A few days ago, one of my friends received a sms with the
message:
You've stuck 1st prize with a prize money of SGD 200,000 cash. The
sms came
with a contact no. My friend ignored it since he had heard of too
many bogus scams
using similar tactics.
After a short while his handphone rang, a Miss Fang asked: "Sir
have you
received a sms telling you that you've struck 1st prize?"
My friend answered: "Yes, I have"
Miss Fang: "Please let us have your bank account number so that we
can
deposit the money into your account."
My friend thought, why not, let's see what you can do. Hence, he
gave her his accound number.
Ten minutes later, my friend's handphone started ringing
again.
Miss Fang said: "Sir, we have deposited your prize money into
your
account, please check and verify."
My friend checked using his handphone and found that SGD
200,000 was
really deposited into his account. He was euphoric, just like that
and he's
SGD 200,000 richer!
30 minutes later, Miss Fang called again. She was crying: "I'm
sorry
sir, I made a mistake, I forgot to deduct the tax before I
deposited the
prize money, 20% of SGD 200,000 equals to SGD 40,000. Now the
company
wants me to reimburse the money. Can you please return the SGD
40,000
tax? I beg you."
My friend thought for a while and felt pity for the lady. Thinking
of
the money in his bank account, he went to the
bank.
Not
wanting to let anyone know about the winning, and also, or to
create any fuss since he got still got SGD 160,000 after
giving back the 20%, he got down the bank account number from her
which he would transfer the SGD 40,000
He went home, thinking of the money which he can spend. wow, a
total of 160,000 out from no where.
The Second Day, he went to the
ATM machine and wanted to draw out some Cash.
The ATM showing SGD
100.
Before
my friend left for home on that day, the cheque was actually
cancelled. Even though the cheque
was deposited but the actual amount of money can't be transfered
into his account on the same day. If the other party decided
to
cancel the cheque, then he'll not get this SGD
200,000.
He
realised he have been scammed... it's all too late...