Thread: Cut and paste snippets about scams.

This scam is all over the country right now, in various forms of course. I post from time to time as people read various pages of the blog, but tell your friends and family what is going on. The only reason crap like this works is people aren't aware of the scam.

Hamilton pizza shop owner falls prey to evolving PSE&G scam targeting small businesses
Print
Mike Davis/The Times By Mike Davis/The Times

Tinas.jpgTina's Pizza and Italian RestaurantGoogle Maps

HAMILTON — Ahmed Abouelela was suspicious when a person claiming to be from PSE&G called him on July 11 demanding payment of overdue utility bills for his business, Tina’s Pizza and Italian Restaurant.

Even stranger, the caller said the company had a new policy: Instead of sending a representative to collect a check from the South Olden Avenue restaurant, the person told Abouelela to purchase $2,500 in pre-paid Green Dot MoneyPak cards and to call back in an hour with the card numbers.

Abouelela was reluctant, but then the caller listed his account number, phone number, the amount due and the shut-off notice, as if “he was reading the bill right out of my hand,” Abouelela recalled last week.

If he didn’t make the payment the caller threatened to shut off power immediately, right in the middle of the restaurant’s lunch rush.

“He had all this information about my business, so I believed him. He had up-to-the-minute information,” Abouelela said. “The shut-off notice was current. The balance due was current. He couldn’t get hold of my bill from my trash can because I had it in my hand.”

PSE&G officials later told Abouelela that they had never received his money. He had fallen victim to an evolving scam that has most recently targeted small business owners.

“It ebbs and flows. There has been an uptick in the recent weeks or months,” PSE&G spokeswoman Kristine Snodgrass said. “Turning towards small business is sort of a new tactic that we’ve seen more recently. They target small business owners who can’t afford to have their power shut down for a period during the day.”

Abouelela’s case is unusual in that it is not common for scammers to have access to detailed account information, Snodgrass said. In mailed notices, PSE&G tells customers to ask for such account information from suspicious callers to verify they represent the utility.

“We haven’t seen that to my knowledge. Typically, they’re just able to convince people off the cuff that they’re with us,” Snodgrass said. “It’s possible his mail was jeopardized. There’s a million different possibilities, but that’s not how this scam usually goes.”

Abouelela reported the incident to Hamilton police as well as the utility company, but said he thought it unlikely the perpetrator will be found. He said PSE&G told him the call likely came from the Dominican Republic via an Internet phone service.

“We do investigate every incident that we learn about, but we obviously don’t know about every incident,” Snodgrass said. “We hope all our customers call us and report this to local authorities, but this is a very hard thing to track. The money goes like cash and it’s gone.”

Abouelela said his main concern now is being able to keep Tina’s up and running.

PSE&G has said it will not reimburse or credit him for the $2,500, but offered him a 12-month installment plan, Abouelela said. He has filed a small claims complaint against the utility company, he said.

“I’ve lost $2,500. What am I supposed to do?” Abouelela said. He said he told PSE&G, “‘I lost the money and paid the guy, assuming it was you, because he represented you with all my information. You can write it off, but I’m a small guy. It’s summertime and I can barely keep my doors open.’”

Contact Mike Davis at (609) 989-5708 or mdavis@njtimes.com.

Hamilton pizza shop owner falls prey to evolving PSE&G scam targeting small businesses | NJ.com

Locksmith scam warning

Posted: Sunday, August 11, 2013 7:30 am


SALEM - The Oregon Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Construction Contractors Board (CCB) are warning citizens to be on the alert for bogus locksmiths.

Complaints to the DOJ and CCB reveal that several locksmith companies, all using similar methods, are significantly overcharging consumers, charging consumers for unnecessary services, using intimidation tactics, and failing to give refunds or respond to consumer complaints.

"You may be quoted a price on the phone, but when the locksmith arrives, often in an unmarked vehicle, he often wants significantly more money or claims to only accept payment in cash," says Ellen Rosenblum, Oregon Attorney General.

Sadly, this is a typical scenario for a locksmith scam. When a Beaverton woman called the first number that popped-up in her Google search, she thought she had reached a local locksmith. But when the man on the other end asked her if she was calling from Portland, Maine, she knew something was wrong. And it only got worse from there.

The "locksmith" arrived in a van clearly identified as associated with a company other than the one she had called and he wanted to charge her more than twice the amount she was quoted on the phone. Fearing she was being scammed, she called another locksmith only to learn the "locksmith" standing next to her car was a fraud. The going rate to unlock her car according to this legitimate locksmith - $80; not the $139 this "locksmith" was demanding.

"It is very important to know who you are doing business with before hiring a locksmith," said Rich Blank, CCB enforcement manager. "There is a large number of fake addresses and phone numbers on the Internet, crowding out the good guys. Legitimate locksmiths in Oregon have passed a certification exam and undergone a criminal background check. Working as a locksmith without proper Oregon certification is illegal."

To help you protect yourself from the bad guys, the DOJ and CCB urge you to follow these tips:

First, find a certified locksmith before you need one. Don't just sign-on with the first listing in a Google search. Get references from the CCB online at https://ccbed.ccb.state.or.us/ccb_frames/consumer_info/.

Once you've found a reputable locksmith, keep the company's name and contact information in your phone, wallet, or address book at home or at work.

Avoid any company that answers the phone with a generic phrase such as "locksmith services" rather than with a specific company name.

Be wary of locksmiths who arrive in unmarked cars, trucks, or vans. Legitimate locksmiths usually have a vehicle with the company name.

Ask for an ID with name and address. Oregon requires that on all service calls locksmiths carry proof that they are license

Get a written estimate on company letterhead, with mileage charges, minimums and other fees, before work begins. Get a receipt after you pay.

If you're told the lock has to be drilled and replaced, find another locksmith. Experienced and legitimate locksmiths can unlock almost any door.

If you think you have been a victim of a bogus locksmith, contact the Oregon Department of Justice online at Consumer Protection - Protect Your Pocketbook!, by phone at 1-877-877-9392, or by email at help@oregonconsumer.gov.

Locksmith scam warning - The News Guard: News

locksmithscam.JPG

Officers from Fairfax County Police's Reston District Station are investigating a scam in which a local couple was bilked out of thousands of dollars by an unknown suspect claiming to be with the Internal Revenue Service.

The caller also claimed to be holding a family member in exchange for numbers associated with prepaid money cards in the victim’s possession. The victim relinquished information from the cards and the money was gone. No family member was actually held against their will, police said.

