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The Top Scams On The Internet!

 

This Page will be constantly updated



CONSUMER ALERT!



Education is best way to fight scams


By Ted Hebert, Milam County TRIAD


The most effective method in fighting illegal schemes is education. It should be prosecution, but this method is successful only five percent (5 percent) of the time. More reporting of scams would raise this percentage somewhat, however avoiding the crime is the best protection by far.


The Nigerian 419 scam has a history that spans over a quarter of a century now. The number 4-1-9 is tagged to the scam because it is a section of the criminal code in Nigeria. This scam goes by many names: 419 fraud; Advanced fee fraud; Four-One-Nine fraud; or the Nigerian Connection scam. However it is usually called plain old ?" even by the Nigerians.


It is estimated that $5 billion has been spent on 419 scams since the early 1980s under successive governments of Nigeria. How can this scam run year after year and find victims willing to give away their money? Call it ignorance in the true sense of the word. If everyone could get proper information, these con artists would find respectable careers. There is little doubt that these criminals are very intelligent, energetic, with pleasing personalities. Why then do they resort to crimes to support their lifestyles?


The scammer sends the victim an unsolicited email, fax, or letter offering an opportunity of a lifetime. Usually some money laundering or allegedly from a wealthy, dying person in another country. Help is needed to acquire the fortune and if you will lend a hand you will receive a sizeable percentage of the money collected. Not much effort required on your part and a large amount of money adds up to a deal to good to pass up.


Other appeals are from “over-invoiced” or “double-invoiced” oil or other supply and service contracts where the crooks plot to get the overage out of Nigeria. Or it may be a “bequest” left to you in a will by a distant relative. If not kin through your blood line at least you each share the same last name.


Some write that large sums of money need to be “chemically cleaned” before it can be used and the con artist needs money up front to buy the product needed in washing process.


Locally, Milam County residence have received checks for more that the purchase price with instructions to send the overage to a third party. The seller puts the money in the bank and the check bounces, of course, and the bank places the responsibility for presenting a counterfeit check back to you. You have lost the overage you sent as instructed.


It is wise to question any offer that requires you to send money in order to receive a larger amount. At some point the con artist will ask and sometimes demand an advance fee of some sort. This fee may come to you as “an advance fee,” “Transfer Tax,” “Performance Bond” or to extend your credit. Whatever, if the victim sends the money, then complications will develop and more money is needed from victims. Soon the victim is sending in payments because they are anxious to protect their previous investments. This continues until the victim quits sending money or runs out of money or they quit because they have run out of money.


It is reported that the Nigerian scam is the third to fifth largest industry in Nigeria. Money sent for some form of the Nigerian 419 is seldom, if ever, recovered. You gave it away and it is gone.


You should remember these simple rules for doing business with Nigeria. Never pay anything up front for any reason. (Underscore “any”) Never extend credit for any reason. Never do anything until the check clears the bank. Never expect any help from the Nigerian Government and do not expect the United States of America's government to bail you out.


Michael Berry, a British prankster did engage the con artists and had them performing many time consuming tasks to waste these crooks time. Now, that is funny!





Consumer Advisory



Date: January 16, 2007

Avoiding Cashier’s Check Fraud

Many consumers have become victims of scams involving a fraudulent cashier’s check.A cashier’s check is a check that is issued by a bank, and sold to its customer or another purchaser, that is a direct obligation of the bank.Cashier’s checks are viewed as relatively risk-free instruments and, therefore, are often used as a trusted form of payment to consumers for goods and services.


However, cashier’s checks lately have become an attractive vehicle for fraud when used for payments to consumers.Although the amount of a cashier’s check quickly becomes “available” for withdrawal by the consumer after the consumer deposits the check, these funds do not belong to the consumer if the check proves to be fraudulent.It may take weeks to discover that a cashier’s check is fraudulent. In the meantime, the consumer may have irrevocably wired the funds to a scam artist or otherwise used the funds – only to find out later, when the fraud is detected – that the consumer owes the bank the full amount of the cashier’s check that had been deposited.


