Cut and paste snippets about scams.

[ribshaw]

Credit card scam alert: Mysterious $9.84 charges appearing on accounts
By Gitte Laasby of the Journal Sentinel
Jan. 30, 2014

If a strange, unauthorized charge of $9.84 appears on your credit card from a website you don't recognize, it may be the "$9.84 scam."

Since December, hundreds of consumers nationwide have complained in forums online about seeing unauthorized charges on their credit and debit card accounts from a website they've never heard of — typically for $9.84.

So far, no one knows how the scammers obtained their credit card information. Because the first complaints came in December, shortly after the Target data breach, some consumers speculate that the credit card fraud is related to the data breach. Others suspect Amazon accounts may have been hacked.

Neither appears likely because some victims say they never shopped at Target, and Amazon has not reported any hacking or data breach.

Complainants say the unauthorized charges were listed as stemming from an unknown website — most commonly EETsac.com but also TDWcs.com, IEWcs.com, CEWcs.com, SEWcs.com, IAWcs.com, FEOsac.com and CWEBcs.com.

The websites are identical except for the company name. They consist of only a single, generic-looking page that claims to offer "customer support," but there are no links to any services. The sites just promise full refunds to customers, stating, "If for some reason you are not fully satisfied we will refund 100% of your last payment."

Consumers said when they called the phone numbers listed to get a refund, the customer service reps seem to represent continuing education companies with a London address and sometimes claim the charges are for such services.

The Better Business Bureau sent out an alert Tuesday about the so-called "$9.84 scam," warning consumers to be on the lookout for unauthorized charges on their credit cards. The organization suspects the small charges could be a trial balloon for other and bigger charges to come later. Some victims have already seen more than one charge, one for $9.84 and one for a few cents.

The first complaints surfaced online in December, but complaints are now pouring in to governmental agencies.

Frank Dorman, a spokesman for the Federal Trade Commission, said the agency has received 50 complaints on the $9.84 scam since Jan. 1, but said he could not elaborate on whether the agency is investigating.

A spokesman for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection said the state has not received any complaints from Wisconsin consumers. Neither had the Better Business Bureau of Wisconsin, but an investigator said she expects complaints could start rolling in any day given the widespread nature of the scam.

According to the Public Investigator's investigation, the $9.84 scam appears to originate in Britain and involve a ring of connected websites, most of which point back to the same IP address hosted in Texas:

■ TDWcs.com, phone number (855) 531-1088.

■ IEWcs.com, phone number (855) 531-1089: Appears affiliated with Education Course Pro Affiliate Learning System.

■ CEWcs.com, phone number (855) 531-1090.

■ SEWcs.com, phone number (855) 531-1091.

■ IAWcs.com, phone number (855) 531-1092.

■ EETsac.com, phone number (855) 531-1093: Appears affiliated with Premium Insider Education Affiliate Learning System and possibly Premium Insider Education Pro Learning System.

■ (Unknown).com, phone number (855) 531-1094.

■ FEOsac.com, phone number (855) 531-1095.

■ CWEBcs.com, phone number (855) 531-1096.

Many consumers said when they called, they were put on hold for a while. Some then got disconnected. Many who get through are first told — despite the company's promise to refund the full amount — that they can receive only a partial refund of 50% to 60%.

The BBB encourages people to cancel their credit card, regardless of whether the scammers promised them a refund. They said the small amounts may be a way for scammers to test whether the account is valid without the victim noticing.

"Scammers are banking on the fact that many consumers don't check their credit card statements all that carefully," the BBB said in its alert.

The BBB encouraged consumers who discover even small unauthorized charges to report them to their credit card company and to police, saying scammers bank on credit card companies not going after such small fraudulent amounts. More information on how to dispute credit card charges is available on FTC's website.

Consumers whose credit card is lost, stolen or used without their permission may be responsible for charges up to $50. If you report the loss of the card before it is used by someone else, you're not responsible for any unauthorized charges.

The FTC encouraged people to file complaints because it helps the agency identify and prosecute the scammers. Consumers can file a complaint with the FTC at (877) 382-4357 or www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov.

For more consumer stories, viral stories, scam alerts, tips and the occasional freebie, visit the Public Investigator blog at Public Investigator - JSOnline (http://www.jsonline.com/piblog).

Facebook: fb.me/GitteLaasbyPage

Twitter: @GitteLaasbyMJS

Public Investigator - Credit card scam alert: Mysterious $9.84 charges appearing on accounts (http://www.jsonline.com/watchdog/watchdogreports/credit-card-scam-alert-mysterious-984-charges-appearing-on-accounts-b99193957z1-242753731.html)

[ribshaw]

Latest News
Be On The Lookout For The “One Ring” Cell Phone Scam
By: Alyssa Marsico January 30, 2014 7:52 PM

PITTSBURGH (NewsRadio1020 KDKA) – The Better Business Bureau is warning cell phone users of a new scam that can cost you a lot of money. They are calling it the “one ring” scam.

In this one, the scammer programs a computer called autodialers to call thousands of phone numbers, ring once then disconnect. They do this in hopes that the owner of the phone calls back the number to see who it is, usually they report they hear music, advertising messages or adult entertainment services.

President of the Better Business Bureau of Western Pennsylvania Warren King joins KDKA Radio’s Bill Rehkopf on the KDKA Afternoon News.

“This is kind of a new twist to an old scam called the 809 scam; 809 is the area code that used to be used by the Caribbean Islands,” says King. “What happens is these numbers look like a number that may be somewhere in the United States when in fact they are overseas and they are overpriced international calls.”

King says they are bypassing the consumer protection laws by using these numbers and charging the fees to your cell phone bill. You can be charged $20 for the initial international call, then $9 for every minute you stay connected after that.

For those of you thinking this has to be illegal! Well you are right, to an extent. King says that since there is no legal action that can be taken it is up to us to be aware and spread the word.

“What’s happening is that its difficult for regulatory agencies and consumer protection laws to protect us because these are entities that are overseas. So again its up to the consumer to recognize this is something that could happen to them. You know if your not familiar with the phone number you see on your cell phone then you can always Google it, find out where the area code is that will help you,” King said.

If you think you have been a victim of this “one ring” scam, you are to contact your cell phone provider to let them know what has happened and monitor your phone bills.

Be On The Lookout For The “One Ring” Cell Phone Scam « CBS Pittsburgh (http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2014/01/30/be-on-the-lookout-for-the-one-ring-cell-phone-scam/)

[littleroundman]

Is this scam email the worst Nigerian-type scam of all?

THEY'RE the scourge of the internet (well, as well as cat videos and angry conversations about chemtrails) - but surely this Nigerian scam email has to be the worst.

Not only does it claim to come from the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, himself - but it has the audacity to offer monetary compensation FOR SCAMS.

No, you didn't win a lottery you didn't enter this time. And no, someone isn't trying to smuggle gold out of a strange African country by using your bank account.

You can receive $300,000 - US - for being scammed. From the United Nations, no less. Who just finished a seven-month-long meeting period to agree to this mass-cash payout to the entire duped world. And no proof required!

But it gets better. Are you a foreign contractor that hasn't been paid? Then here's $300,000, from the UN. Did your international bank transaction just fail? Don't worry, the UN has $300k just for you.

Or maybe your international business failed because of "Government problems etc"? You're up for a handy slice of UN cash too.

There are a few different versions (http://419.bittenus.com/8/9/unitednations2.html) of this one floating about - and have been for years - but this one at least spells the name of the UN Secretary-General correctly.

And no, it doesn't actually come from Nigeria. This one allegedly comes from Benin, a small African country. Right next to Nigeria. It does, however, reference one Gwen Abiola Oloke, who Google suggests is the boss of a bank in Nigeria.

Also, this could be the first time an email address actually includes a person's honorific - the 'Mrs' in Mrs Gwen Abiola Oloke is PART of her email.

The full, unedited text of the scam is below.


Attn:

How are you today and hope all is well with you and your family?You may not understand why this mail has been sent to you but i will implore you to take your time to carefully go through this mail.

We have had meetings for the pass 7 months which ended 4 days ago at our office head quarters in New York(UNITED NATIONS). This email is to all the people that have been scammed in any part of the world,the UNITED NATION has agreed to compensate them adequately with the sum of US$300,000.

This includes every foreign contractor that has not received their contract sum and people that have had unfinished transactions as regards

international bank transfers or international businesses that failed due to Government problems etc.

We found your name on our list and that is why we are contacting you.This has been agreed upon and has been signed. You are advised to contact Mrs. Gwen Abiola Oloke of ZENITH BANK Benin Republic PLC as she is our representative in Benin Republic, contact her immediately for your Cheque/International Bank Draft of USD$ 300,000.

This funds are in a Bank Draft for security purpose,so she will send it to you and you can clear it at any bank of your choice.

Therefore you must ensure to send her your full Name and telephone number current mailing address as regards receiving your draft.

Contact:Mrs. Gwen Abiola Oloke immediately for your Cheque:

Person to Contact Mrs. Gwen Abiola Oloke

Email: mrsgwenabiolaoloke@accountant.com

Thanks and God bless you and your family.Hoping to hear from you as soon as you cash your Bank Draft.

Making the world a better place.

Regards,

Ban Ki-moon

Secretary-General(UNITED NATIONS)

[ribshaw]

SCAMMER Gracemailer5050@yahoo.com

Since giving money away is so hard, and you have so much time to email when terminally ill.

I AM MRS.GRACE MAILER.A WIDOW TO LATE JOHN MAILER .I AM 70 YEARS OLD, I AM NOW A NEW CHRISTIAN CONVERT, SUFFERING FROM LONGTIME CANCER OF THE BREAST, FROM ALL INDICATION MY CONDITIONS IS REALLY DETERIORATING AND IT IS QUITE OBVIOUS THAT I WONT LIVE MORE THAN SIX MONTHS,ACCORDING TO MY DOCTORS,THIS IS BECAUSE THE CANCER STAGE HAS GOTTEN TO A VERY BAD STAGE. MY LATE HUSBAND KILLED DURING THE U.S. RAID AGAINST TERRORISM AFGHANISTAN,AND DURING THE PERIOD OF OUR MARRIAGE WE COULDN'T PRODUCE ANY CHILD.MY LATE HUSBAND WAS VERY WEALTHY AND AFTER HIS DEATH,I INHERITED ALL HIS BUSINESS AND WEALTH. THE DOCTORS HAS ADVISED ME THAT I MAY NOT LIVE FOR MORE THAN SIX MONTHS, SO I NOW DECIDED TO DIVIDE THE PART OF THIS WEALTH, TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHURCH IN AFRICA, AMERICA ASIA,AND EUROPE. I PRAYED OVER IT.

I AM WILLING TO DONATE THE SUM OF $5,000.000.00 MD U.S DOLLARS, TO THE LESS PRIVILEGED.PLEASE I WANT YOU TO NOTE THAT FUND IS LYING IN A BANK IN SWISS AND UPON MY INSTRUCTION, MY ATTORNEY, WHO PRESENTLY IS IN AFRICA DISTRIBUTING RELIEF MATERIALS , WILL FILE IN AND APPLICATION FOR THE TRANSFER OF THE MONEY IN YOUR NAME. LASTLY,I HONESTLY PRAY THAT THIS MONEY WHEN TRANSFERRED! WILL BE SURE FOR THE SAID PURPOSE,BECAUSE I HAVE COME TO FIND OUT THAT WEALTH ACQUISITION WITHOUT CHRIST IS VANITY.

MAY THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS THE LOVE OF GOD AND THE FELLOWSHIP OF GOD BE WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.Please i will like you to contact my
private email address for better explanation (Gracemailer5050@yahoo.com)

I AWAIT URGENT REPLY.

GOD BLESS YOU
MRS.GRACE MAILER.

[ribshaw]

The Army’s official website is "MyArmyBenefits" at myarmybenefits.us.army.mil.

“Official military websites will all have the .mil domain name,” BBB Military Line Director Brenda Linnington said in the release. “Any other domain extension should be a red flag.


The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command wants to clarify a press release that was issued Thursday, to help avoid any possible confusion regarding a false website and the official U.S. Army benefits website for former and current service members.

In yesterday's announcement, CID accurately released that a website claiming to be an official U.S. Army benefits website, using the web address www.usmilitarybenifit.org, is NOT an official U.S. Army website and it is not affiliated, nor endorsed in any way by the U.S. Army.

The official "MyArmyBenefits" website can be found at MyArmyBenefits | The Official Army Benefits Website (http://myarmybenefits.us.army.mil). This is the authorized U.S. Army benefits website and serves as the go-to source for all benefits and services available and continues to successfully assist Soldiers and their families. Soldiers and former service members are required to use either their CAC or AKO login information to access the official website. As a reminder, the official site ends with ".mil."

According to CID Special Agents, the primary purpose of the bogus website is to collect as many U.S. Army service members' Army Knowledge Online (AKO) email accounts and passwords. The bogus website also makes the false claim of that "The US military has granted access to unclaimed and accumulated army benefits for the under listed active duty soldiers. Benefits not claimed within the stipulated period will be available for claims after 60 months."

CID strongly recommends that Soldiers, Department of the Army civilians, Army retirees and family members avoid this website and ignore any information or claims posted on the site.

Most online scam attempts are easily recognizable as they are usually unsolicited emails or texts; hoax websites that contain misspelled words, punctuation and grammatical errors, and often ask for private information, such as an individual's email address and password.
Cyber-crime and internet fraud presents unique challenges to U.S. law enforcement agencies as criminals have the ability to mask their true identities, locations and cover their tracks quickly. Websites and accounts can easily be established and deleted in very little time, allowing scam artists to strike, and then disappear before law enforcement can respond.
The ability of law enforcement to identify these perpetrators is very limited, so individuals must stay on the alert and be personally responsible to protect both themselves and their loved ones.

CID strongly recommends that Soldiers, civilians and family members who receive any suspicious and/or unsolicited emails should delete them immediately without response.
However, if you have provided any information to the My Army Benefits website or have received any correspondence from the website, take the following steps:

DO NOT LOGIN TO THE WEBSITE
DO NOT RESPOND TO ANY EMAILS
STOP all contact if you have previously responded to any emails.
IMMEDIATELY CONTACT your local Information Assurance (IA) office if you accessed the website from a government computer or system.

Other cyber-crime resources available are:

Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) | Home (http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx)

Federal Trade Commission: spam@uce.gov

By reporting this cybercrime one can assist law enforcement agencies in their investigations and help bring those responsible to justice. For more information regarding cyber crime and staying safe online, visit the CID Lookout or the Computer Crimes Investigative Unit (CCIU) webpage page at U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command (http://www.cid.army.mil).

CID Lookout is a U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command (USACIDC) initiative to partner with the Army community by providing a conduit for members of the Army family, to help prevent, reduce and report felony-level crime.

The USACIDC, commonly known as CID, is an independent criminal investigative organization that investigates serious, felony-level crime such as murder, rape, sexual assault, robbery, arson, fraud, and even cyber crime or intrusions into the Army networks (see CID Cyber Lookout).

Solving and preventing these types of crime cannot be achieved solely by CID Special Agents and the Military Police. Together, professional law enforcement officers and the Army community must work hand-in-hand to fight serious crime. As such, CID is On Point for the Army and depends heavily on Soldiers, family members and civilian employees to Be On The Lookout and provide assistance in keeping the Army Strong and safe.

CID Lookout provides the latest information to the Army community aimed at helping Soldiers protect themselves, their families and to reduce their chances of becoming crime victims.
For more information on CID or to report a felony-level crime or provide information concerning a crime, contact your local CID Office or the Military Police, or visit U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command (http://www.cid.army.mil).

[ribshaw]

The Scam Of All Scams: Sucker Lists
Caroline Mayer Caroline Mayer, Contributor

Once a sucker, always a sucker.

Unfortunately, that seems to be the current thinking of today’s con artists who, according to a new survey, are specifically targeting consumers who’ve already fallen victim to a scam. Below, I’ll explain how this fraud works, so neither you nor your parents get fleeced.

Known as “refund and recovery scams,” these sucker list schemes are not only new to the recently released annual Top Scams list from the National Consumers League‘s fraud center, Fraud.org. They’re also the fastest growing non-Internet fraud.


How the ‘Sucker List’ Scam Works

Here’s the gambit: Scammers buy, sell and trade lists of consumers who’ve fallen for a phone, mail or email scam. The fraudsters then use these lists to call or mail those victims, claiming they can help recover their lost money for a fee. In reality, says Fraud.org, the sales pitch is just another scam designed to get even more money from these folks.

“The pitch varies from scammer to scammer, but it’s usually something like, ‘I know you’ve lost money and I’m going to help you get it back,’” says John Breyault, NCL’s Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications and Fraud and manager of the group’s Fraud.org campaign.

Given the rapid increase in complaints this year, Breyault adds, it’s clear that scammers have become “more networked and organized buying, selling and trading these lists.” Translation: “If you’ve been defrauded once, chances are you’ll be getting phone calls from more scammers,” says Breyault.

So how do you avoid getting on the sucker list? Breyault has a three-word answer: “Trust no one. If you get an unsolicited call asking for sensitive personal information, never give it out.”

(MORE: Lowdown on Scams, Schemes and Swindles)

And if you have been a fraud victim, consider changing your telephone number. You’ll then avoid getting contacted by con artists who found you on a sucker’s list. “Short of disconnecting your phone, it may be the only way to stop some of these calls,” Breyault says.

Other Disturbing Findings

Fraud.org’s new scams list, based on more than 8,000 complaints filed in 2013, has some other disturbing findings as well, including a sharp increase in telemarketing scams.

Until last year, the largest percentage of scam complaints cited the Internet as the original point of contact. But in 2013, according to the report, “the most frequent way scammers approached consumers was over the telephone,” accounting for more than one-third of complaints.

Breyault suspects this is partly due to the prevalence of the lottery/sweepstakes scam. That’s the one where telemarketers call, saying you’ve won the lottery or a sweepstakes and that the money can yours if you pay a fee (often hundreds of dollars or more). “There are no winnings,” Breyault says.

Also contributing to the rise of telemarketing scams: con artists’ growing ability to use computers to call thousands of consumers in a short period of time and at a very small expense. The telemarketers often trick Caller IDs into showing the calls are made by legitimate concerns


Page 2 of 2

You’ve probably heard of this tactic, called “spoofing.” As a result, Breyault says, “You can’t trust your Caller ID anymore.”

Better Business Bureaus’ Scams List

Indeed. The Better Business Bureau’s just-released list of Top 10 scams includes the “arrest warrant scam,” which uses spoofing. Here, con artists’ calls look like they’re coming from sheriffs of other law enforcement agencies. The fraudsters say there’s a warrant for your arrest, but you can pay a fine to avoid the charges. Of course, these “police” don’t take credit cards; “only a wire transfer or prepaid debit card will do,” the BBB says.

Breyault worries that spoofing may become a more serious problem in the months ahead as fraudsters exploit data break-ins such as the recent breach at Target. He says he wouldn’t be surprised to hear about telemarketers pretending to be from Target calling consumers to confirm their financial data by giving out their Social Security numbers or bank or credit-card accounts.

Friendship and Romance Scams

Since Valentine’s Day just passed, you may have also heard about friendship and romance scams. In those, con artists initiate relationships through online dating sites and then become friendly with potential victims through email correspondence. Eventually, the fraudsters ask for money, claiming an emergency, such as a stolen wallet or sick relative. Or they may ask for airfare to meet the victim. More often than not, once a request is met, others follow.

According to the NCL report, these scams account for a relatively small number of complaints (less than 1.5% in 2012 and 2013). But, Breyault notes, they are the most expensive, with the average per-victim loss at $13,000 in 2013. “Love is the most powerful emotion we have,” Breyault says, “so it’s easy to see how a scammer can use that to gain somebody’s confidence and how it can result in a lot of losses.”

One Piece of Good News

Amid all the bad news, the NCL report has one small sliver of good news: Consumers falling for scams are increasingly paying by credit card. Unlike wire transfers, credit card payments can be challenged — and refunded — so consumers may be able to get their money back. “With a wire transfer, once the money’s gone, it’s gone for good,” Breyault says.

3 Ways to Stay Safe

Since con artists are growing more devious, here are three ways you and your parents can stay safe:

1. Always be wary. If a telemarketer calls, never give out personal information unless you’re sure the query is legitimate. Look up the phone number for the company allegedly making the request (don’t call back the number on Caller ID). Then contact that firm to make sure the request is legitimate.

2. Use a credit card if you’ll be paying someone you don’t know. This way, you’ll have an opportunity to dispute the charge and have the debt forgiven if it’s bogus.

3. Report any suspicious activity. “These guys will never stop unless people report a crime,” says Breyault. Filing a complaint at Fraud.org is a good place to start, he adds, since its information is shared with more than 90 consumer-protection and law enforcement agencies.

–

Caroline Mayer is a consumer reporter who spent 25 years working for The Washington Post. Follow her on Twitter @consumermayer.

The Scam Of All Scams: Sucker Lists - Forbes (http://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2014/02/18/the-scam-of-all-scams-sucker-lists/2/)

[ribshaw]

JTMT got me thinking with this, http://www.realscam.com/f37/ftc-takes-utah-coaching-companies-finally-2988/ and have addressed Boiler Rooms before. Few current links way at the bottom, but this is a pretty big scam, despite all the do not call lists.

My position is never give money to people who call on the phone, from the "charities" to the 'brokers". While the movie pitch below seems outrageous, more often than not the boiler room operators suck victims in with a small investment in something legitimate. Buy some Microsoft, or Walmart, anything to get you in the door. Or the Ponzi route, where they get a small amount of cash and then immediately provide you with a return. The goal of course is to get your money and trust, then the shady deals get pitched.



Making movies in Hollywood costs a lot of money, so film producers are often looking for investors to bankroll what they hope will be a blockbuster.

CBS News has learned some Hollywood producers are using telemarketers to cold call Americans, convincing them to make risky investments.

Law enforcement tells CBS News it's a widespread fraud worth hundreds of millions of dollars over more than a decade, and CBS News has now spoken to more than a hundred investors who never saw their money again after sending a check to a voice on the phone.

Investors falling prey to Hollywood movie scam

Bette Anderson remembers the day her phone rang at her house in Minnesota. She says the voice on the other end offered her a guaranteed way to make money, investing in movies. "They just prey on your hopes and dreams," she said.

Asked if she thought she had stumbled across a pretty good deal, Anderson said, "Oh yeah. After having been laid off my job of 26 years, it provided some hope again for me. I just thought this was going to save my life, basically."

Instead, however, she said, "it destroyed it."

She was sent a professionally produced documents with the names of famous writers and actors and was told she could make $1.5 million. In total, Anderson said she invested $315,000, and got nothing back.

It wasn't hard for CBS News producers to find people offering movie investments over the phone.

Other investors receiving telemarketing calls put CBS News in touch with Gene Richards. CBS News set up a meeting in Los Angeles, which was shot on hidden cameras. Richards wanted us to invest $35,000 in a horror film called "Corbin's List."

He gave a movie trailer and a brochure, which said actors Ray Liotta and Megan Fox were reading the script.

Asked by CBS News producer Pat Milton if Liotta would be in the movie, Richards said, "Yeah. Yeah. Uh-huh."

Asked if he'd already signed on to it, Richards said, "He's signed on. And we're in negotiations with Megan Fox, as well."

Asked by a Milton what happens if the movie flops -- if there would be any return, Richards said, "Yeah. Even if it flops you'll -- you double your money."

At that point in the conversation, CBS News' Ben Tracy confronted Richards and after introducing himself, the two had the following exchange:
TRACY: "So you were talking to Pat here. And -- I heard you say that -- even if this movie's a flop you could basically guarantee doubling or tripling her money?"

RICHARDS: "No, no. I didn't say guarantee. I said we're not allowed to say 'guarantee'."

TRACY: "So if we called -- if we called Ray Liotta today he would verify that he's attached to this film?"

RICHARDS: "You would have to talk to his management company."

TRACY: "Yeah, we could do that?"

RICHARDS: "Uh-huh (affirm)."

Representatives for Liotta and Fox told us they've never heard of Gene Richards, or his film.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ellyn Lindsay said that "what makes it illegal, is that the investment is sold through lies."

Lindsay has prosecuted 18 people for movie investment fraud. She said even though Richards did not use the word "guarantee," the fraud is in the lies, omissions, and misrepresentations.

"When you minimize the risk, when you lie about the amount of money that's actually going to make the movie, when you lie about the percentage of proceeds that will go back to the investor. That, then, becomes a fraud," she said.

CBS News also connected with the man who convinced Anderson to invest. He sent two associates to meet with CBS News, hoping we'd hand over a $100,000 check for a horror film called "The Animal Among Us."

Jonathan Murphy was optimistic about the potential for our investment. "Well, with -- with what I told you, 500 percent domestically to 1,200 percent, let's split that and go 700 percent return on a $100,000 investment. You're looking at -- you just made $600,000," he said.

Cara Kidwell told CBS News producers she helped produce two films -- "Spring Break '83," starring John Goodman, which was shot more than six years ago, but has not been released, and "What Love Is," starring Cuba Gooding Jr, released in 2007.

CBS News Investigates: Hollywood movie producers
Kidwell said investors actually doubled their return. She said to CBS News' Milton, "I remember the first check that rolled in was for a unit, and that project was $30,000, OK. ... And then all of a sudden the money started coming in and everybody got really quiet, really happy, and wanted to clink champagne glasses on the red carpet premiere."

Milton said, "Cause how much did they get back?"

Kidwell said, "I'm not in accounting, so I don't know. I was a producer on it."

Investors told CBS News they've never seen a dime of a return from "What Love Is."

Ben Tracy entered and introduced himself.

TRACY: "They were told up front that they were likely to make money off of this, and they haven't. So what do you say to those people?"

KIDWELL: "Well, you know what? Why don't I do this? Why don't I connect you directly with Big Sky Motion Pictures, which was the company that actually produced that hired me? And then you can ask them -- all the questions you want and they can give you the direct answers to it."

TRACY: "Big Sky Motion Pictures is a company you've worked for?"

KIDWELL: "Yes. Big Sky Motion Pictures."

TRACY: "Okay, are you aware that Big Sky Motion Pictures and Spring Break '83 Productions have several cease-and-desist orders against them for soliciting these kinds of investments?"

KIDWELL: "No, I don't believe....they do."

Kidwell told us she felt the producers aren't at fault -- it was the marketing firm they hired that might have done things the wrong way.

But CBS News found public records that show Kidwell has been paid by the marketing firm that Big Sky used to raise money for their films. And investors gave us documents listing Cara Kidwell as director of partner relations for Big Sky. She even issued tax forms to investors so they could write off their losses, directly contradicting her claim to our producers that investors doubled their money.

Both Kidwell and Big Sky's chief executive officer Mars Callahan declined CBS News' request for a sit-down interview.

Joel Craft says he sold thousands of investor names and phone numbers to Big Sky. He's been indicted for selling telemarketing leads to other Hollywood production companies that defrauded investors. "They are professional money raisers, they are not professional film producers," he said.

"It's a glorified telemarketing operation. I would say several hundred investors invested in Big Sky," he said. "They did produce the films, but unfortunately none of the investors have seen their money back."

Bette Anderson's investment cost her life's savings and likely her home. "It's not what I had planned for my life. I didn't expect to be in this place at this stage of my life. So, uh, yeah it's been devastating," she said.

CBS News did get a response from Kidwell via email. She told CBS News she thought our producer was an accredited investor, and that the documents she sent us clearly state that investing in movies is high-risk. However, law enforcement sources tell CBS News that it's still fraud if lies are told and key omissions are made when the investment is pitched to people over the phone or in person.

So what should you do if you get a call from a telemarketer? Tracy said on "CBS This Morning," "You have to ask lots of questions. You got to ask these people about their past projects. Ask to see the financials from those projects. And then, get an accountant or a financial adviser involved and bottom-line, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."

Hollywood producers' telemarketing practices defrauding people by hundreds of millions, law enforcement says - CBS News (http://www.cbsnews.com/news/hollywood-producers-telemarketing-practices-defrauding-people-by-hundreds-of-millions-law-enforcement-says/)

https://www.euroweeklynews.com/news/spanish-news/item/118959-50-detained-for-boiler-room-scams

‘Don’t let boiler room scammers get away with it’ - The Scotsman (http://www.scotsman.com/business/management/don-t-let-boiler-room-scammers-get-away-with-it-1-3307618)

[ribshaw]

Apparently don't be a punter with your cash before doing your homework. On the second link, this appears to be the SECOND time he was caught running a fraud. Its no secret I don't like giving my family money to other folks to "look after", but even if that seems like nonsense, surely a background check on the person asking for a check would be prudent.


Former Texas All-American and NFL kicker and punter Russell Erxleben was sentenced Monday to more than seven years in federal prison for running an illegal investment scam that netted $2 million.

Prosecutors said Erxleben scammed investors from 2005 to 2009 with fraudulent deals that promoted dealing in post-World War I German government bonds and a work of art purportedly by French painter Paul Gauguin.

Former Texas Kicker Erxleben Sentenced In Investment Scam « CBS Dallas / Fort Worth (http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2014/02/24/former-texas-kicker-erxleben-sentenced-in-investment-scam/)


It will be Erxleben's second stint in federal prison. He was sentenced in 1999 to seven years for a scam that robbed investors of $36 million.

Erxleben, 57, holds the Texas record for longest field goal at 67 yards. He was a first-round draft pick by the New Orleans Saints in 1979.

Former New Orleans Saints punter Russell Erxleben gets 7 years in prison for investment scam | NOLA.com (http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2014/02/former_new_orleans_saints_punt_2.html)

[ribshaw]

Tax season is here, and the IRS is warning about a major scam that's hitting Metro Atlanta.

This scam has been circulating for a couple of months. It originated on the west coast and has made its way to the southeast.

Scam artists call unsuspecting tax payers, pretending to be the IRS and demand money.

Shauna Kaler of Gainesville got the call two days after she filed her taxes this year.

She received an automated message indicating the IRS had urgent business with her and that she needed to call back immediately.

"So I called them back and they gave me their spiel, that they're an officer, gave me their badge, supposedly their badge number, all this stuff and they said that I was fraudulent on my income tax for the last 3 years," said Kaler.

She was alarmed because the person on the line sounded extremely legit.

"They sounded very professional at the beginning and they tell you they're looking for so and so...your name, they know the last four digits of your social security number and your address."

The scammer asked her for $800 in back taxes. They wanted her to wire it via Western Union right away. When she refused, she says the caller's tone changed.

"They were adamant on me, do you have an attorney? You need to get an attorney because you owe this. Otherwise you will be arrested. I mean they make it, they're very...I know it scared me enough to call you guys (Fox 5)," said Kaler.

She hung up, and called her accountant, just to be sure. "And she told me I was actually the 2nd person to call her here in the Gainesville area with the same phone call from the same number."

Kaler looked up the number that she had just dialed on the Internet. She found a slew of complaints other people had lodged against the same number with the same spiel.

Mark Green with the IRS says they are aware of the scam and he says it's extremely sophisticated.

"This scam unfortunately has victimized a number of individuals," Green said.

"This scam has a little twist to it because technology has provided the scam artists a way of indicating on your caller ID that the call is actually coming from the Internal Revenue Service."

Green says the scammers threaten to arrest the victim if they refuse to pay. Or in many cases, they threaten deportation. Green says the scammers tend to target elderly tax payers or communities with high populations of recent immigrants.

Green says there are victims in Toccoa, Columbus, Gainesville, and Atlanta.

"If you receive a telephone call from the Internal Revenue Service stating that you owe money, simply hang up. Know that this is a scam. The Internal Revenue Service does not, I repeat, does not solicit by telephone, text or email personal information." The IRS generally does business via U.S. Mail.

The phone number that the scam originated from (in Shauna Kaler's case) is 716-202-0659.The IRS is investigating trying to find the source of the scam.

If you get a similar call, they want you to call your local police and then report it to the IRS.

