GI or UK soldier in Afghanistan - money for a phone ? SCAM

Just to emphasise some information I discovered.

A number of romance scammers are impersonating army personnel in Iraq or Afghanistan and asking for money to purchase a mobile/cell phone.

The minute anyone impersonating a soldier does this, they expose themselves as being nothing more than a low life scammer trying to steal your money.

Mobile/cell phones are NOT allowed to military personnel in those countries.

There are no if's and's or but's. The minute you are asked to buy a phone for him he is exposing himself to be a liar, imposter and low-life scammer operating out of an internet cafe trying to trick multiple females out of money. You won't be his only intended victim.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/u ... 117569.ece

Soldiers in Afghanistan are being penalised by mobile phone companies that continue to bill them even though they cannot use the phones there.

Some operators refuse to suspend contracts without proof of deployment — information that soldiers are told not to divulge. They are forbidden anyway to use mobiles on active service because of security considerations.

Sending a donation to the National Memorial Arboretum (or US equivalent) will get your money closer to a soldier than it will sending your money to an internet cafe scammer.

How to verify if a person claiming to be a UK soldier is an imposter or not.

Ask for his e-bluey contact details.

He should be able to tell you immediately, without any need for you to explain to him what it is.

If he can't do it promptly, he's a liar and most likely a scammer who has only one intent, and that is to steal your money.

The format of an 'e-bluey' address will include his name rank and service number, regiment and BFPO number. In the unlikely event that a smart scammer makes something up it's easy to verify it.

Any civilian can sign up, but importantly, a civilian uses their e-mail address, not service number and regimental details and BFPO number, which a soldier has to use, to make contact. If you are given details then send him a message as a check.