LMAO LMAO:  0
Dislikes Dislikes:  0
Ignorant Ignorant:  0
Moron Moron:  0
Page 5 of 26 FirstFirst ... 3456715 ... LastLast
Results 101 to 125 of 632

Thread: Cut and paste snippets about scams.

  1. #101
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Internet Cafe Nigeria
    Posts
    6,476
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Cut and paste snippets about scams.

    Message purporting to be from Apple claims that the recipient needs to click a link to log into his or her Apple account and confirm ownership.

    'Confirm Your Apple Account' Phishing Scam

    Apple Scam.JPG
    "It's virtually impossible to violate rules ... but it's impossible for a violation to go undetected, certainly not for a considerable period of time." Bernie Madoff
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Scam-...98399986981403

  2. #102
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Internet Cafe Nigeria
    Posts
    6,476
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Cut and paste snippets about scams.

    If you saw a $2 donation to a well-known charity on your credit card, but didn't remember making the gift, what would you do? Contest the charge as fraud to your credit card company? Or assume that perhaps your spouse was being generous and let it go?

    Fraudsters are banking on the latter. Small transactions, or "microcharges," such as these are actually tests that indicate bigger fraud is still to come, says John Breyault, vice president of the National Consumers League and head of its fraud-fighting efforts, including Fraud.org. In many cases, the charity on your bill is real and it temporarily received a small donation from you, but that's only the tip of the iceberg.

    In actuality, thieves have stolen your credit card number and are checking to see if it's valid. If you allow the $2 charge through or fail to notice it on your statement, fraudsters know they've hit the jackpot. Before you know it, says Breyault, you'll likely see expensive surprises such as electronics or jewelry charged to your card. The thieves will arrange for delivery of these items to an address of their choice and quickly sell the fraudulently obtained goods on the black market.

    As with any suspicious charge, you should contest it right away with your credit card issuer. Once you fill out a statement that you didn't make the donation, your card issuer will refund your money and you'll be off the hook, says Breyault. In some cases, the bank may also issue you a new credit card. This is an important safeguard, but can be a bit of a hassle. If you were using the compromised card to pay automatic monthly fees such as your gym membership or your cable bill, you'll have to contact the companies and give them your new card number.

    Defenseless do-gooders
    Why do fraudsters involve charities in their credit card schemes?

    For one thing, "Scammers see fewer charge-backs -- people disputing the charges to their credit card company -- when a nonprofit is the recipient," explains Breyault. "Most cardholders assume somebody in their household or business must have made the donation."

    Secondly, online donations are quick, they can be automated to test hundreds of stolen credit card numbers in minutes, and they don't require a physical credit card -- just a stolen card number.

    But perhaps the bigger reason: "Charities are often easy prey, unfortunately," says Avivah Litan, a security and fraud analyst for Gartner, an international technology research and advisory company. "Nonprofits don't expect people to make online donations with stolen credit cards, so they often don't have sophisticated fraud prevention programs." If they did, the charity's online payment processing systems would likely flag certain transactions as suspicious and decline them, Litan says.

    Old scam, fresh twist
    Fraudulent credit card payments made to real charities are simply a fresh variation on a longstanding small-charge credit-card scam. In more traditional cases, the tiny "test" charges that show up on your card are usually payable to an unfamiliar business name, and that money can actually end up in the bank accounts of fraudsters. "The thieves charge a dollar or two to thousands of stolen credit card numbers at a time, and that ends up being a lot of money they've taken at the end of the day," says Breyault.

    When charities are involved, the scam is slightly different. Legitimate nonprofits actually receive the donations -- temporarily. Eventually, though, they must return the money. "That's incredibly disappointing. A charity may think they just got an unsolicited $1,000 donation, and a week later, they have to give it back because it's fake," says Litan.

    For instance, in May 2013, the Irish Jack & Jill Children's Foundation announced it had returned more than 130,000 euros in fraudulent credit card donations. The foundation received the contributions over a six-week period, in amounts ranging from 2 cents to 3,000 euros-- all fraudulently charged to private credit cards.

    Fraud costs
    This type of large-scale fraud can temporarily scar a charity's reputation, since consumers may worry that the nonprofit's donation-accepting website is not secure. Credit card fraud can also cost charities time and money. When a consumer disputes a fraudulent charge to the charity (or the charity's credit card processor detects the fraud), the ill-gotten donations must be refunded. That process can be time-consuming for the organization's staffers. In addition, credit card processors and banks typically charge $15 to $25 for "charge-backs," or customer refunds, according to Breyault.

    Greg Hammermaster is president of Sage Payment Solutions, a McLean, Va., credit card processing company that works with many large nonprofits. Hammermaster says most payment-processing firms waive charge-back fees if a charity is the victim of fraud.

    In addition, Hammermaster says payment processors can do a lot to help their nonprofit customers prevent future fraud. For instance, credit-card processors with solid experience in e-commerce should be able to automatically detect suspicious online transactions, such as multiple donations coming from a single computer Internet Protocol address, or donations coming in unusually quickly. "If a charity typically gets 100 donations a day, then suddenly receives 100 donations in a minute, that's not normal," says Hammermaster. "That activity should immediately kick out an alert to have a fraud expert look at the transactions and figure out what's going on."

    Charities that accept online donations can also set donation minimums in their fraud software. For instance, if a charity rarely receives donations under $5, the card-processing company can set its system to automatically flag any incoming donations less than that amount.

    Like any online merchant, Hammermaster says every charity should verify transactions by requiring donors to enter the three or four-digit card verification code on the back of most credit cards, as well as their mailing addresses. These codes can help make sure the credit card being used matches the given address and, in the case of the three-digit code, is physically in the cardholder's possession. Scammers rarely get cardholders' addresses or verification codes, says Hammermaster.

    Protecting yourself -- and others
    You can help prevent charities -- and yourself -- from being victimized, too. In addition to contesting any unusual charges on your credit card statement, Breyault suggests doing everything you can to keep your credit card number away from fraudsters.

    Use secure websites to make online purchases. You should see an address beginning with "https" or a seal indicating that the site employs secure socket layers (SSL).
    Be cautious about storing your credit card number online for future purchases. Breyault won't go so far as suggesting that you never allow your card number to be stored by an online store, but says you should decide on a case-by-case basis which merchants you trust with this information.
    Avoid making online purchases over free Wi-Fi networks. Because these networks aren't usually password-protected, they're less secure. Your credit card number could be easily intercepted by a cyberthief.
    Keep your own computer software current and malware-free. Up-to-date operating and security systems are a good way to keep your computer free from hackers who might steal your financial info


    Read more: Didn't Make that Donation to Charity? Watch Out for Fraud | Fox Business
    "It's virtually impossible to violate rules ... but it's impossible for a violation to go undetected, certainly not for a considerable period of time." Bernie Madoff
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Scam-...98399986981403

  3. #103
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Internet Cafe Nigeria
    Posts
    6,476
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Cut and paste snippets about scams.

    A central Indiana man was sentenced to four years in prison Thursday afternoon in connection with running a Ponzi scheme that defrauded several victim of more than half a million dollars.

    Former Carmel financial advisor Thomas Redmond, Jr. was found guilty on charges of securities fraud. He is accused of defrauding 10 victims of approximately $580,000.

    Thursday, a judge also ordered Redmond to service six years on work release and to pay restitution to his victims.

    According to court documents, one victim told authorities she met Redmond through a church friend. She said Redmond quickly took control of her finances and told her he was going to invest into two different companies. Instead, that money and much more was going straight to Redmond’s pockets, said Secretary of State Connie Lawson.

    The secretary of state added her investigators found out Redmond had been running the scheme since 2004 and targeted the elderly at his own church, missionaries who spent their lives counseling victims of Auschwitz and widows.

    Read more: Carmel man arrested in Ponzi scheme sentenced to 4 years in prison | Fox 59 News – fox59.com
    ================================================== ======

    An art dealer who allegedly duped two top New York top galleries into buying counterfeit paintings she presented as works by Modernist masters has been indicted for fraud, money laundering and tax evasion.

    Prosecutors said Glafira Rosales, 56, will be arraigned in a Manhattan court Friday on charges of selling more than 60 fake works of art between 1994 and 2009 for a total of $33.2 million.

    Rosales is also charged with concealing the proceeds of her sales by having much of the money sent to overseas bank accounts and filing false tax returns.

