February 22, 2012
Lottery Scammers Now Using Bolder Tactics
Lottery Scammers Now Using Bolder Tactics
from CBS Pittsburg
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Bolder and nastier is how investigators describe the crooks behind the latest scams that are victimizing people in our area.
The tactics they are using may shock you.
We’ve told you about Nigerian lottery scams before, but more scams are now originating from Jamaica.
They work differently than previous scams. Not only do they trick you into giving up money, but they use threats and intimidation to scare you.
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February 21, 2012
Too Good to Be True: Self-Employment Scams
from CNBC
by Daniel Bukszpan
If you’ve scoured the classified ads, chances are you’ve seen at least one job listing offering big money to the self-employed. The ads say you can be your own boss and earn a small fortune, all while clad in a bathrobe and flip-flops.
The only requirement is a fee for materials and registration. Once that formality’s out of the way, the gravy train will visit your home on a regular and unremitting basis.
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February 13, 2012
'Brazen scam' prompts BBB to tell FBI
Too Good to Be True: Self-Employment Scams
from CNBC
by Daniel Bukszpan
If you’ve scoured the classified ads, chances are you’ve seen at least one job listing offering big money to the self-employed. The ads say you can be your own boss and earn a small fortune, all while clad in a bathrobe and flip-flops.
The only requirement is a fee for materials and registration. Once that formality’s out of the way, the gravy train will visit your home on a regular and unremitting basis.
Unfortunately, these advertisements often target people without traditional jobs, and if they take the bait they become trapped in one of the many self-employment scams out there.
One of the most common is stuffing envelopes. An advertisement placed by a fraudulent company will claim to seek people to mail letters from their homes rather than using an expensive, on-site staff. The person answering the ad would allegedly insert mailings into pre-addressed, pre-stamped envelopes, mail them and then watch the money roll in.
One of the most common is stuffing envelopes. An advertisement placed by a fraudulent company will claim to seek people to mail letters from their homes rather than using an expensive, on-site staff. The person answering the ad would allegedly insert mailings into pre-addressed, pre-stamped envelopes, mail them and then watch the money roll in.
February 13, 2012
'Brazen scam' prompts BBB to tell FBI
from woodtv.com
by Crystal Hilliard
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - A "brazen" scam targeting loan applicants with bad credit prompted the Better Business Bureau to alert the US Postal Service and the FBI about its operation.
The company, Greenpoint Capital , had its victims mail checks or Western Union money to a Lansing address -- which traces back to a home.
Gary Stoner, a Michigan man living in Tennessee, admits he fell for it. He went online and applied for a loan.
"[The man that contacted me] said they had personal lenders that would lend money since the loan company wouldn't lend me the money because of my credit," Stoner said.
The company sent him a contract promising him $5,000 with a 10% interest rate. It would arrive in two to six hours with one stipulation: he had to pay $806 up front, they wrote.
Stoner sent the money via Western Union.
The company, Greenpoint Capital , had its victims mail checks or Western Union money to a Lansing address -- which traces back to a home.
Gary Stoner, a Michigan man living in Tennessee, admits he fell for it. He went online and applied for a loan.
"[The man that contacted me] said they had personal lenders that would lend money since the loan company wouldn't lend me the money because of my credit," Stoner said.
The company sent him a contract promising him $5,000 with a 10% interest rate. It would arrive in two to six hours with one stipulation: he had to pay $806 up front, they wrote.
Stoner sent the money via Western Union.
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February 2, 2012
Middleboro couple bilked of $94,000 in sweepstakes scam
from Enterprise Newsby Alice Elwell
MIDDLEBORO — A local couple mailed three boxes stuffed with $94,000 in cash to Canada trying to claim bogus winnings after they fell for a sweepstakes scam that is apparently going around town.
February 2, 2012
Middleboro couple bilked of $94,000 in sweepstakes scam
from Enterprise Newsby Alice Elwell
“The money is gone,” said Detective Simonne M. Ryder. “There’s absolutely no way it can be returned.”
At least two other people in Middleboro were also targeted in phony sweepstakes games this week, prompting police to alert the public to the con artists who are preying particularly on senior citizens.
Ryder also is visiting elderly housing complexes and passing out fliers alerting residents that the scams are getting more sophisticated and to be on guard.
At least two other people in Middleboro were also targeted in phony sweepstakes games this week, prompting police to alert the public to the con artists who are preying particularly on senior citizens.
Ryder also is visiting elderly housing complexes and passing out fliers alerting residents that the scams are getting more sophisticated and to be on guard.
CONTINUE>>>
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January 31, 2012
Scammers Used Phony Craigslist Ads
January 26, 2012
Woman Loses $13K in Mystery Shopper Scam
from My Fox Houston
by Emily Akin
HOUSTON - The possibility of making some much-needed money seemed so promising.
But instead of making money, this consumer lost $13,000.
