HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
CRIMINAL INTELLIGENCE UNIT
DETECTIVE NORMAN KEAMO
PHONE: 961-2248
MAY 24, 2002
MEDIA RELEASE
Police are warning Big Island residents about another scam originating from Nigeria.
This one is in the form of an Internet e-mail letter asking the recipient for his full name and “international passport number for identification.”
In return, the writer promises the recipient he will receive part of $30 million the writer says is deposited in a U.S. bank.
Police warned residents not to disclose their passport number to strangers because it can be used to collect personal information, including checking and saving’s account numbers.
Detective Norman Keamo of the Criminal Intelligence Unit cautioned: “If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”
He advised anyone losing money in such a scam to call the U.S. Secret Service in Honolulu at (808) 541-1912.
Over the past several months, a number of Big Island residents have reported receiving letters or e-mail from Nigeria asking for their bank account numbers or other information that can be used to clear out their bank accounts.
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