This OCC Consumer Advisory on Avoiding Cashier’s Check Fraud gives you information on some common scams and some steps you can take to avoid becoming a victim.Although this advisory focuses on cashier’s checks, you may find the information useful if you transact business using other official bank instruments, such as money orders and official checks.


COMMON SCAMS¯Each scam involving a fraudulent cashier’s check may be different, but some of the more common scenarios are:

Selling goods–You sell goods in the marketplace – for example, over the Internet.A buyer sends you a cashier’s check for the price that you have agreed on, and you ship the goods to the buyer.The cashier’s check turns out to be fraudulent.

Excess of purchase price–This scenario is similar to the one described above.However, the buyer sends you a cashier’s check for more than the purchase price and asks you to wire some or all of the excess to a third party, often in a foreign country.The buyer may explain that this procedure allows the buyer to satisfy its obligations to you and the third party with a single check.The cashier’s check turns out to be fraudulent.

Unexpected windfall–You receive a letter informing you that you have the right to receive a substantial sum of money.For example, the letter may state that you have won a foreign lottery or are the beneficiary of someone’s estate.The letter will state that you have to pay a processing/transfer tax or fee before you receive the money, but a cashier’s check will be enclosed to cover that fee. The letter will ask you to deposit the cashier’s check into your account and wire the fee to a third party, often in a foreign country.The cashier’s check turns out to be fraudulent.


Mystery shopping–You receive a letter informing you that you have been chosen to act as a mystery shopper.The letter includes a cashier’s check, and you are told to deposit the check into your account.You are told to use a portion of the funds to purchase merchandise at designated stores, transfer a portion of the funds to a third party using a designated wire service company, and keep the remainder. The cashier’s check turns out to be fraudulent.


Scams also may involve other types of checks.For example, the fraudulent check may appear to be written on the account of a real person or company or be written on an account that contains insufficient funds to cover the check.Other scams involve fraudulent postal service money orders or fraudulent money orders that appear to have been issued by a bank.


The result of these scams is that the fraudulent check will be returned unpaid.The bank will then deduct the amount of the check from your account or otherwise seek repayment from you, and you will lose either the goods that you sold, the money that you sent to the third party, or both.


What is a fraudulent cashier’s check? A cashier’s check is a check issued by a bank and payable to a specific person.Because a cashier’s check is issued by a bank, itself, the cashier’s check is paid by funds of the bank and not the depositor.Therefore, if an item is genuine, there is very little risk that the instrument will be returned.


Sometimes, however, a cashier’s check is not genuine, and, if you unknowingly accept a fraudulent cashier’s check in exchange for goods or services, you will likely be the one who suffers the financial loss.


How can you tell if a cashier’s check is fraudulent? It can be very difficult for either you or your bank to tell.When you deposit a check into your account, your bank generally is required by law to make the funds available within a specific period of time (usually, one business day for a cashier’s check or other official instrument).This is true even if the check has not yet cleared through the banking system. Therefore, even if the funds have been made available in your account, you cannot be certain that the check has cleared or is “good.”


Your bank also may not be able to determine that the check is fraudulent when you deposit it.Rather, your bank may learn of the problem only when the check is returned unpaid by the other bank – which may take a couple weeks or more.Scammers try to make the item look genuine, which will delay discovery of the fraud.Once the item has been returned unpaid, your bank, generally, will be able to reverse the deposit to your account and collect the amount of the deposit from you.


What are your rights? If you find yourself in this situation, you ordinarily would have a remedy against the person who wrote the check. However, you will have great difficulty pursuing any remedy against these scammers, especially if they reside in a foreign country or have disguised their identities.


What steps should you take to protect yourself from becoming a victim of fraudulent cashier’s check scams? Keep the following tips in mind.


Tips for Avoiding Cashier’s Check Fraud

-  Try to know the people with whom you do business. When possible, verify information about the buyer from an independent third party such as a telephone directory. Be cautious about accepting checks – even a cashier’s check – from people that you do not know, especially since it may be difficult to pursue a remedy if the transaction goes wrong.

-  When you use the Internet to sell goods or services, consider other options such as escrow services or online payment systems rather than payment by a cashier’s check.