Read more: IRS warns of widespread scams - Atlanta News, Weather, Traffic, and Sports | FOX 5 (http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/story/24814987/irs-warns-of-widespread-scam#ixzz2uRXYdvXo)
Follow us: @FOX5Atlanta on Twitter | FOX5Atlanta on Facebook

[ribshaw]

This can't be stressed enough in my mind, if giving your money to someone else to invest, it MUST be held in a bank or brokerage where the balance and access to the funds can be handled by you. If the only access to statements and funds is through the adviser themselves, a huge unnecessary risk and potential for fraud occurs. Don't care how great they are on the radio.


Add on comment:
In the underlined below, this adviser and her pal claimed to be doing Hard Money Loans. While this is a legitimate business, it is also rife with scams. If looking at a portfolio of hard money loans, I would want to independently verify the liens on file at the courthouse. Better be in first position and have equity built in case of foreclosure. To just write a check and wait for your 12% is very dangerous.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_money_loan

Former Monterey radio host found guilty in Ponzi scheme

By VIRGINIA HENNESSEY, Monterey Herald
Posted: 02/25/2014 11:04:32 AM PST | Updated: about 24 hours ago

Once a respected investment adviser in Monterey, former radio host Barbra Alexander faces federal prison time after a jury convicted her of 28 felony counts involving a $4 million Ponzi scheme that collapsed in 2010.

After a two-week trial and more than four days of deliberations in San Jose district court, the verdict clears the way for a civil trial by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which is seeking restitution for Alexander's victims who believed they were investing in secured real estate.

Lillian Arauz Haase, spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office, said further details of the jury's verdict were not available late Monday. Alexander's defense attorney, Peter Leeming of Santa Cruz, did not respond to requests for comment.

Alexander, 66, is the former producer of the internationally syndicated "Money Dots" financial talk show, aired locally on KION-AM 1460. She and partner Michael Swanson, 65, also operated the Monterey-based APS Funding, which told about 45 investors their savings would be used to offer "hard-money" short-term, high-interest loans for real estate development. They were assured 12 percent interest.

In reality, Alexander, Swanson and associate Beth Pina siphoned most of the funds for their own uses, including investments into Money Dots. Among her other diversions, Alexander spent $200,000 on a kitchen remodel for her Monterey rental home, then celebrated its completion by inviting her unsuspecting clients for a party.

As the investments fell in arrears, the trio continued to seek new investors to keep the scam afloat. Among the victims were retirees who invested their life savings. U.S. District Court Judge Lucy Koh allowed the Securities and Exchange Commission to depose two victims who were in their 70s and another who was suffering from brain cancer for fear they would not be alive for the commission's civil trial.

The scheme crumbled in 2009 when local investors complained to the Monterey County District Attorney's office that they were unable to get their money out of the fund. Deputy District Attorney John Hubanks and his office initially investigated with the Monterey and Carmel police departments, but soon realized the extent of the fraud and called in the FBI.

The three were arrested in October 2010 and indicted on 43 charges of mail and securities fraud, money laundering and conspiracy. Most of the charges carry maximum sentences of 20 years each in federal prison and up to $5 million in fines. Swanson was tried and convicted in a separate trial in September. Pina pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud in December 2012.

About a dozen charges were dismissed before Alexander's and Swanson's trials. Sentencing for Swanson and Pina has been delayed pending Alexander's trial. It is now set for May 14.

Former Monterey radio host found guilty in Ponzi scheme - San Jose Mercury News (http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_25224640/former-monterey-radio-host-found-guilty-ponzi-scheme)

[ribshaw]

A pyramid scam busted in today's news, but Facebook still has not closed the links. Probably best not to hand your money over to people on Facebook pages at any rate.

https://www.facebook.com/Mutualwealthfinancialadvisers

https://www.facebook.com/groups/mutualwealth/

7173

U.S.: Pyramid scam on Facebook, Twitter busted
Matt Krantz, USA TODAY 6:55 p.m. EST March 5, 2014
SEC moves to end alleged pyramid scheme.


Story Highlights

SEC wins emergency action against alleged pyramid scheme
Alleged fraud used Facebook and Twitter to sign up investors
Roughly 150 investors with $300,000 invested the program

SHARE 140 CONNECT 90 TWEET 3 COMMENTEMAILMORE

The Securities and Exchange Commission took emergency action against an alleged fraudulent pyramid scheme promoted on Facebook and Twitter.

A federal court gave the SEC a court order to freeze the accounts held by Fleet Mutual Wealth and MWF Financial, doing business as Mutual Wealth. The SEC claims Mutual Wealth has "been exploiting investors" using social media including Facebook and Twitter. Investors were promised returns of 2% to 3% a week, the SEC says, by using an investment strategy that "invests into securities for no more than a few minutes."

The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. The SEC's complaint claims none of Mutual Wealth's claims are true. Instead of making investments, the company instead moves money to offshore bank accounts held by false companies, the complaint says.

The SEC described the situation as a pyramid scheme because Mutual Wealth allegedly urged current investors to sign up new investors in exchange for a commission.

Roughly 150 U.S. investors opened accounts with Mutual Wealth, investing $300,000, the SEC says. "Mutual Wealth used Facebook and Twitter as well as a team of recruiters to spread a steady stream of lies that tricked investors out of their money," says Gerald Hodgkins, an associate director in the SEC's Division of Enforcement in a statement.

Judge Dolly Gee granted the SEC's request for a freezing of assets at any bank. The SEC investigation is continuing. The defendants could not be reached.

U.S.: Pyramid scam on Facebook, Twitter busted (http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/03/05/sec-pyramid-facebook-twitter/6089055/)

[NikSam]

I am a bit surprised why the accent was on Facebook and tweeter.

It is just a regular HYIP scam which been running for just a bit over 1 year , and still runs :) - www.mutualwealth.com (http://www.mutualwealth.com)
or correctly LYIP , how some call it for paying "Low" profits and considered to last longer.


SEC needs to open the eyes, their eyes are on the Facebook, "get back to work" :)

[ribshaw]

I am a bit surprised why the accent was on Facebook and tweeter.

It is just a regular HYIP scam which been running for just a bit over 1 year , and still runs :) - www.mutualwealth.com (http://www.mutualwealth.com)
or correctly LYIP how some call it for paying Low profits and considered to last longer.


SEC needs to open the eyes, their eyes are on the Facebook, "get back to work" :)

That could be the media too. I see quite a few articles where a "new" scam is hitting town which always gets me a little excited. But when you hit the article it is seldom anything new, and usually quite the opposite. My interest was only piqued because of the mention of Facebook, it never ceases to amaze how easy it is to operate a scam on FB right out in the open.

EDIT, LOL. Just a bone of contention, I just posted the link to their Facebook page on my page and got a security check from Facebook, actually two. And friends who do the same thing as any of us are routinely banned or suspended by FB. It is just the craziest way to operate if they truly wanted to protect their users. Not really scam related, but I hate to think how many grown ups are pretending to be kids over on FB.

[NikSam]

... My interest was only piqued because of the mention of Facebook, it never ceases to amaze how easy it is to operate a scam on FB right out in the open....

Almost every HYIP has a facebook page these days, if you did not notice :)

As well as huge amount of facebook groups to announce new ones and pimp.

Neither facebook, neither any hoster or registrar will do anything if they do not get a court order, knowingly allowing criminals to continue to scam.

I know only one registrar/hoster who cares , and scammers slowly learning to stay away from it ;)


BTW: here is the SEC complaint: http://www.sec.gov/litigation/complaints/2014/comp-pr2014-44.pdf

[NikSam]

What makes those tricky bastards special is this:


Mutual Wealth has filed three Securities Act Forms D with the Commission.

32. Each Form D purports to give notice of offerings of securities that are
exempt from registration with the Commission under Regulation D of the Securities
Act. But Mutual Wealth's offers and sales of securities do not
qualify for the exemptions cited in the Forms D or any exemption under from registration under
Regulation D of the Securities Act.
Consequently, the Forms D are invalid and of no legal effect.



And they been pointing investors to SEC database to show them as listed and pretended to be licensed, while investors are not smart enough and do not understand what Form D means.

http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1501059/000150105913000001/xslFormDX01/primary_doc.xml


Also this part is interesting:


Mutual Wealth's sole shareholder and director has filed records with
Hong Kong and Cypriot authorities using a non-existent U.S. address, and has used
two U.S. passports that were either forged or stolen.

[ribshaw]

Been putting it off, but tax time right around the corner.

The caller claimed she was with the IRS' investigations department and she was bearing bad news: She had an arrest warrant for nonpayment of taxes.

This unnerving lie set the stage for a costly scam that ensnared the mother of an ABC News viewer in Jacksonville, N.C., who shared her story with the ABC News Fixer.

The scammer was so convincing, the woman immediately went out and bought $2,000 in prepaid debit cards to pay for back taxes and penalties the "agent" claimed she owed. But the con didn't stop there. Within three hours of handing over the money, the terrified victim got another call claiming that her payment was rejected and she'd have to pay another $3,500 to avoid immediate arrest.

She sent that money, too, before realizing later that she'd been scammed.

Sadly, that rip-off isn't unusual – in fact, it's one of the IRS' "Dirty Dozen" scams for 2014.

"There's quite a range of scams out there," said IRS spokesman Eric Smith. Consumers should remember that the IRS will never make an initial contact, out of the blue, by phone or email and ask for money or personal identifying information, Smith said: "We never do that."

Here are the top tax scams – done to taxpayers and by taxpayers – according to the IRS:

Identity theft: It's the IRS' top scam and why you need to keep your personal information locked up. Thieves steal consumers' names, Social Security numbers and other info, then file a tax return – and obtain a refund – in the victim's name. If you believe you're at risk for identity theft due to lost or stolen personal information, you can call the IRS and ask them to secure your tax account.

Phone scams: There's lot of variety here, with scammers impersonating IRS agents to steal your personal information or take your money. In some cases, the caller will say the consumer is entitled to a refund, but they need to provide their Social Security number or bank routing info. In others, they'll say the consumer owes back taxes and threaten them with arrest or the loss of their driver's license – or deportation, in the case of immigrant victims. "Spoofing" technology allows scammers to imitate the IRS' toll-free number on caller ID.

Phishing: This is just like the phone scams – but online. The crooks use emails or fake IRS websites to lure their victims and get them to provide personal and financial information. Remember: the IRS never emails or texts taxpayers to ask for personal or financial information.

False "free money": This scam plays upon the victim's greed by promising large federal refunds they aren't entitled to. Bogus tax preparers claim they can get you money based on false claims for education credits, the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the American Opportunity Tax Credit. Beware, though, because if you're involved in a false claim, you might wind up losing your real federal benefits, such as Social Security, veterans or low-income housing benefits, according to the IRS – and you could face a $5,000 penalty. On top of that, these shady "preparers" often charge a large fee.

Preparer fraud: Most tax preparers are honest professionals. But there are scammers who are really just looking to commit identity theft. Only use preparers who sign the returns they prepare, enter their IRS Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) and give you a copy of your return. You are legally responsible for what's on your return, even if someone else prepared it.

Hiding income offshore: The IRS is cracking down on people who evade U.S. taxes by hiding their money in offshore banks, brokerage accounts or nominee entities and then use debit cards, credit cards or wire transfers to get to their funds. Ditto with people who use foreign trusts, employee-leasing schemes, private annuities or insurance plans to shirk their tax bills.

Bogus charities: A perennial scam that crops up whenever there's a big natural disaster. Scammers impersonate charities to draw out money and private information from taxpayers who think they're making a tax-deductible contribution. Bottom line: Only deal with recognized charities.

False information: Beware of reporting false income, expenses or exemptions on your tax return to get a bigger refund. If you're caught, you'll be on the hook for the erroneous refund, including interest and penalties, and you could be criminally prosecuted, the IRS says.

Frivolous arguments: The IRS is not a big fan of these, so if you're tempted to say that you don't owe taxes because they're voluntary or you didn't get due process or some other goofy argument, it won't work.

The "zero wages" lie: In this fraud, the taxpayer submits a Form 4852 (a substitute W-2) or a "corrected" Form 1099 to make their income look lower and avoid paying taxes. The IRS takes a dim view of this and could hit you with a $5,000 penalty.

Abusive tax structure: This is a rich guy scheme in which the taxpayer uses domestic and foreign trust arrangements and the financial secrecy of foreign countries and offshore banks to avoid paying their fair share. The IRS says these schemes are characterized by the use of Limited Liability Companies (LLCs), Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs), International Business Companies (IBCs), foreign financial accounts and offshore credit or debit cards.

Misuse of trusts: Not all trusts are bad, but the IRS is on the hunt for unscrupulous promoters who urge people to transfer large amounts of assets – including cash, investments and ongoing businesses – into a private annuity or foreign trust just to avoid paying taxes. If this is you, be careful. Seek the advice of a trusted professional.


'Pay Your Taxes Now or Be Arrested': The Dirty Dozen Tax Scams You Want to Avoid - ABC News (http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/pay-taxes-now-arrested-dirty-dozen-tax-scams/story?id=22624839&singlePage=true)

[ribshaw]

Check Your Utility Bill For Fraud From This New Scam

A new scam is costing innocent people hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. Here’s what you need to know to protect yourself.

Several suppliers of electricity that service various markets in the United States recently more than doubled their rates without any warning to customers. Some of the firms involved apparently claim that the skyrocketing prices resulted from unusually cold weather in the Northeast USA which caused their supply costs to increase. This claim, however, is suspicious, as other providers of power did not make similar increases, leading one to wonder whether these firms mismanaged their purchasing processes, or if something more sinister is at play. I tried to reach one of the suppliers, but, not surprisingly, my email and phone messages went unreturned.

Regardless of the reason for the increases, however, people should think twice before paying their bills, as, in many cases, the firms may not have the right to charge the exorbitant rates. As part of its marketing and sales process, one supplier promised that its rates would never suddenly increase by large amounts. One provider’s website continued to advertise “we make your savings our responsibility,” “The Same Service & Reliability. Simply Pay Less.,” and “you can enjoy low energy rates” – while it was charging more than double the price of the publicly-regulated utility with which it competes. Another provider continued to advertise rates on its website that are far lower than what some customers claim they were being charged. And, of course, other agreements may also have been broken. Furthermore, in areas in which States of Emergency were recently declared due to weather – for example, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, both of which have residents reporting severely inflated electric bills – price gouging may have violated other laws.

Many people routinely pay their utility bills without checking the specifics. Because people typically use far less electricity in the winter than they do in the summer, even people being scammed may find the total due for electricity in January or February to be a number that they have seen in the past.

So, as step one: Before paying your power bill make sure you are not being overbilled. If inflated rates violate an agreement that you had with your supplier, check the cost (per kWh) and make sure it is similar to the rate charged by your public utility. Some bills tell you what the public utility would have charged; in other cases the information is easily obtainable online or by phone.

If you are being overcharged, make sure to dispute the validity of the charges with the party that bills you. It is best if you resolve the issue directly with your supplier, but, if my experience described above is any indicator, your supplier may be unreachable. In many cases, however, you may have another party to whom to turn, as the billing for the third-party provider is actually handled by the local public utility; scammers may be relying on the fact that some utilities put warnings about shutting off power on the bills of people who fall behind in payments – providing a strong incentive for people to pay their bills even when overcharged. Aggravating matters is the fact that some customers who called their utilities have apparently been told that the utility does not handle consumer disputes with third-party energy providers, and that the full amount must be paid.

I spoke several times with a representative of the media relations department at PSEG – the utility servicing millions of people in New Jersey and New York. She informed me that while customers should first try to resolve billing issues with their suppliers, PSEG’s customer call center will take disputes, and that (perhaps as a result of our conversations back and forth) PSEG has recently reiterated its policy regarding disputed bills to its customer service personnel. If a different utility services your area, you will, of course, need to contact its appropriate customer service team.

You may also wish to contact your state’s Attorney General and Public Utilities Commission (or their equivalents). In Pennsylvania, the Attorney General is already looking into this matter, and the State Legislature is also launching an investigation.

As a final step, if you are using a third-party supplier that is overbilling you, you should obviously switch to a better supplier ASAP. Because of inefficiencies in the system, the actual switchover can sometimes take months to complete, a deficiency that scammers may also be seeking to exploit. So act quickly.

Of course, regulators, legislators, and law enforcement also need to take action. Third-party providers should not be allowed to overcharge and then attempt to use public utilities as “enforcers” threating to cut off heat in the winter if their bills are not paid. Unless changes are made to the current system, the entire third-party supply model could collapse; if overcharging scams repeat themselves, people fearing potentially significant aggravation and price gouging will simply refuse to switch providers of power. Jobs will be lost, and prices will rise. To preserve the capitalistic market in energy we need better oversight and enforcement.

Want to be notified of great articles that can benefit you? Follow me on Twitter at @JosephSteinberg

Check Your Utility Bill For Fraud From This New Scam - Forbes (http://www.forbes.com/sites/josephsteinberg/2014/03/09/check-your-utility-bill-for-fraud-from-this-new-scam/)

[ribshaw]

SCAMMER: drkingsleymoghalu109@gmail.com

My name is Dr. Kingsley C. Moghalu,the deputy governor CBN.I was mandated by the President Federal Republic in conjunction with the Federal Executive Council (FEC), the Senate Committee on Foreign Debts Reconciliation and Implementation Panel on Contract/inheritance/compensation funds to complete all the unpaid Contract/inheritance/lottery fund. You are required as a matter of urgency to reconfirm your information including your name, phone number and your address for verification and immediate payment within 24 hours.

To this effect, the sum of TEN MILLION, SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS (US$10.7m) has approved for you. I wish to inform you that all matters relating to the release of this payment is now under my control and supervision. This development has become necessary due to the activities of unpatriotic government/CBN officials and impostors who keep on frustrating every effort to settle our clients by making requests for unauthorized fees and levies from them.

We apologize for any delay you might have encountered in the past, your payment is now 100% Guaranteed

Kindly choose from these three modes of payment (wire transfer, diplomatic cash payment and ATM card). I can be reached on this number anytime: +234-70-35432212. Call me for more details

Best Regards,
Dr. Kingsley Moghalu
Deputy Governor CBN

[laidback]

Here is a headscratcher for y'all. With the Fortune 500, etc. etc., I have been chosen as one of the top 100 business leaders? Not bloody likely!!!


Confirmation #F0TZJXUJ
Dear xxxxx

It is my pleasure to inform you that your 2014 membership has been approved in the Top 100 Business Leaders, the largest network of professionals in the World.

We provide an exclusive and powerful networking forum for our valued members to communicate and achieve social and career success.
Take a moment to confirm the acceptance of your nomination.

http://www.wanhammercap.com/welcome-b/career/service-775/network.start.


Your nomination was approved this week. Your prompt response is required and appreciated to get your career networking started.

Sincerely,
Career Networking Team Funny, but I don't remember tendering my application...!

[ribshaw]

Here is a headscratcher for y'all. With the Fortune 500, etc. etc., I have been chosen as one of the top 100 business leaders? Not bloody likely!!!

Funny, but I don't remember tendering my application...!

I nominated you for that thing you did that one time without having to be asked. ATTA BOY.

Kindly provide your CC Number and Mothers Maiden Name, with first pet thrown in for good measure.:RpS_wink:

==================================
SPEAKING OF NONSENSE, there are 0 jobs that involve getting mailed a check, not mystery shopper, not monster truck driver which made me sad
Beware of the 'Monster' truck scam - FOX 13 News (http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/story/25059102/beware-of-the-monster-truck-scam), not personal assistant, not sending **** to Nigeria, not shipping a car, not something you are selling on Craig's List, not not not not, NEVER.

IN FACT, if someone sends you a check for ANYTHING make 100% it clears your bank. Then call the bank that the check was drawn on and make certain you aren't being hosed. And then wait a few days just for good measure before sending them anything.


Never mind fixing toilets at 2AM, these checks are GUARANTEED to BOUNCE.


SCAMMER ervin.luke@aol.com
SCAMMER david@cannonapr.com

Duties: Cash some of their rubber checks and send them the money before your bank gives you the insufficient funds notice.

Good day,

Trust Realty, is using this medium to inform you about the position opening as payment receiving and processing agents in our properties and account department. Our 10,000+ rentals in over 40 countries worldwide act as the driving force of our company. The company is growing dynamically and its formation is ongoing. At this particular moment, we are expanding our business area and increasing the number of property units in our database.

For this reason, we are widening our network of real estate agents and need more representatives in our account receivable department. We are known for competitive salaries, bonus/incentive programs and excellent benefits. Are you interested in an environment that rewards hard work
and creative contributions? If yes, then join our big family.

Duties:
1). Sending rent payments to Landlords
2). Receiving rent payments from customers
3). Data entry
4). Processing rent payments,remittance of funds and record keeping.

Salary:
1). 1000 USD per month. First salary you get after 30 days from the day you start working.
2). 10% from each received rent payment processed on the same day you
receive it (cashiers checks or money orders) . 1-10 Rent payments per
week. Amount of one rent payment varies from :1500-5000 USD.

Requirements:
18 years or older.
Responsible, Reliable and Trustworthy
Available to work a minimum 3-4 hours per week.
Able to check and respond to emails often.
Easy telephone access.
Computer literacy is an advantage
We don't require an active agent license.
We don't require your bank information.
We are sure this work will be interesting and simple for you. The
greatest advantage of this position is its remote character and the
possibility of spending only a few hours a day working while earning a
base 12,000 per year plus your commissions (up to 30,000 USD per year).

To complete this stage of your job placement you should confirm your information by filling the information requested below :

FULL NAME:
PHYSICAL ADDRESS:
CITY / STATE /ZIP CODE:
COUNTRY:
OCCUPATION:
AGE:
PHONE NUMBER:
CURRENT EMAIL:

At the receipt of your response,you will be contacted and notified with your first payment processing assignment and guide.

We look forward to reading from you soon.

Email me: ervin.luke@aol.com

Regards,
Ervin Luke
Phone: +1 760-284-4658
================================================== =======
Trust Realty . 20 Chestnut Street Needham, MA 02492

[ribshaw]

While not a new scam, this may be of interest to Real Estate investors doing 1031 exchanges and having proceeds held in trust. The method Okun used was nearly identical to Martin Frankel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Frankel) with the insurance companies he purchased.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJnGzXT5E3Y

CNBC's American Greed: Scams, Schemes, and Broken Dreams (http://www.cnbc.com/id/18057119)

Bit on Frankel
American Greed: The Martin Frankel Case (http://www.cnbc.com/id/100000095)

===============================

Richmond News, Crime & Politics

Okun's former wife to testify at fraud sentencing


Edward Hugh Okun faces what could amount to a life sentence in prison for one of the largest frauds ever tried in a federal courtroom in Richmond.

Frank Green

Until his conviction this year in a $126 million fraud, Carol May had not heard a word about her first husband, Edward Hugh Okun, since he left Canada decades ago.

The news surprised her -- not that he was in trouble, but that he still was alive. "I thought somebody would have killed him," she chuckled. "It doesn't sound like his behavior changed very much through the years."

In a two-day sentencing hearing beginning tomorrow, U.S. District Judge Robert E. Payne could send Okun, 58, behind bars for the rest of his life in one of the largest frauds ever tried in a federal courtroom in Richmond.

The government has asked several of the roughly 300 victims who lost life savings to testify this week about the impact of the crimes.

May, of Toronto, also will attend. The government intends to call her as a witness.

In 1973, May, then Carol Cohen, married the charming scion of a wealthy family, but the magic faded quickly. She said, "I wanted the divorce. He was crazy. He was a wreck. His personality had just changed so much from when we first met."

Okun left Canada in the late 1970s amid fraud allegations and lawsuits filed against him by members of his own family.

May heard nothing of him again until March, when news media reports reached her of his fraud convictions in a scheme to finance another divorce, his current marriage to a Brazilian woman and the purchase of expensive cars, aircraft and homes.

The government is seeking a maximum 400-year sentence. In a recent sentencing memorandum, prosecutors wrote of Okun: "It is difficult to overstate the blatant breach of trust and the wanton greed [he] displayed."

Okun's lawyers are asking for a 10- to 15-year term and argue that just 20 years would amount to a life sentence for the ailing Okun, who had triple coronary bypass surgery at age 39.

In June a federal judge in New York hit Bernard Madoff with the maximum, 150-year sentence allowed under federal sentencing guidelines even though Madoff pleaded guilty, showed remorse and apologized.

Okun has done none of that. Instead, he toughed it out in a three-week jury trial in which he was convicted on all 23 counts and apparently has yet to express any remorse. He will be given a chance to speak before he is sentenced.

"Madoff was sentenced to the maximum punishment allowed by law and one that will ensure that Madoff never gets out of jail, which is exactly what the government seeks in this case," wrote prosecutors in court papers filed Wednesday.

Jayne W. Barnard, a law professor at the College of William and Mary, was in the courtroom when Madoff was sentenced and hopes to attend Okun's sentencing. In 2001, she urged that federal courts allow victims of white-collar crime to speak at sentencings and the rules were changed later to allow that.

Barnard said there are three primary reasons for allowing fraud victims a chance to speak. The first, she said, is that it is helpful for the judge. The next is because it can help the victims, she said.

"It is a very humiliating, demoralizing experience to be defrauded no matter how smart you are. No matter how clever your defrauder is, it's very humiliating. But for some of them, to go court and stand up and say, 'This is what's happened to me,' is very restorative," she said.

Finally, Barnard said, victim testimony "can really deliver a powerful message to the defendant. . . . I think many of these fraud perpetrators really don't have a conventional sense of conscience. They have no sense of the injury that they've inflicted," she said.

"I was very impressed by the fact that Bernie Madoff, who is a cold fellow, made reference to comments that the victims had made minutes before his own statement. He was listening very hard, and he heard at least some of what they had to say," Barnard said.

"And even if they don't hear it at the time of sentencing, they usually have a long time to ponder what has been said in their presence," she said.

. . .

Okun's scam used his now-defunct, Richmond-based businesses, Investment Properties of America and The 1031 Tax Group. He moved the firms to Richmond from Indianapolis in 2005 when a key employee -- now facing 10 years in prison -- would not leave Richmond.

In August 2005, Okun's The 1031 Tax Group began acquiring other 1031 exchange companies, which temporarily hold money from clients' real estate sales, deferring their capital-gains taxes under Section 1031 of the tax code.

Authorities say that during the same month he started buying 1031 companies, Okun began raiding the client accounts, in part to buy more 1031 companies to keep the scheme running, as well as for lavish spending.

In court filings, the government says that unlike with Madoff, "this is not a case where the victims sought to invest their money with Okun, knowing that they were putting it at risk. Instead, the victims followed IRS requirements and entrusted Okun's companies with their hard-earned money."

"In return for their trust, Okun stole their money," prosecutors said.

The government believes Okun's romance of and marriage to Simone Bolani in 2005 helped lead to the fraud -- Okun needed nearly $6 million to divorce a wife in Indianapolis.

Okun, then 54, married Bolani, then 27, in a $171,000 Miami ceremony in December 2005. Including the divorce settlement, from August 2005 to March 2007 Okun spent $35 million on jewelry, expensive cars and an $8.3 million yacht he named "Simone."

In January 2007, Okun treated a small dinner party in the Bahamas to a $56,525 meal. He later disputed $29,065 of the tab saying the cognac was $1,008 a bottle -- not per shot.

. . .

Though the clients will recover some of their money through bankruptcy court, lives were disrupted, small fortunes were spent on legal fees, and retirements canceled or delayed.

A Web site, www.freeokun.com, blames Okun's failures on others, describes him as a self-made millionaire, and says the government hid evidence that could have helped his case. It is not known who created the Web site or who posted the information.

Okun did not testify at his trial, but his lawyers said he borrowed, not stole, the money from the accounts and always intended to pay it back.

May, now an owner of an interior design business in Toronto, said she believes that's bunk. "His intent has never been to pay anybody back. That's just his way of twisting it to make it sound like he had no intentions to do wrong," she said.

"In the four years we were together he bought a Rolls Royce, he bought a Mercedes, he bought an Aston Martin. . . . He was extravagant," May said. "To me, it's almost a repeat of exactly what it was like when he was here and we were married," she said.

As things got worse, she said, "he would dig deeper and deeper for money."

In the 1970s, according to the U.S. government's sentencing memorandum: "While in his 20s in Canada, [Okun] stole $150,000 from his father-in-law and was sued by his own sister and paternal uncle for improper business dealings."

Prosecutors say they will present testimony that he left Canada to avoid paying civil judgments.

Okun's lawyers say the government claims about his behavior 30 years ago are unsubstantiated and that aside from the current fraud convictions, Okun never had been arrested and charged with a crime, other than a decades-old driving-while-intoxicated charge.

But, May said, "if I can in any way demonstrate that his behavior in [recent years] was simply an enlargement of how he was at age 25, then perhaps it will be evident that he has been a thief for a long, long time."

"I don't really wish him ill, but, you know, he has done things that he's responsible for, and he shouldn't get away with it," she said.

Okun's former wife to testify at fraud sentencing - Richmond Times-Dispatch: Richmond News, Crime & Politics (http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/okun-s-former-wife-to-testify-at-fraud-sentencing/article_6793ffc7-ef12-5233-ab8f-efb78ce07784.html)

[ribshaw]

This was on CNBC's American Greed last night. I watched the episode with my girlfriend, a more or less first since she does not share my passion of tracking scams. As the victims told their stories she could not believe what she was hearing. People who were now going to lose their houses, invested their life's savings, many with no chance to earn it back.

As always the ruse was SIMPLE, pay people with their own money and tell them it is interest, give people fake account statements showing what they are "earning". It always bears repeating, when you can't INDEPENDENTLY verify the numbers and transaction details you run the risk of being scammed.

How Joe Mazella fooled investors - CNBC (http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000262923)

A Staten Island man was arrested earlier this morning on charges arising out of his alleged operation of a $12 million Ponzi scheme from 2007 to 2010. Joseph Mazella, the founder and president of the Great Atlantic Group, Inc., a Staten Island-based real estate and financial consulting company, was charged with securities fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering in a federal indictment that was unsealed earlier today in federal court in Brooklyn. The case has been assigned to Chief United States District Court Judge Carol B. Amon. The defendant is scheduled to be arraigned later today before United States Magistrate Judge Lois Bloom at the United States Courthouse, 225 Cadman Plaza East, Brooklyn, New York. The charges were announced by Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Janice K. Fedarcyk, Assistant Director in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office.

As alleged in the indictment, Mazella solicited investments in Third Millennium Enterprises, Inc. and 150 West State Street Corp., both of which were associated with the Great Atlantic Group that supposedly invested in real estate projects and provided private mortgages. Mazella told prospective investors that he would invest their money in real estate projects, including projects in Trenton, New Jersey, a warehouse in Utica, New York, and a golf course development project. From approximately January 2007 until approximately December 2010, investors contributed a total of nearly $12 million to Third Millennium and 150 West State Street. As of December 2010, the combined closing balance of the bank accounts associated with the two companies was less than $15,000.

According to the indictment, Mazella described the investments as an opportunity to receive the returns of mutual funds and stocks, without any significant loss of liquidity, and at a fixed rate during the entire time period of investment. Solicitation materials distributed by Mazella characterized the investments as “geared toward individuals who are interested in earning more than traditional bank savings and CD rates but without the risk of the stock market.” Some investors were encouraged to obtain mortgages on their homes and to invest the mortgage proceeds with Third Millennium or 150 West State Street, and other investors, typically senior citizens, were encouraged to apply for reverse mortgages on their residences and to invest the proceeds with the two companies.

The indictment charges that, by as early as January 2007, Mazella had virtually stopped investing in real estate projects, and instead operated Third Millennium and 150 West State Street as a Ponzi scheme, in which he paid returns to investors from existing investors’ deposits or money paid by new investors. Many of the properties in which the companies held any mortgage or ownership interest were abandoned and in various states of disrepair, and the property taxes owed on several of those properties had fallen into arrears. Mazella also allegedly used investors’ money to pay his personal expenses, including payments for a Porsche, a mortgage on his personal residence, and family expenses.

