SCAM SCAM SCAM

The Nigerian 419 scammers and fake reviewers want to steal your money

A new comment on the blog post Dr Stephen Mak a Fraud is indicative of a long list of comments placed by suspected professional comment creators. Sometimes the comments come directly from the scammers who stands to profit from the foolishness of people who are desperate for money and/or magic cures.

Professional commenting and reviewing has grown into a whole new and lucrative industry. The products and services include magic cures (especially herbal or natural cures), financial services, hotels, electronic products, psychic services and a host of other often dubious products and services.

The Nigerian scam has been around for decades and originated long before the internet. But here is a recent version:

Please send money to help this Nigerian astronaut get home from his secret space mission. He needs $3 million.

The new comment on Dr Stephen Mak a Fraud (37,000 readers) is supposedly from Susan Malila, Dallas, Texas, who does not surface in any Google search other than for the same comment which appeared on numerous sites on the same day. Here is her comment exactly as it was written:

The photo accompanying the comment
by Susan Malila. But it could be a photo
of anyone

I am Susan Malila from Dallas Texas, United States.i have been living in pains for the past 2 years now not until i meet Dr prince who was able to restore my life back with his herbal medicine, i have been HIV positive for the past two years now everyday of my life i cry to God as I was a mother of 2 cute kids who were looking up to me i was still taking my medication from the hospital which cost me a lot, I also did some prayers to God that he should do some miracle in my life,Few Months ago i was browsing on net when I found some good testimonials about Dr prince Herbs, and someone recommended that he has cured Hiv,diabetes,cancer,ulcer,and so many other disease I always had faith that God could use someone to heal me, then I contacted Dr prince and I told him my problems, he told me not to worry that with God all things are possible and also that he was going to prepare for me some herbal herbs which i am to take and he is going to send the medicine to me, well after all the guidance and medication from Dr prince he advice that i go for check up again to see my status result and he assured me of good result, i was afraid at this point cause i never wanted someone to tell me again that i am positive, after 2 days I went to the Hospital for check up and they said the result was to come out by Friday, at 11:00 AM on Friday the Doctor called me and told me that the result was out and I am Negative, I was shocked and could not believe it, I immediately called Dr prince and told him about the good news he told me to rejoice and make sure I share my testimony with my friends and that is why I am doing this right now, friends you can contact Dr prince today on ( dr.princearataabraham@gmail.com)or call him on +2348163241499.

International calling code +234 belongs to Nigeria. Is it possible, or even highly likely, that Dr Prince and Susan Malila are one and the same? A Google search for Dr Prince turned up this:

419 scam email from Dr. Prince Raymond Federal Republic Of Benin Finance Minister .www.887358@axel.ocn.ne.jp western.union74@bk.ru +229-68856789

Originating IP: 41.86.238.6
Originating ISP: Isocel Telecom
City: Cotonou
Country of Origin: Benin

from: western.union <.www.887358@axel.ocn.ne.jp> 
reply-to: "western.union" <western.union74@bk.ru>
to: 
date: Wed, Apr 27, 2016 at 11:34 AM
subject: MTCN Number: 7298423178 
mailed-by: axel.ocn.ne.jp 

FROM THE DESK OF DR. PRINCE RAYMOND.
FINANCIAL MINISTER OF FEDERAL
REPUBLIC OF BENIN,WEST AFRICA
FOREIGN CONTRACTORS PAYMENT OFFICE.
COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC/
ADDRESS/473LEU,DEAKPAKPA ROAD.
Direct:Telephone Number:+229-68856789
Email: (western.union74@bk.ru)

REMITTANCE OF YOUR INHERITANCE FUND OF ($1.5 Million USD) TO YOUR ACCOUNT.

Attention:Dear Customer,

Welcome to Western Union Money Transfer Agent, We wish to inform you that the IMF have release your fund sum of $1,5 million US dollars issued on your name the money was deposited with us in this Office as MTCN credit card, we shall be sending the money to you everyday $5000.00usd until we complete the total payment.

We are very glad to inform you that we have processed  your first payment of $5000.00usd, but bare it in mind that the $5000.00usd will not be given to you except you pay for service charges which is $200, you have to pay the money through our service western union to the information we give you here, then after confirm the payment of $200 from you, we shall release your first $5000.00usd to enable you pick it up and get back to us for the second payment,As you can see here is the MTCN Number of your first payment which we credited for you today, track it with our website: www.westernunion.com, to confirm that your payment is available.

