Another Part-Time Job-Opportunity Scam on WhatsApp®, with Voice Message; Probable Repeat Offender

I'm pretty sure this is the same WhatsApp® scammer I wrote about before.

Her "name" is Anna, and her number on WhatsApp is +1 (213) 828-6634.

She mentions Onin Staffing, which is a real employment agency, with branches all over the United States (ONINSTAFFING.COM). 

But this is just part of her game.

The scam domains this time around, are:

     > 📛💣NOETICMARKETERC.COM💣📛 <
      > 💣📛 NOETICMARKETERA.COM📛💣 <

Anna included a short voice message this time.  Here's a link to the audio file.  She sounds Asian:

                       >>>  ANNA, The SCAMMER <<<

The full text is below....Rich with lots of scammy details.  And, once again, it all seems quite legit. 

But I just had to highlight these two items, because they are HILARIOUS!

• "OK.  May I know your name maybe we can be good friends in future..." 😀😂😀

• "After all the work is done, you can immediately withdraw the commission profit you deserve." 😂😀😂

[ANNA -- THE SCAMMER --  11:33 AM] +1 (213) 828-6634: Hello, my name is Anna. I work for Noetic Marketer and Madison from Onin Staffing told me that you are interested in the part time job we are offering, please let me know when you are available and I would like us to keep a good communication!

[ANNA -- THE SCAMMER --  12:54 PM] +1 (213) 828-6634: Nice to see you. My name is Anna.

       [ME] : Hello. I am ready to get started.  Any more details for me?  RSVP.  Thanks.

[ANNA -- THE SCAMMER --  12:55 PM] +1 (213) 828-6634: Yes, I will share job descriptions with you

[ANNA -- THE SCAMMER --  12:57 PM] +1 (213) 828-6634: I would like to introduce you to a part-time job. Work from home kind of thing. You can do it in 30-60 minutes a day. After two consecutive days of work, you will receive a base salary of $100-400.

[ANNA -- THE SCAMMER --  1:01 PM] +1 (213) 828-6634: This part-time job does not require any skills or experience. You only need a mobile phone or computer to complete this job at any time and in any area you feel comfortable. It will also bring you a good income.

[ANNA -- THE SCAMMER --  2:02 PM] +1 (213) 828-6634: Honey, are you busy?

[ANNA -- THE SCAMMER --  4:45 PM] +1 (213) 828-6634: Do you have time?

       [ME] : Always busy.  But I am here, and reading all that you are sending me.  Need all necessary information on your opportunity....Thank you....

[ANNA -- THE SCAMMER --  4:48 PM] +1 (213) 828-6634: Our job is to help merchants on large e-commerce platforms such as Amazon/eBay maintain and optimize their products, thereby helping them maximize the retail value of their products so that their products will be displayed first when consumers purchasing goods.

[ANNA -- THE SCAMMER --  4:51 PM] +1 (213) 828-6634: Our company uses artificial intelligence to connect merchants’ products to our workbench, helping them maintain their products faster. Generally, it takes 1-7 days to complete maintenance on a product. Using the artificial intelligence developed by our company, all employees can complete the maintenance of a product in 1-5 seconds. You can think of it as us making money by compressing time through  AI.
[ANNA -- THE SCAMMER --  4:55 PM] +1 (213) 828-6634: The work is simple, as I explained we only need to click on "Start" and then "Submit", and the platform AI system will automatically utilize advanced algorithms to interact with online shopping platforms and handle the rest of the work. Our job is to repeat the process seamleassly.

[ANNA -- THE SCAMMER --  5:09 PM] +1 (213) 828-6634: Can you understand clearly when  I introduce it this way? If you have any questions you can ask me right away.

[ANNA -- THE SCAMMER --  5:37 PM] +1 (213) 828-6634: we can earn a salary and also a daily commission from this job .
The first part is a fixed salary. If you complete 3 sets of tasks every day and work for 2 consecutive days, you will receive a salary of 100-400 US dollars. The difference in salary is based on the employee level.

[ANNA -- THE SCAMMER --  5:54 PM] +1 (213) 828-6634: The second part is that you will get a commission for every product maintenance you complete, depending on the value of the products matched in your account, you can get a commission of 30-1200 US dollars per day, which also depends on your employee level. The higher the employee level, the more commissions you get.