“Perhaps the most egregious aspect of this case is that the defendant allegedly encouraged victims—some, senior citizens—to obtain mortgages on their homes and to invest the proceeds in what the indictment charges was nothing more than a Ponzi scheme,” stated United States Attorney Lynch. “We will aggressively investigate and prosecute those who perpetrate these crimes.” Ms. Lynch thanked the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (OIG), for their assistance.

FBI Assistant Director in Charge Fedarcyk stated, “Mazella lured investors with the promise of steady rates of return without market risk. In fact, because the investment scheme allegedly was an investment scam, the only one guaranteed to get rich quick was Mazella himself. The FBI is committed to protecting the investing public.”

If convicted, Mazella faces a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment for each count of securities fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering.

The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys John P. Nowak and Evan Weitz.

The FBI has established a telephone hotline for victim investors in Third Millennium Enterprises and 150 West State Street Corp. The number is 212/384-1300.

The Defendant:
JOSEPH MAZELLA
Age: 52

FBI — Staten Island Businessman Arrested on Fraud Charges for Operating Multi-Million-Dollar Ponzi Scheme (http://www.fbi.gov/newyork/press-releases/2011/staten-island-businessman-arrested-on-fraud-charges-for-operating-multi-million-dollar-ponzi-scheme)

[Joe_Shmoe]

Why suspend his sentence?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-26818745
(http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-26818745)





http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/73924000/jpg/_73924891_455685725.jpgTrading Standards hailed the case as being the first victory of its kind
A man who ran a Microsoft computer scam tricking people into paying for free anti-virus software has received a suspended four-month jail sentence.

Mohammed Khalid Jamil, 34, from Luton, hired people at an Indian call centre to falsely tell victims their computers had a serious problem.
The targets would be charged between £35 and £150 for software Microsoft made available for free.
As well as the suspended sentence, Jamil was ordered to pay a £5,000 fine.
He must also pay £5,665 compensation and £13,929 in prosecution costs.
The decision has been hailed as a "landmark" case by Trading Standards.
"We believe it may be the first ever successful prosecution of someone involved in the Microsoft scam in the UK," said Lord Harris, chairman of the National Trading Standards Board, which oversees the work of the National Trading Standards e-crime team.
"It's an important turning point for UK consumers who have been plagued by this scam, or variants of it, for several years.
"Many have succumbed to it, parting with significant sums of money, their computers have been compromised and their personal details have been put at risk.
"Now that one of the many individuals who've been operating this scam has been brought to justice, it's a stark warning to anyone else still doing it that they can be caught and will be prosecuted."
Remote accessJamil had set up Luton-based company Smart Support Guys, which employed people based in India to cold-call Britons and claim to be working for Microsoft.
The victims, unaware of the scam, would offer remote access to the fraudsters - meaning their computers could be controlled from a different location.
Once given this access, targets' computers would be made less secure, at which point the scammers would offer, in return for a fee, to install software to fix the problem.
The software installed was available for free on Microsoft's website.
In court, Jamil admitted to unfair trading by allowing his staff to make false claims regarding computer support services.
He claimed he had tried but failed to control call centre staff and not adequately supervised them.
His jail term is suspended for 12 months.

[littleroundman]

Tech scam swindles thousands

Scammers posing as technology support experts are stealing thousands of dollars from West Australians.

Victims from Perth and the South West have lost up to $10,000 each in a recent spate of scams.

In many cases, the fraudsters claimed to work for big information technology companies such as Microsoft or Telstra.

An elderly Brighton man named Peter received a call from a "Telstra employee" who offered to upgrade his computer's Windows XP operating system for $5.

Peter gave the caller access to his computer, logged into his internet banking and used his credit card to pay the "fee".

He is still trying to recover the $10,000 the scammer stole.

Busselton pensioner Merv, 78, was persuaded to give his bank details to an Indian man who said his home computer had viruses.

"The bloke said he could get rid of the viruses for good for $400 and I thought, 'well, $400 sounds pretty good'," he said.
"He opened up a PayPal account in my name but said the first $400 had been rejected so I shot straight down to the bank."

When Merv said the caller's name was "Jack Dawson", the bank attendant knew he had been scammed.

Jack Dawson was the name of Leonardo DiCaprio's character in Titanic.

"I should have woken up to it because I update my anti-virus at least once a week, but I'm still learning this stuff," Merv said.

"I think I was targeted.

"The wife's not letting me forget it either.
"Just be careful about giving anyone your bank details or your card number because then they can get into everything."

A sharp rise in the long- running scam prompted a warning from Consumer Protection Commissioner Anne Driscoll.

She said the scam recently took a turn for the worse, leaving victims with compromised computers and hefty losses.

"Hang up on anyone who calls out of the blue claiming to be from Microsoft, Windows support, Telstra, BigPond, Apple or any reputable company wanting access to your computer to fix a problem," she said. "These companies never do this unless you contact them first.

"Never allow anyone to have remote access to your computer, unless you initiated the contact.

"Your personal information is the key to unlock your financial accounts, so guard them carefully."

[ribshaw]

Of use for our men and women in the military.

I am in the military and I am concerned that someone may try to use my personal information to obtain credit while I am deployed overseas. How can I prevent this?
updated 10/21/2013

If you are a member of the military on active duty, you may place an “active duty alert” on your credit report to reduce the risk of identity theft while you are deployed.

This alert lets a business know that you are probably out of the country, so the business is required to take reasonable steps to verify your identity before issuing credit in your name. If you have provided your telephone number, the business must either contact you at the telephone number you provided or take other reasonable steps to verify your identity and confirm that the application is not attempted identity theft. Since it may be very difficult to contact you directly if you are deployed, you can assign a personal representative to answer for you, or to place or remove an active duty alert.

Contact one of the nationwide credit reporting companies (that company will then contact the other nationwide credit reporting companies):
Get Help

Submit a Credit Reporting complaint

We’ll forward your issue to the company, give you a tracking number, and keep you updated on the status of your complaint.

Tell us your story, good or bad, about your experience with consumer financial products.

Equifax, 800-525-6285
Experian, 888-397-3742
TransUnion, 800-680-7289

Active duty alerts on your credit report last for 12 months, unless you request that the alert be removed sooner. Your name also will be removed for two years from the nationwide consumer reporting companies marketing lists for credit and insurance offers. If your deployment lasts longer than 12 months, you may place another alert on your credit file.

The active duty alert requires the creditor to take reasonable steps to confirm your identity before opening a new credit account. If you want a stronger step to protect you from identity theft during your deployment, consider placing a security freeze.

I am in the military and I am concerned that someone may try to use my personal information to obtain credit while I am deployed overseas. How can I prevent this? > Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (http://www.consumerfinance.gov/askcfpb/1367/i-am-military-and-i-am-concerned-someone-may-try-use-my-personal-information-obtain-credit-while-i-am-deployed-overseas-how-can-i-prevent.html?utm_source=Copy+of+BBB+Military+Line+ March+2014&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=The+Trusted+Scout)

[ribshaw]

Spring is here, time for the guys with the truck to just happen to be in your neighborhood.

Police Warn Homeowners of "Gypsy"-Style Scam Artists | NBC 10 Philadelphia (http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Police-Warn-Homeowners-of-Gypsy-Scam-Artists-255577041.html)

Some other related scams...

Fortunetelling

This is the most recognizable of all Gypsy crimes. Not all fortunetellers commit crimes and not everyone who enters a Gypsy fortunetelling establishment will become a victim. But everyone who does enter is a potential victim. Fortunetelling establishments are found in every sizable city in the United States. Most who enter will pay their ten or fifteen dollars and leave. Some will keep coming back until their life savings are gone. The victims are often those who are at a "last resort" stage of life and are often suffering from a lost love, death of a family member or illness.

Embarrassment leads to rare reporting and, if reported, the fortuneteller is gone. If the victim is lucky, because of investigative pressure, he/she may get all or some of their money back.

Home Repair

The home repair cons are rarely reported crimes and often ignored by the law enforcement community. The "driveway coating/sealing" scam where the loss is $50 to $100 is common. It looks good until the first rain. House painting and roof repair work are the same way. The homeowner is approached by several men in a pick-up truck (sometimes accompanied by children) who have "leftover" materials from another job and they say they will do the repairs on the victim's home for a stated dollar value to make extra money.

This can also be an opening for a burglary (home invasion). Who would refuse a child a drink of water on a hot day or the use of the bathroom? Guess who does the theft that's not discovered until hours or days later? Who's going to complain about losing $50 on a driveway-coating job that washed away? Yet, there was the 84-year-old widow who lost $367,000 over 22 months for home repairs. They are just prey.

What's $50? Multiply that by 10, 15 or 20 victims a day with two, three or four teams in a family working different areas of town.

Home Invasions

We're not talking about the armed take-over, so common among many gangs. This is better known as a residential burglary and methods vary. This is usually done by the Polish Gypsies; usually committed in the daytime and while the homeowners are present. Entrance may be through a back door or window or by distraction at the front door. Commonly, there will be two women (with or without children) walking in an affluent neighborhood and speaking a foreign language. A male driver will be close by, usually in a rental car, to aid in a quick escape.

A few years ago, in McLain, Virginia, Alexander Haig's wife was gardening in front of their home. At the same time the residence was entered from the rear and $654,000 worth of jewelry was taken. Gypsies.

This type of Gypsy crime is easy to detect since only jewelry, silver, gold or cash is taken and nothing has been disturbed.

Distraction Thefts

Better known as a store-diversion robbery, suspects will be European or Yugoslavian Gypsies but described by victims as "foreign-speaking" or "Latin/Hispanic." The crime is not planned in advance but more of a "mood" thing. The key is to create a diversion of some sort by five, eight or even 12 males and/or females. After calm is restored, the store usually discovers all of its cash has mysteriously disappeared. Violence is never used but total confusion and pandemonium reign during the theft.

This can be very rewarding. How about $42,000 taken from a supermarket and a three-month crime spree by four Gypsy women resulting in $500,000 in cash?

Insurance/Financial Frauds

This is the trend of the future and a mountain of money is being made in fraudulent insurance claims. "Slip and Falls" and staged auto crashes are the most common. These are committed with little detection because the settlements are always made quickly and for cash. The amounts are never outrageous and are usually the "Just cover my medical bills" kind of a thing. The businesses involved are usually eager not to have an insurance claim on their record, so out comes the cash.

A quick $1,000 to $2,500 cash settlement is not bad for a few minutes of work a couple of times a week.

"The cops don't care and what's best, they don't know anything about us. Hotel security has no idea what's going on. Gypsies are running their scams every day and no one is the wiser." -Las Vegas Gypsy

In 1992, Disney Corporation in Orlando, Florida, was settling for $1.4 million in a well-publicized case. There were allegations of a young lady being beaten and raped in her Disney hotel room when a male, dressed as Dracula on Halloween, broke into her room. The plot fell apart literally hours before the check was signed, when the woman's sister told the police it was all a con. The entire scam was planned from start to finish. The brother was the "intruder" who did, in fact, brutally beat his sister. "We had to make it look real," he told police. The woman's sister snitched because she discovered that the $1.4 million check was to be split three ways and not all hers!

This, if successful, would have been the biggest scam ever known to have been pulled off by Gypsies. Within the Gypsies' community, there would have been an inherent honor, one a gaje could ever understand, in accomplishing such a con.

Las Vegas

Even after the national publicity gained from this episode, Las Vegas, Nevada hotels and casinos are being scammed daily by Gypsies. Just as when the Mob ran Vegas, it is also true with the Gypsies that there are no bosses and the territory is wide open. All problems are taken to Los Angeles for a "kris." The Vegas Gypsies have ties to Colorado, California and Florida. These ties to other states present unique problems since both Colorado and Florida experience problems in the Gypsy community and turf wars, arson, guns and drugs are becoming more prevalent. Gypsies are coming to Vegas along with the great population growth. A Mecca for cons exists!

Vegas has opened up a whole new financial world for the Gypsy con. The hotels are experiencing more "slip and falls", missing items from cars parked in valet or damage to cars, "accidents," missing property and other scams. It's easier to pay off (even up to a $1.4 million settlement) than submit to your insurance company or go to court.

Also, what started in San Francisco has now arrived in Vegas as a big moneymaker. Called the "sugar-daddy sweetheart" deal, it's usually spread over a period of several months. A young, attractive Gypsy girl (and her family) will target an elderly wealthy male and provide companionship (sex is not normally involved) which will eventually end up costing the male everything. Preying on a senior citizen's loneliness often nets big bucks.

According to Gypsy sources, Las Vegas is literally being raped daily and doesn't even know it yet. This is not surprising since Gypsies and the Travelers are notorious "high rollers." While gambling for fun, they often figure they may as well work a little and make even more money.

Unfortunately, this ignorance exists in a lot of other places, but there is hope. Awareness is slowly replacing oblivion in many areas. Gypsy crime is dependent upon the ignorance of the police and public alike. Mobility, disguises, false identification, lack of communication, reporting and prosecution are counted on by the Gypsies. So, the key is identification, from photographs and fingerprints to the details of the crimes.

Gypsies: Kings of Con - Article - POLICE Magazine (http://www.policemag.com/channel/gangs/articles/2001/06/gypsies-kings-of-con.aspx)

[ribshaw]

The Asset Protection Kit Scam Continues To Lure Suckers


The invitation may be for free, or it may be for a few bucks. The invitation will promise the knowledge of how the superwealthy protect their assets. The invitation will also talk about the “Father of Asset Protection”, the “Grandfather of Asset Protection”, or something similar. The invitation will be from the “Society for Asset Protection and Doctor’s Education” or some like-sounding group.

You’ll go to the seminar, and hear lots of scary stories of folks being sued and losing everything. Then you hear how this particular group has used their very specialized knowledge to put together a kit — yes, a kit, — by which you can put together your own highly-sophisticated asset protection plan for only $5,000 or something.

At the end of the seminar, the crowd will rush up to the front to buy one of these kits — you’ll be lucky to just get the last one!

And, if you do, you’ve been scammed. As in defrauded. As in you are as big a sucker as those folks who fall for the e-mail from the Nigerian Princess.

Those people rushing to the front to buy the kits? They are shills. The scam artists pay associates to sit in the audience and feign interest, and then rush to the front and throw down their checks (later torn up, or re-used at tomorrow night’s seminar). If a dozen folks rush to the front, you might be the only person actually paying. Shills are a strategy long employed by casinos to get folks gambling, and it is strategy employed to near perfection here.

But it’s still a good take for them, with the kits going at $5,000 or so. At that rate, you only have to sell kits to a couple of suckers to have a really good night.

The kits themselves are made to really look like something. They can come in their own custom briefcase (a $40 value) or even a gilded lockbox (a $60 value). Plus, you’re getting about 5 bucks worth of paper that is worth about 5 bucks. Or maybe $100 since that is what the “ used” materials go for on Ebay EBAY -0.79%, such as at "asset protection kit" | eBay (http://goo.gl/f74voN)

Why spend $5,000 when you can get the very same materials for $100? Only a sucker can answer that question.

But even at $100 the price is too high. For somebody to think that they could put together anything like a viable legal structure working from a kit is akin to thinking that they can use a kit to perform an ACL operation on their knee in your kitchen with the steak knife. Lots of blood, lots of pain, but nothing good accomplished.

The usual sucker is a physician who of course thinks that he can do it all himself, and thus save a few bucks. What happen is that he will flounder around with the kit, and then finally give up — usually triggering a lot of unnecessary tax filings in the process. I’ve only talked to a few hundred suckers (predominantly physicians, since this is who they market to) in the last couple of decades.

In the end, what you are paying for is basically a bunch of limited partnership or limited liability companies, and the paperwork that goes with them. Note to file: Equivalent paperwork is often available for free on the Secretary of State’s website. The trick is not filling out the forms, as much as it is figuring out how it all fits together around one’s particular assets. No kit will ever get close to doing that.

In fact, it is very possible to put yourself into a worse situation by trying to use one of these kits for asset protection. By trying to move assets into entities, valuable creditor exemptions could be lost, and considerable unforeseen taxes triggered.

The folks selling this stuff are simply lowlife scam artists, who would be selling mango juice as a cancer preventative if they thought folks could get away with it. Instead, they put on a suit and pretend they know something about asset protection.

Usually these groups circulate across the countryside from that international financial center known as Utah, which seems to be the beehive for these particular scammers. For whatever reason, Utah has long been the hotbed of asset protection scams, going back to the Merrill Scott & Associates days, when an asset protection law firm embezzled their client’s funds en masse. These asset protection kits are just another part of the scam.

Very simply, it is from Utah and involves asset protection, it is probably a scam.

If you have been scammed, the odds of getting your money back are almost zero. Maybe you can sell your kit on Ebay for $100, but maybe not since you’ll have to compete with all the other kits sold by all the other suckers there. Your best bet is to file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at Federal Trade Commission | Protecting America's Consumers (http://www.ftc.gov) and with your own state’s Attorney General’s office.

And if you still believe these kits are real, well, then I’ve got a Nigerian Princess that I’d like you to meet.

The Asset Protection Kit Scam Continues To Lure Suckers - Forbes (http://www.forbes.com/sites/jayadkisson/2014/05/03/the-asset-protection-kit-scam-continues-to-lure-suckers/)

[ribshaw]

Both of these have disclaimers at the bottom not to reproduce, so I just attached the links as they caught my eye.


First, just because someone is an Ex Coach or sports star or reality TV star does not mean all the other scam rules go out the window.

Prosecutors: Ex-UGA coach operated fraud scheme (http://globegazette.com/sports/national_sports/prosecutors-ex-uga-coach-operated-fraud-scheme/article_df8449b4-9e6c-5ab3-a052-747a13e48def.html)

This is especially infuriating as it targets military families who are separated.

If people call for money, hang up. Even if you owe it, have them send a letter. I can't come up with any reason to give a credit card number or worse a greendot/moneygram transfer to people who call on the phone.

Phone-spoofing scam targeting separated military families - 10News.com KGTV ABC10 San Diego (http://www.10news.com/news/phone-spoofing-scam-targeting-separated-military-families-05072014)

[ribshaw]

GRAMMY???????????

7566

BOISE -- Following KTVB's story on Monday night about an older woman stopping in a Boise tow truck company with an odd story and a tearful request for some cash to save her home, at least nine other businesses from Nampa to Mountain Home have come forward with similar stories in southwest Idaho.

The scam: A collector's truck and a sad story

Kathi VanderMeer, owner of Boise Valley Towing, says an older lady going by the name Cheryl Barnes came into her shop on April 25. "Barnes" said her late husband Jack Barnes had made a connection with VanderMeer's husband and left him a 1955 Ford truck.

Then, the story turned to needing $566 in cash to pay a contractor so she wouldn't lose her home. The red flags started appearing.

"We went back and forth over, and it was odd," VanderMeer said. "But only because I kept feeling like someone was going to jump out and say 'smile, you're on candid camera'. It was that kind of weird. But I had this very nice, elderly lady there with tears in her eyes telling me her story."

Since VanderMeer came forward, she, KTVB, the Better Business Bureau, and Boise Police have collectively taken multiple reports from small business owners that the same woman came in with the same story.

The stories are grouped around April 2013 and then April 2014. Some business owners have given her money.

Auto repair shop manager: 'She was smooth'

Kent Beckman, the manager of State Street Auto Repair, says the woman stopped in his store last year. Feeling terrible for the woman and her sad story, he gave the woman money. She was supposed to come back with the truck for his boss and return his money, but she never did.

"Man, she was smooth. The tears, the whole bit. She gave me a hug for giving her the money, and I'll be right back and thank you so much," Beckman said. "That was probably about 4:00 in the afternoon. She said she'd be back before 6:00. About 6:15, I got this sick feeling in the pit of my stomach."

He reported the scam and probable fraud to Boise Police, but he didn't have any photos or video, so there wasn't much to go on.

"I remember throwing the officer's card away several months ago thinking that'll never happen. That's done," Beckman said.

Then, Beckman's coworker saw VanderMeer's story on KTVB. Beckman saw the security video from the towing company and knew it was the same situation.

"When I saw the description of the story and the lady's face, I thought, that's it. Let's go," Beckman said.

Another shop owner hit this year: 'She acted like she knew everybody in town'

Doug Kriebs, owner of Kriebs Highway 30 Auto Parts in Mountain Home, says the woman calling herself Cheryl Barnes came into his shop about two hours before going to VanderMeer's Boise shop on April 25. While she had a well-rehearsed story and would pick up on names to drop, he was skeptical of the story she was pitching, too.

"I'm thinking, I don't recognize this at all. I don't place the names. I don't place anything," Kriebs said.

The older woman told him about a truck and began telling him about financial troubles with her home, but customers came in, and she never ended up asking for money.

"Then I had customers walk in, so she couldn't finish it," Kriebs said. "It was coming. It was going to come. But she didn't feel comfortable talking about it with other people in here."

Kriebs was able to pull security camera video of the woman getting out of her car, which he says appears to be a brand new dark blue or black Volkswagen Passat, possibly with California plates. Another business owner in Mountain Home later told Kriebs he is certain the car had Washington plates.

Better Business Bureau taking multiple reports

The Better Business Bureau says red flags in this case were an overly complicated story from the woman, offering a gift that seemed to good to be true, and asking for cash only.

"She was a very sweet little old lady, but by the same token, that's what scares me the most is because when your emotions are involved, it's really easy to draw people in," VanderMeer said.

"When she can break your heart, then you open your wallet and give her some money," Robb Hicken, Better Business Bureau, said.

The BBB has now taken multiple, similar calls from businesses. Hicken believes the scammer selects shops traditionally owned by men and uses her stories to appeal to them, especially a collector's truck.

"Salvage yards, concrete companies, welding companies. Not typical businesses that a woman would be operating. And I think that's her mode is that she goes in and talks to the men and pulls on the men's heartstrings," Hicken said.

Hicken advises if you're usure about giving a person money, take a step back from the situation and ask someone you trust if it sounds like a good idea.

"Make sure you're looking at the person and the incident and don't get taken away by the emotion," Hicken said.

Boise Police: 'It has renewed the investigation'

Boise Police, which initially took Beckman's report a year ago, has combined that case with VanderMeer's security video and report and other tips now that people are realizing there's a pattern.

"Patterns are extremely important in establishing a pattern of behavior that is strong enough to take a case all the way through prosecution," Lynn Hightower, Boise Police Department, said.

Hightower says this particular case highlights why people should always call in tips, even if they seem small or incomplete.

"You never know when your bit of information combined with other little bits of information really builds a solid case against someone who needs to be held accountable for the crimes they're committing," Hightower said.

Beckman is certainly glad VanderMeer shared her story and her video, so he was able to start his case back up again. He hopes the woman is caught, but he says he doesn't have high hopes of recovering his money.


'Old lady' offering truck to businesses is indeed a scam | KTVB.COM Boise (http://www.ktvb.com/news/7-investigation/Old-lady-with-a-truck-is-indeed-a-scam-258156821.html)
"At least we're building a case, and just warn everybody else to watch out for her and get more information than I did when she's in there. Because it's a quick one," Beckman said

[ribshaw]

Scammers targeting Mt. Juliet
Tuesday, May 6, 2014

From the Mt. Juliet Police Department

Recently, the Mt. Juliet Police Department has been receiving calls regarding sophisticated phone and internet scams that may be targeting citizens in our community. Mt. Juliet is not unique to this trend, and scammers target everyone. Scams continue as nationwide crime problem, but they can be prevented. Scam artist simply want to make money for themselves by defrauding you through tricks.

The most common scamming trend today deals with pre-paid credit cards, and the most common card of choice is the “Green-Dot Money Card.” During this scam attempt, the scam artist will ask the victim to obtain a pre-paid card, deposit funds to the account, and then provide the scam artist with the account number and/or pin number to enable them to remotely access the funds from anywhere in the world.

If any stranger contacts you to give money through a pre-paid card, check, or money order, then that should be a major red-flag. Unfortunately, people and/or businesses do not just hand out large sums of money. Hang up the phone or delete the email immediately if this happens to you. In many cases, the scammers are overseas and committing their scam attempt from another country. However, the scam artists act like they from the area by rerouting their international phone number through a U.S. number. Sadly, the likelihood of charging the scam artist is very slim because they are International crimes and hard to track.

To ensure you are not a victim of scams, take the following steps:

1. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

2. Become educated on the latest scam trends.

3. If someone calls you and asks you to obtain a pre-paid credit card, it is more than likely a scam.

4. Never give out any confidential information over the telephone or internet unless you are absolutely certain with who they are and completely confident that they are legit.

5. If there is any doubt, verify the truth or stop communication.

The Council of Better Business Bureaus offers great information on scam trends, and the following are the BBB’s Top Ten Scams of 2013:

Medical Alert Scam – A new twist to the telemarketing scam hit 2013 hard. With promises of a “free” medical alert system, the scam targeted seniors and caretakers and claimed to be offering the system free of charge because a family member or friend had already paid for it. In many cases, seniors were asked to provide their bank account or credit information to “verify” their identity and, as a result, were charged the monthly $35 service fee. The system, of course, never arrived and the seniors were left with a charge they had trouble getting refunded. Easy rule of thumb – be wary of “free” offers that require your personal information upfront and always verify with the supposed friend or family member that the caller says paid for the service.

Advance Fee/Prepayment Scams – In challenging economic times, many people are looking for help getting out of debt or hanging on to their home. Scammers pose as representatives from phony loan companies and use authentic-looking documents, emails and websites to fool consumers into parting with their money. Some sound like a government agency, or even part of BBB or other nonprofit consumer organizations. Most ask for an upfront fee to help you deal with your mortgage company, creditors or the government (services you could do yourself for free), but leave you in more debt than when you started.

They all have a common theme: Victims pay a smaller amount of money in anticipation of something of greater value, but then you receive nothing in return. You should not send a wire transfer to receive a loan or a credit card.

Auction Reseller Scam – Many people turn to EBay and other online auctions sites to sell used items they no longer need, and relatively new electronics seem to do especially well. But scammers have figured out a way to fool sellers into shipping goods without receiving payment. Usually the buyer claims it’s an “emergency” of some sort – a child’s birthday, a member of the military shipping out – and asks the seller to ship the same day. The seller receives an email that looks like it’s from PayPal confirming the payment, but emails are easy to fake. Always confirm payment in your EBay and PayPal accounts before shipping, especially to an overseas address.

Arrest Warrant Scam – This one seemed to really take off last autumn. In this scam, con artists are taking advantage of technology that can change what is visible on Caller ID, and allowing them to pose as the office of the local sheriff or other law enforcement agency. They call to say there is a warrant out for your arrest, but that you can pay a fine in order to avoid criminal charges. Of course, these “police” don’t take credit cards; only a wire transfer or pre-paid debit card will do. Sometimes these scams seem very personal; the scammer may refer to a loan or other financial matter. It may just be a lucky guess, but don’t be fooled into thinking you are about to be arrested.

Invisible Home Improvements – Home improvement scams vary little from year to year, and most involve some type of shoddy workmanship from unlicensed or untrained workers. The hardest for homeowners to detect, and therefore the easiest for scammers to pull off, are repairs or improvements to the areas of your home that you can’t see: roofs, chimneys, air ducts, crawl spaces, etc. Scammers may simply knock at your door offering a great deal because they were “in the neighborhood,” but more and more they are using telemarketing, email and even social media to reach homeowners. Helpful videos on YouTube can add legitimacy to a contractor, but consumers have no way of knowing if the video is real or “borrowed” from a legitimate contractor. Check out home contractors at bbb.org before saying yes.

Casting Call Scam – This is not as widespread as some other scams, but it seems to have really been on the increase in recent years, thanks to the popularity of television talent shows like “American Idol” and “Project Runway.” Scammers pose as agents or talent scouts looking for actors, singers, models, reality show contestants, etc., and use phony audition notices to fool aspiring performers into paying to try out for parts that don’t exist. There are several ways this plays out. It can simply be an unscrupulous way to sell acting lessons, photography services, etc., or it can be an outright scam for things like fees for online “applications” or upcoming “casting calls.” Even worse, the information provided on an online application could be everything a scammer needs for identity theft.

Foreign Currency Scam – Investments in foreign currency can sound like a great idea, and scammers frequently use real current events and news stories to make their pitches even more appealing. They advertise an easy investment with high return and low risk when you purchase Iraqi Dinar, Vietnamese Dong or, most recently, the Egyptian Pound. The plan is that, when those governments revalue their currencies, increasing their worth against the dollar, you just sell and cash in. Unlike previous hoaxes, you may even take possession of real currency. The problem is that they will be very difficult to sell, and it’s extremely unlikely they will ever significantly increase in value.

Scam Texts – With online and mobile banking skyrocketing, it’s not a surprise that scams quickly follow. One major tactic recently is the use of scam texts, known as “smishing,” to steal personal information. They look like a text alert from your bank, asking you to confirm information or “reactivate your debit card” by following a link on your smart phone. Banks of all sizes have been targeted, and details of the scam vary, but the outcome is the same: scammers get your banking information, maybe even your ATM number and PIN. You may even inadvertently download malicious software that gives the scammer access to anything on your phone.

Do Not Call Scams – The National Do Not Call Registry (U.S.) offer consumers a free way to reduce telemarketing calls. Scammers call anyway, of course, and they’ve even found a way to scam consumers by pretending to be a government official calling to sign you up or confirming your previous participation on the Dot Not call list! In one variation, scammers ask for personal information, such as your name, address and Social Security/Social Insurance number. In another, scammers try to charge a fee to join the registry. Either way, just hang up. These services are free, but sharing personal information with a scammer could cost you a lot.

Fake Friend Scam – Did you ever get a Friend Request on Facebook from someone you already thought was your Friend? If you hit Accept, you may have just friended a scammer. A popular recent scam has been the theft of people’s online identities to create fake profiles, which can be used in a variety of ways. A new Friend can learn a lot about you to scam you later, “recommend” sketchy websites that download malware, use your account to scrap information on your other Friends, even impersonate a military officer or other trustworthy person to perpetrate a romance scam. Be careful on social media, keep your privacy settings high, and don’t share confidential information. You can’t always be sure that your Friends are really your friends.

Scam of the Year: Affordable Care Act Scam - Scammers had a field day with the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”), using it as a way to fool Americans into sharing their personal information. Scammers would call claiming to be from the federal government and saying the would-be victim needed a new insurance card or Medicare card. However, before they can mail the card, they need to collect personal information. Scammers do a lot to make their requests seem credible. For example, they may have your bank’s routing number and ask you to provide your account number. Or, they may ask for your credit card or Social Security number, Medicare ID, or other personal information. But sharing personal information with a scammer puts you at risk for identity theft.

Scammers targeting Mt. Juliet (http://www.thechronicleofmtjuliet.com/news/9567-scammers-targeting-mt-juliet-)

Source: Council of Better Business Bureaus

Top Scams (http://www.bbb.org/council/bbb-scam-stopper/top-scams/)

[ribshaw]

SCAMMER mosesmremmanuel@gmail.com

And I thought some of my coworkers were jerks. Apparently all the other generals I have been dealing with are phoney and this guy spills the beans.

Federal Bureau of Investigation
Counter-terrorism Division and Cyber Crime Division
J. Edgar. Hoover Building Washington DC
ROBERT S. MUELLER III,

Attention Beneficiary,

Records shows that you are among one of the individuals and organizations who are yet to receive their overdue payment from overseas which includes those of Lottery/Gambling, Contract and Inheritance. Through our Fraud Monitory Unit we have noticed that you have been transacting with some impostors and fraudsters who have been impersonating the likes of Prof. Soludo, Lamido Sanusi of the Central Bank Of Nigeria, Mr. Patrick Aziza, Bode Williams, Frank, Anderson, none officials of Oceanic Bank, Zenith Banks,
Kelvin Young of HSBC, Ben of FedEx, Ibrahim Sule, Dr. Usman Shamsuddeen and some impostors claiming to be The Federal Bureau of vestigation.