    She faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of fraud and money laundering, the two most serious of the seven counts on which she has been indicted.

    "The indictment depicts a complete circle of fraud perpetrated by Glafira Rosales -- fake paintings sold on behalf of non-existent clients with money deposited into a hidden bank account," said Preet Bharara, the U.S. attorney in charge of the case.

    According to prosecutors, Rosales managed to convince the galleries that some of the previously unknown works came from two clients -- one based in Switzerland and one based in Spain -- where she had set up bank accounts to receive the payments.

    Prosecutors say her Swiss client, presented as a wealthy individual who had inherited the art works, was a "a pure fiction" while the Spanish one was a real art collector but had never owned the paintings he was supposed to be selling or had any business relationship with Rosales.

    Rosales's most spectacular success came with the sale of a supposed Jackson Pollock painting known as "Untitled 1950" to the Knoedler & Company gallery, at the time the oldest gallery in New York.

    In 2007, Knoedler's then president Ann Freedman sold the work to London collector Pierre Lagrange for $17 million.

    Lagrange subsequently discovered that two paints used in the work were not invented until after Pollock had died and launched a law-suit against Knoedler & Freedman in May.

    Days after the suit was filed, Knoedler went out of business, after 165 years at the forefront of the New York art market.

    Lagrange's action was one of at least six lawsuits initiated by buyers who suspected they were sold fakes, and their doubts triggered an investigation by the FBI.

    Other works provided by Rosales were sold by Julian Weissman, another prominent art dealer who had represented the artist Robert Motherwell when he was alive. Rosales is alleged to have supplied at least seven fake works represented as paintings by Motherwell, as well as others presented as works by Mark Rothko and Willem de Kooning.

    Rosales, who denies the charges against her, has been in custody since she was arrested in May.

    Federal authorities have said she poses a flight risk because of her substantial funds overseas.
    New York Dealer Indicted over Massive Art Fraud

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

    Craigslist seller falls victim to counterfeit money scam Craigslist seller falls victim to counterfeit money scam, sharing story to warn others | abc13.com

    Balderston took the cash -- $750 for three pairs. Not long after the buyer had left with the shoes, Balderston realized he had been scammed.

    "Sure enough, they were all fake," he said.

    Every $20, $50 and $100 bill was counterfeit. At first glance, they looked real, but then Balderston noticed little things.

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


    Crime is Slate’s crime blog. Like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter @slatecrime.

    In the summer of 2007, with no job to speak of and no prospects on the horizon, I decided that America was chafing me and it was time to leave the country. I resolved to spend July and August in Italy, a country that seemed like it would look much more kindly on my lackluster work ethic and my burgeoning alcoholism. No matter that the balance of my savings account was lower than my SAT score. I would go to Europe—and I would go there in style.

    That’s not all. Somehow I got the idea that I'd travel to Italy in business class—lie-flat beds! Complimentary newspapers! All the Kir Royales I could drink!—and, what’s more, that I’d do so at a discount. Full-fare business-class tickets cost several thousand dollars more than I had to spend. But, God knows why, I figured I could get one for a fraction of its true cost. This idea excited me very much, and I became irrationally confident that I could successfully beat the system. “Paying full price is for suckers,” I informed my friends. “I can find a better way.” As suckers do, I put my trust in the Internet.

    Now, I didn't really expect to find cheap business-class fares for sale online. (I was delusional, not crazy.) My plan, instead, was to buy a bunch of frequent flier miles and exchange them for a round-trip ticket. So I searched Craigslist and found some miles for sale. They were offered by someone who claimed to be an airline pilot named Capt. Chris Hansen. He said he had more miles than he knew what to do with, miles that he would never use because he was always traveling for business.

    Capt. Chris responded to my email. He also called me on the telephone, where we talked for several minutes about the airline industry and the relative merits of various airplanes, a topic that he knew a lot about, and that I pretended to know a lot about. Our conversation convinced me that he was on the level. (As everyone knows, scam artists don’t use telephones.) After our talk I agreed to pay him $650 for 100,000 miles, which I immediately sent via PayPal.

    PayPal rejected the transaction. While a wiser man might have taken this as a sign that the captain was up to no good, I took it as a sign that PayPal was broken. Frustrated, I emailed Capt. Chris explaining the situation and asking if he had any idea what might have gone wrong. He didn't, but he promised to look into it. Then he disappeared for a few days, and didn't respond to any messages, which made sense to me, given that he was apparently flying around the world all the time. (As everyone knows, other countries don’t have email access.)

    My travel date was soon approaching and I still didn't have a ticket. So I went back online and found yet another great deal on frequent flier miles. This one was offered by a guy calling himself Franco Borga. This fellow wasn’t a pilot, but he had nevertheless accumulated a lot of miles, which he was willing to part with for a low, low price. So I sent him almost the exact same message I had sent to Capt. Chris, and received essentially the same response. Along with his response, Franco also attached a scanned photograph of his driver’s license. There didn’t seem to be any real reason for him to do this, but the gesture still helped assure me of his bona fides. (As everyone knows, sketchy people don’t have driver’s licenses.) Franco called me on the phone, we had a very nice conversation, and I agreed to purchase his miles, congratulating myself on my extremely shrewd dealing.

    He gave me two options for payment. I could send a check or money order to his temporary address in New Haven, Conn., and wait several days for the check to clear. (No thank you!) Or I could send him the money using Green Dot, a rechargeable gift card of sorts that is sold at supermarkets and pharmacies. In the email laying out these options, he helpfully included an explanatory section titled “What is Green Dot?”

    Naturally, I chose the Green Dot option, and although my friends all said I was being scammed, I insisted otherwise. "If he was a scammer, why did he call me on the phone?" I asked. “If he was a scammer, why would he give me two options for payment?” Working from those irrefutably logical positions, I went to the local CVS, put $700 on a Green Dot card, emailed him the account number, and waited for the tickets to arrive. And waited. And waited. And waited.

    It took about four days before I realized that I had been tricked. During that period, I sent Franco about a dozen emails, which grew increasingly pathetic. (“Dear Franco,” one began. “I continue to believe that you are operating in good faith … ”) I had given Franco every possible benefit of the doubt, but it became clear that he wasn't going to send me the frequent flier miles, and I wasn't going to travel to Europe in style.

    Just then, I heard from Capt. Chris—my savior! The good captain apologized for his absence—he had been overseas, he said—and asked if I was still interested in his miles. The answer, of course, was yes, especially since, as I told him, I had just fallen victim to a devious Internet scammer. He was very sympathetic: "If you want to give me the contact info for the guy who you purchased from, I can see what I can do for you," he wrote. I declined his assistance, and we reactivated our deal, wherein I would pay him about $650 for enough miles to purchase a round-trip business-class ticket.

    He sent me a contract, which I signed and returned to him at the address he had listed. (An Internet search indicated that the address belonged to a rehab facility in Colorado, which did seem a little strange, but not dealbreakingly so. “Maybe he owns the place,” I said to myself.) Because he was abroad, and because his PayPal account was still out of commission, he suggested that I use Western Union to send him the money in care of his assistant. This seemed reasonable enough to me. (As everyone knows, airline pilots often have personal assistants.) So I sent the money and waited for the tickets. And waited. And waited. And waited.

    This time it only took about three days before I realized I had been scammed. (I was getting better at this, in a sense.) The process played out much as it had before: Capt. Chris gradually stopped responding to my emails, which grew increasingly hostile as I realized what had happened. At this point, I was out $1,350, and I was the subject of endless ridicule from my friends and family. I also had no ticket to Italy, where I was supposed to be headed in one week.

    Angry at myself, I started doing all the research that I should have done in the first place. I couldn’t find much information on “Capt. Chris Hansen”—which, of course, wasn’t the scammer’s real name. But there was plenty of info on “Franco Borga.” It turned out that Franco had a long list of aliases, most of which seemed like they had been taken from the Sender field of spam emails: Kenji Sukizu, Bobert Ancini, Andrew Bryson, Mathias Ochsendorf, Alan Sasafahi, Hop Chuen, Rajiv, Richard Warrens, Camille Berges. He had been pulling the same scam for a couple of years under various names, always asking to be paid in Green Dot cards. (In an email he sent to one victim, he claimed to be an American tourist in Asia who pulled this scam all the time, under various aliases. This annoyed me. I wanted to be the tourist, not the one being scammed by a tourist.)

