WNYers victim to scammers from Ghana

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - State Inspector General Joseph Fisch says more than $117,000 in computer equipment targeted by international swindlers has been recovered after a statewide investigation.

The investigation by the state Office of General Services and local police departments targeted thieves operating out of the Republic of Ghana who posed as New York State employees.

The scammers ordered computers and cell phones from state contractor Hewlett Packard and had them shipped to private residences.

Then they tapped social networking sites to lure people into sending what they were told were legitimate goods to West Africa.

Two of the people who unwittingly participated in this scam were from Western New York, a Kenmore woman who was lured through an Internet relationship to forward $19,000 worth of stolen computer equipment to Ghana, and a Jamestown woman who received $25,000 worth of stolen computer equipment, but did not forward it to Ghana.