419ers take Kent minister for £12k

[mawilson 2,133]

A Kent minister has been taken for £12,000 in a textbook 419 sting, the BBC reports.

The Rev Robert Nooney met a man claiming to be a Nigerian trainee pastor called

"David" in a Christian chatroom. They duly got chatting about a "multi-faith church

and soup kitchen" Nooney was planning to set up in Thanet, and David generously

offered to fund the operation from a £7.5m inheritance.

The catch, however, was that David needed a bit of help with legal costs "so he could

free up cash from his inheritance and buy an airline ticket so he could visit the project

in Kent". At one point, David asked for extra money "for hospital bills after he said his

taxi to the airport crashed".

In total, Nooney sent "£1,200 from his savings, £1,800 he raised on credit cards, and

£9,000 he took out in bank loans", after which David disappeared. The phone number

he supplied went dead, and he stopped responding to emails. He did send Nooney one

cheque to be cashed, which turned out to be a forgery "in the name of a business

based in County Londonderry".

Nooney said: "It's made me question my faith big time. I feel like I've got a massive

amount of shame on my shoulders because I shouldn't have fallen for something like this.

It's left me feeling really dead inside. Emotions seem to have left me because for the

last five days or so I've done nothing but cry and shout in anger at things."

Rev Nooney paid £12,000 to a man

who said he would fund his project

[Ban Hammer 13,977]

der...........

[Robor007 0]

Maybe he should look for some relief here?

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Maybe he should look for some relief here?

I love the counter scammers

The guy is lucky he only lost 12K.

[The_dip_sticks 0]

poor guy. its sad that they take it out on the few good people that have intention on helping and doing some good in the world. after an experience like this who is going to want to do any good will with out questioning every thing.