    On message boards and in the comments sections of various websites, lots of gullible victims had been registering their frustration with “Franco”: “He took me for $180 on two supposed American Airlines Incentive Flight Vouchers which were never received and which probably don’t exist,” one person wrote. “He e-mailed me a picture of his driver’s license and his telephone number exactly as he has done to many other victims to gain their confidence. He also called me and left a message.”

    “He have [sic] also stolen the identity of Angel leon molina and scammed us for vouchers,” another victim said. “He finds images on Flickr to back up his stories then sets up the email accounts. If anyone ever gets the opportunity to catch up with him, we’d love to join you chop his balls off.”

    Chopping off his balls sounded like a good idea to me, and I vowed that I would someday track down Franco Borga and exact at least $700 worth of justice. (Not long thereafter, I would attempt to ensnare Borga in an ill-conceived sting operation that ended up involving the New Haven bureau of the FBI. But I’ll save that story for some other time.)

    My more immediate concern, however, was my trip to Italy. Thanks to my astounding stupidity, I had no plane ticket and no money with which to buy one. The way I saw it, I had two options. I could cancel the trip, move back in with my parents, spend the summer actually trying to get a job, and chalk the whole thing up to a hard lesson well-learned. Or I could abandon all caution and put a last-minute coach ticket on my credit card, thus incurring a debt that, at the time, I had no real hope of repaying.

    I bought the coach ticket. On the way to Rome, British Airways lost my luggage. A few days later, I sent the airline an articulate, sympathetic, and supplicatory email, and they responded by upgrading me for the return flight. I ended up flying business class after all.

    Frequent flier miles scam: How I lost $1,350 by falling for the same Internet scam twice in one week.
    "It's virtually impossible to violate rules ... but it's impossible for a violation to go undetected, certainly not for a considerable period of time." Bernie Madoff
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Scam-...98399986981403

  4. #104
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Internet Cafe Nigeria
    Posts
    6,476
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Cut and paste snippets about scams.

    DA: Hewlett man indicted in alleged Facebook investment scam DA: Hewlett man indicted in alleged Facebook investment scam - Long Island Crime | Examiner.com

    Crime & Courts
    July 18, 2013
    By: Mike Balsamo


    A Hewlett man was arrested and arraigned Thursday after being accused of stealing more than $700,000 from five victims who were seeking to invest in Facebook, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr. said in announcing the charges.
    Related topics

    The indictment of Ronen Zakai, 42, was made public July 18 and includes charges of second-degree and third-degree grand larceny, securities fraud and first-degree scheme to defraud.

    According to court documents, Zakai solicited and collected $705,000 from five investors between December 2010 and January 2012. Prosecutors said he promised the investors that he would purchase shares of Facebook, Inc., before the company’s initial public offering in May 2012.

    The deal, which Zakai alleged nicknamed ‘The Social Innovation Fund,’ never actually happened, said prosecutors. Instead, they allege Zakai “quickly depleted the funds for his personal use” by paying his country club membership fees, car payments and using large amounts of cash on vacations and shopping trips, a news release said. Zakai is alleged to have spent all of the money by June 30, 2012.

    “The defendant is accused of scamming his own social network – including friends and acquaintances – ahead of the country’s biggest technology IPO,” said DA Vance.

    Prosecutors said officials at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission assisted in the investigation.

    Zakai was ordered held on $250,000 bail or $350,000 bond. According to jail records, he remains in the custody of the New York City Department of Correction and is due back in court on July 24.
    ================================================== ======
    'Queen of IRS Tax Fraud': Florida Woman Sentenced After Bragging Online

    A Tampa, Fla., woman who used stolen Social Security numbers to file fake returns has been sentenced to 21 years in prison after daring authorities on Facebook to catch her, the Daily Mail reports. Rashia Wilson, 27, who pleaded guilty to wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and being a felon in possession of a handgun, was caught after police staked out her and her accomplices in a two-year sting called "Operation Rain Maker," which also involved the Internal Revenue Service, the Secret Service and the U.S. Post Office.

    On her Facebook page, Wilson bragged about her exploits, referring to herself as the "queen of IRS tax fraud" and writing, "if U think indicting me will B easy, it won't i promise U!" She is believed to have stolen about $20 million.
    "It's virtually impossible to violate rules ... but it's impossible for a violation to go undetected, certainly not for a considerable period of time." Bernie Madoff
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Scam-...98399986981403

  5. #105
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Internet Cafe Nigeria
    Posts
    6,476
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Cut and paste snippets about scams.

    Our bragging friend above could have learned from this. Intel Launches “TMI” Campaign to Combat Online Oversharing | Facecrooks.com | How to Avoid Facebook Scams (THIS IS AN AWESOME PAGE FOR THE CYBER ANGLE of SCAMS).

    Intel Corporation has joined with McAfee, Dell and other tech companies this summer to help fight the problem of people oversharing information online. The campaign aims to educate social media users via a series of infographics about what information they should and shouldn’t provide online. They also have some tips on how to avoid falling prey to fake apps and Facebook scams. According to the campaign, the amount of personal information that web users disclose is shocking: 52 percent of social network users have disclosed information that could be used to commit a cybercrime against them, while people have an average of $35,000-worth of assets stored on their digital devices. Meanwhile, McAfee found 2.6 million new suspicious URLs between January and March of this year alone.

    Intel is also launching a sweepstakes where followers of the initiative can win free Ultrabooks or year-long subscriptions to McAfee LiveSafe security service. Users can enter the sweepstakes up to nine times per day by sharing one of several humorous videos on Intel’s website. They can also join the movement on Facebook and Twitter with the hashtag “#isthisTMI?.”

    Malware scams and fake links are becoming commonplace on Facebook, asking users to disclose personal information in exchange for access to a salacious video or the chance to win a lavish prize. They’re easy enough to avoid, however: don’t click on anything that looks fishy, and be careful what information you disclose.
    "It's virtually impossible to violate rules ... but it's impossible for a violation to go undetected, certainly not for a considerable period of time." Bernie Madoff
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Scam-...98399986981403

  6. #106
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Internet Cafe Nigeria
    Posts
    6,476
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Cut and paste snippets about scams.

    LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — A British national has been kidnapped near Lagos international airport, in Nigeria's commercial capital, the British Consulate-General reported Friday.

    Diplomats are working with Nigerian authorities on the kidnapping, which took place earlier this week, said consulate spokesman Wale Adebayo.

    The person was kidnapped shortly after leaving the international terminal, said a British statement.

    Adebayo would not say what day it occurred or give any other information, citing the "sensitive nature" of the issue.

    The U.S. Embassy in Nigeria sent an alert about the kidnapping, saying it "urges all U.S. citizens living and traveling in Nigeria to take extra precautions for your personal security and safety" because of the "high threat of kidnapping of expatriates country-wide."

    The embassy advised U.S citizens to be particularly vigilant around church and other places of worship, locations where crowds gather, government facilities and areas frequented by foreigners because of an ongoing threat from Islamic extremists operating mainly in northeast Nigeria, where there is a 2-month-old state of emergency.

    Kidnappings for ransom are relatively common in oil-rich Nigeria — both of foreigners and wealthy Nigerians.

    The 3-year-old son of a state legislator and four Chinese nationals in two different states all have been reported kidnapped this month.

    Some cases are not reported because of fears for the safety of the hostages.

    Most are released unharmed after ransoms have been paid, though people have been injured and killed if they resist.

    Risk analysts Drum Cussac have reported "a noticeable upsurge" in the number of kidnappings in the southwest of Nigeria including Lagos.

    "Foreign nationals were targeted in the affluent Lagos areas of Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Epe-Lekki, sparking speculation that organized criminal gangs have renewed their focus on the city's upscale districts given their relatively permissive security environments," the consultancy said.

    The latest piracy statistics from the London-based International Maritime Bureau also reported an increase in kidnappings of the crew of hijacked ships off the coast of Nigeria and the rest of the Gulf of Guinea.
    Briton kidnapped near Nigeria's Lagos airport
    "It's virtually impossible to violate rules ... but it's impossible for a violation to go undetected, certainly not for a considerable period of time." Bernie Madoff
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Scam-...98399986981403

  7. #107
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Internet Cafe Nigeria
    Posts
    6,476
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Cut and paste snippets about scams.

