Scam fighting - 2010

As 2009 comes to a close and we enter into 2010 I wanted to share the New Year’s Resolution that we have at Scam Victims United . . . to bring scam education and awareness to people across the country.

One of the ways that we plan to do this is with events called Scam Jam. These events are the brainchild of Chuck Whitlock an investigative reporter, author and speaker. If you have ever been to a Home and Garden Show or Wedding Expo, imagine that same experience and setting focusing on scams and fraud. There are presentations, workshops and speakers on various topics such as

ID Theft
Internet Scams
Investment Fraud
Health Care Scams
Bank Fraud
Elder Fraud
Charity Scams
Mortgage Fraud
Phishing Scams
Credit Card and Check Schemes
Contractor Fraud
Food/Supplement Fraud
Mail Fraud

Presenters include local media personalities sharing their best investigative reporting stories that expose scams, law enforcement groups, lawyers and legal experts, and even former scam victims sharing their story of victimization to recovery. Beyond the workshops and presentations, people attending a Scam Jam can interact with Consumer Protection groups in the Exhibitors Room. These professionals can assist them with their scam and fraud related questions, and offer then resources to assist them recovery efforts. You may even be able to purchase one of Chuck Whitlock’s investigative books that exposes scams or books written by other presenters.

Scam Jam is a one stop shop for education and resources on scams, fraud and consumer protection.

We are currently scheduling dates for Scam Jam events for 2010. If your school, business or company would like to host a Scam Jam at your facility, or if you are a professional in the area of scam fighting and consumer protection that would like to be a part of a Scam Jam in your area, please contact us.


Shawn Mosch
Co-Founder of ScamVictimsUnited.com
There is strength in numbers!

Find us on Twitter, Facebook and more through
http://www.retaggr.com/page/ShawnMosch

Support Scam Victims United by shopping at
http://shopittous.blogspot.com/

End of the year review

I would like to thank our friends at the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C) for their post yesterday.

Education Remains the Best Defense Against Internet Fraud

2009 is turning out be a banner year for the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). Experts predict the Center will end the year with close to 350,000 complaints. That’s a heck of a lot more than last year in which a record 275,284 complaints were received. 2010 will probably set another record.

While there is no doubt IC3 has become one of the most recognized vehicles for reporting online fraud today, the numbers have to date, only scratched the surface. Many experts believe the number of people who fall prey to credit card fraud, online auction fraud, phishing scams and the like, is actually far greater than the complaint numbers would indicate and cyber thieves aren’t letting up. If anything, they’re increasing their efforts to separate you and I from our money.

Consumers need to educate themselves to prepare for the coming decade and the wave of sophisticated scams that are sure to follow. There are a host of Web sites available that can help including:

www.lookstoogoodtobetrue.com

www.scamvictimsunited.com

www.scambusters.org

If you do fall victim to online fraud, contact your local police right away and file a complaint with IC3 at www.ic3.gov. It only takes a couple of minutes and the information can help law enforcement bring the perpetrators to justice.

More on Nigerian man and attempted bombing

This week I blogged about the Nigerian man who attempted to blow up an airplane on Christmas. http://scamvictimsunited.blogspot.com/2009/12/nigerian-national-charged-with.html

This event brings up something that I have not really talked about for 6 years, because I did not want people to think that I was trying to start some conspiracy theory . . . where is all of the money from these internet scams going, and could some of them be going to fund terrorism? I have read that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the Nigerian man who attempted this bombing, is the son of a rich Nigerian banker, so he comes from a wealthy family and that is most likely how he had the money to fund his bombing attempt . . . but he also said that there were other like him, training to do the same thing that he did . . . how are those “others” getting the money to fund their training and the attempts that they may make? Every person that Umar knows that is training to learn to bomb the United States cannot be from a wealthy family . . . they have to be getting their funds from someplace. Isn’t it possible that the Internet Scam that we talk about on ScamVictimsUnited.com and this blog could be the resource for the money to fund these attacks? (We KNOW it is not going to pay for further education of the scammers on proper English, otherwise their emails would have gotten better by now.)

This is why I have felt for years that one of the ways that we could fight terrorism is to change the way we handle counterfeit cashier’s checks. If we make it harder for them to get the money to fund these attacks, then we will decrease the number of them that they can fund and go forward with.

Shawn Mosch
Co-Founder of ScamVictimsUnited.com
There is strength in numbers!

