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.

CARD FRAUD ON THE RISE

Consumers have been warned to take extra precautions following a big hike in credit and debit card fraud.

Card fraud increased 18% to 478.8m in the 12 months up to June this year, according to figures from the Association for Payment Clearing Services (APACS).


Even more worrying, crime involving cards which were either lost or stolen in the post soared by 51% to 61.2m.

APACS believes fraudsters are stepping-up their activities during the introduction of new Chip and Pin card technology.

This programme means that, in 2005, the vast majority of face-to-face UK credit and debit card transactions will be authorised by the customer keying in their PIN (personal identification number) rather than by signing a receipt.

Jemma Smith, a spokeswoman for APACS, said: "The vast majority of cards get through securely but it is a fact of life that anywhere you have cards you also have people who are trying to get hold of them."

She said fraud relating to cards classified as "mail non-receipt" was made worse because the crime often went undetected for longer.

"The cards are being issued when you may not be expecting a replacement.

"The first time you know something is wrong is when you get your statement."

APACS is advising card-holders to check their account regularly in order to spot bogus transactions.

"Time running out in fight for net security"

http://business.scotsman.com/management.cfm?id=1188802004

Read the "Questions from other Buyers" Bit at Bottom.
Do ALL Nigerians see us as Congenital Idiots

What an Ars***le

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=20333&item=3843513016&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

To save time:

Q: Dear seller, How are you today and your family hope all is well with them?. am intending to buy this item for my Son for his Graduation, who his schooling in Africa- Nigeria..and am prepared to pay 120.00GBP, and i want you to know that my mode of payment is western union money order. and to make the payment your name in full is required for the payment, and your contact address,also your secured e-mail address,for the approval confirmation of the payment .also you will need to you get a price quote from FEDEX or ROYALMAIL SPECIAL DELIVERY...so that i can pay you once for the item and the shipping cost. NB.. as soon as they approved the payment they will send you notification via your email. soon as they get to you get back to me. looking forward to hear from you soonest. GOODAY Answered on 13-Oct-04

A: Hello thank you for your intrest. Unfortunatly I am unable to help you I notice you would wish to pay through Western Union. and I do not accept this method of payment. in the meantime I have cancelled you bid as I feel it my prove dificult for you to use a diferent mode of payment. however should you wish to pay via pay pal this would be acceptable.Best wishes Pextra
Q: You asked: "Dear seller, i am interested in the immediate purchase of this item and i will be making payment via western union auction payments(BIDPAY), i wish to send this to my freind in nigeria whose birthday is coming up shortly so i will want to confirm with you if you will be able to ship the item upon recieval of confirmation and approval notification from western union auction payment. you will not need to worry about shipping as i will handle that with my DHL..if you will be able to do this, pls get back to me with your final asking price, Contact Name, Address and Telephone Number so that i can proceed with payment.pls reply ASAP""""" Answered on 13-Oct-04

A: Thank you for your intrest in the Hitachi Z31 camera.I am sorry that I am unable to help you for the following reasons 1 The camera is part of a ten day auction. 2 I do not deal with payments via Western union.3 I am a little surprised considering that you are a new member, you are so aware of payment and transport options. 4If you would care to bid in the normal way and pay by bank transfer or pay pal. we can dispatch to you by royal mail international standard for 195. Best wishes

This is the latest "Gem" Sent to the Seller of above item:

Good day seller, we are technology company based in england ,we are interesting in the immediate purchase SUPERB HITACHI Z31 PROFESSIONAL VIDEO CAMERA ,and we are shipping it to our warehouse located in Africa so we want you to send us one-two sample of the product first before we can arrange for bulk buying also with the promise of adding the amount of $50 to it because we will need to send it to our client,and we will be making your western union Auction Payment , so we want you to mail us back with your contact details like Name and address and money to be paid to you so that we will be able to make your yment...so we dont want you to include shipping fees because we will be responsible for the shippment with our DHL/FEDEX shiping accounts. But immediately you have seen the money being approved from western union, we will be doing the shipping with our shipping process ok .mail me your informations so that the payment can be made with your inform


RAFLMAO

"The Hefty Cost Of Company Crime

Businesses in the UK lost more than 40bn last year - equivalent to some 100m a day - because of economic crime, a report has claimed.

