Scambusters, Preventing Internet Scams & Phishing Attempts

This blog is dedicated to help preventing internet fraud and internet scams. Scambusters was a radio show I started in Albany Oregon, but due to defaulted payment by the radio station we took the show offline. Regardless of this issue we still wish to help prevent internet fraud and save people from internet loss. I have been interviewed and featured in various publications such as the Wall Street Journal, New York Times & Daily News, The London Times & AARP Newsletters. Please watch this blog for latest tips and tricks and scams to avoid.

Friday, February 29, 2008

3 Years Prison for eBay Fraud - No Coins from Kary

Man sentenced for eBay fraud.

Fort Oglethorpe resident Kary Dean Head will spend three years in federal prison for defrauding eBay bidders out of more than $150,000.

Head had pleaded guilty in September to nine counts of wire fraud and fraud by swindle after charging more than 100 people for 1-ounce American Eagle Silver coins that he never delivered.

U.S. District Judge Harold L. Murphy read Head’s sentence Friday morning.

A victim of the scheme and an eBay fraud investigator testified at the two-hour sentence hearing.

Keith Melancon, an officer in the Air Force, testified how he had paid $120 for coins to reward his troops for jobs well done. He said he tried numerous times to contact Head regarding his purchase, but finally had to contact eBay to report fraud after waiting weeks for his shipment that never came.

eBay Fraud Investigator Jeremy Roybal described Head’s scheme as a “breakout fraud” where online merchants sell less valuable items in order to establish a good track record and then try to sell more expensive items in a short amount of time to cash in – without delivering the goods.

“It looks like an account that’s just bringing in money and nothing’s going out,” Roybal said of Head’s eBay activity.

Roybal said after the hearing that “it’s not common” for such grand-scale fraud to happen on eBay.

“I am deeply deeply sorry for the errors I have made,” Head told the court before hearing his sentence. “I am here today to ask for your mercy.”

But Federal Prosecutor Lawrence Sommerfeld told the court, “It’s unclear whether (Head) fully accepts responsibility for his crime.”

In a letter he sent to Judge Murphy in December after pleading guilty, Head describes a coin business that was growing so rapidly that it must have caused a “red flag” with eBay, prompting the company to shut his account down.

“eBay always shoots first and ask (sic) questions later,” Head wrote in the letter. He later implied that eBay had shut him down before he could deliver certain coins to certain customers.

But Sommerfeld reiterated it was not a “business mistake” that had happened with Head’s sBay account, but fraud.

Judge Murphy said it was “very said that a man is being sent to prison” because, among other things, he was trying to support his family.

“Mr. Head appears to be genuinely regretful, and it would do no good to punish him more harshly,” Judge Murphy said.

Head could have received as much as 20 years in prison.

In addition to serving time, Head must also pay $137,000 in restitution.


eBay Phishing Scam - Never Ending Saga


We get a dozen or two of these a week, a fake eBay request for information, and regardless of the final URL the Phish is the same. No matter what link you click on it will take you to a fake eBay site that requires login. If you login, at best they now have your eBay login and password. At worst you also filled in the next page (on some of these Phishes) that asked for everything from your mothers maiden name to your social security number.

If you every receive anything that makes no sense never click on the links. For eBay go to ebay.com, log in, go to My eBay and then My Messages and read them there.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

MacWorld Report: PayPal: Steer clear of Safari

If you're using Apple's Safari browser, PayPal has some advice for you: Drop it, at least if you want to avoid online fraud.

Safari doesn't make PayPal's list of recommended browsers because it doesn't have two important anti-phishing security features, according to Michael Barrett, PayPal's chief information security officer.

"Apple, unfortunately, is lagging behind what they need to do, to protect their customers," Barrett said in an interview. "Our recommendation at this point, to our customers, is use Internet Explorer 7 or 8 when it comes out, or Firefox 2 or Firefox 3, or indeed Opera."

Safari is the default browser on Apple's Macintosh computers and the iPhone, but it is also available for the PC. Both Firefox and Opera run on the Mac.

Unlike its competitors, Safari has no built-in phishing filter to warn users when they are visiting suspicious Web sites, Barrett said. Another problem is Safari's lack of support for another anti-phishing technology, called Extended Validation (EV) certificates. This is a secure Web browsing technology that turns the address bar green when the browser is visiting a legitimate Web site.

When it comes to fighting phishing, "Safari has got nothing in terms of security support, only SSL (Secure Sockets Layer encryption), that's it," he said. Apple representatives weren't immediately available to comment on this story.

An emerging technology, EV certificates are already supported in Internet Explorer 7, and they've been used on PayPal's Web site for more than a year now. When IE 7 visits PayPal, the browser's address bar turns green -- a sign to users that the site is legitimate. Upcoming versions of Firefox and Opera are expected to support the technology.

But EV certificates have their critics. Last year, researchers at Microsoft and Stanford University published a study showing that, without training, people were unlikely to notice the green address-bar notification provided by EV certificates.

Still, Barrett says data compiled on PayPal's Web site show that the EV certificates are having an effect. He says IE 7 users are more likely to sign on to PayPal's Web site than users who don't have EV certificate technology, presumably because they're confident that they're visiting a legitimate site.

Over the past few months, IE 7 users have been less likely to drop out and abandon the process of signing on to PayPal, he said. "It's a several percentage-point drop in abandonment rates," he said. "That number is... measurably lower for IE 7 users."

Opera, IE, and Firefox are "safer, precisely because we think they are safer for the average consumer," he added. "I'd love to say that Safari was a safer browser, but at this point it isn't."

Gartner Group Reports: Phishing Attacks 2007, Over $3 Billion Lost

Phishing attacks in the United States soared in 2007 as $3.2 billion was lost to these attacks, according to a survey by Gartner, Inc. The survey found that 3.6 million adults lost money in phishing attacks in the 12 months ending in August 2007, as compared with the 2.3 million who did so the year before.

According to a survey of more than 4,500 online U.S. adults in August 2007 (which was representative of the online U.S. adult population) the attacks were more successful in 2007 than they were in the previous two years. Of consumers who received phishing e-mails in 2007, 3.3 percent say they lost money because of the attack, compared with 2.3 percent who lost money in 2006, and 2.9 percent who did so in 2005, according to similar Gartner surveys during those years.

