Nigerian Money Scams: PERFECT Example of Man's Evil Behavior

In August 2014, I became totally disenchanted & untrusting of humanity, and people who assume roles to “Serve Others”. That may be the definition of the job that employs them; however, many, if not most, of these “service” providers no longer (or never did) have their hearts into the work they do. As I've written before, mankind has been infiltrated by Satan's ways and evil by assuming the “ME” mentality: “I seek to fulfill MY personal needs and agendas, FIRST, and if I have time or energy left, MIGHT be willing to consider helping my fellow man who needs my expertise or support.”

This constant behavior by my fellow man became so unforgiving that I seriously contemplated suicide in August, because I could not be a part of a society that thought and behaved this way. I'd rather go home to my heavenly Father, whom I KNOW listens, loves, and cares about me. He has been the ONLY available entity that I could constantly pour my heart out to because of the frustrations due to living in a sea of dysfunction, insincerity, & irrationality. Seemed like the harder I tried to follow mans' rules, and just be “accepted” for ME, and what I've been blessed with to share, unconditionally, the greater rejection and trouble I encountered. Human beings love to “play God” and make countless rules to control other's lives and everything on the planet, but see themselves as above the law, unwilling to follow the very rules they create.

Instead of taking my life, God showed me the way to an alternative protest for all the dysfunction around me. Thus, the Hunger Strike I began on August 21^st. I was able to stick with this Striking fast of liquids and gelatin for just a little over 45 days; however, unlike most Hunger Striking protesters, I'm not incarcerated nor lead a sedentary, simple life. Also, they are usually protesting environmental conditions in a localized setting. My protest was global, and against ALL evil & hatred possessed by man (>75% of global population). This act lifted most of the stress weighing down my shoulders. I totally allowed God to take direction of my life. I became accepting of any and all encounters in my daily life/routine, because I saw it as His will and direction. This worked for about 25-30 days, until I allowed human kind to be a greater influence on my thoughts and actions than God, who gave me a way and reason to not give up, just yet.

By early September, I was seriously looking towards homelessness. Sure, many “friends” and people around me expressed deep(?) concern over this potential outcome of my financial situation. A few went out of their way to help find a way to keep that from happening. What they didn't realize or understand was that I am a survivor who has experienced homelessness twice in the last 10 years. I held NO FEAR about the future, should I actually become homeless, but was more concerned about the welfare of my 2 therapy, companion cats, and their well-being/care should I end up homeless. I didn't have a pet, let alone 2, during my prior homelessness. They ARE my only close family. Until God's direction presented itself to me, it was ONLY concern for Pooky and Buddy who kept me from taking my life before the 21^st.

I obtained a telecommute job via Boulder Craigslist on Sept. 8, 2014, from a guy ID'd as Brent Hills out of Reno, NV, to type "Payroll Checks" from home. He had me download ezCheck software, and trained me to use it via “email & text messaging”. He emailed me ALL the checking account info, along with names, addresses, even some phone numbers, for the individuals I was to “write” checks for. Friends whom I told about this job immediately warned me about it being a scam, as so much of those who now use Craigslist are crooks and scammers. Its innocence & original intent has been lost, for the most part, as “free enterprise” entices and breeds evil because of that original innocence. It's these innocent opportunities, which create the perfect pool of victims for wicked, evil doers.

In my lifetime, I had tried my hand at various freelance (pyramid-type) marketing enterprises; however, my social ineptness, as an Aspie, prevented me from having much success. You must be a social dynamo to really succeed. This is NOT inbred or natural behavior for a person with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. I even tried mimicking those I saw as successful. Aspies are great at mimicking what we observe, but that kind of behavior is difficult to assume full-time for any extended period. It becomes too physically demanding on our entire being. I figured I was writing quarterly bonus checks to a person's down-line group. Many of these up-line salespeople operate as a business, and their down-line can live all over the country, or world. The bigger organizations like Amway and Xango send out all member bonus rewards, so figured these were smaller freelance businesses I wasn't familiar with.