The Cyber Crime Division of the FBI gathered information from the Internet Fraud Complaint Center (EFCC) on how some people have lost outrageous sums of money to these impostors. As a result of this, we hereby advise you to stop communication with any one not referred to you by us. We have negotiated with the Federal Ministry of Finance that your payment totaling $5,900,000.00(Five Million Nine Hundred Thousand Dollars).
will be released to you via a custom pin based ATM card with a maximum withdrawal limit of $15,000 a day which is powered by Visa Card and can be used anywhere in the world where you see a Visa Card Logo on the Automated Teller Machine (ATM).

We guarantee receipt of your payment. This is as a result of the mandate from US Government to make sure all debts owed to citizens of American and also Asia and Europe which includes Inheritance, Contract, Gambling/Lottery etc are been cleared. Below are few list of tracking numbers you can track from Delivery Company website to confirm people like you who have received their payment successfully.

Name: Mr. and Mrs. RANGANBAY: DHL Tracking Number: 2282232175
Name: Mr. Jalaludin: FedEx Tracking number 875777537332

To redeem your funds, you are hereby advised to contact the ATM Card Center via email for their requirement to proceed and procure your Approval of Payment Warrant and Endorsement of your ATM Release Order on your behalf which will cost you $285US only and nothing more as everything else has been taken care of by the Federal Government including taxes, custom paper and clearance duty so all you will ever need to pay is $285.00 only.

Mr. Wilson Thomas (ATM Card Center Director)
Central Bank of Nigeria Central Business District,
Card astral Zone, federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

ATM Card Center Director Mr. Emmanuel Moses
Official Email: mosesmremmanuel@gmail.com
Do contact Mr. Emmanuel Moses of the ATM Card Center via his contact details above and furnish him with your details as listed below:

FULL NAMES: __________________________________
DELIVERY ADDRESS FOR ATM CARD: __________________
SEX: _______________
DATE OF BIRTH: __________________
OCCUPATION: __________________
TELEPHONE NUMBER: _____________________
EMAIL ADDRESS: _____________________

On contacting him with your details your file would be updated and he will be sending you the payment information in which you will use in making payment of $285.00 via Money Gram or Western Union Money Transfer for the procurement of your Approval of Payment Warrant and Endorsement of your ATM Release Order, after which the delivery of your ATM card will be effected to your designated home address without any further delay, No extra fee.

ROBERT S. MUELLER III ,
DIRECTOR OF FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
UNITED STATES IN COLABORATION WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20535

Note: Disregard any email you get from any impostors or offices claiming to be in possession of your ATM card, you are hereby advice only to be in contact with Mr. Tony Micheal the Director of the ATM card center who is the rightful person to deal with in regards to your payment and forward any emails you get from impostors to this office so we could act upon it immediately. Help stop cyber crime.

[ribshaw]

SCAMMER barrjosesilva1952@hotmail.com

I am Barrister Jose Silva, a solicitor at law, personal attorney to Mr B. Kollár, a national Of your country, who used to work with Shell Development Company in Ghana. I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the fund valued at US$13.5 million left behind by my client before it gets confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Security Finance Firm where this huge amount were deposited. The said Security Finance Company has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin However, for us to commence for the claim i want to inform you please send to me your private email address in which we will use to communicate for us to have a relax mind. This is very important. Contact me through my personal email address.( barrjosesilva1952@hotmail.com )

My regards
Barrister Jose Silva (Esq.)
Principal Attorney,
Ghana.

[ribshaw]

These things usually travel the country, worth sharing with your military friends and their families are aware.

Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell says a new scam is targeting veterans, claiming they have they're owed thousands of dollars.

Veterans are being targeted over the phone, with the scammers claiming to be from Veterans Affairs. They're telling veterans that they have thousands of dollars coming to them.

Pickell says he's received reports from veterans about these suspicious phone calls. The scammer says he is from the VA and he informs the vet that there was a problem with their records and they are owed up to $20,000 in back pay.

Then what happens next is where the red flag goes up. The scammer tells the vet that in order to receive the money they need their bank account information and they will wire the money into their account.

Pickell says this one is more believable in light of the scandal surrounding the v-a.

"Because of all of the bad publicity that the Veterans Affairs has received you always get some scammers taking advantage of a situation," says Pickell. "Elderly people are trusting and some of them have given their account numbers and been wiped out."

Pickell says if anyone receives a call like this, don't give out any information and hang up.

If you feel you've been victim to this scam, call the Genesee County Consumer Protection Bureau at 810-257-3407.

Alleged scam targeting veterans - WNEM TV 5 (http://www.wnem.com/story/25712505/alleged-scam-targeting-veterans)

[Joe_Shmoe]

"Only" offering 10% a year makes it seem more legit.

Small investors lose millions in ‘ethical’ forestJon Ungoed-Thomas and Duncan Campbell Published: 6 July 2014



Print (http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/Environment/article1430848.ece?shareToken=68598fc333d1d0db1d0d 5997a3a17fe5#)



http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/multimedia/dynamic/01079/01_NH06AMA_1079776k.jpgInvestors were promised big returns from growing teak in the Amazon rainforest (Shobeir Ansari)

FAMILIES and pensioners who were encouraged to invest in “ethical” tree plantations in the Amazon rainforest have lost millions of pounds in a scheme being examined by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO).
Two entrepreneurs, Omari Bowers, 37, and Andrew Skeene, 36, claimed that investors could expect returns of about 10% a year from growing teak in the rainforests. They said teak had proved a better investment than gold, property and shares.
The business partners, both from London, impressed their clients with their commitment to regenerating deforested land in Brazil but investors are now pursuing millions of pounds that have been lost in the Global Forestry Investment scheme.
Skeene and Bowers declined last week to provide detailed information about the scheme to The Sunday Times. But investors have investigated the men’s backgrounds and published warnings on the internet about their alleged activities.
They are now trying to trace the men’s assets and details of their spending. They are also trying to find details of companies and bank accounts in Britain, Dubai and Brazil.
Gwyn Maysey, 66, from Sydenham, southeast London, said she had invested £5,000 in the teak scheme but knew of another investor who was allegedly owed £2m.
“We don’t think we will get our money back but we want to warn other investors,” she said.
Maysey added: “I would like to see a freezing order placed on their bank account and other assets around the world to ensure they never get to enjoy any of their gains.”
The retired civil servant said she had been assured that the scheme’s trustee was regulated. But the structure of the scheme had been changed after she invested so that it was no longer under the supervision of the financial regulator.
http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/multimedia/archive/01079/02_NH06AMA_1079777a.jpgGwyn Maysey says she is among victims of the scheme
GFI Consultants had been founded in 2010 and traded as Global Forestry Investments. Skeene and Bowers had offices in London, Brazil and Dubai and the scheme was promoted as “profitable and beneficial to the environment”.
Plots at Belem in Brazil — known as the Belem Sky Plantation — were offered at £5,000 each and investors estimate the value of the total scheme could have been in excess of £20m.
Stories from some of those who put their savings into the scheme have appeared in online forums. While some investors did initially see a return they were unable to recover their money when the payments stopped.
One woman told how she had invested £10,000 which she had been awarded after her partner was killed in a traffic accident. “I was assured GFI would deliver not only my initial capital but also 10% returns per year,” she said.
“They knew full well that this money was precious to us — not having a partner to support us. They have made no contact whatsoever.”
In March last year GFI Consultants was the subject of a winding up petition in the High Court. Six months later Global Forestry Investments said payment delays were the result of an unusally long rainy season in Brazil and banking problems. But investors were not told a key company belonging to Bowers and Skeene had gone into liquidation.
http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/multimedia/archive/01079/03_NH06AMA_1079778a.jpgOmari Bowers and Andrew Skeene ran the ‘ethical’ investment plan
Andrew Callen, a solicitor who is acting for those who lost money in the teak scheme and also in a Bowers and Skeene currency trading scheme known as Global Forex, said: “Millions of pounds has gone missing to date. A lot of people had money in different schemes which has not been accounted for.”
Callen said Bowers and Skeene were already subject to individual voluntary arrangements under which agreed payments are made to creditors. Bankruptcy proceedings were also now planned.
Roberta Ward, director of the mypropertymentor.co.uk website, has highlighted the losses under schemes promoted by Bowers and Skeene. But she was warned by Mackrell Turner Garrett, a legal firm acting for Bowers and Skeene, to remove her “defamatory” statements.
In a statement Bowers and Skeene said some of the information obtained by The Sunday Times was inaccurate but would not comment further until they had spoken to legal advisers. Mackrell Turner Garrett said it no longer acted for Bowers and Skeene.
Investors have complained to the City of London police and the SFO about schemes promoted by Bowers and Skeene.
In a statement the SFO confirmed that it was reviewing information concerning the conduct of Global Forestry Investments and Global Forex and their employees.
@jonungoedthomas (https://twitter.com/JonUngoedThomas)

[Joe_Shmoe]

More on Omari Bowers, and Andrew Skeene's scams here.

Scam Alert: Belem Sky / GFXI FOREX Omari Bowers And Andrew Skeene | My Property Mentor Blog (http://mypropertymentor.co.uk/2014/06/scam-alert-belem-sky-gfxi-forex-omari-bowers-and-andrew-skeene/)

Their main problem might turn out to be scamming the better off, instead of poorer people.

[littleroundman]

Arrest made as Ponzi scheme targetting Filipinos investigated in UK

12 Jun 2014

Bristol police make arrest over alleged major Ponzi fraud involving the Rican Investment Group

http://www.balitapinoy.net/images/richard_cannon_davao_1a_crop.jpg
Richard Cannon is understood to have been arrested and is being held in prison prior to a crown court appearance

The director and boss of the Rican Group of "investment" companies based in the English west country city of Bristol is believed to have been arrested and has been remanded in custody until the 1st July 2014.

The Rican companies seem to have specifically aimed themselves at Filipinos both in the UK and the Philippines, as well as Indonesians, with Cannon and fellow directors making recruitment and promotion trips to the Philippines as well as in the UK.

He was arrested on suspected fraud charges and appeared at Bristol Magistrates Court where he was remanded in custody to Bristol Crown Court for an initial hearing.


http://www.balitapinoy.net/images/richard_cannon_and_mitchel_tomogsoc.jpg (http://www.balitapinoy.net/images/richard_cannon_and_mitchel_tomogsoc.jpg)
Richard Cannon with fellow director, Filipino Mitchel Tomogsoc

From the number of complaints flooding in, it seems at least 300 people and maybe more have become victims of what seems to have been a pure Ponzi scam.

A Ponzi is where investors are paid dividends only from money put in by new investors. They invariably collapse under their own weight as there are only an infinite number of investors. Once new investors stop coming in, the money soon runs out.
Avon & Somerset police have made a brief statement on the matter in which they are appealing for alleged victims to come forward.

Investigation into alleged Ponzi scheme

We are carrying out an investigation into a number of companies which form part of the Rican Group based in Fishponds, after receiving multiple reports of fraud relating to an alleged Ponzi scheme.

A 54-year-old man from Pucklechurch has been charged with two counts of fraud and appeared at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on Monday 9 June.
He was remanded in custody to appear at Bristol Crown Court for an initial hearing on 1 July.
If you believe you have been a victim of this company, please call 101 and ask for Avon and Somerset Police, quoting crime reference 124275/13.

Companies known to be in the Rican Investment Group include:

Rican Leisure and Travel - application made Dec last year for voluntary liquidation, struck off 8 Apr 2014
Rican Health and Wellness - application made Dec last year for voluntary liquidation, struck off 8 Apr 2014
Rican Financial Options - application made Dec last year for voluntary liquidation, struck off 8 Apr 2014
Rican Professional Networks - still listed as operational on Companies House Register
Rican Online Marketing - application made Dec last year for voluntary liquidation, struck off 8 Apr 2014
Rican Capital Funding - application to liquidate terminated 23 Apr 2014
Rican Belize - application to liquidate terminated 23 Apr 2014

[All information above taken from the Companies House Register as of 12 June 2014]

As it was introduced on the MMG HYIP ponzi forum (http://www.moneymakergroup.com/Ricanadfunds-Ricanadfun-t421856.html)

http://imageshack.com/a/img853/2137/6aon.jpg

and the Talkgold HYIP ponzi forum (http://www.talkgold.com/forum/r370619-.html)

http://imageshack.com/a/img819/3074/l7xr2.jpg

[ribshaw]

Good article on Amish being lured into a Ponzi scheme.

Rich Amish Lured Into Florida Land Investment Scheme - Businessweek (http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-06-26/rich-amish-lured-into-florida-land-investment-scheme)

[ribshaw]

SCAMMER rusd@ingbkmalaysia.asia

SCAMMER shyaquby@blumail.org

Cookie Moster is about the most real thing on this deal...



Joseph Weil

Jul 2 (5 days ago)

to shyaquby
I got your message, what is this all about?

Joe

===================================
Sheikh Yaquby

Jul 2 (5 days ago)

to me, bcc: me
Thanks for the response to my email,please ignore my poor English
usage as i am aged. I want you to know that my reason for contacting
you is very important and very legitimate so I want you to take this
seriously. All i want is an honest business transaction with you. I
will start by introducing myself. My name is Sheikh Yaquby, I am a
financial executive with the RUSD Investment Bank Inc Malaysia. I have
been working with the RUSD Investment Bank Inc. of Malaysia for 27
years, I am 55 years of age and have a good record with my bank.

I am the personal Accountant/Investment Manager to Late Engineer
Adams Weil,A contractor who deposited an investment account totaling
$3,472,000 (Three million, Four hundred and seventy two Thousand Us
dollars) after being paid for his first concluded contract with Exxon
Mobil Corporation (Esso Malaysia Berhad). He used to work with the
Exxon Mobil Corporation here in Malaysia as a foreign Expatriate.
Unfortunately, on the 11 October 2005, my client/customer, and his
mother who was his only surviving family from his record were involved
in a car accident along Princess Hwy at Weerite and lost their lives.

Since his death i have made several inquiries to your embassy to
locate any of his extended families or relatives but this has also
proved unsuccessful. So i am tracing his last name over the Internet
to locate any member of his family that was how i found your contact
and am contacting you for us to work together in filing a claim of the
funds.

My bank has issued me several notices to provide the Next of Kin being
his personal Investment/Account Manager before his death or the
account will be confiscated within the next 14 official working days.
The last notice for claim came to my desk three days ago. I am
contacting you to assist in repatriating the funds and property left
behind before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the
bank.I am seeking your consent to present you as the next of kin to
the deceased since you bear the same last name so that the proceeds of
this account valued at $3,472,000 US Dollars can be paid to you, If we
can be of one accord, we should act swiftly on this. Please get back
to me immediately for us to proceed with the claims. I propose that
upon successful completion of this deal, we will split the proceeds
according to a ratio to be agreed in subsequent communication between
us. I am after the success of this transaction with your full
cooperation.

All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us seeing this deal
through. I guarantee you that this will be executed under a legitimate
arrangement that will protect you and i from any breach of the law.
Please know that am arabic and will not lie because of my religion and
I would expect the same from you. I will attach my staff ID on my next
email if you are interested in the proposal and will send you more
information directing you on further procedure on how we can claim the
funds.

Thanks for your anticipated cooperation,

Regards,
Sheikh Yaquby

===================================
Joseph Weil Jul 3 (4 days ago)
That sounds reasonable, please provide me more details.

===================================
Sheikh Yaquby

Jul 3 (4 days ago)

to me
Thanks for your response. I want you to know that this transaction is
very legitimate and there is no risk involved as i am the personal
accountant to Late Engineer Adams Weil,I am going to send you my job
identification for you to confirm the authenticity of this
transaction. This is very important. Before we can proceed further, I
want you to assure me that you will be honest during the transaction,
and as soon as the funds are transferred to your account we can meet
in person. You should understand that this transaction can be
successful if we work together and as soon as I give you all legal
procedure you will receive the funds from the bank, so I really need
your honest cooperation before we proceed. More importantly, you have
to keep this transaction confidential, I also want you to take it very
seriously as the amount of money involved is huge.

I want us to try and work this out without wasting any much time. The
funds cannot be released to me by the bank, the funds can only be
released to you as the next of kin to Late Engineer Adams Weil this is
why you have to take it very seriously. I am willing to direct you
through the legal procedure to claim the funds. All I require is your
assurance on this deal, lets make good use of this opportunity. I will
present you to the bank as the next of kin to Adams Weil. Then you
will apply that his entitlement be transferred to you through the said
legal processes. I shall direct you on the process of the claim, We
shall start by sending a formal application to this effect. I will
copy you with the text of the said claim and transfer application to
this effect. Thereafter, the bank will request of you the relevant
back up documents to your claim and application according to the
demand of our probate law for transfer of funds. Once you have
provided the Bank with their demands, they would now be under legal
obligation to transfer the funds to your submitted bank account.

As part of the procedure of the claims process, the documents that
will be required from you will have to be acquired through legal
procedures as the application of claim will be complimented with a
legal award we shall have to seek from our law Court here in Malaysia
or there about. Be assured that the procedures to be adopted in
effecting the transfer in your favor will be official and legal which
will protect us from any breach of the law now and after the funds has
been transferred. Thus this transaction also requires confidentiality
and Above all, I personally count on the will and blessing of Allah to
facilitate our plan and understanding, to produce not just success,
but also peaceful sharing of the funds at the end of the day and a
wealthy family business relationship thereafter. I also pray for
establishment of cordial relationship between us, God being our
helper.

As soon as I hear from you and receive your assurance, I will send you
the Text of Application for you to contact the bank for the release of
the funds in the account of Adams Weil to your account as his next of
Kin.

Thanks,
Yaquby.

===================================
Joseph Weil <>

9:55 AM (7 hours ago)

to Sheikh
You can trust me, I will keep this transaction between you and I. :RpS_wink: Thank you for the ID that makes me feel more comfortable that I am dealing with a real person. If you have any other documents that would be helpful as well.

===================================
Sheikh Yaquby

11:48 AM (5 hours ago)

to me, bcc: me
Thanks you for your understanding and optimism, I am sending you the
Text of Application for you to contact the bank so that the funds can
be released to you as soon as possible. This is very important because
there is no much time. I will present you to the bank as the next of
Kin to the funds in the account of Adams Weil. Make sure you contact
the bank so the bank can see your application on time and act on it
sooner.

Without wasting much time, I have attached the TEXT OF APPLICATION, to
contact the bank for the claim of the fund in the account of late
Engr. Adams Weil. You are to fill the form correctly, I want you to
contact the bank immediately due to the limited period of time you
have to claim the funds from the bank also to enable the bank transfer
the funds into your account as soon as possible.

You should not in any way discuss about me with the bank on the
application, as this may affect this transaction and result to me
losing my job and the funds will not be transferred to your account
morealso It is against our banking policy for me to give you
classified information such as this. I hope you understand there is
nothing to be worried about as everything is legitimate and risk free
as i have told you in my previous email.

You can contact the bank the with Bank's email Address below to inform
them on your submission of your application for the release of the
funds thus to speedup the process.

You are to send the application to the Group Head, Cooperate Affairs
division of the bank via email. The email address is -:
rusd@ingbkmalaysia.asia

As soon as you contact the bank, please update me on the bank's
responds so that we can direct you on the next line of action.

Regards,
Sheikh Yaquby.

7989

7990

7991

[littleroundman]

Warning over abusive email threat

People are being warned about an abusive email that may be part of an international network which steals financial details from victims.

The email contains obscene abuse directed to the recipient and alleges private images have been posted on the internet.

It also contains an embedded link, which activates malicious software once it is clicked.

Detective Superintendent Brian Hay, from the Queensland Police Service's fraud and cyber crime group, said the email was designed to trick people.

"As disgusting and offensive as this email is, it is a clever and manipulative way to garner an emotional response, piquing the curiosity of the reader into clicking the link which will ultimately infect your computer," he said.

"A worse case scenario, and one that we have seen happen, is your computer becoming part of an international network of compromised computers and your identity and financial information being compromised."

Anyone who comes across this email is urged to delete it, scan their computer for malware and change all their passwords.

[Whip]

I knew there would be fallout from Eagle closing his thread. It was only a matter of time.

[ribshaw]

This email seems to be hitting a lot of states.


Turnpike warns about E-ZPass scam
5:01 p.m. EDT July 14, 2014

The Ohio Turnpike is warning E-ZPass users not to fall for an e-mail scam.

The emails inform customers that they are in arrears and ask them to service their debt as quickly as possible.

"The emails were not sent by the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission and they are likely an attempt to steal personal information or funds from unsuspecting customers," said turnpike Executive Director Richard Hodges. "This warning may help prevent the turnpike's valued E-ZPass customers from being scammed."

The scam has also been reported in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C.

Customers who have questions about the validity of a message regarding their E-ZPass should contact the turnpike's customer service line at (440) 234-2081, ext. 1075.

Turnpike warns about E-ZPass scam (http://www.wkyc.com/story/news/local/ohio/2014/07/14/turnpike-scam/12646753/)

[ribshaw]

By DON DARE
6 On Your Side Consumer Investigator

KNOXVILLE (WATE) - If there is one group of people that keeps up with the latest changes in technology, it is con artists.

Anita from Morristown asks: "How do con artists use local phone numbers when they pose as a local police officer?"


Phony calls supposedly from local law enforcement

Up to date, savvy con artists take advantage of technology that changes what is visible on your caller ID unit, allowing them to pose as the local sheriff or police officer when they call to tell you there is a warrant out for your arrest and that you need to pay a fine in order to avoid criminal charges.

Of course, the caller doesn't take credit cards, only a pre-paid debit card or a wire transfer will do and they claim you had better pay it pronto.

Law enforcement officers will never call you to collect a debt; you'd get a letter. So, don't be fooled into thinking you are about to be arrested.

Fake Publisher's Clearing House calls

This is one you've heard from us before.

You receive a phone call from an 876 area code and the gentleman on the other end with a Jamaican accent is calling to tell you that you have won the Publisher's Clearing House sweepstakes, which consists of a large amount of money and a new Mercedes Benz.

He makes a promise that the Prize Patrol is waiting to deliver your new car and money, but first you must purchase a GreenDot Money Pak card to cover taxes and other processing fees.

Once you call back and give him the Green Dot card number, you never hear from him again and your money is gone.

Remember, Publisher's Clearing House does call to tell say you are a winner, and if you won a prize, you should never send money to collect your winnings.

Timeshare resale scams

Some fraudulent operators are targeting timeshare owners, calling to say they have a buyer ready to purchase your timeshare at a ridiculously inflated price.

Related story: Jefferson County man tricked by timeshare scam

The timeshare scammer will require that you pay up front fees for the service, such as closing costs. However, once you send the money, you never hear from the scammer again.

We get so excited when good news is relayed on the phone, like you've won a pile of money. Con artists prey on our greed. Don't fall victim

6 On Your Side Answers: How do scammers use local numbers to pos (http://www.wate.com/story/26024710/6-on-your-side-answers-how-do-scammers-use-local-numbers-to-pose-as-law-enforcement)

================================================== =======
This is an interesting free service to set up. I think I heard about it from Consumer Reports, if not it was some similar magazine so I feel pretty good about them being trustworthy. It has cut my robocalls for the most part down to 1 and 1/2 rings before cutting them off. In the past it was about 4 rings, or enough to ruin my naps. One number that is spoofed went through before still goes through, but is now cut off at 1 1/2.


https://www.nomorobo.com/

[ribshaw]

SCAMMER roselingweah@live.com
SCAMMER royalbank_sscotd@mcom.com
SCAMMER info_rrbslondon@mcom.com

The old poison the boss, but don't steal his money scam.


Dearest in heart.
I am very sorry if i may violate your policy or in any way hurt your feelings by intruding into your privacy,actually i saw your profile and i was touched to write you,i am sincerely in need of your assistance.Please don't be offended.I felt i could make a good friend with you. First and foremost and brief self introduction,I am Miss Roseling Weah ,22 years old and the only daughter of my late parents Mr.and Mrs. Dr.Johnson Weah My father was a highly reputable business magnate-(a cocoa merchant) who operated in the capital of LIBERIA during his days before he was
poisoned to by his business associates in one of their outings on a business trip. My mother died when i was a baby and since then was linked or rather suspected to have been masterminded by his relatives who was so jealous of his wealth and progress.But God knows the truth! Before the death of my father in March 2007 he called the secretary who accompanied him to the hospital and told her that he had a sum of $3.5 million US DOLLARS (three million five hundred thousand USA dollars) in Bank He said he used my name to Deposit the money with the bank as his only daughter, as well as the next of kin to the money.

He also explained that it was because of this wealth that he was poisoned by his relatives, that I should seek for a foreign partner in a country of my choice where I will transfer this money to and use it for investment purposes. I want you to assist me transfer the money to your account as i explain to you that this money was deposited in the bank and make me the next of kin to the money .I am just 22 years old and a high school leaving certificate holder and really don't know what to do.Now I want a guardian out side Senegal where I can transfer this fund and equally come over to further my education because it is one of the instructions that my father left for me. This is because I have suffered a lot in my life after the death of my father actually brought sorrow to my life. My dear,I am in a sincere desire of your humble assistance in this regards.Your suggestions and ideas will be highly regarded.
Now permit me to ask these few questions:-

1. Can you honestly help me as your daughter or friend?
2. Can I completely trust you?
3. What percentage of the total amount will be good for you after the money is in your position?
Please,Consider this and get back to me as soon as possible, as well I will like you to forward your private telephone so that i will give you the contact of the bank where this money was deposited.I am looking forward to hear from you,please do not turn me down because you are the Gods sent that can help me out.

Thank you so much.attach hear is my photos
yours in love Roseling Weah.

8044

8045

Dearest Darling !

I am happy to hear from you. I am praying here for your protection and for God guidance upon you. I promise to be with you forever so far as you will help me to get out of here to be with you and take good care of me. I promise to give you my love and share the whole of my life with you so far as you will trust me and love me.
like i told you before, i live in the refugee camp. i don't have the international passport of this country and i don't have resident permit. we live here as a refugee. living here as a refugee is very hard because it is just like living like a prisoner. we eat only once in a day and atimes we don't eat. the only helper i have here is the Rev. Father as he took me like his own daughter, he has been so kind and good to me and that is why atimes, i let him know what am doing.

In the beginning, i actually was having fears of betrayal and how to get you convinced to believe me when the bank advised me to look for a foreign partner from any country of my choice since i am a refugee at the moment and the law of the country does not permit me to part-take in any international transaction until i secure all the necessary papers. I was also warned to be careful with the kind of person i connect through internet because most of the people are fake and can destroy my future if i don't pray for God to guide me to select real person but surprisingly your mail response came up and you sound as if you were reading my mind at the moment. I thank God for directing me to you. I really don't know how we can convince each other
so that trust can be built between us, i am willing to be loyal to you because it takes one time to know someone. I have gone through your mail content and discovered that you Worth knowing more, i was really touched by your mail and i am assuring you that you will never regret of meeting me. I shall remain loyal to you and allow you direct me on what to do with this fund when i come over to you because of your experience and broad knowledge while i continue my education over there first.

I also spoke with the Rev Father about you and he encouraged me to make sure that i give you details of the holding bank and about my late father's deposit since my father used my name as his next of kin, i have also informed the bank that you will contact them on my behalf so they accepted and said until they hear from you.
Therefore use this information to contact them either by phone or e-mail to find out their procedures you shall met to enable you receive this fund officially and legally into your country with out problems,

the name of the holding bank, their contacts and my late father's deposit .

information are stated as bellow:

ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC.
Contact person: Director of Foreign Operations.
His name is MR Philip Hamton.
36 St Andrew Square Edinburgh SCO EH2 2YB P
Tell .....................................(+44 703 186 4297)
EMAIL............... royalbank_sscotd@mcom.com
EMAIL............... info_rrbslondon@mcom.com
Contact person: Foreign Operations & International Remittance Dept. His name is MR Philip Hamton.

Information about my late father & the deposit code are as follows:

Name of depositor: Mr. Johnson Weah
Nationality: Liberia
Fund Ref Nos: WTG584W9557F
Account Numbers: WT/1005 8703459
Beneficiary : Miss.Roseling Weah
Amount Deposited: US$3.5 Million
Type of Account : As family valid t. files
Year of Deposit : April 2004
Purpose of Deposit : Safe keeping
Country of Deposit : U. Kingdom
THIS IS BANK PHONE NUMBER ............... +447968528118
.................................................. .................
Please make sure you did not miss any of this information so that they will not stand on the ground to deny your access to the deposit, please hurry up, i am eager to join you, am sick and tired of poor condition of living over here. I'm not permited to move freely over here because i have not gotten their residence permit.
I am trusting you based on your genuine promise that you won't betray yourself which you have taken me as part of you. Please do not involve a third person into this matter for now until we secure the money because of my father's name that rings like a bell in the ears of people since after his tragic fall, it is not everybody that likes my family name therefore our issue must be keep secret and shouldn't be known by anyone again apart from you.
Please keep this very transaction secret for now,

i am sure that you are working alone with me because God is with us and one with God is majority.Keep me informed as you contact the bank on my behalf and please do not argue or stretch matters with them to avoid raising an eyesbrow on my family name by any of the jealous staff or government authority, please everything calm and cool as you proceed, don't allow anything that can create awareness that I'm still alive to anyone because i am hidding my identity over here except very few trusted ones that knows.

Anytime you want to speak with me, always call me with the Rev. Father's john philips number.(+221778566282) and tell him that you want to speak with Miss Roseling Weah so that he can send for me in the hostel.

Love & care from!....

Yours wish to be Roseling Weah.

8046

[Whip]

dos equis meme very funny.

[littleroundman]

'Fraudsters' create fake Facebook pages in names of MH17 victims

A number of fake Facebook pages have been created using the names of Australian victims killed in the MH17 tragedy by so-called "click fraudsters" aiming to profit from a lucrative internet scam.

The pages, some set up using the names of three young Western Australian children killed when the passenger jet was shot down over eastern Ukraine, contain a single link to a website that purports to contain information on the crash.

However, users are instead hit with a series of ads for online gambling and a number of other products and services.

Yahoo.Seven.News (https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/world/a/24506705/fraudsters-create-fake-facebook-pages-in-names-of-mh17-victims/)

[ribshaw]

SCAMMER Dr. Kingsley Mughalu <dr.kingsley.cbn4@superposta.com>

Sneaky using the name of a real banker, I almost believed it but it would seem the passport photo is identical to the id, which is only possible in photoshop land.



Central Bank of Nigeria:: Board of Directors (http://www.cenbank.org/aboutcbn/TheBoard.asp?Name=Dr.+Kingsley+Moghalu+%28OON%29&Biodata=moghalu)

Jul 30 (2 days ago)

to me
Your email is well received; The funds is from my Government, this is a kind of lottery/inheritance funds from my Government. Bellow are some of the means or ways by which we transfer funds (MONEY) to our foreign beneficiaries/investor outside Nigeria, you should spend some of your time and study the means and make a decision on the means or mode that you wish or want the said funds (MONEY) to be transfer to you there in your country:

1) BANK TO BANK TRANSFER: This is a kind of transfer where by we transfer the beneficiary's funds (MONEY) directly to his/her Account, but it will require his/her bank details.

2) ATM CARDS: This is a process where by we load the funds (MONEY) into an ATM cards and the cards will be DHL to the beneficiary's doorstep through his /her courier address. It will require his/her home address.

3} DIPLOMATIC CASH DELIVERY: An International Payment Officers will deliver your funds to your door step in the name of consignment box and you will receive it in good condition. It will require his/her home address.

4). ONLINE WIRE TRANSFER: This is a process where by the funds will be transfer to the beneficiary via online wire transfer but the beneficiary have to get/set-up an online Account in our Bank. Once the Online Account has been created or open in our Bank, the account information's will be given to the beneficiary and the beneficiary will personally make a transfer via online to his/her personal local Account or any account the the beneficiary/customer wish to receive the said funds in the world.

