SECURE INQUIRY

WELCOME TO THE AUSTRALIAN DIVISION OF LYONSWOOD INVESTIGATIONS AND FORENSIC GROUP

THE LATEST SCAMS

WHY AM I PUBLISHING THE METHODOLOGY OF SCAMMERS?

I am always fearful that by publishing the way criminals carry out fraud there is always the risk that I will in fact be instructing people in that very methodology. There is a very fine line between assisting the public in avoidance and exposing the public to a scam.

Forty years of experience in policing and private investigation has taught me that the majority of people are honest. I don’t think anyone would question this. Thus we must the presume that the people likely to use what I publish will be a small percentage of the population. Yes, they may carry out the scam and have many victims however I am convinced that prevention is better than cure.

To those who may be devious and stupid and consider carrying out the scams I discuss, fair warning to you because you may just be carrying it out upon someone who has read my website and who has taken my advice.

REPORT A SCAM/FRAUD

If you become the victim of a scam or know someone who has, please assist us by providing the details in the box below and clicking on the send button and if we believe it will assist consumers we will publish it. Be aware that by providing this information you also give Lyonswood the intellectual property rights to publish that information. Please do not use identifiers like names of persons or addresses. Lyonswood reserves the right to remove details that may create risks to other parties.

Name:
Details:

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ATM THEFT/SCAM - Courtesy of the RCMP, E Division

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BEWARE OF CYBER RELATIONSHIPS - THEY WONT ALWAYS LOVE YOU BACK

This letter of response was received from a lovely, very intelligent woman who via the internet befriended a man she believed and trusted. She was eventually tricked by him to a point where he deviously contrived a complex plan of deceit and convinced her to lend him a large amount of money, money she will never recover I suspect.

The plan he used was extremely complex and believable. This plan was executed over a year and demonstrates just what lengths people are prepared to go to in the pursuit of greed. This criminal probably had another dozen or so cyber-victims on the go at the same time.

Beware of persons you meet on the internet, until you meet them they must remain just this, Cyber – Persons. Never exchange your personal details, date of birth, passport, drivers’ license nor your full name unless you really do know and trust the person you are communicating with. If in doubt at all allow us to prove or disprove the identity of your Cyber-Person.

15th February 2010

Warren,
Thank you very much for your report. Please consider this matter closed- I do not wish to conduct any further investigations. The emotional tie I had with this man was cut on the day of my initial call to you, so this report serves as final confirmation. I never have to think about this sick individual again. I acted stupidly and recklessly, although I am not stupid or a reckless woman, and although I had suspicions I did not follow through. As you say, I do wish I had made that call to you sooner and saved myself a lot of unnecessary heartache.

This man preyed on me at a time when I was going through a very traumatic time in my life- I had a 9 year old nephew diagnosed with leukaemia and my elderly father suffered a heart attack soon after- this man kept me in trauma mode for most of last year. Despite this I managed to be there for my family and to maintain a High Distinction average at Uni for my Masters degree. My father and nephew are well and healthy now. These are the things that matter.

The fact that this man is not real, or the money that I lost are secondary issues. I choose not to see this outcome as devastating. If he was real, I would be saddled with a deluded romantic fool with no life-coping skills. That would be devastating. I am relieved this is not the case. I have learnt a very valuable lesson.

Thanks for your professionalism and support. Your final invoice has been paid. All the best.

Kind Regards,
XXXXXXXXXXX

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INTERNET LOVERS - BEWARE - PREDATORY PIRATES - 19th November 2009

The below cut and pasted e-mail communications (IDENTITY PROTECTED) and photos relate to a client who was emotionally involved with a cyber person who was slowly grooming her for a fraudulent sting. We have no idea just who the below photo belongs to but you can bet that it’s not the person attempting to scam my client. We mean no harm nor make any inference about the photographed person. We suspect the person in these photographs has no idea that their photo is being used to commit fraud. If you know this person then we would be happy to pass our investigation details onto him.

To the emotionally vulnerable and unwitting, the internet is an amazing market place in which to wreak havoc in the lives of others with just one aim, to satisfy their greed. My client believed this man she was e-mailing and speaking with on his mobile phone was an American citizen living in the U.K. She had spoken with him many times and of course received from him his address in the U.K.

He must be real because he sent me his passport! He must be real because I can speak with him on his phone and he must be in the U.K. because it’s a U.K. prefix on the number. He must be real because we have been communicating on the net for so long now and he is coming to Australia to meet me.