I'm getting distracted here. Any way, I tried to be optimistic, and give (Brent) the benefit of the doubt about the job responsibilities I was given. I was told this job would encompass one day a week (Sunday) to do the checks, which would be mailed Monday morning. It would pay $400/mo ($200 every other week), and reimburse me for any out-of-pocket expenses. I was told I'd be paid via MoneyGram or Western Union. As my sister told me, desperate people do desperate things. I saw this job as a Godsend and way to avoid homelessness, because the legitimate job applications I submitted, locally, generated no contacts, interviews, nor offers. I had been looking for work since July when financing by an early draw start on my retirement pension was refused (though informed that it could occur once I turned 59-1/2). I moved to the retirement community I now live in back in April based on this (unconfirmed) promise made by my financial adviser. I “trusted” them to know what they were telling me. Besides, I was trying to pack and plan a move in less than 30 days, and had my mother, in California, suddenly pass away in this middle of my moving. Besides, I had way too much to worry about in solely preparing for my move, than try to contact my annuity company to verify what I was told.

Back to the illegitimate job... Only 2 of the lists I wrote checks for, came to me on Sunday. This became a major frustration and inconvenience. I took the job specifically because time wouldn't be required of me except primarily on Sunday. However, like any “good” employee, I put my energies into performing the job when and as asked, once we collaborated on a basic scheduling agreement. I was just thankful to have a job that gave me flexibility and an extra income to get caught up with current/recent debts. I had been trying for two months+ to sell some of my art and craft sewing. Heck, I didn't even have the $35-40 to spare to join the Longmont Art community, which would have given me an opportunity to publicly display my art and possibly sell something.

The first caution (yellow) flag went up after 2 weeks, when I got paid for the first time. I got a wire transfer on pay day as promised, but wasn't reimbursed for all the start-up expenses (purchase of blank, secure check paper & full sheet, printer, mailing labels). I was reimbursed only half of my expenses, which I had to spend for the job and not pay HMO health premium that month, making me now 3 months behind with my Medicare HMO. That wasn't what really raised the flag, though. It was the fact that the wire transfer did not come from a business or even (Brent Hills), in Reno, NV. It was wired by a woman on other side of the U.S. in Hartwell, GA! Figured, she was probably one of his clients (little did I know). That flag came down when next pay check was wired from same person.

Caution flag went back up when (Brent) refused to give me adequate explanation as to why I was not being expected to sign a bank account signature card on the accounts I was (hand) writing the checks off of. I've had several businesses of my own and was treasurer for 5 years for a non-profit. Each and EVERY account I wrote checks on REQUIRED signature cards on record for all the signers on the account(s). Until the last batch of checks I was requested to write, NEVER was the same company, account or bank used. A second yellow flag went up the pole after about 3 weeks and writing about 100 checks. ALL those voucher checks (except 2 or 3 out of 100) ended in even $100 or $50 amounts, and ranged between $900 and $3950. I considered this quite “odd” that the dollar amounts didn't have cents or a variety of different, odd dollar amounts. I was never asked to do a funds voucher breakdown or show taxes. The apportionment of funds was more questioning than income taxes, because these kinds of independent salespeople are responsible for reporting their own income and making estimated payments to the IRS.

The first RED flag was raised AND an alarm went off 4 weeks into the job when he asked if I'd like to make some extra money. He found me “intelligent and trustworthy”. I could make a fast $50, cash, for every wire transfer I took receipt of then turned around and wired to another person in Nigeria. As mentioned in the beginning, I was desperate, even though my suspicions went over the top. I told him I'd heard about Nigerian money scams and didn't want to have any part if that's what this was... Of course, he reassured me this was nothing like that. Figured I feel him out and even lead him along to see what this was really all about. I've been a member of InfraGard and gone through CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) anti-terrorism training, so have heard about many of the (Nigerian) scams making the rounds out there, some even tried to lure me in, but I didn't take the bait to send my hard earned money. This one caught me off guard by involving me as an employee (participatory member) with those doing the scamming. I played along to obtain a complete understanding of the process, and didn't have to think twice about going to the legal authorities if it turned out to be internationals scamming American citizens.