An online job application is common, so Snezana Gerkin did not hesitate to apply to be a Mystery Shopper, someone who anonymously goes into stores to buy things for companies.
"They said they had mystery shoppers all over the world, to see how banker tellers work," Gerkin said.
After a few emails with someone named "Brian", Gerkin got a package with two US Postal Service money orders, each worth $970.
Her instructions were to cash the money orders at her bank, Bank of America. Then take that cash to a local grocery store and wire it, via Western Union, to an address in the Phillipines.
She could keep $200 for herself.
That was Dec. 28, 2011. Within a week, "Brian" had sent her three more envelopes with money orders worth more than $10,000.
CONTINUE>>>
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January 24, 2012
New Prize Scam Making the Rounds
from The Emmetsburg Reporter/ Democrat
by Dan Voigt
Just when you were ready to settle in for remainder of the winter, a new scam has started to appear in the area. The Palo Alto County Sheriff's Office says it's received a report from a citizen of a prize award letter that appears to be nothing more than a scam.
Smashed Mustang unravels identity theft scheme
from wsbtv.com
by Mike Petchenik
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. —
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December 12, 2011
The 12 Scams of Christmas
from The Reading Eagle
by Jason Brudereck
On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, a fake piece of luxury jewelry.
That's just one of the many ways you can be scammed this time of year.
Authorities warn that there are more than eight maids out there looking to milk consumers, especially in this economy.
Many scammers increase their efforts around the holidays, and many target victims using phone numbers, email addresses and home addresses.
If you receive a suspicious phone call, email or check in the mail, contact your police department, said Birdsboro Police Chief Theodore R. Roth, president of the Berks County Chiefs of Police Association.
You can also take a check you believe to be bogus to your bank, he said.
"The police can help you determine if the phone call or email is legitimate," Roth said. "Your bank can take the routing numbers and other information from the check to see if it is on the level."
To ensure you have a happy holiday, beware these, the 12 scams of Christmas:
1. Popular toysThis year's "must have" toys and gadgets might sell out in stores and be offered at much steeper prices online. Some sellers will take the money and run, though, so on auction sites like eBay you should either research the sellers or shop locally and conduct the transaction in person instead of wiring money. Also be aware of the age-old bait-and-switch scam in which a retailer says he has a product, but, when you go to buy it, he says he is sold out and has a similar item for sale.
CONTINUE>>>
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October 26, 2011
Enterprising crooks ditch email for old-fashioned mail fraud
from 9news.com
NEW YORK - The Postal Service is the most trusted federal agency in the United States, and it's this trust thieves are banking on to get into your bank account.
A letter was recently mailed to neighbors in an affluent zip code where the median income is about $103,000.
The sender identifies himself as the head of investment banking at Barclays Capital.
The letter names a relative of the recipient and says after that person's death, his investment containing $8.3 million dollars is to be released to his next of kin.
Postal Inspector Jeff Fitch says the letters are well-written, and they often come with a U.S. Postmark.
Because the letters arrive in the U.S. Mail and not via e-mail, they can appear to be legitimate.
CONTINUE>>>
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October 20, 2011
If the price sounds too good to be true, it probably is
from The Tuscaloosa News
by Robert Dewitt
Over the years I’ve tried to be careful to avoid identity theft and credit card fraud. Unless I’m very familiar with the vendor — L.L. Bean, Cabela’s, Mack’s Prairie Wings and the like — I only deal with people who accept Paypal, a secure payment system. My wife and I are glad we stuck with that rule.
Our daughter needed a new laptop computer for college. Part of my wife’s job at the University of Alabama is configuring and buying computers for faculty and staff member. So she went to work looking for the best buy for our daughter based on her needs.
She found a web site for a company in China with a computer for sale at a price that seemed too good. The price was so low that she was suspicious. But she noted that they took Paypal. When she asked me about it, I told her that we probably couldn’t go wrong using Paypal.
CONTINUE>>>
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August 26, 2011
BBB: Beware of timeshare resale scams
from The Jackson Sun
by Randy Hutchinson
Tens of millions of Americans are victimized by scams every year. Many have been around awhile, but enough people keep falling for them to make them a profitable endeavor for the crooks. Common scams include phony foreign lotteries and sweepstakes, variations of the Nigerian letter scam and mystery shopper job offers.
A somewhat more unique scam has been on the Better Business Bureau's radar for years but finally made the top 10 nationwide in 2010.
It involves bogus offers to sell a timeshare. People get a call from someone claiming to be a broker with a buyer for the timeshare they've advertised for sale. All the broker needs to consummate the sale is an upfront fee, which the seller is advised to wire to him. Most victims wire the money and never hear from the crook again. Unfortunately, some are played for additional fees. A victim of a timeshare scammer located in the Memphis area had the following to say in her complaint:
"We received a call from this company that they had a buyer for our timeshare. We signed the contract and mailed it back. He stated we would have the purchase price within 72 hours of signing the contract. We wired $315. He called to say the deed transfer fee had increased due to a glitch in Florida's online system. We wired another $125 through Western Union that day. We have not heard from the company since. They will not respond to e-mails or phone calls, and we are out $440."
