Reports of frauds, deceptions and scams keep appearing, weekly even daily, on
major news channels and newspapers. Some of these frauds seem just too big and remote to be of immediate, direct relevance to our daily lives. But, we will eventually pay for the consequences and damages, in taxes, costs of goods and services, regulations, copy-cats etc.

I hope we can collect, in one thread, frauds and scams, reported or heard. We must become more aware and more educated to guard against frauds and scams
which impact upon the health, well being, and wealth of ourselves and our families.

Here's another story about how we silly tax payers are made to mindlessly pick up the tab from those cheeky employees at HMRC, who can claim expenses without a valid or proper expenditure receipt to support their claim.

Not for much longer though, I feel. There is almost a 'war' going on about this kind of scam. Thank goodness for the 'Freedom of Information Act'. Anyone who has ever been challenged by the Revenue or HM Customs about a 10 expenses claim and told 'It is not a valid expense and so has to be disallowed' will love to read this.

From http://www.telegraph.co.uk/....

HMRC is accused of double standards over staff expenses
By Roland Gribben
Last Updated: 10:24pm BST 15/04/2008

HM Revenue & Customs has been accused of "double standards" after the disclosure that its 83,000 staff do not have to submit receipts to cover claims ranging from meals to hotel accommodation and travel and are entitled to expenses without forking out any money.

They can claim 100 for an overnight stay in London and 20 for an evening meal while working out of their office without handing in receipts.

When out of their offices for more than five hours, they are entitled to a 6.50 meal allowance and a two-meal allowance of 14 when away for more than 10 hours.

Night work or sleeping in offices on call or standby after a day's work is worth 7.60 a night while sleeping in the office after working late provides 10.90 a night.

Drivers can claim 5p a mile for each passenger they carry while passengers themselves are entitled to a similar 5p allowance even if they do not pay anything for the privilege.

Staff can also choose to stay with friends or relatives rather than at a hotel when working away and can claim 25.

The full extent of the receipts waiver was disclosed by HMRC to UHY Hacker Young after the accountants used the Freedom of Information Act to discover details of the expenses regime.

The receipts dispensation has parallels with the benefits enjoyed by MPs until the recent clampdown, although the 10 HMRC receipt-free maximum is well below the 200 previously available to MPs.

Clive Gawthorpe, a UHY Hacker Young partner, contrasted the "generous" policy with the way HMRC handled expenses claims from individuals or companies.

He said: "Accountants who frequently face challenges over expenses for as little as 10 will find it ironic that HMRC runs such a liberal 'no questions asked' system for its own employees."

He also claimed that HMRC was urging its employees not to publicise rates and allowances.

HMRC denied any double standards and said staff were required to keep receipts for all claimed expenditure over 10. Staff only stayed in hotels when there was an unavoidable business need and the cheapest option was always taken.

HMRC said in a statement: "When staff lodge with friends or relatives they will still incur minor costs and it is only right that these are met when the officer is carrying out official duties."

If a few hundred MPs can knock up a bill of
millions per year, whats the cost for 83,000.
Yes, about 83,000.
mac

Have just received a letter from 'La Primitiva' in Spain congratulating me on winning a portion of 4m in a lottery draw (for which I hastily add, I did not enter).
I won't bother going in to details as it looks to be very similar to the one posted above (#464). Interestingly they say that I can claim the money by filling in the enclosed form, which naturally needs my bank details amongst many others, but also, slightly more ominously, they need my 'Next of kin' details! Am tempted to fill it in with incorrect information, just to let them know that they have been rumbled.
But, the question I have is, does anyone know if there is an organisation monitoring these scams? Rather than shred the docs, it would seem better to do something to stop them.

Smile users.


Received a card reader within the last 10 days.

Just received E-mail Scam asking me to view statements on line.

Check out any E-mails carefully from Smile for a while.

Greetings!

First I must apologize for disturbing you at this hour. As you may have read or heard from any international News regarding the political unrest in my country Libya, I shouldnt have done this but due to the circumstances surrounding me I decided to do this. I am sorry for my poor English, I am not fluent in English speaking but I just gained admission into the university to read English and International Relation. I am from Libya and my name is Aisha Hosni, I am 20years of age, I am the daughter of Dr. Ibrahim Hosni. My father was the director of the oil and Gas refinery in Tripoli - Libya. My father has been the Director of the Tripoli Oil and Gas refinery in Libya for the past few years but he resigned from office because of the Anti Government and Pro Government Protest in Libya which occurred recently and his resignation led to his death. My father died because he resigned following the Libyan people's protest that President Muammar Gaddafi must step down from his 42years in office.