Info I have about Brent Hills is: 14855 Pyramid Hwy, Reno, NV 89510; phone (321)222-0075, mobile phone is (775) 476-8310; Email = helpdneedy456@gmail.com & Yahoo IM = indyman445. Not really sure of his physical location from information given. I NEVER even spoke to him on the phone, and said he was too busy to even Skype. I did receive LOTS of (annoying) texts, calls, email & IM from numbers & online addresses above. My suspicion is that this is all stolen information, and phones are spoofed, and this guy identifying himself as (Brent Hills), actually lives in Lagos or Ibadan, Nigeria, since this is where I was instructed to wire the funds. His name isn't even (Brent Hills) or “John Newman”, the name he gave me to use for the Nigerian wire transfers, since another (first) name he gave me was flagged as “suspect” by Western Union. As it turns out, the funds wired to me came from individuals whom I wrote counterfeit checks to, who followed the directions of the deceitful scammer requesting them to wire some of those funds to me (another U.S. Citizen living in the country), who then, unsuspectingly to them, wired their money to Nigeria.

Long story short, I took this job out of desperation, as a 59 y.o. Autistic Savant on SSDI, who was facing eviction and homelessness prior to getting the job. I pray my comprehensive record keeping and surrender to authorities will keep me out of prison, cuz it's MY signature on over $693,000 in counterfeit checks. I have also retained EVERY text message sent to my smartfone and IM's received via Yahoo messaging that can be made available to authorities, if needed. My concern is, (Brent) has a digital image of my signature AND current driver's license (though it expires in December 2014), and address on my MVR is void (since I moved several times since 2006 & not yet changed with DMV).

I have reported this scam to the FBI, Secret Service, District Attorney, Colorado Attorney General's office, Longmont PD, and filed IC3 and FTC tip/complaint forms. Since he lives in Nigeria, about the only way to pursue him is via international postal fraud. Even though all the checks were mailed by me in Longmont, CO, and sent only to U.S. addresses, the “employer” was located outside of the U.S. He gave me my instructions, including the list of recipients, and HE emailed me the priority mail postage, fraudulently purchased by him, from his location in Nigeria; committing “International Mail Fraud”.

What irks me is that I was contacted during this 6 weeks by another international scam, by people saying I was selected to receive a U.S. Federal Grant (free money) because I regularly filed my tax returns and paid my bills. This immediately screamed SCAM, because I still owe the IRS the last 3 years of tax returns and have debts going back to 2005, along with not being current with some medical bills, my premiums, and behind on my Verizon account.

None of the money in these transactions is mine nor attached to my own personal accounts. I have been paid/reimbursed for any earnings and out-of-pocket expenses to date, via cash (thank goodness), but was harassed by (Brent's) persistence in trying to contact me since failing to mail the last batch of checks. I was informed about the kinds of threats these scammers have used to try to get any outstanding money they feel owed or convince (scare) someone to keep working for them. Most importantly, when I realized he lives 18 hours and a continent away, all intimidation was removed. Besides, my credit is in the toilet, already, so identity theft to gain credit would be of little help. However, him having a copy of my driver's license could allow him to take my info to use as a new identity for the next unsuspecting victim who falls prey to his scam.

Losing this $400/mo. is a real hardship for me, but I did start a legit job @ Walgreen's just the end of October; however, I've already had to request special scheduling accommodations, which prevent working the needed hours to replace the lost $400. I've not worked retail since 1996. This was before the physical deterioration of my body, aging 20 years, plus two knee replacements and disintegrating spine housing a spinal column stimulator implant. I can't stand, move and lift things for the long periods, required, which I was able to do at age 40. Verizon suspended my service once, already, then didn't follow my authorization, correctly, for payment on the account (tried debiting my account 2 times, with first being 10 days before authorized). Don't get me started on the idiocy possessed by service companies who refuse to adequately train AND hire the proper staff to interface with their customers!!! That will be covered in another, separate blog post.

