Why can't the people who conduct check scams be traced by the routing numbers victims use to wire the money?

Question

Between the Better Business Bureau, Federal Trade Commission, FBI, and CIA, can't something be done to locate and prosecute these scammers in the world?

Answer 1

I have seen hundreds of these things and here is your answer: the scammers want CASH wired via Western Union Moneygram. They then need you to tell them the MTCN: Money Transfer Control Number and the Test Question, which you set up with Western Union when you give in the money to be sent. You give the sacammer that information by e-mail so they can go to ANY Western Union office and GET THE CASH. By the time anyone goes to trace the transfer, the scammer is LONG GONE WITH THE LOOT. It may take weeks until it is discovered the check you got is a fake. There is no such bank or account number. Now you are out the funds you transferred with ZERO chance of ever seeing them again. And of course, if you e-mail the scammer, you get no reply, or the mailbox is closed.

Answer 2

Because the end point there is not the end point of the money. Scammed money gets laundered many times over.

And with Iraq and Afghansitan and all that entails, the CIA has better thngs to do then to pursue Nigerian scammers with all their might (although I expect there are some folks on it...)

Answer 3

I think the reason those agencies do little to nothing regarding these scams is because they are not being committed inside the US by citizens. They are more concerned with nailing people at home who commit crimes than catching people in other countries who commit crimes against citizens here. Basically, my take on it is, if someone is outside the country the ACLU will probably defend their right to perpetrate crimes without having to be jailed, etc. Everybody has the right to rip off Americans. I guess. I dont know man to tell you the truth but it seems like your idea is a great one.

Answer 4

They can to a point, but banks in undeveloped countries don't always have the same identification requirements or protections against fraud that are mandated of banks in the West.

Answer 5

BECAUSE MONEY IS USUALLY WIRED TO ANOTHER COUNTRY (MOST SCAMS COME FROM NIGERIA) AND THERE ARE LEGAL PROBLEMS WHEN ONE COUNTRY WANTS TO INVESTIGATE THINGS THAT DO NOT OCCUR COMPLETELY IN THE SAME COUNTRY - NOW ALSO EACH GOVERNMENT HAS MUCH MORE URGENT AND MORE RESPONSIBLE JOB THAN INVESTIGATE WHY SOME ASSHOLE FALL FOR SCAM AND WIRED MONEY TO PERSON WHOM HE NEVER MET ON ANOTHER CONTINENT
IT CAN BE DONE - IT IS LEGALLY COMPLICATED AND IRRESPONSIBLE TO DEFEND REAL MORONS

Answer 6

there are things done to track them down. how could routing numbers of a fake account be traced back to a person? i think the way to track them down is for if a person does it a lot, then there will be evidence that comes up to track them down.

Answer 7

Because every country subscribes to different banking/privacy standards . . .

Answer 8

Maybe they don't think is important enough, but I would like to know why myself.

Answer 9

there seems to be no end point.good question