Have a nice day and God bless you and your lovely family. Attached is my International passport and my official ID card for your perusal. I can be reached on this number anytime: +234-70-86731414 Call me for more details

Dr.Kingsley Moghalu
Deputy Governor CBN

8110
8111

==========================================
SCAMMER hamidel4umehdi@hotmail.com
SCAMMER revjohnchristopher50@yahoo.com

This dude pretending to be a chicky held onto my email for almost a year, must have been drunk dialing me.

http://www.realscam.com/f44/sweetheart-scammer-did-really-hot-person-pick-me-above-all-others-2300/index15.html#post59621

hamide mehdi

Jul 31 (1 day ago)

to me
Hello,
I am very happy to inform you about my success in getting the fund transferred under the co-operation after i succeeded my sickness and i am now in London with my new partner. Presently I am in London for investment projects with my own share of the total sum. Meanwhile, I didn't forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me in transferring the funds despite that it failed us some how.Now you will need to contact the Rev Father whom used to be a God-father to me when i was in Dakar Senegal, after they change the other father his name is Rev.Christopher John and his email address is as follows: (revjohnchristopher50@yahoo.com)
Ask him to send you a certified bank draft of $ 250.000.00 which I prepared and kept for your compensation for all the past efforts and attempts to assist me in this matter.I appreciated your efforts at that time very much. so feel free and get in touched with
Rev.Christopher John,and instruct him where to send you the draft cheque.Please do let me know immediately you receive it so that we can share our joy and happiness after all the sufferings at that time.
In the moment, I am very busy here because of the investment projects which me and the new partner are having at hand, finally, remember that I had forwarded instruction to Rev.Christopher John,on your behalf to receive that money. Therefore feel free to get in touch with him and he will send the cheque to you without delay.
Take care and bye for now.
Yours Truly One,
Miss Hamide

-----------------------------------
rev john

Jul 31 (1 day ago)

to me
Hello My Dear,

Actually, Miss Hamidel dropped an envelope with me and instructed that someone will establish contact with me that i should send it to him as soon as he communicate with me. It's not fiscal cash rather than bank draft.

Please you know this is a monetary issue and must be handle with carefulness. So I need a tangible prove from you to be sure that you are the rightful person she said that will contact me because any mistake will cause me into trouble.

Please i want to have your identity card bearing that name to be proper sure together with your postal address and telephone number so that you will use to receive the cheque . As soon as i receive this i will go DELIVERY COMPANY AND SEND IT TO YOU IMMEDIATELY so you have to send me your all information so that i will use it and post the Bank draft,USD$D250,000.00)According to her she said that i should deliver it to you as soon as you contacted me,Am sorry for responding a little bite late.
I wish you good luck.
Rev Father john. Christopher.

[ribshaw]

SCAMMER coustomerloan@hotmail.com
SCAMMER Loan Offer info@loan.com
SCAMMER coustomerfinancial@gmail.com

So this is an advance fee loan scam. The fact that they don't know how to spell CUSTOMER was very endearing to me. The $850 they are asking for to process the loan is money that will never be seen again. The interest rate is exceptionally good, if I could borrow at 3% I would not be dealing with a fakey interweb banker. The more likely scenario is people who have tried to borrow other places with no success, and then scumbags like this pretend to ride to the rescue.

Advance-Fee Loans | Consumer Information (http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0078-advance-fee-loans)



We are financial builders and we give out no credit check loans to everyone ranging from personal, commercial, business loans with our amounts ranging from min $5,000 - max $1,000,000 with a fixed and very low interest rate of 3% do you want to own a company? Do you want to own a Home? Is Your Company having financial problem? Do you have a contract/project and need money to fund it?
Apply for a loan today and get financed within 3-4 working days.

HOW TO APPLY: send us the below information through e-mail
(coustomerfinancial@gmail.com) so that we can send you our loan terms and
repayment plan for your review.


Mark Thomas

1:23 AM (11 hours ago)

to me, bcc: me
Be careful with this message. It contains content that's typically used to steal personal information.

To: christian hoidahl
coustomerloan@hotmail.com

L & T FINANCE HOLDINGS LIMITED.
OFFICE ADDRESS
DCM BUILDING, BARAKHAMBA RD,
CONNAUGHT PLACE.NEW DELHI 110001 INDIA
Tel:+919560727975
Tel: +2348076216452
Country:India /Nigeria

Dear Smarty Pantz,

Acting on the content of your email, note that I am willing to help you with your loan amount and given you this loan is not a problem, if only you are in agreement with the terms and condition of the loan. With the information I got from you I believe it will be enough for us to precede with this transaction. Note fully well that we are capable to handle your loan requirement so please you are to read the loan terms and conditions and get back to me as soon as you can. As per your Loan request you stated that you are interested in obtaining a loan Amount of $500,000.00 We would be able to offer you the loan Amount requested. To start with, find below the Loan Terms and Repayment schedule for the Loan amount requested.

I, Mr Mark Thomas of L & T FINANCE HOLDING LIMITED.is giving out a loan of $500,000.00 to the below beneficiary.
Borrowers Name:James Evans.
Country: USA
Loan Amount:$500,000.00
Loan Duration:-1 year

This is to certify that the management of the above named organization has decided to grant you your loan request of $500,000.00 with our loan officers and board of directors.

The management therefore set up a couple of terms and conditions with regards to the amount you requested for, the terms and conditions are
clearly stated below:

LOAN TERMS AND CALCULATION:

Loan Amount Needed: $500,000.00
Loan Interest Rate: 3%
Loan Term: 1 year
Monthly Loan Payment: $42,346.85
Number of Payments: 12
Cumulative Payments: $508,162.19
Total Interest Paid: $8,162.19


LOAN CONDITIONS AND GUIDELINES

*Monthly Repayment: On getting the loan, the applicant will start the repayment of loan on the 30Th/31st of every month starting from (3) month after loan has been transferred to the beneficiary's account with the monthly payment as stated above. I usually give Three months GRACE PERIOD to all applicant before Re-payment can commence.

The borrower must pay back at the rate of 3% interest within1 year after cashing the loan. In accordance to the lenders act in section 4 subsection 18 of the 1999 constitution Republic of India / Nigeria Borrower is responsible for the registration/Approval charges of his/her loan?.

FSA: This Institution as well as this loan transaction is associated with a maximum security guarantee. The FSA(Financial Security Assurance) guarantees all applicants requesting for loan in this institution to be rest assured that the legitimacy of this transaction is 100%.

***Transfer Of Funds.
There are three ways in which this loan can be transfer to your destination,below and you will have to choose from the transfer option in which you will want your loan to be transfer to you below.

4. OBLIBATION OF BORROWER
The Borrower/s shall:
4.1. Promptly, and not later than 7 days from the occurrence of any of the following events, notify us in writing with full details of the same: (a) death of any of the Borrower/s;, and (b) all change/s in the location/address of any of the Borrower/s’ office or residence or place of business.

4.2. Promptly notify us of any litigation, arbitration, administrative or other proceedings initiated or threatened against the Borrower/s or his/her/their assets.
4.3. Promptly notify us of any circumstances and conditions which have/may have a Material Adverse Effect on your investment or capital.

***HOW WE PROVIDE THE LOAN.
4.4. Usually we provide the loan by depositing it into the nominated account. However, if you ask and we agree, we may give you a cheque for the loan. If we provide the loan by cheque, the cheque is only valid for the period we specify and installments are payable even if the cheque is not cashed.

Courier Delivery Service: In this process, an agent will have to deliver your loan amount in a well packaged parcel, this parcel will not be open by him or any other person until it is delivered to you.The agent will come to your country and deliver this parcel to your door step or deliver it to your office address.


Bank To Bank Transfer: Here you are to send down your banking information's so that we can forward it to the transfer department and then they will have to transfer your loan amount into your bank account .it will take 24hours to get this done,once the registration is done
1. Bank to bank transfer:

Bank name:............
Bank account number:...........
Bank account name:............
swift code:............
Routine number:...........
Your Mobile phone:...........

2.Western Union Money Transfer or Money Gram transfer :
Receivers name:.............
Address:..........
State:.........
Country:...........
Your Mobile Phone Number:...........

3. Courier Option:
*Residential Address:.................
*Your Passport or scan copy of your driver license:............
*Country:...............
*Your Mobile Phone Number:......................


*The loan must be insured: The insuring of this loan will be done by the lender who is giving out the loan. Therefore the Loan Lender will be responsible for the Insurance Fees.Upon Insuring this Loan Funds,A certificate of Insurance will be Issued to me,Which i will be sending to you Via e-mail attachment.


LOAN REGISTRATION /Approval PROCESS: You will be required to Register your Requested Loan Amount with International Monetary Fund(IMF) and the Loan Regulatory Body for the approval of your loan. This is in accordance with the Prevention of Money- Laundering Act, 2002 enacted to meet with all International and Local Financial Transaction that might require Transfer of funds or any form of deposit, paper or related financial matter to avoid be charged for money laundering by any authority. Loan registration fee is $850 And This fee will be refund back to you after one year along with the interest it might yield with the bank because the fee will be used as Bank security.

SECURITY POLICY: Due to the high rate of Internet insecurity we have our own method to prevent Fraudulent people from obtaining a Loan from us. This is why will have all your full details for legit and clean verification.

IDENTIFICATION NEEDED: Furthermore be informed that you will send us either a (Driver's License) or your (working ID card) or International Passport for Identification of Client as this is important to us try and send it to us.

Once this is received, we will inform you when your loan will be ready for transfer, If there is anything you will like to add do not

fail to bring it to my attention, our loan program is very direct and flexible as comply with the International Fund Firm.

Official Notice: Be informed that all the insurance, Bank charges and legal charges incurred in the process of getting the loan insured and processed is being taken care of by this financial institute.

Just also want to inform you that the loan will be transferred to you with a fast delivering process. In acknowledgment to this mail, we can start the processing of your loan. Thanks for your understanding.Considering the above conditions if they are acceptable to you, you have to give us a fast response so that we can assign our lawyer to send you the loan agreement document , so that we can start processing your loan.


Do get back to me if you are in agreement with the loan terms and condition so that we can move further.


Hope to hear from you soon. Thanks and God Bless.



Mr Mark Thomas
General Consultant
Tel:+919560727975
Tel: +2348076216452
Country:India /Nigeria
Chief Executive Officer(C.E.O)
L & T FINANCE HOLDINGS LIMITED.

[ribshaw]

My fake loan was about to be canceled, so I asked for ID. The APPROVED stamp looks like it may have been copied once or twice from scumbag to scumbag.

Mark Thomas

Aug 19 (1 day ago)

to me
Hello Applicant,

This email is to let you know that we are about canceling your loan application from this company because we have not received any email from your quiet a long time now. so we will want you to get back to us immediately and let us know if you are still interested in this loan or not. You have to know that you are given just the remaining few days of this week to get back to us and let us know what you are up to on your loan application because after this week, your loan application will be terminated. So we await your immediate response soon.


12:45 PM (23 hours ago)

to Mark
Hello sir, yes I am still interested I have been sick since we last conversed. Can you please provide me with some documentation and ID related to your company so that I may know who I am dealing with.

Thank You

8198
8199

================================================== ==

[ribshaw]

Along the lines of ID, just because someone has their picture taken with someone famous does not mean they don't need to be investigated.

I would go as far as saying, if the picture is with a politician you DON'T want to give them your money. I say that half jokingly but in thinking back on major scams quite a few were run by people who seemed well connected. Additionally, it is very easy to be generous, whether to charity or politicians, when you are spending money that belongs to other people.

CNBC's American Greed: Scams, Schemes, and Broken Dreams (http://www.cnbc.com/id/18057119)

8200

American Greed: Raffaello Follieri (http://www.cnbc.com/id/100000069)

8201

8202

[ribshaw]

Internet scammers are sending e-mails with titles that promise amazing videos of the Ice Bucket Challenge, but they’re actually attempts to embed spyware and other data-stealing programs in your computer, according to the Ohio-based software security company ThirtySeven4. Ice Bucket Challenge being used for scams, security company warns | Detroit Free Press | freep.com (http://www.freep.com/article/20140822/BUSINESS07/308220096/ice-bucket-challenge-scam-ALS)

Seems you can get it out of your system here...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R54_y3TXyGA

[ribshaw]

Hundreds - possibly thousands - of students across the UK are falling victim to an expensive mobile phone scam.

The students are being persuaded to take out mobile contracts, and then sell the phones on to another company.

They are promised an income from the phone as well. But more often than not they end up being liable for the new user's debts.

One student ended up owing £10,000, according to police.

BBC Radio 4's You and Yours programme has found the scam has affected at least a dozen universities, and police are investigating at least 350 cases where students have lost money.


The guy from the company turned up to my Uni. He steps out of the car - and he's looking really sharp, wearing a nice suit - and he gave a really convincing sales pitch”


Typically, students take out a phone contract in their own name, and then sell the handset to a private company for £50 or so, with the promise of more money to come.
Student debt

One student, who spoke to the BBC anonymously, sent off six phones and ended up with a debt of £500.

"The guy from the company turned up to my Uni. He steps out of the car - and he's looking really sharp, wearing a nice suit - and he gave a really convincing sales pitch," he told the programme.

"I feel a bit silly for being duped into this," he added.

Police say they are still trying to work out how widespread the scam is. They say there may well be thousands of cases which have yet to be reported.

"You've got to remember these students - 18 or 19 year-olds -are probably leaving home for the first time," said detective chief inspector Bob Mahoney, of the National Mobile Phone Crime Unit.

"They've got all the worries of student debts behind them, so any income they can generate does look attractive," he said.

Students are being advised not to give away personal details, and to look at their credit ratings to see if any changes have occurred.

BBC News - Mobile phone scam hits hundreds of students (http://www.bbc.com/news/business-28897767)

[kschang]

Interesting. Are they told that the phones will be "lent" out to subscribers who can't open contracts in their own names or something? And when those people pay a premium above the fee they'll benefit?

Apparently these young lads and lasses haven't heard of "prepaid phones". :)

[ribshaw]

SCAMMER Mr. Daney Green <daneygreen318@yahoo.co.uk>

Dear Ribshaw,

I am Mr. Daney Green, a lawyer and solicitor at law,i wish to place your name as the beneficiary to £9.8m (GBP), Pounds due to the death of my late client the depositor who died 5th of November 2005 along with his family, and am contacting you because you bear a similar last name with that of my late client Nanna Ribshaw.

Please also note that this fund was deposited in Diamond Finance House London, BUT has been moved to a bank in China for transfer.

I seek your consent therefore, to present you to the trustees as my client's next of kin since you bear a similar last name with my late client so that you can help repatriate the money to a foreign account and I promise a fair share between us at the end of the transfer.

If you are very interested, contact me through my email address so I can appraise you with further details. I assure you that I have all the requirements to execute this claim legitimately.


Note,that for your assistance,our sharing percentage will be 50/50 and on hearing from you i shall furnish you with more details on what next to do.

Await your quick response,
Mr.Daney Green.

[ribshaw]

SCAMMER d.herman4@aol.com


Deborah Herman

8258

8256

8257

to me
Dearest Beloved ,





Calvary Greetings to you and your family. I must confess that i am
gladdened in your mail, and willingness to help actualize my aim, now
that am helpless health wise. Firstly i want to thank you very much for
your prayers and i pray that God will always be with you too.Would you
please tell me when i can call you.


Again,i am indeed very happy that i was able to contact you.I am
certain your are God sent,your time and commitment will really go a
long way,however my God tells me that i can trust only someone like you
because you are truly very daring and open which is very important for
the success of release of this funds and i am sure you believe me
also,thank you for your prayers.


I really appreciate your kind words which passifies me and in trueness
i really want this funds to be used for building of churches and
charity to humanity because if i fail to produce the next of kin on
time,the Federal Government of Malaysia will confiscate this funds
and my soul and the wishes of my late beloved husband,David Herman
will not rest in peace.





I appreciate your honesty and commitment.I would have wished we could
at least talk on the phone so that i can be sure of your position and
status because my life on earth is minimal now due to my bad health
condition so i will really appreciate if you could call me,I WILL
IMMEDIATELY FURNISH YOU WITH MY NUMBER[+601123225319]

Even as i wait to receive your response on the information needed,for
further prove legitimacy of this transaction and my sincerity in our
actualizing this charity course we will both achieve with mutual
trust,i have attached with my mail a copy of ,the "Death Certificate"
of my late husband,Mr David Herman whom i miss so much and the
"Certificate of Deposit of the funds" for your perusal and record
keeping after you must have printed it.





I will also appreciate you sending me a form of identification also.I
also want from you a brief background of yourself and the following
information listed below so that i can get more acquainted with you
before we fully proceed:



FULL NAME,FULL CONTACT ADDRESS,NAME OF COMPANY
COMPANY ADDRESS:...,POSITION,AGE,DATE OF BIRTH.
MARITAL STATUS,RELIGION:,SEX:
PRIVATE FAX NO,PRIVATE PHONE NO



I can only present an individual to the bank as the next of kin to my
late husband through an attorney before the funds can be released so i
will be more gladdened if you really assist me in getting this funds
remitted to the church and humanity,once you indicate commitment and
interest,i will instruct the attorney to prepare an agreement bond
which will be signed by both of us,70% for charity and church
building,25% for your compensation and 5% for any expenses incurred in
the process of getting the funds.





From the tone of your mail, i can feel the fear of God in you and a
good christian with a big heart, you know that in this our present
dispensation, it's difficult to find some trustworthy person(s), due to
the corrupt practices amongst our people of today. I am glad that i have
found you, and within my spirit, i know that i can trust you with this
project, and as you proceed with this, may the almighty God grant you
strength and wisdom.


As you know that i am not in a good state of mind, and have limited
power to type mails, due to my doctor's advise, thus, i would not be
communicating via email with you always.





Also as you know already that i am at the hospital bed,and i will be
getting you a competent attorney who will handle all proceedings of
this transaction but before i will forward your information to the
lawyer, Barrister Paul Harrison,(Esq), who also resides here in
Malaysia,i will want to know you very well and get more acquainted with
you so that i can be certain of your honesty because now that my demise
is near,i will want to make sure i entrust the funds into a God fearing
heart person if you understand and i think i have no doubt in my mind
that you are the person because after reading your mail,its like i
already know you,i am really grateful and my husband will be happy
where ever he is beside God now,i miss him so much.





I would want you to also throw your full weight behind this project and
work with the lawyer when the time comes. You can trust him with
anything, as he is also a God fearing man and an Elder in the church,
with him you will have all the guidelines on how you will be able to
lay claims on the said funds from the Finance Home.


Thanks for your help and kind gesture, and may God bless you abundantly.

[ribshaw]

SCAMMER amazon@aws.amazon.com

Please resolving an issue with your account

PLEASE RESOLVING? NICE TRY!! I checked and crap is still showing up at my door, so my card must still be good. Nevertheless, best to have accounts like this bookmarked and not trust any links sent via email.

8329

[ribshaw]

SCAMMER chucksfeeney01@gmail.com

Charles F Feeney

Real guy, real story but the email is BS from a scammer.

to me
Hi,

Thank you for confirming the validity of your email address immediately and also accepting this grant , My foundation ( Atlantic Philanthropies ) technically is responsible for awarding grant/donation but I have always wanted to make a personal donation to random individuals in any part of the world and that is why I have decided to give [$1,900,000 USD] to you secretly without my foundation being aware. It gives me great joy finally being able to make this donation to you, let's make the world a better place by giving and solving each others problem, all people have the right to opportunity, equity and dignity.

To facilitate the disbursement process of the funds valued at One Million Nine Hundred United States Dollars[$1,900,000 USD] which have been donated solely to you, please send me the below information before proceeding with remitting the sum of One Million Nine Hundred Thousand United States Dollars [$1,900,000 USD] to you. I am hoping that you will be able to use the money wisely and judiciously. I ask you to do what you can to alleviate the level of poverty in your region and also try to enhance the standard of living of as many people as you can and see the joy and happiness of giving.

Do make sure you provide me with your complete information below so I forward it to my selected payout bank for disbursement.

Full Name:
Contact Address:
Occupation:
Mobile Number:

I am trusting you to make good use of this money.

Please do not be Skeptical about my free will donation to you and Visit :

Thank you for accepting this offer, I am indeed grateful. I anticipate your earliest response.

Regards,

Charles F. Feeney.

Charles F. Feeney 'Grant Donation' Advance Fee Scam (http://www.hoax-slayer.com/charles-feeney-advance-fee-scam.shtml)

Chuck Feeney - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Feeney)

Philanthropist Chuck Feeney who inspired Bill Gates and Warren Buffet wants all his money spent on good causes before he's dead | Daily Mail Online (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2373420/Philanthropist-Chuck-Feeney-inspired-Bill-Gates-Warren-Buffet-wants-money-spent-good-causes-hes-dead.html)


8345

[Joe_Shmoe]

BBC News - 'Pyramid scheme' operation sees six women convicted (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29250910)

18 September 2014Last updated at 11:18


'Pyramid scheme' operation sees six women convicted

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/77661000/jpg/_77661474_money_pa.jpg
Six women have been convicted of operating a "pyramid" scheme in which thousands of investors lost money.
The "Give and Take" scheme operated in south-west England and south Wales five years ago.
The six were all from the Bristol area and each were given a nine month prison sentence. Investigators say more than £20m was invested by about 10,000 members of the public.

Three other women were given suspended sentences for promoting the scheme.
The group encouraged people to "beg, borrow or steal" £3,000 to put into the scheme between May 2008 and April 2009.
It began in Bath and Bristol and spread to Gloucester, Bridgwater, Cheltenham, Torquay, Weston-super-Mare and Wales.
Those running the scheme told its investors it had a quick, easy and legal way to make cash - by paying in £3,000 they would receive more than £20,000, as more members joined.

But eventually the number of new recruits dried up and the scheme collapsed, with 90% of investors loosing their money.
Eleven women, aged between 34 and 69, became the first to be prosecuted for such a scheme, under new legislation in the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Act 2008.
Following two trials in 2012 and 2013, which can now be reported for the first time, three were convicted, three pleaded guilty, one was acquitted and two juries could not reach a verdict on another.

Court proceedings A third trial was due to begin at Bristol Crown Court on Wednesday. However, the women entered guilty pleas before a jury was sworn in.
Mary Nash, 65, Susan Crane, 68, and Hazel Cameron, 54, will be sentenced in October. All three admitted operating and promoting the pyramid scheme.
Laura Fox, 69, East Harptree, Jennifer Smith-Hayes, 69, of Bishopsworth and Carol Chalmers, 68, of Weston-super-Mare were convicted of operating and promoting the scheme during a trial in 2012.

They were sentenced to nine months in prison.
Sally Phillips, 34, of Hengrove, Jane Smith, 50, of Bishopsworth, both Bristol and Rita Lomas, 49, of Whitchurch, Somerset admitted promoting the scheme in 2012.
Phillips received a three-month suspended prison sentence, Smith a four-month suspended sentence and Lomas a four-and-a-half month suspended sentence.

Two trials of Tracey Laurence, 60, of Bradley Stoke, South Gloucestershire failed to reach a verdict.
Rhalina Yuill, 34, of St George, Bristol was acquitted of promoting a pyramid scheme on her second trial.


Previous story about this Ponzi scheme BBC News - Women deny running illegal pyramid scheme (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-13524740)

[ribshaw]

SCAMMER miltonkeyneshospital@yahoo.co.uk

Milton District Hospital Email SCAM--Sorry about the messy font email, it came to me in a FB message, but you get the picture there is no job.

If you are looking at employment opportunities outside your own country it is always best to contact your embassy directly to determine what documentation is needed.

PAYING FEES TO ANYONE ELSE WILL RESULT IN BEING SCAMMED.




4470 is a UK Global Redirect Code, not a legitimate business.

You are to pay 2200£ (GBP) to process your work permit,working visa &application visa-ADVANCE FEE SCAM


Information And Requirement REMINDER: Please READ & UNDERSTAND this email message, it is advisable for you to PRINT it. After evaluation of your resume through online application, we are pleased to tell you that you are about to be SELECTED for the position of a Staff Nurse and/or Caregiver (unlicensed Nurse & medical allied course graduate) at Milton Keynes Hospital in United Kingdom. If you are looking for a challenging job in one of the most vibrant, fastest growing communities in the country; in a central location with good transport links, excellent housing, some of the best shopping to be found anywhere in the country and superb night life - read on. Milton Keynes is one of the fastest growing areas in the country with a rapidly increasing population and a hospital growing to match. The changing needs of providing acute health care for this ever-changing community represent an on-going challenge for the hospital and for the staff who work here. If you are up to that challenge and are looking for the opportunity to develop your role as the city develops we may be the hospital for you. You should attend the FIRST & LAST British Interview Coaching for this year 2012 1 July from 9:00AM 5:00PM.EMPLOYEES ARE NEEDED FROM Match 20~September 30, 2012 together with our very own British Trainers. Call us for inquiries strictly from 9:00am-5:00pm Monday-Friday (12:00-1:00PM Lunch Break/3:00-3:30PM Coffee Break): Cellular No.: +4470359353331(Company Mobile Phone) We will start accepting inquiries starting from June 15, 2012 –July 12, 2012 strictly from 9:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M. only (12:00-1:00PM Lunch Break/3:00-3:30PM Coffee Break). NO PLACEMENT FEE! NO SALARY DEDUCTION OPPORTUNITY! NO SHOW MONEY! Airfare, Nurse Midwife Council (NMC) You are to pay 2200£ (GBP) to process your work permit,working visa &application visa Registration pack for Staff Nurses & Midwives, work permit & working visa will be processed by the employer, the expenses that you are going to shoulder is the work permit,working visa & application visa because this is on a DIRECT/NAME HIRE BASIS. To better understand the process, we provide you with our application procedure:Sending of resume through online application for qualification (done) We will send an e-mail message requiring you to attend a 2-day British Interview Coaching which is a requirement by the employer (done) Attend the 2-day British Interview Coaching (November 23 & 30, 2011 9am-5pm), get the required certificate, orientation with the employer (november20, 2011 9:00-10:00 AM) & signing of employment contract with interview with the employer (november23, 2011 4:00-5:00 PM) After finishing the 2 day British Embassy Interview Coaching, receiving the required certificate, orientation with the employer & signing of employment contract, you can now resume as a worker. While the documents are still on process you have to get an endorsement letter for medical examination (your choice of clinic/hospital as long as it is accredited by DOH, POEA & MARINA) After we received your documents (max. of 2 weeks after mailing the documents), we will start processing your work permit (max. of 4 weeks processing) After the approval of your work permit, we will start processing your working visa (max. of 4 weeks processing) After the approval of your working visa, schedule for departure orientation seminar (PDOS), interview for visa stamping & securing of prepaid ticket advice Deployment Date (maximum of 3 months if requirements are submitted on July 20& 30, 2012) British Interview Coaching will be conducted at our office at:Milton Keynes Consultancy. Cellular No.: +4470359353331(Company Mobile Phone) TAKE NOTE: British Interview Coaching that you are going to attend are purely training & exercises, NO EXAMS REQUIRED, nobody fails the training. We will only accept those selected applicants who paid on or before September, 2012 until 12:00 P.M. lunch time upon slot availability. PLEASE SEND USA MESSAGE FIRST BEFORE MAKING ANY PAYMENT TO CHECK SLOT AVAILABILITY. We will automatically replace those who did not comply. IT’S A FIRST PAY, FIRST RESERVE BASIS! You can pay through the payment that we would give to you . You can ask somebody to pay for you if you are not available or busy with your work. VERY IMPORTANT NOTICE: Name: YOUR NAME Address: YOUR ADDRESS Phone No. YOUR LAND LINE OR CELLULAR NO. Signature: YOUR SIGNATURE Amount: After payment, please send us the following information via our email address for slot reservation: Tracking No.: Your Full Name: Time & Date of Payment: After sending the payment details, we will verify the validity of payment online and we will text you back VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION & reserve your work slot. Maps & Directions will be sent through email to PAID & RESERVED Applicants together with the draft of the employment contract. TAKE NOTE: RESERVATION OF SLOT IS DONE AFTER WE RECEIVED THE PAYMENT DETAILS. We will start receiving payment details for slot reservation .We offer FREE FOOD & ACCOMMODATION to those selected applicants coming from the province. As a company policy, all payments should be made at the details we are going to send to you .Please bring the proof of payment with you on the training dates so that we will accommodate you. No payments are accepted during training days & we will not entertain walk-in applicants who are not yet paid during weekdays. Names of paid applicants are forwarded to the Information desk/guard on duty for them to easily identify who are allowed to enter office premises & attend the training. Schedule of Activities on July20 & 30, 2012 .Attire: Smart Casual 9:00-10:00 a.m.: ORIENTATION (you can bring your parents, nearest relative or your husband/wife) 10:00-12:00 p.m.: British Interview Coaching 12:00-1:00 p.m.: FREE Lunch 1:00-3:30 p.m.: British Interview Coaching 3:30-4:00 p.m.: FREE Snack 4:00-5:00 p.m.: British Interview Coaching July 23.Attire: Semi-Formal 9:00-12:00 p.m.: British Interview Coaching 12:00-1:00 p.m.: FREE Lunch 1:00-3:30 p.m. British Interview Coaching 3:30- 4:00 p.m.: FREE Snack 4:00-5:00 p.m.: Interview with the employer & Signing of Employment Contract (you can bring your parents, nearest relative or your husband/wife) FREE Training Materials will be provided such as Original DVD copy of the training, plastic/brown envelope, pencil, eraser, ball pen Here are the list of requirements to be submitted during training days if available on hand, TO FOLLOW IF NOT AVAILABLE 1 set all photocopied: 1. Updated Resume with or without picture 2. 4pcs. Passport size picture (white background) 3. Valid passport (if available, only needed during Embassy interview) 4. Employment Certificates (if applicable) 5. Diploma or training certificate 6. Transcript of records 7. Birth Certificate (NSO) 8. NBI Clearance (Abroad) (if available, only needed during Embassy interview) NOTE: NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED BECAUSE THERE IS A FREE ON THE JOB TRAINING WITH SALARY, WITH FREE ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD ALLOWANCE WITHIN THE CONTRACT PERIOD. We offer working visa NOT student visa. We, Employers will be on schedule 24 hours to immediately process your work permit. Sincerely yours, Elvira S. Simon Manager Milton Keynes Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Standing Way Milton Keynes Nottingham MK6 5LD United Kingdom

419 Advance Fee Fraud: Milton Keynes Hospital / Fake Job Scam Fraud (http://419advancefeefraud.blogspot.com/2013/12/milton-keynes-hospital-fake-job-scam.html)

YOU GOT SCAMMED!!! 911: MILTON DISTRICT HOSPITAL is NOT HIRING!!! (http://scamalerts911.blogspot.com/2013/10/milton-district-hospital-is-not-hiring.html?spref=fb)

https://www.overseasjobsource.com/avoid-overseas-job-scams/spot

[ribshaw]

Thief of Wall Street hitting the seminar circuit.

It’s 6:45 on a Wednesday night, and I’m nearly an hour into a sales pitch called “The Truth Behind His Success.” A couple of hundred other people sit in stiff plastic chairs in the Los Angeles Convention Center, seeking transformation.

"My dad f------ hated salespeople. Salesman equals slime and bucket," Jordan Belfort says as he strides across the stage. "The truth is: Selling is everything in life. You're selling or you're failing."

That's Jordan Belfort, aka the “Wolf of Wall Street” played by Leonardo DiCaprio in the Martin Scorsese film of the same name. The movie grossed more the $390 million worldwide and was nominated for five Academy Awards. The Wolf of Wall Street motivational speech cost me $89 and was aggressively promoted on discount site Groupon (50% off!).

The world is divided between ducks and eagles, per Belfort. "The 'duck,'" — he spits the word in his Long Island accent —"has a story, their bullshit story. They quack like a duck. Why can't they have what they want? Their story stops them from getting what they want. They have what I call an 'impossibility option.'"

Now eagles — eagles are different. "Eagles soar above the crowd," Belfort says, before delivering his truth. "One thing I can promise you: There's not a single duck in this room. You know why? Ducks don't come to things like this."