[ANNA -- THE SCAMMER --  6:21 PM] +1 (213) 828-6634: Can you understand well what I am explaining?

[ANNA -- THE SCAMMER --  7:28 PM] +1 (213) 828-6634: Junior employees can complete three sets of tasks per day, 40 times per set of tasks, and can receive 100 USDT for completing work for two consecutive days. Intermediate employees can complete four sets of tasks per day, 45 times per set of tasks, and can receive 200 USDT for completing work for two consecutive days. Senior employees can complete five sets of tasks per day, 50 times per set of tasks, and can receive 300 USDT for completing work for two consecutive days. Mentor employees can complete six sets of tasks per day, 55 times per set of tasks, and can receive 400 USDT for completing work for two consecutive days.

[ANNA -- THE SCAMMER --  7:35 PM] +1 (213) 828-6634: I hope you can understand my work. May I know what your occupation is? I will be able to communicate better without interrupting your working hours.

[ANNA -- THE SCAMMER --  9:54 PM] +1 (213) 828-6634: I understand you are busy today. We can discuss further tomorrow. good night.

[ANNA -- THE SCAMMER --  11:05 AM] +1 (213) 828-6634: Good morning

[ANNA -- THE SCAMMER --  12:43 PM] +1 (213) 828-6634: Hi, Do you have time?

[ANNA -- THE SCAMMER --  12:45 PM] +1 (213) 828-6634: Can you understand the work we discussed yesterday? If you don't understand, you can ask me.

       [ME] : Hi.  So what do you need from me right now? I'd like to get started ASAP...

[ANNA -- THE SCAMMER --  1:00 PM] +1 (213) 828-6634: May I know your name maybe we can be good friends in future.

[ANNA -- THE SCAMMER --  1:01 PM] +1 (213) 828-6634: My name is Anna.

[ANNA -- THE SCAMMER --  1:15 PM] +1 (213) 828-6634: There are different commissions for each employee at different levels. Beginner commission is 0.45%.
Intermediate commission is 0.65%. Advanced commission is 0.85%. Mentor commission is 1.05%. Well let me know when you have time. We can start practicing. Don't worry, the training can be completed in 30-45 minutes. After all the work is done, you can immediately withdraw the commission profit you deserve.

After you register on our job website let me know and I will guide you best.

You can click on the link below and register a work account using the invitation code i send you.

• Workbench Website: Noeticmarketera.com📛💣📛

• Noeticmarketerc.com📛💣📛

• Invitation code：P9HW4G 📛💣📛

If you have 30-45 minutes now we can start the training session now.

There are different commissions for each employee at different levels. Beginner commission is 0.45%. Intermediate commission is 0.65%. Advanced commission is 0.85%. Mentor commission is 1.05%.

OK.  May I know your name maybe we can be good friends in future...

The "training session" mentioned in the above 👆 WhatsApp conversation is not only a complete waste of time, but it's also how the scammers trick you into giving them sensitive information about yourself. 

These scammers like to use free phone numbers, of course.

So I've noticed that Google® has made some changes, new moves in their never-ending war against the spam + scam crowd.

• Getting a free phone number with Google Voice used to be free.
  
  Now you have to have an "Existing US-based mobile phone number" to get one.
  
  I don't know of any free mobile-phone plans in the USA.  If you, the reader, know of any, please add a comment below with details.  And thank you!
  
  
• And if you want to create a new GMail account, you'll have to confirm that you're not a robot.  How?  A text message sent to your not-free mobile phone number, of course.
  

Google (Gmail) accounts with the right username can (the part before the "@" symbol) do much to aid tricksters in their craft. 

Ending the 100% free nature of these accounts is the right thing to do.  Hopefully, all you honest folks out there have already created all the Google accounts you need...

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The Latest "Job Opportunity" Scam via WhatsAPP® and LinkedIN® Accounts...

The scammer goes by the name "Alexia," and his/her phone number on WhatsAPP
-- (www.WhatsAPP.com) --
in this instance is +1 (650) 613-5608

This scam artist got my number at LinkedIN.com
 

My phone number is listed publicly there for all to see. It's not a real threat because it's a free voice over IP (VOIP) number, provided by a reliable VOIP provider

========

[9/12/2024 12:01 PM] SCAMMER: Hello! I am Alexia, I heard from Leslie that you are looking for a job, do you have time to learn more about this position?

