Uma investigação da BBC
disfarçada expôs como garotos que querem ser jogadores profissionais africanos
estão sendo enganados e perdendo milhares de dólares por fraudadores
nigerianos.
Eles atacam os milhares
de jogadores amadores que postam os seus dados on-line esperando para ser
descoberto por agentes ingleses.
Uma quadrilha que foi descoberta
e desafiada finge ser do Manchester United funcionários e que trabalham com o
gerente Sir Alex Ferguson.
Outro golpista foi
representando o Chefe Escoteiro/Olheiro, que busca talentos para o Chelsea somente
para enganar adolescentes ingênuos tentando ganhar deles o dinheiro, somente.
As vítimas são muitas
vezes enganadas para enviar dinheiro na falsa crença de que eles estão pagando
taxas oficiais de registro para ter uma oportunidade de jogar nas divisões de
base dos seus clubes favoritos do Campeonato Inglês.
Os fraudadores
simplesmente embolsam o dinheiro e desaparecem.
As taxas de inscrição
Para a investigação da
BBC, um repórter disfarçado fez o papel do pai de um jovem atacante ganês
ansiosos para torná-lo um jogador profissional, na Inglaterra.
Nesse aspecto, ele
contatou um homem que se chama Paul Jones e enviou uma mensagem on-line para
representar o Manchester United. O homem falsamente se gabou de que ele
trabalha com Sir Alex.
Em conversas telefônicas
e-mails e gravados secretamente, Mr Jones afirmou que Sir Alex ficou tão
impressionado com jogador fictício da BBC que ele queria que ele viesse para
uma experiência de dois anos.
Mr Jones disse que o clube iria treinar o jogador para o estrelato, mas, que precisava de uma "taxa de inscrição" de mais de US $ 7.000 (£ 3.500) que foram pago.
"Assim que seu filho
vier aqui para Londres, o clube vai patrocinar a sua comida, sua estadia, com todas as coisas necessárias de que necessita
no clube. Então, depois de dois anos de formação, se o jogador tiver um bom
desempenho, ele vai se juntar ao Manchester United, "Sr Jones prometeu
isto na gravação de uma chamada.
Em um esforço para
convencer o repórter disfarçado que sua oferta era verdadeira, Sr Jones mandou e-mail
com várias cópias e formas de registro de jogadores falsos.
Os documentos estavam
indo com o logotipo oficial do clube. Mas aconteceu um erro óbvio foi que as
instruções dos formulários, estavam endereçado ao lendário treinador do
United, Sir Matt Busby - que morreu em 1994.
Filmagem secreta
Em uma operação policial,
o repórter disfarçado convenceu este Sr Jones para enviar seu assistente, um
"Dr. Frank Johnson" para encontrá-lo em um hotel na cidade nigeriana
de Lagos para receber o dinheiro pessoalmente.
Na reunião, o Dr. Johnson
foi secretamente filmado e mostrou como ele produziu outra forma de registro
falso.
Ele assegurou ao repórter disfarçado que o Manchester United estava ansioso para recrutar mais jogadores africanos e que seu filho seria muito bem vindo.
"O que fazemos é
dar-lhes um bom contrato. Isso é porque você tem que assinar como responsável pelo
garoto", disse ele.
"Vamos preparar um
apartamento para seu filho e dar-lhe um treinamento especial para que ele
melhore. Então, vamos colocá-lo com outro clube ou ele vai jogar com a
gente."
Este desmonstrativo de
mentiras do Dr. Johnson foi levado a um fim abrupto quando o repórter da BBC,
Gavin Lee, e uma equipe de filmagem se aproximou e apresentou-se.
Apesar das evidências
gravadas, o Dr. Johnson inicialmente negou que ele era uma farsa. Mas depois
ele confessou que seu nome verdadeiro era John, e que ele estava envergonhado
de suas ações.
Ele foi levado e
interrogado por um policial nigeriano que forneceu segurança para a empreitada.
A equipe da BBC foi
autorizada a examinar celular do Dr. Johnson e descobriu que ele continha
textos que sugeria que ele estava envolvido com fraudes envolvendo vítimas em
toda a África e Europa. Várias pessoas o haviam enviado seus dados bancários.
Na agenda do telefone o
número de repórter disfarçado da BBC foi listado em "mugu" - a
palavra usada por fraudadores nigerianos para descrever aqueles que se engana.
Outro vigarista
registrado pela BBC afirmou ser Mike Emenalo, o ex-jogador internacional
nigeriano que é o chefe olheiro do Chelsea.
O falso Mr Emenalo foi
descarado o suficiente para fazer propaganda de seus serviços em um site
legítimo esportivo.
Ele alegou estar tão
impressionado com o registro de falsos jogadores pela denúncia da BBC que ele
imediatamente lhe ofereceu um teste com o clube. Desta vez, a taxa exigida era
de US $ 4.000 (£ 2.000).
