Postby FrumpyBB » Wed Oct 24, 2012 6:37 pm
Maj. Chris Haggart
Wed Oct 24, 2012 8:17 pm
I am the real Haggard whose images are being used in these scams. I am the one on the left of the Iraqi Soldier (blue uniform); that picture was taken in East Baghdad, Iraq (Summer 2008). The solo picture was taken on the Udari Small Arms Range in Kuwait (Dec 2007). The group picture I do not remember/recognize. I have never been to Afghanistan.
Wed Oct 24, 2012 8:08 pm
I am the real MAJ Chris Haggard and below is a copy of the note I posted on my Facebook page the Joe Gould mentions in his Military Times article. The easiest and quickest way to identify a scammer posing as a Soldier is to ask for an e-mail from his official US Army e-mail account (the domain name is @us.army.mil). If he refuses or says he cannot do this, he is a scammer.
Okay, I have not been on Facebook for many, many months now for various reasons; however, recent events have brought a new purpose to my Facebook page. Some of you may be aware that my image, name and duty in the Army have been used by criminals in Africa to scam unsuspecting women out of money and expensive electronics. During my last deployment to Baghdad in 2008, I would send digital photos to Angie and she would post them on her Facebook and/or MySpace pages. These African criminals would “steal” the photos and make up alternate identities bases on my last name, rank and Army service. These “alternate Haggards” would gain the target’s trust and then lay a huge sympathy play on them to steal money or high-dollar value items (cell phones, laptops, plan tickets, etc).
I was first made aware of this in the summer of 2009 when a Special Agent from the Fort Drum, NY Criminal Investigation Division office called me (one of the stolen photos showed the 10th Mountain Division patch). There is not anything I can do to stop this from continuing except to educate those who may be susceptible to this.
A few things things to look for in a military scam:
1. The e-mails are written with improper verb conjugation, improper use of pronouns, improper noun/verb agreement and miss-spelled words. It is fairly obvious that these e-mails were written by someone who learned English (very poorly learned) as a second language in the British style.
2. Deployed Soldiers are compensated very well with special pays, bonuses and tax exemptions. It is not uncommon for a Soldier of any rank to realize a “third paycheck” when they are deployed. And a Soldier always has access to his/her money in one way or another. How can these scammers have access to the internet to troll dating sites looking for targets but, cannot use the internet to purchase the items they are asking for themselves.
3. Also, in regards to money, there are very few places for a Soldier to spend their money while deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan. A Soldier maybe broke before or after a deployment but, a Soldier is usually pretty flush while deployed. Except, of course, if he spends all his money on the internet.
4. With regards to family emergencies, all Soldiers and family members know to contact the American Red Cross if a deployed Soldier has a family emergency at home. A Red Cross Message is the only way a deployed Soldier will return in cases of a family emergency. The Soldier’s chain of command will get the Soldier home if a valid Red Cross Message is received. The Army will provide transportation from Iraq or Afghanistan to Atlanta or Dallas; from there, the Soldier must provide his/her own transportation (just as if the Solder we not deployed). If the Soldier cannot afford a plane ticket from Atlanta or Dallas to their hometown, the Army Emergency Relief will provide the funds, as a grant or loan, to purchase the ticket. And this will all be coordinated before the Solder leaves his unit; a Soldier will only be stranded if he/she does something stupid.
5. If you are still unsure if you are being scammed, ask the Soldier to send you an e-mail from their AKO account. Only Solders, a very few family members, and certain contractors have @us.army.mil e-mail address. If they refuse, tell them to take a flying leap! If they get angry with you and accuse you of not trusting them, tell them to take a flying leap!
Bottom line, NEVER send a deployed Soldier money or high-dollar value items, especially if it is to be sent to an address anywhere in Africa. All deployed Soldiers have an APO AE or APO AP mailing address. I cannot provide you with any information regarding a specific name or Soldier but, I can and will tell you if the person you are in contact with has an AKO e-mail address (just don’t ask me for it).