No Honor Among Thieves: Woman Scams Nigerian Scammers Out Of $33k

from the trust-issues dept

Fri, Feb 24th 2012 4:16am — Mike Masnick

With so much focus on Nigerian-based scams, many Nigerian scammers now seek to use middlemen to help with things like bank accounts to keep suspicion levels lower. There are plenty of stories of people in the US, Europe and elsewhere who take "jobs" that involve having a local bank account through which scam money flows to Nigeria -- where they're allowed to keep a percentage of the cash. Often, they are not otherwise involved or knowledgeable about the scam.

That appears to be the case with one woman in Australia, who has now gotten in trouble... because she scammed the scammers out of $33k while managing the pass through bank account (found via Slashdot). She apparently had no idea of the scam that was going on (involving bogus online used car sales), but decided to keep some extra amounts of money. Of course, when some of those scammed in the car deal sought to track down the scammers... the focus shifted to her, where her own thievery from the thieves was discovered.

The story notes that the woman has now pled guilty to "aggravated fraud," though it's unclear if the fraud was for the original fraud from her "bosses" in the Nigerian scam ring... or for scamming the scammers themselves. Somehow I doubt they would press charges.

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Filed Under: fraud, nigerian scam, scams

32 Comments

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Anonymous Coward, 24 Feb 2012 @ 4:30am

What does this have to do with piracy?

I demand my piracy apologist news!!!

This blog gone to hell in the past 12 hours.
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Anonymous Coward, 24 Feb 2012 @ 4:43am

Re:
And all it took was one washed up lead singer of a band no one cares about raging and asking if he could sue.
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Anonymous Coward, 24 Feb 2012 @ 4:52am

She liked scamming so she put a scam in a scam so she could get money while getting money.

Plus i think she was on a pirate ship while doing this therefore totally Techdirt worthy.

Hazzar
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That Anonymous Coward (profile), 24 Feb 2012 @ 5:08am

When I read the article the Nigerians running the scam were the ones who contacted the police...
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DannyB (profile), 24 Feb 2012 @ 5:31am

Dueling HR departments
Imagine the battle between the HR departments of RIAA and MPAA members to hire this woman!

She is uniquely qualified to be in charge of distributing funds to artists.
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The eejit (profile), 24 Feb 2012 @ 6:02am

Re: Dueling HR departments
Come on, at least the scammers have morals!
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This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it

Anonymous Coward, 24 Feb 2012 @ 6:16am

Re: Re:
I love it when Mike Masnick- the guy that constantly pimps the word 'censorship'- considers pointed satire unacceptable and throws down his censor hammer.
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That Anonymous Coward (profile), 24 Feb 2012 @ 6:21am

Re: Re: Re:
You would of course be referring to the hidden comment, which if you actually had the ability to read and understand words, clearly states it was flagged by the community of readers and not the owner of the site.

But thanks for playing, here's a cup of ramen as your parting gift.
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Chuck Norris' Enemy (deceased) (profile), 24 Feb 2012 @ 6:25am

Re: Re: Re:
Point #1 - The community censored the pointless/baseless comment.
Point #2 - Mike or the community can censor all they want legally, albeit can provide detractors and critics a (desperate/inaccurate) accusation of injustice...the government, not so much.
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This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it

Anonymous Coward, 24 Feb 2012 @ 6:35am

Re: Re: Re: Re:
hahahahahaha

Do you know how many "flags" it takes for the readers of this site to actually censor a comment themselves?

The "reported" comment above was the first response to Masnick's post; there weren't enough members "of the community" online to get that post "reported" in the time it took to be censored.

Masnick got his diaper in a twist about its incredibly accurate satire and censored it himself.

Because he's a gigantic, slimy, hypocritical douchebag.
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DannyB (profile), 24 Feb 2012 @ 6:37am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
You can always start your own blog filled with your insightful content.

There are no gatekeepers stopping you.

Oh, wait. That's what you are upset about.
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Trails (profile), 24 Feb 2012 @ 6:39am

Re: Re: Re:
I agree, the Masnickian Constitution, drafted by his forefathers in the 1800s clearly states in the first amendment:

Masnick shall make no comment rating respecting an establishment of obvious trolling, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of morons to make strawmen, or of the shills to posit false dichotomies; or the right of the people peaceably to conflate a website with the government, and to petition the Masnick for a redress of grievances.
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Anonymous Coward, 24 Feb 2012 @ 6:50am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
Everyone is a "gatekeeper" to those that produce nothing and are addicted to content...

