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ALERT! Health insurer Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield hacked 80 Million Customers!

2/5/2015

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ALERT! Health insurer Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield hacked 80 Million Customers!

Published on Feb 4, 2015

Health insurer Anthem hit by massive cybersecurity breach
By Supriya Kurane and Jim Finkle

Thu Feb 5, 2015 3:04pm EST

(Reuters) - Health insurer Anthem Inc (ANTM.N), which has nearly 40 million U.S. customers, said late on Wednesday that hackers had breached one of its IT systems and stolen personal information relating to current and former consumers and employees.

The No. 2 health insurer in the United States said the breach did not appear to involve medical information or financial details such as credit card or bank account numbers.

The information accessed during the "very sophisticated attack" did include names, birthdays, social security numbers, street addresses, email addresses and employment information, including income data, the company said.

Anthem said that it immediately made every effort to close the security vulnerability and reported the attack to the FBI. Cybersecurity firm FireEye Inc FEYE. said it had been hired to help Anthem investigate the attack.

The company did not say how many customers and staff were affected, but the Wall Street Journal earlier reported it was suspected that records of tens of millions of people had been taken, which would likely make it the largest data breach involving a U.S. health insurer.

Anthem had 37.5 million medical members as of the end of December.

"This attack is another reminder of the persistent threats we face, and the need for Congress to take aggressive action to remove legal barriers for sharing cyber threat information," U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, a Republican from Texas and chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, said in a statement late Wednesday.

The FBI had warned last August that healthcare industry companies were being targeted by hackers, publicizing the issue following an attack on U.S. hospital group Community Health Systems Inc (CYH.N) that resulted in the theft of millions of patient records.

Medical identity theft is often not immediately identified by patients or their provider, giving criminals years to milk such credentials. That makes medical data more valuable than credit cards, which tend to be quickly canceled by banks once fraud is detected.

Security experts say cyber criminals are increasingly targeting the $3 trillion U.S. healthcare industry, which has many companies still reliant on aging computer systems that do not use the latest security features.

Anthem said it would send a letter and email to everyone whose information was stored in the hacked database. It also set up an informational website, www.anthemfacts.com, and will offer to provide a credit-monitoring service.

(Reporting by Supriya Kurane in Bengaluru, Jim Finkle in Boston and Deena Beasley in Los Angeles; Editing by Ken Wills and Alex Richardson)


http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/05/us-anthem-cybersecurity-idUSKBN0L907J20150205



Thanks to Mr IQD for bringing this to my attention
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Five Travel Scams Of The Week

7/20/2014

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Five Travel Scams Of The Week

Posted by Stu Sjouwerman on Mon, Jul 14, 2014 @ 11:33 AM

It's summer and a lot of people are on the road, but some of your employees are always traveling for business, and often these are management-level people with access to lots of confidential data.

These days, you can’t travel on either business or vacation and let your electronic guard down. Here are a few popular scams they need to watch out for. Send this to all employees that might benefit and and protect your network at the same time:

1) Fake Free Wi-Fi Network that you find when you look for access to your business account. It has the hotel's name, but the scammers are listening in on the (company confidential) traffic. Verify with the hotel before logon on "free Hotel Wi-Fi".

2) Fake Software Update where a traveler attempting to set up a hotel internet connection sees an "Update-popup" for a popular software product. Click on it and malware installs. Always update laptops before you leave and never update while you travel.

3) Pizza Delivery Scam where you find a flyer slipped under your hotel door. When you call to order, they take your card data but never deliver because the flyer was a scam. Get food recommendations from the concierge!

4) An ATM Security Team is warning about new ATM skimmers that are almost impossible to detect with the naked eye. Thanks to a slimmed-down profile, the devices sit within the throat of an ATM card slot, capturing data when a traveler slides their card inside. A spy camera then tapes the customer as they enter their PIN number on the keypad. Especially when on the road, COVER YOUR HAND WHEN TYPING IN THE PIN!

5) Late Night Hotel Front Desk Call where you get a call alerting you there is a problem with your credit card and please verify the number. Except it's a scammer who now has your number or perhaps just skimmed your card at the ATM and needs some more info to make a fake duplicate card so they can grab the maximum cash. Especially when you travel, never give out credit card information if you did not initiate the call!


http://blog.knowbe4.com/bid/391662/Five-Travel-Scams-Of-The-Week
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The IQD Team~~Words of Warning~~Anatomy of Con Men  Tiers and More

3/5/2013

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The IQD Team....Straight Talkin Mike

Words of Warning ~~ The Anatomy of Con Men, Tiers, and so much more


641-715-3900 Pin 354332#   7 Minutes

July 17, 2012 or
http://download3.freeconferencepro.com/rec/1264699943-20120718214725-25252525.wav


641-715-3900  Pin 180911#  15 minutes

July 19, 2012 or 

http://download3.freeconferencepro.com/rec/1264699943-20120720225847-52523698.wav


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Repost~~Scam School by Chuck Whitlock

7/20/2012

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REPOSTED - This is a good time to remind you about this book - and the scams that are out there....

Thanks to Mr Anonymous for telling me about this book.....

Scam School by Chuck Whitlock

They are Out to Get You!

Chuck Whitlock, the world's leading scam-buster, wises you up to the incredible variety of cons just waiting to rid you of your wallet, your health, and your pride. Renowned to viewers of Oprah and Hard Copy, Geraldo and Sally Jesse Raphael, Inside Edition and CNN, Chuck Whitlock has exposed hundreds of con artists and reenacted scores of scams on camera. In his Scam School he reveals the tricks of the con artist's trade as he recounts his adventures going undercover to expose the most common and crafty scams circulating today — scams like:

    The faith healer who sold "human fat" candles at $900 a pop
    The new hire who wooed his boss and then bilked her out of her life savings
    The Three-Card Monte game that cost one man $25,000
    The nursing home that double-charged patients and Medicare, pocketing the profits

At once shocking, entertaining, and empowering, the true stories in Chuck Whitlock's Scam School will give you a Ph.D. in street smarts. "In a culture where people are increasingly being victimized by fraud, Scam School is a must read." --

Vincent Bugliosi, Author of Helter Skelter "Chuck has educated millions of viewers about the dangers of con artists. This book can help avert tragedies." --

Sally Jesse Raphael "Knowledge is power. Scam School will make you powerful." --

John G. Di Liberto, President & Ceo, National Insurance Crime Bureau "Through his investigative reporting and on-camera scams, Chuck has probably cost con artists millions of dollars in lost revenues"



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Bank Packages Warning~~Mr Bentley

7/3/2012

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Thanks to several of you who forwarded this to us.....We thought is was good enough to post as an additional warning

PLEASE READ.......

I have replaced our normal chat comments today with this post – an excellent read and thanks Mr. Bentley!!

I left this warning in the Blog one more day – IT’S THAT IMPORTANT!! Be very careful about who you allow to have your personal information. It will be out in open (soon) as to who are the main actors at the core of these “bank package schemes” are – it’s not the Guru’s you know and love – it’s possible they are being DUPED as well (best case). You will be furious when the truth comes out.

I have been hearing about, “Bank Deals” for months and months.  Every “deal” I’ve checked out, was a hoax.  I know bankers and bank procedures pretty well.  I have 9 bank accounts with 4 different banks.  I have been in business for myself most of my life and currently  own two businesses.  The bank Presidents I speak to say, “we won’t know anything in the local banks, until the final button is pushed”.  Even the Regional Banks do not know for sure because this thing has changed so many times.  They are sick and tired of the questions and have quit giving out any information.   

