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.

Monday, April 06, 2009

Mike Foxx Cork, Ireland inheritance / email money scam

Very basic money / inheritance scam, you need to pay taxes or courier fees, or bank fees or they will send you a check to deposit and wire balance or amount to cover fees and of course the check will bounce after you wired the money. Regardless a very typical basic Nigerian scam.


Return email is actually: michaeil@yahoo.co.uk

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

Dear Partner,


I wish to intimate you with a request that would be of immense Benefit to both of us. Being an executor of wills, Codicil and Administration of Estate, it is possible that we may be tempted to make fortune out of our client's situations when we cannot help it, or left with no better option.

I am Real Estate | Probate Lawyer Mike Foxx, Courthouse Chambers, Cork, Ireland. The issue I am presenting to you is a case of my client Denny Colin
(M) (an Irish and also Australia National by birth) a consultant/contractor with Gulf Maritime General Trading & contracting Company) who WILLED a fortune to his next-of-kin.

It was most unfortunate that he and his next-of-kin Denny Sawitree (F)died on the same day in the One-Two-Go Orient-Thai Airlines flight OG269 Phuket Airport plane crash of Monday,17th September 2007 from Bangkok to Phuket, a Thai island resort.

For more information see full Passenger' Manifest:

http://angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?t=2764&page=3 (dead forum)

I am now faced with the Task of who to pass the fortune to. According to the Irish law, the fortune is supposed to be bequeathed to the Government.However, I don't belong to that school of thought which proposes that the fortune of unlucky people be given to the Government. My client made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit, valued at (7, 500,000.00) Seven Million, Five Hundred Thousand British Pounds Sterling for twelve (12) calendar months with Ulster Bank Ltd, Ballincollig Cork, Ireland.

Upon maturity, the bank sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. As the legal representative, It is my legal duty to inform Ulster Bank Ltd about the sudden death of my client and to present the Next of Kin in accordance with the Irish Probate and Inheritance laws.This sum of 7,500,000.00 Seven Million, Five Hundred Thousand Pounds Sterling is in the Bank right now and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. No one will ever come forward to claim it.In accordance with the Irish Law on probate and Inheritance, at the expiration of4 (four) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Irish Government, if nobody applies as the Next of kin to Claim the fund.

Consequently, I shall present you to stand as the next of kin to my Late Client so that you and I can benefit from the fruit of this old man's labour to enhance Humanitarian Organization World wide.

For now, I alone know about his last will/Testament, as my client has great confident in me. Everything will be left between you and I. The share would be 50% for you and 50% for me. All I have to Do is to amend the Last will/Testament of my late client to make you the beneficiary (next of Kin) to the claim of the Seven Million, Five Hundred Thousand Pounds Sterling legally.

As I am not very sure of getting your consent on the issue, I prefer not to divulge my full identity so as not to risk being disbarred. The Irish Bar considers it a breach of the oath of the Irish Bar. I need not emphasize to you that the sensitivity of this issue need not be toyed with by neglecting its confidentiality.Due to the risk involve and also the activities of fraudsters now rampant on the Internet, and until I am sure of your consent, full co-operation and genuine willingness to assist me for our mutual benefit, I would prefer that we maintain correspondence by email.

Upon acceptance, I shall send to you a copy of the probate and Inheritance return information form and the detailed Information on how this business would be successfully transacted.At this point I want to assure you that your true consent, full co-operation and confidentiality are all that are required for us to take full advantage of this great opportunity.

Do send your full names, address, and Private telephone & fax numbers for easy communication. Please note that You can also reach me at:mikefoxx1350@gmail.com

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours truly,
Barrister Mike Foxx

Sunday, April 05, 2009

jiim.chuba@live.com JIM CHUBA - Nigerian Money Scam

jiim.chuba@live.com JIM CHUBA - Nigerian Money Scam

Not sure if anything is needed here, how many times can we say what a Nigerian scam is about?

Scam ... end of story.

Return-path: www-data@web1.nexusit.nl
PHP-Script: morningstarministries.eu/main/en/jay.php

----------
FROM MR JIM CHUBA
DIRECTOR OF PAYMENT
FOREIGN CONTRACTORS ALLOWANCE PAYMENT
TEL /FAX : +234 8089703114
MOTTO: PAYMENT WITH GOOD FAITH
E-mail : jiim.chuba@live.com


ATTN BENEFICIARY,


THERE ARE TWO GENTLEMEN WHO CAME TO OUR OFFICE THIS MORNING CLAIMING THAT THEY ARE YOUR REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE CONTRACTORS ALLOWANCE PAYMENT.

ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE ALREADY SUBMITTED YOUR ACCOUNTING INFORMATIONS WHERE YOU WANT YOUR ALLOWANCE PAYMENT OF $3.5,MILLION DOLLARS TO BE TRANSFERED, BUT WE REALLY WANT TO INFORM YOU BEFORE WE GO AHEAD TO MAKE THIS TRANSFER BECAUSE THIS DEPARTMENT WAS JUST SET UP NEWLY FOR THE PAYMENT OF FOREIGN CONTRACTORS ALLOWANCE AND WE WILL BE CLOSING WITHIN 4 DAYS, SO WE REALLY WANT TO FINALIZE THIS TRANSFER BEFORE THE 4 WORKING DAYS OF THIS ALLOWANCE PAYMENT.


PLEASE COMMUNICATE WITH US FASTER TODAY .


YOURS FAITHFULLY
MR. JIM CHUBA.

Kyler Mason Mason@verizon.net Work From Home Scam - Money Fraud

Just like the scam below, another work from home scam, they send you fake checks / money orders or PayPal transfers where you wire the money less your fees to an overseas account or local scammer

----------

Scammer: Mason@verizon.net

Hello, Craig Solomon

We have come across your resume and look at you as a potential employee for our company.
You may learn about our activities at our web-site.
We'd like to offer you the Financial Manager position.
You may also hold a position in a different company as the position we are offering won't occupy plenty of your time.