The police are reminding citizens to be cautious: if anyone except a legitimate business asks for your card numbers, it could be a scam.

"Avoid using money card numbers if someone contacts you regarding prize winnings or sweepstakes, and do not use card numbers to purchase something from a classified advertisement," police said in a statement.
"Do not give your card numbers to another person, unless you are absolutely certain of their credibility."

In most cases, the money lost from this type of scam is not insured, so when it is gone, it is gone, they added.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Solvers by phone at 1-866-411-TIPS/8477, e-mail at www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org or text “TIP187” plus your message to CRIMES/274637 or call Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131.

Crime Report: Police Warn of Reston-area Money Card Scam - Police & Fire - Reston, VA Patch

============================================

HONOLULU -- The Hawaii State Judiciary is warning the public to be on the alert for an apparent telephone scam by a person claiming to be a court employee.

The judiciary says the purported court employee leaves a voice mail message saying they're calling in regards to a protective order case. The caller asks for a call back and requests additional information like a Social Security number and date of birth.

The judiciary says employees don't call parties to obtain Social Security number and birth dates over the phone.

It's urging anyone who receives such calls to report them to the police.

The judiciary said in a statement Friday it's been contacted by members of the public about the legitimacy of the voice mail message.

Read more here: HONOLULU: Hawaii judiciary warns of apparent telephone scam - Politics Wires - MiamiHerald.com

============================================

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The state attorney general says more than 200 Ohioans have reportedly received unsolicited phone calls with offers of medical alert devices.

Attorney General Mike DeWine says roughly 40 percent of this year's reports came in the last month. He urges Ohioans not to give out any personal information on these calls and not to press any buttons.

Consumers that have gotten such calls hear a prerecorded message, saying they are eligible for a free medical alert system or that someone bought an alert device for them. The recordings might tell consumers to press a button to schedule their delivery, or press another button to opt out.

DeWine says not to respond to the suspicious calls at all, because pressing a button could tell scammers that the phone number is active.

Read more here: Ohio AG warns of medical alert device scam - Wire Technology - The Sacramento Bee

============================================

Warning on ‘free’ medical-alert device scam in Washington

Posted by Anna Boiko-Weyrauch

Some Washington state residents have received scam calls offering a “free” medical-alert device and asking for personal information to deliver it.

The Washington State Attorney General’s Office has received complaints about these robocalls and is encouraging consumers to be skeptical about the calls’ offers.

The messages say you can receive a medical device that is already “paid for” or “free” if you indicate you want it.

“Seniors often are vulnerable to scams because scammers think the scams will go unreported,” spokeswoman for the Attorney General’s Office, Alison Dempsey-Hall, wrote in an email. She said that consumers who have gotten involved in the scam should file a complaint with the office.

Other states have experienced the same scam, and the attorneys general of Maine, Ohio and Minnesota have issued consumer alerts.

Warning on ‘free’ medical-alert device scam in Washington | The Today File | Seattle Times

seniorscams.JPG

Says top 6 and gives 5, I feel cheated.

1. Title fraud.
2. Foreclosure and home-equity fraud.
3. Online rental/sale scams.
4. Property investment seminars and courses.
5.Home Improvement scams.

Top 6 real estate scams

Originally Posted by ribshaw

Says top 6 and gives 5, I feel cheated.

1. Title fraud.
2. Foreclosure and home-equity fraud.
3. Online rental/sale scams.
4. Property investment seminars and courses.
5.Home Improvement scams.

Top 6 real estate scams

They can't count?? :)

Boiler room scam networks active in southeast Queensland as expats are used to dupe countrymen

David Murray Crime Editor
The Courier-Mail
August 12, 2013 12:00AM

Expats used in cold call scams

Australian expats and backpackers are being used in cold call scams to dupe their fellow countrymen.

AUSTRALIAN expats and backpackers throughout Asia are being used to dupe their countrymen into caller scams.

Police have warned the so-called "boiler room" scam networks have moved on from Nigeria and are active in Asia and on the Gold Coast.

The Australian Crime Commission said one scam in Bangkok was linked to the theft of more than $50 million from Australians.

The ACC said that in the Bangkok raid in April, Thai police found nine expats with phones, scripts and lists of Australians.

The scams use carefully crafted scripts to dupe Australians into investing.

ACC acting executive director Warren Gray said: "Any of the South-East Asian countries and China seem to be favoured for it.

"We're finding expats man the boiler rooms so that the language difficulty isn't too bad and they are believable stories.''

Have you been a victim of a cold call scam? Tell us below

"Basically they're sitting in these boiler rooms, they've got scripts, which they read to their victims.

"We've had our forensic psychologists look at these and they're saying they're very effective on the vulnerable.''

The Bangkok boiler room was part of a network that also operated from Jakarta and Taiwan, promoting a range of fraudulent investments.

Thai police will travel to Australia to interview victims, with the main player still at large and believed to pull the strings from China.

Superintendent Brian Hay, head of Queensland's fraud squad, said other networks operated closer to home.

"The southeast corner of Queensland seems to have developed a hub for boiler room operations,'' Supt Hay said.

"They're sophisticated in their product development and they're highly flexible and mobile, which means that the trail is always cold by the time law enforcement are alerted to the problem.''

The scams often involved low values but high volumes and victims did not always contact police.

"They will work out a script, hire some telemarketers, put them in a room with a heap of phones and here's the script,'' Supt Hay said.

"They'll rip the money out as soon as the money goes into the account.

"They provide fake websites and interactive websites where you can see how your account is going.

"Unfortunately all of this is contrived and, while you think you've got a wonderful growing balance, the money has already been taken out.''

Australian Securities and Investments Commission senior executive leader Warren Day said there was a new wave of boiler room scams last year.

"Predominantly these things are running out of South-East Asia, so Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia,'' Mr Day said.

"The perpetrators and the people organising them are from places like Canada, the UK, the US and some European countries.''

The ACC said last year 2600 Australians had lost at least $113 million from cold call scams in five years.

Read more: No Cookies | The Courier-Mail

I just got a bunch of links from a friend that I will share over the next few days. This one just grabbed my eye as it is related to an email going around that is mostly fake. snopes.com: Code Grabbers and Remote Keyless Entry

It important to make sure your car is actually LOCKED before you leave.

As the innocent motorist tries to lock the car, the signal is blocked by an RF jammer. The punter walks away, unknowingly leaving the car open, the crim then plugs an information reader into the onboard diagnostic socket and reprograms a blank key and drives it away.