O Ministro dos Sport
nigeriano e Turismo, John Fashanu elogiou a investigação da BBC para destacar
os perigos enfrentados pelos jovens jogadores africanos que querem jogar no
exterior.
O ex-jogador de Wimbledon
e internacional inglês, disse que é preciso haver uma maior ação contra os
vigaristas que estão arrancando dinheiro dos seus colegas africanos.
"Eles viram uma
oportunidade de ganhar dinheiro e estão roubando descaradamente o dinheiro dos
jovens desesperados nigerianos, de Gana, de Países Sul Africano, e de países do
Terceiro Mundo, pois, todos querem viver e se tornar grandes jogadores
profissionais de futebol como Thierry Henry, Kanu e Jay Jay Okocha", ele
disse.
Muitas vezes, aqueles que
caem nestas trapaças para os golpistas são de famílias pobres. Suas famílias
juntam as taxas, deixando até de fazer a feira na vã esperança de dar a seus
filhos um caminho para sair da pobreza.
Jogadores jovens com 12 anos, postam suas fotos, número de telefone, endereço de e-mail e, em alguns casos, até mesmo os seus dados de passaporte on-line, na esperança de conseguir um agente.
A maioria parece ignorar
que os clubes ingleses nunca iria exigir dinheiro de um jogador que eles
estavam considerando contratar.
Estes garotos amadores
ambiciosos parecem em grande parte ignorar, que sob as regras de imigração
seria impossível para elas obter uma autorização de trabalho britânico.
Eles não se qualificariam,
até porque como nunca jogaram vários jogos na seleção nacional da Nigéria. E é
essa ingenuidade que os fraudadores passam a explorar de efeito implacável,
esta falta de conhecimento.
Fonte: BBC.
An undercover BBC investigation has exposed how young African footballers are being conned out of thousands of dollars by Nigerian fraudsters.
They prey on the thousands of amateur players who post their details online hoping to be spotted by English agents.
One gang which was confronted pretended to be Manchester United officials working with manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Another conman was impersonating the chief talent scout for Chelsea to trick naive teenagers into wiring him cash.
Victims are often duped into sending money in the false belief that they are paying official registration fees to have a trial to play for their favourite English Premier League clubs.
The fraudsters simply pocket the money and disappear.
Registration fees
For the BBC investigation, an undercover reporter played the role of the father of a young Ghanaian striker keen to make it big in England.
In that guise, he contacted a man who called himself Paul Jones and claimed online to represent Manchester United. The man falsely boasted that he worked closely with Sir Alex.
In e-mails and secretly recorded phone conversations, Mr Jones claimed that Sir Alex was so impressed by the BBC's fictional player that he wanted him to come for a two-year trial.
Mr Jones said that the club would coach the player to stardom once a "registration fee" of more than $7,000 (£3,500) was paid.
"As soon as your child comes over here in London, the club will sponsor their food, their accommodation, all the necessary things they need in the club. So after two years of the training, if the player performs well, he will join Manchester United," Mr Jones promised in one call.
In an effort to persuade the undercover reporter that his offer was genuine, Mr Jones e-mailed several fake player registration forms.
The documents were headed with the club's official logo. But one obvious error was that the instructions stated the form should be addressed to legendary United manager, Sir Matt Busby - who died in 1994.
Secret filming
In a sting operation, the undercover reporter persuaded Mr Jones to send his assistant, a "Dr Frank Johnson" to meet him at a hotel in the Nigerian city of Lagos to receive the cash in person.
At the meeting, Dr Johnson was secretly filmed as he produced another fake registration form.
He assured the undercover reporter that Manchester United were keen to recruit more African players and that his son would be well provided for.
"What we do is give them a good contract. That is why you have to sign as a sponsor," he said.
"We will prepare an apartment for your son and give him special training so he will improve. Then we will set him up with another club or he will play with us."
Dr Johnson's sales pitch was brought to an abrupt end when BBC reporter Gavin Lee and a camera crew approached and confronted him.
Despite the evidence on tape, Dr Johnson initially denied he was a fake. But he later confessed that his real name was John and that he was ashamed of his actions.
He was taken away and questioned by a Nigerian policeman who provided security for the sting.
The BBC team was allowed to examine Dr Johnson's mobile phone and found it contained texts that suggested he was involved with scams involving victims across Africa and Europe. Several people had sent him their bank details.
In the phone's directory the number for the BBC's undercover reporter was listed under "mugu" - the word used by Nigerian fraudsters to describe those that they swindle.
Another conman recorded by the BBC claimed to be Mike Emenalo, the former Nigerian international player who is Chelsea's chief talent scout.
The fake Mr Emenalo was brazen enough to advertise his services on a legitimate sports website.
He claimed to be so impressed by the record of the BBC's fake player that he immediately offered him a trial with the club. This time the fee demanded was $4,000 (£2,000).
Nigerian's Sport and Tourism Ambassador John Fashanu commended the BBC investigation for highlighting the perils faced by young African players who want to play abroad.
