Dutchman's dreams shattered by e-mail con, court told

Published on Friday 13 May 2005 12:11

A DUTCH businessman has told a court he was the target of an e-mail con offering untold riches.

Jacobus Groenen received an e-mail from the son of a late African mining chief granting him millions if he collected two cash-filled boxes stored in Scotland.

Mr Groenen was so convinced he jetted to Glasgow from his home in Holland dreaming of a massive windfall. But, when he arrived he soon discovered he was the victim of an elaborate global scam targeting computer users.

The 56-year-old was yesterday giving evidence at a Glasgow Sheriff Court trial thought to be one of the first of its kind in this country. Three men - Arthur Mainga, 42, Austin Momoh, 35, Abdelhak Kechida, 27, all of Edinburgh, deny being behind the scam and trying to defraud Mr Groenen.

Mr Groenen was told that he would have to stump up 15,500 when he got to Scotland for "administration" fees before the money could be recovered. He left his home near Eindhoven on March 4 hoping to return rich.

But, within minutes of arriving, he discovered he had been set-up.

His suspicions were aroused when he learned the address for the alleged Glasgow security firm had an Edinburgh postcode.

The trial continues.