₦airaland Forum

I'm all for Omo Tier_1 and all those who believe we should not allow other people to wash our dirty linen for us - especailly in the public.

Couple charged in $13 million Nigerian scam Scheme siphoned money from people who sought work as maids


By Hank Tester
NBCMIAMI.com NBCMIAMI.com
updated 10/22/2010 11:10:15 AM ET 2010-10-22T15:10:15
Share Print Font: +-FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — It is a scam so complicated police have to draw a diagram to explain it.

Fort Lauderdale police have arrested a North Lauderdale couple, who are accused of running a $13 million scam that had ties to Nigerian mobsters.

Here's how the scam worked, according to police:

Using classified ads and Craig's list, Plenord St. Fort and his wife, Sandra, would offer jobs to victims looking for work as maids.

The St. Forts and the victim would agree to a monthly salary. Soon a check would arrive, but in an amount far in excess of the agreed salary. The unsuspecting victim was instructed to use the remainder of the money to pay rent to a landlord and otherwise manage the home.

The rent money, according to instructions, was to be sent by Western Union money order. The original check was a phony, police claim, despite the fact the check would clear.

Meanwhile, using a code, the St. Forts would intercept the payment to the non-existent landlord. That money would be sent to their handlers in Nigeria, who would in turn send money orders to Haiti with the St. Forts' cut of the deal, investigators allege.

Det. Randall Pelham said the couple operated for about a year and were producing 12 to 50 phony checks per day.

These were checks with legitimate routing numbers allegedly stolen from major public or private institutions. The St Forts, according to police, had a home office full of printers, blank check paper, hundreds of routing numbers and names of potential victims.

"When we went to serve warrants and searched the house they had lists of identities, checks, check paper, checks in the printer," Pelham said. "They were printing them out when we came in."

The scam started in Nigeria, a hot bed of criminal activity. The African nation has become a haven for scammers who have collected stolen credit cards, personal information and banking account numbers.

Officials said the St. Forts were basically operating a local franchise for the Nigerian mob.

The couple was arrested Wednesday, and they have been charged with fraud.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39788395/ns/local_news-miami_fl/

Try and appreciate some good work for once. Well done BRF.

SapeleGuy:
Bizarrely, I seem to have upset you with the use of the word outlandish.

You can choose to pretend that the Nigerian navy or customs don't exist or that armed forces officials have not been implicated. You will probably also tell us that you did not hear how a 6500 metric tonne vessel African Pride full of crude disappeared right under the noses of our Navy or how 3 rear admirals were sacked.

The most important thing about environmental damage, is stopping the damage. Baruwa, a community in Lagos state is suffering from the neglect of the pipelines. Perhaps only Baruwa has bad pipelines and the ones in the Niger Delta are pristine.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/09/02/oil-pollution-community-cries-out-for-help/comment-page-1/?wpmp_switcher=mobile

Oil is not the only source of damage.

“The flares pump 400 million tons of CO2 annually into the atmosphere. 13% of the gas flared in the world comes from Nigeria alone and stands at about 23 billion cubic meters per year. This quantity is enough to meet Nigeria’s energy needs and leave a healthy balance for export. Through this obnoxious act; the country has lost about $72 billion in revenues for the period 1970-2006 or about $2.5 billion annually.3 All these go up in smoke yearly, leaving death and destruction in its path “. Nnimmo Bassey – ERA.

How can you people, in all conscience argue that gas flaring can be stopped by locals? Now that is outlandish.

The hard facts are Nigerians regardless of where they come from should stand in solidarity and come together to fight this menace instead of fighting one another.

Facts. Pure Facts.

That is not an 05 Accord. It's 03.

Deep Soul,
Come online on yahoo. Lets talk. We've discussed this several times, remember? I'm waiting - not for long though, I'm at work.

@ larez,
Gaskia!

[quote author=na_so link=topic=525300.msg6877975#msg6877975 date=1286268523]Azazi has been head of DMI,Chief of army staff, chief of defence staff and you say he is not qualified to be NSA?

Yes we know these are trying times for the presidency, but if you know what happened to GEJ during the sick UMYA days and when UMYA was flown in, and all the plans lined up to nail GEJ, you will come to agree that these times are not really more difficult than the ones GEJ has seen.

Some people want to harrass GEJ, and he is set to hshow them that he is the C-in-C. Nothing dey happen, forget all this mallam gragra.[/quote]Idupaul, can you please reply? Give us a concrete reason to disqualify Azazi as NSA, now - OR forever remain silent.

Dede1:
Anybody who doubts the divisiveness of Nigeria or attempts to deny apparent distinctiveness of Nigeria based on ethnical landmark, culture, food, language and even the clothe Nigerians wear is a redundant fool. I appreciate such article because it uncovers the unpardonable error in judgment committed by some of our forbearers. Unfortunately, the new generations of Nigerians are drunk on blunders of yesteryears.

British created Nigeria for the sole economic interest of colonial masters. Nigeria as presently configured will never see progress as found in most developed or developing countries.