Joel Osteen's message, this morning, mentioned that to receive God's mercy and glory, you must experience valleys of darkness along your life's journey. These make you stronger, create character, and appreciation for the promises of goodness and life everlasting God makes available to every living human. Problem is, too many give up too soon, don't have the faith and trust that God will see you through these dark times. I know, I've been there until God plucked me from actual death, proving He had a greater purpose for me and my life's mission. Believe me, when I tell people my life's story, they are amazed about how much “crap” I've been hit with, yet still come out a survivor trying to bring a positive influence to humanity. Even though I didn't learn about my autism for over 50 years, it became the hard, emotionless, outer shell that protected me from loss and all the wickedness surrounding me earlier in life.

God is GREAT! I feel even this negative victimization by this Nigerian money laundering scam gave me the kind of dedicated and detailed information to use as a “real life” example about all the evil and wicked behavior infiltrating the globe. Funny thing is, the guy who is responsible for this scam, professes to believe in God and (follow?) Jesus' teachings. Just accepting and believing in God and the gentile Savior, Jesus, is not your ticket to everlasting life. You must exert considerable effort in your daily living to “LIVE” by the teachings and rules Jesus gave us to become truly saved. The “IN” thing amongst human kind is to say you're a Christian, believe in God, and pray (for others). Problem is, >90% of these people DO NOT “walk the talk”. You're still a “lost soul” until your HEART (not head) performs the deeds your mouth speaks.

WAKE UP WORLD!!! God is trying to express His frustrations, discontent, & anger with mankind's behavior. Case in point is all the “natural disasters/events” occurring over the last 18 months (floods, droughts, volcanoes, earthquakes, other climatic events/changes, and pestilence [Ebola & U.S. childhood respiratory influenza]) than during any other such “continuous” period in the past 1000 years. Just this past year, Nelson Mandela, one of the angels spoken of in the Book of Revelation went home to the Creator and sounded the 5^th trumpet; the antichrist is amongst us NOW, priming his flock and receiving directions from Satan. Odds are, he is not planning or expecting to become the antichrist, but has been marked by Satan to become the leader of the new world order, leading us into the Tribulation, which will begin when the 6^th angel (2 remain alive today) dies and blows their trumpet. A small tip, from God, about the antichrist (& prophecy)...he will NOT be Muslim, Jewish or Islamic, but a prominent, leader of billions of Christians around the globe.

I am not anticipating that the U.S. Justice system will be able to do much to capture the perpetrator in my scam, and that's why I am coming forth and telling the world about by experience. Since (Brent), finally, determined I was uninterested in continuing to work in his scam (& I confronted him with the info I KNEW he was scamming & victimizing others), I'm sure he has reposted my position, on Craigslist, for another desperate job seeker to fall prey to. Be overly cautious about ALL telecommuting jobs posted on Craigslist; especially, if offerer is unwilling to have any kind of visual or telephone conversation with you!

I'm asking you (especially needy and vulnerable Americans) to NOT live with $dollar$ signs clouding your intelligence. You DON'T have to feel stupid or embarrassed to refuse any unsolicited offer presented to you for (unearned) financial gain from total strangers. ALWAYS verify any financial solicitations received by phone or mail before agreeing to anything, especially if you receive an unsolicited check in the mail; someone contacts you saying it was a mistake; and they want you to wire “some” of the money back (allowing you to keep the rest once you've deposited [the counterfeit check] in the bank “for your trouble”).

I am making myself available to speak or write about this experience to anyone interested and willing to listen. I was duped, out of desperation, and know thousands of others have been victimized as a result of the counterfeit checks I unknowingly wrote to you. My heartfelt apologies. I certainly don't have the money to repay your loss or compensate for your heartache. My intent was never to take a job that would hurt or victimize another human being; and my guilt over the desperation that caused me to be victimized as an active participant in this scam has scarred me; however, I've accepted it as one of those dark valleys in my life, and want to rise above it by turning it into a positive that will inform and, hopefully, prevent others from becoming new or repeat victims. Evil is rampant all around us, please don't allow it to consume YOU!