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INTERNET SCAMMERS
The world is full of scam artists who search the web for victims. Please send scammer e-mails
to: martin@accutron214.com for inclusion on this web page. Knowledge is power.

Counterfeit U.S. Postal Money Orders: U.S. Postal Service warning

The US Postal Service has made available a pdf file which shows how to tell if you have a genuine postal money order.
CLICK HERE

If you have questions about accepting U.S. Postal Money Orders, call your nearest U.S. Postal Inspection Service Office or Post Office. Call 1-800-ASK-USPS or visit www.usps.com for these telephone numbers.

DIFFERENT SCHEMES, SAME RESULTS

The basis of these now common scams is that a too-good-to-be-true buyer sends paper in an amount larger than the asking price of the goods and the seller is asked to refund the difference. Details vary but while the forged or stolen paper looks legitimate, it's always worthless. Many gullible, over-eager sellers succeed in cashing or depositing the forged checks and wire money to the scammers. Some actually receive shipping instructions and ship the goods to an untraceable address. Of course, when the check bounces the victim has to repay the bank. Never send cash to a stranger who overpays and always wait several weeks after depositing any paper (check or money order) before shipping your item. Remember, if it didn't work occasionally, the scammers wouldn't keep doing it.

We strongly encourage everyone to use caution and common sense when dealing with any financial transaction.

ALWAYS trust your instincts
NEVER wire funds to a distant buyer, via Western Union or any other carrier
NEVER give out personal financial information (eBay account, PayPal account, checking account, social security number, etc.)
ALWAYS remember the most important rule -- BUYER BEWARE

If you think you have been scammed, contact the non-emergency number for your local police department -- they may be able to offer advice about your options.

Who should I notify about fraud?

FTC toll free hotline: 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357)
FTC online complaint form www.ftc.gov
Canadian PhoneBusters hotline: 888-495-8501
Internet Fraud Complaint Center http://www.ic3.gov/

Types of Scams

1. distant buyer offers a high-value (but fake) cashier's check in exchange for your item (samples: see below)

you receive an odd email offering to buy your item site unseen.
cashier's check is offered for your sale item, as a deposit for an apartment, or just about anything else.
value of cashier's check often far exceeds your item - buyer asks you to wire the difference back to him/her via money transfer service
banks will often cash these fake checks AND THEN HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE WHEN THE CHECK FAILS TO CLEAR
scam often involves a 3rd party (shipping agent, business associate owing buyer money, etc)

2. distant seller requests payment via Western Union or MoneyGram:

seller often claims that an MTCN or confirmation code is needed before he can withdraw your money - this is FALSE, once you've wired money, it is GONE.
common items currently:: laptops, plasma TVs, cell phones, tickets - but could be almost anything
common countries currently include: Nigeria, Romania, Ukraine, Spain, UK, Italy, Netherlands - but could be anywhere
deal often seems too good to be true

3. distant seller offers to send you a cashier's check and then have you wire money:

this is ALWAYS a scam, in our experience - the cashier's check is FAKE
sometimes accompanies an offer of merchandise, sometimes not
scammer often asks for your name, address, etc for printing on the fake check
deal often seems too good to be true

4. distant seller suggests use of an online escrow service.

most online escrow sites are FRAUDULENT, operated by scammers
for more info, do a google search on "fake escrow" or "escrow fraud"
if you must do business with a distant seller, insist on a legitimate service, such as www.escrow.com

5. distant seller asks for a partial payment up front, after which he will ship goods

he says he trusts you with the partial payment
he may say he has already shipped the goods
deal often sounds too good to be true

SCAM REPORTS

12/28/05 - Subject: FAKE USPS MONEY ORDER EMAIL

I became one of the victims, but maybe this will help someone else. He sent me 5 fake money orders in the amount of 850.00 each. I deposited only (2) thank god.

Subject: JOB FOR YOU

Would you like to work online from home and get paid weekly ? R & K LIMITED needs a book-keeper in the states, so i want to know if you will like to work online from home and get paid weekly without leaving or affecting your present job? I presently run a textile and fabrics firm in the UK and we need someone to work for the company as a representative/book keeper in the states. My company produces various clothing materials, batiks, assorted fabrics and traditional costume which we have clients we supply weekly in the states. My clients make payments for our supplies every week in form of Cashiers check/Money Orders which are not readily cashable outside the United States, So we need a reliable and trustworthy individual in the states to work as our representative and assist us in processing the payments from our clients and will paid weekly. All you need to do is to receive the payments from our clients in the states, then get it cashed at your bank, you will then deduct your weekly pay which would be 10% of whatever you cash then forward the balance to the company down here via the closest western union or money gram outlet close to you. I sincerely hope i can have an irrevocable trust in you on this. So all i need to do is to forward your information to our client who will be make the money orders payable to you on our behalf then send it to you via mail or courier. I will need the following information below:
1.YOUR FULL NAME AND CONTACT ADDRESS.
2.YOUR DIRECT TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS.
3.YOUR AGE AND PRESENT OCCUPATION.
4.YOUR EXPERIENCE IN FUND MANAGEMENT
At the provision of the above information we can now forward your information to our clients so that they can start to make payments to you as our representative in the states. As soon as we confirm any payment coming to you i will definately notify you and i will give you the information to as to where to send the funds to either via western union money transfer or moneygram. I await your positive response to this.

Warmest Regards,
Robert Keller
CEO R&K Fabrics & textiles
+44 703 184 1684

12/20/05 - I posted an on-line classified on Washington Post to sell an antique chair. "Graham" grahamstores2001@yahoo.com responded and said he would pay by money order. However he was going to send me a large money order in the amount of $1000 where I could deduct the amount of the chair and send it back to "him". I finally received 4 money orders in the amount of $850 each. I believe these are fake. The money orders came from an address in CA and I was instructed to send the money orders on to an address in PA after deducting the amount of the chair and related fees.