Find us on Twitter, Facebook and more through
http://www.retaggr.com/page/ShawnMosch

Support Scam Victims United by shopping at
http://shopittous.blogspot.com/

Mortgage Scam

From http://www.rwbpress.com/2009/12/28/foreclosure-assistance-and-home-loan-mortgage-modification-program-avoid-scams/

There are scams related to foreclosure assistance and the home loan mortgage modification program as many homeowners in need of assistance are turning to anyone who appears to have the answers. Some lenders involved with the home loan mortgage modification process are causing frustration for homeowners, so they look for other sources of aid, but scams seem to be more and more common, so be on guard.

Foreclosure and home loan modification scams commonly are trying to take advantage of those who are seeking counsel or advice. There are countless resources, like makinghomeaffordable.gov, to help those in need of foreclosure assistance through a home loan mortgage modification. However, if someone is seeking to collect a fee for services on foreclosure avoidance or a home loan modification, they are either not reputable, seeking to profit from your misfortune, or both.

Never sign over the deed to your home to anyone other than your mortgage lender. Many foreclosure and home loan modification scams are trying to acquire your home for their own gain, so never transfer ownership of your home. Outside of your direct lender, there is really nothing anyone can do if you sign over your deed to your home.

If someone is seeking a mortgage payment and they aren’t your lender and haven’t been directly approved by your lender to receive the payment, do not pay. Scam artists will run cons where they spin the idea they can help you avoid foreclosure or obtain a home loan modification of you pay your mortgage to them, but this again is false.

Foreclosure is a horrible thing to face and the home loan mortgage modification process can be just as difficult, but it’s worth the trouble to save your house. However, realize there are individuals who would love nothing more to profit from the loss of your home, so unless you are dealing with an accredited lender, stay vigilant.

For more information, see: http://makinghomeaffordable.gov

Nigerian National Charged with Attempting to Destroy Northwest Airlines Aircraft

http://detroit.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel09/de122609.htm

WASHINGTON—A 23-year-old Nigerian man was charged in a federal criminal complaint today with attempting to destroy a Northwest Airlines aircraft on its final approach to Detroit Metropolitan Airport on Christmas Day and with placing a destructive device on the aircraft.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, 23, a Nigerian national, boarded Northwest Flight 253 in Amsterdam, Netherlands on December 24, 2009 and had a device attached to his body. As the flight was approaching Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Abdulmutallab set off the device, which resulted in a fire and what appears to have been an explosion. Abdulmutallab was then subdued and restrained by the passengers and flight crew. The airplane landed shortly thereafter, and he was taken into custody by Customs and Border Patrol officers.

A preliminary FBI analysis found that the device contained PETN, also known as pentaerythritol, a high explosive. Further analysis is ongoing. In addition, FBI agents recovered what appear to be the remnants of the syringe from the vicinity of Abdulmutallab’s seat, believed to have been part of the device.

“This alleged attack on a U.S. airplane on Christmas Day shows that we must remain vigilant in the fight against terrorism at all times,” Attorney General Eric Holder said. “Had this alleged plot to destroy an airplane been successful, scores of innocent people would have been killed or injured. We will continue to investigate this matter vigorously, and we will use all measures available to our government to ensure that anyone responsible for this attempted attack is brought to justice

Abdulmutallab required medical treatment and was transported to the University of Michigan Medical Center after the plane landed. He will make his initial court appearance later today.

Interviews of all of the passengers and crew of Flight 253 revealed that prior to the incident, Abdulmutallab went to the bathroom for approximately 20 minutes, according to the affidavit. Upon returning to his seat, Abdulmutallab stated that his stomach was upset, and he pulled a blanket over himself. Passengers then heard popping noises similar to firecrackers, smelled an odor, and some observed Abdulmutallab’s pants leg and the wall of the airplane on fire. Passengers and crew then subdued Abdulmutallab and used blankets and fire extinguishers to put out the flames. Passengers reported that Abdulmutallab was calm and lucid throughout. One flight attendant asked him what he had had in his pocket, and he replied “explosive device.”

These prosecutions are being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, with assistance from the Counterterrorism Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.

The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Joint Terrorism Task Force. The public is reminded that criminal complaints contain mere allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

A little humor for today

I found this online and I had to share it with you.


So even our favorite cartoon characters can become scam victims.

Cashier's Check Survey

For some reason this poll is not working when I moved it into these space. Please scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page to take this survey.

If you deposited a cashier's check into your bank account, at what point would you feel safe that the check is legitimate, and that you can use the funds from it with no financial risk to yourself?

(scroll to bottom of page to vote)

Answers will be posted in the following days so that you can check back and see if you are correct.