CONTINUE>>>
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August 26, 2011
Online Scam Uses Family's Name, Address
from WOWT.com
by Mark McKnight
Identity theft often involves stolen credit cards or checking account numbers, but not always. Scam artists are using the name and address of an Omaha family.
The Kerr’s name and address was hijacked by scammers selling cars online, but these are vehicles that will never be delivered. “I think it’s frightening to have your personal information, like your home address, being used out all over the country,” says Mary Kerr.
Scammers are using a realistic looking, but phony escrow transaction to lure car buyers into sending money. U.S. Postal Service inspector Dave Margritz has an idea why the family's address is being used.
“Sounds like a safe place. It’s not a hotbed of fraud so they're trying to pick a place like Omaha to lend creditably to their scam.”
The Kerrs are getting four calls a day from people who’ve googled the address listed on the phony account. “There is no car here for sale and I'm sorry this is a fraud and you've checked it out and that's the smart thing to do,” says Tom Kerr.
Six On Your Side tracked down the seller and asked to see a vehicle for sale. “It’s at the shipping company in Omaha, Nebraska, but it’s already in storage so you can't see it,” said the scammer over the phone.
Daughter Emily Kerr also called the “car seller.” “It’s really disturbing. I'm sitting in my kitchen right now at the address she's telling me is a shipping company.”
A caller from another state said he sent $15,000 to buy a vehicle he can't locate. The Kerrs aren't out any money, but with con artists hijacking their name and address, they have lost peace of mind.
“What if they do show up looking for their car?” wondered Mary.
Anytime you attempt to make a large purchase online like a used car, simply google the name that the seller is using along with their phone number and address. When Six On Your Side did that in this case, red flags about a scam popped up. Also beware, scammers often copy homepages for legitimate auctions sites to try and fool you.
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August 18, 2011
Smooth online suitor swindled women of $200,000, police say
from Boston.com
By Mark Arsenault and Vivian Yee
This “Handsome, Sensual, Warm and Kind professional man,’’ who enjoyed “art, travel, film, Mozart and Bach, jazz and blues, collecting antiques, history, PBS, BBC, British humour, long French kisses, holding hands, star gazing, quiet evenings at home, dining out.’’
But Albert B. Lovering of Waltham was not looking for love on the Web; he was looking for victims to romance out of their money, according to a 24-count indictment released yesterday by a Middlesex grand jury.
Lovering, 54, is charged with swindling more than $200,000 over the past five years, through a pattern of deception that exploited the affections of four women “who were conned into believing the defendant cared for them,’’ said Middlesex District Attorney Gerard T. Leone Jr.
Lovering, who is heavyset with graying blond hair and a deep voice, pleaded not guilty yesterday in Superior Court in Woburn, and did not immediately post his $10,000 bail.
He is accused of using false professions of his love and affection, phony health crises, and other made-up emergencies as part of a web of lies to persuade women he met through online dating sites to lend him money he did not repay, according to the indictment.
His lies allegedly grew bold enough to create an imaginary best friend, Doug Spencer, to explain how Lovering could cash checks sent to his post office box in Massachusetts, while he said he was ailing in a hospital in New Hampshire, authorities said.
Appearing calm and relaxed at arraignment, Lovering sat in the front row of the courtroom with a woman who identified herself as his wife, talking composedly and chuckling at a court officer’s joke. He listened quietly as the clerk read off the larceny charges against him.
CONTINUE>>>
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July 28, 2011
BBB Name Being Used in Foreign Sweepstakes
from The Better Business Bureau
Denver, CO – July 27, 2011 – Illegal foreign sweepstakes are extremely common and recently the Better Business Bureau Serving Denver/Boulder (BBB) has received several calls from people targeted in such scams. Recent callers have stated that the scammer who called was representing themselves as being with the BBB.
These scams often originate out of Jamaica as the phone numbers being called from start with a Jamaican area code, 876. Those who have reported this swindle to the BBB state that the scammer says that are calling on behalf of the BBB and that the target has won millions in prizes. The scammer then instructs them to send anywhere from $250 to $350 to cover taxes or fees and as soon as that is received, the winnings will be wired to them. Others have also been asked to mail fees or let the caller send a courier to pick up the fees.
“It is illegal for anyone to require any fees or purchases in order to claim a sweepstakes prize. And the BBB is a nonprofit organization that never holds any such sweepstakes,” said Dale Mingilton, President and CEO of the BBB Serving Denver/Boulder. “Anyone who says the BBB is offering millions in prize money are scammers.”
If you receive such calls or anything similar, get as much information as possible from the scammer then hang up and report it the BBB and the U.S. Postal Inspector. Do not give any of your personal information to the caller.