Then I saw your web page.

After refusing to sell him the chair I got this email from fbi_scams@yahoo.com

"Hello Tina Kinney, We did receive an email from Graham Bells Jr. notifying us of a breach in contract between both of you, he stated that hes buying a chair of $250 and you have agreed in selling it to him based on agreement and trust and he had to issue money orders of $850 each (4 pieces), and he informed us he had to issue the money orders in your name and have it sent to your full name and address stated below: Tina xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Your corresponding emails with Graham Bells have been recorded into out system and we will be waiting to hear your own view of the transaction before necessary measure will be taken which may include: 1. Coming to your location to confirm if truly you have the item listed for sale. 2. checking if you have cashed the money orders or checking your account if you have a new deposit Please endeavor to reply back asap Yours Faithfully Smith."

I contacted yahoo email services and washington post of this scam. Tina Kinney

10/12/05 - Sir: I know you have nothing to do with the people who answer your ads but you might want to be aware of a recent scam. And warn your advertisers to check out all buyers, before they deposit their money or cashiers checks into their bank account. I advertised two small occasional antique chairs on your site. Total $300.00 I received an immediate offer for them from a buyer in Sidney, it was a huge scam, he sent me a money order for $3200.00, wanted me to cash it, go to Western Union, and send the difference between the price of the chairs, the cost of the money order etc., to some person in Nigeria, who would handle the shipping. I smelled a rat immediately. Wrote back and said no, then I received another email assuring me it (the cashiers check) was 100 percent okay and to send the money to someone in England. Took the money order to my bank, and yes, it was bogus. No such Citrus Bank in Orlando Florida existed, the name had changed. Evidentially someone had gotten hold of a lot of their money order forms and were using them. They were all handwritten, which also raised a red flag. Just a warning. the bank said that 500 of these money orders had tried to come through their bank. So buyer beware. mdg1945@cfl.rr.com

ACTUAL FRAUDULENT E-MAILS

From: Shelly Sun mailto:buy4china19@yahoo.com

> Sent: Tuesday, 20 September 2005 11:29 PM

> Subject: PAYMENT CONFIRMED SENT......PLS DO GET BACK ASAP

Hi Mike,

> Top of the day to you......how are you and everything generally? I

> hope you are fine as usual and hope all is going on well.........i

> just received a confirmation notice from my client that payment has

> being sent out to you today and should be delivered to you this

> thursday or latest for friday....in which my client also advised that

> upon your receipt of payment,pls kindly take it to your BANK and have

> it cashed of which,after you have cashed the money order at your

> BANK....you are expected to ship out the laptop to the address

> provided you in Beijin , China as agreed.

> Least i forget,pls be informed that a total payment of

> $2,500USD(equivalent to AUD$3,240) was sent to you by my client and i

> will want you to deduct your asking of AUD$1,154(equivalent to

> USD$900) for both laptops and kindly help send back the balance left

> AUD$2,086(equivalent to $1,600USD) via western union money transfer to

> me in China.The reason why a total payment of $2,500USD(equivalent to

> AUD$3,240) was sent to you is because:

ETC, ETC, ETC.

Subj: Signed pair of Bakelite Miriam Haskell earrings {PAYMENT AND SHIPPING} WITH TRUST
Date: 4/17/05 2:29:40 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: bush_rich002@yahoo.ca

Thanks for the mail,
                   As a matter of fact am so much interested in buying this Signed pair of Bakelite Miriam Haskell earrings and the price is okay by me for $550 immediately if you will accept a cashiers check and i will like you to remove the ad from the website and give me your contact details so we can proceed with payment and so other people will no it has been sold,cos my client in US who is owning me the some of $8,000 will be one to issue out the payment to you.and immediately you receive this payment from him,you are to get it cash immediately at any cashing outlet arround you.and imediately this is done, you will deduct the total cost of your Signed pair of Bakelite Miriam Haskell earrings from it and just $50 for your compesation towards this transaction,and immediately you have deduct all th! is amount from the $8,000, you are to go ahead and have the rest balace forward to my shipping agent for him to come for the pickup of this Signed pair of Bakelite Miriam Haskell earrings in your location.Moreso i want you to understand that the balace you are sending to my shipping agent wil be the one to prepare himself to be in your location.so i want you to get back to me ASAP with this information needed from you for the payment.such as follow..
YOUR FULL NAME ...
CONTACT ADDRESS ....
CONTACT PHONE NUMBER
YOUR CELL PHONE NUMBER..
so that i can forward this to my client immediately for him to issue out the payment without any delay. i look forward to hear back from you.
   Remain Bless in God
                      Bush....

Subj: The Shipping Payment Arrangement
Date: 4/9/05 1:29:01 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: eric_kenny24@yahoo.com

Hello Aio ,
Thanks for the email.I appreciate it a lot.I am happy that you have recieved the payment in good faith.I am planning on a trip to visit my ill wife so i want this sales to be completed as soon as possible.Please i want you to send the excess funds to the shipping agent so that they can prepare the necessary paper works and documentation and the shipping arrangement can countinue.
They will only charge you for the cashing of the check and transfering of the excess funds to the name and address given to you by the Mr Brown.
Please i want you to deduct all the charges of transfering from my money and send the remaining balance to the shipper.
Please note that you will tell them at the western union office that you are sending the funds to your sister so that they will not charge you more and double for bussiness transaction.I hope you understand me i want you to make use of it.
Please as soon as the funds is sent out today let me know with all the transfer details so that i can meet up with my plan of visiting my sick wife this week.
Here waiting for your response
I am counting on you please dont fail me.
Thanks and God bless you as you do so.
Best Regards
Eric

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