Be smart and use your smart brains and not your smartphones
In this article I will briefly discuss the internet and mobile phone scamming trend that is rampant over the technological world and sounds genuine fortune or good luck towards anyone through social media Inbox but it does not exist as one thinks. It is costly to get involve for Nothing is Free in the business world. To understand the context of the internet scams better, please read through the article and some of the cases presented.
Many of the unsuspecting man and women plus the vulnerable youths have been scammed into this trend and became victim by loosing valuables and money or shared their personal information with scammers which were used to manipulate their operations. Some of them lost most of their savings and hard earned income whilst others have loans with the hope of financing the promised treasures on transit to their homes.
My personal experience (Case #1)
I came to learn and know the uses of internet with hands-on experience in 2015 at the university. With access to internet, I had my email accounts on Gmail and Yahoo engines opened together with Facebook account.
I came to learn and know the uses of internet with hands-on experience in 2015 at the university. With access to internet, I had my email accounts on Gmail and Yahoo engines opened together with Facebook account.
It was extremely exciting moment for me and I have to send emails to those people whom I have had their business cards and others from my notebook to reconfirm my email accounts. I got replies on real time with attachments of information I needed. The internet made my life at the university so easy and I started to browse any websites I wanted to know.
On the other hand, with Facebook I could invite anyone and post anything anytime without even knowing the pros and cons that exists. I did not knew that my privacy was violated and bragging seems to be opposite of my real life at some stages. I gave a break to myself with Facebook.
On the other hand, with Facebook I could invite anyone and post anything anytime without even knowing the pros and cons that exists. I did not knew that my privacy was violated and bragging seems to be opposite of my real life at some stages. I gave a break to myself with Facebook.
At one stage, I got an email from a very pretty lady in Ghana, South Africa. In her email, she said that; her father used to own a gold mine but due to a civil war in the area, her father was killed and mine was taken over by the enemy and she was taking refuge at a military camp.
Her father's fortune were under her name as next of kin but she could not get it due to the fact that she was living in a military camp. She has to go into exile in order to claim her father's savings and investments. Hence, she needed a friend to contact some banks and important people in the investment sectors associated to her late father so that the funds can be transferred to me as the partner (trustee) in PNG. Even-though this sound new and strange to me, my excitement was more than I could ever imagine in my life. This deal seemed a lifetime luck and opportunity for me. I was already dreaming into what to get and what business to start with the fortunes coming my way.
As days went by, we communicated consistently and she supplied me all the necessary documents electronically via email and everything appeared genuine and true with me.
Her father's fortune were under her name as next of kin but she could not get it due to the fact that she was living in a military camp. She has to go into exile in order to claim her father's savings and investments. Hence, she needed a friend to contact some banks and important people in the investment sectors associated to her late father so that the funds can be transferred to me as the partner (trustee) in PNG. Even-though this sound new and strange to me, my excitement was more than I could ever imagine in my life. This deal seemed a lifetime luck and opportunity for me. I was already dreaming into what to get and what business to start with the fortunes coming my way.
As days went by, we communicated consistently and she supplied me all the necessary documents electronically via email and everything appeared genuine and true with me.
I was curious but believed in her and kept every of the information to myself. Then, I followed all her instructions to contact the agents and investment companies relating to her late father's business links. In the process, I supplied all my personal details like; bank accounts, passport and others which would have been used by scammers to scam other people or if I happened to have lot of money in the bank account by that time then Im sure, I would have lost it all in the process to scammers.
To make the story short, after the communications were completed for the transfer of funds to me, she asked me to pay $1000.00 as a service fee to the bank via Western Union. At that time I had no money and the amount was too big for me as a student and mentioned to her that Im unable to pay the service fees.
The tone of the communication changed and interests in the communication dropped unlike consistently. From thereon, I knew it was not genuine luck for me and I was thinking again to get advice from some people to see if such business or luck do exists.
I insisted on Western Union payments and tried to locate the bank details of the finance agent on the internet which required the service fee but could not locate it anywhere on the internet. I drew my own conclusion and block her off my contact lists - It was an internet scam.
The tone of the communication changed and interests in the communication dropped unlike consistently. From thereon, I knew it was not genuine luck for me and I was thinking again to get advice from some people to see if such business or luck do exists.
I insisted on Western Union payments and tried to locate the bank details of the finance agent on the internet which required the service fee but could not locate it anywhere on the internet. I drew my own conclusion and block her off my contact lists - It was an internet scam.
To my own understanding, there's nothing of such financial institutions exists anywhere in the world. I knew that the the transaction involving such billions of dollars will never be transferred to any banks in PNG easily with email exchanges. In fact, such transactions involving millions of dollars into PNG needs coordination with Central Bank of PNG which most ordinary people in PNG don't know yet (I guess). Such million dollars money will never enter PNG easily and secretly.
Case #2
From similar settings to case one, a pretty lady in one of the states in South Africa again emailed me saying; she had a treasure box full or billions of dollars from her family business that she wants to bring over to PNG due to a civil unrest in the area which was affecting her inherited family business. From the treasure box, she promised to give me 50% share of it, if I will help her process and coordinate the shipment of the treasure box to PNG.
From similar settings to case one, a pretty lady in one of the states in South Africa again emailed me saying; she had a treasure box full or billions of dollars from her family business that she wants to bring over to PNG due to a civil unrest in the area which was affecting her inherited family business. From the treasure box, she promised to give me 50% share of it, if I will help her process and coordinate the shipment of the treasure box to PNG.
She also promised to marry me and sent me her sexy photos which made me go so high on feelings every day/night and nearly gave up my studies too. I lost focus on other stuff in my life and concentrated on email exchanges with her from time to time for almost three months.
To make the story short, she asked me to pay for the agency fee that will take the treasure box to Indonesia in a week then to PNG. She said to expect a call from Indonesia on a given date. I waited and then my one bang Nokia on Bmobile rang and that Indonesian scam agent spoke to me genuinely and confirmed the shipment on transit from Africa. That person asked for trans-shipment fee of £1000.00 euro asap via Western Union. I was shocked with receiving international calls for the first time on my mobile phone. That phone call alone made me believe that the treasure box was on transit and I was convinced to do the payment soon as possible but I have no money.
I nearly borrowed or loaned that amount to pay for the shipment of the treasure box but it made me think again; there was nothing of such treasure box with millions of dollars transfer exists in the world and such cash shipment has never happened in my life or never heard of it.
With a bold statement, I replied her last email; ''Please, just bring anything and everything at your own cost to PNG and I will help you liaise with government and businesses for investment. After my email, there was no responses and it all ended there. It was a good experience to know and understand the operations and existence of the internet scams.
Case #3
See the screenshot attachment. That person asked me to convert $1000.00 USD to PNG to pay for the clearance fee on some stuff coming from England which a friend was sending through. I asked to know if they were related in any work or anyone whom she met before. She denied and insisted many times to letting me know and later she admitted that; they met over the Facebook and a very nice friend to her and her family in PNG. My suspicion was right and I saved that person from loosing the big amount of money to the scam.
See the screenshot attachment. That person asked me to convert $1000.00 USD to PNG to pay for the clearance fee on some stuff coming from England which a friend was sending through. I asked to know if they were related in any work or anyone whom she met before. She denied and insisted many times to letting me know and later she admitted that; they met over the Facebook and a very nice friend to her and her family in PNG. My suspicion was right and I saved that person from loosing the big amount of money to the scam.
Case #4
A friend of mine in Lae was asking me to help pay for the clearance fee of a Box in POM. That box was coming from Europe and have some expensive lady's stuff inside. I asked for consignment number and details to verify the details but that never happened because he insisted to provide me details. Out of frustration, that person said to fly over to POM and check the package for himself and he left me out of the discussion. Goodluck!
A friend of mine in Lae was asking me to help pay for the clearance fee of a Box in POM. That box was coming from Europe and have some expensive lady's stuff inside. I asked for consignment number and details to verify the details but that never happened because he insisted to provide me details. Out of frustration, that person said to fly over to POM and check the package for himself and he left me out of the discussion. Goodluck!
Case #5
There was someone by the name of Lydia in Buka paid for transshipment fee of K1000.00 of a box containing ladies stuff from Europe sent for her by her Facebook friends. The box must have arrived in POM and a customs agent in POM asked for another K1000. 00 clearance fee. At that point, she asked me to help pay for the clearance and she will repay after selling her stuff from the package.
There was someone by the name of Lydia in Buka paid for transshipment fee of K1000.00 of a box containing ladies stuff from Europe sent for her by her Facebook friends. The box must have arrived in POM and a customs agent in POM asked for another K1000. 00 clearance fee. At that point, she asked me to help pay for the clearance and she will repay after selling her stuff from the package.
I asked for details of the box and there wasn't any shipment information like the consignment number.
That frustrated her and she left me out of the communication for assistance and said: if you wanted to help me out then pay the agent for the clearance and she provided a name of a male with BSP banking details.