A few “whales” have negotiated some fringe benefits or side deals based on the movement of additional large Commercial Loans or other hefty deposits,  financing projects, etc.  in conjunction with their exchange, but he’s going to get the same “exchange rate” as any other client at that bank.  What do you think would happen if one “minnow” like you or me, ratted a bank out for giving a “whale” a better International Currency Exchange Rate than us common folk?

I just happened to be in Tampa at the time all the Wells Fargo “Yuppies” were there getting training on the Da La Rue machines and “currency exchange” procedures” so I know for a fact, they were there.  They didn’t send all those people there for milk, some fig newtons and a fire-side pep rally on housing foreclosures….but nothing came about.  Why? because they are on the same merry-go-round we are on.  Its the “Pump-go-round” at  the “Misconception Circus”.  They thought is was about to happen and perhaps it really was set to happen.  Just like the other 50 times it should have happened this year….and didn’t).

I was asked the other day, “are you keeping up with all the bank deals?”  I said, “I sure am”!  ” I want to make certain I don’t go to any of them!”    I think the latest deal out there reads something like….”call us, give us your info so you will be the first to cash in at a rate no one else will get”.  That’s B.S.!  (B.S. is a Baptist term for…”Better Sleep-on-it”) .

Take a time out and ask your common sense to sit with you for a moment and just talk.  (You know, like you used to before he left about a year ago for parts unknown).  Give someone your name, address, and other vital information probably including how much Dinar you have….and they will put you on their list.  Really?  What list?  the “priority list of scam targets”?  You might as well send them your Dinar to hold for you while you are out getting that bullseye tattooed on your forehead!

I’m not saying that everyone offering a “Bank Deal” is crooked. Or that there may not be some type of legitimate, “deal” of some sort for a group.  But I DO NOT BELIEVE that banks have the luxury of offering the next person in line a different exchange rate that the man with the suitcase in front of him.  There may be fringe benefits based on the length of time the deposits must remain in the bank, etc.  But, I believe the actual “exchange rate” must be the same.

We have been told that here are some pretty heavy hitters that have already been “taken” and some who were very close to being taken in scams represented as a, “bank deal”.  Some are still shaking from the experience.  
Lets just check the list of things that would have to happen….

* First, you need to find someone you know and trust personally, who’s integrity is beyond question, and that you would be willing to trust with your entire estate.  (there are some out there, but ya gotta look hard).

* Next:  he needs to have an “in” with a banker that you don’t have and cannot get.

* Then: that banker needs to have the same compassionate heart and pure motive that your friend has and is willing to work on something special, just for you.

* Next:  The Banker has to have an “in” in Upper Management who is willing to risk his/her job to leak info the branch grunts on the front line..


* And:  Upper Management has to have an “in” somewhere where information is totally accurate so they can make a deal for the future that they can commit to and live with…by-the-way, where the heck is that place?

* Finally, ask yourself… am I really that lucky?

I don’t want to be a wet blanket but - C’MON people!! You need to start thinking or you are going to be poorer than you were before this thing ever started.

Don’t share any information about yourself, your plans or the amount of Dinar you have.  DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH, make your deal and live with it.  that is not to say, don’t get help from professional’s when the time comes,  Just quit depending on someone else to make your initial deal(s) for you.  You were smart enough to invest in this, be smart enough to protect it.  Then, get tax and investment counsel from the people you can now afford to hire!  Make your own deal.  Tailor it to your specific needs


Unfortunately, the ones who will get hurt the worst on this “exchange” are the same ones that have never researched a thing.  They just read, complain, listen to CC’s and comment on those that do.  And when they get hurt, they will blame the lousy advise and incorrect information they got in the “Chat rooms, blogs and Guru’s”.  

I quit giving out advise on the Dinar a couple years ago when it suddenly dawned on me that I was setting myself up as a “professional Dinar advisor”. BUT JUST FOR YOU GUYS,  I WILL COME OUT OF THAT CLOSET ONE MORE TIME AND GIVE YOU THE BEST ADVISE YOU WILL EVER GET – GUARANTEED!   … Don’t take too much advice!!!
…even mine!


Mr. Bentley
Footnote: Mr. Bentley is a close personal friend with significant banking, currency and overseas contacts. He is “the real McCoy” – unlike some of the other “enigmas” out there.

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Straight Talkin Mike~~Alert~~Fraud Ring In Hacking Attack On 60 Banks

6/27/2012

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From Straight Talkin Mike....ALERT

Fraud Ring In Hacking Attack On 60 Banks


Some 60m euro is stolen from bank accounts in a massive cyber raid, after fraudsters raid dozens of banks around the world.

7:16am UK, Wednesday 27 June 2012 Video: McAfee: Biggest Cyber Bank Robbery In History

By Pete Norman, Sky News Online

Sixty million euro has been stolen from bank accounts in a massive cyber bank raid after fraudsters raided dozens of financial institutions around the world.

According to a joint report by software security firm McAfee and Guardian Analytics, more than 60 firms have suffered from what it has called an "insider level of understanding".

"The fraudsters' objective in these attacks is to siphon large amounts from high balance accounts, hence the name chosen for this research - Operation High Roller," the report said.

"If all of the attempted fraud campaigns were as successful as the Netherlands example we describe in this report, the total attempted fraud could be as high as 2bn euro (£1.6bn)."

The automated malicious software programme was discovered to use servers to process thousands of attempted thefts from both commercial firms and private individuals.

The stolen money was then sent to so-called mule accounts in caches of a few hundreds and 100,000 euro (£80,000) at a time.

Credit unions, large multinational banks and regional banks have all been attacked.

Sky News defence and security editor Sam Kiley said: "It does include British financial institutions and has jumped over to North America and South America.

"What they have done differently from routine attacks is that they have got into the bank servers and constructed software that is automated.

"It can get around some of the mechanisms that alert the banking system to abnormal activity."

The details of the global fraud come just a day after the MI5 boss warned of the new cyber security threat to UK business.

McAfee researchers have been able to track the global fraud, which still continues, across countries and continents.

"They have identified 60 different servers, many of them in Russia, and they have identified one alone that has been used to steal 60m euro," Kiley said.

"There are dozens of servers still grinding away at this fraud – in effect stealing money."


http://www.thestraighttalkexpress.com/1/post/2012/06/-fraud-ring-in-hacking-attack-on-60-banks.html


SOURCE




0 Comments

WARNING OF BANK SCAM TO STEAL YOUR DINAR

4/21/2012

0 Comments

 
Received this morning

Another Scam

As discussed on the conference call Thursday, April 19.....DO NOT GIVE YOUR DINARS TO ANYONE - YOU CAN NOT CASH IN UNTIL THERE IS A LIVE RATE...AND YOU CAN VERIFY AT THE BANK OF YOUR CHOOSING



WARNING OF BANK SCAM TO STEAL YOUR DINAR!!!by

Mr.IQD HAT TIP: Anonymous Email ( credit to "Judy")

Dear Dinar Friends,

Tonight I heard of a "nice man" here in the Phoenix area who was gathering up Dinar to take to WF tomorrow to negotiate a rate for cash in.

He was throwing $20 - $30 rate around.


I personally heard him say he needed the receipt along with the dinar so the bank could verify the dinar and that he had collected $120 million this evening.