I was in my School on the 20th of February 2011 and I got this sad news that my entire family have been sluttered [Killed] living only me alive because of my absence in the house at that particular hour when the killing took place. Reports said that some group of assassins came to our house and performed the killings with no traces till date. When I heard this sad news, I managed to escape from my school with the help of an elderly woman who smuggled me in a chattered flight that was sent to rescue Ghanaians working in Libya. I left my country because I could be the next target since my family has been sluttered by unknown men which everybody suspects must be the handwork of defiant President Muammar Gaddafi. I am presently in Republic of Ghana seeking asylum in one of their refugee camps.

Since my few weeks here in Ghana in the refugee camp, I have suffered lots and have contracted some airborne diseases because of lack of amenities. Because of this unhealthy environment and the need for your assistance to relocate me to your country, I have decided to confide in you to let you know this huge secret. When my father was alive and when I was 18years of age, my father made a fund deposit of US$8.5 Million (Eight Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only) with a Security and Finance Institution in oversea country Two Years Ago (one of the European country) which I will tell you when I receive your note of interest to help me. This fund deposit was made in my name as the beneficiary to the fund. Because of the problems going on in my country Libya now, everybody is scared living in Libya. People are dying everyday and houses are being destroyed so everybody is trying to find a way to go out of the country.

I will not say much for now because we do not know each other and there is no trust between us at the moment. If you can assure me the following; (1) Trust and Confidentiality. (2) Maturity of mind. (3) Ability to stand claim of the $8.5 million US Dollar on my behalf. (4) Ability to handle the fund, Invest and secure my relocation to your country. (5) Ability to keep deep secret of trust, I will welcome you with my heart. My father reserved copies of all the documents concerning this deposit to my reach and has promised that this money is not illegal money therefore you should not entertain any fear at all in helping me. In accordance to this, I have accepted to compensate you with 20% of the total sum after you have successfully claim the deposit and also you will assist me to manage the money in a good business and secure my visa to your country. I will stay under you as your child and you will be my guardian for the rest of my life since I have no other parent to call mine. I will not write much for now

Thank for reading my message and your kind understanding while waiting for your favorable response to; (aisha.hosni@hotmail.com)

Yours sincerely

Miss Aisha Hosni

Confidential Respond

Good day!

I am Mr.Davi director auditing and accounting department" bank of Africa (boa) Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso .I discovered the sum of seven million, two hundred thousand dollars (usd7.2) belonging to a deceased customer of this bank the fund has been lying in a suspense account without anybody coming to put claim over the money since the account owner late, Mr Salla khat from Lebanese who was involved in the December 28th 2006 Benin car crash.

it is therefore, upon this discovery that i decided to take this ultimatum and make this business proposal to you as the fund will be release to you as the next of kin or relation to the deceased for safety and subsequent disbursement since nobody is coming for it and i don't want this money to go into the bank treasury as unclaimed bill the banking rules here stipulates that if such money remained unclaimed after five years, the money will be transferred into the bank treasury as unclaimed fund. The request of foreigner as next of kin in this business is occasioned by the fact that the deceased customer was a foreigner and a Burkina be cannot stand as next of kin to a foreigner.

Therefore, I am soliciting for your assistance to come forward as the next of kin. I have agreed that 40% of this money will be for you as the beneficiary respect of the provision of your account and service rendered, 60% will be for me. Then immediately the money transferred to your account from this bank, I will proceed to your country for the sharing of the fund.again you can call me through my telephone number +226 75376152. for more information.

Yours faithful,


Mr Davi


Just phoned the guy up and he does seem to be the real deal,gave him all the details that he wanted and see how we go.Dont think it will be long before the money is transfered into my account.



:o)

When will these guys learn grammar and how to spell?

The parcel was sent your home adress.
And it will arrive within 5 buisness days.

More information and the parcel tracking number are attached in document below.

