Scammers Pose as Medical Insurance program that has yet to be launched. 5/16/2013
From the BBB - Sharing personal information with a scammer puts you at risk for identity theft. Scammers can use ... Government agencies normally communicate through the mail, so be very cautious of any unsolicited calls, text messages or emails you receive...
Visit bbb.org to learn more
FTC Warns Small Businesses of fale emails posing as from the FTC 1/14/2013
From FTC.gov - The Federal Trade Commission is warning small businesses that an email with a subject line "NOTIFICATION OF CONSUMER COMPLAINT" is not from the FTC. The email falsely states that a complaint has been filed with the agency against their company. The FTC advises recipients not to click on any of the links or attachments with the email. Clicking on the links may install a virus or other spyware on the computer.
The FTC's advice: Delete the email. For more information on malicious software (malware), visit www.OnGuardOnline.gov/malware.
Click Here to learn more
IC3.Gov Jan. 7 2013 Scam Alerts
A list of the latest scams from IC3.gov.
New Twist to Online Tech Support Scam 01/07/2013
From IC3.gov "The caller convinces the user to grant them the authority to run a program to scan their operating system. Users witness the caller going through their files as the caller claims they are showing how the virus has infected their computer.
Users are told the virus could be removed for a fee and are asked for their credit card details. Those who provide the caller remote access to their computers, whether they paid for the virus to be removed or not, report difficulties with their computer afterwards; either their computers would not turn on or certain programs/files were inaccessible." CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
New Scam E-mail Regarding a "Wire Transfer Accepted" 12/19/2012
A new scam email is going around the internet. It claims that the victim has a pending wire transfer for a large sum of money and all they need to do is go to a specific website or download a file in order to get it. By clicking on the requested link the victim will download a virus that not only allows the scammers access to their computer but will also cause their computer to not function properly. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York has an example of this scam that you can view HERE. For more information please visit the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's website.
Citadel Malware Continues to Deliver Reveton Ransomware in Attempts to Extort Money 12/14/2012
From FBI.gov 11/30/12-A new extortion technique is being deployed by cyber criminals using the Citadel malware platform to deliver Reveton ransomware. The latest version of the ransomware uses the name of the Internet Crime Complaint Center to frighten victims into sending money to the perpetrators. In addition to instilling a fear of prosecution, this version of the malware also claims that the user's computer activity is being recorded using audio, video, and other devices... For more information click here
Postal Delivery Scam 12/11/12
It's the holiday season and that means that scammers are busier than ever attempting to gain consumer information. The ITRC would like to warn consumers of one scam that either comes from an email or a phone call. The thief will claim that they have a package that the victims is expecting and they will ask for a credit card number or possibly even a Social Security number in order to "release" the package. Consumers should know that it is not a usual practice for a delivery service to ask the recipient to pay for the delivery, especially the USPS.
For more information on how to avoid this scam, click here
IRS says Be Aware of Fradulent look-alike websites - 11/2/2012
"IRS Spokesman David Tucker said a scam involving look-alike websites is making the rounds, seeking identity theft victims.
"The new tax scam uses a website that mimics the IRS e-Services online registration page," he said. "The actual IRS e-Services page offers web-based products to tax preparers, not the general public. The phony web page looks almost identical to the real one." Read More at Times Herald Online
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS RAISE AWARENESS OF DISASTER FRAUD HOTLINE - 11/1/2012
"The Department of Justice, the FBI and the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) remind the public there is a potential for disaster fraud in the aftermath of a natural disaster. Suspected fraudulent activity pertaining to relief efforts associated with the recent series of tornadoes in the Midwest and South should be reported to the NCDF hotline at 866-720-5721. The hotline is staffed by a live operator 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for the purpose of reporting suspected scams being perpetrated by criminals in the aftermath of disasters." Read More At IC3.gov
DATING EXTORTION SCAM - 10/23/2012
"The IC3 has recently received reports regarding a scam that baits individuals into intimate online conversations and then extorting them for financial gain. The scam was initiated after the victims met someone online, such as on a dating site, and were asked to connect via a specific online social network. Shortly after, the conversations became sexual in nature. Later, victims received text messages, either containing their names, asking if it was them or containing a statement that indicated their names were posted on a particular website. The victims were provided a link to a page on the website that claimed they were a "cheater." Photos of the victims and their telephone numbers were also posted. There was an option to view and buy the posted conversations for $9. Victims were also given the option to have their names and conversations removed for $99. Some were even told that once the payment was made, the information would be removed within an hour and the website would not allow anyone to post anything pertaining to the victims' names again. However, reports do not indicate that the information was ever removed." (Internet Crimes Complaint Center's Scam Alert. October 23, 2012)
