The Surfing Confidence Game

by The Editors on November 19, 2008

Derek-Dunfee-111908According to Surfing Magazine story a con artist claiming to be one of nearly a dozen different professional surfers has been calling people in the surf industry and attempting to get them to wire him money “so he can get a flight home.” He apparently tried his scam again last Sunday La Jolla pro Derek Dunfee.

First he called Dunfee’s mom, claiming he was Nathan Fletcher and had just had his car towed and a death in the family and could she MoneyGram him $450 or get him in touch with Derek. Mrs. Dunfee almost coughed up the cash then and there, but luckily the only thing she handed over to the trickster was Derek’s cell number, which proceeded to light up multiple times while he was out surfing, with “Nathan” even foolishly leaving a voicemail message.

Although Surfing Magazine editor Evan Slater and Derek contacted the San Diego Police department and MoneyGram, neither seemed interested in catching the thief and said the best thing to do would be to alert the public to the scam.

What have we been alerted too? Well, it appears that running MoneyGram scams in San Diego is pretty risk free at this point.

[Link: Surfing Magazine]

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