- Invitation Scam for Google+
- Beauty Pageant Scams
- Cash Escrow Scams
- Hotel Guest Scam
- New Twitter ‘Get Rich at Home’ Direct Message Scam
- Online 'Overdue Credit Card' Scam
- Online Visa Lottery Scams
- U.S. Citizenship Filing Scam
- Telephone Collection Scam Related to Delinquent Payday Loans
- Scammers Exploit Fears over Health Care Bill
- Malicious Software Featuring Osama bin Laden Links
- E-Mails Containing Malware Sent to Businesses Concerning Online Job Postings
- Jury Duty Scam
- Timeshare Scam
- Fashion Model Scams
WHO IS THE TARGETED VICTIM? Internet users interested in using social networks
WHAT IS THE SCAM? Membership to Google’s new social network, Google+, is available to users by invitation only. While this initial “invitation-only” membership has contributed to the promotion of this social networking platform, it has also provided an opportunity for scammers to take advantage of those interested in the service. Official-looking Google+ pages pop- up on Facebook.com and promises that consumers who “Like” the page will be invited to join the new service. However, this is not an official Google+ page on Facebook.com. One version reads: "Hello Every one / Welcome to G+ / For Invites post ur email id here." Another version of the scam is sent via e-mail. Spammers are sending out fake Google+ invites. When you click the “official-looking” link, it takes you to an online pharmacy selling Viagra and Cialis.
WHAT STEPS SHOULD YOU TAKE?
- If you see a link on Facebook.com promising an invite to Google's new social networking platform, ignore it. Giving out your e-mail address opens your computer to phishing attempts from hackers, installation of spyware and unsolicited marketing spam.
- ‘Liking’ the page on Facebook.com means that the announcements will appear in your news feed going forward. If you do not want your news feed to get inundated with marketing spam, do not ‘like’ any of the sites promising invites.
- File a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center's (IC3) website at www.ic3.gov.
WHO IS THE TARGETED VICTIM? Parents looking to enter their child in a beauty pageant
WHAT IS THE SCAM? Deceptive or false solicitations are circulating via the Internet, e-mail, U.S. mail, print, radio and TV advertising, offering big prizes and scholarships.
WHAT STEPS SHOULD YOU TAKE?
Before entering into a pageant, the Better Business Bureau and the New York Department of State's Division of Consumer Protection urges parents who want to get involved to:
- Research the company hosting the pageant.
- Call the venue to verify that the event will indeed be held at the date and time advertised.
- Ask the pageant promoters for references and names of past winners.
- Ask what the total cost of participating in the pageant will be including the entry fee and any costs or fees for chaperones.
- Ask for a copy of the pageant's refund policy.
If the winnings sound too good to be true, often times, they probably are.
WHO IS THE TARGETED VICTIM? Online car buyers
WHAT IS THE SCAM?
Online car buyers often find that using a cash escrow service is a smart and safe way to complete their transactions, but without proper diligence, the car buyer could put themselves at risk of being scammed.
The car website, Edmunds.com warns that buyers who agree to purchase a vehicle online may be directed to send money to a phony escrow agent who informs them the cash will be held until the vehicle is delivered. Once the cash is paid, the scammers cease contact with the buyers, and the car is never delivered. Fraudulent escrow services often use names that sound legitimate to give the buyer confidence in the transaction.
WHAT STEPS SHOULD YOU TAKE?
- Do your homework and research the company. Buyers can research escrow agents through the Better Business Bureau or online. The buyer, not the seller should choose the escrow agent.
- Report ads that provide information for false escrow services immediately to the host website, the Department of State's Division of Consumer Protection, or the State Office of the Attorney General.
- File a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center's (IC3) website at www.ic3.gov.
WHO IS THE TARGETED VICTIM? Tourists, hotel customers
WHAT IS THE SCAM? The Better Business Bureau is alerting consumers of a scam that is plaguing the hotel industry and its guests. Scammers obtain credit card information from hotel guests over the phone. The calls are typically made in the middle of the night. The caller is very convincing and indicates they are a hotel employee. They advise the consumer that the hotel computer system has crashed and they must have their credit card number in order to complete the hotel audit.
WHAT STEPS SHOULD YOU TAKE?
- If you are a hotel guest, remember not to provide credit card information over the phone during your stay.
- If you have a concern about your hotel bill, discuss your concern with personnel at the front desk before you check out.
WHO IS THE TARGETED VICTIM? Twitter.com users
WHAT IS THE SCAM? A new cycle of direct messages spam is circulating via the social networking site Twitter.com. The majority of messages read "guaranteed, make $3,000 to $8,000 a month from home" or something similar, followed by a link. The links typically load get-rich-quick websites that request the user to provide a small amount of money with the promise of a larger return. These returns never occur.
