Scammed:(

Hello! I am currently living in a foreign country as a volunteer and have a dear (local) friend who just took the bait and lost 1800 euro to one of these scams. Unfortunately, she only mentioned this to me after it was too late. She sent her money via Western Union to some bank in Nigeria and now they want more, are hassling her to come up with the cash. I want to help her get her money back but know that is probably virtually impossible. Are there ANY actions I can take to bust these guys? She is devastated. It is such a sad story and her consequences will be severe. What do I do? She asked me if I could talk to them (told them I would help pay them to get her money back in order to get them to call me) and I didn't know how to refuse, I am her only hope even though I can offer none. She gave them my pre-paid cell phone number and they have been calling me non-stop. I have not yet answered a call. They have no other information about me but are in constant contact with her and have assured her that if she sends more money, they will return hers. I believe she will not do that, however she is feeling pretty desperate at this point.

What do I do? I'm sick over this and they need to be stopped. Do I answer their calls and if so, what would I even say?? This is so unfortunate as I foresee this becoming a HUGE problem in this (and many developing) countries in a very short period of time. These people are poor and desperate but have access to funds via new credit offers and upon the promise of more money or freedom from their circumstances, many will suffer at the hands of these awful people.

What can I do???

Below is the email that was sent. I have all the correspondence between them as well. It's so unfortunate - it is obvious to me that this is a scam with all the spelling errors and ambiguity but there are many many people out there, like my friend, who will not be able to recognize this.

UN Foundation Grant.

My Name is Dr Boston Mc Dowell from the UN GRANT FOUNDATION.This is to
notify you that you have been chosen By the Board of trustees of the
above International (Charity & Human Developmental)Organization, as
one of the final recipients of a Cash Grant/Donation for your personal
development.

The UN Foundation was created in 1998 with entrepreneur and
philanthropist Ted Turners' historic $1 billion gift to support UN
Causes and activities. The UN Foundation builds and implements
public-private partnerships to address the world's most pressing
problems, and broadens support for the UN through advocacy and public
outreach. The UN Foundation is a public charity.

The Secretary-General established the United Nations Fund for
International Partnerships (UNFIP) in March 1998 to coordinate,channel
and monitor contributions from the UN Foundation. UNFIP is the central
administrative vehicle within the UN system to identify and select
projects for UN Foundation funding, receive and distribute UN Grant
Foundation funds, and monitor and evaluate the use of UN Foundation
funds.

In line with the arrangements for the 11th year anniversary program
this year, the UN Foundation in conjunction with the Economic
Community for West African States (ECOWAS), United Nations
Organization (UNO) and the European Union, is giving out a yearly
donation of Ten Million United States Dollars as specific
Donations/Grants to 100 lucky international recipients worldwide in
different categories for their personal and community development and
upliftment of their educational morale. The objective is to make a
notable change in the standard of living of people in United Nations
Member Countries.

Based on the random selection of internet Web Pages and millions of
Supermarket cash invoices worldwide you were selected among the
beneficiaries to receive the sum of US$100,000.00 (One Hundred
Thousand United States Dollars) as developmental aid from the UN
Foundation, in accordance with the enabling act of Parliament Be
informed that the UN Grant Foundation has been assured of highest
Organization standard courtesy of the United Nations if we can achieve
a great positive change in the general welfare of the universe through
this program.

Beneficiaries have been chosen from every UN Member Nation from all
Continents. The idea of this donation is that within ten years from

now, there will be notable wealth among many unusual people around the
world.This will give everyone the opportunity to improve their
standards of living. It's important to note that you will only be
chosen to receive the donation once, which implies that subsequent
yearly donation will not get to you again.

1. We are duly obligated under provisions of The UN GRANT to dispatch
your winning funds WITHOUT any deductions. Your winning funds will be
credited into your account within 24 hours after conclusion of
notarization.

2. The prime condition for making this payment to you is that you, the
beneficiary winner of our grant donation will be willing to use 1%
equivalent of your winning grant funds to assist Child Trust (Charity)
through us, who are the UN's nominated agent. This 1% is only payable
after receipt of your said winning funds of $100, 000.00

3.Your Un Grant payment information is needed for payment.How do you
need your payment should be said below,You are to fill and send back
for immediate verification on you grant payment to you safely.

Please fill the below grant payment details verification form and send
back to us for immediate notarization on you payment,with this
information we will be able to make payment to you via the information
you gave us below

Quoted the email to make it easier to follow - Ralph

Hi maks,

Thank you for posting this information. It may help to alert others who are being scammed by the same criminals.

The first step is to break off all contact with the scammer. No emails or phone calls. The next most important step is to convince your friend that it is a scam. It sounds as though she may still, even now, believe in the lies peddled by these heartless criminals.

Try googling key points of information such as the scammers email address, contact numbers and prominent strings of text. I have googled this string of text: "Based on the random selection of internet Web Pages and millions of Supermarket cash invoices worldwide" and the results lead to many other lottery-type or fake UN scams.

As to getting her money back. I'm afraid that wont be happening. Scammers use Western Union because of its very anonymous and untraceable qualities.

...She sent her money via Western Union to some bank in Nigeria...

Western Union transfers are sent to individuals, not banks. It's possible that the name of the recipient is the name of the person responsible for this scam, but it is equally possible that the scammer is using a fake name and id to collect the money.

Please let her know that she is perfectly free to report the matter to the police in her area but they too will likely advise her to break off all contact and accept the loss of money as a hard lesson learned.

Encourage your friend to visit scamwarners.com and more particularly this thread. We should be able to point out more evidence to help convince her that she is being scammed.

Hi. I'm sorry for the circumstances that brought you here.

This is so unfortunate as I foresee this becoming a HUGE problem in this

It's been a huge problem for some years, and one that isn't going to go away. The Internet makes it very easy for scammmers to operate anonymously out of Internet cafes in countries with poor and corrupt law enforcement.
Your friend does need to realise it's a scam, and that she will never get her money back. And not to blame herself. Easier said than done of course, but it will help if she joins Scamwarners.