This is Belfort's “Straight Line: Sales & Entrepreneurship" technique. It's basically a bunch of clichés and aphorisms (“results people get **** done,” to win you need to be "sharp as a tack," "enthusiastic as hell" and "an expert in your field"). On stage he can't help interrupting himself with his own improbably wild and illegal tales, most of which were depicted in the movie, punctuated with the requisite name-dropping. ("Leo was so convincing, not just because he's a great actor but because I spent months working with him.")

Read more The Wolf of Wall Street: Film Review

Then again, truth tends to bend in Belfort's world. This is a guy who swindled $110 million from his investors in a "pump-and-dump" scheme over worthless penny stocks.

Just ask Joel M. Cohen, the federal prosecutor who got Belfort to flip on his friends and colleagues within 48 hours. Even the nickname is misleading: "Belfort invented the 'Wolf of Wall Street' name for his book,” Cohen tells me over the phone. “In my months debriefing him and years investigating his firm, no one ever called him that."

Leo DiCaprio Wolf of Wall StreetParamountBelfort was played by Leonardo DiCaprio in the movie version of his life.

On the big screen, DiCaprio's Belfort was contained sleaze, a fastball of unctuousness careening toward its target, amassing collateral damage in the form of cars, boats, strippers, and friends. In real life, Belfort is scattered, restless, and unfocused. He scribbles his points on a series of four easels filled with paper from Office Depot, the handwriting indecipherable. He strides up and down the stage, marker in hand. He's less Tony Robbins, more buff guy at the gym who doles out unsolicited workout advice.

Dressed in a white golf shirt, black suit pants, and $500 Golden Goose sneakers — he’s rockin' the ex-con life pretty well. He's buff and bombastic, full of unrepentant braggadocio. Belfort relishes every detail about sinking a $167 million yacht while overdosing on quaaludes, not to mention boasting that he cheated on his wife. It was with a “six-foot-tall Ethiopian,” he says, holding onto the moment. “When was I going to get a chance to do that again?”

Humbled he's not. Then again, he's the first to admit his 22 months of incarceration weren’t exactly hardcore. "I was in a not-so-bad jail. I wasn't getting butt-fucked by Bubba every night." He pauses while the audience laughs. "I really wasn't, by the way."

Watch more Real-Life 'Wolf of Wall Street': 'It Was Awful What I Did, But I Was on Massive Amounts of Drugs'

His cellmate was Tommy Chong, (yes, of Cheech and Chong), who told Belfort his stories were too outrageous not to put down. Belfort brags that he taught himself to write, and that The New York Times book review said "I wrote like Tom Wolfe and Hunter S. Thompson were my mentors."

The Wolf brings a friend on stage to pitch a real-estate deal. It's a guaranteed method to make money off real estate, with "no upfront fees, no credit check, and no income verification." (You can also work from home). Curiously, he detailed the subprime mortgage meltdown and the financial crisis while using the same pitch the banks used for "liars' loans" — in a 40-minute live infomercial. Seems outrageous to me but people around me are buying into it.

"It's an asset play. There's no risk. I'm making nothing off of this," Belfort says from the sidelines, between sips of red Gatorade. He says he just wants to share the opportunity with us. "But there's not much more time to get in on it." About 40 people take the cue. Belfort’s friend shows a slide of a three-bedroom, two-bathroom house that he says his students bought for $110,000 and flipped for an $86,300 profit. (A Zillow listing of the property reveals it's a two-bedroom, one-bath home. It's listed at $284,900 and was sold last July for $275,000. The listing agent didn’t return my requests for comment.)

After about 40 minutes Belfort retakes the stage. It's now way past 9 p.m. and he doesn’t look to be wrapping up anytime soon. Belfort says that after he’s done he'll answer questions, "but about business, not just drugs and prostitutes." I head to the back of the room.

A financial planner and his tax lawyer friend are standing there, arms folded and shaking their heads. The planner tells me he's going to try to get a refund; he's insulted by the pitch. Apparently, I just missed a woman and her husband who paid $500 each for VIP seats and a one-on-one meet-and-greet. They wanted a refund as well.

Just shy of four hours, Belfort finally starts to wind down. He offers to hook people up for his three-day seminar for just $1,997 if 100 of us sign up. Apparently this is a $10,000 value.

Read more 'Wolf of Wall Street's' Jordan Belfort Says He'll Earn More From Speaking Tour Than Stock-Trading

It’s not entirely clear how much money Belfort is making from this tour, or how much of the $110,362,993.87 in restitution he owes the federal government he’s actually paying. According to an Oct. 11, 2013, letter from the Department of Justice, Belfort’s coughed up just over $11 million, but has taken the stance that since he’s now free he’s no longer obligated to pay.

That’s about $99 million still owed to his victims.

The day after the Los Angeles talk, I call Belfort's agency to figure out how much money he’s making. Anne Koppe "from Jordan Belfort's office" calls me back, immediately launching into a rant about how he wants to pay back restitution but the government is holding it up because the lawyers want to take their share in fees (U.S. attorneys are salaried, they do not bill by the hour). Belfort, in fact, pays more than what's required, she says. (Anne Koppe was also the name of Belfort’s fiancé when THRinterviewed him earlier this year.)

Koppe insists that he's not making any money off the US tour — but asked about international bookings, she replies, “Well, we have to eat."

His speaking fees range from nothing for charity events, she says — to $100,000 a day. The Justice Department maintains that Belfort holds money in his Australian company, that it is unable to access.

But what about the Wolf's claims that he would make $100 million on his speaking tour? She laughs. "That's just Jordan Belfort being Jordan Belfort. You have to dream big. That way if you fail, you're still rich."

Jordan Belfort Cringeworthy Talk At LA Convention Center - Business Insider (http://www.businessinsider.com/jordan-belfort-cringeworthy-la-convention-center-2014-11)

[ribshaw]

Holiday scams: 6 more to avoid
Steve Weisman, Special to USA TODAY 12:57 p.m. EST November 22, 2014

Last week, I wrote about six holiday scams and identity theft schemes for which you should watch out. Here are the rest of the 12 scams of the season.

GIFT CARD SCAMS

Gift cards are a good way to make sure your gift is something the person receiving it will actually use. Scammers go to racks of gift cards and, using handheld scanners, read the code on the magnetic strip of the card and the number on the front. They put the card back in the display and periodically check with the retailer by calling its 800 number to check whether the card has been activated. Once it is activated, they either create a counterfeit card or order things online without having an actual card in hand.

To avoid this problem, purchase cards from behind the customer service desk, and if the card is pre-loaded, always ask for the card to be scanned to show it is fully valued.

USA TODAY

Scams: Don't let the Grinch ruin your holidays

PUPPY SCAMS

Puppies are a popular holiday gift. Scammers set up phony websites purporting to be breeders of purebred dogs. The scammers send photographs of the dogs. Often these photographs are taken by the scammers from websites of legitimate breeders. In many cases, after a price is agreed upon, the scammer requires additional payments for shipping, insurance and veterinarian fees. Once the money is sent, the victim is told to go to the airport to pick up the dog. Of course, when the victim gets to the airport, there is no dog.

Even if you make contact with a legitimate breeder over the Internet, do not buy a dog without seeing the dog and the facility selling the dog. Get an independent veterinarian's report on the dog and check out the seller with the American Kennel Club.

PHISHING SCAMS

The holiday season is filled with e-mails luring you to websites for discounted merchandise, coupons and myriad other enticements to click on links in tainted websites that download malware that will steal the information from your computer and make you a victim or identity theft.

You can never be sure if an e-mail you receive is legitimate, so if you are tempted to click on a link or provide personal information for what appears to be a legitimate purpose, ignore the e-mail and go to the real website for the company to see whether the e-mail was indeed legitimate.

VACATION HOME RENTAL SCAM

There are many legitimate websites that offer wonderful vacation homes. These websites can be an easy way to find a great vacation home. Scammers also will put listings on vacation websites. The listing may look official, and there is a good reason for that. The listing often is a real online listing that has been copied by the scammer who merely puts in his name and contact information.

There are a number of red flags to look for in vacation home rental scams. First, as always, if the price is too good to be true, it usually is just that – not true. Never send your payment by a wire transfer or a cashier's check. Use a credit card, so you can retrieve your funds if the transaction is fraudulent. It is usually best to deal with websites that specialize in vacation homes, but you must remember that they cannot possibly monitor every listing to ensure it is legitimate. You can also go online to the tax assessor's office of the city where the property is located and look up the real owner. If it doesn't match the name of the person attempting to rent you the home, it is probably a scam.

CONTEST SCAM

Phony lotteries are one of the most successfully perpetrated scams throughout the year, and they become even more common during the holidays with holiday-related phony lotteries. Victims are told they won a lottery they never entered and they merely have to pay some taxes or fees to claim the prize.

It is hard to win a lottery. It is impossible to win one you haven't even entered. It is important to remember that no legitimate lottery charges you fees to claim your prize, and no legitimate lottery collects income taxes for the IRS. The taxes are either deducted from your prize or you are responsible for paying the taxes directly to the IRS.

GRANDPARENT SCAM

The grandparent scam is another one done throughout the year; however, it is more prevalent during the holidays when college-age grandchildren may be traveling. The scam starts with a phone call apparently from a grandchild who has encountered a medical or legal emergency and needs money immediately. Often the scammers get personal information to make the call sound legitimate through the child's Facebook page or other social media.

A good way to be proactive is to have a secret word a child should use in an emergency situation. If the caller doesn't know it, it is probably a scam. People traveling abroad should register with the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program at https://step.state.gov/step/. This program helps with communication in emergencies.

Steve Weisman is a lawyer, a professor at Bentley University and one of the country's leading experts in scams and identity theft. He writes the blog Scamicide (http://www.scamicide.com) and his new book is Identity Theft Alert.

Holiday scams: 6 more to avoid (http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2014/11/22/holiday-scams-identity-theft/19340731/)

[Joe_Shmoe]

Internet criminals get ahead in advertising (http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/business/industries/media/article4304187.ece?shareToken=7d8d7d75c4357d999deb 833b0a0f5e30)

Internet criminals get ahead in advertising


Technology is tranforming cyber crime and the world of Mad Men
SKY ATLANTIC





http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/multimedia/archive/00825/a003ef46-894d-11e4-_825325c.jpg
Technology is tranforming cyber crime and the world of Mad Men SKY ATLANTIC



Alex Spence (http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/profile/Alex-Spence) Media Editor
Published at 12:01AM, December 22 2014

Cybercriminals are posing as British publishers, including theFinancial Times and the BBC, to trick companies into buying digital advertising.
Automated exchanges, used for trading internet display, mobile and video advertising in lightning-fast transactions, are awash with bogus inventory that is being sold for a fraction of the price that reputable publishers typically charge, security experts said.
An investigation for the Financial Times has discovered that 72 per cent of the advertising “impressions” being offered on open exchanges under the FT.com name in a single month were fraudulent. An impression is a single view of an advertisement by an individual user.
Instead of appearing on FT.com and being seen by that newspaper’s readers, the advertisements ended up on low-grade websites that had masked their web addresses and may not have had any genuine users.
Criminals have been offering a thousand impressions on FT.com for less than a dollar, when the newspaper has a “floor price” of about $20 per thousand, investigators at Pixalate, a technology company based in California, found.
The scam is one of several that cybercriminals use to skim vast amounts of cash from well-known brands. Experts estimate that online advertising fraud may have cost British companies up to £1 billion this year.
The problem is rampant and is undermining advertisers’ trust in the fast-growing digital display, video and mobile markets.
Brian O’Kelley, chief executive of AppNexus, an American technology company, said: “We have to stop this now, for the sake of the internet.”
The fraudsters’ origins are murky, but experts believe perpetrators are often organised criminal gangs involved in other forms of computer crime, such as bank and credit card fraud and identity theft.
Jalal Nasir, chief executive of Pixalate, said that his company had traced the masked domains to Eastern Europe, Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and Kenya.
The fraudsters use armies of “bots” hidden on infected computers to imitate the browsing habits of genuine internet users. These bogus impressions are sold to unsuspecting advertisers through automated marketplaces, typically through middlemen in auctions that take place within a fraction of a second.
Other legitimate websites that fraudsters have pretended to sell advertising on include Trip Advisor, Yahoo, YouTube and the BBC, which does not even offer advertising space through automated channels, Mr Nasir said.
Security experts estimate that between 30 and 40 per cent of the impressions being sold on automated exchanges are generated by bots.
Because the advertisements are not being seen by real users, the effectiveness of the brand’s campaign is undermined and their budget wasted. The advertising space on reputable sites, whose domains are being misappropriated, is devalued.
The Financial Times has written to advertisers warning them not to trust inventory that is being sold on open exchanges at dirt-cheap prices. The newspaper said that all of its automated trading is done through Rubicon Project, an American technology company.
“If you are considering buying from any other seller, be suspicious,” it has warned.

[Joe_Shmoe]

I wouldn't mind betting that because wealthy/important people have been conned the perpetrators will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law (as well they should in all cases)

Jimmy Bullard and Robbie Keane among 100 football stars feared caught in '£30million investment con' - Mirror Online (http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/jimmy-bullard-robbie-keane-among-4915352)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2896066/Is-biggest-swindle-hit-football (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2896066/Is-biggest-swindle-hit-football-100-players-lose-30million-investment-scheme-collapses-amid-huge-debts.html?ITO=1490&login&base_fe_url=http%3A%2F%2Fdailymail.co.uk%2F&param__host=www.dailymail.co.uk&param_hideMasthead=&param_geolocation=gb&check_user_fe_uri=registration%2Fp%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F user_check%2F&param_hideFooter=&validation_fe_uri=%2Fregistration%2Fp%2Fapi%2Ffiel d%2Fvalidation%2F&isMobile=false&param_code=AQB064FZ3Dpv7xIFSrXNZn0wM1YLwo6Swijf13s WsOJQB1oRGo3_qNYqhnPp3y4m1pNtanRKq_8dzBoPdDpM3ynmw HcMaSGlsg55o3aCcdPk9lcsTSW7olwhL0u9dmu7iAsduPWKjeN ax4bM68lOdajPtq3lbcqbYLzGDm5zIG1gzdHRU8-QS8H7FzOWp0KlzfL8Laxmgr7wdwnfIq3-29ka67GkB2M1Ro69bJUf7vfwEYRE9qFmdxQWo9gLQWQQlNI0wE 0ENh6WBe12wC1Znvro6whBgguqOJ9MeztCu_LFH7wvI3v9Nsct 9mXJHF4uTqjUt0nL0gwdtsTCchmtaICi#readerCommentsCom mand-message-field)




From the Mirror

Robbie Keane and Jimmy Bullard are among the star names said to have lost money in a scheme fronted by former player Michael McIndoe


A hundred football stars are feared to have been caught in an alleged £30million investment con.
Players said to *have lost out include Jimmy Bullard, (http://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/jimmy-bullard) who also starred in I’m A Celebrity, and Irish legend Robbie Keane. (http://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/robbie-keane)
Police believe the alleged* fraud (http://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/fraud) may be the biggest swindle ever to hit the British game.
Up to 100 players including former Spurs, Liverpool and Ireland legend Robbie Keane and ex-Fulham *midfielder Jimmy Bullard are said to have been lured by promises of a huge 20%-a-month return.
But the scheme collapsed amid huge debts and detectives are probing *alleged links to massive gambling on soccer matches.
Bookmakers William Hill have handed investigators details of the betting account of Michael McIndoe, a retired player who led a lavish lifestyle and is said to have recruited other footballers into the investment venture.
Former Coventry, Wolves and Scotland midfielder McIndoe, 35, (http://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/michael-mcindoe) went bankrupt in October with disclosed debts of £3million. But recovery experts believe that is the tip of the iceberg.
A source close to the case said: “The money lost has been astronomical. The £3million mentioned in his insolvency papers is a very conservative figure.
“It could be up to £15million once all the money is traced.”
CT


Under investigation: Michael McIndoe
Bullard, 36, whose clubs also *included Hull City and who appeared on ITV’s I’m A Celebrity last month, lost £650,000. Losses of Dublin-born striker Keane, 34, now with LA Galaxy, have been described as “a fortune”.
One international star is understood to have invested £1million. Another recently retired player lost nearly £500,000.
Fraud squad officers have been checking scores of named players since the alleged con was *reported to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau last year. The FA is believed to be aware of the probe.
Big earning stars are not thought to be the only victims. Lower league *players are also said to have been *recruited. And a victim from outside football is said to have invested a £60,000 *inheritance, bequeathed to him after he was orphaned as a teenager.
One theory police are investigating is that it may have been a Ponzi scheme, a type of scam named after 1920s fraudster Charles Ponzi. Some people who sign up may get early *returns. But what they receive is cash paid in by others who have been *recruited since, not from investments.
Most investors who are promised a healthy return will lose out as the scheme *inevitably collapses.
Police and creditors uncovered a trail of abandoned addresses in London or Scotland linked to Scots-born McIndoe, who has dated glamour models Helena Fletcher and Emma Frain.
Companies House records show he became director of several businesses in 2011 after retiring from football.
One McIndoe venture was aimed at footballers and promised exclusive *access to nightclubs and private jets.
Getty


Investor: Irish legend Robbie Keane 'lost a fortune'
One investor said: “For the first 14 or 15 months no one questioned him. But people now know they are unlikely to ever get their money back.”
Details of his playboy lifestyle will infuriate players who handed over cash.
McIndoe, who was twice capped in Scotland’s B team, rented a £4,000-a-week suite in London’s five-star Mayfair Hotel. He also had in an apartment in Eaton Square, one of the UK’s poshest addresses lying in the exclusive Belgravia district of the capital.
A porter said yesterday that McIndoe had not been seen there for two years. Investigators also believe he rented a property in Rutland Street, Knightsbridge, West London, for £11,000 a month during 2013.
He drove luxury cars including a Bentley and a Maybach and wore *expensive clothes. McIndoe ran lavish parties at clubs including Funky Buddha in London and is believed to have ploughed money into private members’ club Stamp on Oxford Street.
Details of McIndoe’s account with William Hill, (http://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/william-hill) given to official receivers, reveal an astonishing betting spree.
He made regular £2,000 transfers into the account, including seven over a period of eight days in February 2011.
He put money on hundreds of soccer matches as well as on American *football, boxing, horse-racing and even TV’s X Factor talent show.
Bets were placed (http://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/gambling) virtually daily on matches in the UK, Australia, Turkey and even Peru.
There were 561 online bets in a period of less than 18 months – from November 28, 2010, to May 5, 2012. Many were accumulators, in which the punter tries to predict a string of results.
His largest stake was £15,000 on Inter Milan to beat Bari and Crawley to beat Kettering on February 3, 2011. He lost the bet because Crawley and Kettering drew.
Other heavy losses included £13,000 predicting Chesterfield would win at Stockport on February 1, 2011. The game ended a 1-1 draw.
Action Images


Big loss: Jimmy Bullard is believed to have lost £650,000
He also put £5,400 on Manchester City to beat Notts County in the FA Cup on January 30 2011. That match was also a 1-1 draw.
end of widget id: 2692898, name: video, view: brightcovePlayerTablet7
McIndoe lost £400 backing One Direction and then Rebecca Ferguson to win the X Factor in 2010.
The total amount he staked on that account at Hill’s was £391,955 and his winnings were £309,505.76 – a loss of £82,449.24.
But sources believe his total *gambling losses could have been between £500,000 and £1million.
McIndoe was declared bankrupt at London’s High Court under the Insolvency Act on October 14.
Legal papers showed liabilities of £3,021,468.70.
Insolvency practitioners O’Haras Ltd, based in West Yorkshire, are *trustees of his bankruptcy estate.
The firm’s director, Stephen O’Hara, said: “We are looking to recover monies which have been lost through his gambling habits.”
A spokesperson for Westminster CID (http://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/metropolitan-police) said: “An allegation of fraud was made in February. An investigation is ongoing. There has been no arrest.”
McIndoe, who was popular in Midlands football circles, sought investments at meetings with businessmen and footballers at plush hotels like Hilton Hall in Featherstone, Staffs.
He allegedly claimed he was working with hedge fund managers, bank *managers and businessmen.
An investor said: “He was very *convincing and the best salesman you could meet. At the end of the meeting he would take money and put it in a briefcase and get back in the car.”
Players who saw initial returns recommended the investment scheme to *teammates, friends and family. But the scheme collapsed at the end of 2011.
NIGEL WRIGHT


Jungle run: Jimmy Bullard went on I'm A Celebrity...
McIndoe left a luxury home in Leamington Spa, Warwicks, at that time. He then re-appeared in London, where sources said he continued to live the high life and convinced footballers to put money into a London nightspot.
One player who asked not to be named said he invested £100,000 with McIndoe. He said: “I played with him in the past and I think he used that to lure me in.
“I could name six or seven players who want their money back from McIndoe. I was due to get some money back on one date and then it was pushed back to another date. I am now speaking to my advisers and considering legal advice. I am wondering where all the money has gone.”
A source close to the probe added: “In all, footballers are thought to have handed over up to £30million to those behind the scheme. But those who were conned are *determined to do all they can to get their money back.”
McIndoe played for Wolves in 2006 and 2007, then Bristol City and finally Coventry City from 2009 to 2011.
He has eight current and past directorships. One firm, Lafayette Restaurants, had accumulated losses of £231,227 on December 31, 2012.
Another, Huxley London Concierge, was incorporated in July 2011 and *dissolved September 2012.
It produced one set of accounts and reported a loss of £37,620. McIndoe was the sole director and shareholder.
McIndoe was born in the Sighthill district of Edinburgh and has spoken in the past about his tough upbringing and his battle to overcome drink and *gambling problems.
In a separate matter, South Yorkshire Police (http://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/south-yorkshire-police) confirmed today that McIndoe is on bail charged with GBH related to an incident in Doncaster last November.
Scotland Yard today confirmed that an investigation is taking place into the claims linked to McIndoe.

[ribshaw]

Maybe some people just have money to burn, but it seems to me these are the type of lies to suss out before people write a check...

Mr. Karapetyan had told employees he previously visited the city while working as a portfolio manager for Morgan Stanley after graduating with a master’s degree in economics from the London School of Economics, according to former employees.

A spokesman for Morgan Stanley said the bank has no record of anyone named Kim Karapetyan working at any of its offices around the world. A spokeswoman for the London School of Economics said the university had no record of anyone with his name obtaining a degree.

Chaos Rules at Russian Hedge Fund as Boss Vanishes - WSJ (http://www.wsj.com/articles/chaos-rules-at-russian-hedge-fund-as-boss-vanishes-1420418446)

[Blue Wolf]

Mr. Karapetyan had told employees he previously visited the city while working as a portfolio manager for Morgan Stanley after graduating with a master’s degree in economics from the London School of Economics, according to former employees.

A spokesman for Morgan Stanley said the bank has no record of anyone named Kim Karapetyan working at any of its offices around the world. A spokeswoman for the London School of Economics said the university had no record of anyone with his name obtaining a degree.



He lied about his credentials?

Well, it seems like Mr. Karapetyan and Donald Kernan have a lot in common.

[shipdit]

I only have a 419 scammer pique my interest every couple of years or so, but I had the following amusing exchange this week.
I've never had them use LinkedIN as a method of introduction before:

Scammer: Aisha Gaddafi aishagaddafi801@gmail.com


On 02/23/15 11:52 PM, Aisha Gaddafi wrote:
--------------------
Dear xxxxx,

Good day to you,thank you for connecting with me here on linkedin i am Aisha Gaddafi.daughter of late Libyan president Muammar Gaddafi i am currently on asylum in Oman,i have a business proposal that will benefit both of us if you are interested kindly reply as soon as possible and i can give you more details.

Looking forward to read back from you.

Aisha.


On 02/24/15 6:28 AM, xxxxx xxxxxxx wrote:
--------------------
Hello Ayesha!

I am SO surprised that someone so famous would contact me on LinkedIn! How are you? I hope things are going well for you after the unfortunate incidents that led to your losing your father, brother and daughter during the bombing in Tripoli. Are you still living in Algeria with your children?

Regards, xxxxx

On 02/24/15 10:47 AM, Aisha Gaddafi wrote:
--------------------
Dear xxxxx,

Thank you so much for the respond back to my email and also for your care,i am presently in Oman and also i am glad to know that you are interested about the proposal and i hope i can trust you with this? before my father died he deposited some funds 1,500.000 GBP (One million five hundred thousand great British pound) for me in my name at Natwest Bank Plc London United Kingdom,in 2011 after the uprising that killed my father i was forced to flee Libya to Algeria while in Algeria i was thrown out later in October 2012 i moved to Oman where i was granted asylum.

Here in Oman i am not permitted to carry out any transactions, my children are sick i can not even communicate via telephone am always in my room where am seeking asylum, i am tired of my present condition i want to move out of here to where i can have total freedom of communication, movement and so on, so in this regards i made contact with Natwest bank on how i can make claims on my deposited funds with them because the funds with them is my only hope i have no funds with me here, all my accounts has been frozen except this one with Natwest bank because they do not know about it, and i was told that since i am on asylum i need to provide a foreign beneficiary that will help me receive the funds since i can not make any transaction here,

This is the reason why i am making contact with you to be my beneficiary and help me receive the funds in your country, if you can help me with this i will give you 30% out of the total funds then i will come over to settle down in your country invest and buy a house with the balance 70% there. please if you agree with this then i want you to email me your full names and Residential address to my private email on aishagaddafi801@gmail.com as soon as i receive this information from you i shall forward it to the bank there after i will give you the bank contact information for you to contact the bank to enable them facilitate the funds transfer to you, i wish you a wonderful day and looking forward to read back from you.

Sincerely Yours,
Aisha.


On 02/24/15 7:02 PM, xxxxx wrote:
--------------------
Dear Aisha,

I am sorry to hear that you are experiencing problems with frozen accounts. I have been dealing with a good friend who is a Vice President with Wells Fargo for almost 20 years. Would you like me to check with him to see what kind of help he may be able to offer?

Regards, xxxxx

No response to that kind offer, of course!

SD

.

[ribshaw]

Mark Malik seemed to have a knack for making money.

The 33-year-old New Yorker ran his own hedge fund, reporting assets of $100 million and eye-popping returns that won plaudits from several services that rank hedge funds. He explained he had honed his skills at top investment banks and a boutique trading firm.

A $1 billion deal to take his company public was in the works, he told investors, and he was hiring dozens of analysts and opening offices across the world, he said. In December, an industry publication reported on his successful launch of a second $100 million fund, called Wolf Hedge Global Strategy.

But Mr. Malik was a fraud


Would-Be Financial Whiz Is Charged With Stealing From Investors - WSJ (http://www.wsj.com/articles/would-be-financial-whiz-is-charged-with-stealing-from-investors-1426554634)

[ribshaw]

The IRS does not call you for any reason, in fact have you ever tried to call them? I don't think they have but one phone for the whole lot.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb9ilimPWyw


For the first time, here is a recap of this year's "Dirty Dozen" scams:

Phone Scams: Aggressive and threatening phone calls by criminals impersonating IRS agents remains an ongoing threat to taxpayers. The IRS has seen a surge of these phone scams in recent months as scam artists threaten police arrest, deportation, license revocation and other things. The IRS reminds taxpayers to guard against all sorts of con games that arise during any filing season. (IR-2015-5)

Phishing: Taxpayers need to be on guard against fake emails or websites looking to steal personal information. The IRS will not send you an email about a bill or refund out of the blue. Don’t click on one claiming to be from the IRS that takes you by surprise. Taxpayers should be wary of clicking on strange emails and websites. They may be scams to steal your personal information. (IR-2015-6)

Identity Theft: Taxpayers need to watch out for identity theft especially around tax time. The IRS continues to aggressively pursue the criminals that file fraudulent returns using someone else’s Social Security number. The IRS is making progress on this front but taxpayers still need to be extremely careful and do everything they can to avoid becoming a victim. (IR-2015-7)

Return Preparer Fraud: Taxpayers need to be on the lookout for unscrupulous return preparers. The vast majority of tax professionals provide honest high-quality service. But there are some dishonest preparers who set up shop each filing season to perpetrate refund fraud, identity theft and other scams that hurt taxpayers. Return preparers are a vital part of the U.S. tax system. About 60 percent of taxpayers use tax professionals to prepare their returns. (IR-2015-8)

Offshore Tax Avoidance: The recent string of successful enforcement actions against offshore tax cheats and the financial organizations that help them shows that it’s a bad bet to hide money and income offshore. Taxpayers are best served by coming in voluntarily and getting their taxes and filing requirements in order. The IRS offers the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (OVDP) to help people get their taxes in order. (IR-2015-09)

Inflated Refund Claims: Taxpayers need to be on the lookout for anyone promising inflated refunds. Taxpayers should be wary of anyone who asks them to sign a blank return, promise a big refund before looking at their records, or charge fees based on a percentage of the refund. Scam artists use flyers, advertisements, phony store fronts and word of mouth via community groups and churches in seeking victims. (IR-2015-12)

Fake Charities: Taxpayers should be on guard against groups masquerading as charitable organizations to attract donations from unsuspecting contributors. Contributors should take a few extra minutes to ensure their hard-earned money goes to legitimate and currently eligible charities. IRS.gov has the tools taxpayers need to check out the status of charitable organizations. Be wary of charities with names that are similar to familiar or nationally known organizations. (IR-2015-16)

Hiding Income with Fake Documents: Hiding taxable income by filing false Form 1099s or other fake documents is a scam that taxpayers should always avoid and guard against. The mere suggestion of falsifying documents to reduce tax bills or inflate tax refunds is a huge red flag when using a paid tax return preparer. Taxpayers are legally responsible for what is on their returns regardless of who prepares the returns. (IR-2015-18)

Abusive Tax Shelters: Taxpayers should avoid using abusive tax structures to avoid paying taxes. The IRS is committed to stopping complex tax avoidance schemes and the people who create and sell them. The vast majority of taxpayers pay their fair share, and everyone should be on the lookout for people peddling tax shelters that sound too good to be true. When in doubt, taxpayers should seek an independent opinion regarding complex products they are offered. (IR-2015-19)

Falsifying Income to Claim Credits: Taxpayers should avoid inventing income to erroneously claim tax credits. Taxpayers are sometimes talked into doing this by scam artists. Taxpayers are best served by filing the most-accurate return possible because they are legally responsible for what is on their return. (IR-2015-20)

Excessive Claims for Fuel Tax Credits: Taxpayers need to avoid improper claims for fuel tax credits. The fuel tax credit is generally limited to off-highway business use, including use in farming. Consequently, the credit is not available to most taxpayers. But yet, the IRS routinely finds unscrupulous preparers who have enticed sizable groups of taxpayers to erroneously claim the credit to inflate their refunds. (IR-2015-21)

Frivolous Tax Arguments: Taxpayers should avoid using frivolous tax arguments to avoid paying their taxes. Promoters of frivolous schemes encourage taxpayers to make unreasonable and outlandish claims to avoid paying the taxes they owe. These arguments are wrong and have been thrown out of court. While taxpayers have the right to contest their tax liabilities in court, no one has the right to disobey the law or disregard their responsibility to pay taxes. The penalty for filing a frivolous tax return is $5,000. (IR-2015-23)

IRS Completes the "Dirty Dozen" Tax Scams for 2015 (http://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/IRS-Completes-the-Dirty-Dozen-Tax-Scams-for-2015)

10012

[Whip]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb9ilimPWyw


while a lollerz clip, if the scammee didn't insist on 'what do I do?' she pretty much could have hung up because the scammer #1 wasn't leading her toward the goal and in fact said to her, 'there is nothing you can do now'. The scammee had to prod her to go get scammer #2.

[ribshaw]

while a lollerz clip, if the scammee didn't insist on 'what do I do?' she pretty much could have hung up because the scammer #1 wasn't leading her toward the goal and in fact said to her, 'there is nothing you can do now'. The scammee had to prod her to go get scammer #2.

I wondered about that, if the there is nothing you can do is part of the ploy to get the victim to look for a solution. Almost makes me want to take https://www.nomorobo.com/ off the phone just to see the iterations, almost.