The average dollar loss per incident declined to $886 from $1,244 lost on average in 2006 (with a median loss of $200 in 2007), but because there were more victims, $3.2 billion was lost to phishing in 2007, according to surveyed consumers. There was a bit of relative good news, however; the amounts that consumers were able to recover also increased. Some 1.6 million adults recovered about 64 percent of their losses in 2007, up from the 54 percent that 1.5 million adults recovered in 2006.

PayPal and eBay continue to be the most-spoofed brands, but phishing attacks increasingly employ devious social engineering attacks, impersonating, for example, electronic greeting cards, charities and foreign businesses.

Thieves are increasingly stealing debit card and other bank account credentials to rob accounts — targeting areas where fraud detection is weaker than it is with credit card accounts. According to the survey, of those consumers who lost money to phishing attacks, 47 percent said a debit or check card had been the payment method used when they lost money or had unauthorized charges made on their accounts. This was followed by 32 percent of respondents who listed a credit card as the payment method, and 24 percent who listed a bank account as the method (multiple responses were allowed).

Phishing and malware attacks will continue to increase through 2009 because it's still a lucrative business for the perpetrators, and advertising networks will be used to deliver up to 30 percent of malware that lands on consumer desktops.

Gartner sees no easy way out of this dilemma unless e-mail providers have incentives to invest in solutions to keep phishing e-mails from reaching consumers in the first place, and unless advertising networks and other "infection point" providers (which theoretically can be any legitimate Web site or service) have incentives to keep malware from being planted on their Web sites to reach unsuspecting consumers.

Hartford Man Faces Multiple Identity Theft Charges

WINDSOR LOCKS - A 47-year-old Hartford man has been arrested on several identity theft charges following a month-long investigation into fraudulent credit card charges, police said.

Ronald Bonner was arrested at his home at about 6:30 a.m. today and charged with first-degree identity theft, two counts of second-degree identity theft, five counts of third-degree identity theft, fourth-degree larceny, four counts of credit card theft, two counts of criminal attempt to commit credit card theft, criminal attempt to commit identity theft and illegal use of a credit card, police said.

Police were informed about a month ago that several people's identifications had been stolen and someone was using stolen credit cards to purchase items and have them delivered to a Windsor Locks address, Police Chief John Suchocki said. Police traced the fraudulent charges to Bonner, he said.

Suchocki said an investigation into how much Bonner stole is ongoing and could result in additional charges.

http://www.courant.com/news/custom/topnews/hcu-identitytheft-0227,0,7885355.story

| Courant Staff Writer

Former Richmond Police Officer Busted Over Alleged eBay Jewelry Scam

A former Richmond police officer is in Fort Bend County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bond after allegedly conducting an eBay scam.

Charles Antonio Montes, 25, of Richmond, was arrested by Richmond police officers on Tuesday “after complaints were received by this office involving theft by deceit during some Internet transactions on eBay,” according to a statement issued by the Richmond Police Department on Wednesday.

“Montes was accused of selling articles claiming to be genuine to the highest bidder” in eBay auctions, the statement said. “The winning bidder in this case discovered that the article shipped by Montes was not what Montes claimed it was.”

Richmond Police Sgt. Lowell Neinast said Montes was selling jewelry through eBay. He declined to provide additional information, saying an investigation into the case still is ongoing.

Because of the amount of the eBay sale involving the complaint against Montes, the theft charge “was determined to be a state jail felony,” the Richmond police statement said.

Richmond Assistant Police Chief Steve Waterbury acknowledged Montes had been an officer with the department, but said he no longer is.

“Montes was terminated from the Richmond Police Department in 2007 for unrelated circumstances,” the Richmond Police Department statement said.

eBay security officials could not be reached for comment on this story.

 

http://www.fortbendnow.com/pages/full_story?page_label=home&id=20365-Former-Richmond-Police-Officer-Busted-Over-Alleged-eBay-Jewelry-Scam&article-Former-Richmond-Police-Officer-Busted-Over-Alleged-eBay-Jewelry-Scam%20=&widget=push&instance=home_news_lead_story&open=&

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

FW: Microsoft Windows

Shame, people using Google / Blogger to Spam people and promote possible
scams for illegal or pirated software. Legimate companies would never take
this tactic to sell you software or computer hardware. Common sense should
tell you to avoid people that do this... also it is a good idea to report
blog sites that peform illegal functions such as this one that redirects you
automatically to http://promdunetsoft.com/  


Also regarding the pirated software sold on their site, it is obviously
illegal, unethical and in most cases criminal.


-----Original Message-----
From: Nathan Crockett [mailto:theravadayoy80@retouchyourself.com]
Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2008 4:42 PM
To: info@albanynotary.com
Subject: Microsoft Windows

Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate new features:
• Mobility-based operating system meets all your computing needs whether
you're working from home, working on the road, or searching for
entertainment options
• Combines all the features of a business-focused operating system, all the
efficiency features of a mobility-focused operating system, and all of the
digital entertainment features of a consumer-focused operating system

http://doloreslaffoontg.blogspot.com

System Requirements

• 1-gigahertz (GHz) 32-bit (x86) processor or 1-GHz 64-bit (x64) processor
• 1 GB RAM
• 40-GB hard disk that has 15 GB of free hard disk space (the 15GB of free
space provides room for temporary file storage during the install or
upgrade.)
• Internal or external DVD-burning hardware device

hofqrzij157 thought you might like this item on eBay

This is not a SCAM, not be the true sense of the word, but it is certainly a violation of eBay Terms and beyond that a Royal PITA. It is very important if you get these bogus emails and/or legit ones spamming you through eBay to report the senders to eBay as spoof@eBay.com and make sure you include all mail headers.

From: eBay Member: jkcwpzzsoq1086@21cn.com [mailto:member@ebay.com]
Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2008 4:03 PM
To: sales@e-powersellers.com
Subject: hofqrzij157 thought you might like this item on eBay


Image removed by sender.

An eBay member wants to show you this item



Dear Sir/Madam: We are a big wholesale company here in China, all of our products got from the manufacturers directly, we promise to offer the best price and better quality. our products are Notebook, digital camera, phone, motorbike, console games and so on. at the beginning of the new year, we listed some special products:2007 Gold Wing the original price is 5370eur, the current price is 3222eur.2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250R the original price is 1570eur, the current price is 942eur.Sony VAIO AR Digital Studio AR370N11 the original price is 950eur, the current price is 570eur.Sony VAIO VGN-N370E/W 15.4-inch Notebook PC the original price is 320eur, the current price is 192eur. Please catch this chance and contact us by your preferred way:  Website:www.elec-country.com  MSN:elec-country8@hotmail.com  Email:elec-country88@hotmail.com  24hour phone: 86-755-81811906  Company Address: A No.9 the 32th Floor SaiGe Square FuTian District ShenZhen City GuangDong Province, China

Minolta 35mm Camera X-700 SIGMA Std Zoom 1:2.8 F=35-70

Current price:

$129.00

End time:

Feb-03-08 14:57:44 PST

Add to watch list | See similar items

Check out this item

Image removed by sender.


