14 replies to this topic

[susieice]

This is terrible. Phony debt collectors are calling people all over the US claiming these people owe money. They are reputed to be looking up online loans or other business that people do online. Then they make numerous and very threatening phone calls to people saying they will be arrested, are under state investigation or other false statements. In spite of a heavy accent in most cases, they claim to be anything from police departments to lawyers. It is believed they have scammed over $5 million dollars already.
These people need to be caught and prosecuted severely. What a horrible thing to do.
http://gma.yahoo.com...topstories.html
Is there no end to the nonsense you're forced to go through.

[MissMelsWell]

Oh it's not just indian scammers, there's a lot of it that's originanting right here in the USA too. Most of it is in the form of wire fraud.

I really think something needs to be done about how Western Union does business.

But, until that happens, I"ll leave this one piece of advice for people ... NEVER NEVER wire money or send a check, money order or give your bank account numbers to ANYONE unless you know for 100% SURE they're legit.  Even if you think they are... check again.

I dealt with scammers earlier this year that were using my company's name and a former address of ours to run a Nigerian scam. In other words, they were targeting people in financial distress through Pay Day loan companies, then were sending them documenation and loan documents saying they were approved. Then, before they could fund the loan, they were telling these poor people that they had to buy "insurance" on the loan, then once it funded, they'd get their insurance premium back. Naturally these poor people would wire the money for the insurance; usually between $600-900, the scammers would pick it up at Western Union using a mule, and then they'd vanish. I actually talked to the scammers pretending to be a customer. They were VERY convincing. Through a lot of digital sluething, I followed the money and calls from NYC, to Mumbai, and finally ending in Toronto Canada. I got within one block of catching their base of operations, but it didn't matter... they were gone before we could ask the RCMP to move on them.

Again the rule is, NEVER wire money to ANYONE unless it's a personal family or friend. No reputable company will ever ask you to wire them funds.

Edited by MissMelsWell, 08 June 2012 - 07:39 AM.

[Taun]

You mean I really don't have a rich Uncle in Nigeria who's leaving me $10 Billion, but needs $1500 to cover expenses?

Dang... I was really hoping to meet Uncle M'Butu...


Seriously though, they need to do a bit of cyberwarfare on these so-and-so's...

[MissMelsWell]

Taun, on 08 June 2012 - 11:28 AM, said:

You mean I really don't have a rich Uncle in Nigeria who's leaving me $10 Billion, but needs $1500 to cover expenses?

Dang... I was really hoping to meet Uncle M'Butu...


Seriously though, they need to do a bit of cyberwarfare on these so-and-so's...

Nigerian scams aren't just a ridiculous rich uncle in Nigeria scam. They can actually be pretty convincing if the people running the scam know what theyr'e doing. The one that affected my office had a very targeted audience, they used a real business name and location, they had a convincing web site, and the folks on the phone running the scam were excellent social engineers. I wasn't surprised quite a few people were taken by them. The big red flag was then the "loan officer" asked the client to wire money.  No bank or loan officer will ever ask you to wire money to them via Wester Union.

Edited by MissMelsWell, 08 June 2012 - 02:14 PM.

[Taun]

MissMelsWell, on 08 June 2012 - 02:14 PM, said:

Nigerian scams aren't just a ridiculous rich uncle in Nigeria scam. They can actually be pretty convincing if the people running the scam know what theyr'e doing. The one that affected my office had a very targeted audience, they used a real business name and location, they had a convincing web site, and the folks on the phone running the scam were excellent social engineers. I wasn't surprised quite a few people were taken by them. The big red flag was then the "loan officer" asked the client to wire money.  No bank or loan officer will ever ask you to wire money to them via Wester Union.

I know... I was being a bit silly is all... The rich Uncle thing has been emailed to me many times is the reason I used it...

[pallidin]

Would be nice to send a destructive virus to these scammers.

[psyche101]

pallidin, on 08 June 2012 - 05:04 PM, said:

Would be nice to send a destructive virus to these scammers.

Google 419 eater.

Some funny stories there. People scamming the scammers. Some scammers do not speak english, and they stand at airports waiting for their "victim" to arrive (who never does) holding up big signs like I am a DHead and things, It is classic.

[Kasey2601]

I had credit card debt with Discover Card about 10 years back and they would often ask me to send money via Western Union...

[Eldorado]

Crooked Indians?  Say it ain't so!

[Realm]

Occasionally I get a nigerian scam in my email, telling me I was left  Millions and they need a $1500 fee to send it to me. I tell em, take out an extra $10,000 from my millions, for their trouble and send it to me. Never hear from them for months.

As for pesky calls, I have an unlisted number and am on the national do not call registry and call blocking works good. I just hit *60 and it blocks my last call. My phone is quite once again.

Edited by Realm, 21 June 2012 - 03:51 PM.

[psyche101]

Seriously, you guys have to have a look at 419 eater. The way they turn the tables is nothing short of hilarious, and just what these people deserve.

This is an example of their work.




LINK

[libstaK]

Honestly, I just want to know which decrepit organisation sent my details to a country where any hope I had for prosecuting those invading my privacy was zero to none?

They say we are their valued customers and yet they bandy about our personal details whither they wish - it's unconscionable, the likes of these should NEVER be able to access enough personal data of ours to pull this kind of crap from half way round the damned planet.

The ones we need to prosecute are the organisations we know we are customers of and have sent their business dealings to these countries to save a buck or two at the expense of our peace of mind.

[Kasey2601]

psyche101, on 26 June 2012 - 04:50 AM, said:

Seriously, you guys have to have a look at 419 eater. The way they turn the tables is nothing short of hilarious, and just what these people deserve.

This is an example of their work.




LINK

I could lose a day at that site...

[Mr. Smith]

Craigslist is where I've been running into scammers. They all want to give you a (fake) money order that you in turn give them a few hundred back on. Even worse, I've heard stories of people taking large sums of cash with them to see a vehicle or whatever only to find themselves getting mugged.

[Timonthy]

You know there are American scammers too right?

Anyway don't worry, happens in all western countries.
The scammers apparently dumb down the schemes so they focus on really dim witted people and don't draw too much attention to themselves.

Also $5,000,000 is very little.