These are the common beliefs of person in this very same situation all over the world. Of course the only thing that is real is that sooner or later there will be a plea for money in a form similar to this below;

“ I was on my way to you and in Bangkok on a stop-over the police arrested me and want a bribe so I can get out. They have set me up and if I don’t give them the money they will lock me away on drugs charges. Honey I just need $5,000.00US and I can get out of this hell-hole. I will reimburse the money from my bank to your bank when I arrive in Australia. I tried to give them my credit card but they won’t take anything other than cash so it will have to be sent to Western Union Bangkok. Honey I am so dependent upon you to get me out of here, please communicate with me soon. I have to have this money before my flight in two days. I am so scared honey! The money must be transferred in the name of Pun Phunterporn. Once they have the money they promise they will let me go. Honey you should see the place they are holding me in, its filled with drug addicts and criminals and I am very scared for my safety”

This is just one of the many ploys they use to play on emotions, place you in a position of being responsible for their demise if you don’t act and thus get what they wanted all along, your money. Of course when you send the money, they come back with yet another request for further money because the police that are detaining him believe it was not enough and are asking for more before they release him. The name provide for the transfer is yet another false document that they can produce at Western Union to collect the cash.

Lyonswood’s research proved beyond a doubt the passport was false, the UK address was false and the person was not known in the U.K. as a citizen or immigrant at all. Our world- wide connections allow us to react swiftly , gather reliable evidence and minimise the risks.

This is some of the text between my client and the pirate.

The Pirate

Honey i did this so that you will trust me and know i have nothing to hide for you i love you and i want you to know that it not for money or anything like..

honey i want you to know something that the more you tell and show people me and things about me the more they will ask you question and the more they will give you reason to doubt me i love you and please if you will leave me then it should not because you doubt if you do not love me i wil understand and i will be glad but if you leave me because of not trust it will pain me and i will.. i do not know what to say now..

yes when we were chating you said something about they will say they do not have anyone to turn to no me i have but they are the same that are giving me the little i use here and giving food till we finish here so i feel shame to ask them for another when i know they have long way to give me more honey please stop this thinking and if really it your brother then you have your life to live..  
follow your heart and live your life he have right to protect you but you know what you want and you know
mail me before you got to work and let me know our status and if you will send the money to her..

My Client

Hi Davie,
sorry to worry you... I went to bed early last night after talking to Mama for an hour. was asleep at 10.30 pm. need 8-9 hours remember!! Mama is fine but I have to listen to every detail of her life!!! Just wanted to tell you that i laugh to hear you laugh..so enjoyed the crackly conversation...
 
Now I know you are anxious for me to do this western union thing.
Today I went around in my lunch hour to the post office a few blocks away and then at the counter ~remembered that I'd left the details of fiona’s aunt's name & address  on a piece of paper beside my computer, so it will have  to wait till tomorrow' lunch hour, as I only get 30 min between 9-5..and they are closed at 5 when I finish at that time. When do you anticipate that the loan money can be transferred into the NAB account? My friend Janet is an accountant so she likes to know where every cent of her money is.

I have started a letter to you..will post to that address in Elmsworth grove,so's you have a hard copy and something real from me.
 
tonight Im going to an art exhibition on the way home, a friend is showing his stuff..his fiance hopefully will make some nice tidbits, so will be home about 7.30-8..will see if your on line then...

Gabi

I dreamt last night that you were arriving at Tullermaine airport and we ran to each other and we were both laughing and crying at the same time and you picked me up and spun me around. Then you crushed me to you in the biggest bear hug..I said I could hardly breath and you said "Im never letting you go".....then my alarm went off...it was so so real...
 
Luci sent me an email! it was great to have the contact...
 
how are you? do you have sunday off? what will you do? rest? wash? sightsee? tell me, talk to me..like you said Im craving attention!!!Im here at the cleaning company, cant wait to go home and get out of the high heels and dress and will cook dinner (garlic lemon chicken and pilaf rice) .
tomorrow is Cup day (holiday in Victoria) so I can jump on the laptop as soon as I wake up and I wont have to rush off.. still researching flights...cant talk for long, my boss has gone to move her car, blocking someone in the love and besos(kisses)

Gesila

THE ALLEGED CYBER LOVER DAVID JOHNSON	THE ALLEGED CYBER LOVERS PASSPORT

To the untrained eye and to someone wanting to believe in what their heart wants to hear, the following errors in the passport may not at first become evident: 

• It is rare that a person will be smiling in a passport photo.
• It is rare that a person will be trurned side on in a passport photo
• The date of birth on this passport indicates that the person in the photo is 59 years of age
• The name in printed text at the bottom of the passport is the real owner of the passport and a female
• The text with the name David Johnson is darker and a different font than the rest of the passport text
• The photo has obviously been cut and pasted over the original passport photo.