    SEATTLE — A 30-year-old Seattle man pleaded guilty Friday to federal charges he ran a $30 million Ponzi scheme involving bogus real estate investments in Peru and that he used investors’ money to furnish his lavish lifestyle, including a $600,000 yacht.

    Jose L. Nino de Guzman Jr. pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to wire fraud and money laundering. His sentencing is set for Nov. 1, but under a plea agreement in the case, federal prosecutors will recommend a sentence of 151 months in prison.

    De Guzman, who founded and ran NDG Investment Group LLC from 2006 to 2009, raised more than $30 million from more than 200 investors for real estate investments in Peru, U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan said.

    NDG had ever successfully completed any real estate projects in Peru and, despite raising funds for about 20 projects, had only purchased a limited number of real properties, Durkan said. No projects ever generated a profit.

    Nevertheless, De Guzman told the investors their projects were completed or were progressing, and he sent periodic, fraudulent “updates” to investors, including showing “construction” sites for projects in which the land had not even been purchased, Durkan said.

    Investors’ funds instead were used to fund De Guzman’s lavish lifestyle, including the purchase of a $365,000 diamond ring, a $600,000 yacht, a $250,000 suite at Qwest Field for Seahawks games and a $200,000 Bentley automobile, Durkan said.

    Moreover, as in a classic Ponzi scheme, De Guzman used millions of dollars of investors’ funds to pay off previous investors to continue the illusion that De Guzman was a successful developer, and to induce additional investors, she said.

    “This defendant brazenly and persistently defrauded investors by lying about his background and success and misused millions of their dollars for his personal benefit,” Durkan said.

    “His victims included family members, friends and co-workers who did not know he paid for his glitz with their money,” she added. “When the scheme crumbled, they sadly learned that Mr. De Guzman had perpetuated a massive fraud.”

    “The FBI is pleased that Mr. De Guzman is finally taking responsibility for his actions,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Laura M. Laughlin of the FBI Seattle office. “He exploited friends, loved ones, and coworkers indiscriminately to fund a lavish lifestyle for himself. The FBI stands with the prosecutors and victims in refusing to tolerate such heartless criminal activity.

    Read more: Seattle man pleads guilty to $30 million Ponzi scheme; money used for lavish lifestyle | Q13 FOX News
    "It's virtually impossible to violate rules ... but it's impossible for a violation to go undetected, certainly not for a considerable period of time." Bernie Madoff
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Scam-...98399986981403

  8. #108
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Internet Cafe Nigeria
    Posts
    6,476
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Cut and paste snippets about scams.

    Steives scam school. The rebate scam. In short you are told you are owed money, from overpaid taxes, bill, escrow, the government, whatever. And then are asked to send an administration fee.

    "It's virtually impossible to violate rules ... but it's impossible for a violation to go undetected, certainly not for a considerable period of time." Bernie Madoff
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Scam-...98399986981403

  9. #109
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Internet Cafe Nigeria
    Posts
    6,476
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Cut and paste snippets about scams.

    Stevie's Scam School YEAH.



    Farmville.JPG
    "It's virtually impossible to violate rules ... but it's impossible for a violation to go undetected, certainly not for a considerable period of time." Bernie Madoff
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Scam-...98399986981403

  10. #110
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Internet Cafe Nigeria
    Posts
    6,476
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Cut and paste snippets about scams.

    The police have arrested a 45-year-old man who is believed to be involved in at least five cases of cheating.
    Suspected serial conman arrested, victims cheated of thousands of dollars

    He would claim to be able to arrange for his victims to work in various positions at an overseas resort, and then get them to pay a deposit of several thousand dollars in order to secure their employment. After he received the money, he disappeared and became uncontactable.

    The police have been receiving such reports since April this year, and managed to establish the identity of the suspect.

    On Tuesday, he was tracked down and arrested in the vicinity of Marina Bay. Investigations against him are ongoing. If found guilty, he can be jailed for up to 10 years, and fined.

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

    British gang held over £4.3million timeshare fraud: Woman, 44, 'masterminded' Canary Islands scam

    Spanish police raided offices in Arguineguin and Mogan on Monday
    Involved are accused of systematically defrauding tourists since 2007
    'Used flyers promising free gifts to entice tourists to their HQ'
    Then they would 'trap them for between four and eight hours to hard-sell'

    Customers are believed to have paid out between £4,300 and £25,000 for the guarantee of 70 per cent discounts at some of the world’s top resorts for between five and 30 years. But the timeshare sellers were allegedly using the glossy brochures of other top holiday firms to sell the concept.

    Read more: British female 'ringleader' Paula Beatson, 44, among 58 arrested in Gran Canaria for 'selling timeshare properties that don't exist' | Mail Online
    Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

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

    Network World - A 23-year-old man was arrested last week in the Spanish region of Murcia for a simple but ingenious scam involving the ultra-popular Whatsapp messaging system that netted him nearly $53,000 over two months.

    According to a report from the Spanish newspaper Levante, the alleged criminal used social media to advertise an app that would let users spy on other people’s instant messaging conversations over Whatsapp for no charge. All they would have to do is visit a website and input their phone number, so that they could receive instructions for downloading and installing the app. --Yeah, don't do that.

    Spanish crook snags almost $53,000 in sneaky smartphone scam - Network World

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

    Taking the obvious joke, she should have saw it coming.

    SUNNYVALE -- A woman is in a South Florida jail cell awaiting prosecution in Santa Clara County for an alleged "psychic scam" on a vulnerable and superstitious Sunnyvale divorcee, bilking her out of more than $800,000 over the course of a decade for protection against voodoo curses and misfortune.

    Florida woman jailed in 'psychic scam,' accused of bilking Sunnyvale woman out of more than $800,000 - San Jose Mercury News
    "It's virtually impossible to violate rules ... but it's impossible for a violation to go undetected, certainly not for a considerable period of time." Bernie Madoff
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Scam-...98399986981403

  11. #111
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Internet Cafe Nigeria
    Posts
    6,476
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Cut and paste snippets about scams.

    Mortgage fraud scheme nets Las Vegas home builder 14-year sentence | Las Vegas Review-Journal

    Mortgage fraud scheme nets Las Vegas home builder 14-year sentence
    GRAPHIC ART/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
    By JEFF GERMAN
    LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

    Las Vegas homebuilder Paul Wagner was sentenced to 14 years in prison Monday in an $18.4 million mortgage fraud scheme, one of the largest in Nevada.

    After a 12-day trial in October, a jury found Wagner, 59, guilty of a dozen conspiracy, bank fraud and wire fraud charges.

    Before U.S. marshals could take him into custody after his conviction, Wagner tried to flee the courtroom. He jumped over a couple of rows of seats but was caught before he made it to the doors.

    Nevada U.S. Attorney Daniel Bogden said at the time that Wagner was the first homebuilder to be prosecuted and convicted of mortgage fraud offenses.

    On Monday, U.S. District Judge Miranda Du also ordered Wagner, a self-styled Christian minister, to pay $4.4 million in restitution with other defendants in the scheme and serve five years of supervised release after he gets out of prison.

    Du said Wagner, who has been in federal custody since his courtroom escape attempt, and his co-conspirators in the mortgage industry had harmed the Las Vegas community with the scheme, which occurred between 2007 and 2009.

    Wagner, who described himself as a born-again Christian, begged the judge for mercy and forgiveness but did not show remorse or accept responsibility for his actions.

    “I did not have intent in my heart to commit a crime,” he said in his rambling remarks, sometimes looking at his supporters in the courtroom gallery. “I was just blinded by people. I trust everybody.”

    Wagner and his lawyer, Mitchell Posin, also presented the homebuilder’s wife and several other speakers, who called him a generous and compassionate man devoted to Christian values.

    “My husband is a phenomenal man,” a weeping Monica Wagner said. “He puts everybody above himself first.”

    For the past decade, Wagner had built homes in the northwest part of the valley.

    In a pre-sentence memorandum, Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Schiess said Wagner pulled off one of the largest mortgage fraud schemes in Nevada, involving more than 85 homes and costing lenders the $18.4 million.

    Schiess wanted Wagner to spend 17½ years behind bars.