Boca man charged with stealing toys, selling them on Internet

A Boca Raton man faces charges of fraud and theft after allegedly stealing items from several large toy and department stores and selling them on the Internet, according to a report from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.

The report says Anthony Ricca, 37, of Circle South, Boca Raton, will face charges of grand theft, organized fraud and dealing in stolen property on the Internet.

PBSO said the suspect allegedly stole items from Target, Wal-Mart and Toys R Us, and then sold them on eBay.  The suspect was arrested last week, though the alleged crime had been going on for some time.

The report on the investigation said Ricca told officers he had been stealing about $150 of Lego merchandise each week for the past year.   He estimated the total value of the items between $17,000 and $18,000, said investigators.

Ricca was quoted in the report as saying he would take the stolen merchandise home, then post it on eBay.

According to the report, a loss prevention manager for the Target Store chain told police that thefts had occurred at the store on Hagan Ranch Road in Boynton Beach.  On one occasion, he said, the suspect came into the store a first time and purchased Lego Star Wars merchandise.  Then, the manager told PBSO, the man came in a second time, picked up more Lego Star Wars items and left without paying.

The report said a surveillance camera showed the suspect carrying the items to his car and putting them in the trunk, which contained “numerous addition items of Lego products.”

Armed with a search warrant, officers visited Ricca’s home and allegedly found “hundreds” of Lego items.

Using the police computer, authorities determined that thefts had also taken place at Wal-Mart and Toys R Us stores.

http://www.bocaratonnews.com/news/local/1026-boca-man-charged-stealing-toys-selling-internet.php

By Dale M. King CITY EDITOR

Oregon man accused of criminal impersonation

A man convicted five years ago of stealing nearly $143,000 by scamming numerous people and public agencies faces new charges that include theft and impersonating emergency responders, officials said.

Michael Alan Selmer, 29, was charged Thursday with crimes that include two counts of felony theft, two counts of criminal impersonation, forgery, two counts of computer crimes, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, and warrants out of Marion and Douglas counties and from Tennessee, said Cmdr. Jason Myers, a Marion County Sheriff's spokesman.

Selmer was convicted in 2003 of several counts of first-degree and aggravated theft in four cases. One included taking money for already-occupied apartments in Keizer.

Selmer was sentenced to four years in prison, but he was released from Santiam Correctional Institution on Nov. 14, 2006, said Department of Corrections spokeswoman Jennifer Black. His post-prison supervision was scheduled to last until the end of 2008, Black said.

In this recent case, Marion County investigators received information about a possible fraud case in Arkansas about five months ago, Myers said.

A law enforcement agency contacted Marion County detectives, saying that Selmer said he was selling police radios online. After a purchase was made, the products never arrived, Myers said.

Selmer purported to have his own ambulance services and solicited donations of police, fire and medical equipment and supplies, Myers said. Investigators think Selmer had used eBay and craigslist.org to sell those stolen items online, Myers said.

Investigators said Selmer often used fake business names, such as Northwest Emergency Services, Cascade Rescue and Emergency Services II, Cascade Rescue and Southwest Emergency Services.

During the afternoon of Feb. 14, detectives arrested Selmer driving in a reported stolen pickup in downtown Salem, Myers said. The white pickup, stolen in Eugene, was outfitted with concealed blue and red flashing police lights and police radios with frequencies that included the Marion County Sheriff's Office and Salem Police Department, Myers said.

Investigators also think Selmer responded to area vehicle crashes and other calls in his false cover, but Myers said law enforcement officials do not think he interacted with the public at those scenes.

Selmer was held on a number of outstanding warrants and arrested on new charges Thursday, Myers said. Selmer is scheduled to be arraigned at 8:30 a.m. Monday in Marion County Circuit Court annex.

Prosecutors and law enforcement investigators who worked on the 2003 case said they're not surprised that Selmer was arrested again.

"His general MO was to pretend that he either owned an ambulance company or was a paramedic or he was a firefighter," Marion County Deputy District Attorney John Turner said Friday. "He would be either buying or selling emergency equipment."

The 2003 cases spanned incidents from mid-2001 to August 2003 and included 32 theft victims. Some victims were people, others were businesses that sold medical products or fire equipment.

In November 2002, about seven families were displaced from a Keizer apartment complex after Selmer charged deposit money and rent from the prospective tenants, although there were no vacancies. Selmer was a former apartment manager at Carlton Square Apartments at the time he was charged.

Oregon State Police Senior Trooper Douglas Brown, who investigated one of the cases against Selmer, said he first ticketed Selmer on a citation of driving without a license in 2002.

About a year later, Brown was on patrol and noticed a vehicle on Interstate 5 with a flashing light on its dashboard. Brown thought it was suspicious because he didn't recognize the vehicle.

The incidents led Brown to a more than yearlong fraud investigation into Selmer's activities, he said. Six search warrants were executed in the Marion and Albany areas, Brown said.

Brown learned that Selmer would order police and fire equipment from vendors and have it shipped to various addresses, never paying for purchases. Other items were stolen.

"I found it difficult to believe that anyone would take him at his word," Brown said Friday. "It perplexed me that people would do business with him, but I came to the conclusion if a person is a big enough liar, they'll look you in the eye and lie."

In another scheme, Selmer created an emergency-services company and hired several others underneath him, supplying them with vehicles equipped with light bars, titles and uniforms.

"They'd drive around in vehicles with lights or sirens, not having any idea what their job or title meant," Brown said.

Some of the workers were young, would-be firefighters and paramedics, but none of them was trained, he said.

"He had a fantasy of being a firefighter/rescue person," Brown said. "And in connection with that, he discovered he could acquire equipment and then sell it and make money."

Brown and Turner said Selmer responded to real-life emergency calls but did not know of anyone seriously injured as a result. In one incident, Selmer offered his company to provide security and medical services and a man was kicked in the head at an event in Molalla, Brown said.

"People never checked him out," Brown said. "It was very bizarre."

Selmer also used lights and sirens while driving, without training, which also is dangerous and illegal, Brown said.

