Just found out today…my father in law just got scammed for $10,000 (which they didn’t have = credit cards) for the promise of the $40,000 back. Someone apparently in England.
Any ideas on what to do? All I’ve got is an email address which probably doesn’t work now.
Also, apparently the same day, he sent a copy of his driver’s license to someone in Nigeria.
Discussion with his daughter to follow indicating that it’s important she get involved. Apparently even his wife didn’t find out until he decided to call the police. Turns out, as you can imagine, they can’t do anything.
He didn’t tell us, we happened to be visiting at the time the police showed up. And he gave no indication he was going to tell us.
I know that there is not much we can do. I’m just really pissed off that they chose to avoid us, and his wife, in the discussion.
And the resulting discussion with hubby that his dad may be slipping. Crap.
Have him or some other authorized user of his credit card call the credit card company ASAP and explain what happened. Calling a lawyer wouldn’t be a bad idea, either.
I’m sorry to hear about this and wish I had more to add. The one thing I do know to add is to watch out for the recovery scam. That includes follow-up emails or letters offering to help recover the money for a fee.
They have protection from someone using your card or card number without your authorization. That is not the case here. There isn’t protection from the card holder giving money to a con artist.
I might call the CC company and (yes, lie) say I didn’t authorize this charge…where’s my signed receipt, I’ve never heard of them. If nothing else, it would at least give you a jumping off point for who to contact. And in the 6 weeks or so that the dispute lasts, no interest will be accrued.
Youc could try contacting the Federal Trade Commission. They’ve set up a website to handle spam (Here’s a link to it.). You can file a complaint from that site, or you can e-mail them directly.
I assume from the OP’s name that she is Canadian. Quoting from the Canadian Office of Consumer Affairs web site:
I think “trickery” is the relevant word in this case. I definitely would report it to the credit card company(s). You might also want to look at RECOL.
The credit cards were advances so there is no protection there. Although we have suggested he go to the bank to plead his case (such that it may be).
I’m just sorry that my hubby had to see that his dad got ripped off and that his dad has not heeded any of our advice about the internet and its downsides. We have told him over and over again, since he got the thing a couple of years ago.
If hr got the Internet a couple of years ago and has been warned repeatedly about scams, he is just being gullible/ pig headed/ dense (take your pick). At least it may not be as your husband is afraid that he is “slipping.” Unfortunately at times people need to find out for themselves- harsh as it may sound.
Ah, there’s the rub. I don’t imagine you can have an account so that credit card payments can be made to you if you’re not really legit. The credit card people could possibly track you down via bank accounts. Cash is pretty untraceable unless it were a ransom payment type of situation.
FWIW the ex and I had our cards stolen from our mailbox years ago. Within a day, they had charged about $3K in mdse in a town far away. We weren’t on the hook for it but we didn’t discover it till Wal Mart declined our card. Interestingly enough, they said the Secret Service gets involved in such cases. Sorry, I’m just realizing now that my FBI link might not be much good for Canadians but you must have a similar law enforcement branch (?).
Some people have to bleed to know. Any chance he’s senile?
These things work on the victim’s greed. Most people know that if it seems to be too good to be true… There was a story on the news some months ago about a doctor who got taken for six figures. I’m stupefied that a doctor wouldn’t be smarter than that, but I guess his greed prevailed.
I’d tell the credit card people anyway. Odds are they won’t do anything but it doesn’t hurt to try.
I have to go with those who suggested using the card company’s fraud protection if they have it.
I gather things work pretty much the same way up in the Great WHite North as they do down here, and I had a chat with some of the local police investigators about this very thing about a week ago (I cover the police beat for a local paper).
There really isn’t much at all they can do about it; it’s way out of the jurisdiction and beyond the resources of local cops and too much work with no actual payoff for government agencies.
Essentially, these things just don’t get touched. Using the Internet smartly is the only real defense these days, but I guess that wasn’t an option for the FIL at the time - sorry to hear that.
Does your father-in-law acknowledge that he has been scammed? The reason I ask is that the mother of a friend of mine gave a huge amount of money to swindlers while denying she was being cheated. She has dementia, and my friend had to go to court to get control of her assets.
Your husband should have a serious talk with your father-in-law to be sure that he understands the situation. If he doesn’t, you should take steps to make sure he doesn’t get hurt again. You could start by trying to get him to agree to consult with your husband on any large purchase or money transfer.
Also, it would be a good idea to look over all of your father-in-law’s accounts to look for other problems. This may not be the only scam he’s fallen for.
I don’t know about where you are, but in the U.S. you can contact the credit agencies and have them freeze your credit so no one can get any new credit cards, loans, etc., in your name. I strongly suggest that your father in law look into this immediately.