1)Senders Name: Holly Waldon
2)MTCN Number: 7298423178
3)Amount: $5000.00 USD.
Track it with our website: https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=CN or you can call this number to confrim the payment of the MTCN  Tel: 1-800-325-6000

Note that on your reply this massage make sure you send the full information Remember that the full details you can use to pick up this first payment will be send to you once we receive the transfer charge of $200, You have to treat urgent by reconfirming your full information to us immediately you receive this massage to enable us start the process of your payment immediately.

1.Your Full Name...
2.Your Address...
3.Your Tel Number....
4.Occupation.......
5.Country....
6.City.........
7.Age..........

These are the information about your money you can go to any western union to pick up the money, don't forget that you have to settle for the transfer charge before we can give the full information of your first payment of $5000.00 usd we waiting to receive the above information from your so that we can direct you where to send the transfer charge of $200 which is only delay now, Kindly use this information to send the transfer charge.

Receiver Name: EMMA MEZE
Country: Republic Du Benin
City: Cotonou Benin
Country zip code: 00229
Test Question: When?
Test Answer: Urgent.
Amount to send: $200.
Senders Name:.....?
Mtcn Number:......?

We looks forward to receive the transfer charge together with your full information, to enable us release this first $5000.00usd for you to pick it up and get back to us for the second payment ok. Call Tel: +229 68856789
Get Back ASAP.

CONFIDENTIAL NOTICE
This email is intended for the owner of this E-mail Address only and contains privileged and confidential information. If you received this email by error, please delete it from your mail box and notify us immediately for correction. The disclosure of this email to a third party is highly prohibited. Thanks for your understanding.

Yours Faithfully,
Dr. Prince Raymond
Finance Minister,
Federal Republic Of Benin.
Direct:Telephone Number:+229-68856789
E-mail: western.union74@bk.ru

Western Union®
Send Money Worldwide
Registered © 2006 - 2009 Western Union Money Transfer. All Right Reserved.

Dr Prince Raymond is an exceptionally busy Minister of Finmance. Here is another of his scams:

REMITTANCE OF YOUR INHERITANCE FUND OF ($10.8Million USD) TO YOUR ACCOUNT.

Attention:Dear Customer,

Welcome to Western Union Money Transfer Agent, We wish to inform you
that the IMF have release your fund sum of $10,8million US dollars
issued on your name the money was deposited with us in this Office as
MTCN credit card, we shall be sending the money to you everyday
$5000.00usd until we complete the total payment . . .

Readers are warned about the perils of having any dealings whatsoever with anyone called Dr Prince, Stephen Mak or Susan Malila. It is highly likely that all are fakes and scammers.

ILLEGAL TRUCK PARKING

The illegal truck stop that has North Jersey cops at their wit's end

A tractor-trailer parked on the shoulder on I-287 in Mahwah. Local officials say despite their efforts to keep trucks from parking on the highway, truckers still stop night after night.

By Fausto Giovanny Pinto | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com 

MAHWAH — Every night, day after day, hulking tractor-trailers line up here, on the shoulder of I-287, idling for hours at this illegal truck stop.

The drivers come out to smoke as cars whiz past. They stretch and rest on the extra-wide shoulder, just minutes from the New York state line.

Despite tickets, signs and police patrols in the area, the trucks return night after night. Mahwah officials, for their part, say they are at their wit's end with the trucks, and that their efforts to curb what they say is a dangerous situation have proven unsuccessful.

"We come along and move them but an hour later they are back," Mahwah Chief of Police James Batelli said. "We can't continue to allocate resources every night."

Trucks are banned from using the Garden State Parkway north of exit 105, but a reader says he sees them driving on it anyway. What's allow and what's not?

And when confronted, many drivers tell police that they can't drive anymore because they have exceeded the amount of miles they can legally drive in the day, Batelli said.

"If you don't arrive at a truck stop by 1 to 2 p.m. in New York or New Jersey you won't get a spot," Rick Toutges, a truck driver from South Dakota, said Friday at the nearby Pilot truck stop on Route 17. "We can only drive 11 hours a day, and when that's up we can't go anymore because we'll get fined."

Highway America

Kevin Johnson, a trucker from "the great state of Michigan," agreed that it was dangerous to park illegally on the side of an interstate, but also decried the fact that there's very little parking for truckers. 

"Look at where I'm at (now), squeezed in here," Johnson said as his truck stood in a corner of the packed Pilot truck stop. "They need to build more stops."

The shoulder of road where the trucks stop on 287 is particular dangerous due to steep inclines and the merging of the highway from three lanes into two, Batelli said.

He said he would like the shoulder narrowed or removed.

"This is truly a state problem," Batelli said. "I wish the state took more engineering studies of the area."

A spokesman from the state Department of Transportation said the agency has not heard from Mahwah officials about the problem.