Idanha-Detroit Rural Fire Protection District has a pending $500,000 judgment filed against Selmer, office administrator Heather Ritchie said. At the time, Selmer was using letterhead for APSE Public Safety Equipment.

In 2000, Selmer was given a contract by the board to fix a water-tender fire truck and emergency radios, Ritchie said.

"He was supposed to fix some equipment," Ritchie said. "He tore it apart and left it."

Selmer also never returned radios he was supposed to fix, and also kept a medical gurney Selmer was supposed to sell for the fire district, Ritchie said.

Salem resident Rory Rutherford claims he was bilked out of $300 from Selmer when Selmer offered to fix his wife's car in 1999.

Rutherford said the two met when Rutherford, a small-business owner, was painting Selmer's rental house. Rutherford said he took up Selmer's offer to fix the car for a cut below a retail mechanic's price.

"He was just a real nice guy," Rutherford said. "He was just a real small guy, and I kind of felt sorry for him."

Selmer and the car disappeared, Rutherford said. The car later resurfaced at a mechanic's shop in Keizer, and it cost him almost $2,800 to get the car back and make the repairs, Rutherford said.

Rutherford filed a small-claims suit against Selmer. Rutherford later heard of the allegations into the Keizer apartment complex and firefighter/paramedic claims.

"I couldn't believe it," Rutherford said. "I'm still waiting for my money."

rliao@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 589-6941

RUTH LIAO Statesman Journal

 

What is criminal impersonation?

What is criminal impersonation? http://www.statesmanjournal.com/graphics/clear.gif

Under Oregon Revised Statute 162.365, a person commits the crime of criminal impersonation if, with intent to obtain a benefit or to injure, deceive or defraud another, the person falsely impersonates a public servant and does an act in such assumed character.

Criminal impersonation is a Class A misdemeanor, but it can be a Class C felony if the public servant impersonated is a peace officer, judge or justice of the peace.

Salem Fire Department spokesman Bill Holmstrom said that any off-duty trained paramedics or medical personnel who are at the scene at the time emergency responders arrive automatically identify themselves and allow Salem firefighter/paramedics to take over treatment. Suspicious behavior by a bystander would trigger an investigation, Holmstrom said.

WHOM TO CALL

The Marion County Sheriff's Office is investigating. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Eric Jaroch at (503) 588-7916.

 

Nashville Secret Service agents help catch identity thief

By Amanda N. Maynord

 

Nashville Secret Service agents help catch identity thief

 

Undercover Secret Service agents in Nashville helped catch a 25-year-old Wisconsin man who was selling stolen credit card numbers through a Web site.

The agents attempted to buy a database of approximately 637,000 stolen credit card numbers with related names and addresses from David Haltinner.

Haltinner was arrested last May and pleaded guilty in October after he used an assumed online identity to sell the stolen credit card numbers, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

He was sentenced yesterday to serve 50 months in prison for aggravated identity theft and access device fraud, according to the Department of Justice.

Pet seller arrested for fraud By KAREN VOYLES

Anyone who bought an animal from a Web site known as Tiny-Toyz.com may want to take a close look at their animal and any paperwork they received during the transaction. The woman who runs the website has been arrested for
grand theft, felony identity theft, using a fraudulent health certificate and multiple violations of Florida's Pet Law.

Law enforcement investigators from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services arrested Cheryl Lee Tyler, 50, of Deland, on Monday. They alleged that she had used "various aliases and provided altered health certificates in selling often gravely ill dogs and cats to customers."

According to state investigators, one person who bought a cat from Tyler realized after the sale that the cat was so sick it had to be euthanized. Another customer told investigators that she had arranged to buy a female cat from Tyler and even had a health certificate for a female cat but later recognized the cat she bought was a male and that the paperwork had been altered to make it appear to be for a female. In another case, someone bought three animals from Tyler and shortly afterwards a veterinarian diagnosed the pets with ringworm, feline herpes and injuries associated with close confinement.

Commissioner Charles Bronson said the case began with a Pet Law complaint to his agency.

In a prepared statement, Bronson's office said the Florida Pet Law requires dogs and cats be at least eight weeks old when they are sold or offered for sale. The law also requires each animal must be accompanied by a Florida health certificate signed by a veterinarian within the past 30 days documenting required vaccinations, tests and treatments for internal and external parasites. And, the law requires a dealer to provide a purchaser with information on the buyer's rights under the law, including the right to return, exchange or receive reimbursement for veterinary expenses if an animal is deemed unfit by a licensed veterinarian within 14 days of purchase.

 

Two homes raided in Ebay fraud crackdown

By Gerran Grimshaw

POLICE swooped on addresses in Selby district in dawn raids to arrest suspected internet fraudsters.

Two people were arrested in connection with alleged scams involving internet marketplace eBay.

The operation was led by the North Yorkshire Police's financial investigation unit, based at the force's Northallerton headquarters. The unit was supported by safer neighborhoods officers from Selby.

advertisement

Police said a 30-strong operation was mounted to target houses in Selby and Thorpe Willoughby.

A 33-year-old local woman was arrested in connection with the investigation. She has been released on police bail pending further enquiries.

And yesterday, police said a house in Riccall was targeted. Police said a 42-year-old man, from Selby district, was arrested and evidence - including a high-value vehicle - was seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act. The man has also been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

Selby Inspector Dave Pegg, whose police and community support officers provided support to the financial investigation unit, hailed the raids a success, saying: "From my point of view, an operation is always successful if we recover a stolen motor vehicle."

A police spokesman said: "Fraud is a very serious offence which can have a serious impact on people's lives. We have a dedicated unit investigating all types of fraud cases, and they can use powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act to recover assets gained through criminal activity.

"If anybody suspects they are a victim of fraud or they have information about possible offenders, then they should not hesitate to contact the police."

What is criminal impersonation?

What is criminal impersonation? http://www.statesmanjournal.com/graphics/clear.gif

Under Oregon Revised Statute 162.365, a person commits the crime of criminal impersonation if, with intent to obtain a benefit or to injure, deceive or defraud another, the person falsely impersonates a public servant and does an act in such assumed character.

Criminal impersonation is a Class A misdemeanor, but it can be a Class C felony if the public servant impersonated is a peace officer, judge or justice of the peace.

Salem Fire Department spokesman Bill Holmstrom said that any off-duty trained paramedics or medical personnel who are at the scene at the time emergency responders arrive automatically identify themselves and allow Salem firefighter/paramedics to take over treatment. Suspicious behavior by a bystander would trigger an investigation, Holmstrom said.

