Impersonating a military personnel

I met him on the Zoosk Site in Facebook. I am normally suspicious of people when they tell me certain things, but this person is really smooth and talented in his writing of emails to me. I didn't catch on until it was too late. I had already sent him part of the monies. A friend alerted me that there was a military romance scam she saw on the internet. He goes by the name of Jeffrey Remington ([email protected]). I only know of one Jeffrey Remington who is a Lt General who is a Deputy Commander in Korea with the 7th Air Force. He was previously stationed here in Honolulu in 2006. This Lt General is married with his wife in Korea.

The picture I saw on facebook is different from the one I saw on Zoosk. On Saturday I received some kind of debit voucher which I know is not real. I already received another email from him looking for me. I'm supposed to send more money for his release and retirement, but I already told him no. Who has that kind of money to send?

I hope that you can stop him from scamming other females.

sumrose

Welcome sumrose,

I'm sorry to hear you were scammed, though I am glad you are aware and aren't falling for the scammer's latest tricks.

If you are willing, it would be very helpful if you could post some of his emails, especially the early ones and emails around money requests. These emails are often scripted, and when he changes names and/or profiles, he will likely continue to use part or all of the scripts. Posting those can further help others to avoid being scammed.

Can you tell me how I can do it? I have several emails from him along with the place I received all the information.

Thank you

Some of this scammer's scripts:


An early email. Notice how the English alternates between poor (like the first paragraph) and good (like parts of the second paragraph). That's because he is alternating between writing himself and copy/paste of material from dating profiles and romantic poetry websites.

From: jeffrey remington <[email protected]>

Subject: RE: Thank you

I would describe myself as a kindhearted person sometimes too kind for my own good but that's the person i am. and to let you know i am looking for a serious relationship as i am not the type to play mind games with people and all i ask is for the same in return. I believe in honesty and trust in any relationship because without these two things how can any relationship work between two people.
I also believe that the virtue of love is not finding the perfect but loving the imperfect person perfectly.
knowing each other is important because relationship is all about knowing your partner well, caring for each other in good and bad times and most of all its all about friendship.

I am a very loving person and if I will give my love to someone I will be totally devoted to her. I will be sincere with my soul mate in any way, and I look for someone who would be as sincere with me. I want someone with whom I would share all of joys of my life, and who will be with me in sad days. I want to find a partner in life to enjoy life together and to go in the future together

Am looking for a woman to spend quality time with, the ultimate goal is to find love. The mutual support of one another in life endeavors, and believing in each other is a key factor in any relationship, and with that comes a deep trust of one another. The ability to love like there is no tomorrow... So be it if a "LTR" results from a friendship. I would not be apposed to that. I'm fun loving, spontaneous, adventurous, and caring. I enjoy the simple things in life; quiet evenings at home, lets pull the white board out and lets play Pictionary....., , playing a good game of softball, playing cards or board games and just enjoying life it self.
I would like to enjoy the rest of my life spending quality time with someone that can make me laugh , as I can with them, someone that makes my heart skip a beat when I see them, as I would hope the same for them. People who love to experience new adventures, I'm game if you are. A woman that knows how to show her feelings, the smallest of gestures that let the other person know that they are on your mind at all times. The sultry look from across the room with that gleam in your eyes, the slightest of touches across the small of the back as we pass by one another, and just enjoy experiencing what life has to offer together. I desire a "LTR", (a long term, loving and sharing, committed to one another relationship), someone to live life with.
I want to find a woman who will be my support and protection. I want to find a woman, with whom we will create the world of love, kindness and honesty. I want to see honesty and kindness in a woman. It's most important because lies and anger spoil any relations. I want to find a lady who will grant me her love in response to mine. Heart of a woman is most important. I have very quiet and balanced character. I am very slow to anger and am rarely upset with anyone or anything. I believe life is too short for bad feeling..would appreciate a person who has a good sense of humor with a sense of direction about where and what she wants to be. I will appreciate a woman who sees a man as a friend and a partner......someone that cares and understandable.who will be wiling to take me as a partner. someone that is honest,trustworthy,hardworking, encouraging,devoted,loving and caring woman for a serious and long term relationship, A matured woman who really know what true love is all about and who is ready for a serious relationship.......a woman who will be my companion,confidant, soul mate and most of all be my best friend,a woman that can take good care of a man ,A woman to build the future with,i would have added you to my list for chat on the messenger but don't want to be forward about it was why i decide to send you an email then we talk more and hit up a chat if you are interested in getting along with me.