    “Wagner’s conduct was egregious.” Schiess wrote. “He set up the scheme, which attracted people willing to engage in fraud.

    “By offering huge cash back incentives, he chummed the waters for predators who were willing to take the bait. He knew these predators would use straw buyers to grab the cash. Just as these predators were motivated by greed, so was Wagner.”

    Posin countered in court papers that Wagner was not a greedy man.

    He described Wagner as a “productive” community member who donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to charity and ran a hospital ministry.

    As a leader of his church, Holy Ghost Ministries, Wagner ran several charitable programs to aid the homeless, particularly needy veterans, Posin wrote.

    “A greedy man does not take time out of his day to help the sick and feed the poor,” he said.

    Federal prosecutors, however, uncovered a different side to Wagner.

    They said he created a scheme to provide large cash incentives to buyers, real estate agents and others to sell his homes.

    To pay for the incentives, Wagner inflated the value of the homes 100 percent through false appraisals and then concealed the incentives from the lenders, prosecutors said.

    Many of the homes went into foreclosure after Wagner stopped making the mortgage payments.

    Piggy.JPG
    "It's virtually impossible to violate rules ... but it's impossible for a violation to go undetected, certainly not for a considerable period of time." Bernie Madoff
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Scam-...98399986981403

  12. #112
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Internet Cafe Nigeria
    Posts
    6,476
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Cut and paste snippets about scams.

    From Action Fraud, this is lovely. https://www.facebook.com/actionfraud

    Another like farming scam is appearing all over Facebook news feeds. This time it is fraudsters using the Disney name and have even gone to the trouble of paying to have it promoted. Please tell your friends not to like/share or comment on these scam posts as they only make profit for fraudsters and no one ever wins. Information on how to spot and avoid Facebook 'Like' scams How to spot and avoid Facebook 'Like' scams | How To - CNET

    1.JPG
    "It's virtually impossible to violate rules ... but it's impossible for a violation to go undetected, certainly not for a considerable period of time." Bernie Madoff
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Scam-...98399986981403

  13. #113
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Internet Cafe Nigeria
    Posts
    6,476
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Cut and paste snippets about scams.

    MANILA, Philippines - The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas on Wednesday warned the public about a scam involving fake checks purportedly issued by the central bank.

    BSP warns vs fake checks scam | ABS-CBN News

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

    "Some of the scams concern fraudulent individuals asking consumers to sign up to get on a list, so they can get to the front of the line when immigration reform takes place" said Reyes, who has heard from agencies that work with immigrants and other community groups. "As we know, there is no immigration reform. Nobody knows if we are going to get any reform at all. Yet these individuals are already collecting money."

    The latest immigration scam: Paying to be put on a list for 'reform' | Multi-American | 89.3 KPCC

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

    The mystery shopping scam is actually well known to fraud experts.

    "Anybody who wires you money or asks you to wire money, sends you a check and asks you to deposit it and wire transfer money, that's a major red flag," said Beth Schell, Lee County Sheriff's Office Fraud Specialist.

    And that's exactly happened to Marie. She got a package with a money order for $985 and instructions to cash the order, keep $100 and spend $100 at Walmart.

    The rest she was instructed to wire to another person.

    "It didn't seem right. It seems like it's a fake, and I'll probably end up paying for it," she said.

    Fraud experts say Marie was smart not to do any of that. By the time banks find out the money order is fake it's too late -- and your footing the bill.

    Woman exposes mystery shopper scam - NBC-2.com WBBH News for Fort Myers, Cape Coral & Naples, Florida

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

    On the website, he tricked Swedes into shopping for goods that he didn't own, then collected the money without sending any product in return.

    Over a period of three months beginning in February this year, the 32-year-old managed to sell to over 50 people across the country on the popular site.

    Man cons 50 Swedes in online shopping scam - The Local

    ==================================
    Here's where the problem can occur: Many people do a random search for "address change" and wind up on one of a number of sites run by private businesses. These companies charge anywhere from $17 to $24 to file that simple change of address form for you, something you can do yourself on the official USPS site for a dollar.

    Rip-off alert: Watch out for the 'change my address' scam

    ==================================
    "It's virtually impossible to violate rules ... but it's impossible for a violation to go undetected, certainly not for a considerable period of time." Bernie Madoff
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Scam-...98399986981403

  14. #114
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Internet Cafe Nigeria
    Posts
    6,476
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Cut and paste snippets about scams.

    New cyber scam accuses user of child pornography, demands money New cyber scam accuses user of child pornography, demands money - WFTX-TV Fort Myers/Naples, FL

    By Julian Glover

    CREATED Jul. 23, 2013



    Fox 4 News at Six Video by fox4now.com

    NAPLES, Fla. - A Naples couple was targeted by a new cyber scam that accuses computer users of distributing child pornography and locks the device until the victims transfer cash.

    Tech experts are calling the new scam the "drive-by virus" and say getting the virus is as easy as clicking a link online.

    "It's frightening. You're thinking about the possibilities," said Bienvenido Roman, "somebody can go to jail."

    Roman says he was on the computer with his wife over the weekend when an alarming message popped up on the screen.

    "We couldn't unlock it and then it said something about child pornography," said Roman.

    The couple took a screen shot of the message and sent it into Fox 4.

    The message bares the official FBI seal and accuses the computer users of violating U.S. law by downloading illegal content. The message even accuses the user of distributing child pornography, an accusation that scared Roman.

    "Oh my God, all I need is for people to start posting it all over the place," said Roman.

    Roman is referring to the picture of his wife that the computer managed to capture using the laptop's webcam, under the virus's control.

    "Her picture at the moment was on the corner [of the screen], that was most scary," said Roman.

    According to the message, all Roman had to do to unlock his computer was go to a store that sold Moneypak gift cards, purchase one for $400 and then type in the code.

    But Roman was skeptical. "It had to be a scam," he said.

    Roman says he had never heard of the scam before, but it's more common than you might think.

    "Probably three to four people come in a week with a computer that they can't access," said Dave Seitz, Greenwire IT.

    Now more than ever the scam is easy to come by.

    "They've compromised the advertisers or they've compromised the links that you're clicking to get to legitimate websites," said Seitz, "it finds you, it hunts you down."

    Here's what the tech experts recommend you do if you are caught in the cross hairs of the so-called "drive-by virus."

    Seitz warns users not to pay the $450 and don't log into any bank accounts or other important accounts.

    Seitz also urges victims to get help from a computer expert rather than attempting to get rid of the virus themselves.

    The necessary service to erase the virus from your computer runs from $60 to $85, according to Seitz.
    "It's virtually impossible to violate rules ... but it's impossible for a violation to go undetected, certainly not for a considerable period of time." Bernie Madoff
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Scam-...98399986981403

  15. #115
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Internet Cafe Nigeria
    Posts
    6,476
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Cut and paste snippets about scams.

    This one keep going round.

    BBB warns seniors of medical alert phone scam
    July 24
    The Associated Press

    CHICAGO — The Better Business Bureau is warning senior citizens about a phone scam promising them a free medical alert system.

    The agency says the automated calls claim that someone has ordered the senior a medical alert system to help protect them in case of medical emergencies or break-ins. The message then asks them to press a button to speak to a customer service representative. The fake "representative" then asks for the seniors' credit card and personal information.

    The Better Business Bureau says it's received complaints from concerned seniors in recent weeks and the scams appear to target the elderly and disabled.

    It recommends that seniors hang up the phone immediately without speaking or pushing any buttons. Seniors should never give credit card information or a social security number over the telephone.

    Read more here: BBB warns seniors of medical alert phone scam - KansasCity.com

    SENIOR SCAM.JPG
    "It's virtually impossible to violate rules ... but it's impossible for a violation to go undetected, certainly not for a considerable period of time." Bernie Madoff
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Scam-...98399986981403

  16. #116
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Internet Cafe Nigeria
    Posts
    6,476
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Cut and paste snippets about scams.

    Fraud and cybercrime biggest non-investment risks to family offices Financial Standard - Fraud and cybercrime biggest non-investment risks to family offices
    Tuesday, 23 July 2013 10:50am
    By Mark Smith | In Family Office

    Sustainability, data loss, fraud and theft are among the top non-investment risks faced by private families and the offices that serve them, according to The Family Wealth Alliance's 2012 Inaugural Security Study.