WHOM TO CALL

The Marion County Sheriff's Office is investigating. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Eric Jaroch at (503) 588-7916.

 

Oregon man accused of criminal impersonation

A man convicted five years ago of stealing nearly $143,000 by scamming numerous people and public agencies faces new charges that include theft and impersonating emergency responders, officials said.

Michael Alan Selmer, 29, was charged Thursday with crimes that include two counts of felony theft, two counts of criminal impersonation, forgery, two counts of computer crimes, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, and warrants out of Marion and Douglas counties and from Tennessee, said Cmdr. Jason Myers, a Marion County Sheriff's spokesman.

Selmer was convicted in 2003 of several counts of first-degree and aggravated theft in four cases. One included taking money for already-occupied apartments in Keizer.

Selmer was sentenced to four years in prison, but he was released from Santiam Correctional Institution on Nov. 14, 2006, said Department of Corrections spokeswoman Jennifer Black. His post-prison supervision was scheduled to last until the end of 2008, Black said.

In this recent case, Marion County investigators received information about a possible fraud case in Arkansas about five months ago, Myers said.

A law enforcement agency contacted Marion County detectives, saying that Selmer said he was selling police radios online. After a purchase was made, the products never arrived, Myers said.

Selmer purported to have his own ambulance services and solicited donations of police, fire and medical equipment and supplies, Myers said. Investigators think Selmer had used eBay and craigslist.org to sell those stolen items online, Myers said.

Investigators said Selmer often used fake business names, such as Northwest Emergency Services, Cascade Rescue and Emergency Services II, Cascade Rescue and Southwest Emergency Services.

During the afternoon of Feb. 14, detectives arrested Selmer driving in a reported stolen pickup in downtown Salem, Myers said. The white pickup, stolen in Eugene, was outfitted with concealed blue and red flashing police lights and police radios with frequencies that included the Marion County Sheriff's Office and Salem Police Department, Myers said.

Investigators also think Selmer responded to area vehicle crashes and other calls in his false cover, but Myers said law enforcement officials do not think he interacted with the public at those scenes.

Selmer was held on a number of outstanding warrants and arrested on new charges Thursday, Myers said. Selmer is scheduled to be arraigned at 8:30 a.m. Monday in Marion County Circuit Court annex.

Prosecutors and law enforcement investigators who worked on the 2003 case said they're not surprised that Selmer was arrested again.

"His general MO was to pretend that he either owned an ambulance company or was a paramedic or he was a firefighter," Marion County Deputy District Attorney John Turner said Friday. "He would be either buying or selling emergency equipment."

The 2003 cases spanned incidents from mid-2001 to August 2003 and included 32 theft victims. Some victims were people, others were businesses that sold medical products or fire equipment.

In November 2002, about seven families were displaced from a Keizer apartment complex after Selmer charged deposit money and rent from the prospective tenants, although there were no vacancies. Selmer was a former apartment manager at Carlton Square Apartments at the time he was charged.

Oregon State Police Senior Trooper Douglas Brown, who investigated one of the cases against Selmer, said he first ticketed Selmer on a citation of driving without a license in 2002.

About a year later, Brown was on patrol and noticed a vehicle on Interstate 5 with a flashing light on its dashboard. Brown thought it was suspicious because he didn't recognize the vehicle.

The incidents led Brown to a more than yearlong fraud investigation into Selmer's activities, he said. Six search warrants were executed in the Marion and Albany areas, Brown said.

Brown learned that Selmer would order police and fire equipment from vendors and have it shipped to various addresses, never paying for purchases. Other items were stolen.

"I found it difficult to believe that anyone would take him at his word," Brown said Friday. "It perplexed me that people would do business with him, but I came to the conclusion if a person is a big enough liar, they'll look you in the eye and lie."

In another scheme, Selmer created an emergency-services company and hired several others underneath him, supplying them with vehicles equipped with light bars, titles and uniforms.

"They'd drive around in vehicles with lights or sirens, not having any idea what their job or title meant," Brown said.

Some of the workers were young, would-be firefighters and paramedics, but none of them was trained, he said.

"He had a fantasy of being a firefighter/rescue person," Brown said. "And in connection with that, he discovered he could acquire equipment and then sell it and make money."

Brown and Turner said Selmer responded to real-life emergency calls but did not know of anyone seriously injured as a result. In one incident, Selmer offered his company to provide security and medical services and a man was kicked in the head at an event in Molalla, Brown said.

"People never checked him out," Brown said. "It was very bizarre."

Selmer also used lights and sirens while driving, without training, which also is dangerous and illegal, Brown said.

Idanha-Detroit Rural Fire Protection District has a pending $500,000 judgment filed against Selmer, office administrator Heather Ritchie said. At the time, Selmer was using letterhead for APSE Public Safety Equipment.

In 2000, Selmer was given a contract by the board to fix a water-tender fire truck and emergency radios, Ritchie said.

"He was supposed to fix some equipment," Ritchie said. "He tore it apart and left it."

Selmer also never returned radios he was supposed to fix, and also kept a medical gurney Selmer was supposed to sell for the fire district, Ritchie said.

Salem resident Rory Rutherford claims he was bilked out of $300 from Selmer when Selmer offered to fix his wife's car in 1999.

Rutherford said the two met when Rutherford, a small-business owner, was painting Selmer's rental house. Rutherford said he took up Selmer's offer to fix the car for a cut below a retail mechanic's price.

"He was just a real nice guy," Rutherford said. "He was just a real small guy, and I kind of felt sorry for him."

Selmer and the car disappeared, Rutherford said. The car later resurfaced at a mechanic's shop in Keizer, and it cost him almost $2,800 to get the car back and make the repairs, Rutherford said.

Rutherford filed a small-claims suit against Selmer. Rutherford later heard of the allegations into the Keizer apartment complex and firefighter/paramedic claims.

"I couldn't believe it," Rutherford said. "I'm still waiting for my money."

rliao@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 589-6941

RUTH LIAO Statesman Journal

 

Monday, February 25, 2008

Spanish police detain 76 in major Internet fraud probe

MADRID (AFP) — Police in Spain have detained 76 people acrosss the country as part of what they described Sunday as their biggest-ever probe into Internet fraud.

The suspects defrauded their victions of over three million euros (four million US dollars), police said in a statement.

Part of the suspects allegedly offered big-ticket items like television sets or cars for sale online and then disappeared with the money without ever delivering the goods.