Better Business Bureau: (303) 758-2100 / www.denver.bbb.org/scam-source
U.S. Postal Inspector: (877) 876-2455 / http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors
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July 26, 2011
Nigerian scam participant ignored warnings for relationship with importer/exporter named 'John Smith'
from Press-Register
by Brendan Kirby
MOBILE, Alabama — A Washington County woman Monday pleaded guilty to trying to help a Nigerian con man obtain a long list of consumer goods paid for with stolen credit card numbers.
Jeanette Ann Hall, according to defense attorney Larry Moorer, helped a man she met online.
“This is all by the Internet. She met someone through the Internet and a type of relationship took place. This is a byproduct of that,” Moorer said after Monday’s hearing. “She never got a dime out of this — never got a penny. This was all because of the Internet.”
Hall pleaded guilty to mail fraud. She faces 10 to 16 months in prison under a worst-case estimate of advisory sentencing guidelines. Moorer said he is hoping for probation for his client.
“She has no prior criminal history — period,” he said. “Absolutely none.”
According to her plea agreement, Hall accepted 87 shipments to her home in Chatom of video games, cell phones, shoes, musical instruments and other goods. She admitted that she then repackaged and tried to send them to Nigeria from post offices in Chatom, Fruitdale and State Line, Miss.
CONTINUE>>>
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July 14, 2011
Investigation Finds Egregious Examples of Unwanted Phone Charges
from The Wall Street Journal
by Tom Loftus
Americans ticked off by mysterious charges appearing on their phone bill have company.
Yesterday, a congressional committee investigation called the practice, known as “cramming,” a “nationwide epidemic,” calculating that third-party charges on phone bills cost Americans as much as $2 billion a year.
The report also found that telephone companies are making money from the practice.
Here are a few of the findings of the year-long investigation by the Senate Commerce Committee, chaired by Sen. John D. Rockefeller (D., W. Va.):_______________________________________________________________
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July 11, 2011
Con Man Strikes Again — Bilks Elderly Victim of $682,000
from The Hawaii Reporter
by Jim Dooley
BY JIM DOOLEY – Law enforcement had several chances to stop Ronald K. Maria’s newest flim-flam but took no action against him before it was too late, court records show.
Maria, 39, has pleaded guilty to defrauding an elderly Washington state man of $682,300 and will be sentenced in federal court next month.
Maria, of Waianae, pleaded guilty in 2002 in state court to a felony theft charge but acceptance of the plea was deferred for five years, giving Maria a chance to clear his name if he stayed out of trouble with the law.
He was placed under the supervision of a state probation officer who reported to the court in 2008 that Maria had successfully completed his deferral term. The theft charge against him was dismissed.
But in 2006, while Maria was under supervision, federal postal authorities alleged publicly that Maria was using a Waianae post office box “in furtherance of a fraudulent scheme.”
An administrative judge banned Maria from continued use of the PO box based the results of an investigation conducted by the Postal Inspection Service, the state Office of Consumer Protection and the state Attorney General’s Office. See the ruling here: post office ruling.
The judge’s description of Maria’s activities closely parallels details of the more recent federal criminal case now pending against Maria.
“The investigation disclosed that many people received various enticements through the mail suggesting to them that they would receive large sums of money from the ‘trust fund’ of a ‘billionaire,’ if they would send certain fees” to a company operated by Maria, the administrative judge ruled January 5, 2006.
Maria described himself in some of the solicitations as “a billionaire since 1983,” the judge, Bruce R. Houston, said in his ruling.
CONTINUE>>>
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July 6, 2011
Scammer Strikes Scarsdale P.O.
from Scarsdale10583.com
Scammer: An unknown man bilked the Scarsdale Post Office out of $90 on the afternoon of June 22. The man asked to purchase an $81.00 money order and handed the postal worker a $100.00 bill to pay for the transaction. After he received the money order and the change, the customer claimed it was the wrong money order and asked for his money back. The worker returned the $100 bill to the man. However, shortly thereafter the customer returned and claimed that he had been handed a $10 bill rather than a $100 bill. The postal worker apologized and handed the man a $100 bill. However it turns out that he already had his $100 and thus made off with a second $100 bill. The suspect is described as a black male, 5’ 10” tall, 160 lbs with a white beard. Police are investigating a similar incident in Harrison.
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June 16, 2011
'Secret shopper' scam has new twist
from KGW.com
by Ed Teachout
PORTLAND – There’s a new twist in the “secret shopper” scam that has been around for years: money orders that look like they're from the United States Postal Service.
When Mary Cogdill got an email asking if she wanted to make some money as a secret shopper, she thought, “Why not?” She has summers off from her school job.
Within days of signing up, her mailbox began to fill up with shopping assignments, as well as checks and money orders.
She was asked to shop financial institutions and rate how employees did.
"They just wanted me to critique the bank,” she said.
Employees at IQ Credit Union did well; they deposited her money orders and allowed her to withdraw nearly $3,000 in cash.
