What fun! Today, I received a delightful email which immediately went into the trash. It appears the writer of the email worded it in a decidedly hostile manner.
What was so fun about the email was it was allegedly addressed to the young female who was his, er, partner. Then why was the email addressed to so many recipients?
In the email, the writer has promised to upload any and all acts online so the world can enjoy their alleged antics. Wow. If so many recipients have been so intimately involved with the writer of the email, then he was one busy character. No wonder he had to send it to any mailbox he could. He couldn't remember their names!
Scam? I think so. Trash? I know so.
Beware of any email that trashes the alleged recipient. You don't want to be a victim of malware.
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Showing posts with label scam. Show all posts
Showing posts with label scam. Show all posts
Friday, November 19, 2010
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
FDA Warns Public of Continued Extortion Scam by FDA Impersonators
/PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning the public about criminals posing as FDA special agents and other law enforcement personnel as part of an international extortion scam.
The criminals call the victims -- who in most cases previously purchased drugs over the Internet or via "telepharmacies" -- and identify themselves as FDA special agents or other law enforcement officials. The criminals inform the victims that purchasing drugs over the Internet or the telephone is illegal, and that law enforcement action will be pursued unless a fine or fee ranging from $100 to $250,000 is paid. Victims often also have fraudulent transactions placed against their credit cards.
The criminals always request the money be sent by wire transfer to a designated location, usually in the Dominican Republic. If victims refuse to send money, they are often threatened with a search of their property, arrest, deportation, physical harm, or incarceration.
"Impersonating an FDA official is a violation of federal law," said Michael Chappell, the FDA's acting associate commissioner for regulatory affairs. "The public should note that no FDA official will ever contact a consumer by phone demanding money or any other form of payment."
FDA special agents and other law enforcement officials are not authorized to impose or collect criminal fines. Only a court can take such action, with fines payable to the U.S. Treasury.
Anyone receiving a telephone call from a person purporting to be an FDA or other law enforcement official who is seeking money to settle a law enforcement action for the illegal purchase of drugs over the Internet should refuse the demand and call the FDA's Office of Criminal Investigations Metro Washington Field Office at (800) 521-5783 to report the crime.
In addition to posing as FDA officials, criminals have posed as special agents of the DEA, FBI, U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Customs Service as well as U.S. and Dominican prosecutors and judges. In response, the FDA, in conjunction with various federal, state, and local agencies, is actively pursing criminal charges.
The FDA also reminds consumers to use caution when purchasing prescription drugs over the telephone or the Internet. In addition to the increased risk of purchasing unsafe and ineffective drugs from Web sites operating outside the law, there is the danger that personal data can be compromised. For more on FDA's concerns about unlawful drug sales on the Internet, see http://www.fda.gov/oc/buyonline/faqs.html.
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The criminals call the victims -- who in most cases previously purchased drugs over the Internet or via "telepharmacies" -- and identify themselves as FDA special agents or other law enforcement officials. The criminals inform the victims that purchasing drugs over the Internet or the telephone is illegal, and that law enforcement action will be pursued unless a fine or fee ranging from $100 to $250,000 is paid. Victims often also have fraudulent transactions placed against their credit cards.
The criminals always request the money be sent by wire transfer to a designated location, usually in the Dominican Republic. If victims refuse to send money, they are often threatened with a search of their property, arrest, deportation, physical harm, or incarceration.
"Impersonating an FDA official is a violation of federal law," said Michael Chappell, the FDA's acting associate commissioner for regulatory affairs. "The public should note that no FDA official will ever contact a consumer by phone demanding money or any other form of payment."
FDA special agents and other law enforcement officials are not authorized to impose or collect criminal fines. Only a court can take such action, with fines payable to the U.S. Treasury.
Anyone receiving a telephone call from a person purporting to be an FDA or other law enforcement official who is seeking money to settle a law enforcement action for the illegal purchase of drugs over the Internet should refuse the demand and call the FDA's Office of Criminal Investigations Metro Washington Field Office at (800) 521-5783 to report the crime.
In addition to posing as FDA officials, criminals have posed as special agents of the DEA, FBI, U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Customs Service as well as U.S. and Dominican prosecutors and judges. In response, the FDA, in conjunction with various federal, state, and local agencies, is actively pursing criminal charges.
The FDA also reminds consumers to use caution when purchasing prescription drugs over the telephone or the Internet. In addition to the increased risk of purchasing unsafe and ineffective drugs from Web sites operating outside the law, there is the danger that personal data can be compromised. For more on FDA's concerns about unlawful drug sales on the Internet, see http://www.fda.gov/oc/buyonline/faqs.html.