PAYDAY LOAN SCAMS - 10/23/2012
"The IC3 has received thousands of complaints regarding pay day loan scams over the last three years and continues to see new variations of the scam. The scam involves victims who are relentlessly contacted, via the telephone, at their residences and places of employment. The subjects claim the victims are delinquent on a payday loan and must repay the loan to avoid legal consequences. The subjects use coercion techniques such as harassment, threats, and claims that they were representatives of government agencies and law firms. Only some of the victims have reported previously applying for a payday loan, others said they have never made such an application. The subjects seem to have accurate information on the victims, including social security numbers, dates of birth, addresses, employer information, bank account numbers, names and telephone numbers of relatives and friends. The subjects refuse to provide any details of the alleged payday loans and become abusive when questioned. Victims are threatened with legal actions, arrests and, in some cases, physical violence if they refuse to pay. Some have been told there was an outstanding warrant for their arrest. Many reported that subjects have also harassed their relatives, friends, and employers. In a couple of instances, the subjects came to the victims' places of employment and residences claiming to be process servers... "
for more information readInternet Crimes Complaint Center's Scam Alert. October 23, 2012
Fake survey and Sweepstakes 8/8/12
A phone scam claiming to be a "political survey". Participants are told they won a free cruise and are asked to give their email address and credit card information to pay "port fees". http://www.ic3.gov/media/2012/120808.aspx
E-mail scam targets Department of Defense employees. 6/11/2012
Scammers are targeting DoD military members, civilian employees, and retirees with an fake email that even ends in ".mil" The email claims that those currently on disability could bet more funds fromt he IRS. http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2012/06/defense_employees_target_of_e-.html
Aflac says scammers using name in "prize" fraud. 6/11/2012
The insurance company, Aflac's name is being used on mailings claiming that the recipients are winners of a sweepstakes. Some people have even received checks and are asked to wire the tax money so they can claim their full prize. These are scam. http://www.ajc.com/business/aflac-says-scammers-using-1456145.html
IRS Warns Vets about Phishing Scams 6/12/2012
Scams are targeting military vets and civilian workers in the form of phishing scams.
http://www.pe.com/business/business-headlines/20120612-taxes-irs-warns-vets-about-phishing-scams.ece
PG&E warns of scam. 5/25/2012
Utility companies warn customers of a scam that is posing as a text message from Pres. Obama. The text says that he will provide a credit to pay the consumer's utility bill if they provide their social security number. http://www.record-bee.com/ci_20713363/pg-e-warns-customers-about-scam and http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/07/4546034/firstenergy-warns-customers-of.html
FBI Finds Scammers Impersonating the FBI Now one of the Worst Online Threats 5/16/2012
2011 saw a huge trend in thieves posing as FBI agents in order to scam people. http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/80567
Justice Department and FBI Raise Awareness of Disaster Fraud Hotline 3/8/12
"The Department of Justice, the FBI and the National Center for Disaster Fraud ( NCDF) remind the public there is a potential for disaster fraud in the aftermath of a natural disaster. Suspected fraudulent activity pertaining to relief efforts associated with the recent series of tornadoes in the Midwest and South should be reported to the NCDF hotline at 866-720-5721. The hotline is staffed by a live operator 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for the purpose of reporting suspected scams being perpetrated by criminals in the aftermath of disasters." - IC3.gov For more information, read the rest o the article at http://www.ic3.gov/media/2012/120308.aspx
Telephone Collection/Pay Day Loan Scam 2/21/12
The FBI's cyber crimes task force (IC3.gov) has been getting many complaints about scammers calling intended victims and posting as either legitimate sounding government agencies or actual agencies. There are many variations to this scam but all of them involve the thieves making threats to have the victim arrested if they don't pay. FBI.gov
Facebook "like-jacking" or "click-jacking" scam 1/27/12
Scammers are creating misleading "like" buttons on sites that lead the clicker to another site where users are asked to give up personal inforamtion or are tricked into giving up financial info. BBC News
FBI Scam Warning 01/03/2012
"The Federal Bureau of Investigation has issued a warning about a new Zeus malware attack targeting commercial bank accounts, ultimately leading to incidents of corporate account takeover. The Zeus variant used: a malware called Gameover, which the FBI says is able to defeat several forms of dual-factor authentication..." Read More at BankInfoSecurity.com
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Typosquatting 12/23/2011
Typosquatting is when a scammer will purchase domainnames that are based on common misspellings or errors from typing in a legitimate website. They will make their site look like the original in order to trick you into giving out personal information such as bank account log-in info, credit card inforamtion, social security numbers, etc. (from Debix.com)
Fraudulent Scemes? There are enough out there to fill a book. 12/5/2011
A wonderful article by the Baltimore Sun on many different types of online scams that consumers and internet users need to be aware of.