-  If you do accept a cashier’s check for payment, never accept a check for more than your selling price if you are expected to pay the excess to someone else.Ask yourself why the buyer would be willing to trust you, who may be a perfect stranger, with funds that properly belong to a third party.

-  A cashier’s check is less risky than other types of checks only if the item is genuine.If you can, ask for a cashier’s check drawn on a bank with a branch in your area.

-  If you want to find out whether a check is genuine, call or visit the bank on which the check is written. That bank will be in a better position to tell you whether the check is one they issued and is genuine.

-  Know the difference between funds being available for withdrawal from your account and a check having finally cleared. Your bank may be required by law to make funds available to you even if the check has not yet cleared.However, it could take several weeks to know if the check will clear or not. Act with Caution

-  Be wary of taking action before you can be sure that the payment you received is good.

-  Be suspicious if someone insists that you send funds by wire transfer or otherwise pressures you to act quickly before you know the payment you received is good.

-  If you receive a letter offering you a large sum of money for little effort other than sending a “processing” fee, remember:if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

-  Reject any offer that asks you to pay for a “prize” or “gift.”

-  Save your documents – you may need this paperwork if something goes wrong.


If you have become victimized by a fraudulent check scam, please follow these guidelines:

-  Anytime a scam involves a cashier’s check, official check, or money order from a bank, and you believe that it could be counterfeit, you should contact the issuing bank directly to report receipt of the check and to verify authenticity. When contacting the bank, do not use the telephone number provided on the instrument, as this number is probably not associated with the bank, but rather with the scam artist.


-  To locate a bank’s mailing address, you can check the FDIC’s Web site at: www2.fdic.gov


In addition to contacting the appropriate banks, there are others whom you also should notify if you receive a counterfeit item. They include:

-  Scams, generally–Federal Trade Commission (FTC):by telephone at 1-877-FTC-HELP or file an electronic complaint via their Internet site at www.ftc.gov.

-  Internet-based scams–Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Internet Fraud Complaint Center :www.ic3.gov.

-  Mail-based scams–U.S. Postal Inspector Service:by telephone at 1-888-877-7644 , by mail at U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Office of Inspector General, Operations Support Group, 222 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 1250, Chicago, IL60606-6100 or via e-mail at www.usps.com.


Finally, if you have a complaint or problem involving a check written on, or deposited in an account at, a national bank, and you cannot resolve the problem with the bank, contact the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s Customer Assistance Group by calling 800-613-6743 or by sending an e-mail to: customer.assistance@occ.treas.gov.





Check Scams



Last Updated:
02-02-07 at 7:17PM


The internet is an invaluable tool for most of us. Unfortunately, it's also become the tool of choice for con artists and scammers. But avoiding online scams is easy, if you know what to look for.

It would be easy to write off the victims of internet scams as naïve. Some might even say they got what they deserved. But when trust -- and sometimes desperation -- override common sense, the internet can become a virtual version of the Wild Wild West, and a haven for criminals.

Sandra Rae Brown thought a man she met on the internet was the answer to her prayers. A Nigerian businessman offered to help her out financially when she fell on tough times, but the man was a scammer -- one of thousands using the African country as their base of operations.

"He told me that he would send me $5,000 dollars and I thought I can't pay that back, I don't have that kind of money," Brown said.

He didn't want her to pay it back. Rather, he wanted brown to do him a favor: would she cash the check that he sent her at her local bank, and wire half of it to him in Nigeria?

"So he says we're basically having trouble cashing checks down here so we try to find people that we can send them to in the states to cash for us and then we pay our people that way," she said.

Brown deposited the check, wired him the money and spent the rest paying her bills.

"About a week to 10 days later I get the notice from the bank that the check had bounced and they want their money back," she said.

Sheryl Charleston, head of the San Diego Better Business Bureau, says Brown is the victim of the Nigerian internet scam, which is one of the most popular frauds on the net.

"There are some very typical elements that you can look out for. It's someone out of the country, there's a tremendous amount of money involved, they need your help in someway shape or form," Charleston said.