"There are a number of private rest stops throughout the state that accommodate truck drivers," said Steve Schapiro, communications director at the DOT. "It's important to remember that it is unlawful to stop on the shoulders of state highways except for emergencies, which makes this a law enforcement issue."

Batelli said State Police routinely patrol the area, but the trucks return soon after they are moved . . . 

For the full article

Fausto Giovanny Pinto may be reached at fpinto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @FGPreporting. 

Peter Blakeborough, a former interstate driver, say truck drivers have three options:

One. They can keep on driving after they have exceeded their legal driving hours, risking a fine, or worse going to sleep at the wheel and killing someone.

Two. They can park illegally when they have run out of hours and failed to fine safe and legal parking, risking another fine and a possible accident.

Three. They can abandon truck driving and let others worry about delivering the goods on time, often to the very people who show no consideration for the welfare of truckers.

It has been clear for many years that governments, federal and state, have no intention to fund adequate parking for interstate trucks. They fail to understand that these drivers do not return to their home depots every night. They are normally on the road for weeks at a time. Many states do provide rest areas close to interstates, but these are few and far between in heavily populated states like New Jersey and New York. In many rest areas trucks are restricted to four hours parking, even though the law requires drivers to rest for ten continuous hours. For truck drivers, whatever they do, they will be damned if they do and damned if they don't.

American truck parking is a shameful fiasco and the main culprit is federal and state governments. For years they have been playing the famous American game called Pass the Buck. It's time the buck stopped.

NEW ZEALAND HOUSING

Voters hold the key to New Zealand’s housing problems

A 1905 Liberal Government
worker's house near Wellington

A 1930's Labour Government state housing street

It's time for New Zealanders to get over their attitude to social housing. New Zealand has had a housing crisis since colonial days. Homelessness and housing deprivation is not new. It has been increasing for at least 150 years.

Numerous governments from the 1890's onward have attempted to overcome housing problems, but with limited success. First there was worker housing early in the twentieth century, followed by state and council housing.

But Kiwis are obsessed with home ownership and refuse to accept that not everyone is able (or wants) to be a home owner. In many developed countries, particularly in Europe, the attitude is different. Social housing is acceptable and carries no stigma, the way it does in New Zealand. In some countries social housing amounts to 25-50% of all housing stock. In New Zealand that figure is less than 5%.

People at the bottom end of the socio-economic ladder have always struggled with housing in New Zealand. They struggle basically because the average Kiwi believes that they should own their own home, or go without. The state shouldn't have to help them. Alternately, Kiwis will say that a state house should be okay only for the very poorest and only until they get established. Then they should make way for someone else.

When New Zealand had state owned banking, insurance, coal-mines, and airlines, why was it okay to use these services, but not okay to use a government house? Doesn't that show a flaw in our thinking?

Successive governments have known about the true state of New Zealand housing for generations, but have been powerless to fix the problem. In the end government can only do what the voters will allow them to do, and the majority of Kiwi voters do not believe in social housing. A few here and there, yes, but 20% of houses throughout the country? A definite no to that. A program to build the required number of houses started by one government would be abandoned by the next government three years later, and before any real benefits were evident.

Housing in New Zealand will change when Kiwis change their thinking.

Like most countries, New Zealand goes through economic cycles and the cycles contribute to the growing numbers of homeless. When the economy booms, people are homeless because they can't afford the high cost of renting or buying. When the economy slumps, they can't afford to buy or rent because they don't enough income.

Typically, in a downturn, people stop building houses because of reduced demand and trades people leave the country or go into other industries. House prices fall, businesses and jobs disappear. But the downturn is always only temporary. Recovery is just around the corner. During these downturns the government has an excellent opportunity to increase the housing stock ready for the next boom, and to keep the tradesmen in the country and working. But most important, it should be houses waiting for people, not people waiting for houses.

Finally, why does the average Kiwi think that state tenants should have to move on when they can afford to buy a house? What is the point? Did the same Kiwis think that people doing business with the old Bank of New Zealand, or State Insurance, or National Airways Corporation, should be restricted to being customers only for a specific time? They didn't, and it makes no sense to limit tenants in social housing. In fact, I believe they should be encouraged to stay for the rest of their days and to treat the house as though it were their own.

But none of this can happen until New Zealanders re-invent their social housing attitudes. Meanwhile, it won't matter who is Minister of Social Housing. That minister will always be unpopular. Can anyone remember a Minister of Housing who was popular? Like the people Paula Bennett would like to help, she is stuck between a rock and a hard place. In New Zealand it will always be a brave minister who takes on housing, until Kiwis change.

 

Minister of Social Housing
Paula Bennett

THE FLAG OR JOHN KEY

Should New Zealand change its flag or its Prime Minister?