[ribshaw]

Interesting study, word of mouth still a great way to promote scams.

10300

http://www.saveandinvest.org/web/groups/sai/@sai/documents/sai_original_content/p602454.pdf

[Blue Wolf]

Good news, everyone!

Cancer charities accused of spending $187 million in donations on dating sites, trips to Disney - MarketWatch (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/4-cancer-charities-charged-for-187-million-scam-2015-05-19)

Federal regulators accused four cancer charities Tuesday of spending more than $187 million in donations not to help patients, but on cars, luxury cruises and trips, jet ski outings, sport and concert tickets, dating site memberships and college tuition for family and friends.

The four sham charities — Cancer Fund of America, Inc., Cancer Support Services Inc., Children’s Cancer Fund of America, Inc. and The Breast Cancer Society Inc. — “operated as personal fiefdoms characterized by rampant nepotism, flagrant conflicts of interest and excessive insider compensation,” according to a federal complaint filed in the District Court of Arizona.

The defendants collectively spent less than 3% of the donated funds on cancer patients, according to the complaint. All 50 states and D.C. joined the Federal Trade Commission in filing the charge — one of the largest charity fraud cases to date, according to the FTC.

“The defendants’ egregious scheme effectively deprived legitimate cancer charities and cancer patients of much-needed funds and support,” Jessica Rich, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in a release.

The FTC proposed more than $135 million collectively in settlements, though it said there are few assets left to recover because the defendants spent most of the money.

The websites for the Cancer Fund of America, Children’s Cancer Fund of America and Cancer Support Services were defunct as of publication. The Breast Cancer Society will be dissolved but may spin off one of its charity programs to a legitimate, qualified charity if the court approves. The Children’s Cancer Fund of America will also be dissolved.

The Breast Cancer Society’s website features a letter from James Reynolds II, its executive director, who under proposed settlement orders will be banned from fundraising, charity management and oversight of charitable assets and owes a $75,000 fine.

______________________________________________

The Cancer Fund of America and other charities were also mentioned here by ribshaw back in 2013:

http://www.realscam.com/f16/cut-paste-snippets-about-scams-2375/index2.html#post56785

[Blue Wolf]

From Russia . . . with Love.

Russian hackers behind $50 million IRS scheme, report says - CNET (http://www.cnet.com/news/russian-hackers-behind-50-million-irs-hack-report-says/)

Hackers in Russia are again proving to be a thorn in the side of US government agencies.

The theft of critical information of more than 100,000 taxpayers from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) database was the work of hackers in Russia, CNN reported on Thursday after speaking to Rep. Peter Roskam (R - IL), chairman of a House subcommittee that oversees the US tax agency. The lawmaker didn't say whether the Russian government played any role in the attack.

The admission comes just days after the IRS announced that hackers acquired critical taxpayer information from over 100,000 people through its "Get Transcript" tool. The agency said that the hackers used information obtained from previous hacks, including names, Social Security numbers and intimate details on the individuals, to receive a transcript of past tax returns. Those transcripts were then used to file fraudulent returns for the current year before the April 15 tax deadline. According to the Associated Press, over $50 million in tax refunds was handed to the hackers before the attack was discovered this month.

The hack is just the latest evidence that Russian hackers -- whether they are part of the government or not -- are maliciously infiltrating a number of US agencies.

In April, the US revealed that the Russian government had hacked into the White House's computer systems. The attack, which occurred last year, was initially cast as a breach that saw no sensitive data reach the hackers' computers. However, a report out last month suggested that sensitive information was stolen, including confidential details about the president's schedule. The US Department of State was also hacked as part of the breach, forcing the government agency to shut down part of its network to thwart the hackers.

[ribshaw]

I'm shocked things turned out this way. Since the beginning of time 10% a month has never turned out to be a scam.



They were promised returns of as much as 10 percent a month from currency trading by API Premiere Swiss Trust AG

Geneva Whodunit Has Chinese Up in Arms Over*$1.2 Billion Lost in Alleged*Scam - Bloomberg Business (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-06-14/geneva-whodunit-has-chinese-alleging-1-2-billion-currency-scam)

[ribshaw]

SCAMMER MG Marica Anderson <mgmariciaanderson@hotmail.com>


Nonsense aside, U.S. Department of Defense - Sites (http://osd.dtic.mil/sites/) all branches of DOD have access to a (.mil) email address. If you are getting bullshit like this from HOTMAIL or similar you are being scammed.

Attention I will start by introducing myself, I am Major General Marcia Anderson,I am the head of operation US army under the United Nations Peacekeeping here in Kabul Afghanistan. Although it's difficult to believe people on the Internet this day's because there are lot's of con people on the Internet, but I believe there are also people who are sincere and deserve to be honest with, Our forces known as the 1st Battalion 4th Infantry Regiment, 31st Patrol Division, has been here in Aleppo Syria 11 months on service, last week 4 of our soldier's where shot dead by rebels and over 7 rebels where killed on the process. In the process of shooting one of the rebels threw a grenade into one Allahji Mustapha's building and everyone in the building died except the only son of Allahji Mustapha that was not around that faithful day, when our UN rescue team went into the building to check for the remains none was found alive, a trunk box was found in the building when we opened box, we found treasures dollar bills $8.000,000 and a certificate of ownership inside the box, According to the writing will of the late Allahji Mustapha, he stated that all properties should be given to his only son.


I have attached my photograph and the photograph of Musa Mustapha to this message, you will also find my working Identification card in the attachment, the boy is 15 years old speaks English and Arabic, we have flown him to a refugee camp in South Africa for safety first, we are writing you now for you to be aware that the United Nation needs you to clear him out of the refugee camp and be his foster caretaker, the total sum of $8.Million Dollars in the trunk is to be given to you for his welfare and his investment purpose. We want you to write back if truly you are willing to take this task of adopting this young boy, as soon as we get your response we shall order the adoption processing to take place with immediate effect, this transaction is 100% risk free, delivery of the trunk box and Musa will be taking care of by the United Nations High Commission for refugees. Note that the amount of $8.000,000 related with this tranaction should be kept highly confidential, Africans are not to be trusted with money issues... Respectfully. Major Gen. Marcia Anderson. Head of Operation US army. under the United Nations Peacekeeping. Aleppo Syria



Regards,
Major General Marcia Anderson

11009

11010

Tip for Motivational Monday, you never get what you want if you aren't willing to ask.

to: MG Marica Anderson <mgmariciaanderson@hotmail.com>


I really don't like boys, especially under the age of 18. Do you have any girls that are in need of adoption? I prefer red heads 18-19, twins would be a bonus. They don't even have to speak English, in fact I would prefer they speak as little as possible. Other than that, yes I am willing to proceed.

God Bless

[ribshaw]

UNITED NATION COMPENSATION UNIT

SCAMMER Roger Williams <roger_williams46@aol.com>




Be careful with this message. Similar messages were used to steal people's personal information. Unless you trust the sender, don't click links or reply with personal information.

Learn more from The (http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0002l-nigerian-email-scam) FTC.

UNITED NATION COMPENSATION UNIT, IN AFFILIATION WITH WORLD BANK AUDITORS.
U.S.A GOVERNMENT/UNITED NATIONS SCAM VICTIMS COMPENSATIONS PAYMENTS.
MIDDLES EAST OFFICE.

Dear Sir,

This is to bring to your notice that I am delegated from the United Nations To Reserve bank of America to pay 150 scam victims $1,950,000.00 Dollars ( ONE MILLION NINE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND UNITED STATE DOLLAR) each. You are listed and approved for this payment as one of the scammed victims to be paid this amount, get back to me as soon as Possible for the immediate payments of your $1,950,000.00 Dollars compensations funds. On this faithful recommendations, we want you to know that during the last U.N. meetings held at white house in alliance with Middle East Leaders, it was alarmed so much by the world in the meetings on the lose of funds by various individuals to the scams artists operating in syndicates all over the world today. So in other to compensate victims, the U.N Body in Conjunction with the American Government is now paying 150 victims of this operators $1,950,000.00 Dollars each in accordance with the U.N. recommendations.

And due to the corrupt and inefficient Banking Systems in the world, the payments are to be supervised by the United Nations' Officials and Citibank Of Dubai as the corresponding paying bank. According to the number of applicants at hand, 114 Beneficiaries has been paid, half of the victims are from the United States, we Still have more 36 left to be paid the compensations of $1,950,000.00 Dollars each. Your particulars was mentioned by one of the Syndicates who was arrested as one of their victims of the operations, you are hereby warned not to communicate or duplicate this message to him for any reason what so ever as the U.S. secret service in conjunction with Middle East Intelligent Bureau are already on trace of the other criminals.Other victims who have not been contacted can submit their application as well for scrutiny and possible consideration.
Finally, respond to this message so that we can guide you to the only authorized paying bank here in United Arab Emirates.

Best Regards,

MR.ROGER WILLIAMS.
DIRECTOR OF FINANCES
UNITED NATIONS (UN) OFFICE UAE.

[ribshaw]

Useful checklist if someone mails gives you a check.

11234


https://www.fbi.gov/scams-safety/fraud/fraud-alert-poster-pdf

[littleroundman]

A SOUTH Australian student lost six months of work from a computer virus sweeping the state that cripples machines.

SA Police have warned computer owners about an influx of ransomware scams, which encourage computer users to click on email links, activating a virus that locks computers by encrypting data.

The locking of the computer is generally linked to a demand or request for money in order to reinstate computer access.

Any device attached to the infected machine will also be encrypted.

At least 10 incidents have been reported to SA Police, via the Australian Cybercrime Reporting Network, over the past two weeks but investigators believe that may be the tip of the iceberg.

In one case, a student reported losing about six months’ work as a result of such an attack.

Recovery from an attack is difficult, if not impossible, police said.

The scam emails vary in format and often purport to represent significant legitimate organisations in order to trick computer users.

Recent scams claimed to be from Australia Post and Australia Federal Police.

Police believe the attacks are emanating from overseas and are likely to continue.

Police e-crime experts urge people not to click on any links attached to unsolicited or suspicious emails.

AdelaideNow.com.au (http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/technology/sa-police-issues-warning-on-ransomware-scam-virus-crippling-computers/story-fnjwnwu7-1227465485983?sv=f73686363168445abec7d4c523db1862&nk=a22b879d9e89f8d77712d9fa1c436525-1438400166)

[Joe_Shmoe]

Teenage conman caught out by his fake FerrariTeenage conman caught out by his fake Ferrari | The Times (http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/uk/crime/article4514556.ece?shareToken=0a55eb03ae872a3727b9 35c123bd47ae)



http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/multimedia/archive/00951/ae11f7c4-37bf-11e5-_951079c.jpgSam Cook claimed to have built £2,000 up to £21 million — but his £165,000 Ferrari was actually a kit car based on an old £1,000 FordSWNS



Simon de Bruxelles (http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/profile/Simon-de-Bruxelles)
Published at 12:01AM, August 1 2015

He drove a £165,000 Ferrari, wore a £120,000 wristwatch and boasted of his love of fine dining — but the teenager who claimed to have the Midas touch playing the financial markets was as phoney as his bright red sports car, it has been revealed.
Sam Cook, 18, of Lewdown, Okehampton, was jailed for 26 months yesterday for paying for his lavish lifestyle with £110,000 entrusted to him by family friends.
Having bragged in his local newspaper that he had turned a £2,000 loan into £21 million by playing the currency markets, it was his fake Ferrari that led to his downfall.
Plymouth crown court was told that, after reading the article, Detective Constable Dan Parkinson decided to look into Cook’s background. He checked the car registration and discovered that the Ferrari F430 Scuderia was, in fact, a kit car based on a £1,000 second-hand Ford.
Kelly Scrivener, for the prosecution, told the court that Mr Parkinson had tracked down at least six people who had parted with money under the false impression that Cook would invest the funds in the stock market. “The police found that he did not have a legitimate business at all, but pocketed the money and lived a lavish lifestyle.”
The six victims invested £110,200 in total — money they could ill afford to lose. One man gave Cook £35,000 instead of paying off his mortgage. Another of the victims lost £6,000 she had been saving to buy a car. In Cook’s defence, Michael Green said he had given in to the temptation of easy money. He made up the newspaper story because he “wanted to make his parents proud of him”, he added. “He is 18 years old, and suddenly found himself with quick money in his bank account and he gave into temptation and spent it. It was a bogus company, it was a bogus investment. It was inevitable that this would come to light, and so it did.”
Mr Green said that both Cook and his father, Peter, were trying to raise money to repay the victims. “The defendant hopes to gain employment, and repay his victims himself.”
Cook’s defence was not helped when one of his victims revealed that after the teenager had admitted six counts of fraud at an earlier hearing, a photograph had been posted online of him dressed as a judge, and making an offensive gesture, with his father alongside him dressed as a police officer.
Mr Green said: “I have spoken to the defendant about the picture this morning, and it is something he deeply regrets. He wasn’t responsible for bringing the props or the photo booth, and was unaware that the photo would be shared online.”
Sentencing Cook to 26 months in prison, Judge Richard Powell said: “You used the money to fund a lavish lifestyle. You had an expensive flat, an expensive car, albeit not a Ferrari. You used money that was not yours to go on overseas holidays, and present an image of success. You should be ashamed.”

[Blue Wolf]

Well, this doesn't surprise me:

Single, Divorced Or Widowed? New Study Says Auto Insurers Are Ripping You Off

Full story: https://www.yahoo.com/autos/single-divorced-or-widowed-new-study-says-auto-125341307982.html

[ribshaw]

Well, this doesn't surprise me:

Single, Divorced Or Widowed? New Study Says Auto Insurers Are Ripping You Off

Full story: https://www.yahoo.com/autos/single-divorced-or-widowed-new-study-says-auto-125341307982.html

Consumer Reports just had a story on this as well, that some companies essentially act like the cable company with their pricing gimmicks is mind numbing.

Secrets of Car Insurance Prices - Consumer Reports (http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2015/07/car-insurance-prices/index.htm)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/08/your-money/factors-unrelated-to-driving-can-affect-car-insurance.html?_r=0

[Blue Wolf]

I'm glad this woman was caught . . .

A beauty pageant queen was dethroned after lying about cancer treatments to rake in thousands of dollars, Pennsylvania police said.

Brandi Lee Weaver-Gates, the 2015 winner of a Miss Pennsylvania offshoot pageant, was arrested Tuesday for fraudulently raising money for treatment for leukemia — which she never had, state police told WJAC.

Weaver-Gates, 23, took her two-year scheme so far that she shaved her head and fooled her own family, forcing her sister to drive her to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore for fake treatments, police said. The sister waited in the lobby for up to eight hours while Weaver-Gates disappeared upstairs, they said.

Full story: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/pa-beauty-queen-arrested-lying-cancer-tre-article-1.2322822

[littleroundman]

Belle Gibson comes clean on cancer hoax

Belle Gibson's empire was crumbling before her eyes. Weeks before her book, "The Whole Pantry," was set to be published in Britain and the United States, an Australian newspaper began chipping away at Gibson's claims that she had been given only months to live after she was diagnosed with an incurable form of brain cancer in 2009.

The wellness guru survived for years and said she withdrew from chemotherapy and other cancer treatments and healed herself with “nutrition and holistic medicine."

“I believe that people are here to be teachers,” she said in November. “And I know that I defied so many universal and life rules for a reason.”

The fantastical story seemed too good to be true. And, it turns out, it wasn't true at all.

Several book deals, nearly 200,000 Instagram followers and one acclaimed mobile app later, Gibson has finally come clean.

"None of it's true," she told the Australian Women's Weekly in her first comments acknowledging that she had duped the world with an elaborate hoax.

"I don't want forgiveness," she told the Weekly. "I just think [speaking out] was the responsible thing to do. Above anything, I would like people to say, 'Okay, she's human.'"

An excerpt published online by the magazine is based on multiple interviews with a coy Gibson. The full interview and story will be published in print on Thursday.

The excerpt doesn't reveal much about Gibson's motives for inventing such a serious diagnosis and leading her legion of followers to believe that fruits, vegetables, and natural remedies -- not medical treatment -- cured her of a deadly cancer.

If anything, the revelation leads to even more questions than answers.

Her interviewer, Clair Weaver, explained the nearly impossible task of verifying just about anything Gibson said:

At first, she seems gullible, muddled and emotional. She tells stories that are frustratingly vague, unverifiable and sometimes far-fetched.
When pressed by The Weekly, she’s often unable to provide details such as names, locations and dates. Nor explain why her behaviour, even by her own telling, often seems irrational and illogical.
Why, for example, did she never have a brain scan? Wasn’t she terrified to find out she was pregnant with her son after allegedly being given months to live? Why would she devote so much time and energy into developing The Whole Pantry app (including time away from her son) if she believed she was dying?
In response, she claims to have been naïve, to have trusted the wrong people and to have honestly believed she was healing herself of cancer. She didn’t have a parent figure to guide her, she says.


Gibson's claims go on and on.

She said that her health issues were related to a negative reaction to the Gardasil HPV vaccine.

She claimed to have died during a medical procedure -- and then emerged from a post-operative coma.

How much of it is true, no one knows. Everything is being questioned.

"She says she is passionate about avoiding gluten, dairy and coffee, but doesn't really understand how cancer works," the Australian Women's Weekly wrote. "All of which begs the question: is this young woman really capable of masterminding one of the biggest hoaxes in recent history?"

Believe it or not, the improbability of all of these stories might have gone unnoticed, and Gibson might have quietly joined the growing ranks of "holistic" healing evangelizers, had it not been for the diligence of the Australian, which first exposed some of the massive holes in Gibson's story in a March investigation.

After the newspaper spoke with Gibson and questioned her story, she claimed that perhaps her initial cancer diagnosis in 2009 was due to a medical error, despite the fact that earlier in 2014 she had informed her followers that the cancer had spread to her spleen, liver, uterus and blood:

Would she name the doctor? No. Was he a medical practitioner? She seemed uncertain. Suddenly Gibson broke down sobbing, saying she had never wanted her private medical details to become public property.

"I want some of my privacy back," she declared.


Earlier in the month, charities for which Gibson claimed to have raised money told the Sydney Morning Herald that they never saw any of it.

That was all it took for publishers to move swiftly to pull her book in Australia and cancel production plans in the United States and Britain, citing their inability to verify Gibson's story.

If nothing else, Gibson's saga is a cautionary tale about the growing alternative medicine industry, which thrives on a resistance to facts and science.

There are those who believe salt and baking soda can cure cancer, or that smart watches cause it, despite a clear lack of evidence supporting those claims.

Gibson rose to fame knowing that her ardent followers, some with large megaphones, would be willing to ignore the medical improbability of her story in favor of the hope she represented.

She was right -- at least for a short time.

The Australian Women's Weekly noted that she had "millions of followers." At one point, her "Whole Pantry" app was featured on Apple's Web site for the new Apple Watch. Her book of the same name was also a hit.

Now, courtesy of the magazine's cover, Gibson is known as this: "The girl who conned us all."

The Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2015/04/22/none-of-its-true-disgraced-wellness-guru-belle-gibson-comes-clean-on-cancer-hoax/)

[Blue Wolf]

Another charity scam . . .

Jared Fogle's Child Obesity Foundation an Apparent Sham

Jared Fogle had something for minors, but it wasn’t money: Turns out his foundation to help battle childhood obesity did little but raise the Subway pitchman’s profile, USA Today reports. According to tax records, the Jared Fogle Healthy Lifestyle Nationwide School Grant Program spent an average of just $73,000 annually between 2009 and 2013 and never issued a grant. This despite Fogle’s promise to give schools and community organizations $2 million to battle the condition that so affected his own life.

Full story: https://www.yahoo.com/health/jared-fogles-child-obesity-foundation-an-apparent-127479685408.html?nf=1

[ribshaw]

Kinda creepy...

Malware emails that masquerade as something official are not rare, but these messages are fairly unique: they are said to contain accurate speeding data, including street names, speed limits, and actual driving speeds, according to the Tredyffrin Police Department, located close to Philadelphia.

Malware scam appears to use GPS data to catch speeding Pennsylvania drivers | The Verge (http://www.theverge.com/2016/3/27/11312960/speeding-ticket-malware-scam-email-pennsylvania)

[ribshaw]

How to Avoid Being Scammed

The best way to avoid being scammed is to adopt, not shop! But should you decide to purchase a pet, never buy one you haven't met in person. Please make sure to follow these tips when using the Internet to find a pup:

Always visit. Responsible breeders and rescue groups will be more than happy to offer you a tour.
Pick your puppy up at the kennel, rather than having the puppy shipped or meeting the seller at a random location

Please keep in mind that pet adoption is still your best option, even if you are seeking a purebred dog. There are thousands of dogs waiting for good homes at local animal shelters, including purebreds! There are also a number of reputable breed rescue groups passionate about finding great homes for purebred dogs who have been abandoned, abused or surrendered to shelters.

Why You Should Never Buy a Puppy Online | ASPCA (http://www.aspca.org/animal-cruelty/puppy-mills/why-you-should-never-buy-puppy-online)

Scams facing people with lost pets, as with above you want to see the pet first.

Pet Scams To Watch Out For.html (http://www.scambusters.org/petscams.html)

SCAMMER andrewpeter7@myway.com <nathanpughome@gmail.com>

Nathan Pug Home <nathanpughome@gmail.com>



to me
Hello ,
Thanks for your interest in our puppies. We still have 6 puppies available Alex :- (Male), Cindy :- (Female) , Jerry :- (Male), Levi :- (Male) , Mimi (Female ) and Prince (Male) so please see them on our web page AVAILABLE PUPPIES | (http://www.nathanpughome.com/available-puppies/)
They have been potty (paper) trained. These puppies have been raised in my home with regular visits from my children and grand children which has helped a great in socializing them. They love to be cuddled and I always make sure I give them the greatest attention. So I am in search of pet lovers who can love and care for these puppies like i do. Everyone must be aware of the love and attention this puppies need. Honestly i do not breed and sell puppies for a living because i have a stable job. I have always been a good lover to puppies. I adopted their parents some couple of years back and because every one admired them so i decided to breed them. At the time i already noticed the prices of puppies were too much for some good and loving pet homes to afford so i breed and adopt out my puppies when need be. I also do it sometimes for the sake of experience. Please get back for advice on the next step to take
towards getting the puppy in your home. We are asking $380 for a puppy. However, I will also like to know the following from you before we proceed.

-Where about are you located? City and state??
-Which puppy are you interested in taking?


Thanks for taking your time to read through this email and I hope to read from you again.

Warmest Regards

is nanayorkiehome.com a scam or legit | nanayorkiehome.com trust reviews |check nanayorkiehome.com for fraud and risk | is nanayorkiehome.com safe or fake (http://www.scamadviser.com/check-website/nanayorkiehome.com)
is nathanpughome.com a scam or legit | nathanpughome.com trust reviews |check nathanpughome.com for fraud and risk | is nathanpughome.com safe or fake (http://www.scamadviser.com/check-website/nathanpughome.com)

8 Other WebSites On This Server
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cutepugpets.com
[Russian Federation] ru
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14455

[ribshaw]

Ever Bought Art on a Cruise? Prepare to Be Seasick

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2016-12-14/ever-bought-artwork-on-a-cruise-prepare-to-be-seasick

17327

[ribshaw]

Raving Fanz, everyone needs & loves them.

Amanda notification-reply@fafiguai.net via canzo.yalnoserie.net

mailed-by: canzo.yalnoserie.net

Get the hell out of my life - F U

Hi ribshaw,

I just wanna tell you that you suck. I will never forgive you for what you did to me, you piece of crap. ASSHOLE! Do not you dare to talk to me again. Believe me, you don't wanna see my other side, ask your ******* sister, she has seen it.

F U,
T.B

X-Originating-IP: 96.127.179.107

19310

https://www.iplocation.net/

notification-reply@fafiguai.net - Comments and Complaints (http://ip-address-lookup-v4.com/email/bm90aWZpY2F0aW9uLXJlcGx5QGZhZmlndWFpLm5ldA==)

[ribshaw]

Vanessa there wasn't much sleeping, and I think you know what I me:RpS_wink:n...

Vanessa E.J hi@expertpawnandloan.com
mailed-by: rentmen.com
reply-to: hi@expertpawnandloan.com

subject: Cut the cr*p and stop stalking me

Hey Scumbag,

Stop stalking me and my friend or I will report you. You piece of ****, cock-sucker douche. I do not know why you are doing this! You slept together once, only once. It does not mean anything. Have not you heard of hook up?

So, f*** off and leave us alone

hi@great-cpu.com - Comments and Complaints (http://ip-address-lookup-v4.com/email/aGlAZ3JlYXQtY3B1LmNvbQ==)

[littleroundman]

I'm sensing there's a whole soap opera episode as the backstory to those emails, Jack.

Do we need to know details ????

[ribshaw]

I'm sensing there's a whole soap opera episode as the backstory to those emails, Jack.

Do we need to know details ????


LOL, I wish I had those sort details. Sadly in my life the knee brace made of feather-light material got me the hottest.

19311

Both of the above hit my spam filters and I guess they are some sort of phishing or ransom email scam since others have gotten identical.




RR Sara also adding her two cents.

sarra s9imlg8jdd@s9imlg8jdd.edu via mirohost.net

to k6iawtkt

reply-to: contact@good-ideas.info

you_are_bothering_me..?

What do you know about me !!!

[Whip]

poor ribbies......such a heartbreaker.

[ribshaw]

Lost Pet? Watch Out for This Text Message Scam

Posting on social media is a great way to alert a wide range of people about a lost pet. Unfortunately, that same publicity can put you at risk for scams. Con artists comb social posts to find targets who have lost their beloved pets.


How the Scam Works


You recently lost your pet, so you turn to social media to alert friends and neighbors. You create a public post – or even a group – to help spread the word. You share your phone number and other details, so people can easily reach you.


A few days later, you get a text message from someone claiming to have found your lost dog or cat. You ask them to describe your pet and/or send a photo, but the conversation quickly takes a strange turn. The scammer will give excuses, such as being out of town or not having a working smartphone, for why they can't snap a photo. Instead, the person will pressure you for money (or a gift card) to return your pet. Although you may be tempted to do anything to see your dog or cat returned safely, don't pay up! The scammer doesn't have your pet. They will just take the money and disappear.


How to Avoid a Lost Pet Con :


Follow these tips to prevent falling victim to a pet loss scam:

Limit the information in your social posts : If you post on Facebook or other social media, omit information about unique physical attributes. This can help you verify if someone really found your pet.
Watch for spoofed numbers : If you get a call from someone claiming to have your pet, ask them for a phone number where you can call them back. Scammers often spoof phone numbers, so they appear to be calling from somewhere else.
Ask for a photo : If a caller claims to have your pet in their possession, ask them to send a current picture. If the "finder" gets defensive or makes a lot of excuses, it's a red flag.
Never wire money or use a prepaid debit card to pay anyone you don't know . This is the same as sending cash.
Microchip and/or ID tag your pet : Consider having your veterinarian microchip your pet, or make sure they always wear a collar and ID tag.

For more information :

Thanks to BBB Central Georgia for information on this scam.

https://www.buzzfeed.com/leticiamiranda/a-scammer-is-demanding-money-from-people-to-return-their?utm_term=.ba2VJd65Bk#.xnoL6p3Y4W

Other stuff on scams from BBB.

https://www.bbb.org/scamtips

https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker/us

[ribshaw]

A good tip, still dig deep before opening your wallet.

An organization that has been approved by the IRS as a tax-exempt charity won’t have dot-com or dot-biz domain address; it will only have a dot-org domain.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-to-detect-disaster-relief-scams-1504211506

Don't Fall Victim To Harvey Flood Scams : The Two-Way : NPR (http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/08/31/547307482/dont-fall-victim-to-harvey-flood-scams)

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2017/08/wise-giving-wake-hurricane-harvey

BBB Wise Giving Alliance - give.org (http://give.org/)

[ribshaw]

This video is worth watching.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPjgRKW_Jmk


That the US Taxpayer is still funding these nitwits speaks volumes of how corrupt government is.


Equifax just scored a $7 million contract to protect the IRS from fraud - Oct. 3, 2017 (http://money.cnn.com/2017/10/03/news/india/equifax-irs-contract/index.html)

Whether you get the money or not, this is the sort of thing everyone affected by the breach should be doing.


People are taking Equifax to small-claims court — and winning
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/people-successfully-suing-equifax-almost-10000-app-193607932.html

[ribshaw]

Well thank heavens Zane got his m:RpS_wink:ney. So many times these Facebook Lotteries turn out to be https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advance-fee_scam.

21722

Do you think maybe Facebook could have picked up on the scam when the profile name was changed and DA Mary Rain's photo was inserted? Neverminding all the gender bending...


Do you know Bridget?
To see what he shares with friends, send him a friend request.

https://www.facebook.com/todd.mccreary.311

https://www.facebook.com/help/community/question/?id=10200134016621999

21721

[shipdit]

Well thank heavens Zane got his m:RpS_wink:ney. So many times these Facebook Lotteries turn out to be https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advance-fee_scam.

It's not often that one of these Nigerian 419 scammers will allow me to draw them into a real conversation. Most of them pull the plug and/or block me the second they realize that I'm not going to be a payday. "Bridget Scott (https://www.facebook.com/todd.mccreary.311)" took the bait:

You're friends on Facebook
Works at Facebook and WCRO
Lives in Menlo Park, California

WED 1:58PM

You are now connected on Messenger.

Hello

Hi Bridget

How are you doing today
Happy val

Fine thanks. I hope you are as well.

Yes
Thanks for asking

I must admit I picked your profile from a friend's list hoping that there would be more photos of you. You are very pretty!

You're really lucky you added me cos I've being finding a way of sending you a friend request

Any more photos of you?

No
My name is Bridget Scott from Facebook headquarters in
California

Oh cool. I actually met one of the guys that founded Facebook about five years ago.

I've you been contacted by any of our agent about your 150thousand usd winning that you won from the Facebook online lottery

No. I didn't enter any lottery.

This is a program by the Facebook CEO Mr mark zuckerberg to say a very big thank you to all our users for their usage and making Facebook their favorite social media past years

So do you know Dustin Moskovitz?

Any of them??
I'm texting in regard of your 150thousand usd winning that you won from the Facebook

But like I said -> I did not enter any lottery.

Bridget missed a video chat with you.

Wednesday 2:36pm
Call Again

Are you there?
Hello?

WED 5:10PM

I'm here sir

?

Sorry for delaying went for a meeting

For TWO hours?

Having a meeting
Sorry for the delay

No problem

I will like to know if you are ready to claim your winning

Absolutely

You will have to fill some information here
Before you can have access to your winning
Are you ready

yes

Full name............................................
Full Home Address..............
Male/Female..........................................
D.O.B............................................. ...
Married/Single.......................................
valid ID card........................................
Pager Number/Text Phone..............................
E-mail.............................................. .
Hearing or Deaf......................................
Monthly income..............

Fill it asap

ok

I'm waiting

Full name..............................[redacted]
Full Home Address.................[redacted] Pear Ave Sunnyvale, CA 94087
Male/Female..........................male
D.O.B.....................................01-07-1963
Married/Single.......................single
valid ID card..........................CA driver's license
Pager Number/Text Phone....408-[redacted]-8847
E-mail....................................[redacted]@yahoo.com
Hearing or Deaf......................hearing
Monthly income......................13,000

Okay
Hang on
I've forward your information to the facebook COO MRS Sheryl Sandberg

ok

Congratulations

Thanks!

Your information has been verified successfully
You're now ready to claim your winning

ok
I'm so excited!

I was authorized to release your winning reference to you now

Thank you!

Firstly, Lucky Number (FB-225-8836). (LOL - LINK) (https://goo.gl/21Zbmv)
Secondly, Ticket Number (FB-962-60). (LOL - LINK) (https://goo.gl/CsRY5g)
Thirdly, Batch Number (FB-0051/994) (LOL - LINK) (https://goo.gl/v1d7sD)
and Lastly, Serial Number (E4AF3748-2015) (LOL - LINK) (https://goo.gl/s9MGra)
Note them down now on a safe place and keep it safe, once you are done with that get me informed here?