Charleston says that while the stories are often very convincing, it's always a scam. No one is going to give you large sums of money. All they want is your cash and your financial information.
That's equally true when it comes to those international lotteries, another popular online scam.

"I received a letter back in August and it was with a check. The check was for $2,900 and the letter said I won a Canadian lottery," Sherry Bailie said.

According to the letter, Bailie had just won $65,000. She was told to cash the $2,900 check and use the money to pay out her state taxes. All she had to do was wire them the money, and they'd release the prize check.

"I really knew deep inside that it was not legitimate," she said.

She was right, the check was a fraud. Had she wired the money, it would have been drawn on the good funds in her bank account, and she would have been out the $2,900.

"It's illegal to accept money from an international lottery through the U.S. mail, so we want people to know that," Charleston explained.

Claire Newick thought she had won the lottery when her two passions came together -- her love of Craigslist and the television show "Dancing with the Stars." While visiting the site one day, Newick found two tickets to the live version of the popular TV show.

"I was very excited that I was going to be able to get some tickets online to see the show," Newick said.

Newick asked for proof that the man had the tickets, but he said he couldn't provide any. He also insisted that she wire the money, rather than send a check, two big warning signs of online auction fraud.

"Listen to that little voice in your head and pay through secure means," Charleston said. "If you pay through a credit card you have a much better opportunity of disputing the charges."

Even though she had her doubts, Newick wired him the money. She never got the tickets, and never heard from the seller again.

"I feel like I should have known better. I feel that i was too trusting and the signs were there," Newick said.

"When you are purchasing from an individual you are taking a risk, and you need to accept that risk," Charleston said.

Patricia McGaffigan, A San Diego security specialist, knows a thing or two about risk. When someone tried to scam her on Craigslist, she didn't bite. While trying to sell her sofa for $500, a buyer sent her two money orders totaling $5,000. McGaffigan then received an email claiming the checks were an accidental overpayment for the furniture.

"Since the money orders were already in the mail please just forgive us, take an extra $100 for your trouble and send us the difference via Western Union once the shippers contact you," McGaffigan said.

McGaffigan was immediately suspicious. The two money orders were dated in October ... She posted the sofa in December. A call to the bank confirmed they were counterfeit. Now it was her turn to send an email.

"My response in my email was well I've found that your money orders were in fact counterfeit and special agent so and so at the FBI has given me his number if you have any questions. You're welcome to contact him," she said.

Charleston says overpayment scams are growing in popularity, especially on Craigslist and eBay. Scammers will overpay for an item or a deposit on a rental using a fraudulent check, and then ask you to wire the difference. When the check bounces, you're out the money you wired.

"We would discourage consumers from wiring money to reimburse someone who's sent you a check. That's the trap," Charleston said.

And always remember the adage, "If it is too good to be true, it probably is," because when it comes to the internet, it's always too good to be true.


Top Internet Scams

The Nigerian Scam

This scam begins with an email or letter. A wealthy Nigerian family, businessman or politician needs your help. They need to get millions of dollars out of the country and they want to use your bank account or have you pose as the next of kin. In exchange, they will share the millions of dollars with you. The email usually includes a sad story about how a spouse has died or how the government is trying to steal the money. Regardless of the plea, one thing is certain. This is a scam. The criminals are after your financial information and money. While Nigeria is the most common location for this scam… beware of people from other countries offering large sums of money in exchange for help. Also, never wire money to anyone you don't know personally. In these scams, the criminals will often send a bogus check and ask you to cash it for them and then wire the money. When the check bounces, you're out the money you wired.


Lottery Scam

The email or letter claims you just won an international lottery. You didn't. It's a scam. The criminals are after your money and financial information. They will sometimes send a fraudulent check claiming it's to pay the taxes on your winnings. They will ask you to cash it and then wire them the money. The check bounces and you're out the cash. If you're ever tempted to believe these scammers remember that it's illegal to accept money from an international lottery through the U.S. mail and that you're never going to win a lottery you didn't enter. Never cash a check or provide financial information to someone you don't know.


