The Office of the Tulare County District Attorney, Phil Cline, District Attorney, White Collar Crime Unit, Consumer Fraud Unit, the Elder Abuse Prosecution Program and the Elder Abuse Advocacy and Outreach Program issue the following warning: emails from a person posing as a U.S. Soldier in Iraq have been received by numerous persons in the United States. An email purporting to be from Sgt. 1st Class Frank V. Edmonds of the 3rd Infantry offers what has come to be known as the “Nigerian” scam. He says he has come into possession of a very large sum of money taken in a raid of Saddam Hussein’s compound in Takrit and needs a way to get the monies back to the United States. The email talks of the illegality of such a transaction but plays on the sympathy of Americans by mentioning the sacrifice and horror of serving in Iraq concluding with this money being partial compensation for such service. Quoting from the letter: “I do not know how long we will remain here, and I have been shot, wounded and survived two suicide bomb attacks by the special grad (sic) of God. This and other reasons I will mention later has prompted me to reach out for help. I honestly want this matter to be resolved immediately, please contact me as soon as possible.”

Based on this appeal, the recipient is asked to provide banking information so a wire transfer of funds can be accomplished. As in all Nigerian scams, the offer of sharing the money is made for the use of the bank account for the transfer. This is a “phishing” scam and will result in identity theft. The banking information will be used to steal funds in the account.

We recommend anyone receiving such emails to not respond in any manner. Social Security Numbers, banking information such as account numbers, routing numbers and next of kin are the open doors for criminals to electronically steal money and identity. Such information should never be given to persons or companies whom you do not have a trusted relationship. We further recommend if you are contacted by mail, email or over the phone about your bank account give no information, personally contact your banking institution and call your local police department, the Sheriff’s Department, or the District Attorney’s Office. If you are a senior citizen, in addition, you may also call Tulare County Adult Protective Services (559) 733-6585 or the District Attorney’s Office Elder Abuse Unit at (559) 733-6754. More information may be obtained by calling the District Attorney’s Elder Abuse Advocacy and Outreach Program at 559-733-6754 or log on to www.da.tulareco.org

Contact Person:

WILLIAM YOSHIMOTO
Supervising Attorney
(559) 624-1054