An IQ representative said employees know they sometimes might encounter secret shoppers, but that management never hires the secret shoppers to actually cash checks or money orders.
The money orders Cogdill cashed looked legitimate, which may be why tellers gave her back cash.
Cogdill was instructed to take the cash to her second secret shopper assignment at a Fred Meyer Western Union.
But a week after wiring the cash, Cogdill got a call from her bank.
"The bank said we have a hold on your account for two United States postal money orders you cashed,” she said. And her first thought, she said, was, “Crap, I've been scammed."
CONTINUE>>>
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January 31, 2012
Scammers Used Phony Craigslist Ads
NASSAU COUNTY—-A Nassau County grand jury has indicted two women on felony charges for using phony Craigslist ads for nonexistent jobs and apartments to steal hundreds of identities nationwide and filing hundreds of fraudulent state income tax returns requesting more than $500,000 in refunds.
The scammers also used the stolen identities to apply for bank loans and credit cards, and stole a total of more than $75,000, prosecutors said.
The indictment, charges Susan Pemberton, 42, ofRockville Centre, with second degree grand larceny and first degree scheme to defraud, and Cynthia Sibert, 22, of Roslyn, with third degree grand larceny and first degree scheme to defraud.
Pemberton was arrested Nov. 16, 2011 and faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted while Sibert was arrested on Nov. 18, 2011 and faces up to seven years in prison if convicted. Both defendants will be arraigned later this month.
The arrests are the result of a joint investigation between the DA’s Office and the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance’s Criminal Investigation Division – Buffalo Office. The investigation was assisted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The investigation is ongoing and more charges could be filed against the defendants.
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Woman Loses $13K in Mystery Shopper Scam
from My Fox Houston
by Emily Akin
HOUSTON - The possibility of making some much-needed money seemed so promising.
But instead of making money, this consumer lost $13,000.
An online job application is common, so Snezana Gerkin did not hesitate to apply to be a Mystery Shopper, someone who anonymously goes into stores to buy things for companies.
"They said they had mystery shoppers all over the world, to see how banker tellers work," Gerkin said.
After a few emails with someone named "Brian", Gerkin got a package with two US Postal Service money orders, each worth $970.
Her instructions were to cash the money orders at her bank, Bank of America. Then take that cash to a local grocery store and wire it, via Western Union, to an address in the Phillipines.
She could keep $200 for herself.
That was Dec. 28, 2011. Within a week, "Brian" had sent her three more envelopes with money orders worth more than $10,000.
CONTINUE>>>
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January 24, 2012
New Prize Scam Making the Rounds
from The Emmetsburg Reporter/ Democrat
by Dan Voigt
Just when you were ready to settle in for remainder of the winter, a new scam has started to appear in the area. The Palo Alto County Sheriff's Office says it's received a report from a citizen of a prize award letter that appears to be nothing more than a scam.
According to a release from the Sheriff's Office, an area resident received a letter through the U.S. Postal Service that stated that the recipient was the winner of $68,286. The letter was from NCDM, the National Commission for Donations of Money and Prize Distribution.
To make the letter even more authentic-looking, a check made out to the addressee was included in the letter, along with a "registration form" which asked the winner to list a credit card number, expiration date and signature of the card holder.
Even though the documents all appear to be legitimate, they contain absolutely no contact information or telephone numbers for the winner to respond to. All that is included with the check and registration form is a return envelope, which is addressed to a location in the Netherlands.
Sound too good to be true? You're right - it isn't. This scam was a blatant attempt to get money or credit card information to someone in the Netherlands.
December 28, 2011Smashed Mustang unravels identity theft scheme
from wsbtv.com
by Mike Petchenik
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. —
Sandy Springs Police and the U.S. Postal Inspector's office are tracking down
a man they said is stealing mail from homes then opening fraudulent credit cards
in the homeowner's names.
Lt. Steve Rose told Channel 2's Mike Petchenik investigators became aware of the case after patrol officers found a Ford Mustang wrecked on Dec. 16 on Northside Drive.
“The driver of this car hit a wall and then hit some trees," Rose said. "The driver of the car fled."
Inside the car, Rose said police found pieces of mail addressed to other people and they learned the Mustang had been rented from an Avis near the airport, using the credit card of a man who'd reported his identity was stolen.
CONTINUE>>>
Lt. Steve Rose told Channel 2's Mike Petchenik investigators became aware of the case after patrol officers found a Ford Mustang wrecked on Dec. 16 on Northside Drive.
“The driver of this car hit a wall and then hit some trees," Rose said. "The driver of the car fled."
Inside the car, Rose said police found pieces of mail addressed to other people and they learned the Mustang had been rented from an Avis near the airport, using the credit card of a man who'd reported his identity was stolen.
CONTINUE>>>
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December 12, 2011
The 12 Scams of Christmas
from The Reading Eagle
by Jason Brudereck
On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, a fake piece of luxury jewelry.
