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‘Nigerian prince’ email scammer arrested in Slidell [Louisiana!]
WGNO ^ | December 29, 2017 | WGNO Staff

Posted on 12/29/2017 8:24:13 PM PST by Enchante

SLIDELL – A 67-year-old Slidell man who served as a go-between for an international team of scammers running a “Nigerian prince” email scheme has been arrested after an 18-month investigation.

Michael Neu, who is neither Nigerian nor a prince, has been charged with 269 counts of wire fraud and money laundering.

Neu helped shuttle fraudulently obtained money to his co-conspirators, some of whom actually do live in Nigeria, according to the Slidell Police Department.

The ubiquitous scheme, which begins when an email is sent to an unsuspecting recipient the scammers claim has been named as the beneficiary in a will, is designed to collect personal information that is then used to steal money and identities online.

The scheme nets millions of dollars each year, according to the SPD, and is difficult to track since many of the participants operate outside of the United States.

“If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” Slidell Police Chief Randy Fandal said. “Never give out personal information over the phone, through e-mail, cash checks for other individuals, or wire large amounts of money to someone you don’t know. 99.9 percent of the time, it’s a scam.”

Other versions of the scam involve people claiming to represent law enforcement agencies or utility companies.

To avoid identity theft scams like this, always ask for a callback number and verify the identity of the person attempting to collect the information, according to the SPD.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Chit/Chat; Computers/Internet; Local News; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: crime; criminals; email; fraud; louisiana; michaelneu; neu; nigeria; scam; scams; slidell
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To: Enchante

His father used to fax me.


21 posted on 12/29/2017 9:07:17 PM PST by dgbrown
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To: Enchante; BBell

Haven’t heard from freeper BBell since October... maybe this is him!


22 posted on 12/29/2017 9:08:28 PM PST by Kirkwood (Zombie Hunter)
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To: Bullish

My daughter,a well educated,smart,middle aged woman came VERY close to being scammed-———through a Craig’s list ad.

These scammers are very good.

.


23 posted on 12/29/2017 9:10:45 PM PST by Mears
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To: bar sin·is·ter
How does he type the emails with no arms?

After they caught him he was disarmed.

24 posted on 12/29/2017 9:11:59 PM PST by Nateman (The louder the left screams , the better it is for America!)
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To: lacrew
My wife recently got a call from a scammer claiming to be the IRS...

I must be a hard case, I got a call from the IRS about 30 years ago. Told the guy anybody could call me claiming that. After looking up the number and calling back I found out it was real.

25 posted on 12/29/2017 9:15:20 PM PST by Nateman (The louder the left screams , the better it is for America!)
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To: Nevadan

He doesn’t look like a Prince.


26 posted on 12/29/2017 9:15:51 PM PST by a fool in paradise (Did Barack Obama denounce Communism and dictatorships when he visited Cuba as a puppet of the State?)
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Comment #27 Removed by Moderator

To: Enchante

Next scam:

If you post bail, I will buy you an island in Figi....


28 posted on 12/29/2017 9:22:34 PM PST by DanielRedfoot (Po Dunk)
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To: Nateman

LOL!


29 posted on 12/29/2017 9:49:46 PM PST by Aria
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To: Nateman

Well it would he impossible for the IRS to even know my wife’s cell phone number.


30 posted on 12/29/2017 9:57:02 PM PST by lacrew
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To: dgbrown
His grandfather used to fax me my grandfather.

Of course, the rates have gone up.

- "Young Frankenstein"

Regards,

31 posted on 12/30/2017 12:39:05 AM PST by alexander_busek (Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.)
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To: Dalberg-Acton

Hahaha..


32 posted on 12/30/2017 12:42:20 AM PST by Trillian
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To: Bullish
How in the world is anyone stupid enough to fall for these scams?

Barack Obama was elected President of the United States. Twice.

The prosecution rests.

33 posted on 12/30/2017 12:52:21 AM PST by Cincinatus (Omnia relinquit servare Rempublicam)
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To: Bullish
How in the world is anyone stupid enough to fall for these scams?

Send me $25 and I'll not only explain how to avoid even the best laid scams, but teach you to actually make money from those who try to scam you.....

34 posted on 12/30/2017 5:08:22 AM PST by trebb (Where in the the hell has my country gone? I think Trump may give it back...)
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To: Bullish

My Mom told a story of how an ad in a magazine (in the late ‘40s) offered the secret to breast development for only 50 cents.....one of her girlfriends bit..... and received a picture of a man’s hand......


35 posted on 12/30/2017 5:10:35 AM PST by trebb (Where in the the hell has my country gone? I think Trump may give it back...)
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To: Bullish
"How in the world is anyone stupid enough to fall for these scams?"

They are likely greedy and lack ethics more than anything. I keep reading stories of educated people that fall for this scam. Or as I tell my son sometimes, there are people filled with knowledge but lack wisdom and a moral compass.

BTW - I finally got my Nigerian scam email about a year ago. I was feeling left out. I also got the Microsoft call from India about a virus on my computer. I'm trying to collect he entire set!

36 posted on 12/30/2017 7:26:58 AM PST by Dutch Boy
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To: 50mm

HAHAHAHAHA!!! :-D


37 posted on 12/30/2017 8:29:53 AM PST by WXRGina (Repeal and DON'T replace!)
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To: Enchante

Try this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7OgWcwgB50


38 posted on 12/30/2017 8:37:20 AM PST by HippyLoggerBiker (Always carry a flagon of whiskey in case of snakebite and furthermore always carry a small snake.)
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To: bar sin·is·ter

Peckerhead!?


39 posted on 12/30/2017 12:07:51 PM PST by SgtHooper (If you remember the 60's, YOU WEREN'T THERE!)
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