Hope to hear from you soon
Hugs

Another sent the same day--notice how the scammer goes from introducing himself to talking about the future and demanding an exclusive relationship. Also notice that he is already trying to move the victim to chat. This is because the faster he can create the illusion of a relationship, the faster he can demand money.

From: jeffrey remington <[email protected]>
Subject: RE: Thank you

This letter is to indicate my intentions towards you and our pending relationship.
I am not one to lie or play games, so if you want someone who is determined to make this the most Wonderfully Exciting, Romantic, Passionate, Caring, Understanding and Loving relationship imaginable then let us begin Our Journey together.
I will accept nothing less as I expect that you will also want the same in me …
I demand an Unconditional love affair, which will benefit both of us and secure our feelings for each other, which will mean that our Love for each other will be strengthened knowing that we can and will Fall In Love forever.
I have considered what would be an appropriate way to conduct ourselves during our first time together hopefully on arrival and what we both expect to be the outcome that is suitable and amicable to us …
Love is in my opinion, a feeling that you want to be together and kiss, hold hands, touch each other intimately and then we will make love and at that time we will Fall In Love during this marvelous coming together of two bodies …
We need to be 100% certain of our feelings and then we can make a decision for our future together more rationally once we have spent some quality time together, getting to know each others habits, more likes, more dislikes and intimately. I personally think it could be disastrous if we do not make the right decision, that is based on what our Hearts and feelings tell us is, what We want as a couple …
People come into our lives for a reason, whether it is because we were destined to meet and become lovers and more, or just as friends, but in our case I truly believe it was meant to be, it matters little really, except that we will meet, stay together and become best friends, soul-mates and lovers when the time is right for us to meet, not before, but precisely when our paths must cross …
So in conclusion, if you want someone who is ready to be loved, and to love you, then I must be the only one...........lol.How about we chat on instant messenger either msn or yahoo?
Honesty and trust are paramount and being willing to compromise and understand each other …Tell me your view...Did i make you hungry?
Take care …

After only 3 weeks, the money demands have begun. The scammer has asked the victim to help him to see her. He sends her to the "leave officer" who is really himself or an accomplice. Nobody involved in this scam is in any way connected to the US military. This email includes a fake certificate and fake policy, neither of which is even close to anything the real US army would produce--but a victim unfamiliar with the US army would not know that.

From: [email protected]
Subject: ENQUIRY FOR GENERAL JEFFREY REMINGTON

Dear Madam,

This is to inform you that your mail was received in respect to your Transit Application, in favor of Gen Jeffrey Remington, I am LT.GEN. ROLANDO MELENDEZ, and it is my duty to give you proper guide line in finalizing your Transit Application for GEN .JEFFREY REMINGTON

Furthermore, most times transit are granted based on the request of a spouse, which further implies that all bills will be footed by the spouse or the person requesting for such Transit of an officer. This bill is just a sum to guarantee that, the officer will actually be going to the predetermine destination that sum will be used to arrange logistics such as flight ticket and likes. And the officer will be made to execute certain document immediately he gets home. Instructing the military authorities to pay from his entitlement the sum used as guarantee earlier to the spouse or to whom footed the bills in the first instance.

I hereby use this medium to inform you that during this Transit Process, you are required to remit a refundable sum of One THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS ($1,850 USD) to our Transit Department, which will be used in Processing your Transit Application in favor of GEN JEFFREY REMINGTON

There is a copy of the Transit Application Form (Money Pay-back Guarantee Form) which is sent along with this mail as attachment, you are required to print out the Form and fill in all necessary details as requested, and then send back to us to effect all necessary processes. As soon as you are set to make the payment, write back so as to furnish you will all necessary payment Details.


