This never ends. Three days ago, I got a bizarre phone call from someone claiming to be a hearing-impaired mechanic. The call was handled by a TTY operater, who reads me what the caller types, listens to what I then say, and types it out so the caller can read it and respond. Doing it this way, it takes 45 minutes to have a three-minute conversation. The caller says he wants to buy a steel '32 roadster body kit. I ask him where he's calling from and he says "Ireland". I tell him that I only sell those in the US. He says that's okay, he'll have it shipped to his partner in Texas. He wanted to know what it would cost and I told him, and he said he'd send the money. No questions about anything to do with what the parts were or putting them together. Something's obviously wrong. Of course with all of this going through the operater, you have no sense of the caller's English skills, because they smooth everything out. At the end of the call I asked the operator if they can tell me where this call is originating from, and find out that they are forbidden by law from doing so. A couple of days pass and I get the following E-mail. Quote: HELLO DAVE Thanks for the convercertion on phone so i am so sorry for not get back to you for some days back i am not in around. so i just want to inform you that the payment as been issue out to you. So you are received the casher check of $8,000 so as soon as you received the check please deduct you cost $4275 as we cal on and send the excess funds through via western union money tranfer back to my shipping company who will come for the pick up in your house so get back to me with any other guestion needed. Looking forward to received you futures emails. Thanks, Lee I don't want this guy's bogus check, and I want to help set him up to get busted. So I forward the message, with its header intact, to the guy's E-mail provider, Yahoo, which has a policy of not getting back to you with a response. Today I called the Phoenix Police department's Internet Fraud detail, and was told that they don't handle cases like this, and that I should call someone in the Phoenix Police department's Investigative Support Detail that looks after my part of town. I did. She says that she's not sure who looks after scams like that, but she's pretty sure it's the CIA. So I go to the CIA Web site (typing with gloves so as to not leave any prints) and get their number in Washington, DC. I call but find that I'm talking to a Secret Service agent, so I disguise my voice while wearing shades and a fake beard and explain the story to her anyway. She's got a sense of humor and we had some laughs about this and then she suggested that I call the FBI, but also gives me the number for the Department of Justice just in case. I called a helpful, concerned lady at the FBI in Phoenix, and this is essentially what I was told: Crimes like this are very hard to solve because it's not possible to extradite the criminals to the US for prosecution. So the FBI essentially wishes us well, and is counting on us not to do anything too incredibly stupid when we open our morning mail, or are offered Deuce roadster body kits from people wearing shades whose beards appear to be stuck on. Dave http://www.roadsters.com/
Sorta the same shit, lack of cooperation with the authorities: I had some money orders pilfered from my PO box in the post office, they were forged and cashed. The people signed my name a few times and altered it a few times too. The info from the liquor store that cashed them was there, as well as their drivers license # and writing sample... So anyway, I go to the sheriff, who says the guy who sent it had the crime commited against him, so he needs to file in his state, and I tell him the "crime" occurred here, proof that it was a local store that ran the money order through. 2 of them were Postal Money orders, I went to the big post office, they didnt seem to care, but when I cash one, they look them up in a book of stolen numbers. So I was ass out on all of them, the local cops, the postal inspector, etc didnt give a shit, I'm out alot of $$, and theres nothing you can do. Doesnt surprise me that they passed the buck to different agencies.. Youd think theyd alert the boneheads in the country of origin for an arrest.. They can do it they just dont want to... And they say theyre cracking down on Id theft...Bullshit.