That agent (guy) already took the first K1000. 00 from her on the transshipment fee which was deposited directly into his BSP account provided. Again another K1000 for clearance was for customs clearance. (Such business transactions never exists in the logistics industry). I told her it was scam but she insisted and she said to pay for herself. I asked for the consignment details of the package but she never did. Goodluck!
Case #6
I have posted this message on all the social web-pages and blogs I managed and it saved some people from the similar scams that are existing in PNG as well.
Berdshiba is from Manus and she was aware of my messages on the Facebook about the existence of internet scams.
She got the messages from some unknown phone numbers informing her of a parcel under her name in Port Moresby that was awaiting customs clearance and need her to pay the clearance fee.
If she does not pay the fees then she would be arrested for not paying the customs fees.
See the attached Whatsapp messages below.
This is irrational and illogical to understand in business context but those scammers knows how to prey on the vulnerable and innocent people because that is what they have been doing to earn their living.
There is not much awareness done on existence of internet and mobile phone scammers that exists. The responsible individuals, financial institutions and others need to create awareness platforms on this to safeguard our vulnerable people in the communities who have been exposed to the mobile phone and internet scam.
The Bank of PNG is responsible for monetary policies and regulation mechanisms. As the responsible agency, the BPNG have issued several public notices like this on on the link; https://www.bankpng.gov.pg/public-notice-on-email-scam/ . However, such information from BPNG is reaching only few people or its an intentional ignorance by many and keep falling prey for the internet and mobile phone scammers.
That agent (guy) already took the first K1000. 00 from her on the transshipment fee which was deposited directly into his BSP account provided. Again another K1000 for clearance was for customs clearance. (Such business transactions never exists in the logistics industry). I told her it was scam but she insisted and she said to pay for herself. I asked for the consignment details of the package but she never did. Goodluck!
Case #6
I have posted this message on all the social web-pages and blogs I managed and it saved some people from the similar scams that are existing in PNG as well.
Berdshiba is from Manus and she was aware of my messages on the Facebook about the existence of internet scams.
She got the messages from some unknown phone numbers informing her of a parcel under her name in Port Moresby that was awaiting customs clearance and need her to pay the clearance fee.
If she does not pay the fees then she would be arrested for not paying the customs fees.
See the attached Whatsapp messages below.
This is irrational and illogical to understand in business context but those scammers knows how to prey on the vulnerable and innocent people because that is what they have been doing to earn their living.
There is not much awareness done on existence of internet and mobile phone scammers that exists. The responsible individuals, financial institutions and others need to create awareness platforms on this to safeguard our vulnerable people in the communities who have been exposed to the mobile phone and internet scam.
The Bank of PNG is responsible for monetary policies and regulation mechanisms. As the responsible agency, the BPNG have issued several public notices like this on on the link; https://www.bankpng.gov.pg/public-notice-on-email-scam/ . However, such information from BPNG is reaching only few people or its an intentional ignorance by many and keep falling prey for the internet and mobile phone scammers.
Lessons learnt
- Nothing in this world that involves business is never free and its not free.
- No one will send your fortunes and treasures cheaply from anywhere in the world, Never!
- Such scammers have a networking worldwide and now it has links into PNG.
- For a parcel or box to arrive in PNG, the sender pays for everything on transit to PNG and if required, you as the receiver will pay clearance fee at the nearest Post Office, TNT /DHL upon collection and not in POM to anyone or agent.
- Do not pay clearance fee to any individual or agency, please confirm your consignment number (connote) with the carrier (Post PNG, TNT or DHL) before doing any payment.
- Ask the sender of the box or parcel to provide the consignment (connote) number of the carrier/parcel and track it online whilst on transit.
- There are so many online consignment tracking portals for free and please use them.
- Please note that:, scammers are real and they do exist. Many have fallen victims and living in silence with agony and many more of such cases of mine or others outlines above exists whereby they lost money to scammers but I never lost any money and Im here to provide awareness on the lessons learnt.
Be smart and use your smart brains and not your smart phones,
Never let your fingers and eyes make decisions on such scams - Use your smart Brains.
Remember: Nothing is Free
Never let your fingers and eyes make decisions on such scams - Use your smart Brains.
Remember: Nothing is Free
By: raonraonpng media
Photos: Examples of scammed messages being screenshot by Berdshiba from Manus
Photos: Examples of scammed messages being screenshot by Berdshiba from Manus
No comments:
Post a Comment