My client had not recognised any of these impediments because her judgment was clouded by her wishes. Sometimes we are  emotionally distracted.

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NIGERIA SCAM WITH A TWIST

The below scam is a new twist on the run of the mill. In this scam the scammers themselves realize that by now almost all of us who use the internet have received e-mails promising millions because someone wants to move money out of Nigeria for a million reasons (NOT)

This e-mail purports to be from the Ministry Of Finance Nigeria which from the address it is clearly not and probably sent through a Hong Kong ISP.

The scam in light of those who may have been affected or have given money unwittingly in the past is certain to suck a few more unsuspecting people into their web of deceit.

-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Osagie [mailto:osagiesteve12@yahoo.com.hk]
Sent: Tuesday, 15 September 2009 5:30 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients
Subject: ++ Beneficiary Notification ++

Good Day,

Following the recent broadcast of the president and the commander in chief of armed forces of the federal republic of Nigeria,a total sum of $5.2 Billion has been mapped out by the SENATE to settle victims of scam/fraud and it has been agreed that the sum of $2.5 million be paid as compensation to each victim and you have been listed as one of the beneficiaries.

Therefore, you are required to reconfirm to me, your full names, address, telephone/fax numbers for your payment.

Best regards,
Rev. Steve Osagie
Chairman: Compensation claims Committee.
Federal Ministry of Finance.
Tel:2348076323327
----------------------------------------------------------------
This message was sent using IMP, the Internet Messaging Program.

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CREDIT CARD SCAM

The below scam is common. The criminals that carry out this scam purchase your card number and name from retailers where you have made purchases. This is why you should never part with your card and let it out of your sight. If you must allow someone to place it in an old card swipe machine where an imprint is gathered on a printed triplicate for, you should always retrieve all the other copies. Even then they still have the copy for the purchase so my advice is if the retailer does not have a new on line swipe machine. Don’t do business with them.

Well worth a read.

PLEASE BE ALERT!!

Credit Card Scam Alert:

This one is pretty slick since they provide YOU with all the information, except the one piece they want.

Note, the callers do not ask for your card number; they already have  it...

This information is worth reading. By understanding how the VISA &  Master Card Telephone Credit Card Scam works, you'll be better prepared to protect yourself.

One of our employees was called on Wednesday from 'VISA', and I was  called on Thursday from 'Master Card'.

The scam works like this:
Caller: 'This  is (name), and I'm calling from the Security and Fraud Department at VISA. My Badge number is 12460. Your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I'm calling to verify. This would be on your VISA card which was issued by (name of bank). Did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for $497.99 from a Marketing company based in ?' When you say 'No', the caller continues with, 'Then we will be issuing a  credit to your account. This is a company we have been watching and the charges range from $297 to $497, just under the $500 purchase pattern that flags most cards. Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to (gives you your address), is that correct?'

You say 'yes'. The caller continues - 'I will be starting a Fraud  investigation. If you have any questions, you should call the 1- 800 number listed on the back of your card (1-800 -VISA) and ask for Security.' You will need to refer to this Control Number. The caller then gives you a 6 digit number. 'Do you need me to read it again?'

Here's the IMPORTANT part on how the scam works. The caller then says, 'I need to verify you are in possession of your card'. He'll ask you to 'turn your card over and look for some numbers'. There are 7 numbers; the first 4 are part of your card number, the next 3 are the security Numbers that  verify y ou are the possessor of the card. These are the numbers you  sometimes use to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card. The caller will ask you to read the 3 numbers to him. After you tell the caller the 3 numbers, he'll say, 'That is correct, I just needed to verify that the card has not been lost or stolen, and that you still have your card.

Do you have any other questions?' After you say No, the caller then thanks you and states, 'Don't hesitate to call back if you do, and hangs up. You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the Card number. But after we were called on Wednesday, we called back within 20 minutes to ask a question. Are we glad we did! The REAL VISA Security  Department told us it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new
purchase of $497.99 was charged to our card.

Long story - short - we made a real fraud report and closed the VISA  account. VISA is reissuing us a new number. What the scammers want is the 3-digit PIN number on the back of the card Don't give it to them. Instead, tell them you'll call VISA or Master card directly for verification of their conversation. The real VISA told us that they will never ask for anything on the card as they already know the information since they issued the card! If you give the scammers your 3 Digit PIN Number, you think you're receiving a credit. However, by the time you get your statement you'll see charges for purchases you didn't make, and by then it's almost too late and/or more difficult to actually file a fraud report.