Phising Emails and Phony Web Pages

You get these all the time in your email box. The emails appear to be from PayPal, eBay, or a financial institution and message is asking you to update your financial information. All you have to do is click on a link in the email and it will take you to their Website. The email and the Website may even look official. They may have the logo and branding of the company. But these emails and Websites are frauds. They didn't come from the actual company. Instead, criminals are waiting for you to enter your personal information so they can steal your identity and empty your bank account. The best way to avoid being a victim of this scam is to delete the email and go directly to the company's website and log in. You can also call the company directly to verify the request. Never click on a link from one of these emails. It's just asking for trouble.


Overpayment Scam

This one involves an item you've listed for sale on a website such as eBay or Craigslist. A scammer offers to buy the item and then sends you a check or money order for more than the price of the item. They will tell you to cash the check or money order and wire them the difference. But the check or money order is fraudulent. By the time the bank informs you that the check has bounced, it's too late. You've already wired the money from your bank account; money that's drawn on your good funds. You can't get a wire transfer back so you are out the cash. We've also seen versions of this scam involving people claiming to want to rent an apartment or room. They will send a bogus check for the deposit and then ask you to wire the difference. The check bounces and they never move in.


Online Employment Scams

These scammers claim to be out of the country business people. They claim their company is expanding and they want you to act as their financial representative in the United States by opening a bank account and allowing people to deposit money into the account. They offer 5 to 10 percent of the revenues in exchange for your help. While this might sound like an attractive offer, it's a scam. They criminals are hoping you will send them your bank account information or cash fraudulent checks on their behalf. Any legitimate foreign company looking to expand in the United States is not going to run an online ad or email strangers in order to find someone to handle their finances.


Auction Scams

This one is pretty straightforward. You purchase something from an online auction site and it never arrives. While sites such as eBay work hard to remove fraudulent items from their auctions, they can't get them all. Anytime you are buying something from an individual and not a reputable company, you risk being taken. Always listen to that little voice in your head and pay through a secure means such as a credit card. If you use a credit card you have a much better opportunity of getting your money back. Other tip offs include sellers who can't show proof that they have the item, requests for you to wire them money (don't do it) and little or no feedback on the sellers profile.


Tips for Avoiding Scammers

+ Never wire money to someone you don't know

+ Delete any email solicitations involving money especially from foreign countries

+ Scam emails often contain a larger number of spelling and grammar mistakes

+ Call your financial institution directly if you receive an email that appears to come from them

+ Always guard your financial and personal information

Sources: Watch Video-Story Links br>




Check Scam Alert



By: Tommy Millsaps
Source: The Monroe County Advocate
02-05-2007


Imagine going to your mailbox and pulling out a letter telling you that you have won $500,000 or perhaps $1 million or more.

Imagine already having a check in the envelope for $4,000 or $5,000 with your name on it.

That’s what police say has happened to many local residents the last few weeks.

But beware.

It’s a scam.


“It’s a huge rip off,” Sweetwater Police Chief Eddie Byrum said. “It’s a very saturated scam affecting a lot of people.” According to Byrum, most of the letters are coming from other countries like Canada or Australia.

The letter tells the victims they have won a lottery or some type of sweepstakes promotion.

The scam mechanisms might vary a little bit, however a common theme involves the “prize winner” receiving a smaller check, perhaps $4,000 or $5,000, in their name that they are supposed to deposit in their bank account. The check is supposed to be payment for some type of prize processing fee.


The unwitting victim is usually asked to send that money on as a processing fee to someone else before they receive the balance of their prize.

Byrum said it’s not uncommon for the banks to deposit or cash the very realistic looking checks.

But in the end, the unsuspecting victim has given the bank a fake check and sent the money to the scammer.

The victim winds up owing the bank for the phony check. Byrum said scammers are preying on victims right after Christmas when they know people have a lot of bills and are particularly vulnerable to a get rich quick scam.

But police say it’s generally wise to follow the old saying of: If it seems too good to be true…

The SPD chief said his department plans to show local banks the fake checks in hopes of keeping them from cashing or depositing them.

He advises residents if they get a fake check in the mail to contact their local police department or destroy the check by shredding it.

Don’t just throw a check away that is made out in your name because somebody else may wind up with it.