[9/12/2024 12:38 PM] -ME- : OK

[9/12/2024 12:41 PM] SCAMMER: Ok, thanks for your response. Let me explain the details of a job to you now. If you have any questions, you can ask me.

[9/12/2024 12:41 PM] -ME- : OK

[9/12/2024 12:44 PM] SCAMMER: Our company specializes in hotel bookings and offers various assessment roles. We have developed a work platform equipped with an advanced algorithm that enhances the visibility of hotel bookings we manage. This system helps generate real traffic and improve the ranking of hotels that have recently experienced higher occupancy rates.

[9/12/2024 12:55 PM] -ME- : OK

[9/12/2024 12:58 PM] SCAMMER: okay, now let me tell you what you need to do.

[9/12/2024 12:59 PM] -ME- : OK

[9/12/2024 1:03 PM] SCAMMER: In this position, you’ll need to complete two sets of tasks daily, each set consist with 40 hotel orders. The system will assign these orders to you, and all you need to do is click "Submit" to upload them. The system will then handle the rest by analyzing and processing the orders based on each user's unique network IP and process them accordingly.

[9/12/2024 1:44 PM] -ME- : So the job is just clicking [SUBMIT]?

[9/12/2024 1:47 PM] SCAMMER: Yes but it plays a crucial role in improving the visibility and ranking of hotel bookings. Your work helps ensure that the system can accurately process and analyze the data, which in turn supports better outcomes for the hotels we work with.

[9/12/2024 2:01 PM] -ME- : OK

[9/12/2024 2:06 PM] SCAMMER: Great, Now if you don’t have any other questions about the content of the position, then let me tell you about your job income and start training, ok?
[9/12/2024 2:08 PM] -ME- : OK

[9/12/2024 2:14 PM] SCAMMER: Your total income includes a basic salary plus commission. You earn commission by completing two sets of evaluation tasks each day. For each hotel order, you can earn between 0.25% to 1% commission. For example, if you evaluate orders worth $100, you could earn up to $20 in commission from completing two sets of tasks.

[9/12/2024 2:17 PM] SCAMMER: And the basic salary is calculated based on the number of consecutive working days after completing two sets of work. The salary structure is as follows:
3 days: $160
5 days: $500
15 days: $1,200
30 days: $3,300
In total, if you work continuously for 30 days, you would earn $5,160.

[9/12/2024 2:18 PM] : OK

[9/12/2024 2:20 PM] SCAMMER: Btw, do you use a wallet similar to cashapp? For example, Metamask, Trustwallet, or Paypal. This kind of wallet is convenient for us to receive our commissions and salary after completing our task every day.

[9/12/2024 2:22 PM] : Receiving or remitting? I'm a bit confused...

[9/12/2024 2:23 PM] SCAMMER: I mentioned you there receive, then why you are confused?

[9/12/2024 2:25 PM] SCAMMER: Have you used any of these?

[9/12/2024 6:02 PM] SCAMMER: Good Evening! As the sun sets, let your worries fade. Every ending is a chance for a new beginning. Embrace the possibilities that lie ahead!

[9/12/2024 9:18 PM] -ME- : Metamask, Trustwallet, or Paypal? Yes.

[9/12/2024 9:27 PM] SCAMMER: Do you have all of these wallets?

[9/12/2024 9:27 PM] -ME- : PayPal

[9/12/2024 9:32 PM] SCAMMER: OK, Now if there are no problems, I'll provide you with an online training and let you operate a set of assessment tasks on the platform. I will guide you on how to complete it and get 20% commission for training.

[9/12/2024 9:41 PM] -ME- : OK

[9/13/2024 10:16 AM] +1 (650) 613-5608: Good Morning How's your day going?

[9/13/2024 10:17 AM] +1 (650) 613-5608: OK, now you need to open the platform URL and use my invitation code to register your own account. Please let me know after you complete the registration.