1) The only person to take their dinar to the bank should be YOU!
2 Giving him your receipt means he can claim you gave him your dinar.
3) Bank will verify the dinar by several other means.
4) A "nice person" will not ask you for your dinar.

Two members of our little dinar group here were approached by him.

Let me say this clearly:

DO NOT GIVE YOUR DINAR TO ANYONE FOR ANY REASON!

DO NOT MEET ANYONE, BROKER, ETC. IN A MOTEL ROOM, BAR, HOTEL LOBBY FOR CASH IN.

REPUTABLE PEOPLE WILL NOT ASK YOU TOO.

If the bank officer wants to take it to another room to verify YOU GO WITH THEM!


Source

0 Comments

Going Global~~YOUR DREAM OF A LIFETIME

4/1/2012

0 Comments

 
Thanks to Lakehouse @ Going Global - Good time to repost this...Please keep in mind this does not just apply to financial planners...bankers, trusts, etc.


Friday, July 22, 2011

Your Dream of a Lifetime ...

Your dream of a lifetime .. if handled correctly, could be your children's dream and their children's dream .. right on down the line ...

Everyday another site offering investment opportunities of a lifetime are popping up. It seems that anyone these days can pass themselves off as a certified financial advisor. And .. although they may claim to have credentials, it is up to you, the investor, to ask the hard questions. Don't assume because they tell you they have a series 1,2,or 3 license, that they are qualified to invest your hard earned money. Never, ever, feel like you are the ignorant one when they start throwing around terms that you never heard before. The scammer wants you to believe that they know more than you and they want you to believe that Your money will be safe in Their hands.


Don't be too sure about that. Take a look at the following pdf file. http://www.nfa.futures.org/NFA-investor-information/publication-library/scams-and-swindles.pdf

Also, if you do sit down, or correspond over the internet, with one of these fly-by-night "investment advisors", make sure you have a pen and paper handy and ask the questions that you need answered. Believe me, you do not give yourselves enough credit when it comes to trusting your own judgment. You Should! You are in the drivers seat. Remember that. This is not a popularity contest .. this is your money and hopefully your children's money and their children's money. Take your time. Do your homework and seek the advice of a professional that is close to you. It should be someone in close proximity (town, city) where you can talk face to face. The internet may be convenient but it's a dangerous place and it's hard to track someone down if things go terribly wrong. Also, Do not rely on what others have to say as far as references. Remember, references could be part of the "financial advisor's" Team .. Bernie Madoff had a "Team" .. watch/read - Link ~ More Wealth .. Means More Responsibility .. Be Smart .. Be Cautious .. Don't Let History Repeat Itself ...

good luck ... Kel ...
Scams AND Swindles
An Educational Guide to Avoiding Investment Fraud

http://www.nfa.futures.org/NFA-investor-information/publication-library/scams-and-swindles.pdf


SOURCE
0 Comments

Scam School by Chuck Whitlock

3/24/2012

0 Comments

 
Thanks to Mr Anonymous for telling me about this book.....

Scam School by Chuck Whitlock

They are Out to Get You!

Chuck Whitlock, the world's leading scam-buster, wises you up to the incredible variety of cons just waiting to rid you of your wallet, your health, and your pride. Renowned to viewers of Oprah and Hard Copy, Geraldo and Sally Jesse Raphael, Inside Edition and CNN, Chuck Whitlock has exposed hundreds of con artists and reenacted scores of scams on camera. In his Scam School he reveals the tricks of the con artist's trade as he recounts his adventures going undercover to expose the most common and crafty scams circulating today — scams like:

    The faith healer who sold "human fat" candles at $900 a pop
    The new hire who wooed his boss and then bilked her out of her life savings
    The Three-Card Monte game that cost one man $25,000
    The nursing home that double-charged patients and Medicare, pocketing the profits

At once shocking, entertaining, and empowering, the true stories in Chuck Whitlock's Scam School will give you a Ph.D. in street smarts. "In a culture where people are increasingly being victimized by fraud, Scam School is a must read." --


Vincent Bugliosi, Author of Helter Skelter "Chuck has educated millions of viewers about the dangers of con artists. This book can help avert tragedies." --

Sally Jesse Raphael "Knowledge is power. Scam School will make you powerful." --

John G. Di Liberto, President & Ceo, National Insurance Crime Bureau "Through his investigative reporting and on-camera scams, Chuck has probably cost con artists millions of dollars in lost revenues"

0 Comments

New scam involves PayPal and Western Union

3/24/2012

0 Comments

 
FROM STRAIGHT TALKING MIKE

WARNING...BE AWARE OF THE NEW SCAM

If you know anybody who posts ads online, forward this article to them — they just might thank you for saving their bacon.



TOP STORY

March 22, 2012

New scam involves PayPal and Western Union


 By Woody Leonhard

There's a new variation on the old "Nigerian" or "419" scam, one that invokes the names of PayPal, Western Union, and the FBI — and the scammers are raking in billions.

Let me introduce you to the way these scum operate — and show you a few tricks that may keep you from adding to their booty.

"Greetings, I am writing this letter to you in good faith and I hope my contact with you will transpire into a mutual relationship now and forever. I am Mrs. Omigod Mugambi, wife of the late General Rufus Mugambi, former Director of Mines for the Dufus Diamond Dust Co. Ltd., of Central Eastern Lower Leone …"

I'm sure you're smart enough to pass over e-mail like that — at least, I hope so. It's an obvious setup for the classic 419 scam — also known as the Russian scam, the Detroit/Buffalo scam, and, of course, the Nigerian Letter, as described in a Wikipedia page. (The 419 moniker is derived from the Nigerian Criminal Code, Chapter 38, Article 419: "Obtaining property by false pretences; cheating.")

Recently I bumped into a more sophisticated version of the same kind of scam and tried to trace it all the way back to its source. I'll take you through the scam's stages and show you some of its wrinkles. Plus I'll whine about the way big companies such as PayPal and Western Union are letting us down, and I'll talk about how I rode the paperless trail to its roots. You may be able to, too.

There's a reason why everybody gets so much 419-scam e-mail. It's a huge business. The 419 Coalition says that, as early as 1996, 419 scams netted U.S. $5 billion. The subsequent rise of the Internet and e-mail has only increased the opportunities for this type of fraud. (While Nigeria does harbor its share of 419 scams, perpetrators can be found in all corners of the globe, including the U.S. But, as you'll see shortly, there are significant advantages to working out of small countries.

New wrinkle on an old ploy — the PayPal scam

It all starts when you place an online ad.

It doesn't really matter what you're selling, as long as it's physically large and valuable. It doesn't matter where you advertise — I've seen reports of this ploy being played on Craigslist advertisers and other major online sites.

I first found out about this PayPal 419 scam when a handful of advertisers in my local newspaper all got hit within just a few weeks of each other.

One of the intended victims contacted me the minute he received the first solicitation. He agreed to let me step in and act on his behalf. Here's what happened.

The scammer, PaulW (modified by this author), sends me this message from a Gmail address: "I will like to know if this item is still available for sale?" I write back and say, yes, it is, and he'd be most welcome to come and take a look at it.

PaulW writes: "Thanks for the response, how long has your friend owned this item? let me know the price in USD? I am OK with the item it looks like new in the photos I am from Liverpool UK, i am sorry i will not be able to come for the viewing, i will arrange for the pickup after payment has been made, all documentation will be done by the shipper, so you don't have to worry about that. Thanks"

Three key points: The scammer is using a Gmail address, which is nearly impossible to trace without a court order; he claims to be out of the country; and he claims that he has a shipper who will pick up the item. The plot thickens.