The police chief said it is very difficult to find and prosecute the scammers because they can be from anywhere on the globe.

The scammers have a variety of ways to get names and addresses, including information off the Internet.

Tommy Millsaps can be reached at 337-7101 or mcanews4@xtn.net.





International Alert Warning



BBB Issues International Alert Warning of Surge In Bogus Loan Web Sites

Published on: January 25th, 2007 11:14am by: Articulon

RALEIGH, N.C. (OPEN PRESS) January 25, 2007 – The Better Business Bureau system warns of a proliferation of Web sites that are impersonating legitimate lenders to steal money from consumers.

Victims across the U.S. and Canada report losing money, sometimes more than $1,000 each. The Web sites in question promise loans to anyone, regardless of the person’s previous credit history.

“People with the poorest finances are being victimized. Many mistakenly believe they have no other option,” said Beverly Baskin, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Eastern North Carolina.

According to BBB experience, victims used Internet search engines to locate lenders that “guaranteed” low-interest rate loans for people with bad credit histories. After submitting the online loan application, they were contacted by a company “representative” who said they were approved.

Some false companies state that consumers must pre-pay a fee before they can receive their loan. The loan applicant is told to wire the money or send a money order, usually to a location in Canada. Then, the consumers never receive the loan and cannot recover their money. Consumers also risk having their identity stolen if they provided their Social Security number or bank account number.

“These bogus lenders are clever. They use a variety of tools to imply legitimacy,” Baskin warned.

--Intrest (sic) Plus Financial used a Milwaukee address that was home to a legitimate company, not affiliated with the scam lender.
--Statewide Capital Group, falsely claimed to be located in Omaha and presented a sophisticated Web site offering a variety of lending services at low rates.
--Lloyds Financial Group used a false street address in Illinois. Its Web site promised debt consolidation, personal loans and business loans “regardless of the person’s previous credit history.”
--Home Guard Funding Ltd. (a.k.a. Principal Investments) used a name similar to that of a legitimate Canadian mortgage broker and an address belonging to a Zion, IL law firm that had no connection to the lender.
--City Financial Corp. (a.k.a. PeachState Financial Services) fraudulently claimed the BBB of Central Georgia’s address in Macon as its own.

Advance fee loan scams are illegal in the U.S. and Canada! To avoid law detection, fraudulent loan operators move quickly, frequently reopening under new names.

“If you have trouble qualifying for a loan, you do have options. There are nonprofit organizations in every state with trained credit counselors who can assist individuals with debt problems. Contact your local BBB (www.bbbenc.org) for tips on selecting a trustworthy credit counselor,” Baskin suggested.


BBB “Do’s and Don’ts” to Avoid Bogus Loan Web Sites
--  DO NOT use online search terms like “bad credit loans” or “guaranteed loans” that may lead you to fraudulent sites.

--  DO NOT wire money or send a money order to secure a personal loan. Legitimate offers of credit DO NOT require an up-front payment of a fee for collateral, processing, insurance, taxes or any other purpose.

--  DO NOT do business with lenders that “guarantee” a loan before you apply.

--  DO NOT do business with Web sites that refuse to provide a street address and a working telephone number.

--  DO use the BBB to check if a Web site can be trusted. In addition to informing you of any complaints, BBB staff can visit the business location and conduct other research to verify a site’s legitimacy.

--  DO click on it to check the BBB’s report if the site has a BBBOnLine seal.

--  DO file a complaint with the BBB if you are victimized by an advance fee lender. While the chance of recovering the payment fee is minimal, your experience will help BBBs warn other consumers and assist government investigations.