URL: BOOKINGONVIP.COM
Invitation Code: ZIMN27

[9/13/2024 11:10 AM] : Please see that attached screen shot. It is what I got when I tried to visit the URL you just sent me....🤷🏼‍♂

[9/13/2024 12:06 PM] SCAMMER: Sorry, I forgot to mention that our platform has been updated, so the platform URL has also changed. Can you use this: https://booking-vip.top

=========

👉 THIS MESSAGE WAS SENT THE NEXT DAY: Good Afternoon! 🎉 Weekends are for dreaming big and making plans. Use today to set new goals and get excited about the possibilities ahead. The best is yet to come! 🤮😡🤮😡🤮😡🤮😡🤮😡🤮😡🤮😡🤮😡

=========

As you can see, this scam artist throws in lots of detail, with numbers 💸🤔💰🤔💸.  Seems almost legit, doesn't it? 😡

The deceptive domains even have "https://" encryption...Because Internet baddies need to watch out for scammers too!

• NB: www.Booking.com is a 100% legitimate website.

This and other scam artists use fake / deceptive / scam domain names to trick people.

The scam domains in this case are -- and PLEASE DON'T VISIT THESE DOMAINS! THEY ARE DANGEROUS! -- ⧨👇⧩ :

> 📛💣📛💣 Booking-VIP.TOP📛💣📛💣 <
   > 💣📛💣 BookingOnVIP.COM💣📛💣 <

These deceptive domains even have "https://" encryption...Because Internet baddies need to watch out for scammers too! 🤮

==========

UPDATE: Tuesday, September 17, 2024, 2:53 PM EST - The scammer has not let up.  He/she just sent me this BS motivational message on WhatsAPP:

"Good afternoon! Remember, every small step you take today is a step closer to your bigger dreams. Keep moving forward!"

🤔: Perhaps this scammer just finished browsing a Tony Robbins book or something.  RIDICULOUS!  Like these words are going to make me more likely to fall for this scam. 100% CRAZY!

I'll probably be back with another update soon.  I have a feeling this person is not going to quit!  Stay tuned...

===========

UPDATE: Wednesday, September 18, 2024, 7:53 PM EST - The latest message on WhatsApp, from the same scammer:

-------------------

All good.

Due to maintenance, the URL for Booking.com has changed.
Therefore you can use this URL and use my invitation code to register your account.

URL : https://www.hotelwnnvip.com

Invitation Code : ZIMN27

-------------------

And this is how these scammers keep their scams going ad infinitum.  A fresh, new domain name, with the same scam setup.

    > 📛💣📛 HOTELWNNVIP.COM 💣📛💣 <

MAMA MIA!

The scammer's persistence continues!

I guess all the major browser makers out there are onto this scumbag. They are blocking his/her/their every move, and fast...

===============

WHOIS info:

Domain Name: HOTELWNNVIP.COM
Registry Domain ID: 2916711082_DOMAIN_COM-VRSN
Registrar WHOIS Server: whois.gname.com
Registrar URL: http://www.gname.com
Updated Date: 2024-09-13T21:53:23Z
Creation Date: 2024-09-13T21:53:23Z
Registry Expiry Date: 2025-09-13T21:53:23Z

==============

One of the reasons I registered my most important domain names for the maximum time frame -- 10 years -- and continue to add more time whenever I am able, is to send a strong signal to the search engines and browser makers: My domain names and I are 100% legit!

A domain name that is registered for 10 years shouldn't be treated the same as one that is registered at the bare minimum.  Makes sense...

Stay tuned! 

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My Former Web Host, LIQUIDWEB.com, Is Trying To Scam Me...

LIQUIDWEB.com is trying to scam me.  It has been more than two (2) years since I stopped hosting my websites with them.

And now they are trying to convince me that I owe them $169.60!  Here's the content of the email they sent me:

"...Re: Liquid Web LLC - Collections Notification - Total Amount Due as of 17 Jun 2024: $169.60

Dear [REDACTED],

Despite our previous reminders, the above amount due remains unpaid and will be turned over for collections activity. As such, we would appreciate you making this payment as soon as possible.

As of this date, your charges for your Liquid Web account  [REDACTED] is $169.60. Liquid Web provided those services in good faith and has notified you through several methods that your payment was past due.

