totes's Xombytes

Is the U.S Immigration system broken? Are U.S. citizens finding themselves stuck in bureaucratic red tape? Is the U.S. Immigration system walking a fine line between protecting the nation and infringing on American’s rights?

What is a Romance Scam?

A romance scam essentially occurs when strangers pretend romantic intentions, gain the affection of victims, and then use that good will to gain access to their victims' money/bank account or by getting them to commit financial fraud on their behalf. Most of these scams seem to originate from, and are prevalent in West Africa (especially Nigeria and Ghana) although they are becoming increasingly common in Russia and Eastern Europe. Another emerging region is Thailand and The Philippines or any other country where 'mail order' brides are available.

That is a very good question. I won't attempt to fool you. If you are in the U.S. and your scammer is in Africa, at least for now, the chances are slim that he/she will ever be brought to justice. The FBI and Secret Service have their hands full trying to catch terrorists. If you've contacted them, you've probably received a message thanking you for your information. That is basically all you will receive. However, there are many, many other things you can do! For those who reside outside of the U.S., some countries are more active and aggressive in dealing with these criminals.

Reshipping scams involve the receiving and reshipping of merchandise ordered online, to locations usually overseas. The shipper is an unwilling participant and the merchandise has been paid for with stolen or fraudulent credit cards.