About the BBB of Eastern North Carolina:

The Better Business Bureau of Eastern North Carolina is a 501 (c)(6) not-for-profit corporation serving 33 counties in Eastern North Carolina. The organization is funded primarily by membership dues from more than 3,000 local business and professional firms. The BBB promotes integrity, consumer confidence and business ethics through business self-regulation in the local marketplace. Services provided by the BBB include, reports on companies and charitable organizations, general monitoring of advertising in the marketplace, dispute resolution services, and consumer/business education programs. All services are provided at no cost to the public, with the occasional exception of mediation and arbitration. Visit www.bbbenc.org. ###


Professional Free Press Release News Wire

Contact Info

Articulon
Phone: 919-232-5008 x 101
E-mail: Click Here to Send
Web site: www.articulon.com
2841 Plaza Place, Ste. 105, Raleigh, NC 27612


Release Information

Industry: Advertising / Marketing, More Press Releases from Advertising / Marketing
Country: United States, More Press Releases from United States
MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area): Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC, More Press Releases from Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Company: Articulon
Web site: Visit our web site





OCC ALERT - Counterfeit Official Checks



Subject:Counterfeit Official Checks
Description: Fairfield National Bank
Date: January 29, 2007


Counterfeit Official Checks of Fairfield National Bank, Lancaster, OH

The above-named bank has reported that counterfeit official checks issued in the bank’s name and using a correct routing number of 011007092 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with a lottery scam.


Counterfeit items may be identified by the following traits: the checks are light brown in color with a dark brown border. The following statement is located in the top border of the item: “THE FACE OF THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND ON WHITE PAPER AND ORIGINAL DOCUMENT SECURITY SCREEN ON BACK WITH PADLOCK SECURITY ICON.” The bank’s name and logo are located in the upper-left corner of the check and followed by incorrect information “DIVISION OF THE FARM NATIONAL BANK.” The “Issued By:” information contained in the upper-right portion of the check shows the issuer as “Travelers Express Company, Inc., P.O. Box 9476, Minneapolis, MN 56480.”


Items presented to date have been made payable in the amount of $3,150, have been dated December 27, 2006, and have included a remitter of Regina Carter.

Correspondence accompanying the checks may contain the letterhead of “Classic Lotto Commision Inc, 60 Subbase Suite 104, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands 00802.” Note that the word “Commision” is misspelled in the correspondence. The letter alerts the recipient that he or she is the winner of an unclaimed prize and should contact the office immediately. The recipient is advised to keep all information confidential and is encouraged to act by a specific date or the winnings will be forfeited. Recipients are to contact North America claim agent Jack Dempsey at 1-204-952-4415 (Canadian telephone number) for further instruction. The correspondence may be signed by Margaret Adams. Note that this is the same letter that was used in a previous scam as reported in Alert 2007-1, which may be viewed at:
[]www.occ.treas.gov.


For additional information and guidance and to verify the authenticity of Fairfield National Bank’s official checks, please contact Sandy Uhl, Assistant Vice President/Security Officer, Fairfield National Bank, 143 W. Main Street, Lancaster, OH 43130, by telephone at (740) 653-7242 , ext. 247, by fax at (740) 653-6573, or via e-mail at [fnbsecurity@fairfieldnationalbank.com].


Consumers who receive a counterfeit item and associated material should file complaints with the following agencies:

• Federal Trade Commission (FTC): by telephone at 1-877-FTC-HELP or, for filing a complaint electronically, via the FTC’s Internet site at www.ftc.gov

• Royal Canadian Mounted Police (Canadian Scams): by telephone at 1-888-495-8501 or via e-mail at []info@phonebusters.com. Their Web site, www.phonebusters.com, provides additional contact numbers.

• Better Business Bureau – The BBB system serves markets throughout Canada, Puerto Rico, and the United States, and is the marketplace leader in advancing trust between businesses and consumers. The international Web site (www.bbb.org) offers contact information for local BBBs, objective reports on more than two million businesses, consumer scam alerts, and tips on a wide variety of topics that help consumers find trustworthy businesses and make wise purchasing decisions.

• If correspondence is received via the U.S. Postal Service, contact the U.S. Postal Inspector Service by telephone at 1-888-877-7644 , by mail at U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Office of Inspector General, Operations Support Group, 222 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 1250, Chicago, IL 60606-6100, or via e-mail at www.usps.com


Additional information concerning this matter that you believe should be brought to the attention of the OCC may be forwarded to:

E-mail: occalertresponses@occ.treas.gov
Mail: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
Special Supervision Division, MS 6-4
250 E Street, SW, Washington, DC 20219
Fax: (202) 874-5214
Internet: www.occ.treas.gov


For additional information regarding other types of financial fraud, please visit the OCC’s anti-fraud resource at:

www.occ.treas.gov.