    HACKING DANGERS.JPG

    For the study - which was conducted in two parts -- the US-based family office research and resource provider asked 35 single-family offices to answer a set of security questions. Then a further 24 firms, including single-family offices, multifamily offices and external CIOs, were asked to answer a 27-question security questionnaire.

    "While participating firms have a solid grip on operational security and contingency planning, there is a gap in client family awareness of the risks they face, and ways to mitigate threats wealthy families can be targets for," The Family Wealth Alliance managing director and author of the study Kathleen McBride said.

    The report identified that security risks can threaten not only tangible assets, but reputation as well.

    Travel and health risks, the threat of natural disaster, identity theft and cybercrime, fraud and simply allowing the family's good name to erode due to poor reputation management were highlighted in the study.

    According to the study, only 4.1% of client families are considered well-informed about these risks.

    The study also found that while 70.8% of firms say families are 'moderately informed' about the everyday security risks they face, 21% are 'insufficiently informed' and 4% are 'not informed at all.'

    Three in 10 households surveyed have suffered financial fraud incidents while more than a fifth reported incidents of burglary or robbery.

    The vast majority -- 71% -- of firms do not employ a security consultant.
    "It's virtually impossible to violate rules ... but it's impossible for a violation to go undetected, certainly not for a considerable period of time." Bernie Madoff
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Scam-...98399986981403

  17. #117
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Internet Cafe Nigeria
    Posts
    6,476
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Cut and paste snippets about scams.

    Two right off the bat targeting seniors.

    The man thought to be his accomplice knocked on the couple's door claiming to be a surveyor who needed to check the boarding and facia of their roof for a potentially high lead content.

    He claimed to carry out the checks for free under an EU directive and that a colleague, King, would revisit to check the lead levels.

    http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/loc...ed-rip-5314444

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

    Hunting the Doorstep Conmen (ITV) made me extremely cross. In 2010, Kit, an 80-year-old lady suffering from dementia, was targeted by two con men. They posed as roofers, told her that she needed some serious work doing on her house, and persuaded her to give them thousands upon thousands of pounds. The most worrying thing was that the scam was only uncovered by her children; to this day, she can’t remember any of it.

    This was only the tip of the iceberg. The first programme in this two-part documentary followed investigators from the Trading Standards Authority, who in partnership with the police and other agencies tracked down these men (they were always men) and dragged them, kicking and screaming, to justice.

    In their nefarious toolbox were the following techniques: going through the local obituary columns to find vulnerable, elderly widows; compiling a list of pensioners who were showing early signs of memory loss, in order to target them in 18 months’ time; and driving victims to the bank so that they could be pressured into withdrawing hundreds of pounds and handing it over on the spot. To the most unfortunate elderly people, this happened on a daily basis. Unbelievable.

    Particularly heartbreaking was the story of Dr Leslie Drain, an MBE-winning Oxford physicist who was instrumental in inventing the MRI scanner. Over a period of 19 years, he was conned out of £414,000 by a pair called Stephen Green and Clive Smith. According to the police, the trauma affected him so badly that his health went into decline. When the police told him that they had caught Green and Smith, his death followed soon after.

    Admittedly, the throbbing music and dramatic voice-overs were hyperbolic. But such, perhaps, are the constraints of the genre. The most important thing was that word of these doorstep con men was spread to the people who are at risk of falling foul of it: the elderly, who next time won’t open the door.

    Hunting the Doorstep Conmen, ITV, review - Telegraph

    2.JPG
    "It's virtually impossible to violate rules ... but it's impossible for a violation to go undetected, certainly not for a considerable period of time." Bernie Madoff
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Scam-...98399986981403

  18. #118
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Internet Cafe Nigeria
    Posts
    6,476
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Cut and paste snippets about scams.

    If someone is promising amazing returns, run the other way with both hands on your wallet. IT ALWAYS ENDS THIS WAY. Never in history did it end a different way.

    BHOPAL: Betul district police on Wednesday arrested Santosh Das for defrauding hundreds of investors of crores of rupees through "Ponzi" schemes by promising to double their investments faster than banks. A sum of Rs 12.45 lakh in cash and incriminating documents were confiscated from his house.

    Initial investigations suggest more than 4,000 persons had invested in Das scheme lured by offers like - guaranteed return of Rs 4.95 crore in four years against a deposit of Rs 25,000 and Rs 1 crore against investment of Rs 10,000 in five years.

    Das, 35 a native of Kolkata, was arrested from his rented accommodation at Bagdona area in Betul at around 7.00 am following a complaint lodged by Mukesh Kaushik, a petty contractor living in the same locality. In his compliant, Kaushik said he had invested Rs 1 lakh in Das's company - Ayush Technology in 2012. He was promised double return in one year.

    "When I approached the company for my return on maturity, they began by offering excuses. Left with no option, I lodged complaint against him," Kaushik told TOI over phone.

    However, unlike other fraudulent investment companies, Das did not give his investors any bill while accepting deposits. Modus operandi was simple. He was giving promised returns on small amounts like Rs 5,000 to Rs 50,000 without fail so that investor make further investments or get more investors for him.

    "Through such fraudulent investment operations, Das was paying returns to investors from their own money or money paid by subsequent investors rather than from any actual profit earned," said Ajay Sharma, inspector general (Hoshangabad) told TOI.

    Individuals have made investments in Das's company ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 40 lakh in the last three years. "We had sent at least seven public notices warning against the Ponzi schemes, but none bothered. They continued depositing in these schemes," the IG said.

    Earlier, a video recording of more than 100 investors in Das's company was done by the Betul police, but none admitted to have invested in scheme of Das, police said. Das procured a poultry farm in Betul and Chhattisgarh with investors' money besides five vehicles, including Traveler and two SUVs. He also gave four-wheelers to his employees and key agents.

    Additional SP Geetesh Garg, who is investigating the case, said the accused was arrested under Section 420 (Forgery) of the IPC. He will also be charged under Madhya Pradesh Protection of Interest of Investor's Act 2000.

    There are reportedly more than 400 such companies operations in the state despite 33 such scammers being charge-sheeted in the court of Gwalior, Indore and other cities.

    Worried over flourishing chit-fund companies, chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had written a letter to the Centre in February this year urging for early notification of Money Circulation Scheme (Banning) Rules 2012 under Prize Chit and Money Circulation Scheme (Banning) Act 1978.

    Ponzi scheme mastermind held, Rs 12.45 lakh seized - The Times of India


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

    One like this is a little tougher to spot.

    You had an esteemed member of the community, so people trusted him.
    Nevertheless, it is always good to be able to independently verify where your money is. If it is with a private manger you should be able to call a bank or brokerage to check on your money.

    And the fact that people "are being paid" means nothing. Ponzis always pay until the money or criminal disappears.

    “Between 2006 through 2011, Mr. Galemmo claimed to have achieved a 432 percent return,” the complaint states, adding that Galemmo “claimed that he never had a year in which his investments experienced a loss.”

    http://news.cincinnati.com/article/2...s-Ponzi-scheme

    1.JPG
    "It's virtually impossible to violate rules ... but it's impossible for a violation to go undetected, certainly not for a considerable period of time." Bernie Madoff
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Scam-...98399986981403

  19. #119
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Internet Cafe Nigeria
    Posts
    6,476
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Cut and paste snippets about scams.

    As if the 8th grade sex education video showing a live birth was not enough, scammers have to get in on the action.

    Their messages - which feigned to be legitimate updates from the live blogging site - contained a link entitled “Watch the Hospital Cam”.

    Royal baby scam: Cyber criminals exploit the new prince's birth - Crime - UK - The Independent

    3.JPG

    ===========================================
    "It's virtually impossible to violate rules ... but it's impossible for a violation to go undetected, certainly not for a considerable period of time." Bernie Madoff
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Scam-...98399986981403

  20. #120
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Internet Cafe Nigeria
    Posts
    6,476
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Cut and paste snippets about scams.

    Phone scams, back in the news. Banks, IRS, FBI, Police, Lotteries, NEVER use the phone to get you to give personal information unless it is a scam.

    One scam that targeted Arkansans as recently as last week involved telephone calls from con artists purporting to be representatives of a credit-card company. Consumers hear pre-recorded messages stating that their credit cards had been "locked," and are asked to press "1" to connect to customer-service agents.