What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a call from a 'Jason Richardson of Master Card' with a word-for-word repeat of the VISA scam. This time I didn't let him finish. I hung up! We filed a police  report, as instructed by VISA. The police said they are taking several of these reports daily! They also urged us to tell everybody we know that this scam is happening.
Please pass this on to all your family, friends and neighbours. By informing each other, we protect each other.

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THE PAYPAL SCAM

PayPal is accepted as being A bullet proof method regarding the securing of a payment. People trust transactions on PayPal.

This is the scam:

You advertise a horse saddle on e-bay (my client did) for $2,000.00.

A potential buyer contacts you, asks about the saddle and tells you that he has a daughter competing in equestrian events In two days and he believes the saddle will suit her. He comes to your house and looks the saddle over and says he will take it. He cannot pay cash but asks if you have PayPal. You don’t but to make the sale you set up a PayPal account to receive the funds.

The buyer rings you back and you tell him you have enacted a PayPal account. You receive another call from the buyer and he tells you its been transacted and to check your bank account. You look in your  account but the money isn’t there yet. You call the buyer and explain. The buyer assures you that he made the payment and that he will call PayPal. He then calls you back to say because the transactions sometimes take 24 hours and because he needs the saddle quickly for his daughters equestrian event he has asked PayPal to send you a confirmation receipt.

Some time later, into your mail box comes an official looking PayPal   confirmation of payment receipt stating it will take 24 hours to transfer.  Plausible!  You don’t want to miss the sale so you call the buyer and tell him its confirmed and he can collect the saddle. The buyer arrives and collects the saddle that day and hey presto! when you call PayPal because the money has not arrived they advise they never send payment confirmation via e-mail.

Nice young teenager and now without a saddle or her money.

How can you protect against SCAMS like this?

1. Always ask a potential buyer for identification and if you are shown a license photograph it or write down the name, address, license number and check the back for a change of address. Make sure the photo is of the person with whom you are transacting.

2. If the buyer calls on an identified number- make note of it. If its caller barred then treat this with suspicion

3. If the buyer attends your home/business, always try to get a vehicle registration number or mobile phone photo. Send one of your friends to watch the buyer walk to that vehicle.

4. Always when in doubt, call the provider of authorisations (in this case PayPal) to see whether in fact they do send these receipts. PayPal does not send confirmation receipts to the seller by e-mail.

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THE BANK ACCOUNT SCAM

The scam.

You receive a phone call from a person that says they are from your bank. Let’s say for the sake of explaining this scam its Westpac. The caller tells you that they have received a number of bank statements recovered by police that have been stolen from letter boxes by an identity theft gang. They are ringing to warn you that your account may be targeted.

You are aware that your last two statements and your new replacement Visa Card did not arrive and you have made contact with the Westpac bank already regarding this. The bank assures you they have sent them to your address.

The caller has your bank account number, your credit card number, the balance, the branch and BSB number and gives you some sage advice on how to protect your personal details and to make sure you get a post office box to reduce future risks. You can hear the sounds of computers in the background and the girl who called you is very professional. You are shocked but grateful to the caller for making you aware. You ask what the next step is and how do you protect your account and is the money still there?

The caller assures you that your account is safe and recommends that you change your passwords immediately and to ensure she is talking to the correct person she asks you for them. She tells you she will then e-mail you a form that you can send back in a secured format with your new password details.

You have no reason to doubt the caller, the caller clearly has your name and account details and has given you some sound advice so you provide the current passwords and she tells you that she has confirmed them and that she will replace them as soon as you respond to her e-mail.

Of course what you haven’t realised is that the person who called you is part of a gang of fraudsters who have raided your letter box and found your bank statements and is about to empty your bank account via an auto teller in the next thirty minutes.

How do I protect myself from such a scam.

1. Make sure that if you do receive hard copies of bank statements or any other document or credit card via the mail that you either have a large, deep and well secured mail box or a P.O. Box which is even better.

2. Never, NEVER, trust a caller without confirming with your bank or service provider by calling them yourself to confirm that the caller is genuine. Banks rarely conduct business in this manner.

3. Never give passwords over the phone or internet unless you are confident that the person you are giving them to is genuine. Even then, if you provide e-mail copies of these words and your computer is hacked into, then the hacker has it all.

4. Never leave large amounts of money in accounts that are attached to auto teller cards/ EFTPOS cards.