The former Wimbledon player and England international said there needed to be greater action against the conmen who were ripping off their fellow Africans.
"They have seen an opportunity to make money and they are making money off desperate young Nigerian, Ghanaian, South African, African, Third World country footballers who all want to live of professional footballers like Thierry Henry, Kanu and Jay Jay Okocha," he said.
Often those who fall for scammers like this are from poor backgrounds. Their families scrape together the fees in the vain hope of giving their children a route out of poverty.
Players as young as 12 post their photo, phone number, e-mail address and in some cases even their passport details online in the hope of getting an agent.
Most appear to be unaware that English clubs would never demand money from a player they were considering signing.
These ambitious amateurs seem largely ignorant that under immigration regulations it would be impossible for them to get a British work permit.
They would not qualify as they have not played several games for their own national sides. And it is this naivety which the fraudsters exploit to ruthless effect.
An undercover BBC investigation has exposed how young African footballers are being conned out of thousands of dollars by Nigerian fraudsters.
They prey on the thousands of amateur players who post their details online hoping to be spotted by English agents.
One gang which was confronted pretended to be Manchester United officials working with manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Another conman was impersonating the chief talent scout for Chelsea to trick naive teenagers into wiring him cash.
Victims are often duped into sending money in the false belief that they are paying official registration fees to have a trial to play for their favourite English Premier League clubs.
The fraudsters simply pocket the money and disappear.
Registration fees
For the BBC investigation, an undercover reporter played the role of the father of a young Ghanaian striker keen to make it big in England.
In that guise, he contacted a man who called himself Paul Jones and claimed online to represent Manchester United. The man falsely boasted that he worked closely with Sir Alex.
In e-mails and secretly recorded phone conversations, Mr Jones claimed that Sir Alex was so impressed by the BBC's fictional player that he wanted him to come for a two-year trial.
Mr Jones said that the club would coach the player to stardom once a "registration fee" of more than $7,000 (£3,500) was paid.
"As soon as your child comes over here in London, the club will sponsor their food, their accommodation, all the necessary things they need in the club. So after two years of the training, if the player performs well, he will join Manchester United," Mr Jones promised in one call.
In an effort to persuade the undercover reporter that his offer was genuine, Mr Jones e-mailed several fake player registration forms.
The documents were headed with the club's official logo. But one obvious error was that the instructions stated the form should be addressed to legendary United manager, Sir Matt Busby - who died in 1994.
Secret filming
In a sting operation, the undercover reporter persuaded Mr Jones to send his assistant, a "Dr Frank Johnson" to meet him at a hotel in the Nigerian city of Lagos to receive the cash in person.
At the meeting, Dr Johnson was secretly filmed as he produced another fake registration form.
He assured the undercover reporter that Manchester United were keen to recruit more African players and that his son would be well provided for.
"What we do is give them a good contract. That is why you have to sign as a sponsor," he said.
"We will prepare an apartment for your son and give him special training so he will improve. Then we will set him up with another club or he will play with us."
Dr Johnson's sales pitch was brought to an abrupt end when BBC reporter Gavin Lee and a camera crew approached and confronted him.
Despite the evidence on tape, Dr Johnson initially denied he was a fake. But he later confessed that his real name was John and that he was ashamed of his actions.
He was taken away and questioned by a Nigerian policeman who provided security for the sting.
The BBC team was allowed to examine Dr Johnson's mobile phone and found it contained texts that suggested he was involved with scams involving victims across Africa and Europe. Several people had sent him their bank details.
In the phone's directory the number for the BBC's undercover reporter was listed under "mugu" - the word used by Nigerian fraudsters to describe those that they swindle.
Another conman recorded by the BBC claimed to be Mike Emenalo, the former Nigerian international player who is Chelsea's chief talent scout.
The fake Mr Emenalo was brazen enough to advertise his services on a legitimate sports website.
He claimed to be so impressed by the record of the BBC's fake player that he immediately offered him a trial with the club. This time the fee demanded was $4,000 (£2,000).
Nigerian's Sport and Tourism Ambassador John Fashanu commended the BBC investigation for highlighting the perils faced by young African players who want to play abroad.
The former Wimbledon player and England international said there needed to be greater action against the conmen who were ripping off their fellow Africans.
"They have seen an opportunity to make money and they are making money off desperate young Nigerian, Ghanaian, South African, African, Third World country footballers who all want to live of professional footballers like Thierry Henry, Kanu and Jay Jay Okocha," he said.
Often those who fall for scammers like this are from poor backgrounds. Their families scrape together the fees in the vain hope of giving their children a route out of poverty.
Players as young as 12 post their photo, phone number, e-mail address and in some cases even their passport details online in the hope of getting an agent.
Most appear to be unaware that English clubs would never demand money from a player they were considering signing.
These ambitious amateurs seem largely ignorant that under immigration regulations it would be impossible for them to get a British work permit.
They would not qualify as they have not played several games for their own national sides. And it is this naivety which the fraudsters exploit to ruthless effect.
Source: BBC.
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