Regards
LT.GEN. ROLANDO MELENDEZ

Continuing the fake leave scam...

From: [email protected]

Subject: REQUEST IN PROGRESS

Dear


We hereby Congratulate and wish you a nice time with your fiancee,your request has been granted and all your information has been registered in our database for future references.. Your payment confirmation is yet to be received which will be sent to the transit personnel and do get back to us with the airport where the officer will be coming to and all your accommodation plans for him so we can have them in records..

You are to send the fees to the information below via MONEYGRAM system and do get back to us with a scan copy of the receipt and If you don't have a scanner then you can just get back to us with the Reference Number and necessary information for our personnel to go ahead with his flight information which will be email to you when its all confirmed.

BRENDA ROBERTS
5040 W Tharpe St
ACWORTH, GA
USA


Regards
Officer in Charge

and it continues. Note how much harder the scammer is pushing for money. I will reiterate once again here that a) Nobody can request leave for a soldier except the soldier himself or his commanding officers; b) The US ARMY does not charge money for leave!!! and c)The US Army does not use Western Union for anything!!

-

----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
Subject: REQUEST PROCESSING

Dear Madam,

Congratulations for your success in the process of the Transit leave of GEN .JEFFREY REMINGTON. We are also using this medium to inform you that your payment has been received and confirmed. His TGR Code is: FY40JM09. You are hereby requested to read below the instruction needed in finalizing his Transit Leave Permit,as GEN .JEFFREY REMINGTON has been schedule to take off by 2:00pm on Saturday and will be arriving at Avis Honolulu International Airport Honolulu (USA) by 11:00M USA time on Monday.

Also, I GENERAL ROLANDO MELENDEZ was duly subjected under the decree 203 of sub-section A(09) of United States Military Law that this transit grant permit of our amiable Officer( GEN .JEFFREY REMINGTON) to his loving woman(xxx) was endorse and discharge risk free according to the sincere oath of sworn by me.

With this authorization, you Mrs. xxx would be urge to remit sum worth $3,950 USD as a refundable expenses of SURETY PROOF OF INSURANCE AND STATUS OF HEALTHINESS WHILE GEN .JEFFREY REMINGTON IS THERE WITH YOU IN HONOLULU(USA). All these monies are refundable as soon as the arrival of GEN .JEFFREY REMINGTON to Honolulu is confirmed. With the reference to your application for the acceptance and secured transit grant concerning our officer by name GEN .JEFFREY REMINGTON to HONOLULU

A copy of his Transit Leave Approval Confirmation has been attached along with this mail, you are hereby requested to download the attachment and go through it carefully and sign , as it comprises full details of all I am explaining here. The TGR Code (FY40JM09) is to be submitted along with the confirmation of the S.P.I.S.T Payment ($3,950 USD), so as to get his Transit Leave Flight Code which will be needed for his Departure.

You have less than 48hours to make the payment so as for him to be able to meet up with his departure time for 2:00pm Saturday. Failure to make this payment by Friday will result to a deferment in his departure time, which means you only have the grace of now till 1:15pm Friday Afternoon to make the payment, because if he misses Saturday flight for 2:00pm, that means he will have to be fixed with the supplementary last Batch leaving by 1:15pm on Tuesday. Failure to comply with those dates will then be at your risk.

Congratulations!

GENERAL ROLANDO MELENDEZ

Now that the scammer has gotten money from the victim, it is time to start demanding further fees. This is typical of this type of scammer--every time he collects money , he comes up with a reason to need even more. This will continue until the victim realizes she is being scammed and walks away, or when she has nothing left to pay.

Note again the atrocious English, and the fact that the scammer doesn't even know how Americans write and format numbers.