Check out all the latest News, Sport & Celeb gossip at Mirror.co.uk Car thieves make a killing from hi-tech keys scam - Quentin Willson - Mirror Online
Follow us: @DailyMirror on Twitter | DailyMirror on Faceboo

Foster kids are at greater risk for identity theft than the general population because more people have access to their private information. Their families may be cash-strapped and view the young person's clean credit as an easy fix to a financial problem.

Help protect yourself or a young person you know by following these tips.

Keep personal information private

Friends don't need to know a child's Social Security number or the mother's maiden name.
Don't disclose a youth's Social Security number unless absolutely necessary. If someone is asking for it, ask why they need it and what they'll do to keep it safe.
Beware of people selling fake IDs. Besides the obvious risk of getting caught with a fake ID, the people involved can misuse the information given to create the ID.

Keep personal information safe

Store important documents such as Social Security cards and birth certificates in a safe place, preferably locked up -- not on you or the child, in a wallet or backpack.
Shred unneeded documents that have personal, financial or medical information.

Be safe online

Delete unsolicited emails that ask for personal information.
Use strong passwords, updated virus software and firewalls for online accounts and computers.
Monitor what personal information children are posting online. To ensure a website is secure, look for the lock icon in the address bar and a URL that begins with https//.
Never store a password on a computer or allow a site to recognize the password every time.

Check and protect credit

Order and review a credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com or directly from the three credit reporting agencies, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. If a child is under the age of 18, a parent or guardian may have to initiate a written request.
Check the youth's name with date of birth, and then check the Social Security number separately. Identity thieves often use the Social Security number with a different name and birth date.
Opt out of preapproved credit offers by going to optoutprescreen.com or call toll free 888-5-OPT-OUT (888-567-8688).
Monitor the mail and be suspicious of preapproved credit offers addressed to a child or teen.

After a theft

Report the theft to the Federal Trade Commission at IDtheft.gov. Or call 877-IDTHEFT (877-438-4338).
Have the youth work with a trusted, financially stable adult to clear up credit problems, preferably before they turn 18. The child should shadow the adult to learn how to handle problems next time.
Place a fraud alert or freeze on the child's credit reports to help prevent identity thieves from opening new accounts using that name.
Go directly to the businesses involved with a copy of the birth certificate proving that the victim was underage when the credit was taken out.
File a police report.
Teach the child what you've done wrong or right with your own credit, and advise them on the importance of building good credit.


Read more: How to Protect a Foster Child from ID Theft | Fox Business

Former Cayman residents linked to Ponzi scheme now in Honduras
By: Patrick Brendel | patrick.brendel@cfp.ky
12 August, 2013
Tweet 5
> Be the first person to share your comment

The regulator for the US financial industry has filed an amended complaint in US federal court against five people, including two former Cayman Islands residents, it accuses of running a US$300 million Ponzi scheme based in Florida. The defendants include a pair of former local residents, Fred Davis Clark Jr. and his wife Cristal R. Coleman, who are identified in the new filing as now residing in Honduras.

The attorney for Mr. Clark and Ms Coleman said they “categorically deny” all allegations of wrongdoing and “intend to disprove” 
those claims.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission’s amended complaint in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida is similar in many respects to the original complaint it filed on 30 January.

Ponzi scheme?

In general, the SEC accuses Mr. Clark, Ms Coleman, and three other defendants who reside in Florida, of raising US$300 million from some 1,400 investors between 2004 and 2008 for their Cay Clubs Resorts and Marinas, which was marketed as a resort development project but which the SEC claims was actually a Ponzi scheme.

According to the filing, 
“Cay Clubs was purportedly in the 
business of renovating aged and abandoned condominium projects at 17 locations, located primarily in the Florida Keys, Central Florida, and Las Vegas, Nevada into luxury five-star resorts with lavish amenities, and operating a rental pool of units in these projects for profits.”

According to the filing, Mr. Clark was Cay Clubs’ co-founder, president and CEO, while Ms Coleman was a managing member and registered agent of certain affiliated entities. They were Florida residents from no later than July 2004 to at least January 2009.

“Cay Clubs was not the successful business Clark, Coleman, [Barry J.] Graham, and [Ricky Lynn] Stokes claimed it was. By April 2005, in Ponzi scheme fashion, Clark and [David W.] Schwarz, Cay Clubs’ CFO, started using new investor funds to pay leaseback returns to earlier investors,” according to the filing.

“Cay Clubs did not pay the guaranteed leaseback returns to all investors and beginning in mid-2006, failed to pay them to the vast majority of investors,” according to the filing, which states that Cay Clubs collapsed in mid-2008.

‘Cay Clubs concept’

The new filing contains additional information, including a chart of about 100 Cay Clubs entities. It also includes sections on the different aspects of “the Cay Clubs concept”, as the SEC attempts to build a case that Cay Clubs was sold as a multifaceted investment scheme, going beyond simple real estate transactions.

“The Cay Clubs concept was not merely a fee simple investment in a condominium unit. Instead, Cay Clubs marketed a broader investment concept comprised of a unit bundled together with a package of commitments and services Cay Clubs claimed it would provide that, taken together, comprised a business in which the Defendants promised investors their entrepreneurship and management efforts would generate profits for investors,” according to the SEC filing.

Ken Hazouri of Orlando law firm De Beaubien, Knight, Simmons, Mantzaris and Neal LLP, who is legal counsel for Mr. Clark, Ms Coleman and Mr. Schwarz, said his clients absolutely refute the SEC’s allegations.

“My clients categorically deny, and intend to disprove, all allegations of wrongdoing in the SEC’s most recent complaint, which is the third one the SEC has now filed in an effort to state a valid claim,” Mr. Hazouri said via email.

“These are the bottom lines: a) Cay Clubs sold real estate, not securities and, therefore, the SEC has no jurisdiction over the matter; b) all persons who contracted to purchase a condominium from Cay Clubs received the units for which they bargained; c) neither Cay Clubs nor its representatives committed any fraud or other misconduct, as falsely alleged by the SEC or otherwise; and d) Cay Clubs failed for no reason other than historic collapses in the real estate and credit markets,” Mr. Hazouri said.

Cayman, Bahamas

The SEC accuses Mr. Clark, Ms Coleman and Mr. Schwarz of having “misappropriated more than US$33 million either as exorbitant salaries and commissions or to fund personal expenses and business ventures”.