Other suspects are believed to have illegally obtained the codes of online bank accounts and then carried out money transfers in their favour.

The majority of those who were detained, 47, were Spaniards. Five Ukrainian nationals, five Guineans, four Romanians, two Russians and two Moroccans were among the remaining detained suspects.

Police said Internet fraud was rising rapidly due to the weak penalties applied and the little equipment that is needed to carry it out and they urged great caution with online transactions and purchases.

 

Man Arrested In Identity Theft Case

By LYNN DOAN | The Hartford Courant

1:33 PM EST, February 25, 2008

WINDSOR LOCKS - A 45-year-old New York man is scheduled to appear in court today on criminal charges after police found several stolen credit cards, driver's licenses, names and birth dates in his rental car over the weekend, police said.

Steven Digsby, of 446 Carlls Path in Deerpark, N.Y, was arrested Saturday and charged with first-degree larceny, first-degree identity theft, second-degree breach of peace, third-degree criminal trespass, third-degree identity theft, third-degree larceny, four counts of credit card theft, operating a motor vehicle without a license, criminal impersonation, interference with an officer, possession of marijuana, reproduction of credit cards, illegal use of a credit card and criminal impersonation, police said.

Police received a call at about 2 p.m. Saturday from an employee at a local rental car agency who had spotted Digsby looking into rental cars in a parking lot on Schoephoester Road near Bradley International Airport. When officers arrived, they found at least six driver's licenses and credit cards, along with names and birth dates of people from different states in the car he was driving, police said.

A small quantity of marijuana was also found in Digsby's possession, police said

http://www.courant.com/news/custom/topnews/hcu-winlocksarrest0225,0,6883982.story

 

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Man charged with identity theft

HALIFAX - A complaint of identity fraud has resulted in the arrest of a Roanoke Rapids man, according to the Halifax County Sheriff's Office.

Detective Gene Harris said on Feb. 11, a report was filed saying William Tyrone Biggs Jr. used a credit/debit card to make several purchases and to withdraw cash from an ATM machine.

Investigation shows Biggs used the card without consent, Harris said. He turned himself in and was released on a $15,000 bond and has a March 19 court date.

FW: Attention:HSBC ATM DEBIT CARD...

How ridiculous, our payment is processed, but they have no clue to who we are? Why would anyone need this information at anytime to process a payment.  Your age?  Sorry we give less money to younger people?  A horrible attempt at a scam.  Yet, I am sure that someone will still fall for it, hopefully not you!

 

From: MR JOHNSON RISE [mailto:mrjohnsonrise@yahoo.co.uk]
Sent: Sunday, February 24, 2008 10:16 AM
To: info@AlbanyNotary.com
Subject: Attention:HSBC ATM DEBIT CARD...
Importance: High

 

Att:Beneficiary (811) This is to inform you that your payment has been approved this Morning through our Escrow account with HSBC LONDON-UNITED KINGDOM via HSBC ATM Debit Card.You are operating a CBN NIGERIA account with HSBC London. Clearly state your: Full Name: Cell phone: Fax number: Occupation: Age: Delivery address where you want the card to be delivered to you: Best regards Mr MR JOHNSON RISE

Saturday, February 23, 2008

SCAM > Rebeca Camara

Please be aware and avoid this scam below

 

 

From: Rebeca Camara [mailto:rebeca_camara10@yahoo.co.in]
Sent: Saturday, February 23, 2008 3:00 PM
To: rebeca_camara10@yahoo.co.in
Subject: From : Rebeca Camara

 

Dearest One,

 

I crave your indulgence as I contact you after reading your profile. I respectfully insist that you read this mail as I am optimistic that it will open doors of unimaginable finacial reward for both of us. When I saw and read through your profile, I prayed over it and selected your name among other names due to its esteeming nature and the recommendations given to me as a reputable and trust worthy person that I can do business with and by the recommendation , I must not hesitate to confide in you for this simple and sincere business .

 

I am Miss Rebeca the only daughter of late Mr.and Mrs. H .Camara My father was a very wealthy cocoa merchant in Abidjan , the economic capital of Ivory coast, my father was poisoned to death by his business associates on one of their outings on a business trip . My mother died when I was a baby and since then my father took me so special.

 

Before the death of my father on Jen , 2006 in a private hospital here in Abidjan he secretly called me on his bed side and told me that he has the sum of ($5.500,000) which he deposited in a privet Security Compnay here in Abidjan cote d' Ivoire That he used my name as his only daughter for the next of Kin in depositing the consignment fund in the security company.

 

He also explained to me that it was because of this wealth that he was poisoned by his busines associates. That I should seek for a foreign partner in a country of my choice where I will transfer the fund into for investment. Sir, All modalites to effect the transfer of the consignment fund to your country has been worked out and there is absolutely no risk involved, all I request from you is.

(1) Acceptance letter of this offer

(2) To serve as a guardian of this fund since I am only 20 years old.

(3) To make arrangement for me to come over to your country to further my education and to secure a resident permit in your country. Moreover, I am willing to offer you commisions of the total sum as compensation for your effort/input after the successful transfer of this consignment fund into your country.

 

Furthermore, you indicate your options towards assisting me as I believe that this transaction would be concluded within a shortest period so that I will come over to your coutry. upon your interest and Anticipating to assist me, I look forward to your further word with interest. Pls also Kindly Reply me through this privet email address for more details.

 

Please, do not hesitate to contact me with my email address for further details..

Thanks and God bless.
Sincerely
Miss Rebeca H. Camara.

 

 

Craigslist scams targeting renters desperate for affordable apartments

Note: I was interviewed for this article expecting to be quoted one time, was surprised to see that it mostly surrounded my opinion. We are ok with this article, but it seems other websites have taken this article and made changes to it quoting things that I did not say and/or state as fact. Please use caution when seeing articles that are not from the original source.

Monday, February 11th 2008, 4:00 AM

The apartment sounded too good to be true.

A fully furnished two-bedroom with a balcony in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, going for $950 instead of the $2,200 it would normally fetch because of the tenant's sudden job transfer.

The catch: You have to take it sight unseen - and send a security deposit.

The bogus rental was even more of a steal than unsuspecting would-be tenants thought, part of a growing number of scams cooked up to profit from gullible people desperate for affordable housing in the city, according to Internet fraud and security expert Craig Solomon.

"It is becoming more common because New York apartments have become such a hot commodity," said Solomon. "People are so desperate that they aren't always thinking clearly."

