HOLLIS Clifton was at his San Fernando home on February 2. But his friends on his Yahoo e-mail list received correspondence from him, informing them that he was robbed of his valuables and stranded in Nigeria-almost 400 miles away.
Clifton, a former schoolteacher, told the Express on Monday that he began receiving calls the following day from friends who were concerned about his welfare.
He is just one of a growing number of people who have fallen victim to on-line identity theft.
Last December actress Penelope Spencer and lecturer at the College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr Yvonne Bobb, were victims of the scam.
The e-mail involving Clifton read in part: "I am sorry I did not inform you about my travelling for a missionary programme. It is currently held in Nigeria, Austria and South Africa. I am presently in Nigeria. It has been a very sad and bad moment for me because I got robbed on my way to the hotel where I lodged. My ID, credit card, cash and other valuables I have (sic) with me got stolen. I contacted the embassy here to help me out but it will take some time to get back to me."
The writer of the e-mail asked for financial assistance in the sum of $2,500 to cover his hotel bills and to purchase a ticket to return home.
"I got calls from Botswana where I lived for sometime, New York, Trinidad and even Cuba and Australia," Clifton said.
"One girl actually went to Western Union and paid $1,000."
Clifton said he attempted to access his e-mail account but found himself unable to do so. He then created another account informing his friends that his identity was stolen and that the e-mail should be disregarded.
Clifton, a former schoolteacher, told the Express on Monday that he began receiving calls the following day from friends who were concerned about his welfare.
He is just one of a growing number of people who have fallen victim to on-line identity theft.
Last December actress Penelope Spencer and lecturer at the College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr Yvonne Bobb, were victims of the scam.
The e-mail involving Clifton read in part: "I am sorry I did not inform you about my travelling for a missionary programme. It is currently held in Nigeria, Austria and South Africa. I am presently in Nigeria. It has been a very sad and bad moment for me because I got robbed on my way to the hotel where I lodged. My ID, credit card, cash and other valuables I have (sic) with me got stolen. I contacted the embassy here to help me out but it will take some time to get back to me."
The writer of the e-mail asked for financial assistance in the sum of $2,500 to cover his hotel bills and to purchase a ticket to return home.
"I got calls from Botswana where I lived for sometime, New York, Trinidad and even Cuba and Australia," Clifton said.
"One girl actually went to Western Union and paid $1,000."
Clifton said he attempted to access his e-mail account but found himself unable to do so. He then created another account informing his friends that his identity was stolen and that the e-mail should be disregarded.