I write back and say that the item's practically new, I give him a price, but I express concern about the shipper.

PaulW replies: "My shipper will be coming from UK for the pickup, and pls tell your friend to prepare all the export documentations for the pickup. I'm quite satisfied with the condition and price. I will be paying the PayPal charges from my account and i will be paying directly into your PayPal account without any delay, and i hope you have a PayPal account."

I respond, giving him a dormant PayPal account and my "address" (which is, in fact, my local police station).

He quickly writes back: "I have just completed the Payment and i am sure you have received the confirmation from PayPal regarding the Payment. You can check your paypal e-mail for confirmation of payment.a total of 25,982usd was sent, 24,728usd for the item and the extra 1,200usd for my shipper's charges,which you will be sending to the address below via western union."

(I'll call the shipper William C. I've deleted the address because it actually exists in Devon, England. A different person, being scammed at about the same time, was also instructed to send money to the same Devon drop.)

Note the ploy here: I'm supposed to immediately send $1,200 to the shipper via Western Union. Of course, no PayPal payment to cover both the purchase and the shipping was ever sent.

"You should send the money soon so that the Pick Up would be scheduled and you would know when the Pick Up would commence, make sure you're home. I advice you to check both your inbox or junk/spam folder for the payment confirmation message."

I then receive a message claiming to be from "Service-Intl.PayPal.Com":

"The Transaction will appear as soon as the western union information is received from you,we have to follow this procedure due to some security reason … the Money was sent through the Service Option Secure Payment so that the transaction can be protected with adequate security measures for you to be able to receive your money. The Shipping Company only accept payment through Western Union You have nothing to doubt about, You are safe and secured doing this transaction and your account will be credited immediately the western union receipt of *1,200USD* is received from you."

From that point on, it was hard to keep a straight face — you'd think the scammers would put some effort into writing business-quality, standard-English sentences (or pay someone to edit them). But "PaulW" and "Service-Intl.PayPal" got progressively more strident when I asked questions about the PayPal Service Option Secure Payment method (which doesn't exist). The tone turned downright abusive; I eventually received a message from a different e-mail address, Service[at]Intl.PayPal[dot com], (address modified by this author) with the FBI logo at the top (shown in Figure 1).


Picture
Figure 1. The scammer's threat included a "Federal Bureau of Investigation" letterhead.

The e-mail threatened to take legal action against me: "We use proprietary technology and constantly innovate to help ensure your transactions are safe. In addition, PayPal has over 20,000 staffs worldwide dedicated to keeping PayPal accounts safe, and stopping online criminals. And we work with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) worldwide to shut off fraudulent websites as soon as possible."

I exchanged several dozen e-mails, trying to get the scammers to reveal themselves — to no avail. Eventually, they stopped trying. It's possible they were tipped off after my calls to their ISP, or they simply moved on to easier targets.

Tips that the offer was not on the up-and-up

I knew this was a scam from the beginning. Several people in my area sent complaints to the local newspaper, describing virtually identical ploys — similar messages but with different e-mail addresses. (That was mistake number one.)

Although PaulW's message wasn't very convincing, he did use a Gmail account, which (as noted earlier) is essentially impossible to trace. I Googled PaulW's original e-mail address to see whether it was linked to other scams, but I didn't get any hits. So that part of the subterfuge worked.

But the rest of the scam was sloppy. The initial "PayPal" message had a return address of Service-Intl.PayPal[dot com] | notification.verification[at]consultant [dot com]. Search [at]consultant[dot com] through Google, and you find references to scams. Go to www.consultant[dot com], and you'll see one of those generic index sites. When I looked at it, there was just one, bogus, online advertisement.

Most of the time, when the scammers sent e-mail from "PayPal," they used a virtual private network (VPN) to make it look like the messages originated in the U.S. But on three separate occasions, they forgot to turn on VPN. Using a very simple technique, I traced all three messages back to one specific Internet service provider in Lagos, Nigeria (see Figure 2).


Picture
Figure 2. Three of the messages originated with the same ISP in Lagos, Nigeria.

Here's how to find the originating ISP of an e-mail:

In Gmail, click the down arrow next to the right of the message header (next to the Reply button) and choose Show original. That shows you the entire message, including the full header information (the message routing information at the beginning of the message, which is normally hidden).

Copy the entire header and go to the ipTRACKERonline header-analysis page.

Paste the header info into the Email header analysis input box and press the Submit button.

After ipTRACKERonline reloads the page, scroll down to the Email header analysis report box. There you'll see where the message has been and — most of the time — where it originated.

For more on tracking down e-mail origins, see Susan Bradley's Nov. 10, 2011, story, "Find out where that e-mail really came from."

What can be done to nail the scammers

So I now had three scam messages with identified IP addresses, the name of a large Internet service provider in Nigeria, and a compelling case for both PayPal (to defend its name) and Western Union (which was being used as a drop) to follow up.

Here's what happened next.

I went to the Western Union site and tried — nearly in vain — to find a security-related, customer-service e-mail address — someone I could talk to about WilliamC in Devon, England, and his apparent use (either knowingly or unwittingly) as a money-laundering mule for these scammers.

The Western Union site has acres and acres of warnings, cautions, and lip service about fraud, rip-offs, and cons. It has links to every single consumer protection agency in the U.S. It also has a customer-service 800 number, but it's hard to put an e-mail header into a phone conversation. In the end, Western Union was of no real help. (We eventually found a fraud-reporting e-mail address listed in small type at the bottom of the company's Phone and Mail Support page. — Ed.)

Moving from Western Union to PayPal was like night to day. PayPal displays its scam-reporting e-mail address prominently in many of its fraud discussions. I sent a copy of the first scam e-mail to [email protected] with an open header and soon received a polite response saying, "Thanks for forwarding that suspicious-looking e-mail. You're right — it was a phishing attempt, and we're working on stopping the fraud. By reporting the problem, you've made a difference!"

Except it wasn't a phishing attempt. It was a scam that used PayPal as a key prop in the setup. So I sent a copy of the second fraudulent e-mail, explaining that it's a 419 scam. I got back another nice letter that said, "Thanks for forwarding that suspicious-looking email. You're right — it was a phishing attempt, and we're working on stopping …." Yes, it appeared to be a form letter. I sent three messages to PayPal, and I don't think a human looked at any of them.

Next, I wrote to MTN Nigeria, the Internet service provider in Africa, and they did respond. But the upshot was disheartening: "All of our 3G network subscribers now sit behind a small number of IP addresses. This is done via a technology called Network Address Translation. In essence it means that one million subscribers may appear to the outside world as one subscriber, since they are all using the same IP address." It's akin to a massive home network.

No doubt MTN Nigeria could sift through their NAT logs and find out who was connected at precisely the right time. But tracing a specific e-mail back to an individual would be difficult — if not impossible. And it would probably require a court order. On the bright side, my complaint was forwarded to the police. (I'm not, however, holding my breath.)

The bottom line? From a technical aspect, there's little that can be done about these scams. No doubt, thousands of folks around the world are victims. The solution is to bring these scams into the light and to use common sense when transacting business with strangers via e-mail. Any transaction that seems a bit unusual should raise red flags.

