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Posted: Thursday, 20 August 2009 8:26AM
Power of puppy persuasion luring people into scam
Steve Miller Reporting
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CHICAGO (WBBM) -- The FBI says Internet scammers have turned to the power of puppies to persuade people to surrender their money.
It's a variation on an old scam. The Nigerian scam.
You get an email from somebody who claims to be the heir to a great fortune. They will share that fortune with lucky you, but they need you to do them one favor.
And that favor involves turning over personal information like your bank account number.
This latest scam is from someone who claims to be an American missionary in Africa. A missionary who is doing good work.
The problem is, they took the family's puppies with them to Africa, and, to quote the email, "THE AFRICAN WEATHER IS NOT GOOD FOR THE 2 PUPPIES... WE NEED SOMEONE TO ADOPT THE PUPPIES."
FBI spokeswoman Cynthia Yates says don't believe it.
"They'll prey on others by using puppies to tug on your heartstrings," said Yates.
The traditional scam appeals to people's greed. This scam appeals to people's compassion.
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