By Alan Sorensen
Havre police are reminding area residents of an on-going scam reportedly originating in Nigeria.
In the latest instance reported to police, personnel at a Havre law office submitted a letter addressed to the office that was dated June 11.
The letter, according to police, is similar to others reported by Havre residents in recent years. In this particular letter, a person identifying himself as Dr. Aba Hameed in Lagos, Nigeria, purports to have won an award from a petroleum company. Dr. Hameed goes on to say in the letter that the Havre law firm has become a beneficiary of the award.
The letter asks for bank account information, numbers, swift codes for account access an private telephone and fax numbers, so the "benefit" can be automatically deposited in the law firm's account.
Police contend that the letter is an obvious case of fraud and the information requested by "Dr. Hameed" is for his own personal gain.
"I telephoned our local FBI office and spoke to an agent about this letter," Havre police Capt. Mike Barthel said. "I was told that the letters have continued to arrive in the U.S. from the East Coast to the West Coast and the bureau is continuing to treat these cases as fraud investigations."
Barthel said the letter to the Havre law firm will be kept on file for future reference.