This particular listing on Craigslist.org, the go-to site for frazzled city dwellers, featured appealing photos and a quick response to inquiries from a scam artist who used the alias "JoAnn Rinaggio" and a tale about being transferred to North Carolina.

"I will like to tell you that we are doing this based on trust and I would like you to trust me as I trust you. ... You can see the beautiful apartment in the pictures, but not in person yet," she writes, asking prospective tenants to wire a $550 security deposit and promising a return envelope with the apartment keys.

According to Solomon, "countless" victims fell for this ruse, sent money, never heard back from "Rinaggio" and learned the hard way that the address for the dream apartment, 8235 Fourth Ave., also was bogus.

Documents obtained by the Daily News show the phony name was used by a convicted serial rubber-check writer, JoAnne Smith, who was convicted nine times between 1986 and 2004 for fake checks totaling $20,000.

"Craigslist is made to sell local, and whenever anyone from out of state is involved, red flags should immediately go up," said Solomon. "Avoiding the scam is simple. Try to always do business face-to-face, and never, ever, wire money anywhere."

This is also the advice posted under "avoiding scams and fraud" by Craigslist on its Web site, which urges users not to wire money, give out personal financial information or respond to any offers requiring you to provide escrow money.

"Know that only a scammer will 'guarantee' your transaction," Craigslist warns.

Beth Ann Bovino, a senior economist at Standard & Poor's, found herself caught up in such a scam when someone posted her address and photos of it as a bargain rental.

"Rents are higher and people are in real need of an affordable place to live," said Bovino. "It is sad to say, but these kinds of scams appeal to desperation and greed."

"People need to remember that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."

Arrest Made In Identity Theft Case

A 24-year-old Arizona woman has been arrested and accused of stealing a purse from a parked car at a daycare center, burglarizing the victim's home, and opening accounts in the victim's name.

Alyssa Landman had been on the Phoenix Police Department's Top 10 list for identity theft. She was booked on charges of one count of identify theft, one count of theft and two outstanding felony warrants.After the victim's purse was stolen from her car last October, a string of identify theft-related crimes tormented the woman for over a month in three separate cities.

Information that was obtained from her purse provided the perpetrator with the means to burglarize the victim's home, open bank accounts in the her name and cash savings bonds.

Read the rest of the story here: http://www.kpho.com/news/15384479/detail.html

Friday, February 22, 2008

Identity theft remains fast-growing problem

A recent incident of identity theft in Alameda presents a scary scenario of what can go wrong in this age of easy Internet access and Web sites for everyone.

A 44-year-old Alameda woman and her 19-year-old daughter were the victims of a cruel identity theft when an ex-boyfriend of the woman posted her photo taken from her MySpace page and one of the teen taken from the girl's Facebook site. He posted the pictures on Craigslist.org with very graphic information soliciting calls to the two women for sexual purposes.

Moreover, he posted their address and phone number. The woman found out when she began to get calls.

She contacted Craigslist, which immediately pulled the posting, and she called the police. The police were able to track down the person suspected of posting the information, who could face charges of identity theft because he used personal information without their permission.

While this is an extreme incident, police say identity theft is all too common these days. And while young people may do such postings as pranks, it's not a joke. It can go terribly wrong, and the pain and problems are immeasurable

…. Read the balance here:

 

http://www.mercurynews.com/alamedacounty/ci_8334117

Pair in court over eBay fraud case

Two people from Farnworth appeared before Bolton Magistrates yesterday, charged with conspiracy to commit fraud.

Jason Hart, aged 32, of Moorside Avenue, and Louise Gregory, aged 26, of Victoria Street, are alleged to have together committed fraud by advertising goods on the internet auction site eBay without having the items to sell.

The charges relate to a period between August 28, 2006, and March, 2007.

Hart was remanded in custody. Co-accused Gregory was released on bail, on condition that she surrendered her passport and have no contact, direct or indirect, with Hart.

Both will reappear before Bolton Magistrates on May 2.

http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/display.var.2043393.0.pair_in_court_over_ebay_fraud_case.php

 

Check fraud scam resurfaces in Ind.

Note:  One of the most known and common scams, it surprises me that computer savvy college students would fall for such a common scam.  Just goes to show that no one is immune.

 

 

Let the seller beware: students using online marketplaces such as eBay or Craigslist.com might get rid of more than the items they want to sell.

Linda Carmody, president of the Better Business Bureau of Central Indiana, said a form of consumer fraud known as an "overpayment scam" has resurfaced, affecting four people across the state this year, including two students who lost money.

Carmody said she first heard about the scam in 2003.

According to the BBB Web site, the scam occurs when a potential buyer responds to a classified advertisement, offering to pay several times the advertised price. The buyer justifies this by telling the seller the extra money will be used to pay a broker or to cover international shipping.

The seller, having received a legitimate-looking check or money order, deposits it and wires the difference to wherever the buyer specifies, according to the Web site.

In reality, the buyer sends a counterfeit check, betting on the fact the seller will not verify it with their bank or the issuing institution.

By the time the bank notifies the seller of the fraud, he or she has already wired the funds, according to the Web site.

The Indiana Daily Student reported two Bloomington students lost thousands of dollars in separate overpayment scams. In one case, a woman looking to sublease her apartment received a check for $2,300 more than she asked, which she wired overseas. A male student selling a guitar for $100 received a check for $2,000 and instructions to wire the balance to London, which he did before realizing the check was a fake.

According to the report, neither student verified the check with the issuing bank before wiring money overseas.

Allison Preszler, media relations specialist for the Council of Better Business Bureaus, said overpayment scams can affect people as well as businesses.

"Once you send the money, there's not a lot to be done," Preszler said. "A lot of operators [of overpayment scams] are out-of-country."

Carmody said scammers often buy the same paper banks use to print checks.

David Fried, director of Student Rights and Community Standards at Ball State University, said he had not heard of any reports of the scam affecting Ball State students.

FINAL NOTIFICATION REF:UKL/74-A0802742008

We won! We won! Yipppeeee!

-----Original Message-----
From: CAMELOT GROUP [mailto:info@uknl.com]
Sent: Thursday, February 21, 2008 7:12 AM
To: info@uknl.com
Subject: FINAL NOTIFICATION REF:UKL/74-A0802742008


--
File REF:UKL/74-A0802742008.
Attention:,
We are happy to announce that you are one of our Lucky Five(5)Star
Prize Winner in this months edition of the National Lottery in Uk.This
makes you a proud winner of a lump sum of GBP £891,934.00. To claim your
prize. Send 1.Full Legal names 2.Occupation 3.Tel. Including your File
Ref:No
Mr. Fred Martins.
Email:deutchsoagency010@hotmail.com
Sincerely,
Mrs. Dianne Thompson
Online Coordinator,
CAMELOT GROUP

Oesophageal cancer scam

Scam received yesterday.  Sad that someone fakes cancer for sympathy. 