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]

Subject: FINAL APPROVAL

DEAR
APPROVAL FOR GEN JEFFREY REMINGTON TRANSIT LEAVE
This is to notify you that your request for Gen Jeffrey Remington leave has been granted by the US Arm.Moreover,His package has been received and sealed.You are also being informed that since he has finalize his retirement process with your name on his file as your next of keen which was confirmed yesterday,his Benefits,claims,with his SPA Duty salary has been collated together and summed up to a total of $985,893,57 USD.This will be paid to him in check payment once his Transit leave permit is granted,and that will be granted immediately you finish remitting the required payment needed in finalizing his Transit grant Ticket permit which will be needed for his Departure.
We really appreciate your contribution and effort in Iraq towards a better America,the 82nd SF Base Division wish you a happy transit Leave to UNITED STATE under Defence B of Decree 202 on absence from duty with voluntary permission from the service duty.
With this SF recommendation vocational decree,you are hereby permitted to secure /purchase a refundable Military Departure Stamp Duty Fee worth $4,730 USD into the Military Defence Officer Account under the Military Transit Department.
The total sum of funds that you are required to pay in order to finalize the Transit Leave for Gen Jeffrey Remington is $4730 USD.
.S.P.I.S.T Payment ($2,000 USD)
.Notary Stamp Duty Fee ($2,730 USD)

You hereby informed that as soon as you remit this payment,the Transit Leave Flight code that is required for his Departure will be issued out immediately,and he shall be given an authorization on Exit Confirmation Approval from the War/Duty Zone.There are no further expenses required after this.We hope you get the funds remitted in soonest time so as to meet up with the departure dates stated in mail.

Regards.

I guess i will add that Officers make the most money in the military.General is highest rank in military they are normally in charge of bases,They provide General with houses and they drive them around where ever they need to go.Further more when you deploy you get extra stuff add to your pay and don't get really don't get leave unless it is emergency of some sort.I just finish four years in Military and General easily makes more with his house allowance than i make with my pay and if i was getting a housing allowance.

Lastly you have to request leave for yourself and nobody can request leave for you.It is quite simple to do and we don't use forms( extreme rarely) anymore.We just go to a computer request the amount days we need press a button,The leave request goes up to your chain of command and is either approve or disapproved.

Yes. Even General Petraeus has had his his name used for scams. He even finds large amounts of money abandoned in Afghanistan.

Update:

After warnings were sent to his female friends on Facebook, Jeffrey Remington's profile has disappeared, probably because many of those friends flagged the profile as fake.

However, the scammer continues to operate, and has started a new profile under the name Omo Ase. Once again he is claiming to be a widower in the US military:
http://www.facebook.com/?sk=messages&tid=1547945670795#!/profile.php?id=100001056521075

About Me
Basic Info Sex: Male
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Relationship Status: Widowed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interested In: Women
Looking For: Networking
Education and Work
Employers U.S. Air Forcetrying to put peace in Iraq with troops
U.S. Air Force
Iraq
tell u later..

He's making the same type of character because he already has the script, including emails, forms, and fake policies--and he wants to reuse them with as little work as possible for him.

One of his friends that I warned forwarded my warning message to him--luckily, it was one of the last I warned, so I managed to get warnings out to all of his targets before his profile was closed. This is one reason we ask you not to forward warnings, or point scammers here--if they are aware, they are more likely to change names, or to have an explanation ready that their victims might believe.

Jeffrey/Omo was angry with me for sending warnings. Since his Jeffrey Remington profile was closed, he sent the following (again, note the really poor English) message to me from his new Omo Ase profile. Note, however, that he signed the message "Jeffrey" to make sure I knew who he was. He is angry and thinks that he can scare me into stopping warning, with threats that make absolutely no sense, since I am doing nothing illegal while he is a criminal. I apologize for the language in this message, but I feel it is best to leave it as written, as it shows the true nature of the person behind these profiles.

Omo Ase October 27 at 6:04am Report
YOU FUCKKING SON OF A BITCH SHOULD GO SEARCH FOR THE PROFILE SCAMMING AND GET OFF MY PROFILE TO MEET OLD FRIENDS...YOUR ASS HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE AUTHORITY..IF YOU SEND ANY EMAILS TO MY FRIENDS AGAIN YOU WILL BE CHARGED TO COURT..

Jeffrey