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Friday, August 21, 2009
Avoiding Online Scams When Buying a Car
(StatePoint) Shopping for cars online is easier than ever, which is why an estimated 90 percent of people use online resources when hunting for vehicles, according to industry experts. However, with this convenience comes a growing number of scams putting vehicle shoppers and sellers at risk, and greater need to protect yourself against online fraud.
A new Harris Interactive survey sponsored by AutoTrader.com, the Internet's largest auto classifieds marketplace, finds that two out of three Americans worry about online fraud, and nearly one in three has either already fallen victim to an online scam or knows someone who has.
Despite worries, many surveyed are not well educated on protecting themselves, with only one in eight saying they feel "very confident" they know enough to avoid online fraud.
Sid Kirchheimer, nationally renowned fraud expert, author and the AARP Bulletin's "Scam Alert" columnist, advises consumers to learn about protecting themselves before researching or making any major purchases online.
"It's easy for the average consumer to be duped into an online scam, especially when dealing with a high-ticket item like a car," he says. "People need to know how to recognize common scams and what they can do to easily avoid them and stay safe."
Kirchheimer offers the following tips:
* Mind your money (and other paper): If shopping for a car online, ensure its existence by getting photocopies of vehicle title and registration, and a vehicle history report from a company like Carfax to note its location and accident and repair history. Never wire money to buy a car, and when selling one online, wait until the bank says the "money has been collected" on deposited checks from the "buyer." It's not enough to hear "the check has cleared." Never provide sensitive information like Social Security, credit card or checking account numbers via email before inspecting the vehicle and striking a deal.
* Watch for scammers and "too good to be true" deals: Beware of ads urging the need for a quick sale at an incredible discount; research realistic prices on similar cars or other big-ticket items to learn general market prices. Be suspicious of "sob story" reasons for quick and cheap sales. Two common scams are the fake soldier departing for Iraq or the recently divorced woman needing cash.
* Know with whom you're dealing: Many online classified sites like AutoTrader.com only advertise items for sale and don't get involved in transactions. Other sites help facilitate transactions. If a seller claims to be using a transaction service from a site you know, make sure that site actually offers that service by visiting it yourself.
* Use the phone: Don't rely only on e-mails when negotiating in cyberspace. Although there's no guarantee scammers will provide legitimate phone numbers, phone contact can weed out foreign scammers placing bogus online ads.
* Don't click on emailed links: Scam Web sites often resemble well-known banks, retailers and escrow services. Links in emails to these sites allow scammers to steal your money when you enter payment information. You're safer accessing a site by visiting its home page than by clicking a link in an email from a stranger.
* Beware of overpayment or complicated payment schemes. Don't agree to plans where the buyer asks to send a check for more than the sale price, requesting the seller refund the difference. Be suspicious of buyers who propose making payment through friends or agents.
For more on safely shopping online, visit www.autotrader.com/fraudtips.
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A new Harris Interactive survey sponsored by AutoTrader.com, the Internet's largest auto classifieds marketplace, finds that two out of three Americans worry about online fraud, and nearly one in three has either already fallen victim to an online scam or knows someone who has.
Despite worries, many surveyed are not well educated on protecting themselves, with only one in eight saying they feel "very confident" they know enough to avoid online fraud.
Sid Kirchheimer, nationally renowned fraud expert, author and the AARP Bulletin's "Scam Alert" columnist, advises consumers to learn about protecting themselves before researching or making any major purchases online.
"It's easy for the average consumer to be duped into an online scam, especially when dealing with a high-ticket item like a car," he says. "People need to know how to recognize common scams and what they can do to easily avoid them and stay safe."
Kirchheimer offers the following tips:
* Mind your money (and other paper): If shopping for a car online, ensure its existence by getting photocopies of vehicle title and registration, and a vehicle history report from a company like Carfax to note its location and accident and repair history. Never wire money to buy a car, and when selling one online, wait until the bank says the "money has been collected" on deposited checks from the "buyer." It's not enough to hear "the check has cleared." Never provide sensitive information like Social Security, credit card or checking account numbers via email before inspecting the vehicle and striking a deal.
* Watch for scammers and "too good to be true" deals: Beware of ads urging the need for a quick sale at an incredible discount; research realistic prices on similar cars or other big-ticket items to learn general market prices. Be suspicious of "sob story" reasons for quick and cheap sales. Two common scams are the fake soldier departing for Iraq or the recently divorced woman needing cash.
* Know with whom you're dealing: Many online classified sites like AutoTrader.com only advertise items for sale and don't get involved in transactions. Other sites help facilitate transactions. If a seller claims to be using a transaction service from a site you know, make sure that site actually offers that service by visiting it yourself.