The socio-politico-economic progress that comes natural to nations of the world and cherished by their inhabitants will not flourish in the colonial contraption called Nigeria until it is deconstructed to usher true sense of nationalism and healthy competition borne out of mutual respect among nation-states that will emerge.

It is said that “a fool at forty may remain a fool for ever”. Nigerians can not continue to wallow in the junk erected for them by colonial masters who did not have the interest of the inhabitants in their mind during the construction

No wonder nobody seems to respect most Africans in general and Nigerians in particular because of boastful noises they generate and yet live under the junk constructed by people who disdained them.

I think you're a bit harsh on the Brits. Humans generally do all within their powers to survive - including the Brits. And just as the North, West and East guys are still ''colonising'' us today, the Brits did their colonisation with some human face, at least. They were ready to trade with our fathers - do legitimate business and pay for services. And even if they did not do that with every sense of honesty, the way they went about it portray them as people who will not molest less exposed and educated people. I can imagine how difficult it must have been for them to communicate and then trade with our forebears back in the 19th century when they first landed on our shores. Their coming brought with them medicine for treating ailments which our voodoo priests at the time could not cure. They also came with education and decent ways of doing things. Let us all appreciate them for these.

You should try and put yourself in their position before lashing out hard on them the way you have done.

Their coming to our shores did not bring evil all the way. Your entry in here is written in English (their language) - at least thank them for letting the world know that you exist somewhere on planet earth - on the dark continent.


It is now left to us all as different ethnic nationalities to derive some good in our differences. Let us all leverage on the diverse nature of our cultures to build a prosperous society that will be the envy of all other nations - the way GEJ put it that time.

[quote author=ndu_chucks link=topic=519780.msg6829383#msg6829383 date=1285585328]Please educate these people. Onlytruth should change his name to Onlylie or OnlyIgnorance. olodo.[/quote]Wetin 'consign' you? Leave the Igbo alone. At least we're closer to them than you guys up north. We stand a better chance with them than you parasitic lot.

Onlytruth:
ono is from Edo, and frankly, to think that an Edo guy has more in common with a Rivers or Calabar or Akwa Ibom person than an Igbo guy is silly and self deceiving.

Yes, I believe that "South south" will not survive a properly configured Nigeria. What I suspect may happen are these:

Option 1: Old East  (very possible)
Option 2: East comprising Anioma, Rivers, and current South east. (very possible and even likely)
Option 3: Calabar region for Calabar/Akwa Ibom; Eastern region comprising South east, Anioma and Rivers state; separate Ijawland region; Edo/Delta region. (Even more possible).

In any case, current South south is actually THREE regions in one. It is not stable by any measure.

Time will tell. But for the present, please live with it. 

Any iota of doubt I had as per the unity of the south-south geopolitical region evaporated with the actions taken by the reps of the region at the time OBJ was President. He had invited the people from the six geopolitical zone for discussions around the issue of derivation. Reps from the SS - from Edo to Cross River, with Clark leading the pack, I guess, left the venue of the conference when they could not get what they want. Even your so-called Igbo brothers from Rivers State left the conference and united with their people from other states in the South South region.

When push turns to shove, it isn't ethnic affinity that weill determine where the pendulum will shift, when we talk about geopolitics. It is what each region stands to benefit for the good of their poeple.

I was with one Igwe the other day. The Igwe of Adiai in Rivers State. He showed me how himself and his entourage left for Benin to pay homage to the Oba. The Oba and his chiefs took him to his ancestral quarters in Benin - Adiai-Ogbe and showed him facts about his origin.

What I'm trying to bring out here is that because a place is ruled by an ''Igwe/Obi'' does not automatically translate to they having Igbo lineage or origins. The Igwe told me they're more of Bini than Igbo - and everyone knows that. The Obi of Owa in Delta State has his roots deeply steeped in Bini. So also are most of the Ovies and other Kings in a lot of the parts of the Niger Delta. The Igbo should stop thinking that because they're closer to these people and they bear their names and kingship titles, they are their people.

MaziUche0:
That is what you think. When Nigeria DOES break up, and it will, the term "South-South" will be no more. Western Nigeria and Eastern Nigeria will reclaim its lost territory.

Hmnn. . . . Until we break up, please know that the term (geopolitical entity actually) ''South South'' will remain and have a place in Nigeria's geopolitics and will continue to play a major role in the country's politics.


And when we break up, rest assured that we will remain one indivisible ''country'' - that cannot be influenced in any way by the whims of her neighbours.

MaziUche0:
We need to get rid of this term, the "South-South." It makes me sick.

Too late. You will have to live with that ''term'' now - for it has come to stay.

Jakumo:
Beaf you are pray for me to stop posting my map. God will not answer this pray, since it is not approve by me, and is NOT show on MAP. This is how people are disturb me sometimes, but I will not mind them, since I am change my IP address every day for Seun. Do you know Seun is pretend he is not Ibo man ? But I know his trick, and he will see me again with another new name by tomorrow morning.

