Posted on 07/06/2006 11:32:03 AM PDT by edzo4
Fallen hero’s kin rip e-mail scam By Jessica Fargen Thursday, July 6, 2006 - Updated: 08:04 AM EST
A Saugus family is outraged that a heartless hack is trying to make money off the back of their dead Marine son with a nation-wide e-mail scam.
“The whole concept of somebody doing something so foolish with such a tragic set of circumstances and trying to play on people’s emotions, it just repulses me,” said Kevin Procopio, the father of MarineCpl. Scott Procopio, 20, who was killed in Iraq in April.
The Essex County district attorney’s Office is investigating the flim flam, which was forwarded to the family from a friend in Florida.
In the e-mail, Dr. Frank I. Duke says he is a friend with whom Procopio left 5 million pounds to start a Hungarian “plastic rubber company.” He says he needs help transfering the money to the United States and a private e-mail address. In exchange he promises 20 percent of the take.
“He has been my good friend before he died,” Duke writes. “I must say he is an American Hero. I won’t forget him and all his family in my life.”
Kevin Procopio said the only bright spot is that the e-mail is so poorly written it made them laugh.
“It’s almost humorous to read the thing. I can’t imagine anyone taking it serious,” he said.
In February last year, similar e-mails using names of dead soliders enraged U.S. lawmakers, who vowed jail time for the shuckster senders.
“It’s outrageous that anybody would take advantage of the death of a service member. It’s despicable.” said Jeff Schrade, spokesman for the U.S. Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.
The e-mail using Procopio’s name is just another take on the well-worn Nigerian scam e-mails that ask for money and help, said Federal Trade Commission spokeswoman Claudia Bourne Farrell.
“They are all the same. They are attempts at identity theft and, unhappily, some people believe them. They are invaribly attempts to get money,” she said.
The family said the only fund they’ve set up in Procopio’s name is the Cpl. Scott Procopio Memorial Scholarship Fund, care of Saugus Bank, P.O. Box 988, Saugus, MA, 01906.
Kevin Procopio said his son had dreamed of coming back home to Saugus, starting a family and working at the family’s construction business and also to “do what he could to help young people who are struggling.”
jfargen@bostonherald.com.
Same old scam, different names.
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