That said, there's something to be said for baiting the bustards and making them waste time on someone who isn't going to fall for their tricks. The 419 Eater blog has some handy suggestions.

If you know anybody who posts ads online, forward this article to them — they just might thank you for saving their bacon.

Source


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Dinar Recaps: Driver License & Identity Protection

2/29/2012

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Driver License & Identity Protection 

Thanks to Dinar Recaps Post
Post By Smee2 Dinar Vets 02/27/2012  

Someone put up a post about being asked for his driver's license while trying to purchase more dinar and he was upset and wanted to cancel his purchase. There is a legitimate reason for the request and it is actually for YOUR protection. Read on ...

All this commerce by computer is making some strange demands on us, the consumer. I read your post and thought, this must be the next "glitch" that are going to have people pulling their hair out. This used to be an area of expertise for me years ago and though things change, they don't change all that much. So, try this on for size.

Some not-so-nice people, let's call them crooks, will get hold of some of your personal information. Oh heck let's call them identity thieves, it fits. It is fairly easy to get your credit card number, they can get it without you even opening your wallet with some of the newest scanning equipment.
...
They are still getting card numbers with the old double receipt ploy and several other sneaky tricks. But those numbers do not always come with an address. Take a look at your credit cards. Do any of them have your address on them? Didn't think so.

So, these crooks, oh no, I mean these identity thieves get your credit card number. They go on line and they buy ... oh, let's say three million dinar, just as a for instance.

 First of all, if the card is declined at the end of the transaction, they will re-enter the information for the purchase of two million. See, if the card isn't authorized for the amount they are trying to charge, it will be declined.

By lowering the amount once or twice, the thieves are likely to hit on the right amount that will be accepted. If they blow it altogether and none of it is accepted and maybe their lowest amount of the three would be say $1000, then they will try again in a couple of days.

If they try more than three times and it is declined that often, an immediate red flag goes up and you may get a call from the credit card company asking if you are in possession of your card and have you been trying to use it in the past hour, or whatever.

If you have not they warn you that your card may have been compromised. That someone has the number. And then you have the chance to have them stop all transactions on that number and give you a new number and card. Didn't know any of that?

 Well, it could save you a bundle. If the crooks find out that your charging per day limit is $1000 they will charge just under that amount every day until the account limit is reached and the card declined.

Okay, lets get back to the address part of this. The identity thief will start out with your number. And they go through whatever process they have to in order to find out how much they can take at a time from your account. Then they will use it.

If they are ordering on line there is a place to put the delivery address. They can pick a vacant lot. They can specify one or two day delivery in a lot of cases. They can then take a van, wait at the address they gave, take delivery of the goods, and drive off.

In case a vacant lot seems to obvious, they will use an apartment building, and get in to the lobby area and wait there for the day. Each time someone comes to the door to come in, usually a resident, they will come and open the door for them. Why?

Because they want to meet the delivery person even before he tries to push a button for your apartment number, which may not even be on the listing, because the crook may have given a non-existent apartment.

 But he will make sure that he is there to open that door. And when it is the delivery man, he'll ask where the delivery man is going because he (the crook) is waiting for a delivery. "Oh, that's me," he says. And he scribbles a signature and takes the package.

See, if the company you are buying from does not have your real address, and use a phoney supplied by the crook, then the delivery company is delivering to the phoney address and the crook is there waiting, and when you call to complain because you were charged for something you didn't get, didn't even order, didn't even want ... you are the one stuck paying anyway.

And if the crook can give a phoney address, maybe a real building but a phoney apartment number, one that doesn't exist ... the trail ends there.

So, to combat this, companies are now beginning to ask for proof of your address for shipping purposes. Hence the request for a fax of your drivers license.

The day may come when direct mailers and on line sellers may be able to tie into department of motor vehicles, or whatever it might be called where you live, and just by asking you your drivers license number they can look up your address to make sure the address they have been given for delivery is legitimate.

And that, dear DV friends, is why you may be asked for a copy of your driver's licence. So don't go off and get angry with the company ... it is just more progress.

Source
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COMMISSION ADVISORY BEWARE OF FOREIGN CURRENCY TRADING FRAUDS

1/9/2012

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_Going Global Post - Thank You

COMMISSION ADVISORY

BEWARE OF

FOREIGN CURRENCY TRADING FRAUDS

    Have you been solicited to trade foreign currency contracts (also known as "forex")?

    If so, you need to know how to spot foreign currency trading frauds.


The United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the federal agency that regulates commodity futures and options markets in the United States, warns consumers to take special care to protect themselves from the various kinds of frauds being perpetrated in today's financial markets, including those involving so-called "foreign currency trading."

A new federal law, the Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000, makes clear that the CFTC has the jurisdiction and authority to investigate and take legal action to close down a wide assortment of unregulated firms offering or selling foreign currency futures and options contracts to the general public. In addition, the CFTC has jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute foreign currency fraud occurring in its registered firms and their affiliates.

The CFTC has witnessed the increasing numbers and growing complexity of financial investment opportunities in recent years, including a sharp rise in foreign currency trading scams. While much foreign currency trading is legitimate, various forms of foreign currency trading have been touted in recent years to defraud members of the public.

Currency trading scams often attract customers through advertisements in local newspapers, radio promotions or attractive Internet sites. These advertisements may tout high-return, low-risk investment opportunities in foreign currency trading, or even highly-paid currency-trading employment opportunities. The CFTC urges you to be skeptical when promoters of foreign currency trading claim that their services or account management will earn high profits with minimal risks, or that employment as a currency trader will make you wealthy quickly.

Understanding Legitimate Foreign Currency Operations

Generally speaking, foreign currency futures and options contracts may be traded legally on an exchange or board of trade that has been approved by the CFTC.

Even where currency trading does not occur on a Commission-approved exchange or board of trade, the trading can be conducted legally where, generally speaking, one or both parties to the trading is (or is a regulated affiliate of) a bank, insurance company, registered securities broker-dealer, futures commission merchant or other financial institution, or is an individual or entity with a high net worth.

Where forex firms do not fall into the categories of regulated entities outlined above and engage in foreign currency futures and options transactions with or for retail customers who do not have high net worths, the CFTC has jurisdiction over those firms and their transactions.

Warning Signs of Fraud

If you are solicited by a company that claims to trade foreign currencies and asks you to commit funds for those purposes, you should be very careful. Watch for the warning signs listed below, and take the following precautions before placing your funds with any currency trading company.

1. Stay Away From Opportunities That Sound Too Good to Be True

Get-rich-quick schemes, including those involving foreign currency trading, tend to be frauds.

Always remember that there is no such thing as a "free lunch." Be especially cautious if you have acquired a large sum of cash recently and are looking for a safe investment vehicle. In particular, retirees with access to their retirement funds may be attractive targets for fraudulent operators. Getting your money back once it is gone can be difficult or impossible.

2. Avoid Any Company that Predicts or Guarantees Large Profits

Be extremely wary of companies that guarantee profits, or that tout extremely high performance. In many cases, those claims are false.

The following are examples of statements that either are or most likely are fraudulent:

    "Whether the market moves up or down, in the currency market you will make a profit."
    "Make $1000 per week, every week"
    "We are out-performing 90% of domestic investments."
    "The main advantage of the forex markets is that there is no bear market."
    "We guarantee you will make at least a 30-40% rate of return within two months."

3. Stay Away From Companies That Promise Little or No Financial Risk

Be suspicious of companies that downplay risks or state that written risk disclosure statements are routine formalities imposed by the government.

