The text messages start out simple enough:
My name is Sgt. Clifford Wigg, I am an American soldier with the Squadron Battalion in Afghanistan. With a very desperate need for assistance, I have summoned up courage to contact you. I found your contact particulars in an address journal. I am seeking your kind assistance to move the sum of ($25 Million U.S. Dollars ) Twenty Five Million United State Dollars to you, as far as I can be assured that my share will be safe in your care until I complete my service here, this is no stolen money, and there are no danger involved.
Then, the writer describes how the money was discovered by the battalion in a “secret place” but has to be moved to America while the soldier finishes his tour. The recipient is asked to receive a package of “family valuables” to open his/her home in exchange for part of this money.
“This is simply a variant of the Nigerian scam,” said Dale Dixon, president and CEO of the BBB serving the Snake River Region. “Anyone who makes the mistake of following up on this ‘offer’ will soon find themselves being asked to put up their own money to pay taxes or fees on the non-existent funds. Not only that, but they’ll be putting themselves in contact with potentially dangerous people.”
If you’re tempted to respond ask yourself two important questions:
Why would a perfect stranger pick you — also a perfect stranger — to share a fortune with, and why would you share your personal or business information, including your bank account numbers or your company letterhead, with someone you don’t know?
Robb Hicken is the media contact for the BBB serving Snake River Region. Reach him at 947-2115 or rhicken@boise.bbb.org.