Let me ask you, how many Yoruba is in Kogi State ? This is how Hausa people are control you with pepperganda, and you don't know. SEE MAP Look at Benin Republic, and SEE MAP of how they are now take over Nairaland, together with Ibo people who do not understand Mapology and Electricity Engineering.

I am try to warn you, but you are laugh and close eye like person who cannot read map, and telling me to stop conversation with all my different Nairaland name, but I will NOT stop, because they are all ambassador of BECOMERICHISM who can guide us all to Benin Republic. I provide work and employment for many Benin people visiting Canada, and I also attend school with many politician and soldier in Nigeria, before the King of Canada call me here to do Electricity Engineer Seminar and educate people to do and undo.

My wife is shout on me to come and do sexy sexy for her, so I will come back with more map later. Thank you.

I fell off my chair. . . . . .

Time to leave ''4 squared'' church.

How about him pairing up with Ibori? - Not that I like the three of em, but I honestly would live with 100 Iboris than one Odili - anyday!

Is Ibori still a freeman or not?

August 2010. Ibori is still a free man.

Interesting, Chxta is back?

Kai!!!

I'm speechless.

Nice analysis. Time they say, will reveal all things.

Guys,
It's good to ask for good things from our leaders and make them accountable and all. But let us give thanks for little mercies. Things are really bad out there and when we see some improvement in a state like Delta - which was written off as one of the worst state in the country in the not too distant past, then we have every cause to thank God for the ''little development'' we've witnessed.

It is not easy.

Men!! Tex, you read my mind.

Igbo boy, you must be seeing stars already.

justdtruth,
Our problems indeed are hydra-headed. I have come to realise that the ''corruption'' problem is now systemic - e don spread round everywhere for the land. There must be some kind of serious purging of the Nigerian system of govt and leadership to effect any tangible change. At this point in the history of our country, many guys are just living one day at a time. You don't go making trouble when there isn't anything to derive from it. E go hard o!

What the women in Escravos did is fully supported. How else will they voice out their grievances?! Their local govt, council and state govt knows how to ''deal with them'' if they ''yab''. These foreigners hardly know how to ''catch them''. They have watched the BP wahala at the GOM and decided to adopt this present strategy - hopefully they can scoop some gains from this.

On a different note, I watched on Histrory channel yesterday where it was shown (scientifically and otherwise) that the world might come to an end on 21st December, 2012. It was hard for me to believe it, but, well. So why bother your head over flimsy things like this when there is a bigger cataclysmic event of planet wide proportion to at least, think about?. The story around the destruction of the world is hinged on the widespread decadence that's all over the world - including the ones we're witnessing in Naija at the moment. The Earth, I gathered, will weather the storm. But mankind, will be hard hit. People will die in billions. Anyone who survives will live to die another day.

The whole tory dey smell of fish.

Beaf:
Rich, coming from an IBB lover.

How did you know this! Wow! How long have you been on NL to know BigB1 is a die hard IBB fan. The guy rarely come around these days- just like me. But I have known him a long while. You must have been reading his posts then.

It was British Petroleum. I'm told it's now just BP.

@Beaf.

Well done brother - for holding the fort. That I do not frequent this site again does not mean the issues staring us in the face in the ND cannot be discussed anymore. It's interesting how the ND issues keeps popping up again and again on NL. Every bit of what you stated in here (which are in every sense statements of facts) have been discussed years back - back in the days myself, Owo and other true sons of the ND ''roam'' NL to get our voice heard. I'm not going extinct sha - like the dinos  . Keep that flag flying.

They (other Nigerians) cannot see any sense in the fact that the present arrangement in the country does not favour the well being and development of the average Niger Deltan. What have the ND benefitted (compared to what we now see elsewhere in Abuja that was a savannah grassland 20 years ago) from the present parasitic arrangement since Oloibiri-1 was drilled, completed and hooked up for production in 1958? Is it the peanuts doled out to very hungry and famished people that they're arguing about?
They talk ill of the ''leaders'' in our areas. Why can't they take away the log in their eyes first before pointing at the other person's ailment? Aren't their leaders the masterminds of stealing, corruption, nepotism, tribalism and all the ills that's going to bring this country to its knees?

I'm tired jare. I will just repeat all I've said in the past. No sense wasting precious time and energy now. That time will come when we will all look at these issues - cos I know that every right thinking person knows what's good and right for us to do to move on in peace, and address them.

chaircover:
No way will the money be worth the wahala that will happen afterwards.

I have been following your posts on this matter. Keep them coming. We men sweet-talk a lot and many women - including married ones, fall yakata at the 'strenght' of a sweet-talking, romantic guy. Be not deceived, you're playing with fire if you meet your wealthy ex for financial help - even with the consent of your husband!

Spiritual things are not meant for the carnal minds. And the things which humans claim they ''see'' in the ''physical'' are basically the end product of what's going on/has happened in the spiritual realm. Humans generally can't really see - except the ones who's been to where I have been.

I've been there and back. Do not ask me.