FraudNews
11-10-2011, 10:06 AM
The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) have renewed their efforts to alert residents regarding a “black money scam” that targets residents of Hawaii after a recent bomb scare at a downtown storage locker.
A spokesman with the agency said a tip came in on Friday regarding two questionable men who had rented a storage locker in Honolulu and stored to suitcases in them. The men claimed they were from Liberia, an African nation and now the FBI wants to question them about their connections to the possible scam.
The FBI, in conjunction with Honolulu fire and police departments, investigated the locker and found no dangerous materials or explosives inside. The FBI acquired a search warrant to look through the bags’ contents. When agents opened them, they were loaded with 120 pounds, money-sized black construction paper. Tom Simon, FBI Special Agent, said one hairdryer, iodine, Vitamin C and empty glass vials were also found in the suitcases.
Simon said these are materials linked to the scam. It involves scam artists asking their victims for money to buy the chemical that will remove black dye from American currency that’s smuggled from Africa, which is nothing more than black paper. Simon said it’s not known what their intentions were.
Approximately four months ago, the FBI got a tip that people on Oahu were trying this scam. He said the agency is unaware of victims losing money and are interested in talking with Hawaii residents who have been a victim of the scam.
The FBI has images of the suspects from the storage facility surveillance and want to question them.
A spokesman with the agency said a tip came in on Friday regarding two questionable men who had rented a storage locker in Honolulu and stored to suitcases in them. The men claimed they were from Liberia, an African nation and now the FBI wants to question them about their connections to the possible scam.
The FBI, in conjunction with Honolulu fire and police departments, investigated the locker and found no dangerous materials or explosives inside. The FBI acquired a search warrant to look through the bags’ contents. When agents opened them, they were loaded with 120 pounds, money-sized black construction paper. Tom Simon, FBI Special Agent, said one hairdryer, iodine, Vitamin C and empty glass vials were also found in the suitcases.
Simon said these are materials linked to the scam. It involves scam artists asking their victims for money to buy the chemical that will remove black dye from American currency that’s smuggled from Africa, which is nothing more than black paper. Simon said it’s not known what their intentions were.
Approximately four months ago, the FBI got a tip that people on Oahu were trying this scam. He said the agency is unaware of victims losing money and are interested in talking with Hawaii residents who have been a victim of the scam.
The FBI has images of the suspects from the storage facility surveillance and want to question them.