Under Section 3 of Liquid Web's Terms of Service, you agreed to make payment when due. Further, Liquid Web is entitled to recover all of its expenses, including attorneys' fees, in connection with collection of your obligations. In addition, interest continues to accrue on the unpaid balance at the rate of 1.5% per month.

To avoid additional cost and interest, please remit payment within ten (10) days of receipt of this letter in the amount of $169.60, by logging into your account with your username [REDACTED] at https://www.liquidweb.com/, or by forwarding a check to my attention at the address below, made payable to Liquid Web.

If you believe these charges are inaccurate or would like to work with us to make payment arrangements, please contact us by email at collections@liquidweb.com.

Very truly yours,

Kristie Bakkal
General Counsel

2703 Ena Drive,
Lansing, MI 48917
LiquidWeb.com..."

And I see that they've been at it for a long time.  Check out the many horror stories on YELP.com.

How on Earth do they stay in business??? Their customer service is 100% atrocious, and they charge way too much for web hosting.

They attempted to raise my monthly rate, at which point I decided to look around and see what other hosts were offering.

Hosting is a very easy business, so there are unnumbered hosts out there...So my search took me a while.

And where did I find the best deal I've ever seen?

It was right under my nose the entire time! Best pricing in the universe, according to my findings, turned out to be NameCheap.com*...And NameCheap is where I already had a few domain names registered!

Did I feel kinda' silly?  You betcha'!

Hosting companies rely on their customers not bothering to shop around for a better deal once they've setup an account.  It's a classic case of business inertia.  And I was 100% guilty of this.

So, in conclusion: Shame on you LIQUIDWEB! Shame, shame, SHAME!!!

NameCheap hosting is, by a long shot, MASSIVELY cheaper than LIQUIDWEB...So shame, Shame SHAME on me too, for falling asleep at the web-hosting wheel!

AND NameCheap customer service is both first class AND available online 24/7/365, via live webchat.  Very recently, I had issues installing a new SSL certificate, and I was able to get live help and a quick solution in the middle of the night (EST USA.)

* = This is not a sponsored post.  I received neither discounts nor remuneration of any kind, for mentioning NameCheap.com in this blog entry.

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www.FedPrimeRate.com: Emergency! Can I Borrow Your Phone SCAM

www.FedPrimeRate.com: Emergency! Can I Borrow Your Phone SCAM...

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www.FedPrimeRate.com: Banking SCAM ALERT, Part 1

 www.FedPrimeRate.com: Banking SCAM ALERT, Part 1

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SCAM ALERT: How to Avoid Banking And Other Trending Scams; Know The Red Flags

From the good folks at Bank of America:

Be Aware Of A Trending Zelle® Payment Scam

Beware of scammers impersonating banks and fraud departments. By spoofing legitimate phone numbers to call or text you, the requests can be very convincing. While Bank of America may send you a text to validate unusual activity, we will never contact you to request that you send money using Zelle® to anyone, including yourself or to share a code to resolve fraud.

Here's What Happens:

• You receive a text that looks like a Bank of America suspicious activity alert.
  
  
• If you respond to the text, you've engaged the scammer and will receive a call from a number that appears to be from a bank.
  
  
• The “representative” or scammer will offer to help stop the alleged fraud by asking you to send money to yourself with Zelle®.
  
  
• Then, they ask you for a one time code you just received from a bank. If you give them that code, they will use it to enroll their bank account with Zelle® using your email or phone number.
  
  
• The scammer now has the ability to receive your money in their account.

Being vigilant is your first line of defense; here's how to help stay protected:

• Don't be pressured to act immediately — this is what scammers want you to do.
  
  
• Don't trust caller ID — it's not always who it says it is.
  
  
• Don't share codes based on a call you receive.

To learn more, watch this educational video layer from Zelle®

===========

Know The Scams That May Follow A Natural Disaster

Watch out for fake contractors. Following a disaster, unlicensed contractors will canvas the impacted areas promising to get clean up or repairs done quickly. They may ask for payment up front and not show up to do the work, or have you sign a contract that redirects insurance payouts to them and not you.

• Do your research; get multiple quotes for comparison, and make sure the contractors are licensed.
  