/signed/
Richard C. Stearns
Directorfor Enforcement&Compliance





Employment required



Published: 05/02/2007 12:00 AM (UAE)

Online job scam uses global hotel chain's logo to dupe victims
By Zoi Constantine, Staff Reporter


Dubai: Prospective hotel employees are being warned about an online scam urging people to transfer sums of money to secure jobs at a hotel in Nigeria.


The fraud involves a Lagos hotel purporting to be from the Radisson chain, which is offering jobs to those who have posted resumes online.

After receiving the letter of offer, successful candidates are asked to contact the 'Nigerian Immigration Diplomatic Services' to arrange their Nigerian work permits - for a fee.

The correspondence appears legitimate and bears the Radisson logo, but the e-mail addresses and websites listed are fraudulent, as are the job offers and the supposed 'immigration services'.

According to the Radisson SAS hotel chain in Dubai, several prospective employees have brought the scam to their attention, including one who told Gulf News that he was contacted via e-mail by the fraudsters.


Unbelievable offer

"I received an e-mail from the fake Radisson in Nigeria which said that after seeing my resumes posted online, they would like me to send a scanned copy of my passport and academic certificates, which I did," said the Sharjah-based applicant, who did not wish to be named.


"I innocently sent the documents, and promptly received an e-mail back with an offer which included a very attractive package and a salary of over Dh38,000 a month," he said.


It was only after reading about the salary and generous package that he realised it was "too good to be true."

The initial letter sent by the fraudsters requested that the successful candidate e-mail the 'Nigerian Immigration Diplomatic Services,' which promptly replied with the amount required to secure a work permit.


"Concerning the issuance of the work permit visa to you, you must follow according to the below steps," reads the letter, which concludes with a request for Dh5,300 to be wired to a bank account in the United States.


The letter states that the work permit will be issued within 48 hours of receipt of the funds and specifies that the full amount will be reimbursed by the hotel.





Money scam strikes motels



24.01.2007
By Cherie Taylor


Central North Island accommodation providers are being warned to be on the alert for the latest scam to arrive in New Zealand.

Thousands of Australian accommodation providers have been duped by a scam involving requests by fax or email for accommodation for large groups. Stolen credit cards or bank cheques were used to overpay with the "overpayment" then sought back.

The scam has already arrived in Dunedin and the Bay of Islands. In all cases, within three weeks of a booking there were requests for refunds for amounts "overpaid".

Rotorua Motel Association chairman Steve Osborne has heard of similar scams where fraudsters claim problems with airlines or passports and ask for cash refunds.

Mr Osborne is warning local accommodation providers to be vigilant and recommends they join motel or hotel associations which generally notify of such scams.

"If someone in Wellington has had a runner or experienced a scam then an email is sent to everyone on the list warning them."

Rotorua will soon have an extra tool to help combat tourism-related crime with a co-ordinated network being set up between motel, hotel, bed and breakfast providers, attraction operators and the police.

"Everyone will be aware of what is going on through one blanket email. The only way to make it work is for everyone to be involved," Mr Osborne said.

Another scam is also doing the rounds in New Zealand, this time under the guise of a Spanish lottery with people asked for their banking details.

Rotorua mother of four Angela Henderson recently received a letter stating she had won nearly €485,510 (NZ$800,000) in a Spanish lottery through Loteria International de Navidad.

After making telephone contact with the agency in Madrid, she thought the lottery was legitimate until her mother-in-law and other family members received identical letters.

"It looked authentic and this guy on the other end of the telephone was congratulating me. He seemed offended when I asked him if it was real.

"He asked me to fax back the forms and said it was his job to make sure there was a safe transition of the money."

Checking out names in the letter on the internet she soon found it was a scam.

When the Daily Post contacted the person in Spain at the number supplied on the letter, he refused to comment and hung up.
Rotorua's Inspector Steve Bullock said police knew of both scams. Motel operators could contact them if they had any concerns.

"If something sounds too good to be true then it probably is."


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