by Jillian
Fri Sep 24, 2010 1:11 pm
The following is the story of a victim, shared with us at ScamWarners to try to prevent someone else from falling victim to the same scam.
Some information on the scammer:
Photo used by scammer:
Uses the name: Kenny Riley
Email address: [email protected]
He claims to be in the United Kingdom but his IP Address: 41.138.166.192 resolves to Lagos, Nigeria
Phone and text numbers:
Phone: 011447024023617
Text: 447536784376
The victim's story:
Some information on the scammer:
Photo used by scammer:
Uses the name: Kenny Riley
Email address: [email protected]
He claims to be in the United Kingdom but his IP Address: 41.138.166.192 resolves to Lagos, Nigeria
Phone and text numbers:
Phone: 011447024023617
Text: 447536784376
The victim's story:
The individual contacted me several months ago via yahoo personals. We corresponded for several months. Kenny Riley claims to work for Slok Trading Company in the UK as an Engineer on the offshore oil rig. He said he works contractually, that his contract is almost up, that his wife had passed away in an accident and that he and I should get together and raise his 4 yr old daughter and my son as a family. He kept the whole vision up of the family, togetherness, etc. Even had a woman and little girl pose as his mother and daughter on webcam. Of course his mother's purpose was to give us her blessing on an upcoming engagement.
He had me go look for a house to purchase and said that he was having his housing agent sell his father's house in Canada and would have the check sent to me for use of purchasing our new home. He signed real estate papers to put the offer in on a home etc. He went the whole distance of how this was our dream home and e-mailed photos to his "mother" for her approval. The check didn't come until two weeks prior to closing and 5 days before he was to arrive here to set up our lives together before he sends for his daughter who was supposed to be living in Arlington Texas with his mother Stephanie Riley. The check arrived via regular mail and was drawn on Liberty Bank which is in New Orleans Louisiana. When I notified him the check had arrived he said fabulous we can now have the funds in my mothers' attorney's account which is where she would like it for him to handle the house transaction. Of course I didn't transfer funds because they are on hold for 7 to 10 days and he said he would talk this over with his mom. I told him if we transfer the funds we will miss our closing date.
The next morning I sent a copy of the check to Liberty Bank to verify funds and to ensure there would not be a problem when it came time to close. They called me back and told me the check was a forgery and the funds were not valid. I called Kenny Riley to let him know and, of course, he put on an act stating the realtor in Canada ran away with his funds and how was he going to tell his mother that he lost the house. Of course he was then conveniently disconnected and unreachable until the next morning when he said he was at the hospital having his blood pressure checked because he wasn't himself after hearing the news. He said he would call me back and didn't. When I called again a man answered Kenny's cell phone stating he was glad that I called because Kenny appears to have suffered a heart attack and needs emergency surgery and I need to send $700 or $1,000 in order to begin the operation. Of course I didn't, but the whole scenario took place over several months the building up of the family unit etc. Signing the papers for the house. Sending flowers and cards drawing me in, basically.
I reported this to the police and they said they couldn't do anything because it crosses international lines. Even though I was smart enough not to send funds that doesn't mean no one was hurt. The people in the home we were purchasing had sold their furniture and packed up their home ready to vacate. I had given my notice at my apartment complex to move at the end of the month and had packed up my apartment. My bank closed my account for depositing a bad check. This was a bad situation in every way and it makes me ill that someone could play other people in hopes of financial gain.
In the last couple of days I have seen his name on other fraud sites where he has been sending e-mails to try to get people to run his deceased wife's business of selling jewelry. It is the same Kenny Riley with Slok Trading and the same phone number. I think everyone should watch out and he should be banned from the internet.
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