The money order/cashier check scam has been going on for quite a while...I began going to classes for those types of things, about 3 years ago...I listed a jet ski online a few years ago, and go the same type of offer...Since I have been schooled on these issues, I went along with the plan...Sure enough, I got a cashier check sent to me VIA FedEx...The return address was Victoria Island...I opened the package, and inspected the check...All looked good, but it wasn't cut straight and the edges were not perforated...The paln was for me to cash the check and transfer the difference...I just kept the check and never did anything with it...The "buyer" kept sending me emails wanting to know when he could expect his money, and I just kept telling him that his check had to clear my bank first...After about 3 emails, I never heard from him again...The check appeared to be from Bank of America, in San Antonio...I called the bank, and the routing/account number did not even match what the bank issues...NOW, as for prosecuting these people, it's nearly impossible...I hate to hear these stories, and I truly wish there was more that could be done...Anyhow, good for you for not falling for it, and let this be a learning experience for everyone else...FYI, Nigerian scams are the biggest around, and that is where this one originated...Sorry for the lengthy story...JP
what really gets me is how nobody responsible is ever held responsible, the individual being suckered is the one that gets the whole screwing. we have all these safeguards so people have to have proper id etc. to cash a check or whatever, but when the bank or store don't do their part to check aunthenticy of a document, we STILL get screwed. i had a hell of a time dealing with some forged checks on my accounts, forged by someone close to me, who after the fact admitted their wrongdoing, gave me a signed statement taking responsibility, and would have testified in court, had they been asked by the prosecuter. it was VERY obvious that i was innocent. it took me over a year in and out of court to finally get charges dropped against me, and as clear as the case was, they never bothered to even try to talk to the acutal perpetrator, when EVERYTHING was handed to them all ready to go! fucking nuts. i go through hell because some fucking stores will accept ANY check...how about the name "accidentally" torn off the check and written in in pen, the phone number scribbled out and changed, and NO ID? then they LIE on the affidavit, saying they checked id, fucking impossible! but does the store get stuck with their fuckup? nope, i did. i have no faith in our "system". while we fight bogus wars for bogus reasons, nothing is done about the real criminals. its incredible that they can use the TDD system, and still nothing can be done.
They like to use those hearing-impaired phone / keyboard systems because the operators are under strict orders not to divulge their whereabouts, and act as a shield for them. You'd think that there would be some branch of law enforcement somewhere that my message quoted above could be forwarded to, where someone would examine its header and determine its origin, and then forward it on to the correct branch of law enforcement in that area. Dave http://www.roadsters.com/
I've had the same thing happen at my camera store. Its the latest fad I guess. I just laugh at the operator and tell them its a scam, and that if theyre in on it, I'll find them too. Its really fun after the 10th time... Spike
Some info I found when someone accesed my server. I have another address that I think I posted once before here. I'll have to search. http://www.cybercrime.gov/reporting.htm In addition, you may find a wealth of information about Internet and telemarketing fraud on the website of the National Fraud Information Center, located at: http://www.fraud.org If you have a concern specifically about child pornography, you may wish to visit the U.S. Department of Justice link below: http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/ceos/report.htm Furthermore, the best source of information about identity theft is the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC website contains information for victims, and those who would like to learn more about how to avoid becoming a victim of this fast growing crime. To learn more about identity theft, please visit: http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/ If you prefer to speak with someone about identity theft or file a complaint via telephone, you may call the FTC's Identity Theft Hotline toll-free at 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338), Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. eastern time.
Crap! Dave you are right, this stuff just never ends. I think the most shocking result is that essentially not one government agency gives two hoots about it! While they admit that crimes such as you describe are going on all around them, their best advice to you is "Don't do anything to stupid." I mean, WTF! It seems to me that if they (the Gov)can spend gazillions feretimg out real criminals, such as Martha Stewart, they could devert a little of their crime stash to catching thieving SOB's who prey on unsuspecting souls through internet or phone scams. Incidentally, on a totally different topic, did you ever get the copies of the Hot Rod article you were looking for? I still don't know why the article scanned with those funky splotches. As I said, if you still need the article to do your own scanning I would be glad to send the mag top you. Let me know.