Requirements for the Financial manager position:
- Over 22 years old
- 2-4hours of free time per week
- THE CITIZENSHIP OF THE USA obligatory


Financial manager position obligations:
- Monthly report on performed tasks
- Well-timed cashing of the checks issued on your name
- Work efficiency

Financial manager position payment (earnings, profits):
- The first trial month - $1600. It'll grow up to $2700 later on
- Every transaction's commission at least 10% out of cashed check sum or out of sum entered to your account).


Our company undertakes to cover transaction, check clearance and all other expenses at its own cost.
If you agree to work for our company, it is necessary for you to:
1) To register yourself on the company's site as a Financial Manager.
WHEN REGISTERING, FILL IN YOUR DATA WITHOUT MISTAKES.
2) Adhere to the instructions indicated on the site during registration. Fill in the Contract, etc.

Colby Group Work From Home Scam / Money Transfer

Work from home scam, fake checks you deposit, wire the balance back to nigeria or another country and then the checks bounce after 7-10 days and you're left holding the bag.

-------
  1. Reply to: Colby Group colbyfinanceinc@aol.com
  2. Phone seems to be a toss away mobile phone 703-563-6314
  3. Commonwealth of Virginia is the 703 Area Code
  4. Area code does not match the city they are claiming they are from
  5. The real Colby Group http://www.colbygroup.com is not involved with this in any way.
---------------------

Dear Craig Solomon,we have received your resume and your skills, experience and education are a
good match for our current needs, please read our proposition.
At Colby Group we work hard and are rewarded for it. Joining our team
is not just a job, but also a chance to further your career skills and learn new
ones in the process. Our team looks forward to hearing from you soon.
Company Background - Established in Southwest Virginia in 1986 by Nick
McVeight Colby Solutions Group provides experienced resources for your business - full service payroll,
benefits, HR and business solutions. Our team anticipates, troubleshoots and then designs solutions for your administrative challenges.

Our personal care and attention to our client's needs makes us different. Our team's extensive knowledge allows us to determine the best solutions for your business.
Our combined purchasing power and expert administrative solutions has saved our client's thousands of dollars annually. Our services allow our clients to have the time,
energy and resources to focus on increasing their company's bottom line. The result is greater productivity and profits.

POSITION: REPRESENTATIVE MANAGER

Thank you for your interest in the Representative Manager position. We are
currently seeking highly interested individuals for this position Nationwide –
USA. This is a part-time/full time position with excellent opportunities.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

A Representative Manager is a full-time/part-time position, demands 2-4 hours per day and
mostly home-based position. This position requires you to work closely with
Senior Manager, or other management staff to provide executive support in
processing banking transactions to complete client’s payments and
transactions. This is mainly accomplished by banking in the branch – banking
by phone and online is sometimes an option. With branches across USA and one of
the largest banking networks in the world, you will always have quick and
convenient access to your accounts and wide array of banking services.

A Representative Manager needs executive skills to carry out the daily banking functions. Senior Managers
rely on the Representative Managers to make the best of their time by dealing
with bank branch and money transfer services, secretarial and administrative
tasks – integrity is a trait that is highly valued within the company.

In Branch Services:

Open a new account to receive and process transfers into the account from
clients. Every week our Managers will contact you in the case that our USA
client has no ability to send payment to one of our offices - you should send money from your branch.

Withdraw the amount needed to send to the client from the bank branch, and send
the funds to client using a traditional transfer system (Western Union, Money
Gram, Online transfer options, and other options available). After transfer is
completed, email Senior Manager the transfer details given in the transaction
within the given time period allowed in the email.

JOB OFFER:

This position is based on a salary and commission bonus structure. The commission is 8 percents
or every transaction completed on a daily basis (transfers etc), and the weekly salary is 1000 USD weekly.

Weekly Salary Example: [2000 USD received in bank account from client]
subtract 8 commission [160 USD] – therefore, and send 1840 to client as requested
in email from Manager. 3 transfers per week=480 USD commission + 1000 salary per week.

The Weekly commission ranges from [500-3000] for a typical Representative Manager.
The salary of 1000 USD weekly is in addition to the commission received, and
will be processed by direct deposit into your bank account provided to the Senior Manager.

Miner Solutions rule is providing one client’s payment for one account per day – this allows us to be free of additional taxes.


-Working hours are generally from [9:00 AM – 12:00 AM], 2-4 days per week,
with flexibility possible is coordinated with management. Longer hours may be
required, depending on current deadlines and workload.
-The position requires the individual to have Internet access and Cell Phone to
carry out transactions on a daily basis. The Email account should be checked
regularly in the time frame that is assigned to work within the week.
-A Bank Account is required, to complete the Representative Manager’s
transactions on a daily basis. Your successful promotion depends on your bank
choice.
-Jobs are available in most areas of the country, the majority in large towns
or cities.
-Career breaks are possible, but as with any profession, if you are considering
re-entry you must keep up to date with development with the company and
industry.
-It is estimated that the majority of the 41 percents Service Representatives are female, and
this trend is rising. The typical age range for this position: 20-70 years.
-Opportunities to travel and work abroad will be determined by the nature of
the duties.

If you think you have what it takes to join our highly skilled team we encourage you to apply today!

Colby Group has a great team and wants you to help us in continuing to make our team stronger
and more effective. We are currently working on the East Coast, West Coast, and Central America.

--------------------------------------------
Your Application Form online, send it to our email, SUBJECT: Application - Representative

MESSAGE:
*Full Name:

*Birth Date:

*Address:

*City, State, Zip:

*Home Phone:

*Cell Phone:

*E-mail:

Short Essay about yourself (200 characters max.)