I think you should demand everyone cook for you too.
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This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it

The Devil's Coachman (profile), 24 Feb 2012 @ 6:54am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
I think you should commit suicide. Right now. I'm sure your neighbors and relatives can help.
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So..., 24 Feb 2012 @ 7:00am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
This.
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Anonymous Coward, 24 Feb 2012 @ 7:04am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
+1. How long would it be before freeboards blew their brains out if their only unpaid access to content was courtesy of Nina Paley and similar talentless bottom feeders?
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Anonymous Coward, 24 Feb 2012 @ 7:05am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
*freetards*
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MM_Dandy (profile), 24 Feb 2012 @ 7:20am

Re: Re: Re:
Some censorship. All I had to do was click the notice to see it - the notice that reads Click to show it.
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Trails (profile), 24 Feb 2012 @ 7:35am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
Yeah, talentless bottom feeder is right!

"A tour de force for filmmaker Nina Paley, Sita Sings the Blues gives the Ramayana its animated due with a visually vibrant, dazzlingly imaginative triumph."

That's just movie critic talk for bottom feeder. Plus, she clearly just pirated Hinduism for her movie, probably downloaded Hinduism from the pirate bay or something.

Also, her work being declared 24th best animated movie ever, so what? I mean 24th! 24th doesn't win you the world series, does it bro? Amirite?
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That Anonymous Coward (profile), 24 Feb 2012 @ 7:56am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
No Mr. Owl how many licks does it take to get past the lollipop up your ass?

So how many people have to report it before it goes buhbye?

It was the first post, and it was uncensored for quite a while, I know I've been on and off the site all morning. While there are not people posting on every article, the site does have many people reading it, but unlike you if they don't have anything to add they don't hit reply and just vomit up the rambling thoughts from the voices in their heads.

You seem to be hung up on diapers, maybe if you focused some of your energies on being a big boy you could learn to not need your own diaper any more.

But then I've given you what you wanted, you feel all empowered because we bothered with you. That sad excuse for a reproductive organ is all engorged and your excited. As most people you ever will attempt to be naked infront of will ask you... Does that come in the adult size?

Does it bother you that your entire life revolves around spouting off on things not related to actual issues but instead you can only feel good about yourself if your putting someone else down? Honestly, how crappy your life must be that this is the source of all of your joy...

And mean old me, telling you everything you already know... because your a short story and we've wasted to much time on you already.
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Anonymous Coward, 24 Feb 2012 @ 7:59am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
He is sad because he can't exercise his monopoly anymore, the people won't let him do it and so he gets all emotional.
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RickysDaddy, 24 Feb 2012 @ 8:13am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
If you're not first, you're last.
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Trails (profile), 24 Feb 2012 @ 8:57am

Re:
It's kinda like a hug inside of rainbow... of fraud...
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Brendy, 24 Feb 2012 @ 9:31am

Re: Re: Re: Re:
Another great example of the Streisand Effect at work here...
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Gwiz (profile), 24 Feb 2012 @ 9:53am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
...there weren't enough members "of the community" online to get that post "reported" in the time it took to be censored.

How the heck would you know that? This blog has A LOT of readers.

Paranoid much?
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Anonymous Coward, 24 Feb 2012 @ 10:44am

Re: Re: Re:
Funny how you use the word "censorship" yet you apparently have no idea what it means. If that comment was censored, how was I able to read it, hmm? Answer that, trolltard.
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Anonymous Coward, 24 Feb 2012 @ 11:14am

Re: Re: Re: Re:
Maybe its because i use noscript, but i see it by default; without clicking anything at all.
So not really censorship
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Baldaur Regis (profile), 24 Feb 2012 @ 11:23am

Re:
In that case I'm glad this filthy pirate got her comeuppance from...other filthy pirates.
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Dc Utopia, 24 Feb 2012 @ 12:17pm

Info
VIsa 4744 7900 6024 3754 exp 0815

Anthony R Walker
1219 Argyle Avenue
Baltimore MD 21217
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Jeffrey Nonken (profile), 24 Feb 2012 @ 12:24pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
And you STILL missed the point that the comment is still viewable. As evidenced by the fact that there's a reply thread.

P.S. I don't think that word means what you think it means.
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Jeffrey Nonken (profile), 24 Feb 2012 @ 12:25pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
Wasn't censorship to begin with.
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Ben, 22 Oct 2012 @ 8:28pm

Thats funny
Oh the irony. The Irony I tell ya.
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