  
• Use caution if you're pressured to pay up front for the job or sign over the insurance claim. Contractors may try to offer special deals that seem too good to be true.
  

===========

CLICK HERE for much more from this
highly informative Bank of America article.

===========

#SCAMS #SCAMMERS #FRAUD #ZELLE #BofA #SCAMALERT #NEWSCAMALERT #REDFLAGS #SCAMAVOIDANCE #AVOIDSCAMS #FedPrimeRate #PHONESCAMS #EMAILSCAMS #TEXTSCAMS #BANKOFAMERICA #PHISHING #PHISHINGSCAMS #BANKSCAMS #BANKS #BANKINGSCAMS

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My Uncle Got Sucked Into A "Home Depot" Phishing Scam

So, I am on WhatsApp, checking out some family conversations, when I receive a message from my uncle.  Message reads:

"The Home Depot 40th Anniversary.  Click to enter to participate in the survey.  Have a chance to win $ 8,000! BeneficialYear.TOP"

Right away, red flags go up.  Looks extremely suspicious, but I click the link anyway, because I want to see what the scam looks like, so that I can warn others.

Here's a capture of the URL, and the page it took me to:

www.FedPrimeRate.com: Phishing Scam Image 1

=======

When I reloaded the page, I was taken to a totally different URL:

www.FedPrimeRate.com: Phishing Scam Image 2

First of all, if this is a survey from The Home Depot, then why on Earth would I be redirected to 2 different URLs? And why would one of the domain names use a .CN top level name, meaning it's registered in China?

Moreover: all the navigation links don't work, and the same if you try to "up" or "down" vote in the comments section.

As I investigated further, I found that Firefox is aware, and warning folks:

www.FedPrimeRate.com:
Mozilla FireFox Warning
- Deceptive Site Ahead

=======

Please people: don't forward suspicious messages to friends and family without checking them out.  You could end up doing serious harm to people you care about.

>>>   CLICK HERE FOR MORE SAFETY WARNINGS   <<<

>>>   CLICK HERE for SCAM ALERT: HOW TO AVOID BANKING AND OTHER TRENDING SCAMS; KNOW THE RED FLAGS   <<<

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Business Email Compromise (BEC) Scams

This one is costing both companies and individuals big $$$$.  The scams never end.

From the FBI website:

"...Business Email Compromise

Business email compromise (BEC) — also known as email account compromise (EAC) — is one of the most financially damaging online crimes. It exploits the fact that so many of us rely on email to conduct business — both personal and professional.

In a BEC scam, criminals send an email message that appears to come from a known source making a legitimate request, like in these examples:

• A vendor your company regularly deals with sends an invoice with an updated mailing address.
  

• A company CEO asks her assistant to purchase dozens of gift cards to send out as employee rewards. She asks for the serial numbers so she can email them out right away.
  

• A homebuyer receives a message from his title company with instructions on how to wire his down payment.

 

Versions of these scenarios happened to real victims. All the messages were fake. And in each case, thousands—or even hundreds of thousands—of dollars were sent to criminals instead.

How Criminals Carry Out BEC Scams

A scammer might:

• Spoof an email account or website. Slight variations on legitimate addresses (john.kelly@examplecompany.com vs. john.kelley@examplecompany.com) fool victims into thinking fake accounts are authentic.
  

• Send spearphishing emails. These messages look like they’re from a trusted sender to trick victims into revealing confidential information. That information lets criminals access company accounts, calendars, and data that gives them the details they need to carry out the BEC schemes.
  

• Use malware. Malicious software can infiltrate company networks and gain access to legitimate email threads about billing and invoices. That information is used to time requests or send messages so accountants or financial officers don’t question payment requests. Malware also lets criminals gain undetected access to a victim’s data, including passwords and financial account information.
  

If you or your company fall victim to a BEC scam, it’s important to act quickly:

• Contact your financial institution immediately and request that they contact the financial institution where the transfer was sent.

• Next, contact your local FBI field office to report the crime.

• Also file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
  

How to Protect Yourself

• Be careful with what information you share online or on social media. By openly sharing things like pet names, schools you attended, links to family members, and your birthday, you can give a scammer all the information they need to guess your password or answer your security questions.
  