Send this short application to our email and a Manager should contact you shortly.
------------------------------------------------
Sincerely Nick McVeigh, co-owner Colby Solutions Group
181 Tech Dr., Rocky Mount, VA 24151
Phone/fax: +1(703)5636314
Colby Group Solutions - makes the difference!

Monday, March 30, 2009

CAPT.JAMES WILLIAM = OAU (compensation for African Fraud Victims) = Scam

Totally a fake / fraud / scam email, that will cost you money in order to receive (not receive) a bogus check. There are two ways this fraud works, either you need to wire money up front for processing fees or costs, or they will forward you a cashiers check for you to deposit and wire the taxes / fees to another party and once this is done you will get the principle balance, but of course the 1st check is fake and you will owe your bank back the balance.

So many things wrong with the email not counting the typo FRAUDLENT which is silly on it's own as this email is to help you resolve fraudulent activities. The fact they are attaching the Microsoft name to the project, the fact numerous emails are all over the world and free accounts, plus AOL?

This whole thing is a mess!


------------------------

Attention:

In bid to implement the first phase of the agreement reached between Organization Of African Unity (AOU),and west African Community (ECOWAS) .

The Presidents of the countries in West Africa in collaborations with Organization Of African Unity (AOU) and the International bodies have mapped out the sum of (NINE BILLION DOLLARS) to the ECOWAS COMMUNITY as an aid to compensate victims of West African fraud scandal between 1989 to present date, due to the petitions received,about Ghana as the third country in Africa regarding to the fraudulent activities going on in the Africa sub-region.

The new Government of President John Atta Mills and the Bodies have without prejudice authorized The Barclay's Bank, London in UK., to identify, arrange for your compensation made payable to you in CASH / CERTIFIED DRAFT / WIRE TRANSFER at your request after the approval of your information valid. Payment center have been zoned in USA ,EUROPE AND MIDDLE EAST.

All data have been retrieved through the help of MICROSOFT CORPORATION MANAGEMENT which your name has been included as a victim of SCAM/FRAUDLENT situation, we are happy to notify you that your own compensation is only US$750,000.00 (Seven Hundred and Fifty thousand US Dollars only). This amount is absolutely Tax free.
Do send to us immediately via email the below information's:

1) Your full name.
2) Phone, fax and mobile #.
3) Residential address
4) Company name, Office position and Company address.
5) Profession, Age and marital status.
6) Working I'd / Int'l passport.

You are therefore requested to forward this information to the Barclays Bank, London UK quoting this Reference Number: ASKJ/598/14/HJ-09. This will help Identify your file easily as this reference number is already with Barclays Bank, London .
N.B
ALL FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE SHOULD BE FORWARDED through the particulars of the undersigned.

Mr.Doust John Michel
Accountant
Barclay's Bank London
Tel: +44-7031-7415-44
Email: bclysbank@aol.co.uk

Therefore I strongly recommend that you promptly and humbly respond to this notification letter immediately

Thank you and have a great day.

CAPT.JAMES WILLIAM
For: (OAU) Welfare Unit
Accra Regional Office
Tel:+233-242-172-3807
Email:oau_welfareunit@zing.vn

JAMES GAVIN & ASSOCIATES - Nigerian Scam - Inheritance

Why a fake

  1. Someone you don't know, never heard of, lives overseas leaves you millions of dollars for no reason.
  2. Email sent to "Undisclosed Recipients"
  3. Sender said they tried to contact you via direct mail, but they don't know your name, address, phone or any info.
  4. Email comes from Michael Pinder, but wants you to reply to James Gavin
  5. Huge attorney firm wants you to reply to a hotmail account "james_gavinchamber@hotmail.com" and not the company's actual email.
  6. Email actually comes from michael.pender@fai.ie
Typical email money scam either phising for detailed info like bank info, or will send a check and want funds wired or you must pay fees upfront before receiving a check.

------------

Barristers' Chambers:
JAMES GAVIN & ASSOCIATES
Fax: +44 70059 77386
Tel: +44 70457 38280
+44 70457 3828

E-mail: james_gavinchamber@hotmail.com

Address:33 Bedford Row
London WC1R 4JH, England
PARTNER MANAGING
JAMES GAVIN & ASSOCIATES
LONDON - UK.

Attention:

On behalf of the Trustees and Executor of the estate of Late Engr.Jurgen Krugger. I once again try to notify you as my earlier letter was returned undelivered. I hereby attempt to reach you again by this same email address on the WILL. I wish to notify you that late Jurge Krugger made you a beneficiary in his WILL. He left the sum of Thirty Million,One Hundred Thousand Dollars (USD$30, 100.000.00) to you in the Codicil and last testament to his WILL. This may sound strange and unbelievable to you,but it is real and true.Being a widely travelled man, he said he met you sometime in the past or simply you were nominated to him by one of his numerous friends abroad who wished you good, I am not too sure again.Jurgen Krugger until his death was a member of the Helicopter Society and the Institute of Electronic & Electrical Engineers and a German property magnate. He was a very dedicated christian who loved to give out alms to the poor,hungry and needy. His great philanthropy earned him numerous awards during his life time. Late Jurgen Krugger died on the 13th day of December, 2004 at the age of 80 years, and his WILL is now ready for execution after 3 years and thorough investigations. According to him,this money is to support your humanitarian/medical activities and to help thepoor and the needy in our society. Please if I reach you as I am hopeful,endeavor get back to me as soon as possible to enable me conclude my job. I hope to hear from you in no distant time.

Email: james_gavinchamber@hotmail.com

I await your prompt response and please keep this very discrete and to yourself until the transfer of the funds to you is finalised.
Yours in Service,

BARRISTER JAMES GAVIN ESQ.
PRINCIPAL PARTNERS
PARTNERS: Barrister Aidan Walsh.Esq, Markus Wolfgang, Mr. John Marvey
Esq,Mr.Jerry Smith Esq

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Dr. Robert Ado from Togo - Help Moving Funds Scam

Not sure yet what the scam is, wire money, transfer money, help moving money, he sends us a MO, cash and wire the difference, something.. not sure of the scam but am sure it is a scam.