The currency futures and options markets are volatile and contain substantial risks for unsophisticated customers. The currency futures and options markets are not the place to put any funds that you cannot afford to lose. For example, retirement funds should not be used for currency trading. You can lose most or all of those funds very quickly trading foreign currency futures or options contracts. Therefore, beware of companies that make the following types of statements:

    "With a $10,000 deposit, the maximum you can lose is $200 to $250 per day."
    "We promise to recover any losses you have."
    "Your investment is secure."

4. Don't Trade on Margin Unless You Understand What It Means

Margin trading can make you responsible for losses that greatly exceed the dollar amount you deposited.

Many currency traders ask customers to give them money, which they sometimes refer to as "margin," often sums in the range of $1,000 to $5,000. However, those amounts, which are relatively small in the currency markets, actually control far larger dollar amounts of trading, a fact that often is poorly explained to customers.

Don't trade on margin unless you fully understand what you are doing and are prepared to accept losses that exceed the margin amounts you paid.

5. Question Firms That Claim To Trade in the "Interbank Market"

Be wary of firms that claim that you can or should trade in the "interbank market," or that they will do so on your behalf.

Unregulated, fraudulent currency trading firms often tell retail customers that their funds are traded in the "interbank market," where good prices can be obtained. Firms that trade currencies in the interbank market, however, are most likely to be banks, investment banks and large corporations, since the term "interbank market" refers simply to a loose network of currency transactions negotiated between financial institutions and other large companies.

6. Be Wary of Sending or Transferring Cash on the Internet, By Mail or Otherwise

Be especially alert to the dangers of trading on-line; it is very easy to transfer funds on-line, but often can be impossible to get a refund.

It costs an Internet advertiser just pennies per day to reach a potential audience of millions of persons, and phony currency trading firms have seized upon the Internet as an inexpensive and effective way of reaching a large pool of potential customers.

Many companies offering currency trading on-line are not located within the United States and may not display an address or any other information identifying their nationality on their Web site. Be aware that if you transfer funds to those foreign firms, it may be very difficult or impossible to recover your funds.

7. Currency Scams Often Target Members of Ethnic Minorities

Some currency trading scams target potential customers in ethnic communities, particularly persons in the Russian, Chinese and Indian immigrant communities, through advertisements in ethnic newspapers and television "infomercials."

Sometimes those advertisements offer so-called "job opportunities" for "account executives" to trade foreign currencies. Be aware that "account executives" that are hired might be expected to use their own money for currency trading, as well as to recruit their family and friends to do likewise. What appears to be a promising job opportunity often is another way many of these companies lure customers into parting with their cash.

8. Be Sure You Get the Company's Performance Track Record

Get as much information as possible about the firm's or individual's performance record on behalf of other clients. You should be aware, however, that It may be difficult or impossible to do so, or to verify the information you receive. While firms and individuals are not required to provide this information, you should be wary of any person who is not willing to do so or who provides you with incomplete information. However, keep in mind, even if you do receive a glossy brochure or sophisticated-looking charts, that the information they contain might be false.

9. Don't Deal With Anyone Who Won't Give You Their Background

Plan to do a lot of checking of any information you receive to be sure that the company is and does exactly what it says.

Get the background of the persons running or promoting the company, if possible. Do not rely solely on oral statements or promises from the firm's employees. Ask for all information in written form.

If you cannot satisfy yourself that the persons with whom you are dealing are completely legitimate and above-board, the wisest course of action is to avoid trading foreign currencies through those companies.

10. Warning Signs Of Commodity "Come-Ons"

If you are solicited by a company to purchase commodities, watch for the warning signs listed below:

    Avoid any company that predicts or guarantees large profits with little or no financial risk.
    Be wary of high-pressure tactics to convince you to send or transfer cash immediately to the firm, via overnight delivery companies, the internet, by mail, or otherwise.
    Be skeptical about unsolicited phone calls about investments from offshore salespersons or companies with which you are unfamiliar.
    Prior to purchasing:
        Contact the CFTC.
        Visit the CFTC's forex fraud web page.
        Contact the National Futures Association to see whether the company is registered with the CFTC or is a members of the National Futures Association (NFA). You can do this easily by calling the NFA (800-621-3570 or 800-676-4NFA) or by checking the NFA's registration and membership information on its website at www.nfa.futures.org/basicnet/. While registration may not be required, you might want to confirm the status and disciplinary record of a particular company or salesperson.
        Get in touch with other authorities, including your state's securities commissioner (www.nasaa.org), Attorney General's consumer protection bureau (www.naag.org/), the Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org) and the National Futures Association (www.nfa.futures.org).
        Be sure you get all information about the company and verify that data, if possible. If you can, check the company's materials with someone whose financial advice you trust.
        Learn all possible information about fees charged, and the basis for each of these charges.
        If in doubt, don't invest. If you can't get solid information about the company, the salesperson, and the investment, you may not want to risk your money.

11. More Information and Contacts

    Questions concerning this advisory may be addressed to the CFTC's Office of Public Affairs at (202) 418-5080.

Commodity Futures Trading Commission
Three LaFayette Centre
1155 21st Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20581

    The Commodity Futures Modernization Act is available in our Law and Regulation page.
    (requires an Adobe Acrobat reader, which can be downloaded for free from www.adobe.com and numerous other sites on the Internet)

    For other consumer advisories concerning possible fraudulent activity in the commodity futures and options industry, click on the Customer Protection page.
    Contact the National Fraud Information Center (www.fraud.org).

    The CFTC's website also offers general information about trading in the commodity futures and options markets. You may wish to visit our Before You Trade page.

    To find out whether firms or counterparties with whom you plan to trade are registered or regulated institutions or entities that are outside the CFTC's jurisdiction, you can check the lists of regulated institutions on the following websites. Some institutions outside the CFTC's jurisdiction do not appear on any of these lists or in other readily-available places:
        Federal Reserve Board (www.federalreserve.gov)
        Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (www.ffiec.gov)
        Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (www.fdic.gov)
        U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (www.sec.gov)
        The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (www.occ.treas.gov)
        Office of Thrift Supervision (www.ots.treas.gov)
        National Credit Union Association (www.ncua.gov)
        National Association of Securities Dealers Regulation, Inc. (www.nasdr.com)
        All U.S. Government web sites can be located through links at www.firstgov.gov
        Your state Attorney General's office and state banking, insurance and securities regulators (which often have their own web sites).

http://www.cftc.gov/opa/enf98/opaforexa15.htm


http://articlesofinterest-kelley.blogspot.com/2011/12/commission-advisory-beware-of-foreign.html

 
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Radio host gets charged in Ponzi scheme

1/8/2012

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_Thanks to Going Global..

Radio host gets charged in Ponzi scheme

    Article by: DAN BROWNING , Star Tribune
    Updated: July 20, 2011 - 10:28 PM

Pat Kiley is among three associates of Trevor Cook's to face federal charges.
hide

Gerald Durand, Jason Beckman, Patrick Kiley

Conservative radio show host Pat Kiley claims he was just reading from a script when he told his worldwide radio audience in weekly broadcasts that he was a senior financial adviser and they could avoid financial Armageddon by entrusting him and his business partners with their money.

But federal authorities say he did much more than that. In an indictment unsealed Wednesday, Kiley was portrayed as an integral figure in the $194 million Trevor Cook Ponzi scheme that defrauded more than 700 investors.