• Don’t click on anything in an unsolicited email or text message asking you to update or verify account information. Look up the company’s phone number on your own (don’t use the one a potential scammer is providing), and call the company to ask if the request is legitimate.
  

• Carefully examine the email address, URL, and spelling used in any correspondence. Scammers use slight differences to trick your eye and gain your trust.
  

• Be careful what you download. Never open an email attachment from someone you don't know, and be wary of email attachments forwarded to you.
  

• Set up two-factor (or multi-factor) authentication on any account that allows it, and never disable it.
  

• Verify payment and purchase requests in person if possible or by calling the person to make sure it is legitimate. You should verify any change in account number or payment procedures with the person making the request.
  

• Be especially wary if the requestor is pressing you to act quickly..."

Business Email Compromise (BEC) Scams

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Romance Scams

Romance Scams

How can a woman willingly drain her life saving down to nothing, and send huge sums of cash to someone she has never met in real life?

It's easy to just dismiss these women as stupid, but it's not that simple.

Loneliness is a very negative and very powerful force.   It's a lot like alcohol, in that too much of it can make a smart and reasonable person do very stupid things.

It's nice to come across a story in the news about a romance scammer getting caught and punished.  But catching these predators is the exception, not the rule.  I think the global law enforcement community can do a lot better...

From this Federal Trade Commission article:

"...People looking for romance are hoping to be swept off their feet, not caught up in a scam. But tens of thousands of reports in Consumer Sentinel show that a scam is what many people find. In 2018, Sentinel had more than 21,000 reports about romance scams, and people reported losing a total of $143 million – that’s more than any other consumer fraud type identified in Sentinel.1 These reports are rising steadily. In 2015, by comparison, people filed 8,500 Sentinel reports with dollar losses of $33 million...

...Once these fraudsters have people by the heartstrings, they say they need money, often for a medical emergency or some other misfortune. They often claim to be in the military and stationed abroad, which explains why they can’t meet in person. Pretending to need help with travel costs for a long-awaited visit is another common ruse...

Scammers can reap large rewards for time spent courting their targets. The median individual loss to a romance scam reported in 2018 was $2,600, about seven times higher than the median loss across all other fraud types.2 People often reported sending money repeatedly for one supposed crisis after another...

...Help stop these scammers by reporting suspicious profiles or messages to the dating or social media site. Then, tell the FTC at www.FTCComplaintAssistant.gov..."

• Learn more at FTC.gov/Imposters.
  
  
• FBI: Romance Scams Online Imposters Break Hearts and Bank Accounts

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Rental Scams On The Rise

Rental Scams On The Rise; clip from Nightly Business Report:

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Blackmailing with Bitcoin

Blackmailing with Bitcoin; segment by the outstanding folks at Nightly Business Report:

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Payday Loan Collection Fraud: The Biggest Scam You Have Never Heard Of

Hopefully you’ve never had to take out a payday loan; they are the bottom feeders of financial products. Unfortunately, however, they are hugely popular among the American working class. Don’t believe it? In a factsheet compiled by PaydayLoans.org you will discover that there are twice as many payday loan locations as there are Starbucks, and in 29 of the 35 U.S. states where payday lending is legal, there are more payday loan locations than McDonald’s!

Who knew that was possible?

Furthermore, these seemingly simple loans which are super easy to obtain but nearly impossible to repay cost Americans 3.5 BILLION dollars every year in fees! And it’s no wonder; 76% of total payday loan volume is repeat loans. Most borrowers find themselves needing a lump sum of money for an important, often unexpected expense. Payday loans, as the name suggests, offer a quick solution based on your employment and provides short-term financing to be collected from your next paycheck. On the surface, it sounds good and fair.  However, the reality is that low-income borrowers cannot usually afford to repay all at once because it represents too great a percentage of their regular paycheck. So, what does your friendly neighborhood payday lender do if you find yourself unable to repay in full as agreed? He or she simply offers an extension, which is really a repeat loan, until you can pay in full…for a fee. The vicious cycle is normal in the payday loan industry because the typical borrower does not make enough money to live and repay the loan in full within 14 days. Sometimes borrowers even try to borrow from Peter to pay Paul – taking out one payday loan to try and pay off another only incurs more payday loan debt and exponentially increases the size of the problem if things are not handles precisely because the cycle usually continues until the house of cards comes crashing down.