WHAT STEPS SHOULD YOU TAKE?
- Revoke access to third-party services you may have granted involuntarily or by mistake. Granting access to an application provides the service full control to send tweets and direct messages from your account.
- Change your Twitter log-in password from time to time. Choose an alpha-numerical combination that is at least eight characters long.
- Don't click any links within any suspicious messages.
- File a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center's (IC3) website at www.ic3.gov.
WHO IS THE TARGETED VICTIM? Internet and email users
WHAT IS THE SCAM? A new wave of online scams have popped up claiming that "Your credit card is one week overdue."
The phony emails, which have subject lines such as "Your financial debt overdue," "Payment by credit card overdue," and "Credit card overdue," include a 10-digit customer number, a pay date and a message that reads, "If you pay the debt within 2 days, there will be no extra charges. In 2 days, a $25 late fee and a finance charge will be imposed on your account." The credit card company name and account number may or may not match up with the numbers of actual accounts held by the receiver.
Users who are tricked into opening the file attached to these messages run the risk of downloading Troj/Invo-Zip, a malicious Trojan that could give attackers remote access to the consumer's computer.
WHAT STEPS SHOULD YOU TAKE?
- If you receive e-mail like these, do not download any attached files.
- Report the e-mail to your financial institution and check your bank statements.
- File a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center's (IC3) website at www.ic3.gov.
WHO IS THE TARGETED VICTIM? Those applying or interesting in receiving a U.S. visa
WHAT IS THE SCAM?
Authentic-looking emails purporting to be from the U.S. Department of State indicate that the individual has won the U.S. visa lottery, as well as being entitled to health insurance, an apartment and other assistance. The email further states that the recipient must act quickly and wire a sum of money to the U.S. Embassy in a foreign country to secure his or her place.
Some of these e-mails read:
"The U.S. government helps you with the accommodation and offers you health insurance (Freedom HSA Direct Individual Health insurance for one year), dwelling (apartment in any city you prefer, one bedroom for three months), a guaranteed job (in the field that you are currently qualified so you can start working even from the first week you arrive in the United States and get paid as a U.S. citizen.) and education. An $819 diversity visa fee is charged. This is the only fee a winner needs to pay throughout the entire relocation process. Accompanying family members may be included in the program and their visas will be provided at the same time with yours. However the fees must be paid per person.
"The fees must be paid using wire transfer and will be processed by the U.S. Embassy in the United Kingdom. After you find a wire transfer agency, you need to go with cash money, an identity card and send the payment to the U.S. Embassy agent address in the U.K."
WHAT STEPS SHOULD YOU TAKE?
- The U.S. Department of State does not notify successful visa applicants by e-mail.
- Do not click on any links within this e-mail.
- Do not wire money.
- File a complaint with www.econsumer.gov website, which is hosted by the Federal Trade Commission as a joint effort of consumer protection agencies from 17 nations providing consumers with a portal to file complaints about online and related transactions with foreign companies.
- File a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center's (IC3) website at www.ic3.gov
WHO IS THE TARGETED VICTIM? Consumers seeking citizenship
WHAT IS THE SCAM? Scammers are charging immigrants for filing immigration forms that the group is not authorized to file. These scammers claim they are authorized to perform such duties and charge immigrants fees ranging from $200 to $2,500. A traditionally storefront scam, there are also versions of this scam on the internet. According to published reports, promised services were never performed. Immigrants are losing money to this business by trusting them to file their immigration forms in order to gain a legal immigrant status in the United States.
WHAT STEPS SHOULD YOU TAKE?
The New York Department of State's Division of Consumer Protection and the Better Business Bureau offer some tips to persons looking to obtain legal status in the U.S. while avoiding common scams:
- Never sign blank documents or documents that contain inaccurate information.
- Always retain your original documents and only provide photocopies if necessary.
- Do not make online payments or send money for a U.S. citizenship filing to someone who is not a licensed attorney.
- Make copies of every document you prepare and submit for your own records.
- Request a receipt as proof of payment.
- Check the New York State Bar Association or the local county bar association for referrals on licensed attorneys practicing immigration services and find help from the Federal Trade Commission.
- Read materials provided by the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services that can help you obtain your citizenship.
WHO IS THE TARGETED VICTIM? Telephone users
WHAT IS THE SCAM? In these scams, a caller claims that the victim is delinquent in a payday loan and must repay the loan to avoid legal consequences. Payday loans, also known as paycheck advances, are typically is a short-term unsecured loan to be repaid at the borrower's next pay day. The callers purport to be representatives of the FBI, Federal Legislative Department, various law firms, or other legitimate-sounding agencies. They claim to be collecting debts for Internet check cashing services.