Kiley's program, "Follow the Money," was carried on more than 200 stations nationwide, including KSTP Radio (1500 AM), and on the Worldwide Christian Radio network. He called his listeners "truth seekers" and drew them in, rich and poor alike, with promises of financial security, just as the bottom began to drop away from the stock market.

Kiley insists that he believed in the currency investment program he promoted for Cook, his longtime friend and Minneapolis money manager who was sentenced in August to 25 years in federal prison on fraud and tax evasion charges.

But a grand jury charged Kiley and two of Cook's key associates with conspiracy, mail fraud and money laundering counts.

The indictment was unsealed Wednesday after Kiley and Jason Bo Beckman, a brash 41-year-old Plymouth money manager, made their initial appearances at the federal courthouse in St. Paul. Another longtime associate of Cook's, Gerald Durand, 60, of Faribault, is expected to turn himself in soon. Each man has steadfastly denied any wrongdoing.

News of the indictment traveled quickly among investors who lost money in the scheme.

Heiko Reske echoed others when he said he was delighted by the charges. After an investor lawsuit exposed the scheme in July 2009, Reske drove to the Twin Cities from his home in Denton, Texas, to demand that Kiley return his $700,000 investment. He returned home empty-handed.

"I'm amazed it took this long," Reske said on Wednesday. "The wheels of justice grind slowly, I guess."

Ty Schlobohm, a Long Lake trader who worked undercover with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in an effort to expose the scheme, applauded regulators and law enforcement for what he called their tenacious work. "I can only hope that these arrests ease the pain and offer some closure for the victims of this scheme," he said.

Kiley, 73, of Minneapolis, had produced his radio program out of a home Cook owned in Burnsville. He invited listeners to call him to learn how they could protect their money. Hundreds did, and he spent hours with them on the phone, telling them that he was a senior economist and a financial adviser to the family that owned the Kroger stores as well as engendering sympathy by falsely telling some investors that his wife had been killed in an accident involving a drunken driver.

Kiley said in an earlier interview that Cook prepared the scripts and that he had no choice but to go along. He has told federal authorities that he believed in Cook's currency investment strategy and just wanted to help investors.

Kiley initially solicited investors for a firm Cook started called Universal Brokerage Services. Durand, Beckman, Cook and Christopher Pettengill had been equal partners in a separate Minneapolis firm called Oxford Global Advisors, which operated out of the Van Dusen mansion near downtown Minneapolis. The two firms spun off a confusing plethora of related entities with either Oxford, Universal Brokerage or UBS in their names. (None was related to the international banking giant UBS AG.)

Cook, 39, has admitted to being the chief organizer. Pettengill, 54, of Plymouth, pleaded guilty in June to charges of securities fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy and money laundering. He's cooperating in the investigation and awaits sentencing.

The indictment charges Beckman, Durand and Kiley with conspiracy, 11 counts of mail and wire fraud, and six counts of money laundering. Kiley and Beckman were released on unsecured bonds of $100,000 and placed on special restrictions barring them from making financial transactions on behalf of themselves or others without the government's approval, and barring them from contacting investors.

Kiley: 'Not a flight risk'

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Perzel asked for the restrictions, saying she considered the men a significant flight risk.

In court, Kiley told U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Keyes that he had "probably $9 to $10" in the bank, $11 in cash and an as-yet uncashed Social Security check, "which I live off of."

"I am not a flight risk," Kiley insisted. "I have no transportation. Will I be able to get a ride home?" he asked.

Beckman seemed surprised by Perzel's comments. He had said earlier in the hearing that he wanted an attorney appointed for him as he had just "two-thousand dollars, maybe, in the bank," and the rest of his assets were tied up in a receivership.

According to the indictment, Beckman, Durand, Kiley and Pettengill misled investors to gain their confidence. As an example, it says that Beckman, a licensed securities broker, falsely claimed that Morningstar had rated him a top money manager.

In an interview this month, Beckman explained that his firm had compared its own performance against mutual funds in Morningstar's database. He acknowledged that calling that analysis a Morningstar study could be read more than one way. "Should there have been a better disclosure on the bottom? Well, OK, obviously, since there was confusion, sure," he said.

But Beckman said he thought that Cook's "currency arbitrage" strategy was legitimate. He noted that he invested his own and his family's money in the scheme. He blamed Pettengill for getting him involved and said he's spent everything he had trying to investigate where the money went in an effort to get it back.

"We got bamboozled by these worldly guys," said Beckman's wife, Hollie. After the hearing, she predicted that prosecutors will ultimately look incompetent, because her husband is innocent.

Dan Browning •

LINK

LINK


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Avoid Scams

1/7/2012

0 Comments

 
_Avoid Scams

Scam artists use clever schemes to defraud millions of people around the globe each year. Being on guard online can help you maximize the benefits of the internet and minimize your chance of being defrauded. Learn how to recognize common scams and what you can do to avoid them.


Avoiding Online Scams
Ten steps you can take to avoid scams
http://onguardonline.gov/articles/0001-avoiding-online-scams

Common Online Scams
Tricks that con artists use to get people to send them money
http://onguardonline.gov/articles/0002-common-online-scams

Spam
What you can do to reduce unwanted commercial emails
http://onguardonline.gov/articles/0038-spam

Phishing
What to do about messages that ask for your personal information
http://onguardonline.gov/articles/0003-phishing

Money Transfer Scams
Scammers often insist on money transfers for payment because wiring money is like sending cash: Once it's gone, you can't get it back
http://onguardonline.gov/articles/0007-money-transfer-scams

Online Dating Scams
Signs that your online love is a scam artist
http://onguardonline.gov/articles/0004-online-dating-scams

Online Penny Auctions
Tips to help you understand how penny auctions work and recognize the pitfalls before you lose any money
http://onguardonline.gov/articles/0037-online-penny-auctions

Identity Theft
If you believe your personal information has been lost or stolen, there are steps you can take to minimize the damage
http://onguardonline.gov/articles/0005-identity-theft

Tax-Related Identity Theft
Warning signs that an identity thief has used your social security number for tax purposes and what to do about it
http://onguardonline.gov/articles/0008-tax-related-identity-theft

Work-at-Home Scams
Bogus ads often promise steady income for minimal labor
http://onguardonline.gov/articles/0002a-work-home-scams

Weight Loss Claims
Weight loss gimmicks that promise more than they can deliver
http://onguardonline.gov/articles/0002b-weight-loss-claims

Lotteries and Sweepstakes Scams
Have to pay to get your prize? It’s a scam.
http://onguardonline.gov/articles/0002c-lotteries-and-sweepstakes-scams

Fake Check Scams
A fake check can take weeks to uncover – and cost you a fortune
http://onguardonline.gov/articles/0002d-fake-check-scams

Imposter Scams
Tips to help you spot a scammer impersonating a friend or relative
http://onguardonline.gov/articles/0002e-imposter-scams

Mystery Shopper Scams
Interested in mystery shopping? Distinguish real opportunities from bogus offers
http://onguardonline.gov/articles/0002f-mystery-shopper-scams


Bogus Apartment Rentals
Looking for an apartment? Look out for bogus listings.
http://onguardonline.gov/articles/0002g-bogus-apartment-rentals

Miracle Cures
Health products that overpromise usually under-deliver. Here’s why.
http://onguardonline.gov/articles/0002h-miracle-cures

Debt Relief Scams
Some debt relief offers are code for bankruptcy
http://onguardonline.gov/articles/0002i-debt-relief-scams

Pay-in-Advance Credit Offers
Legitimate lenders don’t guarantee you credit – or require large upfront fees – before you apply'
http://onguardonline.gov/articles/0002j-pay-advance-credit-offers

Investment Schemes
Signs that a “low risk” investment is really a sham
http://onguardonline.gov/articles/0002k-investment-schemes

The “Nigerian” Email Scam
Don’t believe strangers who offer “big rewards” to help them move money out of a foreign country
http://onguardonline.gov/articles/0002l-nigerian-email-scam

SOURCE LINK

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The IQD Team Handling New IRS Foreign Reporting Requirements Without Doing Jail Time

11/8/2011

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Handling New IRS Foreign Reporting Requirements Without Doing Jail Time 
 
If you have unreported foreign accounts of more than $10,000 and unreported income, you better come clean with the IRS or you could be in a heap of tax trouble, the type that can cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars and even land you in jail.
 
While trading has gone global, the IRS is becoming xenophobic over reporting foreign income and accounts.
 
Americans are trading different types of instruments all around the world. Some trade from U.S. brokerage and bank accounts, but others trade directly through foreign brokers and banks. The U.S. taxes all income, which means it taxes foreign accounts too.
 
The IRS is getting very tough on so-called “tax cheats,” — U.S. taxpayers hiding income and assets in offshore accounts. These include, but are not limited to, foreign-based banks, brokerage firms, and some retirement funds, entities and trusts.
 
Hiding offshore income or just didn’t know to report it?
 
While some Americans set up offshore bank accounts in clandestine ways to purposely cheat the IRS and others including creditors, investors, customers, and spouses, others inadvertently omit reporting offshore bank and brokerage accounts, even though they report this foreign annual income on their income tax returns. These taxpayers don’t even realize they have to file a separate Reports of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBARs) to the Treasury.
 
In many cases, the group that has reported all income can comply by filing late FBARs and thereby avoid tax penalties. But those taxpayers with both hidden foreign income and foreign accounts face a much greater burden with the IRS. Keep in mind the IRS figures that if you report foreign income, you probably will report the foreign accounts and vice versa.
 
Unfortunately, it’s not easy for the IRS to distinguish between purposely cheating the IRS or inadvertently omitting forms and income. Generally, if a taxpayer hides large amounts of income and related assets offshore over many years, he is likely trying to cheat the IRS.
 
Consider reporting hidden offshore income and accounts under a new IRS program
 
The IRS is offering a second voluntary compliance FBAR reporting program, which ends on Aug. 31, 2011. Its first program ended Oct. 15, 2009 and it drew out many more taxpayers than envisioned.
 
It’s a complex filing and many of those taxpayers are still being sought out, even though they filed by the deadline. It’s a gamble to assume there may be a third program, so it’s wise to consider coming clean and joining this second program before it ends.
 
FBAR reporting includes obvious foreign accounts like bank and brokerage accounts, and the less-obvious ones like foreign mutual funds, foreign pension plans and life insurance. This applies also to individuals with signature or other authority over, but no financial interest in, such accounts/plans (e.g., offshore mutual fund managers). IRS and the Treasury just announced that certain individuals with only signature authority over foreign accounts have a one-year extension to file the FBAR, after the upcoming June 30, 2011 filing deadline. Offshore entities and trusts require special tax reporting too.
 
Don’t put your head in the sand on these tax issues because the consequences are beyond your wildest imagination — possible jail time for willful and very serious cases, plus big payments for all sorts of penalties, interest, and back taxes. That’s why I say xenophobia, because it’s that scary and attacking.
 
Congress and the administration are backing the IRS here to “close the tax gap.” They agree they should first improve the current rates and rules before resorting to raising tax rates, which is viewed as a third-rail of politics for Republicans.
 
Forget about trying to sneak in amended income tax returns to report hidden foreign income with late FBARs. The IRS made it clear that “quiet disclosure” of hidden offshore income won’t work. The IRS crafted its voluntary compliance program as a “my way or the highway” program.

LINK

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The IQD Team Tax Scams - How to Recognize and Avoid Them

11/8/2011

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Tax Scams - How to Recognize and Avoid Them  


http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=106788,00.html 
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The IQD Team How to Check out Trusts & Schemes Abusive Trust Tax Evasion Schemes

11/8/2011

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How to Check out Trusts & Schemes Abusive Trust Tax Evasion Schemes
Facts and Info

http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=106535,00.html 
 
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The IQD Team FTC Tips: Money Matters Tips from the FTC: Scam & Fraud Alerts

11/8/2011

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FTC Tips: Money Matters Tips from the FTC: Scam & Fraud Alerts
Scam & Fraud Alerts
 
The predators are coming out of the woodwork: scam artists follow the headlines, and news about tight credit, foreclosures, and layoffs has given them a new lease on life. Through ads in the newspapers, on the Internet and on TV and radio, they’re preying on people’s anxiety and working hard to get them to part with their money.
 
These crooks are really good liars: Their claims are just good enough to be believable; their services and products just practical enough to seem legitimate. Some even try to look like a government agency to enhance their credibility.

So how is someone supposed to know whether a product, service, or offer is legitimate? Count on the fact that the FTC is working the law enforcement front to stop them. At the same time, the agency is counting on consumers to know how to spot, stop and avoid them. Here’s a road map to recognizing the kinds of scams people have reported:
 
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/moneymatters/scam-watch.shtml
    
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The IQD Team FTC: Consumer Education Scams & Frauds

11/8/2011

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FTC: Consumer Education; Scams & Frauds
About the Campaign
 
The FTC has a new consumer education campaign to educate consumers about fraudulent and deceptive telemarketing, and how they can protect themselves.
 
The Who's Calling? Recognize & Report Phone Fraud campaign gives consumers information and resources to avoid telemarketing fraud. It is built on three R's. The three R's:
 
Recognize: Learn how to identify the most common telemarketing scams, and how to stop them.
 
Report: Report fraud to the FTC, because providing information helps law enforcement bring scammers to justice.
 
Register: Place your phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry for a tried and true way to stop most unwanted telemarketing calls.
 
ftc.gov/phonefraud provides consumers with easy access to information on a variety of telemarketing scam categories, including:
 
Buying Club Memberships
Charities & Fundraising Fraud
Credit & Loan Offers
Government Grant Scams
Identity Theft & Telemarketing
Medical Discount Plans
Reloading Scams
Sweepstakes & Lotteries
Travel Scams
Work-at-Home & Business Opportunities
Elements of the Who's Calling? campaign include:
 
Tips to recognizing the tell-tale signs of telemarketing fraud
Videos on recognizing telemarketing fraud and how to get off the phone, and how to register for the National Do Not Call Registry
Information on how and where to report telemarketing fraud
Resources for media
Partner Tools
 
The Partner Resources page is a one-stop source for tools and materials to educate consumers you know, including:
 
Web items like badges and graphics with content you can place on your organization's website or your e-newsletters.
 
A campaign brochure that outlines assorted types of telemarketing fraud, warning signs of potential fraud, and steps consumers can take to avoid it.
Links to additional fraud-specific fact sheets and information to help you communicate with your audiences about signs of potentially fraudulent telemarketing.
 
For more information about the Who's Calling? campaign or suggestions for partner tools, email [email protected]

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/phonefraud/about.shtml
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