Ok. I copied/pasted that info into a document and saved it.

The Facebook Promotion Award Team has discovered a huge number of double claims due to winners informing close friends relatives and third parties about their winning and also sharing their Ticket numbers. As a result of this, these friends try to claim the Award on behalf of the real winners. (LOL - LINK (https://goo.gl/Ddk8UD))

So i want you to keep your winning prize confidential to yourself to avoid double claiming is that understood...

No problem
No one else uses my computer
And it's password protected!

Good
Once again we will like to know how you want to receive your winnings as you have three payment options,you are to choose one out of the options on how you want to receive your winnings.

ok

(1). ATM CARD:
(2). CHECK:
(3). INTERNATIONAL CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT

A check or certified bank draft would be great.

Check or bank draft

A check would work!

Good
The Only Way Now Is To Have your winning prize Shipped To your nominated mailing address.
I want you to know that your package will be delivered to you by the FedEx Courier Service Delivery Company and Facebook will take care of the shipment delivery Charges...Okay.

Well, I am in Sunnyvale California, which is only about 15 miles from you there in Menlo Park.
How about if I drive over right now and pick it up in person?

Your winning has been transferred to a FedEx agent in Pennsylvania who will deliver your winning to you

How did my winning check get printed and delivered to FedEx in Pennsylvania so fast?

It's has been done even before notifying you sir
Okay=

Ok. I guess I'll just have to wait while it gets shipped back to California, then.

I will give you the FedEx phone number now to contact them about your winning
Is that okay
It will be shipped to your address in CA

Yes. Just give them my address and I can wait for it.

(405) 454-4281

Why do I need to call them when they already have my delivery address?

Text them not call
To let them know they are delivering to you

But, if they already have the check and my address, what else do they need?

Nothing
That's just the procedure you have to follow
Okay

May I ask a question?

Yes

Why is your Facebook account address "todd.mccreary.311"?

That's the ex staff before I'm giving the duty but still the same account

Ok, thanks.

So get back to me after you talk to the FedEx agent
He's name s Erich

If I am calling a FedEx agent named Erich in Pennsylvania who has my check, why am I calling a number in area code 405, which is Oklahoma?

That's he's number he gave us
I guess he stay at Oklahoma before

Are you sure he is not someone who is maybe SCAMMING us?

I know him too well
I'm sure
All you need to do is to pay him insurance fee for your winning
And it will be deliver
Okay

Ok, How much to insure it?

$798

WHAT???

And the facebook insurance company will be paying $400 to make it easy for all facebook users to get their winning asap
(Wow - THAT price sure dropped F-A-S-T!)

Why does a CHECK need to be INSURED? The only person who can cash a check is the person it is made payable to.

This is a facebook check there are lot of people who has benefited from this and they all do the same thing
So if you're ready to claim your winnings I will like to know


21755


How about they just make the check out for $149,602?
(take the insurance out of the winnings amount?

Your winning and Other Relevant Documents coming with your fund is Protected by a Hardcover insurance Policy , which makes it impossible to deduct any Amount from your money

21756

^ This looks like a problem!
(somebody photoshopped the Facebook logo onto that photo)

What??
I can see you ain't ready

You can't see that it is the same photo?

They photo shopped our picture
That's a facebook winner

Chicago lottery winner shares her plans after getting the good news (http://nbclatino.com/2013/07/30/chicago-lottery-winner-shares-her-plans-after-getting-the-good-news/)

^ No, the original photo is from the Chicago lottery. There's the news story.

21757

You're not ready to claim your winnings

So how long have you been a Yahoo Boy and if you message 1000 mugus telling them they have won a contest they have never entered, how many of them are stupid enough to send you money?

21757

Your papa
Omo ale
Way day disturb me here
You say waste my time

You dipshit. You are a real amateur at scamming.
The more of your time I can waste, the fewer people get scammed.

Lol
Where are you from bro

Virginia

USA??

Yes. Don't call the number I gave you, some poor soul I don't know in Sunnyvale, CA will answer.

Lol.... Okay
Which work do you do
Dating or what?

You're in Lagos?

Yes

I retired at age 41 ... QUITE a few years ago.

Which work
Your a hacker?

I did a lot of different things before I got lucky in the stock markets in the 90s.
No, I don't hack.

Give me your real number Lets be friends

My friend, I am sure that you will understand that because of the nature of your business, I can't give you my real phone number.

Okay I do understand
Can we be friends here
How do you know where I'm from and what do you know about scamming

I first started learning about online scamming in 1998.
So seriously, if you contact 1000 people with the lottery story, how many take the bait and send you money?

Really

yep

Well I'm an amateur still working to get money
I haven't gotten any money before

I am sure you have seen the Yahoo Boys who live in some of those big mansions in Lagos, though.

Yes
I wish to live there too

Man - some of these mugus give up even 100s of THOUSANDS of dollas before they throw in the towel!

Yes I'm looking for someone to put me through the way to earn big

You haven't found a boss to work for?

Not yet

Most young Yahoo boys start out working for a boss - sometimes ten of them look for mugus for one boss.
So how old are you?

20

Wow, that's young, man.

Yeah bro
Need someone to help me
I need money

So if you went home today and told your mother. "Mom, I made $1,000 usd today scamming silly old poor white women from the usa online!" ... what would she think?

Won't tell her
Will keep that to my self

I asked that because I have never really understood how some of the successful Yahoo Boys can get to where they are "ok" with knowing that some of their mugus are desperately lonely old white women who put themselves stoned broke sending money just because they want to believe.
Well let's forget about that
What's up
Anything you can do for me

My friend, I could not feel good about mentoring you to be a better scammer, but I do wish I could somehow convince you to get an education that would allow you to do something to make money that you could feel proud of.

21757

Thanks
Can you help me coming oversea

Have you ever done any other kind of work?

Not profitable

What kind of work have you done that was not profitable enough?

Supermarket
I earn 1000 [naira?]monthly which isn't up to $40

Wow - that is not even as good as minimum wage in India or the Philippines.
(which is about$140/month)

THU 1:41AM

Can you see why I do this kind of work

THU 11:25AM

I understand that $40/month is a lot less than the 1,500 naira/month Nigerian minimum wage and that you would want to make more money.

Thank for understanding
Is there anyway to assist

What I don't understand is why so many scammers there can decide that it is ok to do things to people they don't know on the internet that they could never do to their own family members.

What do you mean
You would not scam your own mother - what makes it ok to scam someone else's mother?

................. END CHAT ..............

I guess "Briget Scott" took the bait because he's just a young newbie at the Yahoo Boy game. It concerns me a bit that it looks like the newer generation of Nigerian scammers appears to be more fluent in English than the old guard and seem to be a bit more on top of things when it comes to having quicker responses to "speed-bump questions".

SD

.

[ribshaw]

10 Questions That Can Identify Fake Dog Rescues

Altering dogs is one of the most important thing people can do to reduce the number of unwanted dogs euthanized in animal shelters.

You should avoid dog rescues that don’t have strict spay/neuter policies because they’re more concerned about making money than reducing the number of dogs euthanized in shelters.


At the very least, the dog you adopt should be up to date on its core vaccines, which are the ones all dogs must have. They are:

Rabies
Canine Distemper Virus
Parvovirus
Parainfluenza Virus
Adenovirus-2

https://www.seattledogspot.com/10-questions-identify-fake-dog-rescues/


Article pulled from this page.
https://www.facebook.com/RescueAbuse/

[ribshaw]

Color me skeptical that Facebook will be deleting scams and scammers from its pages anytime soon.


Facebook now deletes posts that financially endanger/trick people
https://techcrunch.com/2018/08/09/facebook-financial-danger/?yptr=yahoo

[ribshaw]

I can't fault a homeless guy for this, hopefully Mcclure and D'amico dont get off as light.


23828

MOUNT HOLLY, N.J. (AP) -- A homeless man was sentenced to five years' probation Friday after admitting last month that he conspired with a couple to scam the public out of $400,000 in donations by concocting a feel-good story about him helping a motorist in distress. https://www.yahoo.com/news/homeless-man-faces-sentencing-400-000-gofundme-scam-051656391.html

[ribshaw]

Good article with some useful links.

Identity Theft: Act Now to Protect Yourself
https://www.kiplinger.com/article/credit/T048-C000-S002-identity-theft-act-now-to-protect-yourself.html

[ribshaw]

It's almost impossible to know how much is really stolen in Ponzi Schemes each year. The cryptocurrency scams reported in the Wall Street Journal are larger than the 60 reported at Ponzi Tracker. Let's do some Ponzi math and add the two.


According to Ponzitracker (https://www.ponzitracker.com/), 60 Ponzi schemes were allegedly uncovered in 2019 that involved a collective $3.245 billion in investor funds. The statistics mark an abrupt reversal to a multi-year downward trend that in 2018 saw the lowest number of alleged Ponzi scheme discoveries in ten years.


Ponzi schemes are the latest form of bitcoin fraud, with big platforms like one called PlusToken drawing the most money.

Cryptocurrency Scams Took in More Than $4 Billion in 2019 - WSJ (https://www.wsj.com/articles/cryptocurrency-scams-took-in-more-than-4-billion-in-2019-11581184800)


There are some tips from a CNBC article on avoiding scams, the first are pretty clear cut. The later two in red are hot button items for me. Investors should NEVER be getting statements or withdrawals from the promoter. Statements at a minimum need to be verified by an independent third party. Better still a third party should be auditing funds and generating the statements. Money should always be segregated and the promoter granted no personal access. If you're calling anyone other than a bank, trust administrator, or licensed investment firm about your money look out below.


Do a background check
Watch for high-pressure sales tactics
Know what you’re investing in


Find out how they get paid
Check your statements

More than 8,000 investors were misled by this $1.2B Ponzi scheme (https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/29/more-than-8000-investors-were-misled-by-this-1point2b-ponzi-scheme.html)

[ribshaw]

It stands to reason that before changing payment destinations people and businesses should have a hard verification process. Pick up the phone and call just like in olden times, and probably not the number at the bottom of a specious email.




The scam began when someone hacked into the computer of a finance worker at the island's Employee Retirement System in December, said José Ayala, director of the fraud unit within the bank robbery division. The hacker then posed as the female employee and sent emails to various government agencies alleging a change in bank accounts, he told The Associated Press.

Two agencies fell victim to the scam in recent months: Puerto Rico's Industrial Development Company sent $63,000 in December and more than $2.6 million in January, while the island's Tourism Company sent $1.5 million in January to fraudulent accounts on the U.S. mainland, he said.

Puerto Rico online scam targeted more than $4M amid crisis - ABC News (https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/puerto-rico-online-scam-targeted-4m-amid-crisis-68965960)

[ribshaw]

Color me shocked...


Alex Jones peddled a fake coronavirus cure that can turn people’s skin permanently blue

New York State attorney general Letitia James has ordered right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to stop making misleading claims about supposed coronavirus cures sold on his website, InfoWars. The attorney general's office “is extremely concerned” about Jones hawking these products on his online show, it said in a cease-and-desist letter dated March 12. The products include a “nano-silver” toothpaste, which Jones said “kills the whole SARS-corona family at point-blank range.”

Alex Jones peddled a fake coronavirus cure that can turn people’s skin permanently blue (https://www.yahoo.com/tech/m/90674780-4902-3ced-b1cd-6619a6ad92ec/alex-jones-peddled-a-fake.html)




Colloidal Silver Turns You Blue—But Can It Save Your Life?
Celebrities ranging from Gwyneth Paltrow to Infowar's Alex Jones swear by colloidal silver as a germ-fighting miracle cure. But the medical community says there's no evidence it works.

Colloidal Silver Turns You Blue—But Does It Work? | WIRED (https://www.wired.com/story/does-colloidal-silver-work/)

In 2008, Paul Karason, a 57-year-old man from the Pacific Northwest, agreed to appear on the Today show. And appear is the best word for it, since he was there because of the way he looked. From head to toe, Paul Karason was the color blue.

Not a subtle light-wash tint, either. This was closer to navy—like Beast from the X-Men or some elder Smurf. His graying auburn hair heightened the effect; the whites of his eyes had a leaden tint. “I’ve gotten kind of used to it,” he told Matt Lauer.

[ribshaw]

I'm shocked that seminars held in hotel conference rooms would be a bit smarmy.


The complaint names several television celebrities—such as Scott Yancey from A&E’s “Flipping Vegas,” Doug Clark from Spike TV’s “Flip Men,” Drew Levin and Danny Perkins from HGTV’s “Renovate to Rent,” and Josh Altman from Bravo’s “Million Dollar Listing Lost Angeles”—as appearing in advertisements for the seminars.

The complaint follows on the heels of another real estate seminar that grabbed headlines last month. The FTC ordered a temporary halt to seminars from Zurixx LLC that were endorsed by HGTV stars Tarek El Moussa and Christina Anstead of “Flip or Flop.” The complaint alleged the real estate seminars endorsed by the HGTV stars were “misleading” and made “bogus” claims about how people can strike it rich in real estate.

FTC Cracks Down on Real Estate Seminar Scams | Realtor Magazine (https://magazine.realtor/daily-news/2019/11/07/ftc-cracks-down-on-real-estate-seminar-scams)

FTC Orders Halt to ‘Bogus’ HGTV-Endorsed Seminars | Realtor Magazine (https://magazine.realtor/daily-news/2019/10/07/ftc-orders-halt-to-bogus-hgtv-endorsed-seminars)

Zurixx’s real estate investment scheme | FTC Consumer Information (https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2019/10/zurixxs-real-estate-investment-scheme)

Real estate seminar endorsed by HGTV personalities temporarily halted by FTC: '&#39;'Misleading'&#39;'’ | Fox News (https://www.foxnews.com/real-estate/ftc-temporarily-halts-misleading-real-estate-seminar-endorsed-hgtv-personalities)

[ribshaw]

Sweepstakes or Lottery
Tech Support
“Grandchild” in Need
Romance
Social Security
Natural Disasters and Contractors

Six Scams that Prey on the Elderly (https://getpocket.com/explore/item/6-scams-that-prey-on-the-elderly?utm_source=pocket-newtab)

[ribshaw]

What a mess the government has made for taxpayers...

One of the first things David T. Hines bought when he got $4 million in COVID-19 relief loans from the feds for his supposedly ailing South Florida moving business was a super-luxury Lamborghini Huracan Evo, authorities say.

First he got $4 million in COVID-19 relief loans. Then he bought a Lamborghini. (https://www.yahoo.com/news/first-got-4-million-covid-210256806.html)

[ribshaw]

Pandemic Schemes:


“It was like I was just throwing money away.”

The Consumer Awareness Institute, whose research has been posted on the website of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), found that 99% of people who participate in them lose money. “Statistically, it is more likely you will win the lottery than you will make hundreds of thousands of dollars selling for an MLM,” says Robert FitzPatrick, the co-author of False Profits, a book about MLMs, and the president of PyramidSchemeAlert.org.

How MLM Distributors Are Using Coronavirus to Grow | Time (https://time.com/5864712/multilevel-marketing-schemes-coronavirus/)

[ribshaw]

How about don't get scammed by going to your local public shelter and adopting some old mutt or grumpy cat that no one else wants?

This Year’s Big Online Scam—Puppies - WSJ (https://www.wsj.com/articles/this-years-big-online-scam-puppies-covid-pandemic-pets-11599062896)

https://petscams.com/

[ribshaw]

Come to our free seminar where you get to hear about the $495 seminar where you get to hear about the real seminar...



The Federal Trade Commission is seeking to name celebrity real estate investment promoters Dean Graziosi and Scott Yancey as defendants in a case for their roles in a massive real estate training scheme that bilked consumers out of more than $400 million.

Graziosi is known for his appearances in infomercials promoting his books on real estate investing and is a self-described New York Times best-selling author, entrepreneur, and investor. Yancey was the star of the reality television series “Flipping Vegas” that aired on the A&E television network between 2011 and 2014.

“We believe these two TV personalities each made millions of dollars by assisting and facilitating this real estate investment rip-off,” said Andrew Smith, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “They were instrumental to the scheme and took a cut of the profits, and that’s why we’re seeking to add them to our case against the program’s operators.”

FTC Seeks to Add Real Estate Investment Celebrities Dean Graziosi and Scott Yancey as Defendants in Real Estate Training Case | Federal Trade Commission (https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2020/08/ftc-seeks-add-real-estate-investment-celebrities-dean-graziosi)

[ribshaw]

Dag Nabit

Heidi Klum’s 2020 Halloween party is canceled — contrary to what these ticket websites claim (https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/heidi-klums-halloween-party-2020-canceled-pandemic-scammers-selling-fake-tickets-201723250.html)

[ribshaw]

One hundred years ago, Charles Ponzi was indicted for a type of scam that continues to ensnare over-eager investors—and sometimes whole societies.

The Original Ponzi Schemer - WSJ (https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-original-ponzi-schemer-11602778470)

[ribshaw]

This "article" disappointingly reads more like an ad, especially considering they never mention what the scam is beyond ransomware. It does however make sense to have two computers; one used only for serious stuff backed up to an external drive, and one for porn and cat videos. That is unless you don't like cat videos.

The newest hackers are so sneaky, they “identify employees who are using hard-to-hack cybersecurity tools (like VPNs),” said Levin. “Then they wait for them to log off the VPN, targeting non-work Internet traffic to install ransomware. Because many work-from-home employees are using the same computer for work and everyday tasks, networks are infected.”

The frightening scam everyone working from home needs to know about (https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/mcafee-multi-access-software-185019495.html)

[ribshaw]

Don't know anything about this but looks interesting.


Protecting against ransomware attacks doesn’t have to break the bank. Best practices include backing up data, encrypting files, using spam filters,setting up multifactor authentication and disabling USB storage access. Executives should get special training, since they’re higher-risk. A free tool, No More Ransom,provides decryption software to use if hit by an attack at The No More Ransom Project (http://www.nomoreransom.org).

https://www.kiplinger.com/store/samples/kwl_recent_issue.pdf

[ribshaw]

This article reads like an ad for Malwarebytes.





Best practices for safely donating to charities online—and avoiding scams

The FBI says that once you’ve zeroed in on a charity, look to online reviews and consult sites like the Better Business Bureau, Give.org, Charity Navigator or Charity Watch to verify their legitimacy. This applies to donations made through social media, crowdfunding websites, or directly to the charities themselves.

“Before donating, ask how much of the donation will go toward the program or cause you want to support,” the FBI says in its brief. “Every organization has administrative costs, and it’s important to understand those structures.”

One specific way fraudsters are poaching dollars from well-meaning donors is through a method called phishing, in which hackers disguise themselves as legitimate charities to solicit funds via email. When these bogus “charities” contact you via text, it’s called smishing. Either way, it’s attempted theft.

COVID-19 charity fraud is on the rise, warns the FBI—here’s how to safely donate without getting scammed this holiday season (https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/covid19-charity-fraud-holiday-season-norton-security-online-140835064.html)



Keep scammers’ tricks in mind

Don’t let anyone rush you into making a donation. That’s something scammers do.
Some scammers try to trick you into paying them by thanking you for a donation that you never made.
Scammers can change caller ID to make a call look like it’s from a local area code.
Some scammers use names that sound a lot like the names of real charities. This is one reason it pays to do some research before giving.
Scammers make lots of vague and sentimental claims but give no specifics about how your donation will be used.
Bogus organizations may claim that your donation is tax-deductible when it is not.
Guaranteeing sweepstakes winnings in exchange for a donation is not only a scam, it’s illegal.

If you see any red flags, or if you’re not sure about how a charity will use your donation, consider giving to a different charity. There are many worthy organizations who will use your donation wisely.

How to donate wisely and avoid charity scams | FTC Consumer Information (https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/how-donate-wisely-and-avoid-charity-scams)

[ribshaw]

Still plugging stuff in the article.



5. Fake job scams
4. Income tax identity theft
3. Fraudulent sites claiming to sell PPE
2. Fake charity scams
1. Stimulus payment scams


5 COVID-19 scams you need to know about right now: 'A perfect storm for scammers' (https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/online-scams-covid-protests-software-214344082.html)

[ribshaw]

In 2016 Forbes Africa listed Okeke among the most influential businesspeople under the age of 30

Obinwanne Okeke: Nigerian email fraudster jailed for 10 years in US (https://www.yahoo.com/news/obinwanne-okeke-nigerian-email-fraudster-132652000.html)

[ribshaw]

Probably this...




“Patients should never try to secure a vaccine online—no legitimate vaccine is sold online,” said Pamela Eisele, communications director for Pfizer.

Covid-19 Vaccine Scams Grow, Leveraging Confusion About How to Get the Shot - WSJ (https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-vaccine-scams-grow-leveraging-confusion-about-how-to-get-the-shot-11614076200)

[ribshaw]

A good rule is not to send money to people you haven't met in person, a better one is to not send it to people you have.


But it came crashing down when Scott asked Grace to help him gain access to his own money that he couldn't get to because he was overseas.

Dating-app con artists are scamming singles up to $900,000 with elaborate fake relationships (https://www.yahoo.com/news/dating-app-con-artists-scamming-144604270.html)

https://realscam.com/f44/sweetheart-scammer-did-really-hot-person-pick-me-above-all-others-2300/

[ribshaw]

Apparent? May be?



A prolific conman with more than 40 aliases may be breaching his parole conditions while living in Auckland by attempting to rent a luxury apartment and promising to fill it with wealthy clients for $500 a night.

Prolific conman Wayne Eaglesome investigated over apparent parole breach involving Auckland property scam | Stuff.co.nz (https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/124593312/prolific-conman-wayne-eaglesome-investigated-over-apparent-parole-breach-involving-auckland-property-scam)

[ribshaw]

A similar scam exists where a fraudster will pay cash for a series of smaller orders until a relationship is established with a merchant. Then said fraudster asks that credit be extended for a very large order.


South Carolina man swindled $450,000 from Lowe’s buying pricey lawn mowers, feds say (https://www.yahoo.com/news/south-carolina-man-swindled-450-173254020.html?.tsrc=fp_deeplink)

[ribshaw]

There's no business like snow business.



The investors were promised returns as high as 40% within a year.

Hollywood actor arrested in alleged $227-million Ponzi scheme (https://www.yahoo.com/news/hollywood-actor-arrested-alleged-227-230903207.html)

[ribshaw]

Gets an A+ for originality, but should have gone bigger for the risk.

Michigan man who wore prosthetic face masks pleads guilty in $125K casino fraud scheme (https://www.yahoo.com/news/michigan-man-wore-prosthetic-face-223317915.html?.tsrc=fp_deeplink)

[ribshaw]

Currently Known Scams

Please see below for examples of prominent fraudulent emails, texts, and posts that are currently circulating. These offers are not from Costco Wholesale. You should not visit any links provided in messages such as these, and you should not provide the sender any personal information.
Fraudulent Satisfaction Survey
Fraudulent Facebook Post
Fraudulent Survey
Texts Regarding Loyalty Reward
Overcharge Reimbursement Texts
Survey with Exclusive Offers
Free Television
Coronavirus Stimulus
Exclusive Giveaway
Fake Interview Confirmation
Fraudulent Executive Rewards Redemption
Citi Rewards Direct Deposit Scam
Redeem your gift card!

Currently Known Scams (https://customerservice.costco.com/app/answers/detail/c/10/a_id/9770#10)

[ribshaw]

Like asking the fox to sure up the chicken coop.


“In AMG Capital, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of scam artists and dishonest corporations, leaving average Americans to pay for illegal behavior,” Acting Chairwoman Rebecca Kelly Slaughter said. “With this ruling, the Court has deprived the FTC of the strongest tool we had to help consumers when they need it most. We urge Congress to act swiftly to restore and strengthen the powers of the agency so we can make wronged consumers whole.”

Statement by FTC Acting Chairwoman Rebecca Kelly Slaughter on the U.S. Supreme Court Ruling in AMG Capital Management LLC v. FTC | Federal Trade Commission (https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2021/04/statement-ftc-acting-chairwoman-rebecca-kelly-slaughter-us)

[ribshaw]

"Miracle Mineral Solution"

Florida family accused of selling thousands of bottles of bleach marketed as Covid cure (https://www.yahoo.com/news/florida-family-allegedly-sold-thousands-202149342.html)

[ribshaw]

Wowsers!!!



A woman who is licensed as a physical therapist received a fake notice that her license to work was in danger of “immediate temporary suspension” and directed her to a nearby UPS Store to pick up a written notification.

Three men posing as investigators from the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and an FBI agent remained in contact with the woman over several days. The notification they provided included legitimate information about the woman, including her therapist license number.

The scammers convinced the woman that her license was involved in a drug trafficking case in which $2.4 million was laundered through 15 bank accounts. They offered the woman an option of getting a lawyer and sitting in jail for at least six months or signing a federal bond agreement.

Michigan couple loses life savings to elaborate professional license scam (https://www.abc12.com/2021/04/26/michigan-couple-loses-life-savings-to-elaborate-professional-license-scam/)

[ribshaw]

I can't imagine they failed to remove this little. Plenty of scammers have been operating in full view for years with maybe a token scolding every now and again.



Google had failed to remove 34% of the scam adverts reported to it, compared with 26% at Facebook, the study indicated.
Facebook and Google '&#39;'failed to remove scam adverts'&#39;' - BBC News (https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-56888693)

[ribshaw]

SynapseXT fake news stories??? Questionable claims??? Treating Tinnitus???

Time permitting I like to explore articles about unusual scams. There are only so many ways you can say no:

you are not going to get paid to wrap your car,
the IRS isn't going to demand you pay in Bitcoin,
you didn't meet a solider stationed overseas or an oil rig worker that just happen to need a cash wire for "insert plausible but bullshit tale here",
the guy on Facebook can't make you 1% per day,
and there isn't some magic fix for a health problem that's a big secret only your bowling buddy knows about...

When I stumbled upon this first link I was intrigued, a new scam. a new twist on an old scam?

Wrong on both fronts an advertorial under the guise of medical news...



Synapse XT Reviews - Alarming Customer Scam Complaints (Negative Side Effects) | Seattle Weekly (https://www.seattleweekly.com/marketplace/synapse-xt-reviews-alarming-customer-scam-complaints-negative-side-effects/)

This advertorial was slightly more clever, so I pulled out what I considered relevant.



Scientific Evidence for Synapse XT

Synapse XT claims to support hearing and cognitive health in multiple ways. The company has not tested the formula on any humans or animals, nor have they published any studies proving the formula works as advertised to help with hearing and cognition.

Final Word

Unfortunately, there’s no evidence Synapse XT works as advertised to help with cognition or hearing. Despite the high price of $70 per bottle, Synapse XT contains low doses of ingredients compared to competing supplements.

Synapse XT Reviews: Scam Complaints or Legit Tinnitus Pills? | Observer (https://observer.com/2020/12/synapse-xt-reviews-scam-complaints-or-legit-tinnitus-pills/)

I'll post this under Fair Use in an effort to educate the public of what is said on the company's website.




The information provide on this website is not intended to replace a consultation with a qualified medical professional. We encourage you to inform your physician of changes you make to your lifestyle and discuss these with him or her. For questions or concerns about any medical conditions you may have, please contact your doctor.

The website's content and the product for sale is based upon the author's opinion and is provided solely on an "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" basis. You should do your own research and confirm the information with other sources when searching for information regarding health issues and always review the information carefully with your professional health care provider before using any of the protocols presented on this website and/or in the product sold here.

Testimonials, case studies, and examples found on this page are results that have been forwarded to us by users of Synapse XT products and related products, and may not reflect the typical purchaser's experience, may not apply to the average person and are not intended to represent or guarantee that anyone will achieve the same or similar results.

SynapseXT.com – A Way to Supercharge Your Health! – SynapseXT.com – A Way to Supercharge Your Health! (https://synapsext.com/)

Certainly the government and science hasn't/doesn't get everything right. Still I'll trust that over the advice of companies that post advertorials and use "scam" in the title to bait readers.



As the Food Policy Statement notes, however, there may be certain limited instances when a carefully qualified health claim in advertising may be permissible under FTC law, in circumstances where it has not been authorized for labeling. However, supplement marketers are cautioned that the FTC will require both strong scientific support and careful presentation for such claims. Dietary Supplements: An Advertising Guide for Industry | Federal Trade Commission (https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/dietary-supplements-advertising-guide-industry)

More of the same...

Guidance for Industry: Substantiation for Dietary Supplement Claims Made Under Section 403(r) (6) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act | FDA (https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents/guidance-industry-substantiation-dietary-supplement-claims-made-under-section-403r-6-federal-food)

46% 1 Star reviews for Synapse XT on Amazon. An let's face it Amazon is exactly where you should go for all your medical c:RpS_wink:ncerns.

https://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/B08LHFRCMG/ref=acr_dp_hist_1?ie=UTF8&filterByStar=one_star&reviewerType=all_reviews#reviews-filter-bar

[ribshaw]

Wonder if the prison commissary takes coupons?




“MasterChef.”

Lori Ann Talens, 41, is accused of designing more than 13,000 fake coupons that ultimately cost retailers and manufacturers at least $31 million in losses

Lori Talens was also accused of defrauding Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, by filing applications without mentioning her husband’s income or the illegitimate income she earned from the counterfeit coupons.

Prosecutors said the total losses to Medicaid and SNAP were $43,000.

One woman’s counterfeit coupon scheme cost stores $31 million in losses, feds say (https://www.yahoo.com/news/one-woman-counterfeit-coupon-scheme-202635725.html)

[ribshaw]

We've covered this scam before.

A very simple solution exists, go to your local public shelter and adopt a pet.

But my shelter doesn't have the cute little ball of fur that I want, maybe adopting isn't all about you.
But the shelter depresses me, I'm certain the animals understand now that they know your emotional state.
But my shelter euthanizes animals, see previous excuses while mouthing them in the mirror.

But but but I just want a puppy...




Address and links associated with this scam...

700 block of South Monarch Street

Home (https://amandasbeaglepuppies.com/)

Gabriella's Dachshund Pups – Home of the cuttest Dachshund puppies (https://gabrielladachshundpups.com/)

Genevaskingcharlesworld.com

Police: Online puppy scam leads to complaints about Aspen ’dog breeder’ | AspenTimes.com (https://www.aspentimes.com/news/police-online-puppy-scam-leads-to-complaints-about-aspen-dog-breeder/)





The owner of the website is using a service to hide their identity om WHOIS

This website is (very) young.

According to Alexa this site has a low Alexa rank

This website is not optimized for search engines
High number of suspicious websites on this server

We tried to analyze the content of the site but failed

amandasbeaglepuppies.com Reviews | scam or legit check (https://www.scamadviser.com/check-website/amandasbeaglepuppies.com)



The Better Business Bureau (BBB) estimates that 80 percent of sponsored search links for pet sales may be fraudulent, advertising animals the supposed sellers don’t own.
Avoid Pet Scams and Safely Purchase Animals Online (https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2019/pet.html)

Not every rescue is legit either.

https://www.facebook.com/RescueAbuse/

A good resource to start a search for adoptable pets...

https://www.petfinder.com/

[ribshaw]

According to ABC Action News, a scammer told Shepard that hackers were trying to charge a $1,000 iPhone to her Amazon account and that they would help show her how to delete her credit cards.

Beware: One woman already lost $2,000 to this new Amazon scam (https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/beware-one-woman-already-lost-130042110.html)

[ribshaw]

Who could have seen this coming?




Schmitt sought an injunction ordering Bakker to stop selling Silver Solution as a treatment for COVID-19 on his streaming TV program, The Jim Bakker Show. The lawsuit said Bakker and a guest made the cure claim during 11 episodes in February and March of 2020.
Schmitt said in a news release on Wednesday that Bakker has already made restitution to many consumers, and must pay back another $90,000 to others.


Jim Bakker, his church settle lawsuit over COVID-19 claims - ABC News (https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/jim-bakker-church-settle-lawsuit-covid-19-claims-78443031)



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNbwEg-yR8k