---------
robert_ado@zadarma.com

Return-path:
============

Dear Friend
My name is Dr.Robert Ado from Togo, presently in Ivory coast,i have some
funds i want you to assist me and move to your country,

I will give you details as soon as i hear from you.

Anticipating to read from you.

Best Regards

Dr Robert Ado

Monday, March 23, 2009

Fake eBay Spoof / Phish - eBay Email Phish















This email (see image above) of course did not come from eBay, it was not formatted well at all, really a terrible job at a scam... the host company where the email was sent is www@host25.christianwebhost.com and redirect emails to AccountsAppleyUp2009@bay.com (bay.com?)

--------

Dear Customer, You have one new message at eBay, INBOX From: Customer Service Date: 3/24/2009 Subject: Official service renewal notification. In order to read the message Click Here (link removed) to login at eBay. and access your MAIL section.

This site provides information about and access to financial services offered by the Ebay. family of companies, including eBay., N.A., members FDIC. ©2009 eBay. eBay. is a federally registered service mark. All rights reserved. Blank Check® is a registered trademark of eBay.

Bogo International Company / Reshipper Scam

As the economy drags and people need work they can easily fall for scams such as this one. Seems so easy to work at home, but this scam comes with a price, a chance knock by the FBI at your door as you are committing / assisting with Credit Card fraud.

The victim (you) must fill out an employment application that asks for Social Security number and date of birth. Then the victim is told he got the job.

Packages arrive at the victim's home. He is told to repackage the items and ship them overseas, using his own money which will be repaid. Unbeknown to the victim, the packages he's receiving were paid for with fraudulent credit cards.

At stage two of the scam, the victim is told he will be paid by cashier's check. But there's a catch. The check will be written for more than the amount the victim is owed. The victim is told to deposit the check and forward the difference to his employer's overseas bank account. Eventually, the victim's bank informs him that the cashier's check bounced -- and he owes the bank the amount of the check.

At stage three, the victim realizes it's a scam and thinks the ordeal is over -- but it's not. The fraudulent employer has the victim's birth date and SSN. He has applied for several credit cards in the victim's name and has been using them to buy merchandise that is being shipped to other unknowing victims of the scam.


++++++++++++++++++++

COMPANY: Bogo International Company
JOB TITLE: Shipment Inspector
TYPE OF WORK: Tele-commute (availability of work from your residence) EMPLOYEE TYPE: Full-Time/Part-Time
INDUSTRY: E-Commerce
JOB TYPE: Sales
EFFECTIVE DATE: ASAP
REQUIRED EDUCATION: Not specified
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE: At least 1 year
REQUIRED TRAVEL: Not specified
REQUIRED RELOCATION: Not specified
SALARY: Negotiable, depends of your personal skills (more detailed in further communication)
SCHEDULE: Flexible
TRAVEL: Unnecessary

CONTACT: Personnel manager Mileva
EMAIL: mileva@bogointernational.cn

We are a supplier to Sellers, meaning that we scour the internet for close-outs that can be bought low and sold high. Our contacts include manufacturers with close out items and distributor overstock. The Sellers purchase products using our service then sell them for a sizeable profit.

JOB DESCRIPTION

What we need are people to act as Shipment Inspectors. You would receive the merchandise, check for quality of packing and make sure the product is in good condition. Then you would reseal the package and send to the seller.

- No overheads
- No hidden fees, upfront payments or Investments
- Free start for employees

Qualifications/Education:
- High School diploma or equivalent
- Relative experience, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (1 or more years)
- Basic Math, English language skills
- Geographical locations
- Additional languages may be preferred
- Basic computer skills

Ability to operate and maintain equipment including handhelds, computers. Develop, maintain and monitor relationships with store level accounts. Effective oral and written communications, problem-solving skills to reflect level of responsibilities. Able to maintain sensitive and confidential information. Past experience on E-Bay, drop-ship and resellers networks is a plus.

Requirements:
- Basic knowledge of computer and internet
- Sending and Receiving emails
- Fax machine or scanner and printer
- Contact phone (preferably Mobile)

Feel free to email back ONLY at: mileva@bogointernational.cn (manager Mileva) for further communication.

WEBMAIL UPGRADE / Webmail Phish

Notice the void of any personal information, your name, your account, your details, which webmail program / company, what url or anything, totally vague assuming you have a webmail account somewhere. This is a total phish for details, information, passwords, etc.. avoid all emails like this and never click on links from emails you are not 100% sure are real and accurate.

+++++++++++++++++++

Dear Account User,

WEBMAIL UPGRADE:

This Email is from the Customer Care service of your webmail provider and we are sending it to all our webmail Account User for safety. We are having congestions due to the anonymous registration of webmail accounts; so we are shutting down some webmail accounts and your account was among those to be deleted. We are sending you this email so that you verify and let us know if you still want to use this account and if you are still interested please confirm your account by filling the space below.

Re-state your details so that we can confirm and upgrade your account as soon as possible.

Your Username, password, date of birth and your country information would be needed to verify your account.

* Username:
* Password:
* Date of Birth:
* Country or Territory:

-----------

Contact: John Cater
Email: webmailusers@mail2webmaster.com

All you have to do is Click Reply and supply the information above and your account shall not be interrupted and will continue to function normally.

Warning!!! Account owner that refuses to update his/her account after two weeks of receiving this warning will lose his or her webmail account permanently.

Thanks for your attention to this request and we apologize for any inconveniences.

Mystery Shopper / Secret Shopper Scam - Fake / Fraud.

Someone who answers a mystery shopper ad is sent an employment packet typically containing a variety of items, including a training assignment and a cashier's check made out for a largish amount, typically a few thousand dollars. The assignment explains that the "shopper" is to pose as an ordinary bank customer (either at a particular named bank or his own), cash the check there, then wire the funds he receives from the teller to an address that has been supplied in the information package. The "shopper" will also typically be told it is imperative he complete the task within two days, or else he will not be paid for his work or hired again.