According to the SEC, about US$1.5 million in investor contributions was diverted to ventures such as gold mines, coal refining machinery and a rum distillery, and that Mr. Clark transferred some US$2 million into Bahamas and Cayman Islands accounts to fund personal business ventures in precious metals, rum distilling, pawn shops and payments to relatives. The SEC has alleged that in late April, Mr. Clark transferred nearly US$1.7 million from Cayman to Honduras through an HSBC New York account. “Until approximately late January 2013, Clark was co-chairman of the CMZ Group, Ltd., a Cayman Islands entity that includes a Caribbean pawn shop network and spirits business, among other ventures,” according to the new filing.

CMZ Group’s brands include CashWiz pawn shops and Argentum Refineries, a precious metals processor and bullion storage operation in Cayman Enterprise City. (CMZ Group also has a company called Best4Less, a wholesale distribution company based in the Turks and Caicos Islands that manufactures Pirates Choice rum.)

In early February, CMZ Group Ltd. SEZC chairman Keith Miles told the Compass that Mr. Clark had notified him 14 January of a pending civil action by the SEC. Accordingly, Mr. Miles and another co-chairman bought out Mr. Clark, and Mr. Clark’s relationships with the companies ended.
Former Cayman residents linked to Ponzi scheme now in Honduras :: cayCompass.com

Officials believes online adoption ad a 'scam'

BEAVER, Pa. (AP) — A district attorney says an online ad claiming to be from a woman trying to find someone to adopt a baby boy is a scam, likely originating overseas.

District Attorney Anthony Berosh tells the Beaver County Times his investigators are working to trace the ads, which he believes may originate overseas.

The ads have been posted on Facebook and Craigslist sites in Beaver and Lawrence counties.

A woman who answered the ad told the newspaper another woman who claimed to place the ad said she was from Cameroon, an African country, and told the western Pennsylvania woman she would need to pay $3,900 to adopt the African woman's 8-month-old son, plus air fare.

Berosh says the ad is targeting people desperate to adopt a child.

adoptionscam.JPG

So this again, but using technology to spoof caller ID.

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) -

The Hawaiian Electric Companies are warning customers about an increased number of reports of telephone scams to utility customers.

Recently, dozens of small business customers, mostly ethnic restaurants, have reported receiving telephone calls saying that their electric bill is delinquent and that they're subject to same day disconnection.

In some cases, the customers reported their telephone caller ID showed the calls were from Hawaiian Electric. The calls were not made by Hawaiian Electric, Maui Electric or Hawaii Electric Light Company, indicating the scammers were using commercially available technology to emulate the utilities' legitimate caller ID.

"These scams are growing increasingly sophisticated. The best defense is to exercise caution. We encourage our customers to remain alert and continue to report any suspicious activity," said Jim Alberts, Hawaiian Electric senior vice president for customer service.

If customers receive a suspicious call from someone claiming to represent the company, the Hawaiian Electric Companies encourage customers to call their respective Customer Service Centers at:

Oahu: 548-7311
Maui: 871-9777
Molokai and Lanai: 1-877-871-8461 (toll free)
Hilo: 969-6999
Kona: 329-3584
Waimea: 885-4605

In addition, the Hawaiian Electric Companies are reminding customers not to provide personal, confidential, or financial information to any unidentified individual and urge customers to exercise caution when responding to phone calls from unidentified individuals. If customers feel unsure about the identity of a caller, they should feel free to hang up and call their utility's Customer Service Center. Report any suspicious activity to police.

Reports may also be made to Hawaiian Telcom's Nuisance Call Bureau. Hawaiian Telcom customers can call 643-7111 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on weekdays with reports of harassing, illegal, threatening or obscene calls. Depending on the nature of the nuisance call, a specialized team will then either investigate or recommend options to manage unwanted or annoying phone calls. Some options may entail additional charges.

Recently, many electric customers have reported that they were directed to pay their utility bills by purchasing certain types of money vouchers called MoneyPak. This is not a legitimate method of making payments on electric bills.

Customers may report fraud cases directly to MoneyPak by calling 1-800-GREEN DOT through the company's website using the "Report Fraud" tab:

https://www.moneypak.com/ProtectYourMoney.aspx#Scams

Customers wishing to pay their electric bills in person may do so at Hawaiian Electric's customer service offices in Honolulu, at Maui Electric's Kahului and Molokai business offices, or at Hawaii Electric Light's office in Hilo, Kona or Waimea.

In addition, other legitimate payment options include:

U.S. mail
Oahu: PO Box 3978, Honolulu, HI 96812-3978
Hawaii Island: PO Box 909, Honolulu, HI 96808-0909
Maui, Lanai, Molokai: PO Box 1670, Honolulu, HI 96806-1670
Online at www.hawaiianelectric.com; www.mauielectric.com; or Hawaii Electric Light: Home Channel Page
Walk-in payments may be made at First Hawaiian Bank, Walmart, or Western Union locations (Foodland, Kmart, Sack-N-Save, Safeway, Times Supermarket)
By Phone through charge, checking/savings debit card, or electronic check (Fees Apply)
Residential customers, please call 1-888-813-2207
Commercial customers, please call 1-888-813-2215

Here are some additional safety tips from HECO:

Be careful when taking calls from an unidentified phone number; phone scammers will want to remain anonymous.
Scammers may use technology to fake a caller ID, so don't be afraid to ask questions. Get the caller's name, phone number and company name. That might deter phone scammers from continuing the conversation.
Hawaiian Electric employees would not direct you to make a payment at any location other than our customer service offices and the customer service desks of those sites noted above.

Copyright 2013 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.

Scam Alert: HECO impersonators using technology to fake caller I - Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL

Peter Hoss, Scam of the Month: Beware computer 'monitoring'


Peter Hoss

We seniors did not grow up in the age of computers and the Internet. Generally, our grandchildren understand them better than we do.

However, we are becoming so dependent on communicating through email and the Internet that it has become difficult, if not impossible, to function without some basic understanding of how computers work and sometimes fail to work.

It is not surprising that this situation leads to computer scams aimed at those who lack knowledge about why a computer fails to function. Here is an example of a recent scam reported to me by a friend.

The steps:

1. The victim receives an unsolicited call from a purported representative of "Microsoft tech support" or some equally official sounding name.

2. The caller says their "monitoring" has detected serious system problems, viruses or malfunctions that will render the victim's computer inoperable unless corrective measures are taken. The caller may even propose bogus "tests" to verify this claim.

3. The caller then offers to fix the problem free of charge if the victim will allow the caller to connect to the computer.