<font color="green">Here's a news flash folks.... THERE ARE PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET TRYING TO RIP PEOPLE OFF! OK, we've been through all this before. The bottom line is that they feed on two things, our own greed and gullibility. Just remember, if it's too good to be true, it probably is. </font>
Well it just pisses me off that the cops both local and federal will be glad to do the easy stuff (like give out tickets and put people in jail for holding one joint) but give them something hard and they just say, 'oh well, that's somebody else's business' or 'there's really not much we can do'. It's really a wonder to me that anyone ever DOES get arrested for anything important.
Like my hero WC Fields once said... "You can't cheat an honest man!" Get rich quick schemes only work on those who are looking to get something for nothing. An honest man looks at offers like this and sees right through them, only the greedy and stupid fall for these schemes...and we all know, "Stupidity SHOULD be painful!"
I am not completey sure about the FBI thing. I have a friend the works for the FBI(big secret) investigating fraud and porn. Let me see if I can find anything out for you.
They're doing it in the computer bizz as well. Have recieved 3 of those TTY calls in 3 months. All want to buy laptops, and they want like 3 or 4 of them. They want you to buy the laptops and then they send a shipping company to come pick them up. They give you 2 credit card numbers, and both are stolen. Got the last 2 though. Called the CC company, confirmed the ##'s stolen. Emailed the schmoes, said I had the laptops and to come get em. Got their addresses from the FedEx guy, and called the cops in their towns. One was in Seattle, WA the other in Tacoma, WA. No more phone calls from them.
So, now you've figured out where your tax dollars are going and why no one has ever been caught on one of these scams. Amazing that my antivirus software needs an update every friggin day yet they can't catch any of the virus writing assholes too. The RIAA sues music downloaders to supposedly protect musicians, then they have to be sued by the musicians because they didn't pay those royalties! And no one gives a shit about any of this until they're forced into doing something. Only way I see to change this is every time you get a crappy response like this, foreward it to your local and maybe the national media and your congressmen. They don't mind telling you they can't do anything. See if they want to tell Mike Wallace they can't justify their paychecks on national TV or appear in front of a congressional sub-commitee. They didn't go after Martha Stewart or those CEO's till a shitload of people said "Hey, we're getting screwed" and it became a media and congressional issue. If enough of us foreward this crap, who knows, someone might even take the time to track down Omar and Osama. What have you got to lose but time. One thing is for sure. They won't scratch till it itches...
I wonder if anyone reading this is a member of INTERPOL. They could solve this one pretty easily. Dave Mann davemann@roadsters.com (602) 233-8400 http://www.roadsters.com/
An added CAUTION!! DON'T store ANY personal information ANYWHERE on your computer! Credit card numbers, social insurance numbers, bank account numbers or any information that someone might be able to use for identity theft. About a year ago my computer was hacked into and because I had stored my credit card number; (in a file in case I lost the card. Yeah, dumb) someone started using the number on the internet and one day I got a call asking if I wanted to increase my limit on the card. By the time I got hold of the bank and told them to "kill" the card, someone had run up almost $10,000! Fortunatly I didn't have to pay for any of the charges except one long distance telephone charge that I couldn't prove I didn't make. Don't store personal information on your computer! Use an old note book! (crazy isn't it; now we are moving to "low tech!) Yes, there is now a firewall in place!
I got a call at work of someone from Indiana wanting to buy 1000 printer cartridges. We just got another call this week of someone wanting to buy a large number of hard drives. The only way any of the law enforcement will deal with it is if it leads to a promotion or a D.A.'s name in the paper...