The study by accountants and advisers RSM Robson Rhodes identified embezzlement, cheque fraud and money laundering as the main areas of concern.

Employee-related crimes such as bribery and corruption were also costly.

The majority of companies believe economic crime affects their share price and brand image, the report added.

It revealed that businesses lost 32bn last year because of economic or corporate crime, with a further 8bn spent trying to combat the problem.
..."

http://www.ananova.com/business/story/sm_1143685.html?menu=

Who unltimately pay for most of the costs???

Get advice about business scams
MoneyAM
The DTI's new one-stop-shop for consumer advice is waiting for your visit.

Consumers who think they may be the victim of a rogue money-making scheme or fraudulent scam will be able to get all the advice they need there.

Whilst the Consumer Direct website is available across the UK, the Consumer Direct telephone advice line is only available in Scotland, Wales, Yorkshire and the Humber and the South West, at present. Over the next two years the new telephone service will roll-out nationally across the UK, offering one-to-one advice from a team of expert consumer advisers.

www.consumerdirect.gov.uk is the website of the Consumer Direct telephone advice line, which is currently launching region-by-region across the UK. There you will find a new scams section providing information a consumer needs to avoid being a victim, including: regularly updated information on specific rip-offs; how to say 'no' to a doorstep caller; tips on spotting a scam; advice on how to prevent unwanted sales calls, faxes, emails, text messages and letters; and essential contacts for reporting scams and getting further information.

In the meantime, advice on returning goods to a shop, taking action against a cowboy builder or how to get redress if let down by a garage, is all available at the click of a mouse. The scams section of Consumer Direct, including details on unsolicited gifts, prize draws and lotteries, premium rate phone line scams, clairvoyant and psychic scams and bogus lotions and potions, is available at - www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/general/scams/index.shtml

"Warning over surge in 'boiler room' scams
By Jessica Bown
Overseas brokers are targeting experienced British share traders with dodgy investments
...
the Financial Services Authority (FSA), the City watchdog, is also alarmed by the brokers activities. It recently posted a list of unauthorised overseas firms on its website (fsa.gov.uk/enforcement/ firms_overseas.html), along with a warning about so-called boiler-room scams.
...."

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,8214-1324788,00.html

Not a scam nor fraud but something to bear in mind when comparing interest rates.

" Calculations of interest rates on savings accounts just don't add up
By Emma Simon (Filed: 27/10/2004)

The British Bankers' Association (BBA) has promised to re-examine the way banks use "annual equivalent rates" (AERs), which are supposed to make it easier for consumers to compare interest on different savings accounts.

The BBA's decision came in the week in which the Commons Treasury Select Committee criticised banks for failing to introduce standardised APR charges on credit cards and loans, which were also intended to help consumers to find the best deal when they were first introduced
..."

http://portal.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2004/10/27/cmnrates27.xml&menuId=244&sSheet=/money/2004/10/25/ixperson.html


Wish BBA can be more proactive before problems occur.

"Identity theft: crime's growth sector

By Timothy L. O'Brien The New York Times

Tuesday, October 26, 2004
..."

http://www.iht.com/articles/2004/10/25/business/idtheft.html

Not yet a fraud or scam until found guilty.
But cannot understand why anyone would want to impernate a customers officer,
Specially when the risk is a two year prison sentence.
???

"Shami Ahmed accused over customs charade

Philip Inman and Simon Bowers
Saturday October 2, 2004
The Guardian

Shami Ahmed, the rag trade entrepreneur who founded the Joe Bloggs jeans brand, has been charged with conspiracy to impersonate a customs officer.
..."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,3604,1318016,00.html

I used to do business with a firm of private investigators - and the md once boasted to me of something that may give a clue as to what this is all about.

They had a customer who was one of two companies with a serious market share in a particular area of business. The customer wanted to find out who their competitors best customers were, and at what prices business was being conducted.

