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Notorious e-mail scam snares Volusia retiree's nest egg
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel ^
| 12/23/03
| Jim Stratton
Posted on 12/23/2003 9:40:17 AM PST by Holly_P
In a windowless room, in a nondescript house on the other side of the world, Rupert Sessions glimpsed his fortune.
It was a metal suitcase, choked with $100 bills and protected by armed guards and a combination lock. The money had brought Sessions, an Ormond Beach retiree, all the way to the Persian Gulf.
He and a West African associate were there to collect the $21.5 million in the case. But he was concerned because the bills looked discolored.
Don't worry, officials told him. That's just a security measure. We can clean up the cash.
Finally, Sessions thought, it's ours.
* * * * *
There was, of course, no $21.5 million. Sessions, a 73-year-old retired electronics specialist, had been fleeced by what may be the most widespread fraud on Earth.
He had poured more than $300,000 into a Nigerian 419 scam, the label describing the legendary e-mails that promise millions but deliver nothing.
He sold stock, got a second mortgage and hocked his two cars. For more than a year, he gave virtual strangers every dollar he had. He bought them gold pens, cell phones and a laptop computer. Sessions spent so much that he now fears losing his home.
"It's all gone," he said Monday. "Everything."
Still, Sessions was so mesmerized by the well-spoken West Africans
(Excerpt) Read more at sun-sentinel.com ...
TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: scam
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1
posted on
12/23/2003 9:40:17 AM PST
by
Holly_P
To: Holly_P
A fool and his money ...
2
posted on
12/23/2003 9:41:56 AM PST
by
11th_VA
(If you can read this IN ENGLISH - Thank a Veteran !!!)
To: Holly_P
A poster boy for a Florida democrat voter. And so forgiving. - Tom
3
posted on
12/23/2003 9:47:28 AM PST
by
Capt. Tom
(Don't confuse the Bushies with the dumb republicans. - Capt. Tom)
To: Holly_P
Who says spam doesn't pay?
To: Holly_P; hchutch
And he probably voted for Buchanan.
"Volusia County: We put the 'DUH!' back into Florida!"
5
posted on
12/23/2003 9:48:51 AM PST
by
Poohbah
("Beware the fury of a patient man" -- John Dryden)
To: Holly_P
Darn, that scam actually works.
To: Holly_P
I'm still getting these letters...and have seen this scam for years, now. How hard is it to do a Google search and at least check out the story. Unbelieveable!
7
posted on
12/23/2003 9:52:14 AM PST
by
cwb
(ç†)
To: Holly_P
Picture of the recently fleeced....
8
posted on
12/23/2003 9:56:10 AM PST
by
AgThorn
(Go go Bush!!)
To: Holly_P
What a DumbA**
9
posted on
12/23/2003 9:56:23 AM PST
by
KevinDavis
(Let the meek inherit the Earth, the rest of us will explore the stars!)
To: Holly_P
Did Al Gore invent him?
To: Holly_P
Greetings and salutations, My name is Dr. Ron Karenga and I work for the Nigerian government...
To: Holly_P
There is no upper bound to stupidity. I wonder if he was from NYC originally? DId he vote for Gore?
12
posted on
12/23/2003 10:02:07 AM PST
by
from occupied ga
(Your government is your most dangerous enemy, and Bush is no conservative)
To: Holly_P
This is the type of imbecile for whom Democrats want to provide a social security "safety net". And, as is often the case, he demonstrates that no amount of social concern can keep an abject buffoon from screwing up his life. But I get to subsidize his jackassery. Great.
13
posted on
12/23/2003 10:07:10 AM PST
by
Mr. Bird
To: Mr. Bird
But I get to subsidize his jackassery. Great. Jackassery - I like that!
14
posted on
12/23/2003 10:10:12 AM PST
by
Holly_P
(Everytime that video clip of Sadaam plays on TV it "bitch slaps" a democrat somewhere.)
To: Holly_P; SierraWasp
While he did not physically kill himself, he destroyed himself financially. So he deserves this award:
15
posted on
12/23/2003 10:13:12 AM PST
by
Grampa Dave
(Kaddaffi, "I will do whatever the Americans want because I saw what happened in Iraq. ")
To: Mr. Bird
"Sessions was wary but intrigued. His $250,000 nest egg had been scrambled by the stock market's slide. He and his partially disabled wife needed the money."
I can just see it now: It's Bush's fault that this poor man had to risk his life's savings. While I feel sorry for this guy's wife, his greed has not only left him broke, it will undoubtedly make him a new dependent of the Nanny State. Just how much sympathy...or support, should people like this get? I must also say, that on the few occasions I've read these scams, they do ask the victim to lie...or exaggerate, about certain details in order to get the cash. His ignorance and greed destroyed him...and we'll end up paying the bill.
16
posted on
12/23/2003 10:13:44 AM PST
by
cwb
(ç†)
To: Holly_P
He's lucky they didn't kill him.
Its hard to believe that a person can be so fricken stupid to fall for a scam like this!
To: cwboelter
Chronic (and continuing) alcoholics are not given liver transplants. Boobs who respond to the Nigerian email scam should not be entitled to taxpayer assistance.
18
posted on
12/23/2003 10:16:57 AM PST
by
Mr. Bird
To: Holly_P
Sessions spent so much that he now fears losing his home.
He wont "lose" it. Hell give it away.
I hope his teeth are real.
19
posted on
12/23/2003 10:17:38 AM PST
by
dead
(I've got my eye out for Mullah Omar.)
To: Holly_P
Good Grief. i would bet he was a disenfranchised voter who punched for Buchannon instead of gore,the world it seems is full of idiots.
20
posted on
12/23/2003 10:25:33 AM PST
by
suzyq5558
(Deenie has no claim to national leadership. but he does claim lots of theory conspiracies!)
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