UAE | Crime
Doctor in fake cash case says she was scammed
The UAE federal Supreme Court has adjourned for the fourth time the case of an East European woman accused of selling $50,000 in counterfeit money.
- By Marten Youssef, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:01 September 15, 2008
Abu Dhabi: The UAE federal Supreme Court has adjourned for the fourth time the case of an East European woman accused of selling $50,000 in counterfeit money.
Four months earlier, Magda (name changed to protect her identity) received an e-mail from a man claiming to have inherited $5 million from his deceased father and was in danger of losing it all. He said in the e-mail that he heard about Magda from mutual friends and knew that he could trust her.
He asked Magda to put the money in her account in Abu Dhabi and hold it until the he sorted out the details. In exchange, Magda was promised a significant amount.
As a doctor from Eastern Europe working in Abu Dhabi, Magda gave the person the benefit of a doubt.
After several e-mail exchanges, Magda was hooked. The man claimed he was from London and called her mobile from an unidentified number.
In April, Magda met two Nigerian men as agreed, who came with a briefcase packed with US dollars. The men told Magda that she had to pay Dh10,000 as a transaction fee. After a long exchange, Magda agreed to give them Dh6,000. The men agreed, took the Dh6,000 and gave her the briefcase.
She took the briefcase next day to a currency exchange. According to records, the clerk at the counter didn't need to even scan the notes to realise the money was fake. The police were called, Magda was arrested and the briefcase was seized with $50,000 in $100 bills. Court records show that the money was possibly photocopied using a normal colour printer and was poorly cut. Also, the notes had the same serial number.
Magda tried to convince the authorities that she was a victim of fraud. But the e-mails exchanged with the two Nigerians could not be traced to any single person. The phone calls were blocked and the two men who gave her the briefcase vanished, leaving no trail.
Officials say this is a typical scam originating from Nigeria. These crimes have conned thousands of people around the world: from petty cash crimes to defrauding a Brazilian bank of $242 million for a bogus airport project in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria.
After spending four months in prison, in and out of courtrooms, meeting consulate officials and lawyers, Magda has developed a negative view of life.
Reflection
"I have had too much time to think how stupid I was to believe them [the e-mails from the Nigerian]," Magda told Gulf News. Magda replayed the events hundreds of times, developed conspiracy theories and ideas of being set up.
"Because someone wanted to make some money off me," she says, "I have lost four months of my life that I will never regain."
The Federal Supreme Court, where Magda is being tried has declined to comment or confirm any of the allegations.
A verdict will be delivered on September 22. If Magda is convicted, the time she has served in prison will count towards her sentence. If the judge deems her not guilty, Magda will pack her bags, close what is left of her practice and return to her country, trying to erase this chapter of her life.
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