What’s worse is that many payday lenders sell your personal information to third parties! It’s right there in the privacy policy that most borrowers don’t read. So, the question is, “Who do payday lenders sell your information to?” One answer, among others, is scam telemarketers. Third parties get your information and call borrowers posing as law enforcement agencies who are ready to prosecute for delinquency in repayment. Although you may be surprised to learn that such fraud is taking place, both the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Lawyers.com websites have published warnings against this elaborate scam. Apparently, many payday loan borrowers have fallen victim to these fast talking imposters; ignorance of the law, fear of prosecution, and other factors, causes unsuspecting victims to get spooked. These payday loan collection scammers have attacked my own family and friends, and had we not known as much about the law and standard business operations as we do, we may have been exploited like other unfortunate payday borrowers.

When my husband first received the phone call he was spooked; the voice on the other end of the line sounded very official, and the “officer” from the “Bureau of Investigation” was angry. He told my husband that there were multiple felony charges against him for lack of payment on his supposedly delinquent payday loans. Thankfully, by this time he had paid all of his payday loan debts except for one, and he was in good standing with the lender. So, that fact alone caused him to be suspicious. As the “officer” continued, he threatened to transfer the call the call to a “chief officer” to execute arrest warrants for him if payment arrangements were not made immediately. Fearing for what would happen to me and my children if her were imprisoned, my husband asked what he could do. He was then instructed to purchase a prepaid credit card and load money onto it without activating the card. The scammer claimed that they would take care of the activation and all those particulars, and that the account would be settled if he complied.

After he hung up and thought about it for a while, my husband asked me what I thought. Between the two of us I know more about the law and government, so I recognized immediately that this was a scam. However, the prime targets for this fraud are not so lucky. Statistics show that civic literacy in the United States is staggering; across class and gender lines, high school graduates know less and less about the Constitution and how government works, much less what government agencies actually exist and what they can and cannot do. So, anyone calling with an authoritative tone claiming to be a government or law enforcement official can easily intimidate the average citizen. Furthermore, very few people who have not actually been processed within the penal system know the ins and outs of how people are charged for crimes, i.e. what actually constitutes a felony and how felony charges would be made against someone. Payday loan collection scammers count on this civic ignorance and successfully exploit thousands of unsuspecting people, convincing them that their very way of life is at stake if they do not comply.

In addition to ignorance of the law, previous run-ins with the law are something payday loan collection scammers depend on. Many people who take out payday loans have criminal convictions or outstanding legal issues such as suspended driver’s licenses, unpaid tickets, or back child support. While it may seem prejudicial to assume such, the truth of the matter is that the financial circumstances that force people to use payday loans also prevent people from meeting their legal as well as their personal financial obligations. So, if an individual is already fearful of prosecution or penalty and they are confronted with the possibility of facing criminal charges, they will be more likely to comply with unusual or unreasonable demands.

After I assured my husband that there was no possible way that the call could be legitimate, he called the one payday lender he was sure he still owed. They confirmed that his account was in good standing and that they would never make such a call or take such measures to collect. The representative he spoke with advised him to request whatever the caller proposed in writing because she also believed it was a scam. In the first phone call, the “officer” said he would call back within a couple days, and he did as promised. When he called back, my husband asked him to send whatever he was saying in writing. The scammer actually got loud and belligerent, spewing more threats of swift legal action and making personal attacks against my husband’s character! However, when he wouldn’t budge, the guy just hung up. We shook our heads and discussed the ordeal, thanking God we didn’t succumb and wondering how something like that could have ever happened.

A couple weeks later, it happened to a friend, and he had only applied for a payday loan online. He didn’t even receive the loan! When he told me his story, I knew a full-fledged scam was going on…and that someone somewhere had fallen for it. According to the FBI, Better Business Bureau, and other authorities, thousands of people across the U.S. have been defrauded this way. Don’t be one of them; know your rights and your responsibilities with your finances, under the law, and in every other way applicable. In this case, as in all others, ignorance is what makes you a target. Knowledgeable people don’t scare easily, and they certainly don’t follow the instructions of an angry stranger on the other end of the phone.

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