Warning Over African Internet Credit Scam

Illawarra Mercury

Monday May 26, 2008

By MICHELLE HOCTOR

ONE of the region's most successful businesswomen has issued a warning to manufacturers after being targeted in what is believed to be an African internet scam.

Fortunately, Colleen Camarda, managing director of C-Lite Aluminium Windows and Doors, was on to the alleged scammer before suffering any financial loss.

Mrs Camarda said Warilla-based C-Lite was contacted three weeks ago via email by a person claiming to be an American, wanting to order 25 windows totalling $7000 to be shipped to Ghana. Phone contact was made and, after accepting C-Lite's quote, the man provided two credit card numbers to which a $4000 deposit was charged.

"He then asked us to arrange the freight to Ghana," Mrs Camarda said.

"He provided us with the name of a freight company to get a quote from ... He then asked C-Lite to pay the freight charges for him as he had already gone over his monthly limit with them."

It was then that the alarm bells started ringing.

Mrs Camarda said her company had since done some internet research and found details of a scam that was remarkably similar.

In the interim, $4000 is still in the C-Lite account, but Mrs Camarda suspects it won't be there for long.

"If the cards are stolen, I'll be expecting a notice from the banks, asking for the money to be returned," she said.

© 2008 Illawarra Mercury

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