The pressure put upon him to get the check cashed and the monies from it shipped off within two days works to keep him from discovering that the check he was given was counterfeit. Once this information comes to light (as it eventually does), our hapless "mystery shopper" is left on the hook with the bank for the value of the rubber check. As to how a cashier's check can bounce, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) requires banks to make money from cashier's, certified, or teller's checks available in one to five days. Consequently, funds from checks that might not be good are often released into payees' accounts or handed to them in cash long before the checks have been honored by their issuing banks. High quality forgeries can be bounced back and forth between banks for weeks before anyone catches on to their being worthless, by which time victims have long since turned over the monies the bank gave them to the con artists who have just taken them for a ride.

In a common version of this scam, the unsuspecting dupe is supplied with a money order bearing a face value of between $2,800 and $3,300 and told to use it at a Wal-Mart to purchase a MoneyGram for the amount of the check less the cost of the wire transfer and the $100 or $200 the mystery shopper is to keep as payment for his services. The wired amount is to be sent to a person in Canada that the sender is to claim is his relative.

A more potent form of the con game is an updated version of the "reshipper" scam. As in the original, the pigeon receives a worthless check from the scam artist, cashes it with a financial institution (in this instance, a money transfer company akin to Western Union), keeps a small portion for himself, and sends the remainder to the crossroader running the con. And as in the original, once the certified or cashier's check bounces, the person cashing it becomes liable for the amount the bank or check-cashing agency is out. The differences lies in the backstory presented to the victim: In the original he is led to believe he has been hired by an overseas firm to facilitate the processing of payments from its U.S. customers, but in the "secret shopper" version he is told he has been hired as a "mystery shopper" and that his first assignment is to test the MoneyGram system to determine how well it performs and how courteously its customers are treated. Although the set-up is different, the underlying scam is the same.



---------
mbuckwheat@coffeeclubemails.com

Thank you for your interest in the Mystery Shopper position.
Our company conducts surveys and evaluates other companies in order to help them achieve their performance goals.
We offer an integrated suite of business solutions that enables corporations to achieve tangible results in the marketplace.

We get hired by other companies and act like customers to find out how they are handling their services in relation to their customers.

Mystery Shopping is the most accurate and reliable tool a business can use to gather information regarding their actual customer service performance at the moment of truth. This moment of truth is not when the staff is on their best behavior because the boss is around - it is when they interact with customers during their normal daily routines.

This is where you, the Mystery Shopper, come in. You pose as an ordinary customer and provide feedback of both factual observations (ex...the floor was free of debris) and your own opinions (ex...I felt that the temperature in the establishment was too cold).

Mystery Shoppers must remain anonymous. You must act as a regular customer and be careful not to do anything that would reveal you as a shopper. An inexperienced shopper could tip off the staff to his/her identity by asking for the manager's name for no clear or appropriate reason. If you are going to be bringing someone with you on the shop, make sure you educate them about the process as well. Beware that even whispers can be overheard by employees. If anyone notices you are a shopper, you can bet that word will quickly spread around the establishment and you will get some of the best customer service in town.

No company can afford to have a gap between the promise of quality and its actual delivery, that's why leading corporations look to us, the nation's premiere mystery shopping and customer experience measurement company.

In order for a business to effectively compete in today's economy, they must be prepared to meet the challenge of increasing sales by:
* Retaining existing customers
* Acquiring new customers
* Creating word-of-mouth advocacy
* Improving customer loyalty
Once we have a contract to do so, you would be directed to the company or outlet, and you would be given the funds you need to do the job(either purchase merchandise or require services), after which you would write a detailed report of your experience.
Examples of details you would forward to us are:
1) How long does it take to get served.
2) Politeness of the attendant.
3) Customer service professionalism.
4) Sometimes you might be required to upset the attendant, to see how they deal with difficult clients.
Then we turn the information over to the company executives and they will carry out their own duties in improving their services.

Most companies employ our assistance when people complain about their services, or when they feel there is a need for them to improve upon their customer service.

Our company partners with you to implement proven mystery shop auditing and surveying strategies that provide critical information about customer experiences.

You will be paid a commission of $100 for every duty you carry out, and bonus on your transportation allowance.

Your task will be to evaluate and comment on customer service in a wide variety of restaurants, retail stores, casinos, shopping malls, banks and hotels in your area.

Qualities of a good Mystery Shopper:
* Is 21 years of age or older
* Loves to go shopping
* Is fair and objective
* Is ON TIME
* Is very observant and able to focus on details
* Is fairly intelligent
* Has patience
* Is detail oriented
* Is practical
* Types well
* Is trustworthy
* Explains well in writing
* Is discreet
* Loves to learn
* Handles deadlines
* Has full internet access (at home or at work) Mystery Shopping is fun and exciting but also must be approached very seriously and is definitely not for everyone.
If you are interested in applying for consideration as a Mystery Shopper do send in your information: mcdowell141@gmail.com Full Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip Code:
Phone Number:
Age:
Occupation:
As soon as we receive your information we will add you to our database and we will look for locations in your area that needs to be evaluated.

Thank you,
Michael Friedman
WA Surveys
410 Roosevelt Way NE
Seattle, WA 98105

Harry Johnson money scam, email scam, fraud, fake.

I really give up.... really, he is a financial guru and he does this "£45.5M GBP(Fourth Five" really "Fourth Five", come on people, at least have someone look it over before sending out the scam.

Same junk, different day... Finance Directory can't spell Forty Five, and works for in London for a large company, but wants you to email him at a free MSN account johnsonroyal3@msn.com.

-----------

From Mr. Harry Johnson.
P O Box 10720
Victoria Street
London WC2R 1AP

Dear Friend,

Re: My Request.