4. Once the caller has access to the victim's computer, he can obtain all the information in it and set the victim up for identity theft. The caller can also block access to the victim's computer by changing the password and install malicious programs.

5. After obtaining access, the caller may claim the "free" service costs $150. When the victim protests, the caller
Advertisement
demands a fee to reveal the new password.

6. Even if the victim pays the fee and unlocks his computer, the caller can leave hidden software on the system and may be able to connect again and even repeat the scam. The victim has lost control of his own computer. To undo this may cause considerable expense.

This scam has a familiar beginning — an unsolicited call from a stranger, which should always be viewed with suspicion.

Next, it may not be generally known that no form of "monitoring" from outside a computer can detect the problems the caller proposes to fix for nothing. This type of problem can only be detected by the user of the computer or a trusted service provider who has been contacted by the user. Thus, if unrequested outside "monitoring" is claimed, it is a sure scam.

An offer of free service from an unsolicited caller should always be viewed with suspicion. And access to a computer from a stranger should never be allowed. This is like opening your home to a burglar. Access to a computer should only be allowed to a tech support representative of a server when the user complains.

This example illustrates several steps by which an intended victim can avoid a scam of this nature. It does not require computer or Internet expertise, just common sense.

Peter T. Hoss is a retired lawyer and an adviser to Legal Services for Seniors

Peter Hoss, Scam of the Month: Beware computer 'monitoring' - MontereyHerald.com :

This was pretty interesting on affiliate marketing.

So here is what was happening:

1. Someone comes to Kogan.com and finds a product they want to buy.
2. They add the product to cart and start to checkout.
3. At checkout, they notice a “Discount Code” field.
4. They open a new tab and Google search for “Kogan Discount Code.”
5. They click around the various affiliates who claim to have a “Kogan Discount Code.”
6. When they visit the affiliates, they drop a cookie and tag the user as coming from that site.
7. They fail to find a discount code that works and come back to Kogan and finish their checkout.
8. Because the affiliate tagged the user, their reporting system claims that they referred the sale.

The big, ugly affiliate marketing scam | VentureBeat

Scam Warning Issued For Ross County Residents
Monday August 12, 2013 5:36 PM
UPDATED: Monday August 12, 2013 5:38 PM

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio - Ross County officials are warning residents of a solicitation scam.

Officials in Chillicothe say people have gotten letters referring them to a local records office.

For a small fee, you can learn about your property deed and other public information, according to the scammer.

The recorder's office says those calls are a scam.

The hint is that the scammer even says “public information.”

Deed copies cost only 10 cents per page, or about 30 cents on average.

And any deeds filed after 1973 can be viewed online for free.

The office also says that your deed is permanent record, and it’s not a requirement to have a copy.

Watch 10TV News and refresh 10TV.com for more information.
Scam Warning Issued For Ross County Residents | WBNS-10TV Columbus, Ohio

ENMAX has issued a warning about a phone scam that may be targeting flood victims.

The utility provider says some homeowners have been receiving calls from someone pretending to have information about their utility bills.

The caller then tells the homeowner that they can cut their bills in half if they purchase a $350 “energy guard” device and attach it to their homes.

The calls originate from Texas and the caller says they are from a Canadian company and are making the offer as part of a government program to assist flood victims.

They then tell the homeowner they will receive more information once payment is received.

“We’re warning people about this scam and reassuring our customers that at no time have we or will we provide details on anyone’s personal account information, except with their consent in accordance with privacy legislation,” said Gianna Manes, President and CEO, ENMAX Corporation. “What is particularly bothersome about this scam is that the criminals are targeting people who likely have already experienced financial losses from the flood.”

ENMAX says that the government program the caller is referring to does not exist and officials with the company have notified RCMP.

Anyone who gets a call like this should contact police or the provincial Utilities Consumer Advocate.

Read more: Utility scam focuses on flood victims | CTV Calgary News

Feds: 9 Sold Worthless Stocks in Massive Scheme
NEW YORK August 13, 2013 (AP)
By TOM HAYS Associated Press
Associated Press

A crew of con men sold worthless penny stocks to people around the globe at pumped-up prices, then victimized the investors again by setting up a fake law firm that charged them to try to get their money back, federal authorities in New York said Tuesday.

The international scheme generated more than $140 million, making it one of the largest penny stock fraud schemes in history, U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch said at a news conference announcing an indictment charging nine defendants.

FBI agents arrested six of the defendants Tuesday in New York, Arizona, New Jersey, Florida and California. A seventh was being held in Canada and two were at large.

The indictment alleges that the defendants engaged in a massive "pump and dump" scheme — buying controlling interests in sketchy startup companies, then artificially inflating their value by promoting them in fictitious emails, social media messages and news releases. The fraudulent sales campaign generated more than $120 million in investments by tens of thousands of people in the United States and 34 other countries, including Jamaica, South Africa, Ireland and China, authorities said.

Working out of boiler room phone centers in Canada, Thailand and Britain, the defendants again victimized the same investors by convincing them to pay $20 million in advance fees in return for helping them sell their securities or join lawsuits to reclaim their losses, court papers said. In some instances, the defendants pretended to be Internal Revenue Service employees who told victims they would have to pay a 30 percent tax before they could unload their penny stocks.

The defendants "picked (the investors') pockets yet again as they promised to help them find a way out of their financial straits," Lynch said.

The victims were told to wire the advance fees to banks in New York City and elsewhere. The funds eventually made their way to an account in Lebanon, the papers said.

Authorities said the crew had plans to set up a new call center in Brooklyn. In an intercepted phone call, one defendant remarked, "I tell you what, man ... hitting the Americans would be like taking candy from a baby," according to court papers.

Referring to the burned investors, the same defendant was overheard saying, "A lot of these guys are dying to get rid of this crap. ... It's easy money."

Feds: 9 Sold Worthless Stocks in Massive Scheme - ABC News

securities fraud.JPG

The Federal Trade Commission is warning furloughed federal workers about a scam that's specifically targeting those who are losing pay due to government cutbacks.

In a blog post, FTC is warning consumers about a scam involving callers telling government employees they are eligible for free grants. The scammers call and try to get the person on the other end of the line to give out their bank account information or pay a fee to receive the non-existent money.

"Some scammers also may be targeting furloughed government employees about a "free" grant specifically for them," said Amy Hebert, Consumer Education Specialist.

FTC advises people not to give out their banking account information and not to pay money to someone in order to receive a grant.