At times, the callers may have accurate information about the victims, including Social Security numbers, dates of birth, addresses, employer information, bank account numbers, and names and telephone numbers of relatives and friends. The method by which the fraudsters obtained the personal information is unclear, but victims often relay that they had completed online applications for other loans or credit cards before the calls began.
The fraudsters relentlessly call the victim's home, cell phone, and place of employment. They refuse to provide to the victims any details of the alleged payday loans and become abusive when questioned. The callers threaten victims with legal actions, arrests, and in some cases physical violence if they refuse to pay. In many cases, the callers even resort to harassment of the victim's relatives, friends, and employers.
Some fraudsters instruct victims to fax a statement agreeing to pay a certain dollar amount, on a specific date, via prepaid visa card. The statement further declares that the victim would never dispute the debt.
WHAT STEPS SHOULD YOU TAKE? These telephone calls are an attempt to obtain payment by instilling fear in victims. Do not follow the instructions of the caller.
If you receive telephone calls such as these, you should:
- Contact your banking institutions;
- Contact the three major credit bureaus and request an alert be put on your file;
- Contact your local law enforcement agencies if you feel you are in immediate danger; and,
- File a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center's (IC3) website at www.ic3.gov.
WHO IS THE TARGETED VICTIM? All consumers, but frequently senior citizens
WHAT IS THE SCAM? Scammers, under the guise of being government officials, are contacting seniors either by phone, e-mail or in some cases in person and questioning if they have health insurance. If the victim answers they do not, the con-artist threatens to put the senior in jail for not complying with alleged new health care policies.
The scammers then offer to sell the victim "ObamaCare" insurance to keep the elderly person out of jail.
WHAT STEPS SHOULD YOU TAKE? There is no such policy, nor is there "ObamaCare" coverage. Under the current national health care bill, the requirement to have health insurance doesn't go into effect until 2014. And even then, those who do not have coverage cannot be jailed.
Consumers should not respond to these solicitations.
WHO IS THE TARGETED VICTIM? Computer Users
WHAT IS THE SCAM? Scammers are sending spam with links that purport to direct the user to images, video and other information related to the death of Osama bin Laden. The spam messages sometimes use the name and logo of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The links, however, introduce malware and viruses on the consumer's computer.
WHAT STEPS SHOULD YOU TAKE? The New York Department of State's Division of Consumer Protection urges consumers NOT to open unsolicited (spam) e-mails, and NOT to click on links contained within those messages. Even if the sender is familiar, the public should exercise due diligence. Computer owners must ensure they have up-to-date firewall and anti-virus software running on their machines to detect and deflect malicious software.
The Department of State recommends that the public do the following:
- Adjust the privacy settings on social networking sites you frequent to make it more difficult for people to post content to your page. Even a "friend" can unknowingly pass on multimedia that's actually malicious software.
- Do not agree to download software to view videos. These applications can infect your computer.
- Read e-mails you receive carefully. Fraudulent messages often feature misspellings, bad grammar, and poor English.
- Report e-mails you receive that purport to be from the FBI. Criminals often use the FBI's name and seal to add legitimacy to their fraudulent schemes. In fact, the FBI does not send unsolicited e-mails to the public. Should you receive unsolicited messages that feature the FBI's name, seal, or that reference a division or unit within the FBI or an individual employee, report it to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.
WHO IS THE TARGETED VICTIM? Business Recruiting Employees
WHAT IS THE SCAM? Recent FBI analysis reveals that cyber criminals engaging in wire transfer fraud have targeted businesses by responding via e-mail to employment opportunities posted online.
Recently, more than $150,000 was stolen from a U.S. business via unauthorized wire transfers as a result of an e-mail the business received that contained malware. The malware was embedded in an e-mail response to a job posting the business placed on an employment website and allowed the attacker to obtain the online banking credentials of the person who was authorized to conduct financial transactions within the company. The malicious actor changed the account settings to allow the sending of wire transfers, one to the Ukraine and two to domestic accounts. The malware was identified as a Bredolab variant, svrwsc.exe. This malware was connected to the ZeuS/Zbot Trojan, which is commonly used by cyber criminals to defraud U.S. businesses.
WHAT STEPS SHOULD YOU TAKE? The FBI and the New York Department of State's Division of Consumer Protection recommends that potential employers remain vigilant in opening the e-mails of prospective employees. Running a virus scan prior to opening any e-mail attachments may provide an added layer of security against this type of attack. It is also recommended that businesses use separate computer systems to conduct financial transactions.