My heart warm greetings to you. I am Mr. Harry Johnson. I have a very important request that make me to contact you; I decided to confide in you directly and solicit for your assistance and Guidelines in making a business investment and wire transfer the sum of £45.5M GBP(Fourth Five Million Five Hundred thousand British Pounds Sterling only) into your country within the Next few days. All conformable legal documents to back this payment in your name genuinely will be made available prior to your acceptance to this proposal.

I presently work as a Finance Director, and am in charge with all Offshore Mortgage &
Services of our overseas brokers/investors with Royal Bank of Scotland Plc, London. But at this moment, I am constrained to issue more details about this profitable Business investment until I get your positive response by reply email. Meanwhile, I have worked out the modalities and technicalities whereby the funds can be claimed in any of our 6 Clearing House and Finance Center without any hitches. Our sharing ratio will be 50% For me and 50% For you equally. If you are interested, send your email response and your direct mobile telephone number through my email so we could discuss more on phone as regards to the transaction for further details. I wish for your utmost confidentiality in handling this transaction.

Awaiting your kind reply soon.

Best Regards
Mr. Harry Johnson
Finance Director, RBS
www.rbs.co.uk

johnsonroyal3@msn.com

Mrs Hanan Solomon from Isreal / Israel Scam - Email Fraud

The "Solomon" emails are coming out of the woodwork lately. This one is my favorite because she is from Israel and can't spell it "Isreal". I think most people should be able to spell the name of the Country they have been living in for a long time now.

Oh, and way does someone from Isreal / Israel want us to email her back to Japan or should it be Jepan? mrshanan_solomon@yahoo.co.jp

-----------

From Mrs Hanan Solomon
CALVARY GREETING'S

Dearest In The Lord

I am Mrs Hanan Solomon from Isreal but now undergoing medical treatment in the capital city of London here. am married to late Dr Jackson Solomon , who worked with Isreal Embassy in London here for Eleven years before he died in the year 2004,after a brief illness that lasted for only Two month.

We were married for Eighteen years without any child. After the death of my husband i vowed to use our wealth for the down trodden and the less privileged in our society. Recently, My Doctor told me that I may not last for the next seven months due to cancer problem, though what disturbs me most is my stroke. Haven known my condition i decided to Serve God with our wealth.

When my late husband was alive we kept the sum of (2.800.000.00 Million)Two million eight hundred thousand pounds Having known my condition I decided to Give out this fund to an individual or better still a God fearing person who will utilize this fund the way I am going to instruct here in. I want an individual that will use this fund to provide succor to the poor and indigent persons, orphanages, widows around him and Schools etc.

As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact where the money was deposited also issue you the documents that will prove you the present beneficiary of this fund. Any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing for an individual for this same purpose, always be prayerful all through your life. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I Stated herein. Hope to receive your reply soon.

Thank you and may the Almighty God bless you.
Mrs Hanan Solomon .

Ahmad R. Ismail & Co. Plane Crash Inheritance Scam

Just like the post prior, this one used a name with a relative that makes it seems real, funny enough I do have an uncle Martin Solomon, so if I was not into scams, it may make me think it is real, however why Malaysia, last I heard from him 15 years ago, he was retired in Florida?

They do say that we have a "similar last name' so we know the scammer is trying use us to help him scam others, to get the $$$ out, but still a scam. At least there are not as many typos in this one.


-----------------

Ahmad R. Ismail & Co.
Mobile: +60-129724618
Lot 5-8, Tingkats 5,
Komplex Mara,
18000 Kuala Lumpur
MALAYSIA.

Dear Craig Solomon,

I am Barrister Ahmad Rasyid Ismail an attorney at law. A deceased client of mine, by name, Mr. Martin Solomon, who here in after shall be referred to as my client, died as the result of a heart-related condition on the 11th November, 2006. His heart condition was due to the death of all the members of his family in the Gulf Air Flight Crashes in Persian Gulf Near Bahrain Aired August 23, 2000 - 2:50 p.m. I have contacted you to assist in distributing the money left behind by my client before it is confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this deposit valued at 9.5million US dollars is lodged. This bank has issued me a notice to contact the next of kin, or the account will be confiscated.

My proposition to you is to seek your consent to present you as the next-of-kin and beneficiary of my named client, since you have the same last name, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you. Then we can share the amount on a mutually agreed-upon percentage. All legal documents to back up your claim as my client's next-of-kin will be provided. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through.

This will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from many breach of the law. If this business proposition offends your moral values, do accept my apology.. I must use this opportunity to implore you to exercise the utmost indulgence to keep this matter extraordinary confidential, whatever your decision, while I await your prompt response. Please contact me at once to indicate your interest. I will like you to acknowledge the receipt of this e-mail as soon as possible via email this transaction will be treated private with absolute confidentiality and sincerity.I look forward to your quick reply.

Best Regards,
Barrister Ahmad R. Ismail
0060129724618

Barrister Ahmad rasyid Ismail [barristerahmadrasyid@ymail.com]

Neil Millar / Miller Attorney Inheratance Scam

This is so bad and mismanaged on so many levels. I did contact the real Neil Millar, but never heard back. Notice the attorney firm is "Neil Millar" and in the first paragraph the scammer says his name is "Neil Miller" Ooops, he forgot his own name, must be sipping some spiked tea! However I do like the fact they tried to use someone with the same last name as mine to make me "assume" it could be real and direct the email to my name.

Overall it could have been a good scam if he did not forget his own name and also link back to a very obvious real site and try to send you to an email not associated with that site Neil Millar [n.solicitors@yahoo.co.uk].

-------------

Neil Millar & Company Solicitors
Second Floor Barlow House
Minshull St Manchester
M1 3DZ.United Kingdom

Dear Craig Solomon,

This is a personal email directed to you and I request that it be treated as such. I am Neil Miller, attorney/sole executor to the late Mr Randolf Solomon, hereinafter referred to as my client who worked as an independent oil magnate in my country and who died in a car crash with his immediate family on the 4th of Oct,1998.

