Need Help and Info

Guy using the name bullet_woods on Yahoo messenger scamming women by saying he is in US Army serving in Afghanistan. Saying he receives no pay because it is sent to the US and he cannot access it, also needs monies for leave. Has had victims email his supposed Commanding Officer for leave request. Also has sent falsified Army documents to try to prove he is in Army. I reported him to FTC, Internet Crime Bureau and Army CID. This person is scamming someone close to me and she doesn't believe she is being scammed. Any help or info would be greatly appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is all a scam being perpetrated by young men in Nigeria. Please read some of the posts here (there are millions to choose from) about how they are going about this. The US military does not allow leave by paying money to anyone and only the actual person in the military can request leave when it is earned.

Yes your friend is being scammed. There is no doubt of it. If you scroll to the top of this page, you'll see the site search box on the right hand side. Type in the words, soldier leave, military leave. The results that show on the screen will amaze you. I beg of you to ask your friend to read through the reports because they all have a familiar theme. Your friends best course of action is to stop all communications with the scam artist because everything the 'soldier' has told her is a damned lie. If you have not done so, may I strongly suggest looking at http://asp.militarygear.com/category/military-scams/

The biggest thing is not to make her feel defensive or stupid. It is important to emphasize that these scammers are professional manipulators who would not do this if they didn't make money from it--not knowing these scumbags are out there, or not immediately recognizing one doesn't make her stupid. Take a look at our summary of military scammer tactics. If you can get her to look at it with you, expressing your concern without being judgmental or overbearing, it may help to plant a seed of doubt. Steer her here if you can, or if you can provide a little more information, we can have a warner contact her too.

There's lots of research that will help if you have access to any of their correspondence. Some scammers are careful to change names and emails frequently, so searching name and email may not yield anything, while others leave a trail 10 miles long!

Of course you can post more info here and we will gladly help you, but if you can see some of his correspondence and aren't ready or able to post it, here are some things you can do yourself.
-I'm assuming he probably has some scripted emails--review his emails and look for areas of significantly better English. If you google phrases from those emails (put an entire phrase in quotes to search for exact matches) or even his dating site profile, you will very likely find matches, often to other scammers.
-If he has set her up to make a request for him, look at the address. Is it a .mil address? (of course it isn't, because it is fake.) The military uses addresses that end in .mil, nothing else.
-If you have access to the photos he sent her, run them through google image search and tineye to see if they are already posted or used by scammers. Also, check his photos for signs of editing--backgrounds that don't look right, copy/paste artifacts, etc.
-Google his phone number, and if he gave her a UK phone number, check to see if it is a flextel number (numbers starting with 44-70 are redirect numbers used by African scammers more than anyone, and anything starting with 44-870 or 44-871 is likely to be flextel or another service abused by scammers).
-If he sent "ID" or official documents, check that also for signs of editing and even misspelling (for example, one passport just posted here shows the place of birth as "Califonia"--the state would be spelled correctly on a US passport! Sometimes scammers misspell their own fake names on their fake documents!)

-See if you can get her to look at this warning put out BY the US Military, in which they clearly state that soldiers CAN access their money.
http://www.cid.army.mil/documents/Army% ... 202013.pdf

And, of course, you can continue to ask questions and we will be glad to help however we can.

We have shown her info about these scams, but he has her convinced he is not scamming her. Has promised to buy her a home, cars and the list goes on. She refuses to believe he is lying about anything. He has had her email his supposed Commanding Officer requesting leave, had "documents" sent to her to prove he is real, telling her his money is in an account in the states and he can't get it. I have confronted him in messages and can tell from the response he is not who he claims to be (uses phrases such as "Please join hands with me" and "be joyous for us"). She has said she has talked to him, I really don't know. I do know she is sending him money.

To tell you the truth I think she may really believe he is scamming her and feels bad that she fell for it. And she doesn't know what to do now. I have reported him to the FTC, ICCC, Army CID and anywhere else I can find, he knows I was reporting him. And that's when these documents appeared showing he is who he claims to be. He will not answer any messages I send him now, but will forward them to her!

I even went as far as trying to get her into counseling, but she refuses to go! I am just at a loss as to what it is going to take for her to see that this guy is a scammer and finally tell him so!

It's a difficult situation for you to be in Ts.
re: To tell you the truth I think she may really believe he is scamming her and feels bad that she fell for it. And she doesn't know what to do now.
That is a starting point for her. These slimy tricksters are good at what they do and some people do become embarrassed. It's important she stops all communications with it. Scammers are like actors and they isolate the target and the victim is reeled into a false world. Your friend is going to need support when the realisation fully sets in because she's going to hit the wall in a big way.
If you personally know anyone in the armed services, perhaps have them meet up with said friend so they could explain it's a scam? Friend would likely listen to someone from within the organisation. You need to get some sort of positive dialogue happening but I realise that's easier said than done.

She has a small child and is sending money to this creep instead of providing for her child. She won't believe anything you say or show her!!! He has her so brainwashed, she honestly believes he is coming here on leave!!!! What more can you do to prove this guy is a fake???

She has a small child and is sending money to this creep instead of providing for her child. She won't believe anything you say or show her!!! He has her so brainwashed, she honestly believes he is coming here on leave!!!! What more can you do to prove this guy is a fake???

A victim in denial is always difficult because the scammer isolates them.
Please have a look http://www.romancescam.com/forum/viewto ... 91&t=69498
Is it the same scammer?

Has said friend received an email from scammer or is it using only instant messages? If an e-mail has been received, check the email header. That usually shows the origin of the message. Also it would handy to know the name of the supposed Commanding Officer for the supposed leave request? I wonder what email address the 'officer' uses? If we show her the officer is a fakey too, that would be a good start.

Jolly,

Please have a look http://www.romancescam.com/forum/viewto ... 91&t=69498
Is it the same scammer?

Yes that is him!!! As far as I know he is using yahoo messenger and yahoo email.

I have im'ed him on messenger, he knows I'm on to him and will not reply to me, but will forward my messages to her. I know it's to make me look like the bad person so she won't believe me. I could tell right away he wasn't real, uses very bad english grammar. I just don't know what it's going to take for her to realize this guy is a fake. She told me yesterday she had told him he better not be lying to her, of course he claimed he's not.

Here's hoping the link has opened your friends eyes to what is really happening. As you saw on the IP number which equates to nigeria which is a long long way from Afghanistan where he's supposed to be. I quite assure everyone that it gives no joy whatsoever for me to sound negative. I wish it were possible to give good news but in this instance it's not possible. I hope you are close by when your friend realises because she will need support soon. The slippery scam artist will make all sorts of claims. The only thing the slime-ball loves is the money he's fleecing off her. Sad to say your friend won't be able to recover any money sent to the tosser.

Well she has the info, but is still wanting to be left alone about it. I'm giving her time and we'll see where it goes from there. According to her "No one wants her to be happy", which is far from the truth.

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