    AG Office warns of scam calls | thv11.com

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

    Alice (fictitious name) called to tell us she received a phone call this week, supposedly from David Russell of El Paso, Texas, representing Publishers Clearing House. He was pleased to announce she has won $1.5 million from Publishers Clearing House, $350,000 to be distributed on a monthly basis (delivered by UPS) for the rest of her life. (What mathematical formula are they using to disburse the $1.5 million?)

    That is good news within itself but there's more. Bank of America is giving her an $850,000 cash bonus, which Brink's Inc. will deliver to her home.

    She was instructed to immediately go to get a GreenDot MoneyPak card (prepaid cash card) for $500 (plus a $50 fee). She was then to call Kimberly Stalling in Madison, Wis.., and give her the number on the card, which could be cashed immediately. (There's no explanation why the phone call comes from El Paso and the insurance fee needs to be sent to someone in Madison, Wis.) Once the insurance is paid, the money she won will begin rolling in.

    New route to old scam - South Bend Tribune: Business

    ===========================================
    HAMILTON - An early morning scam involved hundreds of Bitterroot Valley residents Wednesday.

    Hamilton Police Det. Steve Murphy said a large number of people received text messages and phone calls from a company purporting to be Farmers State Bank.

    The text messages asked people to call a number with a 210 area code. Those making the call were met with a recording telling them their debit card had been locked and they were asked to enter their card number.

    The scam was not limited to Farmers State Bank customers.
    Hundreds in Bitterroot Valley targeted by bank scam
    ===========================================

    An elderly resident was scammed out of $3,000 when she wired money to the Dominican Republic because someone claiming to be her grandson, called her and told her he was at a wedding out of state and was arrested. The first time he called, he requested $1,600 to keep from going to jail. The woman received a second call from someone claiming to be from a prosecutor’s office in Oklahoma and said her grandson was a flight risk and they needed another $1,400. The report was made July 15.

    Another elderly resident a victim of a scam: Mayfield Village and Gates Mills Police Blotter | cleveland.com

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

    Another common travel scam that scam artists run is they will pretend to be resort staff, and call resort guests from local payphones, so the incoming call appears as locally placed. The goal of the scam artist in this scenario is akin to what was previously mentioned. An unsuspecting traveler may slip up and give the requested information over the phone, believing to be conversing with resort management. Travelers can avoid this tactic by just not giving out personal information over a phone call. The front desk of the resort is the only place that resort guests should provide financial information.

    GeoHoliday Club Scam Awareness Team Talks Travel Scam Avoidance for Summer 2013 -- LAS VEGAS, July 25, 2013 /PRNewswire-iReach/ --

    Phonescam.JPG
    PHONESCAM1.JPG
    Facebook-security-check.jpg
    "It's virtually impossible to violate rules ... but it's impossible for a violation to go undetected, certainly not for a considerable period of time." Bernie Madoff
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Scam-...98399986981403

  21. #121
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Internet Cafe Nigeria
    Posts
    6,476
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Cut and paste snippets about scams.

    RANDOM SCAMS

    A week or so back I saw an article on a beef jerky crowd funding scam. GoFundMe is another site where predator lurk. It is best if you can independently verify a story and/or afford to lose 100% of any money you send.

    One side-effect of the law is to open up some new opportunities for “shady operators” and scam artists to exploit unsophisticated investors; the objective of I-CROWD is to crack down on such abuses, Galvin suggested.

    Crowdfunding scam artists beware: Massachusetts is putting I-CROWD on the case - Innovation - Boston.com

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

    e on the lookout for crap like this on EBAY or other auction sites. According to the article this replica was bid up to $13,000,000 before people noticed.

    This auction is for a Amazing Fantasy #15 reprint only, this is not the original comic. Pictures that are shown in the picture gallery above do not represent the reprint comic being sold nor do they represent the comic in anyway. Bidder/Buyer accepts that he/she as read the full description/details of this auction listing. Good luck to all bidders!

    eBay Members Scam Amazing Fantasy #15 Scammer - Bleeding Cool Comic Book, Movies and TV News and Rumors


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

    Content Marketing, The Next Pyramid Scheme And How To Avoid Being A Sucker

    Content Marketing, The Next Pyramid Scheme And How To Avoid Being A Sucker - Forbes

    Increasingly, the obsession with content marketing looks like a pyramid scheme. It’s great for people who get in at the top and have all the resources. For people joining the party late and not fully prepared, they can be duped into investing a lot of money and getting nothing in return. Do most brands really believe they can compete with the media companies for audience acquisition and attention?

    2.JPG
    "It's virtually impossible to violate rules ... but it's impossible for a violation to go undetected, certainly not for a considerable period of time." Bernie Madoff
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Scam-...98399986981403

  22. #122
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Internet Cafe Nigeria
    Posts
    6,476
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Cut and paste snippets about scams.

    TUCSON - Darryl Willhite calls himself a pastor. Some who know him call him a con man. They say the 53-year old Willhite is asking Tucson residents for money to buy a building on Grant Rd. near Tucson Blvd. for his Krystal Light Ministry. But several of his acquaintances told the News 4 Tucson Investigators that Willhite doesn't practice what he preaches.

    Tim Booker is the Senior Pastor of the Church on the Street, which provides food, shelter and bible study for the homeless. He says he's known Willhite since 2000.

    Pastor Booker said of Willhite, "He's a con."

    Booker says Willhite was a homeless drug addict when his church took him in. He claims Willhite stole the church's truck and $500 from a church bank card.

    We met Willhite outside the building he hopes to buy, and asked him, "Did you steal the church truck and bank card, as Pastor Booker claims?" He replied, "No." We asked, "Why would Pastor Booker, a Senior Pastor, lie about you?" Willhite replied, "Well, I don't know. I can't give you Pastor Tim's reasoning."

    But there's more: Court records show that Darryl Willhite has a long criminal record, having been arrested at least three dozen times in Arizona, Nevada and California. Las Vegas Police told us they arrested Willhite at least 30 times between 1998 and 2012, on charges including larceny, theft and forgery; the forgery conviction ultimately resulting in a 10-month jail sentence. Records show that in 2000, Willhite was found guilty in Tucson of resisting arrest. Records also show that in 1998 , he pled no contest to theft in Pima County. All the charges since 2004 are misdemeanors.

    Willhite says, "I used to be an addict. I gave my life to Jesus Christ."

    We had the following exchange with Willhite:

    News 4 Tuscon Investigators: "When was the last time you were arrested for anything?"
    Willhite: "Um. I think 2005. 2005?
    News 4: "I have a mug shot of you from Las Vegas Police from 2012."
    Willhite: "For what?"
    News 4: "Motor vehicle violations. Not walking in the crosswalk, things like that, not having insurance."
    Willhite: "Ha-ha. I don't count a jaywalking ticket as something that's a big deal."

    Ramona Huerta met Willhite recently through a minister. She said five minutes after Willhite saw her, he said God sent her to him, got down on one knee, and proposed.

    Huerta told us, "He's a good sweet-talker, he's a good sweet-talker. He's a fake."

    We said to Willhite, "It doesn't sound very pastor-like to get on one knee and propose marriage to somebody five minutes after meeting them. "He replied, "I'm sorry, sir, that's not true. I was playing with her, ok, in a manner."

    Soon after meeting Ramona, Willhite confirmed to us that he did move in with her and stayed for several days. He said, "She's an attractive woman, to say the least."

    Turn around and walk away, because he's not who he says he is.

    Denise Maurici was Ramona's roommate. Maurici said, "I am Christian, and I just can't believe someone would actually act like that, and use God and the church and all that."

    Maurici's advice for anyone who Willhite approaches? "Turn around and walk away, because he's not who he says he is."

    The News 4 Tucson Investigators asked Willhite, "Why are three people telling me you're a liar, a con man and a sweet-talker, and don't trust you?" He said, " Well, I'm trying to tell you. The woman is a woman scored, for whatever reason."

    Willhite said Ms. Huerta is trying to destroy him in the media because he ended their brief relationship. She says that's not the case, that she kicked him out.

    We asked Willhite, "Why should people watching this believe you?" He said, "I've had some difficulties and some struggles, but that's how I've learned what to do and what not to do."

    Finally, Pastor Booker of The Church on the Street said, "The public should know that if you deal with Darryl Willhite, and you get burnt, that's on you."