The FTC advised those who have received such a call to file a complaint. You can do so here.

Federal Trade Commission says phony grant scam is targeting furloughed federal workers | al.com

grant scam.JPG

There are more than a few red flags in this story of who you don't want to trust you money with. And this is hardly isolated in ponzi situations.

Henderson Man Pleads Guilty in Investment Fraud Scheme
Posted: Aug 13, 2013 5:28 PM EST Updated: Aug 13, 2013 5:33 PM EST
By Steve Kanigher, I-Team Reporter - email



LAS VEGAS -- A former Henderson loan officer who took money from more than 30 victims for a high yield investment scheme involving the foreign currency exchange market pleaded guilty Monday to fraud and money laundering charges, Nevada's U.S. Attorney Daniel Bogden said.

Kamalu Gonzales, 47, pleaded before U.S. District Judge Gloria Navarro to two counts of mail fraud, six counts of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering. Gonzales is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 14, and he faces up to 30 years in prison. He also faces a $1 million fine on each of the fraud charges and up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each of the money laundering charges.

According to court records, Gonzales told individuals in 2007 and 2008 that he was a successful investor and trader in the foreign currency exchange market. He recruited individuals to invest with him in the market, telling them that they could earn high rates of return in a short period of time. Some victims wired money to Gonzales, and others borrowed money from their retirement fund or line of credit, or refinanced their houses to invest with him.

Gonzales worked in 2007 as a loan officer for Meridias Capital in Henderson. He helped customers refinance their homes, but he also placed false information in the loan applications so the individuals could obtain refinancing and cash to which they would not have otherwise been entitled. Gonzales convinced these individuals to give him some of the cash they received from refinancing for his investment fraud scheme. None of the victims agreed to pay Gonzales any commissions or fees, or agreed that he could use their investments for personal or business expenses or to pay other investors.

Gonzales lied to the victims repeatedly and told them their investments were doing well. As a result, some victims gave Gonzales more money to invest. Gonzales also made payments to some victims using money he received from others.

Gonzales received roughly $1 million from the victims, and pocketed an estimated $410,000 for his own purposes.

Gonzales is free on a personal recognizance bond pending sentencing.

The case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathryn Newman and Kimberly Frayn.

Henderson Man Pleads Guilty in Investment Fraud Scheme - 8 News NOW

Looks awesome and reportedly free.

Personal Finance: Software writer attacks robocalls
By Claudia Buck
cbuck@sacbee.com
Published: Sunday, Aug. 11, 2013 - 12:00 am | Page 1D
Last Modified: Monday, Aug. 12, 2013 - 9:46 am

Robocalls: They're a plague upon us.

If you've ever jumped off the couch or interrupted your dinner hour to pick up the phone, you know what we're talking about: those unwanted calls pitching a product, asking for a donation or trying to sell you something.

Some are legal and legitimate. Most are not.

Every month, the Federal Trade Commission fields about 178,500 consumer complaints about robocalls and telemarketers. The FTC has pounced on some of the worst perpetrators of illegal calls, filing more than 100 lawsuits in the last 10 years. And for a decade, consumers can register their phone numbers on the National Do Not Call registry (www.donotcall.gov), which bans telemarketers from dialing your cell or landline.

But clearly it's not enough. When we wrote last month about annoying telemarketers and robocalls, a number of readers contacted The Sacramento Bee, sharing their frustration and inability to stop the calls.

The FTC is listening. In April, it announced the co-winners of a $50,000 "Robocall Challenge" contest, seeking solutions to kill off illegal robocalls. The solutions had to be inexpensive, work with existing telephone equipment and easy to implement.

One of the winners, Aaron Foss, is a Long Island computer programmer and entrepreneur, who calls his software solution "Nomorobo." (The other winner created similar call-filtering software.) Last week, we talked with Foss, 35, from his home office, where he's testing his robocall-blocker, which will be offered – free – to consumers in September. Here's an excerpt:

You've designed a dipping bowl for buffalo wings and a children's cancer treatment tool. Aside from the $50,000 prize, what attracted you to this competition?

I like solving interesting problems. I work with a lot of clients, but some of these projects are on my own, like the wing dipper. … All those things come from the same line of thinking: There are problems out there that nobody has taken time to solve. The answer becomes obvious.

The FTC says your product may be the first to market coming out of the Robocall Challenge. What kind of interest are you getting?

Since April, there have been 11,000 emails (to Nomorobo.com) that either said, "Put me on your list," or were people sending me (illegal) robocall numbers.

It blew me away. I didn't realize how big a problem these robocalls were. To get 11,000 emails before a product is even launched is amazing.

How does your solution work?

It uses a feature that's called "Simultaneous Ring," or some companies call it "Find Me" or "Follow Me." If you have a bunch of different phones, it can ring all of them at the same time so you can pick up all your calls from anywhere: your office line, your cellphone, your spouse's phone. It was built into all phone systems in the 1980s but most people don't know about it. It's usually free. You have to call your landline or wireless company to turn it on. I'm using that technology in a unique way to block these robocalls.

Tell us how it works.

If you have Simultaneous Ring on your phone and someone calls your number, that call is being split and goes first to a NoMoRobo number. In real time, it's analyzing the caller ID and caller frequency across multiple phone lines.

It's a red flag, for example, when the same phone number has made 5,000 calls to different numbers in the past hour. It's also a red flag when the same phone number is sequentially calling large blocks of phone numbers. Both scenarios indicate robocalling patterns.

If it detects a robocaller, the call is automatically disconnected … before the consumer's phone even rings.

Those numbers go onto a "blacklist." If an incoming number doesn't appear on the blacklist, the software asks the caller to type in a number. If it's a human telemarketer, they'd respond. If it's a robocaller, they can't respond and the call is terminated.

What about legitimate robocalls, such as your kid's school or an emergency alert? How do those calls go through?

The legal robocallers want a solution just as much as the average consumer. We'll have a "white list" of legal robocall service companies. Just before their voiceblast goes out, they'd send a message to Nomorobo so the system would know: Don't block that number.

If you're giving this service away free to consumers, how are you covering your costs and your investors?

I have some investors – a venture capital firm and angel investors – who've put up $100,000 (plus his $25,000 prize as an FTC contest co-winner.)

There's a big market on the business side in protecting businesses from these calls. For consumers, it's an annoyance. But for businesses, it's a real waste in time and resources answering robocalls. It costs them in real dollars.

My strategy is to get this basic version out free to consumers, then the (paid) pieces come on top of that.