Netflix Email Scam 10/24/2011
An email is circulating that appears to be from Netflix. It tells the reader that their payment was denied and, in order to resume their Netflix subscription, they need to download and open a .zip file. Once opened, this file contains malware.
from DigitalJournal.com
"Smishing" scammers may hit cellphones 10/18/2011
There is new way scammers are trying to reach consumers to get their personal information... text messages. This new trend is called smishing and it involves scammers sending text messages to consumers attempting to phish their information. Click here to read more.
Immigration Green Card Scam 6/21/11
This scam is an email informing the recipiant that they have one a US Green Card by Email Ballot Lottery. It tells the recipiant that they cannot get their visa unless they send in the "processing fee" of anywhere between $800 and $1,500 American. They must send this money by wire or direct bank transfer. You can see what this email looks like HERE
Modified Hitman/Extortion Scam 12/02/10
Similar to the old "hitman" scam, this one targets nannies and those working at day care centers. The victim receives an email from a supposed "hitman". They say for $150,000 - $250,000 they will spare the victim's life and provide for them evidence of who hired the hit. If they don't pay, they are threatened not only with death, but the kidnapping of the children they are taking care of. ic3.gov
Payment Processing Ponzi Scam 12/02/10
A website claimed to be a payment processing site and advertised that it would allow transactions that other payment processing places would not allow (such as guns) in order to obtain customers. The site appears to have begun as a legitimate business but appears to have used newer customer's transactions to pay for older customers. Resulting in delayed payments or nonpayment. ic3.gov
Adoption Scam 12/02/10
This online scam prey upon those who wish to adopt a child and collects their personal information. Victims said they responded to an online advertisement from this agency claiming they had a child from overseas who needed to be adopted. ic3.gov
Craig's List Job Scams 10/14/10
Unfortunately there are many different types of job scams that can be found on Craig’s List. Some will simply ask for your social security number when you submit your resume. Others will request that you visit a building with all of your personal documents, and later you will discover that the building is actually empty and they were squatting in it so they could scam people.
Another scam will ask the applicant to pull their credit report before proceeding with the application process. The hiring company will insist that the applicant use their credit report company. Once the applicant inputs their personal information, they usually do not receive their credit report and they will not hear from this company again, except for more questions about their personal information.
Do not be fooled!
Do not give up any personal information online.
Do not comply with a credit check or any other background check until you have met with them face to face.
Only visit physical, business locations with the name of the company on the building or in the floor listing. Do not meet for your interview off site.
Craig's List Car Scam 10/14/10
This scam poses as a listing for a car on Craig’s List. The car is usually located in another country like Canada, but not always. The owner is almost always “away overseas”. If you are interested in the car, the “owner” will suggest that you use eBay’s car seller site. You will then be asked to wire the money, sometimes to a third party who is handling the “owner’s” finances while they are away.
Once the money is wired, you will never get it back. There is no safety net, nobody you can report it to in order to reverse the wire transfer.
The car does not exist. You will never get the car. The picture is usually from somebody else’s legitimate posting.
"I'm stuck in ___ country and need help!" email scam 10/14/10
At the ITRC we have been getting many calls from victims who have come into contact with this scam.
Usually, a hacker will gain access to a person’s email account. They will change the passwords and security question. They will then send an email to everybody in the victim’s address book stating that the victim has robbed or otherwise stranded in a foreign nation (usually England) and they need the recipient to wire transfer some money so they can get home. The email also states that the victim has lost their cell phone and cannot receive calls. After sending this email, the hacker will sometimes erase the victim’s address book and all stored emails.
If you’re email account has been taken over as a result of this scam, read Sol. 20 on email account take over, run a virus scan on your computer, and contact everybody that you can that may have received the scam email.
If you have received such an email, do NOT respond to it. Print it out for your records and delete it from your computer. File an incident report with your local police department and run a virus scan on your computer. Inform the person whose email account it was sent from. They may not know that their email was hacked.
FBI/Inheritance Scam 4/7/10
An email posing as from the FBI informing the recipient that a large some of money in England has been willed to them. All they have to do to get it is wire a sum of money to England.
The FBI does not alert US citizens of trusts or inheritances created in foreign countries. The FBI does not have offices outside of the United States. Click HERE to view an example.
FBI/Central Bank of Nigeria Scam 1/19/10
An email claiming to be from a US Government office (in this case, the FBI) telling the receiver of this email that there is a large some of money waiting for them in Nigeria. It further warns the receiver that there are many scam artists out there trying to steal their money and tells the reader to stop dealing with anybody else claiming to be from Nigeria. That THEY are the legit ones. Click HERE to view an example.