That's just one of the many ways you can be scammed this time of year.
Authorities warn that there are more than eight maids out there looking to milk consumers, especially in this economy.
Many scammers increase their efforts around the holidays, and many target victims using phone numbers, email addresses and home addresses.
If you receive a suspicious phone call, email or check in the mail, contact your police department, said Birdsboro Police Chief Theodore R. Roth, president of the Berks County Chiefs of Police Association.
You can also take a check you believe to be bogus to your bank, he said.
"The police can help you determine if the phone call or email is legitimate," Roth said. "Your bank can take the routing numbers and other information from the check to see if it is on the level."
To ensure you have a happy holiday, beware these, the 12 scams of Christmas:
1. Popular toysThis year's "must have" toys and gadgets might sell out in stores and be offered at much steeper prices online. Some sellers will take the money and run, though, so on auction sites like eBay you should either research the sellers or shop locally and conduct the transaction in person instead of wiring money. Also be aware of the age-old bait-and-switch scam in which a retailer says he has a product, but, when you go to buy it, he says he is sold out and has a similar item for sale.
CONTINUE>>>
_______________________________________________________________
October 26, 2011
Enterprising crooks ditch email for old-fashioned mail fraud
from 9news.com
NEW YORK - The Postal Service is the most trusted federal agency in the United States, and it's this trust thieves are banking on to get into your bank account.
A letter was recently mailed to neighbors in an affluent zip code where the median income is about $103,000.
The sender identifies himself as the head of investment banking at Barclays Capital.
The letter names a relative of the recipient and says after that person's death, his investment containing $8.3 million dollars is to be released to his next of kin.
Postal Inspector Jeff Fitch says the letters are well-written, and they often come with a U.S. Postmark.
Because the letters arrive in the U.S. Mail and not via e-mail, they can appear to be legitimate.
CONTINUE>>>
__________________________________________________________________
October 20, 2011
If the price sounds too good to be true, it probably is
from The Tuscaloosa News
by Robert Dewitt
Over the years I’ve tried to be careful to avoid identity theft and credit card fraud. Unless I’m very familiar with the vendor — L.L. Bean, Cabela’s, Mack’s Prairie Wings and the like — I only deal with people who accept Paypal, a secure payment system. My wife and I are glad we stuck with that rule.
Our daughter needed a new laptop computer for college. Part of my wife’s job at the University of Alabama is configuring and buying computers for faculty and staff member. So she went to work looking for the best buy for our daughter based on her needs.
She found a web site for a company in China with a computer for sale at a price that seemed too good. The price was so low that she was suspicious. But she noted that they took Paypal. When she asked me about it, I told her that we probably couldn’t go wrong using Paypal.
CONTINUE>>>
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August 26, 2011
BBB: Beware of timeshare resale scams
from The Jackson Sun
by Randy Hutchinson
Tens of millions of Americans are victimized by scams every year. Many have been around awhile, but enough people keep falling for them to make them a profitable endeavor for the crooks. Common scams include phony foreign lotteries and sweepstakes, variations of the Nigerian letter scam and mystery shopper job offers.
A somewhat more unique scam has been on the Better Business Bureau's radar for years but finally made the top 10 nationwide in 2010.
It involves bogus offers to sell a timeshare. People get a call from someone claiming to be a broker with a buyer for the timeshare they've advertised for sale. All the broker needs to consummate the sale is an upfront fee, which the seller is advised to wire to him. Most victims wire the money and never hear from the crook again. Unfortunately, some are played for additional fees. A victim of a timeshare scammer located in the Memphis area had the following to say in her complaint:
"We received a call from this company that they had a buyer for our timeshare. We signed the contract and mailed it back. He stated we would have the purchase price within 72 hours of signing the contract. We wired $315. He called to say the deed transfer fee had increased due to a glitch in Florida's online system. We wired another $125 through Western Union that day. We have not heard from the company since. They will not respond to e-mails or phone calls, and we are out $440."
CONTINUE>>>
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August 26, 2011
Online Scam Uses Family's Name, Address
from WOWT.com
by Mark McKnight
Identity theft often involves stolen credit cards or checking account numbers, but not always. Scam artists are using the name and address of an Omaha family.
The Kerr’s name and address was hijacked by scammers selling cars online, but these are vehicles that will never be delivered. “I think it’s frightening to have your personal information, like your home address, being used out all over the country,” says Mary Kerr.
Scammers are using a realistic looking, but phony escrow transaction to lure car buyers into sending money. U.S. Postal Service inspector Dave Margritz has an idea why the family's address is being used.
“Sounds like a safe place. It’s not a hotbed of fraud so they're trying to pick a place like Omaha to lend creditably to their scam.”
The Kerrs are getting four calls a day from people who’ve googled the address listed on the phony account. “There is no car here for sale and I'm sorry this is a fraud and you've checked it out and that's the smart thing to do,” says Tom Kerr.
Six On Your Side tracked down the seller and asked to see a vehicle for sale. “It’s at the shipping company in Omaha, Nebraska, but it’s already in storage so you can't see it,” said the scammer over the phone.
Daughter Emily Kerr also called the “car seller.” “It’s really disturbing. I'm sitting in my kitchen right now at the address she's telling me is a shipping company.”
A caller from another state said he sent $15,000 to buy a vehicle he can't locate. The Kerrs aren't out any money, but with con artists hijacking their name and address, they have lost peace of mind.
“What if they do show up looking for their car?” wondered Mary.
Anytime you attempt to make a large purchase online like a used car, simply google the name that the seller is using along with their phone number and address. When Six On Your Side did that in this case, red flags about a scam popped up. Also beware, scammers often copy homepages for legitimate auctions sites to try and fool you.
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August 18, 2011
Smooth online suitor swindled women of $200,000, police say
from Boston.com
By Mark Arsenault and Vivian Yee
This “Handsome, Sensual, Warm and Kind professional man,’’ who enjoyed “art, travel, film, Mozart and Bach, jazz and blues, collecting antiques, history, PBS, BBC, British humour, long French kisses, holding hands, star gazing, quiet evenings at home, dining out.’’
But Albert B. Lovering of Waltham was not looking for love on the Web; he was looking for victims to romance out of their money, according to a 24-count indictment released yesterday by a Middlesex grand jury.
Lovering, 54, is charged with swindling more than $200,000 over the past five years, through a pattern of deception that exploited the affections of four women “who were conned into believing the defendant cared for them,’’ said Middlesex District Attorney Gerard T. Leone Jr.
Lovering, who is heavyset with graying blond hair and a deep voice, pleaded not guilty yesterday in Superior Court in Woburn, and did not immediately post his $10,000 bail.
He is accused of using false professions of his love and affection, phony health crises, and other made-up emergencies as part of a web of lies to persuade women he met through online dating sites to lend him money he did not repay, according to the indictment.
His lies allegedly grew bold enough to create an imaginary best friend, Doug Spencer, to explain how Lovering could cash checks sent to his post office box in Massachusetts, while he said he was ailing in a hospital in New Hampshire, authorities said.
Appearing calm and relaxed at arraignment, Lovering sat in the front row of the courtroom with a woman who identified herself as his wife, talking composedly and chuckling at a court officer’s joke. He listened quietly as the clerk read off the larceny charges against him.
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July 28, 2011
BBB Name Being Used in Foreign Sweepstakes
from The Better Business Bureau
Denver, CO – July 27, 2011 – Illegal foreign sweepstakes are extremely common and recently the Better Business Bureau Serving Denver/Boulder (BBB) has received several calls from people targeted in such scams. Recent callers have stated that the scammer who called was representing themselves as being with the BBB.
These scams often originate out of Jamaica as the phone numbers being called from start with a Jamaican area code, 876. Those who have reported this swindle to the BBB state that the scammer says that are calling on behalf of the BBB and that the target has won millions in prizes. The scammer then instructs them to send anywhere from $250 to $350 to cover taxes or fees and as soon as that is received, the winnings will be wired to them. Others have also been asked to mail fees or let the caller send a courier to pick up the fees.
“It is illegal for anyone to require any fees or purchases in order to claim a sweepstakes prize. And the BBB is a nonprofit organization that never holds any such sweepstakes,” said Dale Mingilton, President and CEO of the BBB Serving Denver/Boulder. “Anyone who says the BBB is offering millions in prize money are scammers.”
If you receive such calls or anything similar, get as much information as possible from the scammer then hang up and report it the BBB and the U.S. Postal Inspector. Do not give any of your personal information to the caller.
Better Business Bureau: (303) 758-2100 / www.denver.bbb.org/scam-source
U.S. Postal Inspector: (877) 876-2455 / http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors
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July 26, 2011
Nigerian scam participant ignored warnings for relationship with importer/exporter named 'John Smith'
from Press-Register
by Brendan Kirby
MOBILE, Alabama — A Washington County woman Monday pleaded guilty to trying to help a Nigerian con man obtain a long list of consumer goods paid for with stolen credit card numbers.
Jeanette Ann Hall, according to defense attorney Larry Moorer, helped a man she met online.
“This is all by the Internet. She met someone through the Internet and a type of relationship took place. This is a byproduct of that,” Moorer said after Monday’s hearing. “She never got a dime out of this — never got a penny. This was all because of the Internet.”
Hall pleaded guilty to mail fraud. She faces 10 to 16 months in prison under a worst-case estimate of advisory sentencing guidelines. Moorer said he is hoping for probation for his client.
“She has no prior criminal history — period,” he said. “Absolutely none.”
According to her plea agreement, Hall accepted 87 shipments to her home in Chatom of video games, cell phones, shoes, musical instruments and other goods. She admitted that she then repackaged and tried to send them to Nigeria from post offices in Chatom, Fruitdale and State Line, Miss.
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July 14, 2011
Investigation Finds Egregious Examples of Unwanted Phone Charges
from The Wall Street Journal
by Tom Loftus
Americans ticked off by mysterious charges appearing on their phone bill have company.
Yesterday, a congressional committee investigation called the practice, known as “cramming,” a “nationwide epidemic,” calculating that third-party charges on phone bills cost Americans as much as $2 billion a year.
The report also found that telephone companies are making money from the practice.
Here are a few of the findings of the year-long investigation by the Senate Commerce Committee, chaired by Sen. John D. Rockefeller (D., W. Va.):_______________________________________________________________
- Telephone companies place approximately 300 million third-party charges on their customers‘ bills each year.
- A large percentage of these charges—which could be anything from long distance service to horoscopes and diet plans–were unauthorized. The report did not offer an exact figure for the unauthorized charges
- Unauthorized charges are typically between $10 and $50.
- Some of the most egregious examples: Senior citizens being charged for webhosting services despite never using the Internet; a children’s hospital charged for a “celebrity tracker” email service; and unauthorized charges for voicemail services on AT&T’s own telephone lines.
- The United States Postal Service would have paid almost $550,000 in unauthorized third-party charges if it had not hired an auditor to examine its bills.
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July 11, 2011
Con Man Strikes Again — Bilks Elderly Victim of $682,000
from The Hawaii Reporter
by Jim Dooley
BY JIM DOOLEY – Law enforcement had several chances to stop Ronald K. Maria’s newest flim-flam but took no action against him before it was too late, court records show.
Maria, 39, has pleaded guilty to defrauding an elderly Washington state man of $682,300 and will be sentenced in federal court next month.
Maria, of Waianae, pleaded guilty in 2002 in state court to a felony theft charge but acceptance of the plea was deferred for five years, giving Maria a chance to clear his name if he stayed out of trouble with the law.
He was placed under the supervision of a state probation officer who reported to the court in 2008 that Maria had successfully completed his deferral term. The theft charge against him was dismissed.
But in 2006, while Maria was under supervision, federal postal authorities alleged publicly that Maria was using a Waianae post office box “in furtherance of a fraudulent scheme.”
An administrative judge banned Maria from continued use of the PO box based the results of an investigation conducted by the Postal Inspection Service, the state Office of Consumer Protection and the state Attorney General’s Office. See the ruling here: post office ruling.
The judge’s description of Maria’s activities closely parallels details of the more recent federal criminal case now pending against Maria.
“The investigation disclosed that many people received various enticements through the mail suggesting to them that they would receive large sums of money from the ‘trust fund’ of a ‘billionaire,’ if they would send certain fees” to a company operated by Maria, the administrative judge ruled January 5, 2006.
Maria described himself in some of the solicitations as “a billionaire since 1983,” the judge, Bruce R. Houston, said in his ruling.
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July 6, 2011
Scammer Strikes Scarsdale P.O.
from Scarsdale10583.com
Scammer: An unknown man bilked the Scarsdale Post Office out of $90 on the afternoon of June 22. The man asked to purchase an $81.00 money order and handed the postal worker a $100.00 bill to pay for the transaction. After he received the money order and the change, the customer claimed it was the wrong money order and asked for his money back. The worker returned the $100 bill to the man. However, shortly thereafter the customer returned and claimed that he had been handed a $10 bill rather than a $100 bill. The postal worker apologized and handed the man a $100 bill. However it turns out that he already had his $100 and thus made off with a second $100 bill. The suspect is described as a black male, 5’ 10” tall, 160 lbs with a white beard. Police are investigating a similar incident in Harrison.
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June 16, 2011
'Secret shopper' scam has new twist
from KGW.com
by Ed Teachout
PORTLAND – There’s a new twist in the “secret shopper” scam that has been around for years: money orders that look like they're from the United States Postal Service.
When Mary Cogdill got an email asking if she wanted to make some money as a secret shopper, she thought, “Why not?” She has summers off from her school job.
Within days of signing up, her mailbox began to fill up with shopping assignments, as well as checks and money orders.
She was asked to shop financial institutions and rate how employees did.
"They just wanted me to critique the bank,” she said.
Employees at IQ Credit Union did well; they deposited her money orders and allowed her to withdraw nearly $3,000 in cash.
An IQ representative said employees know they sometimes might encounter secret shoppers, but that management never hires the secret shoppers to actually cash checks or money orders.
The money orders Cogdill cashed looked legitimate, which may be why tellers gave her back cash.
Cogdill was instructed to take the cash to her second secret shopper assignment at a Fred Meyer Western Union.
But a week after wiring the cash, Cogdill got a call from her bank.
"The bank said we have a hold on your account for two United States postal money orders you cashed,” she said. And her first thought, she said, was, “Crap, I've been scammed."
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