 

From: Christopher C. Marshall [mailto:zayar5@myway.com]
Sent: Thursday, February 21, 2008 10:35 AM
Subject: From United Kingdom


Hi,

I sincerely hope that this letter will not come to you as a surprise or an embarrassment since we neither knew each other before nor had any neither previous correspondence nor contact. Do accept my sincere apologies if my mail does not meet your personal ethics although, I wish to use this medium to get in touch with you first because it's fastest means. I believe it will be a surprise to you as we have never met before, and I am deeply sorry if I have in any manner disturbed your privacy. Please forgive this unusual manner of contacting you. Let me start by introducing myself. My name is Dr. Christopher C. Marshall; I was into currency exchange business, a British national from United Kingdom. I have been diagnosed with Oesophageal cancer. It has defied all forms of medical treatment, and right now I have only about a few months to live, according to medical experts. I have not particularly lived my life so well, as I never really cared for anyone (not even myself) but my business. Though I am very rich, I was never generous, I was always hostile to people and only focused on my business as that was the only thing I cared for. But now I regret all this as I now know that there is more to life than just wanting to have or make all the money in the world. I believe when God gives me a second chance to come to this world I would live my life a different way from how I have lived it. Now that God has called me, I have willed and given most of my property and assets to my immediate and extended family members as well as a few close friends .I want God to be merciful to me and accept my soul so, I have decided to give alms to charity organizations, as I want this to be one of the last good deeds I do on earth. So far, I have distributed money to some charity organizations in the U.A.E, Somalia and Malaysia. Now that my health has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do this myself anymore. I once asked members of my family to close one of my accounts and distribute the money which I have there to charity organization in Bulgaria and Pakistan; they refused and kept the money to themselves. Hence, I do not trust them anymore, as they seem not to be contended with what I have left for them. The last of my money which no one knows of is the huge cash deposit of Two Million dollars ($2,000,000.00) that I have with financial institution abroad. I will want you to help me collect this deposit and dispatch it to charity organizations. Please kindly note that upon the receipt of these funds from the financial institution abroad, you shall invest it in your line of business and dispatch the profit to charitable home. As soon as i receive your response, I shall communicate with you, and let you know the details of the transfer. Whatever your actions and your decision, I thank you for taking the time to read this email.

Regards,

Dr. Christopher C. Marshall
drchristophercmarshallphd@box.az

 

Using HIV Research to Scam!

Using HIV Research to Scam!

Received an email / letter from a Professor C. Redmond a researcher for HIV immunology from London and the William Harvey Research Institute http://www.whri.qmul.ac.uk/ a very well respected and well funded legitimate organization in the UK.

The letter in a nutshell basically says that they are receiving a lot of donations, some significant and they need a sponsor in the USA to receive the money, deposit it, keep a percent (10%) for themselves and then wire the balance to them in the UK. Well the William Harvey Research Institute spends 10’s of millions of pounds each year on research and is well funded and of course they need me in Oregon to help them by washing their funds in the USA.

Here is their basic request:

Job Specifics:

1. Collection of Donations / Payments

2. Cashing of Donations / Payments

3. Deduction of commission 10% per donation/payment received

4. Sending cashed donation/payments to the institute following Our Instruction.

5. Keeping Record of each donation / payment received and sent.

But yet there is more, because after two months of good service we will be invited on an all expense paid trip to visit the institute in the UK as a bonus.

The email and host of this scam come though a newly registered website called infodeskonline.net. We cannot be sure the owner of the site is involved in the scam, but since the website is not yet online and is just a shell it is quite scary. Here is the info for this domain.

Admin Name........... DEBBIE MARSHALL

Admin Address........ KNOLL DR

Admin Address........ essex

Admin Address........ rm82be

Admin Address........ ln

Admin Address........ GREAT BRITAIN (UK)

Admin Email.......... dejavuchiky@yahoo.com

Admin Phone.......... (044) 7031931662

There is a website that already talks about infodeskonline.net scam and the many scams coming out of this domain. http://www.joewein.de/sw/419domains.htm

An obvious scam, need we say more, you receive bad checks, you deposit the checks, wire the balance out and then in a week or so your account is overdrawn and you lost all your money. Really sad they are using HIV research as a way to scam people.

New Yahoo / Skype IM Scam

New Yahoo / Skype IM Scam

We have received recently similar scams on both Yahoo IM and Skype. Personally we use Skype for our Biz-2-Biz communication and I use Yahoo for friends. My business partners are in California and it is easier for us to type back and forth a couple dozen times a day than it is to keep calling each other back and forth, and besides it is free.

Recently I received a IM from someone we don’t know and is not on our list. We are easy to find, as it is our business Skype and our name is the same as our company e-Powersellers. This person had a picture associated with her Skype and she is a lovely woman, or a least a picture of a lovely woman, odds are it is not a woman doing this scam.

The scam is simple, the person starts out wanting to just be a friend a contact, nothing more, just say hello. One said they are from Nigeria (warning 1) and the other from the UK. The UK one was trying to be friendlier, hoping I am single and that she can charm me and befriend me. Regardless I wanted to see where this was going as we have fun digging out the scams.

Sure enough after a few friendly chats hello back and forth and such they ask me for a favor. Seems their father passed away and has funds tied up in a bank in the USA. She asked if I have a printer and a bank account, and I assured her I of course did. She asked is it a big bank or a small bank (what a warning flag this is) so I told her it was a small local community bank, she said good, she does not like big banks. She is going to send me a file with check forms on them, she wants me to print off the checks and send them out to different people throughout the USA and they will deposit the money in their account, keep a percent and send her the balance and for my help in this I would get a percent as well.

This is a nice twist on the scam as they don’t even need to post the check, they will find a dupe in the USA to do it for them, and they rake in the cash. What makes it worse if some patsy falls for it, they are now committing several crimes, some of which are Federal. I can’t see how the Fed’s would let it slide, as the scam is so transparent.

Brazen, aggressive and out of control these scams are all over the internet and now in our IM’s. I assume we will be getting them sent as text messages on our mobile phones soon!

Be afraid, be very afraid!