My friend's brush with the China Scam. Conclusion.

Some time ago, I wrote [in the forums] that my friend "won" a prize and he was pretty excited about it. I on the other hand was pretty interested to know the ending. Now, neither of us was unduly worried because he don't have the cash to be scammed...

[1]
Gaz (not his real name): blah blah blah, I was called by the manager via an overseas call, so just wanna check with you if you had received the same call.
JW: nopez. This sounds like a very classical case..
Gaz: I also got read before. But they never ask for any money and it sounds authentic.
JW: [laughs] Send them the money!
Gaz: I know la, but I'm just hoping that it's true. Then it'll be 60,000 dollars!
JW: Well, the most sinister thing that can happen is that it's a money laundering syndicate. Don't give them your personal information in case they force you to work for them.

[2]
Gaz: The lady from overseas contacted me, said she's surprised that the transfer hasn't been made
JW: mm hmm...

[3]
Gaz: Well, congratulate me. I just won 60,000 dollars. So all I have to do is to send them 2,000 dollars.
JW: [laughs] So send them the money!

-end


Ok, that's that. Boring. Here's the sequence of the scam, fyi
1. Contact you to go down for some talk. (You prob will refuse)
2. Contact you that in your absence, you won 2nd prize. This will be given by a new Macau casino. If the prize is not claimed, they have to give it to charity, so they would prefer you collect it rather than they go through the hassle of the paperwork. Ask for details like bank account - which you'll give then panic and call cynical friends like myself.
3. Manager from overseas will call you, confirm data once again, cos they aware that there are scams around, so want to assure you (Woah?).
4. Calls to check if you have received the transfer. Express surprise.
5. Calls to check if you have received the transfer. Express surprise.
6. You'll have to pay 2000 SGD to help process the transfer, cos they wanna assure that it goes to you - securely. No, they cannot take it from your prize money as it is a secure transfer.

-end

Hope this helps. I can't believe that people are still falling for scams despite such news being published over and over again.