ST GEORGE'S, Grenada (CMC):

Police here are reporting that Grenadians have lost millions of dollars in pervasive Nigerian internet scams.

Sergeant Raymond Lockiby of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) said that, in recent times, his department has received growing complaints from persons who have been swindled.

Victims

"You will be amazed at the persons who fall victims to this thing. When they come to us, it's because they would have already lost a lot of money or come to the realisation that they were scammed, and are hopeful that we can retrieve some of the money," he said.

"There is one instance in which a person sent as much as a million dollars and even travelled to England and met with persons in an office to discuss the final plans for receiving the money.

"To them, that sounded so real. But after speaking with someone in England, the person told them that he should check up the address again, only to later realise that the office in which he had the meeting no longer existed."

Communications consultant for the police, Troy Garvey, said the scam often involves persons receiving international money orders for large sums of cash.

"At the same time, the scammer is requesting money be sent to him. However, by the time the cheque is cleared with the bank, the victim will receive a call saying that the account for the postal order doesn't exist or the account is closed, so their money is gone," he added.

Lockiby said the FIU has had to request the services of international police to track down fraudsters.

He advised Grenadians to refrain from replying to either emails or letters by post.