* Use the phone: Don't rely only on e-mails when negotiating in cyberspace. Although there's no guarantee scammers will provide legitimate phone numbers, phone contact can weed out foreign scammers placing bogus online ads.
* Don't click on emailed links: Scam Web sites often resemble well-known banks, retailers and escrow services. Links in emails to these sites allow scammers to steal your money when you enter payment information. You're safer accessing a site by visiting its home page than by clicking a link in an email from a stranger.
* Beware of overpayment or complicated payment schemes. Don't agree to plans where the buyer asks to send a check for more than the sale price, requesting the seller refund the difference. Be suspicious of buyers who propose making payment through friends or agents.
For more on safely shopping online, visit www.autotrader.com/fraudtips.
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Monday, July 20, 2009
Class Action Filed Against Extended Car Warranty Schemers
TT Note: Gee, you think someone can now go after all the phone calls coming from some un-named credit card company offering to lower my rates? You know the calls. A computer tells you if you act now, they can help. Sorry. I'll try to get to it right after I win the lottery.
/PRNewswire/ -- Please hold for an important notice about your automobile warranty: You are at risk of getting scammed.
That's the message in a class action complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois by Jonathan J. Sahim, individually and on behalf of other customers nationwide who have purchased so-called "extended warranty" vehicle service contracts from Dealers Warranty LLC (also known as mogi and Federal Auto Protection) and Warranty Finance LLC.
Mr. Sahim is represented in the matter by Steven L. Wittels of Sanford Wittels & Heisler, LLP in New York, along with the Law Offices of Mark S. Baumkel & Associates in Bingham Farms, Michigan, and Michael F. Ram of Ram & Olson, LLP in San Francisco.
The complaint details Warranty's ongoing, wrongful scheme to extract hidden interest charges and penalties from consumers who cancel their service contracts before the term of coverage expires. The complaint charges that the defendants make a practice of heavily penalizing car owners with large interest charges and marketing fees that are not spelled out in their contracts, in violation of the Federal Truth in Lending Act and the Illinois Consumer Fraud Act.
"These Warranty rip-off artists bombard millions of households with calls designed to sell them virtually useless warranty contracts," said lead counsel Steven L. Wittels. "Then, when customers try to cancel their contracts, Warranty pounces on them with exorbitant hidden interest charges, marketing fees, and cancellation penalties. The defendants have defrauded thousands of consumers across the country with these charges, and this case aims to put a stop to their unethical practices."
This is not the first time that these warranty companies have run afoul of the law. According to the complaint, the defendants recently entered a consent decree to stop violating the national "no-call" law after being sued by national phone companies for engaging in mass automated telephone blitzes. Congress also held hearings to investigate these companies' unscrupulous marketing practices.
Mr. Sahim purchased an extended warranty from Dealers Warranty in 2007, agreeing to pay a flat, monthly fee for 60 months of coverage. When he tried to cancel his policy, the companies charged Mr. Sahim hundreds of dollars in hidden fees, totaling 25% of the total value of his warranty policy.
"These charges came out of nowhere," Mr. Sahim said. "My contract said nothing about 'interest' or 'marketing fees,' so I was completely shocked when the company charged me $175 for 'interest' and a $142 'marketing fee." Mr. Sahim added that the company would not provide him with a written explanation for how they had calculated his refund. He found out about these hidden costs only after calling up the company to demand an explanation.
The case seeks class action certification and at least $50 million in relief for all the consumers nationwide who were charged these illegal fees, as well as punitive damages. "The only way consumers can ever hope to recover these deceptive fees is if this case proceeds as a class action," explained Mr. Wittels.
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/PRNewswire/ -- Please hold for an important notice about your automobile warranty: You are at risk of getting scammed.
That's the message in a class action complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois by Jonathan J. Sahim, individually and on behalf of other customers nationwide who have purchased so-called "extended warranty" vehicle service contracts from Dealers Warranty LLC (also known as mogi and Federal Auto Protection) and Warranty Finance LLC.
Mr. Sahim is represented in the matter by Steven L. Wittels of Sanford Wittels & Heisler, LLP in New York, along with the Law Offices of Mark S. Baumkel & Associates in Bingham Farms, Michigan, and Michael F. Ram of Ram & Olson, LLP in San Francisco.
The complaint details Warranty's ongoing, wrongful scheme to extract hidden interest charges and penalties from consumers who cancel their service contracts before the term of coverage expires. The complaint charges that the defendants make a practice of heavily penalizing car owners with large interest charges and marketing fees that are not spelled out in their contracts, in violation of the Federal Truth in Lending Act and the Illinois Consumer Fraud Act.