Later, I'll make value-added services available, like blocking political calls. They're technically legal but bug the hell out of people. Or you could block a customized blacklist of people – robocallers or ex-girlfriends – that you don't want to hear from.

In testimony last month before a U.S. Senate committee, you said the federal Do Not Call registry is almost completely ineffective against illegal, mass-dialed robocallers. How so?

The DNC is great for legal robocallers, the legitimate companies trying to call you up. They respect that list. But the technology has changed so much that the new robocallers are akin to spammers. They don't care if you're on the list.

It's so cheap … less than a penny a call and they're calling large blocks of numbers. They're selling scams, dubious credit card offers, life-alert pendants to seniors. They're scamming people and don't care if your number is on the DNC or not. That list worked in the past. Now we need new products to push the fight forward.

Your company name sounds Japanese, but it's really a play on "No More Robo." How'd you come up with it?

For the competition, I was writing code and got to a point one day where I said, "No more of this." And then I realized, that's it. That's the name: "No More Robo." Two or three other people entered the competition with the same name. But I grabbed the dot-com domain before I even entered. It's resonated.

You plan to roll out the first service in September. How's the testing phase?

We have a few dozen beta-testers using Nomorobo on their phones. Just off the bat, the system is identifying and disconnecting 80 percent of illegal robocalls.

Putting a dent in these robocallers: I would love to put that business out of business. It'd be a huge win on so many levels.

For more details, go to: Stop robocalls with Nomorobo.

ROBOCALL REVENGE: CONSUMERS FIGHT BACK

When the Federal Trade Commission announced its $50,000 "Robocall Challenge" contest to find ways to thwart illegal robocalls, it heard from dozens of everyday consumers, who shared what works for them. Here are some "practical suggestions" that consumers say have helped them reduce robocalls at home:

• Ask your phone carrier about blocking services. Some landline providers let you block calls from specific phone numbers. There may be a fee.

• Internet-based phone services – offered by major carriers like AT&T or numerous smaller companies – may have more sophisticated blocking tools. One consumer uses an Internet service that will tag unwanted incoming numbers. When a call from a tagged number comes in, the robocaller gets a "disconnected number" tone.

• Check online for "call blocker" devices sold for landlines. Some can be pricey, so do your research. Read reviews and compare options. Same with call-blocking apps for your smartphone. Many are free but check technology sites for user reviews.

• Try using "special information tones." They're a three-note sound that typically indicates a failed call or a disconnected number. Consumers can find free audio files online or buy a product like TeleZapper, which sells the tones. The three-note tone is added at the beginning of your voicemail or answering machine message. Some consumers say it reduces robocalls, presumably because auto-dialing software sees your number as non-working.

• Use a virtual phone line, like GoogleVoice, which has built-in call-screening features. When asked for your phone number, even by friends, give out the virtual number. Set it up with call forwarding so that incoming calls are screened first, then sent to your mobile or landline. One Portland, Ore., user said it's a "totally free" solution to block illegal calls.

What works for you?

Share your anti-robocall tips on the FTC's Facebook page at: facebook.com/federaltradecommission. Or contact The Sacramento Bee's Claudia Buck at cbuck@sacbee.com or (916) 321-1968. We'll post your tips on our business blog, Sacramento Bee -- Personal Finance: Ask the Experts.

Call The Bee's Claudia Buck, (916) 321-1968. Read her Personal Finance blog, Sacramento Bee -- Personal Finance: Ask the Experts. Follow her on Twitter @Claudia_Buck.

© Copyright The Sacramento Bee. All rights reserved.



Read more here: Personal Finance: Software writer attacks robocalls - Personal Finance - Claudia Buck - The Sacramento Bee

Originally Posted by ribshaw

FBI agents arrested six of the defendants Tuesday in New York, Arizona, New Jersey, Florida and California. A seventh was being held in Canada and two were at large.

Hello ribshaw,

One of the indictees in this case is none other than Songkram Roy Shachaisere, whom some readers may remember as a sidebar figure in the AdSurfDaily Ponzi scheme story.

Back in 2008 -- while awaiting a key ruling from a federal judge on issues such as whether the court should free some cash for ASD while the Ponzi issues were decided -- ASD suddenly and bizarrely announced it was expecting a $200 million revenue infusion from Praebius Communications, a pinksheet stock that published no financials.

ASD members trumpeted the Praebius news far and wide, apparently with the belief Praebius was going to save ASD's bacon and with the corresponding belief the $200 million claim somehow would influence the judge.

The judge said no: ASD's cash would remain frozen.

In 2010, it emerged that Praebius allegedly was one of the stocks Shachaisere had used in a pump-and-dump scheme that was occurring at the same time ASD was touting Praebius on its Blog in 2008. It is possible that some ASD members were duped twice: first in Ponzi fashion by ASD, and later by purchasing Praebius stock that was being pumped and dumped even as ASD claimed Praebius was going to save the company. Although it is not known whether ASD members bought into Praebius, some could have on the theory they were helping rescue ASD from the Ponzi graveyard.

PPBlog

Of course there are many variations of this, but I have no idea why a layperson would travel to Africa and think they could score a deal on gold. If you insist, here are some tips.

goldscam1.jpg
gold scam.jpg

http://photos.state.gov/libraries/si...NOT%20GOLD.pdf

bre-x.JPG

JUNGLE FEVER THE BRE-X SAGA IS THE GREATEST GOLD SCAM EVER. BUT TO UNDERSTAND THE ENORMITY OF THE FRAUD, YOU HAD TO BE THERE. OUR MAN IN BORNEO TELLS HIS STORY. - June 9, 1997

Scam reading. :

A tampering scam affecting TriMet ticket kiosks that started out small is steadily growing larger, TriMet officials said Tuesday.

TriMet released video of a man suspected of jamming cigarette butts or rolled up paper into a ticket machine at Pioneer Courthouse Square, then pocketing the bills that come out once he removes the paper.

The agency said it's an example of a common scam first detected at ticket machines in the Rose Quarter and now popping up in other areas.

Harry Saporta, TriMet executive director of safety, security and environmental services, demonstrated how the scheme works.
scamviddysuspect1.jpgView full sizeTriMet says the man in the blue shirt to the right of a ticket machine near Pioneer Courthouse Square, is suspected of tampering with one of the machines to get cash.Stuart Tomlinson/The Oregonian
The intake, known as a "bill acceptor" on a ticket machine, will reject bills that are overly wrinkled, spitting out the paper currency from a separate slot, Saporta explained at a news conference.

