Thursday, June 17, 2021

Maryland: Former tax preparer gets 30 months prison for stolen identity refund fraud

 


Want to earn more than the PM? Local council can help


Baker Fraud Report – News you can use


Top Stories
 
Better Business Bureau updates study on lottery/sweepstakes scams

  • US Ambassador to Jamaica says US loses $500 million - $1 billion each year to Jamaican lottery scammers
  • Complaint numbers down last year, but losses reported increase dramatically; may be 35% increase
  • Scammers took advantage of the pandemic
  • 72% of victims are over 55; scammers target older victims
  • Looks at why victims keep sending money; it is not just the old and frail
  • 60 second BBB PSA
  • CBS aired a piece 

800 arrested by FBI/ DEA Australia/ Europol in takedown of encrypted communications used by criminals

  • Used by Italian OC; motorcycle gangs, drug gangs
  • Used by 300 gangs
  • 700 house searches
  • Seize 8 tons cocaine; 22 tons cannabis
  • FBI release on this effort

Robocalls are down in the US over the last year
 
Cleveland, Ohio:  Woman from Latvia charged with fraud for installing Trickbot malware used by ransomware fraudsters; infected tens of millions of computers
 
Australians lost a record $851 million to scams in 2020; largest losses investment scams; followed by romance fraud; BEC third 
 
US seizes most of the ransom paid by Colonial Pipeline
 
New York: Australian man pleads guilty over scheme to send text messages about celebrities, horoscopes, and charging millions in fees victims had not agreed to; forfeits over $10 million
 
 
Reviews and Recommendations:  Broken Windows, by James Q. Wilson.  The authors found that if one window is broken in a building the public concludes no one really cares, and the others are quickly shattered as well.   The same idea holds true for Disney World; when litter is quickly picked up, people litter far less. This also applies to crime; where minor crime issues are addressed there is far less overall crime.

Here are links to some of the study topics: puppy fraud, tech support fraud, romance fraud money mules, apartment rental, crooked movers, government imposters, online vehicle sale scams, rental fraud and gift cards.

Coronavirus

Fraud News From Around the world

Humor

FTC and CFPB  

Virus Benefit Theft

Business Email compromise fraud (read BBB study)

Social Media

Ransomware

Data Breaches

IRS and tax frauds

ATM skimming

Jamaica and Lottery Fraud (read BBB lottery fraud study)

Romance Fraud and Sextortion (read BBB romance fraud study)

People: