::Cyber Keralam-Forums Threads::

Beware of Fraud Schemes

The Cyber Keralam Portal setup by Resource Centre for Cyber Forensics has received a number of complaints regarding Internet Frauds during the last two months. Most of the frauds are Internet Lottery Scams. Some has lost money to the tune of several thousands to 8 lakhs.

In these scams, the culprits are operating from outside India and there is a limit to trace these people. The only way to prevent becoming a victim of these types of crime is to be aware of such things. These types of cheating comes like , Winning Internet Lottery, Winning Microsoft Lottery, inheritance transfer, immigration frauds, etc.

Most of the mails received by Cyber kerlam Portal is to verify the authenticity before making any transaction. That was good. But, most of the people have exposed their personal indentity. This is a dangerous situation.

The following are the main frauds reported here.

Nigerian Letter or "419" Fraud

Email Lottery Scams

Impersonation/Identity Fraud

Advance Fee Scheme

Telemarketing Fraud

1 Nigerian Letter or "419" Fraud

Nigerian letter frauds combine the threat of impersonation fraud with a variation of an advance fee scheme in which a letter, mailed from Nigeria, offers the recipient the "opportunity" to share in a percentage of millions of dollars that the author, a self-proclaimed government official, is trying to transfer illegally out of Nigeria. The recipient is encouraged to send information to the author, such as blank letterhead stationery, bank name and account numbers and other identifying information using a facsimile number provided in the letter. Some of these letters have also been received via E-mail through the Internet. The scheme relies on convincing a willing victim, who has demonstrated a "propensity for larceny" by responding to the invitation, to send money to the author of the letter in Nigeria in several installments of increasing amounts for a variety of reasons.

Payment of taxes, bribes to government officials, and legal fees are often described in great detail with the promise that all expenses will be reimbursed as soon as the funds are spirited out of Nigeria. In actuality, the millions of dollars do not exist and the victim eventually ends up with nothing but loss. Once the victim stops sending money, the perpetrators have been known to use the personal information and checks that they received to impersonate the victim, draining bank accounts and credit card balances until the victim's assets are taken in their entirety. While such an invitation impresses most law-abiding citizens as a laughable hoax, millions of dollars in losses are caused by these schemes annually. Some victims have been lured to Nigeria, where they have been imprisoned against their will, in addition to losing large sums of money. The Nigerian government is not sympathetic to victims of these schemes, since the victim actually conspires to remove funds from Nigeria in a manner that is contrary to Nigerian law. The schemes themselves violate section 419 of the Nigerian criminal code, hence the label "419 fraud."

Some Tips to Avoid Nigerian Letter or "419" Fraud:
- 1. If you receive a letter from Nigeria asking you to send personal or banking information, do not reply in any manner. Register a complaint with local police and send a copy to HiTech Crime Enquiry Cell at hitechcell@keralapolice.gov.in or www.cyberkeralam.in
- 2. If you know someone who is corresponding in one of these schemes, encourage that person to contact the Police as soon as possible.
- 3. Be skeptical of individuals representing themselves as Nigerian or foreign government officials asking for your help in placing large sums of money in overseas bank accounts.
- 4. Do not believe the promise of large sums of money for your cooperation.
- 5. Guard your account information carefully.

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2 Email Lottery Scams

Lottery scams are one of the most common types of fraudulent email currently hitting inboxes. Be wary of unsolicited email that informs you that you have won a large sum of money in an international lottery. This is a common Internet scam. There is no lottery and no prize. Those who initiate a dialogue with the scammers by replying to the lottery scam emails will eventually be asked for advanced fees to cover expenses associated with delivery of the supposed "winnings". They may also become the victims of identity theft.

How it Works

Our receive an unsolicited email, which states that you have won a major prize in an international lottery. Supposedly, your email address was collected online and attached to a random number that was subsequently entered in a draw for the lottery. In order to claim your prize, you are instructed to contact the official "agent" in charge of your case. You are also advised to keep the win confidential for "security reasons". This part of the scam is basically a random phishing expedition. If you respond in any way to the email, the scammers will send further messages or even contact you by phone in an attempt to draw you deeper into the scam.

You may be asked to provide banking details, a large amount of personal information, and copies of your driver's licence and passport. Ostensibly, these requests are to prove your identity and facilitate the transfer of your winnings. However, if you comply with these requests, the scammers will have enough information to steal your identity.

Sooner or later, the scammers will request some sort of advance fee supposedly to cover administration, legal or delivery costs. At its core, this scam is just a reworking of the Nigerian loan fraud, in which scammers also eventually ask for upfront fees to facilitate the "deal". Like Nigerian scams, victims who do actually pay the requested fees will probably find that they receive continuing payment demands to cover "unexpected expenses". The requests for money will go on until the victim realizes what is happening or has no further money to send.

In some cases, the scammers give victims the option of opening an account at a particular bank as an alternative to paying upfront fees. However, this "bank" which is completely bogus, will insist on an initial deposit of $3000 as a requirement for opening the account. The fake bank will have a legitimate looking website to reinforce the scam. In other cases, the victim is given the option of travelling to an overseas destination and paying a cash fee to facilitate the release of the funds. However, any "winnings" released to the victim will be counterfeit and therefore worthless.

The details of the lottery scams vary regularly with regard to the name of the lottery itself, the country of origin, the sponsoring organization, the amount of the "prize" and other particulars. The scammers try to add a patina of legitimacy to their claims by mentioning real financial institutions, government departments or well-known companies. They may also provide links to slick looking, but fraudulent websites that are designed to back up information included in the scam emails. If the scammers are successful in establishing a dialogue with a potential victim, they may provide "proof" such as a scanned image of a supposed government official's ID and even photographs of the "winnings" in cash.

If you have supplied banking details, a large amount of personal information, and copies of your driver's licence and passport to the scammers, then you may become a victim of identity theft.

How can you identify the Scam?

The letter is a SCAM if
- 1. You didn’t by a ticket
- 2. You don’t live in the lottery country or you are not a citizen of the lottery country
- 3. You did not register for the lottery.
- 4. There are other mails related to lottery in your mail box
- 5. You never hard of the lottery
- 6. The mail mention any kind of claim agent
- 7. Advice you to keep it secret
- 8. The lottery was promoted by ted Trner, Jesse Jackson, Bill gates, etc
- 9. There will be a request for money
- 10. No country of origin listed
- 11. No license or registration number
- 12. Statement that the fund will be sent to you by Courier or security service for which you have to pay the service charges
- 13. Somebody may collect the fee from you in person – Claim agent
- 14. You are told to travel to the country of lottery origin

Some Tips to Avoid Email Lottery Scam:
- 1. If you receive a letter informaing you that you won a lottery do not reply in any manner.
- 2. Register a complaint with local police and send a copy to HiTech Crime Enquiry Cell at hitechcell@keralapolice.gov.in or www.cyberkeralam.in
- 3. Register a complaint with local police and send a copy to HiTech Crime Enquiry Cell at hitechcell@keralapolice.gov.in or www.cyberkeralam.in
- 4. Be skeptical of individuals representing themselves as Claim Agents or officials of foreign government asking for your help in placing large sums of money in overseas bank accounts.
- 5. Do not believe the promise of large sums of money for your cooperation.
- 6. Guard your account information carefully.

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3 Impersonation/Identity Fraud

Impersonation fraud occurs when someone assumes your identity to perform a fraud or other criminal act. Criminals can get the information they need to assume your identity from a variety of sources, such as the theft of your wallet, your trash, or from credit or bank information. They may approach you in person, by telephone, or on the Internet and ask you for the information.

The sources of information about you are so numerous that you cannot prevent the theft of your identity. But you can minimize your risk of loss by following a few simple hints.

Some Tips to Avoid Impersonation/Identity Fraud:
- 1. Never throw away ATM receipts, credit statements, credit cards, or bank statements in a usable form.
- 2. Never give your credit card number over the telephone unless you make the call.
- 3. Reconcile your bank account monthly and notify your bank of discrepancies immediately.
- 4. Keep a list of telephone numbers to call to report the loss or theft of your wallet, credit cards, etc.
- 5. Report unauthorized financial transactions to your bank, credit card company, and the police as soon as you detect them.
- 6. Review a copy of your credit report at least once each year. Notify the credit bureau in writing of any questionable entries and follow through until they are explained or removed.
- 7. If your identity has been assumed, ask the credit bureau to print a statement to that effect in your credit report.
- 8. If you know of anyone who receives mail from credit card companies or banks in the names of others, report it to local or central law enforcement authorities.

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4 Advance Fee Scheme

An advance fee scheme occurs when the victim pays money to someone in anticipation of receiving something of greater value, such as a loan, contract, investment, or gift, and then receives little or nothing in return.

The variety of advance fee schemes is limited only by the imagination of the con artists who offer them. They may involve the sale of products or services, the offering of investments, lottery winnings, "found money," or many other "opportunities." Clever con artists will offer to find financing arrangements for their clients who pay a "finder's fee" in advance. They require their clients to sign contracts in which they agree to pay the fee when they are introduced to the financing source. Victims often learn that they are ineligible for financing only after they have paid the "finder" according to the contract. Such agreements may be legal unless it can be shown that the "finder" never had the intention or the ability to provide financing for the victims.

Some Tips to Avoid the Advanced Fee Schemes:
- 1. If the offer of an "opportunity" appears too good to be true, it probably is. Follow common business practice. For example, legitimate business is rarely conducted in cash on a street corner.
- 2. Know who you are dealing with. If you have not heard of a person or company that you intend to do business with, learn more about them. Depending on the amount of money that you intend to spend, you may want to visit the business location, check with the Better Business Bureau, or consult with your bank, an attorney, or the police.
- 3. Make sure you fully understand any business agreement that you enter into. If the terms are complex, have them reviewed by a competent attorney.
- 4. Be wary of businesses that operate out of post office boxes or mail drops and do not have a street address, or of dealing with persons who do not have a direct telephone line, who are never "in" when you call, but always return your call later.
- 5. Be wary of business deals that require you to sign nondisclosure or noncircumvention agreements that are designed to prevent you from independently verifying the bona fides of the people with whom you intend to do business. Con artists often use noncircumvention agreements to threaten their victims with civil suit if they report their losses to law enforcement.

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5 Telemarketing Fraud

When you send money to people you do not know personally or give personal or financial information to unknown callers, you increase your chances of becoming a victim of telemarketing fraud.

Warning signs -- what a caller may tell you:

- 1. "You must act 'now' or the offer won't be good."
- 2. "You've won a 'free' gift, vacation, or prize." But you have to pay for "postage and handling" or other charges.
- 3. "You must send money, give a credit card or bank account number, or have a check picked up by courier." You may hear this before you have had a chance to consider the offer carefully.
- 4. "You don't need to check out the company with anyone." The callers say you do not need to speak to anyone including your family, lawyer, accountant, local Better Business Bureau, or consumer protection agency.
- 5. "You don't need any written information about their company or their references."
- 6. "You can't afford to miss this 'high-profit, no-risk' offer."

If you hear these--or similar--"lines" from a telephone salesperson, just say "no thank you," and hang up the phone.

Some Tips to Avoid Telemarketing Fraud:
It's very difficult to get your money back if you've been cheated over the phone. Before you buy anything by telephone, remember:
- 1. Don't buy from an unfamiliar company. Legitimate businesses understand that you want more information about their company and are happy to comply.
- 2. Always ask for and wait until you receive written material about any offer or charity. If you get brochures about costly investments, ask someone whose financial advice you trust to review them. But, unfortunately, beware -- not everything written down is true.
- 3. Always check out unfamiliar companies with your local consumer protection agency, Better Business Bureau, state Attorney General, the National Fraud Information Center, or other watchdog groups. Unfortunately, not all bad businesses can be identified through these organizations.
- 4. Obtain a salesperson's name, business identity, telephone number, street address, mailing address, and business license number before you transact business. Some con artists give out false names, telephone numbers, addresses, and business license numbers. Verify the accuracy of these items.
- 5. Before you give money to a charity or make an investment, find out what percentage of the money is paid in commissions and what percentage actually goes to the charity or investment.
- 6. Before you send money, ask yourself a simple question. "What guarantee do I really have that this solicitor will use my money in the manner we agreed upon?"
- 7. You must not be asked to pay in advance for services. Pay services only after they are delivered.
- 8. Some con artists will send a messenger to your home to pick up money, claiming it is part of their service to you. In reality, they are taking your money without leaving any trace of who they are or where they can be reached.
- 9. Always take your time making a decision. Legitimate companies won't pressure you to make a snap decision.
- 10. Don't pay for a "free prize." If a caller tells you the payment is for taxes, he or she is violating federal law.
- 11. Before you receive your next sales pitch, decide what your limits are -- the kinds of financial information you will and won't give out on the telephone.
- 12. It's never rude to wait and think about an offer. Be sure to talk over big investments offered by telephone salespeople with a trusted friend, family member, or financial advisor.
- 13. Never respond to an offer you don't understand thoroughly.
- 14. Never send money or give out personal information such as credit card numbers and expiration dates, bank account numbers, dates of birth, or social security numbers to unfamiliar companies or unknown persons.
- 15. Your personal information is often brokered to telemarketers through third parties.
- 16. If you have information about a fraud report it to state, local, or federal law enforcement agencies.

Some Samples

Mail Forwarded by : xyz

Subject :ONLINE ACCOUNT ACCESS

Contact :09895308081

email :xyz@gmail.com

Attn: Mr.

XYZ, Prior to your fund transfer approval, your name have been listed among the foreign customers we are making their transfer next week. Hence, our compatriotic department have been able to fix your name in our remittance list, and your name is presently on our transfer screen. More so, your remittance approvals have been legally endorsed, and we are releasing your online account today as the cyber section have issued your online account. Sequel to your online account release order, we are holding on your transfer until you pay the government clearance charge.So you are advised to immediately pay the government clearance charge which is costing you the sum of $1,150USD. You have to access your online account by going directly to our online login website. To access your online account, you have to go directly to our website :www.cityccbk.cn and click directly to online login, the banking page will open where you have to type in your username, and password and your verification number as given. Account Beneficiary name : Mr.XYZ, Amount deposited $1,000,000.00 Username XYZ/CTROPassword XYZF As soon as you type in your online banking information, your saving account deposit will appear as given by our cyber section, and we are instructing you to immediately pay the revenue clearance tax which is costing you the sum of $1,150 USD to enable the government issue the remittance clearance documents, you are advice to contact the revenue clearance department with the email contact below: Contact Person: Mr. David ChangAddress 144 Xianghu Road, Dumpu Province , Guangzhou ChinaEmail: inlandrevenue_officce@yahoo.com upon the issuance of your clearance documents, your will be given your online account access code and the withdrawal section where you will start making direct withdrawals from your online account. You are advice to pay the clearance charge immediately as we may not entertain any further delay due to the fact that every foreign account access will be closed soonest due to our end of the year financial budget review.We await your urgent response.. Regards,Mr. Victor ChenForeign Operation ManagerTelex Transfer SectionCity Corresponding CommercialBank Of China www.cityccbk.cn

From: CONOCOPHILLIPS NIGERIA [mailto:conocophillipsng@gmail.com]

Sent: Saturday, October 13, 2007 9:32 AM

To: anton@hotmail.com

Subject: OFFER LETTER / TERMS AND AGREEMENT

CONFIRMATION OF EMPLOYMENT PLEASE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE PROCEEDING

Dear ANTONY AUGUSTINE,

It is of utmost importance to inform you that after the screening and scrutiny of your Curriculum Vitae with other verification procedures carried out, we, the Human Resources Department, were able to resolve the status of your application. On this note, we hereby congratulate you on the success of your application and as such we have attached to you the Offer Letter/Terms of Agreement that transcends any written document. You are therefore required to follow these procedures IMMEDIATELY so as to complete your employment formalities: (1)You are to contact the Nigerian Immigration Services for a valid Work- Permit/Employment Authorization Document IMMEDIATELY so as to enable your work in Nigeria legally. Note that the procurement of your work-permit MUST not exceed the deadline as stipulated in the offer letter as it would take four (4) working days for the Nigerian Immigration Services to procure your work-permit Below are the contact details of the Nigerian Immigration Services:

Name: Comptroller Mike Adenuga.

Designation: Head of Visa/Work Permit Operations

Email: workpermitsng@diplomats.com

: info-visa-workpermit@excite.com

Tel : +234-80-7677-1403

(2)You are required to sign the Terms of Agreement and after that you have to send to the Nigerian Immigration Services , so that they will start the preparation of your works and resident permit, which shows that you are ready to join the team.

Name:Richard Onyemachi
Designation: General Manger,
Conocophillips Oil.
info@conocophillipsnigeria.com

We hereby once more congratulate you on the success of your application amongst many that have applied and thereby instruct you to expedite all requirements as aforementioned so as to be able to meet the team before the deadline. Do get back to us with developments and updates regarding the procurement of your valid work-permit. All employees successfully screened and recruited for the CONOCOPHILLIPS OIL Nigeria Limited 'PHASE IV DEVELOPMENT PROJECT' (Are to contact the Nigerian Immigration for valid residence and work permit clearance papers. The CONOCOPHILLIPS OIL Nigeria Limited will PERSONALLY INCUR all expenses regarding the processing, procurement and acquisition of all their necessary permits clearance papers with the Nigerian Immigration Services only. Any other expenses incured apart from Nigeria Immigration Service will be carted by YOU and will be reimbursed. Your air ticket will also be taken care by CONOCOPHILLIPS OIL NIGERIA.

Congratulations!
Mr. Charles Ezinna Onwuka
Human Resources Department Manager
Conocophillips Oil Nigeria.
Email: hr_dept@conocophillipsnigeria.com

c/o: Dr Ron Friedman
E-mail: conocophillpsnigeria@gmail.com
Recruitment Manager Of Conocophillips.
Phone: +234-703-817-8307

From: Mrs.Amina.A Bello.
Address:Kamcha- E Hospital,55 Moo 12,
Numtieng, Kamcha -E, Mukdahan Thailand
Attention:Director / ceo.
Business Investment Proposal From Mrs Amina Bello,

Before I proceed, may I humbly introduce myself to your goodself, My Name is Mrs. Amina.A.Bello, an Iraqi refugee ,my husband was until recently, one of the personal aid to the president of Iraq who was formerly overthrown out of power by American Government, for a year and six months now sufuring heart problem..

Prior to this last serious crisis that is still ravaging in my country,which recently led to misfortune of our government and my late husband position as the personal aid to the president, we were able to come over here in Thailand ,we inherited the sum of ( (US11 million).

The funds were originally gotten from my late husband proceeds. My late husband was able to safe guard the fund with a very good diplomatic contact from my Country. I have decided to contact you because I am interested in investing in your country which is investment friendly.

Please kindly guide and assist me in making the right investment since I am also interested in buying a residential property as I will be moving my family over there as soon as every thing regarding technical and logictics details is worked out and ascertained to our respective satisfaction.

In view of your participation,I am ready to give you a good negotiable percentage 30% of the fund for your assistance,or better still commit it into viable Joint venture projects,be assured that you stand no risk of any kind as the funds belong to me and my only survived son. As soon as I get your consent, we will quickly move this fund to your country for investment . However, upon your acceptance to work as my partner, you can contact me with my private telephone number or e-mail for more details. aminabello_a01@hotmail.com

I am here with my only surviving son AMED Rashid Bello, I strongly believe that associating with you to embark on this and other business ventures will derive a huge success here after, please include you private contact telephone number and private e-mail when replying.

Yours Sincerely.
Mrs.Amina.A.Bello.
GOOGLE EMAIL LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL

FROM: INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION / PRIZE AWARD .
PROMOTING INTERNET USAGE OVER THE GLOBE
( WE ENCOURAGE GLOBALIZATION)
FROM: THE LOTTERY COORDINATOR,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT GOOGLE B.V. Boeing Avenue 44 9459 PE.
RESULTS FOR CATEGORY "A" DRAWS

Congratulations to you as we bring to your notice, the results of the First Category draws of GOOGLE LOTTERY INT. We are happy to inform you that you have emerged a winner under the First Category, which is part of our promotional draws. The draws were held on 28th January 2005 and results are being officially announced friday 11th of Febuary 2005. Participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 2,500,000 email addresses of individuals and companies from Africa, America, Asia, Australia, Europe, Middle East, and Oceania as part of our International Promotions Program.

Your e-mail address, attached to ticket number 50941465206-529, with serial number 5772-54 drew the lucky numbers 3-4-17-28-35-44 and consequently won in the First Category. You have therefore been awarded a lump sum pay out of 1,000,000 euros(One million euros), which is the winning payout for Category A winners. This is from the total prize money from 2,000,000 euros shared among the 2 winners in this category.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Your fund is now deposited with the paying Bank. In your best interest to aviod mix up of numbers and names of any kind, we request that you keep the entire details of your award strictly from public notice until the process of transferring your claims has been completed, and your funds remitted to your account. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming or unscrupulous acts by participants/non participants of this program.

Please contact your claims agent immediately for due processing and remittance of your prize money to a designated account of your choice:

To file for your claim,please contact the fiduciary agent.
***********************************************
Mr.David Steevenson,
Proof Trust Agency
0030-699-769-2793
Email:prooflottery@latinmail.com
Sintagma 113
10435 Athens
GREECE.
***********************************************
You are advised to contact the agents by email.

NOTE: For easy reference and identification, find below your reference and Batch numbers. Remember to quote these numbers in every one of your correspondence with your claims agent. REFERENCE NUMBER: LSLUK/2031/8161/04 BATCH NUMBER: 14/011/IPD

Congratulations once again from all our staff and thank you for being part of our promotions program.

Sincerely Yours,
MRS.ELIZABETH MOUS.
PROGRAM CORDINATOR.

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Beware of Fraud Schemes

1 Nigerian Letter or "419" Fraud

2 Email Lottery Scams

3 Impersonation/Identity Fraud

4 Advance Fee Scheme

5 Telemarketing Fraud

Some Samples

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