Thank you

Federal Express USA Ltd. and FedEx. All rights reserved. 1995-2011 FedEx

MG, I was in the line, ahead of you! You get your 40% way after mine! :-)

Ooer! I've just had an email from auto mailer. -093@nyc.gov telling me I am in violation of NYS V and T Law, speed over 55 zone at 7.25 am. Says I have to print out the enclosed ticket and send it to Town Court, Chatam Hall PO Box 117. Now, if I had actually been driving in NY at that time and was not aware that Chatam has another H, Chatham, I might have pondered a bit longer!

Must dash down to my nearest hole in the wall.

Our Ref: CBN/IRD/CBX/021/008
Swift Code: BPH KPL PK,

In view to your active response and provision of your personal information which will help this office to facilitate the final official payment process of your fund valued Nine Million United States Dollars ($9million) through ATM card delivery, this office has been appointed by the Central Bank Board members to make the payment to you as part of their resolve in the last board meeting held on Mon, the 18July 2011 after several attempts to contact you on this payment in the past failed.

However, I want to inform you that my office is now working relentlessly to ensure that your ATM card of $9million dollars value is processed and delivered to your designated address in less than 72hours from now.

Be informed very clearly that your cooperation with my office and your compliance to our delivery guidelines and advices will make this payment hitch free and a huge success. Finally, you will be contacted as soon as we are through with the endorsement of the necessary payment documents by all the departments involved and the delivery arrangement as well.

Thank you and stay blessed as we strive for your better tomorrow.

Note: call me on my direct line when you deem it necessary to communicate with me: +234 705 888 3247


Yours truly,
Mr. George O. Ben
Director ATM Card Payment Department (CBN)

Sun Bank Offshore, Jersey (Channel Islands).
Head Office



Compliment of the season! I am Mr. Eli V. Sheppard, the new Head of Audit/Accounting Department of Sun Bank Offshore, Jersey (Channel Islands). I was newly posted here from our Sun Bank Branch in Bahamas.


I write to inform you that I saw a draft bearing your name in one of the closed files in my office for a sum of Ј6,500,000 (Six Million Five Hundred Thousand pounds) with attached payment instruction from Bank of America N.C to be paid to you.


On further inquires, I observed that this payment was not made and the fund was transferred into our offshore transit account as unclaimed funds. I mean to say that you have funds here which have been floating in our transit account as unclaimed fund with principal sum of Ј6,500,000. This payment was made by bank draft with reference serial nr. 315548, Bank Sort code BARCGB22. Barclays Bank plc, UK.


After our bank reconciliatory statement for last year ending 2010, I also found out that your fund stumbled into an accumulated interest of Ј650,000 with a total principal value of Ј6,500,000. Your total sum in our Offshore Transit account as at 25th of January, 2011 is Ј7,150,000 (Seven Million, One Hundred and Fifty Thousand pounds) only.


Please take note of all these changes as I deemed it fit to let you know that your unclaimed fund is floating in our offshore transit account and also to give you little financial breakdown of your account statement.


Finally you cannot have access to the account since you have not officially opened an account with us as the fund is in your name but on transit.
We therefore seek for your urgent response to this notification to enable me direct you on how you will receive this unclaimed fund.


Regards,
Mr. Eli V. Sheppard.
Head of Audit/Accounting Dept.
Audit/Accounting Division
Sun Bank Plaza, 2-6 Church Street,
P.O. Box 12, St. Helier, Jersey JE 4 9NE
Channel Islands.

I would withdraw the funds if I were you Kevin, they don't seem to be stumbling into interest anymore! :o)

I love the 'Manuel' English!

I thought it was a bit Fawlty!

The origin was Chinky! (I hope that hasn't got me into trouble with the PC Enforcers)

We are waiting to send you $1500.00 today to help you with your current bills.

Go here if you need 1500 dollars
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I think we've heard of this one before - a company claiming to call on behalf of Sky regarding your Sky Box calls from 08005979841. This lady seemed to know my name and told me the original contract on my box has expired. I immediately grew suspicious and asked her to repeat what she was calling about. Convinced this was a scam, told her what to do with the "contract" and put the phone down.

Years ago Mrs TP had some shares in Shell and they were due for some form of compensation. I can't remember the detail but I think it was some international tax ruling.

A couple of years ago I filled in some forms - and then silence.

Last night Mrs TP received an email, purporting to come from
royaldutchshellsettlement.com

They ask for her bank details.

The email says that if you do nothing the payment will come by cheque - which suggests it may be genuine.

But one cannot be too careful....

TP

Wait for the cheque!

Thanks Skinny.

TP