Since the death of my client in Oct, 1998, I have tried to locate any of his extended relatives whom shall be claimants/beneficiaries of his abandoned personal estate and all such efforts have been to no avail.

More so, I have received official letters in the last few weeks suggesting a likely proceeding for confiscation of his abandoned personal assets in line with existing laws by the bank in which my client deposited the sum of 3.8 million British Pounds Sterling.

On this note I decided to search for a credible person and finding that you bear a similar last name, I was urged to contact you, that I may, with your consent, present you to the "trustee" bank as my late client's surviving family member so as to enable you put up a claim to the bank in that capacity as a next of kin of my client.

I find this possible for the fuller reasons that you bear a similar last name with my client making it a lot easier for you to put up a claim in that capacity.

I propose that 35% of the net sum will accrue to me at the conclusion of this deal in so far as I do not incur further expenses.

Therefore, to facilitate the immediate re profiling of this fund, you need, first to contact me via this email signifying your interest and as soon as I obtain your confidence, I will immediately appraise you with the complete details as well as fax you the documents, with which you are to proceed and i shall direct on how to put up an application to the bank.

HOWEVER, you will have to accent to an express agreement which I will forward to you in order to bind us in this transaction.

Upon the receipt of your reply,I will send you by fax or E-mail the next step to take. I will not fail to bring to your notice that this proposal is hitch-free and that you should not entertain any fears as the required arrangements have been made for the completion of this transfer.

Like I said, I require only a solemn confidentiality on this.

Best Regards,
Neil Millar
Principal Attorney
Neil Millar & Company Solicitors
Neil Millar [n.solicitors@yahoo.co.uk]

From Miss Sandra Alex - Nigerian Scam

Typo Octomber is my new favorite..

-------------


From Miss Sandra Alex
Avenue 16 Rue 13
Treichville Abidjan,
Ivory coast

I am pleased to write you this mail,I am Miss Sandra Alex, 22 years old and the only daugther of my late parents of Mr and Mrs Alex williams. My late father was a highly reputable business merchant in a cocoa who operated in the capital of Ivory Coast during his days.

Unfortunately I loosed him mysteriously,He died in France during one of his business trips abroad last year octomber 2006. though his sudden death was linked or rather suspected to have been masterminded by an uncle , who travelled with him at that time. But God knows the truth.

My mother died when I was just 4 years old, and since then my late father took me so special. Before his death on Octomber 9th/2006 he called the secretary who accompanied him in hospital and told him to call me,on my arrival to the hospital my father told me that he deposited the sum of six million US Dollars. (6 000,000 USD) left in suspense account in one of the leading bank in Africa.

He further told me that he deposited the money in his name,and I as the next of kin and finally issued a written instruction to his lawyer whom he said is in possession of all the necessary legal document to all his properties.
I am just 22 years old and a University undergraduate and really dont know what to do. Now I want an account overseas where I can transfer this funds.

This is because I have suffered a lot of set back as a result of family enemity and incessant political crisis here in Ivory coast.

Please, I am in a sincere desire of your humble assistance in this regards.
Your suggestions and ideas will be highly regarded.

Now permit me to ask these few question:

1.Can you honestly help me as your new family?
2.Can I completely trust you?
3.what percentage of the total amount in question
will be good for you after the money is in your account?
Please, am waiting for your reply
Thank you so much.
Miss Sandra Alex
sandra_alex00000@yahoo.co.th

Friday, February 13, 2009

PayQal -- Fake PayPal Authorization Site

Please don't go to PayQal.com and avoid all emails that link there, it is a fake / phish / fraud site for gathering your CC info and more.

Here is the PayQal info:

Domain Name: PAYQAL.COM
Registrar: DOMAINPEOPLE, INC.
Whois Server: whois.domainpeople.com
Referral URL: http://www.domainpeople.com
Name Server: NS1.WTFOWNED.US
Name Server: NS2.WTFOWNED.US
Status: clientTransferProhibited
Updated Date: 04-nov-2008
Creation Date: 04-nov-2008

Hack Anything
Hack Anything Lane

Hack Anything, NEW YORK 11111
United States of America

Registrar: DomainPeople, Inc.

Domain Name: payqal.com
Created on .............Tue Nov 04 14:11:52 2008
Expires on .............Wed Nov 04 14:11:52 2009
Record last updated on .Tue Nov 04 14:57:07 2008
Status .................LOCK,

Administrative Contact:
Hack Anything
Hack Anything
Hack Anything Lane

Hack Anything, NEW YORK
11111, US
(1347)1333337
()
4rmadil0@****yourinter.net

Technical Contact:
SiteProduct Web Services
Administrator DNS
1 N State Street

Chicago, IL
60602, US
(1312)2362132
(131)22361958
administrator@siteprotect.com

Domain servers in listed order:
ns1.wtfowned.us
ns2.wtfowned.us

PayPal : Notification from Billing Department

Phish for info:

Not even a good one, bad graphics and the email reply is to PayQal which is another Fake PayPal site that wants you to log in to verify your PayPal account. (DO NOT DO THIS)

-----------------

You have 1 new Security Message Alert!
Log In into your account to resolve the problem.
Click here to Log In (LINK REMOVED)

Link actually takes you a fake PayPal site in the Czech Republic

Microsoft/AOL Giveaway Hoax Email / Spam

Wow, I can't believe this old hoax is still being sent out, is there any hoax older? The worse part is that intelligent people are sending this out to others. The harmful part is there are 1000s of emails attached to the email I received which is huge if I wish to harvest emails to send spam or scams too (if I was doing that).

People say that this is not harmful, what do you have to lose, however it is harmful, it gives out too many email address and floods email boxes and servers with useless crap.

