Mr. Ricardo Giovanni - Foundazion Di Vittorio, Italy - Mr. Paul Walters - Swift Express Courier Service Mr. Ricardo Giovanni emailed me that I was a recipient of a foundation grant from Foundazion Di Vittorio, Italy, gave me my qualificatioin Number and told me to contact Mr. Paul Walters of Swift Express Courier Service of Abuja who was authorized to deliver to me my cash grant of US$500,000. Abuja Internet
It all started when a Mr. Ricardo Giovanni, who claimed to be the Foundation Secretary of Foundazion di Vittorio sent me an email informing me that I was chosen to be a recipient of a cash grant of US$500,000.00. He gave me a Qualification Number which I was to quote whenever I had to correspond with them regarding the grant.
He directed me to contact Mr. Paul Walters of Swift Express Courier of Abuja to claim my prize/grant and so I wrote Mr. Walters the letter. The latter emailed me in return and told me that he was ready to send me a parcel containing documents pertaining to the grant, a Sony Vaio laptop courtesy of Swift Express Courier, and the hard copy of a CHeck worth Pounds 150,000.00. HOwever, he would only send the parcel AFTER I pay the delivery fees ranging from $400+ to $600+ since they will not entertain COD.
I got suspicious because I was wondering why the delivery would commence from Nigeria in Africa and not directly from Italy. I did some background check and found out that there really is a Fondazione di Vittorio in Italy, with a website but no email address. There is also an actual Swift Courier Express based in England with a website also. However, the company used by Mr. Paul Walters was Swift Express Courier and NOT Swift Courier Express.
Owing to these doubts, I decided not to proceed with sending the fees for the delivery. I was warned by Mr. Walters that the deadline for payment of the fees would be 7 days and that I would forfeit the amount if I dont pay within the deadline, and the unclaimed prize would be returned to the Foundation to b e used in the next Cocacola lottery.
however, the results of my background check has raised my suspicions so that I wont proceed with the transaction anymore. This report will serve as a warning to other parties that the Nigerian scam artists have come up with another innovative scam which, on its face, seems to be genuine. Forewarned is forearmed!
Maria
Las Pias City, Kentucky
Philippines
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Genevieve
Houston,Texas,
U.S.A.
Why bother to do a background check--just delete
#2Consumer Comment
Sun, September 09, 2007
I would not bother with a background check, or an initial email!
These are notoriusly a "scam" and if you get these letters, they should just be deleted immediatly, with no further thought!