's rules AND breaks the law. She ends up losing banking facility and she gets arrested.

EachPenny · 21 June 2018 at 4:37PM

Senseicads wrote: »

Any advice anyone can help me with for this would be appreciated.

Best thing would be for the friend to tell the man that her 'policeman' ex has contacted her and wants to get back together.... so sorry, not sure the visit to the UK would be such a good idea.

She needs to avoid the temptation to be rude or agressive in any way and just hope that she never hears from the guy again.

That's assuming you can convince her that this sounds about as dodgy as it can get, bar him being a prince living in Nigeria, rather than an ordinary Joe in the US.

The scam will probably involve her giving him all the log in details etc to the account so he can do some kind of online fraud, with no intention of ever setting foot in the UK, far less starting a relationship with someone on another continent.

Good luck talking to her, hope you manage to help her avoid a massive mistake.

robatwork · 21 June 2018 at 4:38PM

Sit tight...the next step is the friend being asked to fund the flight/trip due to cashflow problems, "promise I'll pay as soon as I touch down".

This smells more than a 6 week old salmon kept behind a radiator in Mr. Stinky's house of 100 cats.

eschaton · 21 June 2018 at 4:44PM

The quick answer is: Yes.

eskbanker · 21 June 2018 at 4:52PM

Flobberchops wrote: »

possibly they could try to milk your friend

Steady on, they hardly know each other....

18cc · 21 June 2018 at 4:57PM

Tell her to tell him to open his own bank account when he arrives in the UK

Is she being Scammed?

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