Anyone who believes they have been a target of this type of attack should immediately contact their financial institutions and local FBI office and promptly report it to the Internet Crime Complaint Center's (IC3) website at www.ic3.gov. TheIC3 is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C), and the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). The IC3's complaint database links complaints together to refer them to the appropriate law enforcement agency for case consideration. The IC3 also uses complaint information to identify emerging trends and patterns.
WHO IS THE TARGETED VICTIM? Residents
WHAT IS THE SCAM? The caller identifies him/herself as an officer of the court. He/she says you failed to report for jury duty and that a warrant is out for your arrest. You say you never received a notice. To clear it up, the caller says he'll need some information for "verification purposes," such as your birth date, social security number, credit card number, etc.
WHAT STEPS SHOULD YOU TAKE? As a rule, court officers never ask for confidential information over the phone; they generally correspond with prospective jurors via mail. Protecting yourself is the key: Never give out personal information when you receive an unsolicited phone call.
WHO IS THE TARGETED VICTIM? Prospective timeshare consumers
WHAT IS THE SCAM? Property owners are being contacted from dishonest companies with legitimate-sounding names, such as International Timeshare Consolidators (ITC). These companies mislead consumers by offering to help to sell their vacation properties. Posing as an agent or broker, the fraudster will produce an appraisal or offer a very generous bid for the timeshare or vacation property. Before the sale is finalized, the consumer will be told that they owe taxes or administrative fees. Once the property owner has provided their financial information, paid the "fees" or other charges, the broker or agent will vanish without a trace.
WHAT STEPS SHOULD YOU TAKE? If you are a timeshare owner and someone contacts you offering assistance with the sale of your property, take the following precautions to reduce the risk of falling for a scam:
- As a general rule, never give your credit card number or other personal information over the phone;
- Be wary of companies that charge up-front fees of any kind. Consider opting for a company that offers to sell for a fee only after the timeshare is sold;
- Ask them to send you written materials and make sure they corroborate any offers made over the phone;
- Do your research before transacting business with any company and compare their offers to industry competition;
- Verify the business address and phone number and contact them yourself; and,
- Ask if the company's salespeople are licensed to sell real estate where your timeshare is located. If so, verify this with the New York Department of State's real estate broker license data base at www.dos.state.ny.us.
All consumers can protect themselves from receiving solicitation calls by registering residential landline and personal mobile telephone numbers on the National "Do Not Call" Registry. Consumers may call toll-free at 1-888-382-1222 or sign up online at www.donotcall.gov. Registration is free and permanent.
WHO IS THE TARGETED VICTIM? Prospective fashion models
WHAT IS THE SCAM? There are a number of reoccurring versions of this scam that have recently been reported to consumer protection agencies in the country, including:
- The "Surprise! It's Not a Job Interview but a High-Pressure Sales Pitch" Scam -- You respond to a "job" announcement on-line, and what you think is an interview for a modeling job turns into a high-pressure sales pitch for modeling or acting classes, shoots or screen tests. The salesperson seems eager to assist you with your modeling career, but you must first pay them hundreds or thousands of dollars.
- The "Hurry: This Opportunity Won't Last Long" Scam -- Scam artists draft fake online ads for bogus modeling opportunities with the caveat that you must first pay to learn more about the opportunity. You may be required to pay for a monthly subscription to a talent service or a limited offer on a discounted photo shoot, or wire money to cover the cost of a booking agent.
- The "Here's a Check for the Photo Session" Scam -- Some scam artists try to attract your attention to modeling work with promises of free photo shoots and paid trips to New York City or Miami. After you express an interest in their offer, the scammer will send you a fake check as advanced payment for the photo session. The scammer then will ask you to wire transfer some of the counterfeit funds to a photographer, studio, or booking agent to seal the deal.
- The "You Have the Cutest Baby Ever" Scam -- Bogus talent agents will try to convince proud parents and relatives that their child is modeling material and offer to set up a professional photo session for the child. Since an infant's look will change quickly, rendering photos outdated, very few infants are marketed with professional photos. Legitimate agents, producers and advertising agencies will ask for casual snapshots.
WHAT STEPS SHOULD YOU TAKE? Not all modeling agents or schools are bad -- do your homework to make sure your beauty can truly shine. Here are a few quick tips to avoid a model rip-off:
- Get everything in writing, including promises that have been made orally
- Keep copies of important papers, such as your contract with the company and any literature or company advertisements
- Be leery of companies that only accept payment by cash or money order - this is how scam artists prefer to be paid
- Ask the agency for a list of specific jobs where it has placed its models and contact those companies to verify the agency's claims
- Be suspicious of a company that requires an up-front fee to serve as your agent
- Steer clear of companies that require you to use a specific photographer, instead, compare fees and work quality of several photographers
- Check-out the company with the Better Business Bureau, and the New York Department of State's Division of Consumer Protection