Stop giving the fraudsters who thought this junk up the laugh they want and really please stop sending this junk out.

---------
Ok guys, my lawyer's paralegal sent this one to me and if it doesn't work, they are aware that we all will be coming to visit them for a law suit for false advertisement! J

THIS TOOK TWO PAGES OF THE TUESDAY20USA TODAY - IT IS FOR REAL


To all of my friends, I do not usually forward messages,
But this is from my friend Pearlas Sandborn and she really is
an attorney.

If she says that this will work - It will work. After all,What have
you got to lose?


SORRY EVERYBODY.. JUST HAD TO TAKE THE CHANCE!!! I'm an
attorney, And I know the law. This thing is for real. Rest assured
AOL and Intel will follow through with their promises for
fear of facing a multimillion-dollar class action suit similar to the one
filed by PepsiCo against General Electric not too long a go.

Dear Friends: Please do not take this for a junk letter.
Bill Gates sharing his fortune. If you ignore this, You will repent
later .

Microsoft and AOL are now the largest Internet companies
and in an effort to make sure that Internet Explorer remains the
most widely used program, Microsoft and AOL are running an e-mail
beta test.

When you forward this e-mail to friends, Microsoft can and will
track it (If you are a Microsoft Windows user) For a two weeks
time period.

For every person that you forward this e-mail to, Microsoft will pay
you $245.00 For every person that you sent it to that forwards it on,
Microsoft will pay you $243.00 and for every third person that receives
it, You will be paid $241.00. Within two weeks, Microsoft will contact
you for your address and then send you a check.

Regards. Charles S Bailey Genera l Manager Field Oper ations
1-800-842-2332 Ext.. 1085 or 904-1085 or RNX 292-1085

Thought this was a scam myself, But two weeks af ter receiving this
e-mail and for warding it on. Microsoft contacted me for my address a nd
within days, I received a check for $24, 800.00 . You need to respond
before the beta testing is over. If anyone can afford this, Bill gates is the
man.

It's all marketing expense to him. Please forward this to as many
people as possible. You are bound to get at least $10, 000.00
We're not going to help them out with their e-mail beta test without
getting a little something for our time.. My brother's girlfriend got in
on this a few months ago. When I went to visit him for the Baylor/UT
game, she showed me her check. It was for the sum of $4, 324.44 and
was stamped 'Paid I n Full'.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Department of Budget and Planning From Engineer Peter Foxs,

Great twist on a Nigerian scheme, it adds a name / contact to someone who was successful, however of course that person is no longer there and that is how they lost millions, "How Convenient"

We were disappointed on our arrival in New York as we were reliably informed that Mr. Patrice Miller was no longer on that address while his Telephone and Telex Numbers have been reallocated to somebody else. That was how we lost US$27.5M to Mr.Patrice Miller.

Also what kind of name is Patrice for a man, obviously the person writing this "scam" up on names, maybe he meant a "Boy Named Sue"

----------

From Engineer Peter Foxs,
Department of Budget and Planning
Ministry of Petroleum,
abidjan-Cote d'Ivoire


REF: URGENT AND CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS PROPOSAL.

Most competent people are choosen for competent jobs and assignments, and with that due respect have we also choosen to select you and contact you on this very confidential matter. Our Cote D'Ivoire Chamber of Commerce and industry offers variety of names of notable people from your part of the Globe.

That was where I got your information from. Therefore, after due deliberation with my partners, we decided to forward to you this proposal. We believe that you would be in a position to help us in our did to transfer the sum of US$41.5M(Forty-0ne million, five hundred thousand dollars only) into a foreign account.

We shall make it 100% legal as much possible as you would want.
We are members of the special committee for budget and planning of the Ministry of Petroleum.

This committee is principally concerned with contract appraisals and approval of contracts in order of priorities as regards CAPITAL PROJECTS of the Government of Cote d'Ivoire.

With our positions, we have successfully secured for ourselves the sum of Forty-one Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars(US$41.5M). We are working with the present Democratically elected Government in my country, and we are seeking the support of Foreign Government

to win the next election coming up, which the race has started. So they have given directive to all Federal Parastatals to settle all Foreign Contractors being owed for contract that they have done.

Therefore, our plan is to include your name as one of the contractors being owed in our corporation.

What we need from you is to provide a safe Account into which the funds will be transferred since Government Officials in my country are not allowed by our laws to Operate Foreign Accounts.

It has been agreed that you will be compensated with US$8.3 Million of the remitted funds.

US$31.125Million belongs to us, while US$2.075Million will be set aside to offset expenses and pay the necessary taxes.

It may interest you to know that two years ago a similar transaction was carried out with one Mr. Patrice Miller, the C.E.O of Crane International Trading Corporation at number 135, East 57th street, 28th floor,New York 10022, with(212)308-7788 and Telex Number 6731689.

After the agreement between both of us in which he was to take 25% of the money as his share, the money was duly transferred into his Account.

We were disappointed on our arrival in New York as we were reliably informed that Mr. Patrice Miller was no longer on that

address while his Telephone and Telex Numbers have been reallocated to somebody else. That was how we lost US$27.5M to Mr.Patrice Miller.

This time around we would not want you to be like that. We need a more reliable and trustworthy person and a reputable Company to do this business with, hence we contacted you.

So if you can prove yourself to be trusted and interested in this deal then we are prepared to do business with you.

What we want from you is the assurance that you will let us have our share when this amount of US$41.5M is transferred into your account.

If this proposal satisfies you, please contact us, so we can advice you on the modalities of the transaction.

All modalities of this transfer, have been worked out and once started will not take more than 7 Banking days with the absolute support of all concerned.

This transaction is 100% safe and risk free now and after the transfer.

Kindly treat this as urgent.

confidential.
Best regards.
Engineer Peter Foxs,
Department of Budget and Planning
Ministry of Petroleum,
abidjan-Cote d'Ivoire