NY Inspector General: $117K equipment recovery in international scam
ALBANY -- The New York State Inspector General says his office has recovered more than $117,000 in computer equipment poised to ship to Ghana in an elaborate international scam.
According to IG Joseph Fisch, thieves in the Republic of Ghana ordered computers and cell phones from state contractor Hewlett Packard, using shipping addresses of unwitting citizens in New York -- whom they had often met online on social networking sites -- then had them re-ship the items to Ghana.
The scammers struck a total of six times in the past year, according to IG Fisch, using phony purchase orders and posing as OGS or Civil Service employees to secure the discounted equipment from Hewlett-Packard, then lured average citizens into sending what they were told were legitimate goods to West Africa.
Investigators from the Inspector General's office, OGS and local police were able to reclaim $117,000 in goods in western New York. Those cases included, according to the IG:
• A Kenmore woman in her 40s who was surfing the Web when she met a man who claimed to be an Italian entrepreneur working in Ghana. After she sent him money and a cell phone, he e-mailed her prepaid shipping labels and asked her to forward him 12 computers worth $18,744.
• A 52-year-old Internet chatter from Elmira who met an alleged Illinois widower. The man had 22 computers worth $35,400 delivered to the woman's house and asked her to forward them overseas.
• A 47-year-old Jamestown resident who had donated clothing to a Ghanaian orphanage and suddenly received 16 computers worth $25,000 at her home.
Together with the New York State Office of General Services for nearly a year, the IG's office was able to recover more than $117,000 of $167,000 in stolen equipment before it shipped to Ghana.
The Inspector General said Hewlett Packard is now working with OGS to prevent future thefts. The state was not required to reimburse Hewlett Packard for the fraudulent purchases.
The IG also forwarded his report to the FBI for review and appropriate action.