Now you know why 911 happened, we pay these "officials" big bucks to do NOTHING! Have we gotten this lazy? Sorry for the ill feelings, just fed up. later plmczy
[ QUOTE ] They're doing it in the computer bizz as well. Have recieved 3 of those TTY calls in 3 months. All want to buy laptops, and they want like 3 or 4 of them. They want you to buy the laptops and then they send a shipping company to come pick them up. They give you 2 credit card numbers, and both are stolen. Got the last 2 though. Called the CC company, confirmed the ##'s stolen. Emailed the schmoes, said I had the laptops and to come get em. Got their addresses from the FedEx guy, and called the cops in their towns. One was in Seattle, WA the other in Tacoma, WA. No more phone calls from them. [/ QUOTE ] I just love a happy ending. Roadster, you really need to figure out a way to STING this guy. Any way to follow through with the shipping company? Who is the money being forwarded to? Is it a legit company? There just has to be a way to get this SOB. He probably lives in Jersey and just made up the Irish crap.
"Any way to follow through with the shipping company?" "Who is the money being forwarded to?" The letter hasn't arrived yet. If it does, I'm certainly not going to try to cash his check, or send him anything. Other than having the header from his E-mail, about all I know about the scammer is in the first post of this thread. Dave http://www.roadsters.com/
Quoting from my first two posts in this thread: Crimes like this are very hard to solve because it's not possible to extradite the criminals to the US for prosecution. You'd think that there would be some branch of law enforcement somewhere that my message quoted above could be forwarded to, where someone would examine its header and determine its origin, and then forward it on to the correct branch of law enforcement in that area. Dave Mann davemann@roadsters.com (602) 233-8400 http://www.roadsters.com/
not that it matters to anyoine here but what really burns me not only is this a SCAM but these people are using a system set up to help hearing impared people comunicate in this crappy worl of ours......My Wife is a sign language interpreter and I have to deal wiht these calss all the time...whats gonna happen is these shitballs are gonna make it so no one will beable to use the system ......and thats sad.its hard enough for alot of these people to get along in the world as it is......ERIK
Hmmmm... I just got this email: Dear Christian, Glad to read from you.I have read your note and it was well understood.I have forwarded your informations to my issuer for the payment and he got back to me issuing out the sum of 7000euros which i think has been sent to you already and you should recieve it in some days time from now. All you are to dois make the deduction for the price of the item bought{3,500}and then kindly inturn return the remaining balance to my shipper through Western union money transfer, so for him to be able to come over and do the necessary pick-up required of him and also pay for any duty taxes imposed on goods at the port of entry.sure you are cleared here.. Finally,i will oblige you to keep cool and let me know as soon as you get hold of the check,so we could continue from there.. Expecting from you the soonest. Regards, SAMUEL I'm not sure I get what's the scam, they send a check, I go to the bank, the check bounces, end of deal, how do I get scammed?
People get scammed like this when they send the scammer a money order for their change, and then later find out that the scammer's check they received was no good. Dave http://www.roadsters.com/
Yep, get those tty calls all the time at my computer store, and FRAZ, same deal for me, they always want to buy laptops. I finally started playing with them, sayin hello, hello,? like I couldnt hear them. I don't have time for a 5 minute call, let alone a 45 minute one. stupid jerks....
Well. As the resident HAMB deaf guy here, I can tell you what the relay service does. Personally, I hate using Relay because like you say it takes 45 minutes to have a 3 minute conversation. It's a fuckin pain in the ass and a waste of my time. That's why I usually have someone else call for me. If no one is available then I grudgingly call through the Relay. You're right, the Relay operator cannot divulge any information other than what the deaf person is saying directly to them. On the computer it will show their phone number and location (City, State) and that's about it. You can have a fucking drug deal with a known terrorist through the Relay service and there is nothing the operator can do about it. Shit... I talked to an Operator once (personally) and she was telling me about this one story where a deaf lesbian was calling her hard of hearing girlfriend and saying shit like "I want to lick your pussy!!" and the operator had to scream it into the phone to the hard of hearing chick. Boy I laughed my ass off. Anyway 9 times out of 10 when you get a relay call, it's usually an honest thing. It's not that we like it, but it's what is available to us. #1 reason I hate using the Relay: most of the time the hearing person on the other end says "We dont accept solicitation" or "We dont accept collect calls" and hang up. It's highly annoying. Anyway.... Travis
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