If a scammer has jammed the output slot, the machine will take the next wrinkled bill that it's fed and keep it -- leaving a frustrated customer with no ticket and no cash.

"All it takes is a small piece of paper," Saporta said. "If I wedge it in there, it prevents the bill from coming out. We want your money to be returned to you."

When the cigarette is removed a little later, the rejected bill shoots out into the scammer's waiting hand. Saporta said the scammers in most cases are only pocketing a few dollars.

Transit officials sought the public's help, saying the number of machines targeted by scammers is rising.

Saporta said TriMet technicians are working on several ways to prevent the tampering, including a cover that would fit over the bill slots to prevent someone from jamming it, and a software upgrade that would thwart potential scammers.
TICKET_SCAM_22559041.JPGView full sizeTriMet's executive director of security, Harry Saporta, said a small piece of paper or cigarette butt jammed into the bill acceptor return slot on ticket machines allows a would-be thief to then remove the paper and pocket the rejected bills. Stuart Tomlinson/The Oregonian
In June, TriMet received 97 complaints from customers about bills not being returned. The scam, however, doesn't affect people from getting change, Saporta said, just bills that are rejected by the machine.

TriMet said jamming anything into a ticket machine is an act of vandalism that interferes with public transportation, a Class A misdemeanor that carries a maximum fine of $6,200.

In July, Devin Anthony McDonald, 20, was arrested during an undercover surveillance detail at the Rose Quarter Transit Station.

Sgt. Pete Simpson, a Portland Police Bureau spokesman, said at the time that officers saw McDonald tampering with a ticket machine by jamming it with a cigarette butt. McDonald was booked on accusations of first-degree criminal mischief and carrying a concealed weapon.

"This is just another version of a street scam," said Kevin Modica, TriMet Transit Police commander. "As goes with street scams, if it's easy and accessible, those that are inclined towards that behavior many times will join in."

Modica said anyone who sees someone tampering with a TriMet ticket machine should call 911.

Angela Murphy, a TriMet spokeswoman, said anyone who believes a machine has been tampered with can look or feel for an obstruction in the output slot and remove it. Riders can also report a jammed machine by calling 503-238-7433.

--Stuart Tomlinson

TriMet ticket machine scam growing as would-be thieves spread the word | OregonLive.com

This is both an email rumor and a scam, no special ID card is needed to go with your Medicare Card. That is just for voting, Sudafed, and holding people up in line while you cash a check for $4.87

Medicare Users Targeted By Phone Scam
Wednesday August 14, 2013 4:42 PM
UPDATED: Wednesday August 14, 2013 6:17 PM
Copy Link Embed Share

COLUMBUS, Ohio - For Judy Billings and her husband, little interrupts their slow country life amongst the cornfields near London, Ohio.

But they recently received a phone call from a man with a foreign accent. Judy says he already knew the couple’s name and address.

He told her that he was calling with a warning. He claimed that there would soon be a medical card that they would have to have. The man went on to explain that Judy would have to keep this card with her Medicare card.

Then he said he needed more information to send it her way.

"And I said 'Wait a minute, before I give you any more information or verify any information, I need to know the name of your company, and your name, and your telephone number,’” said Judy.

She says he began to curse at her.

"And he went into, ‘Go to h-e- double-l’ and he went on and on and on with that phrase over and over and I said, kind of under my breath, but yet into the phone, I said, 'Well I'm not going there, but it sounds like you are.’ And I hung up,” said Judy.

Judy's a former senior center director who has seen many senior citizens get scammed over the years. She wasn't about to fall for this one.

"It irks me, it irritates me, it makes me think they're very low-class people that would do that, that would take advantage of people like us who worked hard all our lives and barely have enough to get by on,” she explained.

She reminds everyone that when it comes to dealing with phone scammers - you have all the power.

“Don't let them frighten you. And you shouldn't be afraid. It's your phone. You've got it in your hand - just hang up,” said Judy.

Medicare Users Targeted By Phone Scam | WBNS-10TV Columbus, Ohio

1.JPG
600.JPG

Email scam targets U-M students, staff



Posted: Aug 14, 2013 12:34 PM EST Updated: Aug 14, 2013 12:58 PM EST
By Alyssa Strickland-Keqaj, Fox 2 Producer - email

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (WJBK) -

Online scammers are using email to prey on students and staff and the University of Michigan. U-M Police say there have been several recent spear phishing attacks, intended to trick people into revealing their UMICH passwords. At least two staffers fell for the scam, providing passwords that enabled suspects to re-direct the employee's direct deposits or snag their Social Security numbers.

Tips to avoid phishing scams from U-M Police:

Never use your UMICH password for non-U-M accounts.
Use a different strong password for each online account.
Never share your password with others.
Never respond to an email request for private personal information.


Read more: Email scam targets U-M students, staff - Fox 2 News Headlines

Nigerian man arrested over fake home sale in WA

AAP August 15, 2013 2:33PM

A MAN has been arrested in Nigeria over the attempted fraudulent sale of a house in Western Australia.
Ntuen Promise Ekenmini was arrested yesterday when he visited an international courier office and tried to collect settlement documents with a forged driver's licence in the name of the real South African home owner.

Ekenmini is expected to be charged with forgery and identity theft.

The arrest follows an eight-month investigation by WA Police, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and authorities in South Africa and Nigeria.

Police allege the attempted fraud began when Ekenmini contacted the property manager of a WA real estate agency in December 2012 claiming to own a home in Falcon, south of Perth, which was being managed by the agency.

He requested documents relating to the rented property and allegedly used a Yahoo email address in the name of one of the real owners, and requested future correspondence be forwarded to that email and phone calls to be made to a new mobile number.

In January, the agency received a request to sell the property and a sales agreement with false signatures was completed by the offenders and returned to the agent.

Copies of fake passports and a forged document purporting to be from the Australian High Commission in Pretoria confirming their identity were also sent.

However, suspicions were raised by staff at the agency, who worked with WA detectives to identify the offenders.

The AFP liaised with South African and Nigerian police, who monitored the controlled delivery of the fake settlement documents in Johannesburg and Nigeria.

Detective Senior Sergeant Dom Blackshaw said investigations were continuing into other possible offenders, and potential links between this case and two successful and five attempted frauds reported in WA in the past five years.

Six of the seven cases involved owners who lived in South Africa, had investment properties in Perth that were rented and had their identities stolen, he said.

Yahoo News