The private investigators rented a serviced office with direct dial telephone lines and staffed it with a few admin staff, who answered the phone "Customs & Excise Special Investigations Unit - how may I direct your call?". They then used this office to arrange a 'VAT Inspection' at the target company's offices, and to manage any inbound queries as to their bona fides.

The inspection went ahead, and the target company couldnt do enough to help the inspectors complete their job quickly. During the inspection the private investigators photocopied the sales ledger and took away computer disks containing copies of the last 1000 or so invoices raised by the company. The target company had no idea of the true nature of the investigation, and the customer company didnt want to know how the PIs obtained the information that they eventually delivered.

Maybe this is something similar?

Gausie, thanks. Sounds like a plot in a thriller! Never read any news like this.
Probably because these murky practices don't get reported often in the popular
press. Must try to find and read up more about these - make good winter reading.

"Crackdown on home-working scam
26 October 2004, This Is Money

BUSINESS that tricked people trying to earn money while working at home has stopped publishing misleading adverts after a crackdown by the Office of Fair Trading.

David Breach trading as Delta Data Services in South Wales and who previously traded as Neath Mailing Services, published adverts that gave the impression that people could earn money at home by filling and returning envelopes. The only way they could earn money was to recruit new agents to the scheme.

..."

http://www.thisismoney.com/20041026/ht83955.html

"Buy-to-let lies exposed
Tuesday, 26 Oct 2004

Estate agents are regularly boosting estimates of the returns likely from rental properties in order to hook the buy-to-let market.

The industry broker Landlord Management conducted covert research, first as prospective landlords, then as tenants and discovered an average deception of 8.5 per cent across the country, with London investors being quoted returns in excess of 18 per cent of the actual likely income.

..."

http://www.myfinances.co.uk/property/buy-let-lies-exposed-$3715189.htm

"The Companies (Audit, Investigations and Community Enterprise) Bill has received Royal Assent


Oct 29 2004
The Companies (Audit, Investigations and Community Enterprise) Bill has received Royal Assent and will help protect Britain against Enron style corporate scandals - as well as creating a new type of company specifically designed for social enterprises. The Act implements safeguards recommended by post-Enron/WorldCom reviews and creates a new form of company for social enterprise. In particular it strengthens the independent regulation of the audit profession and the enforcement of company accounting requirements, both concerns highlighted by the Enron and WorldCom scandals. It gives auditors greater powers to get the information they need to do a proper job, and increases company investigators' powers to uncover misconduct.
..."

http://www.creditman.biz/uk/members/news-view.asp?newsviewID=3985&id=1&mylocation=News&chksrc=NNow4251


Are pensions secure after Maxwell?

"Dozens held over identity fraud
identity fraud
Shadowcrew.com allegedly passed on credit card details
Twenty-eight people, including a Briton, have been arrested after a global operation against a website allegedly involved in identity fraud.

Those arrested are accused of operating Shadowcrew.com, which investigators claim was a global clearing house for criminals involved in credit card fraud

A 19-year-old man from Camberley, Surrey, was arrested by the National Hi-Tech Crime Unit.

The operation, led by the US Secret Service, involved seven countries. "

Hello friend,

I saw your ad on net and I am highly interested in renting your apt,i based in the UK, i'm a civil engineer and i'm coming to states for research.I hope the apt is unfurnished?cos, i intend procouring furnitures to fit into the place if so, send me more details about the apartment e.g price,dimension, location, pictures of the apt plus utility if any.
I look forward to your reply ASAP
CYRIL

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Walla! Mail - get your free 1G mail today

Just got off the phone from one of my credit card companies, it seems my card has been used fraudulently today by more than one retailer but the card company seem to know that these are linked. No transactions show on my statement, they have picked this up internally. It also seems that many others may be affected.

* Victims of internet bank fraud will have to pay up - Times

"13 Nov 2004
Banks will no longer honour the debts of victims of internet fraud after a sudden rise in attacks against online accounts,"

Kayak - just seen your post 110. I let a place in Spain and get spurious enquiries like/similar to this. They concern me because I don't know what the scam is. Can you enlighten me?