CAMEROONIAN TRIES TO DEFRAUD WITH EMAIL SCAM

Cameroonian fraudster who tried email tricks nabbed in Alawatugoda

A Cameroonian national supposed to be a member of a gang engaged in cheating people of their money by sending email messages was taken into custody by Alawatugoda Police. He had sent email messages to a businessman in Bulugahatenna area in Akurana saying that he was willing to invest in Sri Lanka and that he would select this Muslim national on the promise that the latter would receive US dollars 57 lakhs.

  The email had further stated that if consent is given, the said money would be sent through a representative and that he should be paid US dollars 2500 (Rs.3 lakhs).

  Later he had changed his plans and had told the businessman to bring the money and come to Colombo. The Sri Lankan businessman who had become suspicious had informed the police who the instructed him to act as if he was willing to do so, until the man appeared. Accordingly, the suspect was invited home on the assumption of discussing the deal.

  Though according to earlier arrangements a representative was to arrive, the person who turned up was the Cameroonian himself. The businessman was instructed by the police to engage in conversation with the man. Thus the police was able to nab the man day before yesterday (25) at the house in Udaweliketiya area. The police were able to recover a foreign passport, Rs.3583, 5 Indian rupees, 8 dollars, 2 mobile phones, a black-coloured torchlight, 2 Negombo-Kandy bus tickets, a switch-type knife, a bible, 3 air-tickets and a number of other documents in his possession. The suspect was produced before the Kandy Magistrate yesterday (26).

  Even before this there had been reports of a Cameroonian national who used to 'create' money.