Help. Is this a scam?

Discussion in 'General Chat' started by Trisha, Jul 24, 2007.

  1. #1
    I think our family might be the victims of a scam but I'm not sure. We've been contacted by someone who says they are a long lost cousin and they appear to have documents and photos to prove it. Myself and another member of my family both have nagging doubts that something is wrong although the cousin hasn't asked for money. We are worried that they may attempt some sort of identity theft but on the other hand the person could be genuine. A member of my family was actually doing some genealogical research and had asked for people to contact her if they had any information. Does anyone know of any specific scams going on at the moment where people pretend to be long lost family members?
     
    Trisha, Jul 24, 2007 IP
  2. getjimmy

    getjimmy Prominent Member

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    #2
    Looks like new version of Nigerian scam.
     
    getjimmy, Jul 24, 2007 IP
  3. anions

    anions Notable Member

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    #3
    Nah, the nigerian guys didnt have the documents to prove anything :p
     
    anions, Jul 24, 2007 IP
  4. Codythebest

    Codythebest Notable Member

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    #4
    Ummm...I just received yesterday an email from a guy saying he gets the same last name than me and ask about my parents and grand-parents, and we could be from the same family, blah blah blah...Coincidence?...
     
    Codythebest, Jul 24, 2007 IP
  5. Bebicul

    Bebicul Writer

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    #5
    How hard can it be to find out? Ask your family. It's not like he came from the past.
    If nobody in your family knows/remembers him, he might as well be any stranger off the street.
     
    Bebicul, Jul 24, 2007 IP
  6. longhornfreak

    longhornfreak Well-Known Member

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    #6
    I wouldn't really trust them if they ask for anything, but if they have the papers then they might be legit. If you meet up with them, make sure its in public, that way nothing will happen.
     
    longhornfreak, Jul 24, 2007 IP
  7. samantha pia

    samantha pia Prominent Member

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    #7
    ask them to email the Docs to a new email account you set up. always use that new email account until you are 100% sure they are genuine. so not give out full name or address or anything untill they have supplied everything
     
    samantha pia, Jul 24, 2007 IP
  8. seospider

    seospider Peon

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    #8
    How about a DNA test? Well I have too little knowledge about medical science so please ignore if I am wrong.

    By the way there are 1000s of ways to scam and this sounds like one of them. You are the best person to find the truth. Dont believe anyone easily.
     
    seospider, Jul 24, 2007 IP
  9. CountryBoy

    CountryBoy Prominent Member

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    #9
    This has happened to my family in the past and they turned out to be genuine. There's a lot of people into geneology at the moment, so it's not all that unusual. If they ask for anything become suspicious, but until then give them the benefit of the doubt.
     
    CountryBoy, Jul 24, 2007 IP
  10. KingofKings

    KingofKings Banned

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    #10
    There are many scams like this, I have heard of this one before. First they come in the family then they act like they love you. Then they take your money, and they will never return.
     
    KingofKings, Jul 24, 2007 IP
  11. nervo

    nervo Active Member

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    #11
    nervo, Jul 24, 2007 IP
  12. Dedo

    Dedo Guest

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    #12
    I just suggest a DNA test or Narcotic test , well this things are common and about 88% out to be a scam , papers may be fraud. Verify their docs and make them to test some medical tests that will proven that they are lost relatives.
     
    Dedo, Jul 24, 2007 IP
  13. Stroh

    Stroh Notable Member

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    #13
    If its too good to be true, chances are it is.

    I'd say forget it, no matter how long and lost they are.
     
    Stroh, Jul 24, 2007 IP
  14. mrfinchy

    mrfinchy Banned

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    #14
    scammmmmm...
     
    mrfinchy, Jul 24, 2007 IP
  15. Avery001

    Avery001 Banned

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    #15
    I think it is a scam......,there are too many scams on the internet,a couple of days ago,i received an email which said that the sender are looking for a cooperator to invest money in my country...lol...such a liar.ignore him if that is a scam,he will feel hard ang give up his plan,if he is really your relative,he will not leave.

    Just ignore him for quite a few days...
     
    Avery001, Jul 24, 2007 IP
  16. maverick700

    maverick700 Peon

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    #16
    This could be a scam and cannot be also.You never know.. All i suggest you is to verify it and just dont leave it thinking its a scam who knows they are genuine and they have not even ask for money.Any scammer would do it for money.
     
    maverick700, Jul 25, 2007 IP
  17. jdR!pper

    jdR!pper Peon

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    #17
    I think it's a scam... Don't disclose any personal information about your family.

    --Joe
     
    jdR!pper, Jul 25, 2007 IP
  18. JackDon3011

    JackDon3011 Banned

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    #18
    I have never experience that, but it's 100% scam for sure
     
    JackDon3011, Jul 25, 2007 IP
  19. FlashPixels.co.uk

    FlashPixels.co.uk Peon

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    #19
    If he is YOUR cousin then yo need to contact your aunties/uncles or atleast find out about there tree. If ANY of them have more than one child then it is a likely scam. You don't go out contacting your long lost family with out the rest of yor family. Then ask questions, personal questions your family would know. Good ones are. Why were you named that? Why is that your middle name? Your looking for more than "Family Name" There needs to be a reason for a Family Name.
     
    FlashPixels.co.uk, Aug 29, 2007 IP
  20. xPsycho

    xPsycho Peon

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    #20
    You realize this topic was from July?
     
    xPsycho, Aug 29, 2007 IP