Nigeria via Ghana, Munich and Austria/Geldwäsche für Dolmetscher

Has anyone else got one of these? Actually I think a similar scam has been reported by others in the past few weeks:

bq. From: “DR. EMMANUEL OWUSU SEKYERE”
Subject: interpreter
To: …

bq. Hello,
i am Dr. Owusu Sekyere,an orthopedic surgean
in a private hospital in Ghana,and i have a patient
whom i have refered to a hospital in munchen (Germany)
for a surgery on his fracture dislocation but will
need a translator to help him since he’s coming with
his family and only speaks English,
This means he will need someone who can
translate German to English,This family will need this
person,5hours per day for 11 days,I will be very
greatful if you can get back to me in time so i can
have good news for this patient of mine and re-assure
him that right from the airport throughout his
endervours in Austria will be assisted with the aid of
your translator,
Please get back to me on the cost of your
services and any other requirements because he would
like to remit the funds to you before his arrival
date,
Thank you,
Dr. Owusu Sekyere

This patient is apparently not satisfied with going to Munich: he wants to make a trip to Austria too – climbing, probably.

I have heard that members of the ITI (like me) are receiving invitations for interpreting jobs like this:

bq. “A 10-day interpreting job for my daughters who will be going out for
shopping and visiting some beautiful places…”
Or
“My staffs are coming over to the UK for a 4 days seminar which is
taking place in a hotel hall…”

I heard about in in December 2004 and apparently Scotland Yard confirmed that it is a money laundering scam.

3 thoughts on “Nigeria via Ghana, Munich and Austria/Geldwäsche für Dolmetscher

  1. Not being a translator I haven’t rcvd any of these (only the usual 419ers), but I’m curious about how this scam would work.

    Would they transfer the funds, then don’t show up and ask you to transfer the funds back? Or transfer too much “by mistake” and ask you to return the difference?

  2. Apparently if you reply, they say they are sending a larger sum and at the same time you are to send them a refund of the ‘overpayment’. Here’s an example from the ITI website of a reply someone received:

  3. Aha, a variation of the car sale scam, where they add insult to injury:

    They buy a used car, pay with a cheque bigger than necessary and ask for difference to be paid back immediately (probably in cash). Then they leave with the car and the victim with the forged cheque which will bounce. Meaning the victim will lose both car and cash.

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