"These Warranty rip-off artists bombard millions of households with calls designed to sell them virtually useless warranty contracts," said lead counsel Steven L. Wittels. "Then, when customers try to cancel their contracts, Warranty pounces on them with exorbitant hidden interest charges, marketing fees, and cancellation penalties. The defendants have defrauded thousands of consumers across the country with these charges, and this case aims to put a stop to their unethical practices."
This is not the first time that these warranty companies have run afoul of the law. According to the complaint, the defendants recently entered a consent decree to stop violating the national "no-call" law after being sued by national phone companies for engaging in mass automated telephone blitzes. Congress also held hearings to investigate these companies' unscrupulous marketing practices.
Mr. Sahim purchased an extended warranty from Dealers Warranty in 2007, agreeing to pay a flat, monthly fee for 60 months of coverage. When he tried to cancel his policy, the companies charged Mr. Sahim hundreds of dollars in hidden fees, totaling 25% of the total value of his warranty policy.
"These charges came out of nowhere," Mr. Sahim said. "My contract said nothing about 'interest' or 'marketing fees,' so I was completely shocked when the company charged me $175 for 'interest' and a $142 'marketing fee." Mr. Sahim added that the company would not provide him with a written explanation for how they had calculated his refund. He found out about these hidden costs only after calling up the company to demand an explanation.
The case seeks class action certification and at least $50 million in relief for all the consumers nationwide who were charged these illegal fees, as well as punitive damages. "The only way consumers can ever hope to recover these deceptive fees is if this case proceeds as a class action," explained Mr. Wittels.
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Wednesday, November 12, 2008
FDA Warns Public of Extortion Scam by FDA Impersonators
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers about a fraudulent scheme to extort money from consumers by callers who falsely identify themselves as "FDA special agents" or other FDA officials.
Several instances have been reported to the FDA of calls enticing consumers to purchase discounted prescription drugs by wiring funds to one of several locations in the Dominican Republic. No medications are ever delivered. A subsequent call is received from a fraudulent "FDA special agent" informing the consumer that a fine of several thousand dollars is required to be sent to an address in the Dominican Republic to prevent incarceration or other legal action.
"Impersonating an FDA official is a violation of federal law," said Michael Chappell, the FDA's acting associate commissioner for regulatory affairs. "The public should note that no FDA official will ever contact a consumer by phone demanding money or any other form of payment. FDA officials always present identification in person when conducting official business."
Consumers should note that the fraudulent calls appear to be from telephone numbers located within the United States, but are in fact from either ported voice-over-the-Internet-protocol numbers (calls made directly from a computer and moved or "ported" to other computers to avoid detection) or cellular phones. Reports to FDA describe the callers as having Hispanic accents.
The scheme most likely began with the theft of personal information from consumers who previously purchased drugs via the Internet or telephone or who were victims of credit card fraud.
The FDA is investigating and complaints or information regarding this scheme should be reported to the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations at (800) 521-5783.
The FDA reminds consumers to purchase prescription drugs only from licensed pharmacies located in the United States. Information about the proper purchase of on-line medicine can be found at: http://www.fda.gov/consumer/features/drugsonline0707.html.
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Several instances have been reported to the FDA of calls enticing consumers to purchase discounted prescription drugs by wiring funds to one of several locations in the Dominican Republic. No medications are ever delivered. A subsequent call is received from a fraudulent "FDA special agent" informing the consumer that a fine of several thousand dollars is required to be sent to an address in the Dominican Republic to prevent incarceration or other legal action.
"Impersonating an FDA official is a violation of federal law," said Michael Chappell, the FDA's acting associate commissioner for regulatory affairs. "The public should note that no FDA official will ever contact a consumer by phone demanding money or any other form of payment. FDA officials always present identification in person when conducting official business."
Consumers should note that the fraudulent calls appear to be from telephone numbers located within the United States, but are in fact from either ported voice-over-the-Internet-protocol numbers (calls made directly from a computer and moved or "ported" to other computers to avoid detection) or cellular phones. Reports to FDA describe the callers as having Hispanic accents.
The scheme most likely began with the theft of personal information from consumers who previously purchased drugs via the Internet or telephone or who were victims of credit card fraud.
The FDA is investigating and complaints or information regarding this scheme should be reported to the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations at (800) 521-5783.
The FDA reminds consumers to purchase prescription drugs only from licensed pharmacies located in the United States. Information about the proper purchase of on-line medicine can be found at: http://www.fda.gov/consumer/features/drugsonline0707.html.
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