Symantec investigators have detected a scam e-mail, purporting to be from infamous football agent, John Shittu, that, despite the poor spelling and grammar, has a credible hook that could draw the unwary looking to profit from World Cup 2010.
With the subject, “Be my Rep!”, the e-mail lists “Shittu’s” credentials as a licensed agent and names a number of English Premiership players in his stable. The scammer claims to be recruiting representatives in the country of the recipient who will monitor his players and collect his agency fees. The successful rep will be entitled to 20% of all fees collected. (See screenshot below).
Sounds good doesn’t it? Unfortunately, the only one collecting any monies will be “Shittu”. In all probability, after receiving a reply to the e-mail, the scammer will organise the delivery of a cheque to the victim, who will be asked to deposit it in his/her bank account and transfer 20% of the cheque’s value on to the scammer.
The cheque will of course bounce, the bank will deduct its value from the victim’s account and the victim will be further out of pocket to the tune of the 20% forwarded to the scammer.
In closing, while the agent named in the e-mail has had something of a checkered career (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/4294218.stm) it’s highly unlikely that he has anything to do with this scam.