    The realtor listing the building that Willhite wants to buy for his ministry told us the selling price is $749,000. Willhite says he is still hopeful of collecting donations from Tucsonans to buy the place for his ministry.

    Remember, if you have a story you want us to investigate, please email us at investigators@kvoa.com.
    Blind Faith? | KVOA.com | Tucson, Arizona
    ================================================== =

    Koenig's story, he was conned himself by a woman he met on Match claiming to have cancer.

    From 1997 to 2009, Koenig headed Asset Real Estate & Investment Company (AREI), a firm that oversaw dozens of senior housing and residential assisted-living centers. Koenig & co. told investors these complexes served as a safe and lucrative means for tax-sheltered property exchanges. After AREI would buy an assisted-living home, Koenig would then divvy up shares of the given facility to clients. However, the senior centers were not the profitable investment vehicle that Koenig claimed them to be, as they were incurring losses and defaulting on obligations. By May of 2007, California state DOJ investigators established, AREI was already an insolvent enterprise.

    Koenig and Armitage would sustain the scam by encouraging thousands of investors to sink their money into AREI, funds the men would then pay out as fictitious interest. Rewarding themselves for their financial creativity, they also spent clients’ cash on a Lear jet, luxury vehicles and an 80-acre estate complete with a castle in the mountains outside of Redding. Victims were even convinced to refinance their homes and open retirement accounts to foot the bill for the fraudsters’ lifestyle.

    Interestingly, Koenig himself is alleged to have been scammed by a Florida woman he met on Match.com. Mary Ann McCall settled into the Ponzi engineer’s residence on upscale Fleming Island outside of Jacksonville by telling him she had terminal cancer, a false claim local prosecutors say she had made several times before in order to score free goodies from well-wishers. Koenig, meanwhile, could face up to 50 years in prison for his charges; he will be sentenced June 11th.

    $250 Million Ponzi Scheme Featured Castle Estate | Ponzi Clawbacks

    ================================================== =
    Weekly returns of 10% should make anyone run the other way.

    Shalhoub hooked his marks by falsely promising weekly returns of up to 10 percent of their principal investment.
    Shalhoub paid purported profits to customers from their original principal or from money invested by other customers, in a manner similar to a Ponzi scheme, said prosecutors.
    Staten Islander ran $300K commodity futures Ponzi schemes, U.S. attorney charges | SILive.com

    ================================================== =
    According to Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli, he had access to various documents and computer terminals that contained fellow employees' personal information, including data about their company-sponsored 401K accounts with Fidelity Brokerage Services.

    Golden is accused of using the info to change the PIN numbers on various accounts, then logging in to make withdrawals, transfers and borrow funds.

    East Orange man charged in $50K identity theft scam | NJ.com

    Ponzi.JPG
    "It's virtually impossible to violate rules ... but it's impossible for a violation to go undetected, certainly not for a considerable period of time." Bernie Madoff
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Scam-...98399986981403

  23. #123
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Internet Cafe Nigeria
    Posts
    6,476
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Cut and paste snippets about scams.

    More service scams. If someone calls and tells you that if you don't pay up they will turn off you power, tell them to go pound sand. If your power goes out and stays out and they actually send you a bill, I would say you probably owe the money. Other than that, please don't give out details over the phone.

    SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - Suffolk Police are investigating a flim-flam where the victim was scammed by a person pretending to be with Dominion Virginia Power.

    The 57-year-old victim told police he received a call from a man stating he was with Dominion Virginia Power on July 18. The caller noted the victim’s account number and said the company was in the process of updating its system and a balance was due.

    The victim was ultimately scammed out of $1,800.

    The investigation is ongoing at this time.

    Dominion Virginia Power has warned customers of this exact scam. Anyone who may feel they have been targeted by a scammer should call their local law enforcement.

    Man falls victim to Dominion scam | WAVY.com | Suffolk

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

    Southern California Edison is warning customers to be aware of a telephone-based scam in which the caller asks for immediate payment for supposedly past-due bills.

    SCE advises customers who suspect they are being targeted to ask for the caller's name, department and business phone number. If the caller refuses to give the information, customers should end the call and report what happened to police or SCE by calling 800-655-4555.

    Southern California Edison customers warned of phone scam - The Daily Breeze
    "It's virtually impossible to violate rules ... but it's impossible for a violation to go undetected, certainly not for a considerable period of time." Bernie Madoff
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Scam-...98399986981403

  24. #124
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Internet Cafe Nigeria
    Posts
    6,476
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Cut and paste snippets about scams.

    A classic scam has been making the rounds on websites such as Craigslist and Kijiji -- someone contacts you to purchase an item you’re selling, and is even willing to send a cheque for more than it’s worth. In return, they only ask that you use the extra funds to ship the item via a third-party courie

    Read more: How to avoid an old scam now making the rounds online


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

    The Florida Times-Union (Nationwide search brings Jacksonville couple back to Nassau County to face Dish Network fraud charges | jacksonville.com ) reports authorities say Anthony Gerhold bilked customers for $700 to $900 each by having them sign up for a Dish Network upgrade. Officials say customers realized they had been scammed when their service was cut off for non-payment. When customers complained, they were given an 800 number that was monitored by Crystal Gerhold.

    N. Fla. couple arrested in satellite TV scam - SFGate

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

    Users have taken to Twitter to warn others of the attacks. But as convincing as the e-mail might be at a glance, grammar mistakes, a missing capital letter in "Apple," and a fake Apple domain for the Web site the e-mail points to mark the message and the site as bogus.

    Phishing scam piggybacks on Apple Dev Center hack | Security & Privacy - CNET News

    Applescam.JPG

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

    Con artists are again impersonating ASIC in an effort to scam money out of consumers and the regulator is now warning Australians to be ‘wary’ of cold callers claiming to represent ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission).

    “These offshore cold callers claim that your credit union, building society or bank have overcharged you and ask for your personal bank details,” reads an ASIC statement released yesterday. “These calls are a scam, and ASIC warns anyone who is contacted to hang up.”

    Scammers impersonating ASIC - Your Investment Property Australia

    ================================================== =
    "It's virtually impossible to violate rules ... but it's impossible for a violation to go undetected, certainly not for a considerable period of time." Bernie Madoff
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Scam-...98399986981403

  25. #125
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Internet Cafe Nigeria
    Posts
    6,476
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Cut and paste snippets about scams.

    My tip, tell them to hold on while you go get your checkbook and never come back to the phone. LOL Also, I get a lot more mailings these days touting a stock than I ever do phone calls. Throw this junk in the trash.

    Our top five tips on avoiding boiler room scams:

    Beware of cold callers offering opportunities that look too good to be true.
    Always verify the identity of an authorised firm. Check the FCA website if in any doubt.
    Avoid giving out personal details.
    Remember that investors do not have the same protection when dealing with unauthorised firms. (I.e. no access to the Financial Ombudsman service or the Financial Services Compensation Scheme FCSC if things go wrong.)
    Beware of where the enquiry comes from; most boiler room scams are based overseas. Common countries include Switzerland, Spain, Dubai and the USA.

    Brewin Dolphin Holdings plc : Top tips for avoiding boiler room scams. | 4-Traders

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

    MANILA - The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is warning the public against another potential scam targeting teachers in Cebu.

    In a notice on its website, the SEC said it received reports that CBR Energy Asia Group Inc, which uses the name CBR Global Group Inc, is soliciting funds that supposedly would be invested in an offshore oil business and earn a monthly interest rate of 20 percent for distribution to investors every week.

    After one year, the company promises to return 150 percent of the investment, on top of the 20-percent monthly interest, the regulator added.

    While CBR Energy Asia is registered with SEC, the company is not licensed to engage in financial investment activities. Its funds have so far supposedly come from teachers in Ayungon, Cebu.

    "The public is advised to exercise due diligence when making any investment," the SEC said.

    In August 2012, the SEC issued a similar warning against Aman Futures Philippine Inc, a company operating in Pagadian City that promised a "double your money” investment scheme. Aman Futures had duped 15,000 people in a P12-billion pyramiding scam.

    SEC warns of investment scam preying on Cebu teachers - InterAksyon.com

    3.JPG
    "It's virtually impossible to violate rules ... but it's impossible for a violation to go undetected, certainly not for a considerable period of time." Bernie Madoff
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Scam-...98399986981403

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •