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CREDIT CARD AND OTHER SCAMS/SCHEMES The Holiday Season is just a little bit down the road and the bad guys are already This one is pretty slick since they provide YOU with all the information, Here's the latest version of the Nigerian scam that is being sent via e-mail. "Dear Friend, I am Mrs.Lisa Williams from Malaysia.I am married to Dr.Williams Suzuki who worked with Satndard Bank in London for nine years before he died in the year 2002.We were married for nine years without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days.After his death in 2002, there was confusion in the entire family as regards sharing of the family assets and more also, there is envy and jealousy as it was obvious that I was my husband's favourite wife because my husband had three wife which i am the youngest and my husband was a muslim when he was alive.As soon as he passed away, coupled with the fact that, what i have and what is due to me might be taking away from me by greedy family relations whose reasons is based on family tradition and ethics i therefore decided to carefully moved out the fund which my husband deposited from the bank where it was originally deposited with the help of British diplomats and deposite it with a private organization abroad.The amount of the fund is 10 million dollars. Presently,this money is still with the the organization. I'm asking your partnership to transfer the fund to your account.I took this decision because I don't have any child and my husband relatives are not in good terms with me.I don't want them to know about this development. With God all things are possible.I am prepared to compensate you with 20%.And i have also set aside 10% for any expenses that may incure in this transaction for both parties.As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the the full detail concerning this transaction.Awaiting your urgent reply.Please for security reason reply me through my private email as follow ( mrslisasuzuki3@yahoo.co.uk ) Best Regards, Mrs. Lisa Suzuki" Tax Scam Tax season is now in full swing. That means that it is also the time of the year for Internet scammers to attempt to trick wage earners out of their hard earned money using the IRS as their front. A variety of fraudulent IRS-related e-mail messages are currently circulating around the Internet. Here are how a couple of them work:
FBI Scam The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recently issued an alert about a scam involving unsolicited e-mails, purportedly sent by the FBI, that tell computer users that their Internet surfing is being monitored by the agency. The users are told they have visited illegal web sites and are instructed to open an attachment to answer questions. “The FBI did not send these e-mails and does not send any other unsolicited e-mails to the public”, an agency statement said. As many harmful computer viruses and the potential for identity theft are located in e-mail attachments, the FBI said it strongly encourages computer users not to open attachments from unknown recipients. The FBI is investigating the scam. Recipients of these e-mails are asked to report them by visiting the Internet Crime Complaint Center at: http://www.ic3.gov. Jury Duty Scam An identity theft scam which began in 1994 called the "Jury Duty Scam" has resurfaced and has been reported in at least eight U.S. states.Here's how it works: The scammer calls your residence or office phone number posing as acourt official and claims you've failed to report for jury duty and thata warrant has been issued for your arrest. You rightly state that you never received any jury duty notification. The scammer then tells you that it must be a mistake or clerical error and that they would be happy to correct it, but need some information from you to do so. The scammer then proceeds to ask for personal information such as your Social Security number, date of birth, etc. -- exactly what the scammer needs to commit identity theft. Family members who receive these calls are also vulnerable to coercion, especially when they try to protect against threats to a loved one's career or fear that a criminal record may result. It's easy to see why this scam works. The victim is clearly caught off guard and upset at the prospect of being arrested. Many folks who would otherwise be more wary about what they reveal of their personal data will find themselves reeling off their birth dates and Social Security numbers in an effort to convince the caller that they never received a notice to report for jury duty. In reality, legitimate court employees will never call you to ask for Social Security numbers and other personal or private information. In fact, most contact between a court and a private citizen is conducted by mail. Paul L. Talarico, ISO Administrative Director & Information Security Officer Possible Automobile Scam With the water beginning to subside after the recent devastation in New Orleans, etc. consumers should be on the lookout for cars coming from that area. These vehicles will rust from the inside where it may not be obvious. There are many folks who are bargain shoppers or shoppers with limited incomes that may run into one of the vehicles that were completely submerged. When purchasing an automobile checks its history and have it inspected by a professional (not the guy down the street that does some repairs in his yard) to determine if this vehicle is worth buying. New Credit card scam...Be aware Note, the callers do not ask for your card number; they already have it. My husband was called on Wednesday from "VISA", and I was called on Thursday When you say "No", the caller continues with, "Then we will be issuing a You say "yes". The caller continues - "I will be starting a Fraud You will need to refer to this Control Number. The caller then gives you a 6 Here's the IMPORTANT part on how the scam works. The caller then says, "I The caller will ask you to read the 3 numbers to him. After you tell the You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the Card Long story made short - we made a real fraud report and closed the VISA The latest “Nigerian” Scam I am [Name deleted], a sergeant in the American army, presently in Iraq among peace keeping force (sic). Even though it appears to be from one of our military personnel in Iraq, it is nothing but a variation of the "Nigerian" scam. I would also like to advise our readers and members to be on the alert for scam artists purporting themselves to be a "charity" for the victims, etc. of hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, Biloxi, etc. I can only advise that they check out any "charity" seeking relief donations very carefully before they donate. PHISING INCIDENTS Here's a new scam found on Channel 10 television and retrieved from their web site: Two scams are showing up in southern New England. One comes in the form of a phone call, and the other makes the rounds by e-mail If you get a call like this, it is not legitimate. Never give out your bank account information or any other private information over the phone. Consumers should also watch out for a new round of Internet scams. The practice is known as phishing. Scammers send out e-mails that look as is they come from legitimate financial institutions. The e-mails ask recipients to confirm their financial information. Don't respond. The ploy could set you up to become a victim of identity theft. Several financial institutions, including Citizens Bank, have been targeted by the most recent rash of phishing incidents. SCENE 1 A friend went to the local gym and placed his belongings in the locker. After the workout and a shower, he came out, saw the locker open, and thought to himself, "Funny, I thought I locked the locker. Hmmmmm." He dressed and just flipped the wallet to make sure all was in order. Everything looked okay - all cards were in place. A few weeks later his credit card bill came - a whooping bill of $14,000! He called the credit card company and started yelling at them, saying that he did not make the transactions. Customer care personnel verified that there was no mistake in the system and asked if his card had been stolen. "No," he said, but then took out his wallet, pulled out the credit card, and yep - you guessed it - a switch had been made. An expired similar credit card from the same bank was in the wallet. The thief broke into his locker at the gym and switched cards. Verdict: The credit card issuer said since he did not report the card missing earlier, he would have to pay the amount owed to them. How much did he have to pay for items he did not buy? $9,000! Why were there no calls made to verify the amount swiped? Small amounts rarely trigger a "warning bell" with some credit card companies. It just so happens that all the small amounts added up to big one! SCENE 2 A man at a local restaurant paid for his meal with his credit card. The bill for the meal came, he signed it, and the waitress folded the receipt and passed the credit card along. Usually, he would just take it and place it in his wallet or pocket. Funny enough, though, he actually took a look at the card and, lo and behold, it was the expired card of another person. He called the waitress and she looked perplexed. She took it back, apologized, and hurried back to the counter under the watchful eye of the man. All the waitress did while walking to the counter was wave the wrong expired card to the counter cashier, and the counter cashier immediately looked down and took out the real card. No exchange of words - nothing! She took it and came back to the man with an apology. Verdict: Make sure the credit cards in your wallet at yours. Check the name on the card every time you sign for something and/or the card is taken away for even a short period of time. Many people just take back the credit card without even looking at it, thinking that it has to be theirs. FOR YOUR OWN SAKE, DEVELOP THE HABIT OF CHECKING YOUR CREDIT CARD EACH TIME IT IS RETURNED TO YOU AFTER A TRANSACTION! SCENE 3 Yesterday I went into a pizza restaurant to pick up an order that I had called in. I paid by using my Visa Check Card which, of course, is linked directly to my checking account. The young man behind the counter took my card, swiped it, then laid it flat on the counter as he waited for the approval, which is pretty standard procedure. While he waited, he picked up his cell phone and started dialing. I noticed the phone because it is the same model I have, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Then I heard a click that sounded like my phone sounds when I take a picture. He then gave me back my card but kept the phone in his hand as if he was still pressing buttons. Meanwhile, I'm thinking: I wonder what he is taking a picture of, oblivious to what was really going on. It then dawned on me: the only thing there was my credit card, so now I'm paying close attention to what he is doing. He set his phone on the counter, leaving it open. About five seconds later, I heard the chime that tells you that the picture has been saved. Now I'm standing there struggling with the fact that this boy just took a picture of my credit card. Yes, he played it off well, because had we not had the same kind of phone, I probably would never have known what happened. Needless to say, I immediately canceled that card as I was walking out of the pizza parlor. All I am saying is, be aware of your surroundings at all times. Whenever you are using your credit cards, take caution and don't be careless. Notice who is standing near you and what they are doing when you use your card. Be aware of phones because many have a camera phone these days. When you are in a restaurant and the waiter/waitress brings your card and receipt for you to sign, make sure you scratch the number off. Some restaurants are using only the last four digits, but a lot of them are still putting the whole thing on there.>> The truth is that they can get you even when you are careful, but don't make it easy for them. Scene 4 The setup: Online auction fraud accounts for three-quarters of all complaints registered with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (formerly the Internet Fraud Complaint Center). There are many types of eBay chicanery, but the most common one is where you send in your money and get nothing but grief in return. What actually happens: You never get the product promised, or the promises don't match the product. The descriptions may be vague, incomplete, or completely fake. One scammer accepted bids for Louis Vuitton bags that she didn't own, and then scoured the Internet looking for cheap knockoffs that cost less than the winning bid. She managed to collect at least $18,000 from bidders before she got nailed. A buyer thought he'd purchased a portable DVD player for $100, but what he got instead was a Web address for a site where he could buy a player for a $200 discount. The stories are virtually endless. The risk: You get ripped off, losing time and money. If you spill the beans about the scam, the seller may retaliate by posting negative eBay reports about you using phony names. The question you've gotta ask yourself: Who in their right mind would sell a $200 bag for $20? Scene 5 Phishing Scams The setup: You receive an e-mail that looks like it came from your bank, warning you about identity theft and asking that you log in and verify your account information. The message says that if you don't take action immediately, your account will be terminated. What actually happens: Even though the e-mail looks like the real deal, complete with authentic logos and working Web links, it's a clever fake. The Web site where you're told to enter your account information is also bogus. In some instances, really smart phishers direct you to the genuine Web site, then pop up a window over the site that captures your personal information. The risk: Your account information will be sold to criminals, who'll use it to ruin your credit and drain your account. According to Gartner, phishing scammers took consumers (and their banks, who had to cover the charges) for $1.2 billion in 2003. The question you've gotta ask yourself: If this matter is so urgent, why isn't my bank calling me instead of sending e-mail? Scene 6 Nigerian 419 Letter The setup: You receive an e-mail, usually written in screaming capital letters, that starts out like this: "DEAR SIR/MADAM: I REPRESENT THE RECENTLY DEPOSED MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE FOR NODAMBIZIA, WHO HAS EMBEZZLED 30 MILLION DOLLARS FROM HIS STARVING COUNTRYMEN AND NOW NEEDS TO GET IT OUT OF THE COUNTRY..." The letter says the scammers are seeking an accomplice who will transfer the funds into their account for a cut of the total--usually around 30 percent. You'll be asked to travel overseas to meet with the scammers and complete the necessary paperwork. But before the transaction can be finalized, you must pay thousands of dollars in "taxes," "attorney costs," "bribes," or other advance fees. What actually happens: There's no minister and no money--except for the money you put up in advance. Victims who travel overseas may find themselves physically threatened and not allowed to leave until they cough up the cash. (FYI, "419" is named for the section of Nigeria's penal code that the scam violates.) The risk: Serious financial loss--or worse. Victims of Nigerian letter fraud lose $3000 on average, according to the FBI. Several victims have been killed or gone missing while chasing a 419 scheme. The question you've gotta ask yourself: Of all the people in the world, why would a corrupt African bureaucrat pick me to be his accomplice? Scene 7 Postal Forwarding/Reshipping Scam The setup: You answer an online ad looking for a "correspondence manager." An offshore corporation that lacks a U.S. address or bank account needs someone to take goods sent to their address and reship them overseas. You may also be asked to accept wire transfers into your bank account, then transfer the money to your new boss's account. In each case, you collect a percentage of the goods or amount transferred. What actually happens: Products are purchased online using stolen credit cards--often with identities that have been purloined by phishers--and shipped to your address. You then reship them to the thieves, who will fence them overseas. Or you're transferring stolen funds from one account to another to obscure the money trail. The risk: Sure, you can make big bucks for a while. But after a few months, you're going to look inside your bank account and find it cleaned out. Worse, when the feds come looking for the scammers, you're the one they're going to nail. The question you've gotta ask yourself: Why can't these people receive their own darn mail? Scene 8 "Congratulations, You've Won an Xbox (news - web sites) (IPod, plasma TV, etc.)" The setup: You get an e-mail telling you that you've won something cool--usually the hot gadget du jour, such as an Xbox or an IPod. All you need to do is visit a Web site and provide your debit card number and PIN to cover "shipping and handling" costs. What actually happens: The item never arrives. A few months later, mystery charges start showing up on your bank account. The only thing that gets shipped and handled is your identity. (A more benign variation on this scam drives you to a site where you're asked to cough up your contact info and agree to receive spam from advertisers until unwanted e-mail is coming out of your ears.) The risk: Identity theft, as well as lost money if you don't dispute the charges. The question you've gotta ask yourself: When did I enter a contest to win an Xbox (iPod, plasma TV, etc.)? Award-winning journalist Dan Tynan has written about Internet scams and scammers for more than a decade. He's the author of PC World's Gadget Freak column and the upcoming book, Privacy Annoyances (O'Reilly Media, 2005). He has never come to the rescue of a deposed African bureaucrat. |
The News Channel 10 Consumer Unit has received several calls about a government grant scam. It has also shown up in other parts of the country. The scammers pose as government employees. They call you, and tell you you qualify for a government grant. All you have to do is give them your bank account information so they can take out a one-time "processing fee." |
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