Friday, August 16, 2024

Australia sets up public/private task force to deal with job scams

A renovated Crafers home is offering a luxe family lifestyle in the heart of the Hills.

It was a case of love at first sight for owners Karmin and Shawn Van Groesen when they bought their 16 The Crescent home in 2019, with Mrs Van Groesen saying they had no intention of buying at the time.

Renovated Crafers property with private lake an Adelaide Hills haven


Melbourne scientists have made a world-first discovery to tap into the body's fountain of youth and slow the effects of ageing.

Researchers from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) found that scar tissue is acting as a defect and compromising the function of the thymus organ, which fights disease. 

"So not only is it shrinking, but the light is dimming as well," professor and division head Daniel Gray said.

Melbourne scientists make world-first discovery to slow the effects of ageing


Philippine government orders 20,000 people, mostly Chinese to be deported after shutting down online gambling and scam center; may have used kidnapped workers


 
Florida enacts new law against crooked movers; can’t use brokers; must give accurate estimates; half of all complaints about movers involve Florida companies; not clear if there is a private right of action
 
Meta takes down tens of thousands of Facebook and Instagram sites in Nigeria that were used in extortion scams filming and blackmailing young men
 
Illinois: Owner of Florida telemarketing fraud operation that sold fake health insurance gets 25 years prison
 
UK shuts down platform that let scammers call impersonating banks; three arrested; at least 170,000 victims; 1.3 million calls; millions lost

Fraud Trend to note: It is becoming clear that groups from China are handling the money collection for scammers from India.  I’ve seen this in a number of recent cases, but it has not been commented or reported on so far.  Sometimes it involves gift cards; at other times it does not. Let me know if you have seen or know more about this.

 
Fraud Studies: Here are links to the studies I’ve written for the Better Business Bureau: puppy fraudromance fraud; BEC fraudsweepstakes/lottery fraud,  tech support fraudromance fraud money mulescrooked movers, government impostersonline vehicle sale scamsrental fraud, gift cards,  free trial offer frauds,  job scams,  online shopping fraud,  fake check fraud and crypto scams
 
Fraud News Around the world
US Consumer Product Safety Administration holds Amazon liable for hazardous products sold by third party sellers
25% of kids will be ID theft victims by the time they turn 18
Senate finds Zelle only reimbursed 38% of victims for unauthorized charges; leaves losses of $100 million
Herb Weisbaum finds home title theft does occur, but is rare; alleges that ads for Home Title Lock claims FBI says this is a fast growing problem, but FBI claims it didn’t say that and doesn’t know; Texas AG investigating claims
California: Monterrey County Sheriff announces arrest of scammer who appeared in person to pick up funds; warns that in person collection is happening widely
Los Angeles: Six indicted, including several Canadians, for scheme that illegally took money from victim bank accounts; got millions
Singapore: Police investigating 323 people for acting as scammers or money mules; $10 million lost
Canada: Police arrest ten for SIM swap scam that took over phones; at least 1500 people affected
San Diego: Five Chinese indicted for laundering money for India-based tech support frauds; handled more than $27 million
Costly online chats with supposed porn stars at OnlyFans nets millions
Ireland: Nigerian man held for rape may be part of Black Axe crime organization
New Jersey: Police arrest man for grandparent fraud when he appears at home to collect victim money
Albany: Police arrest man from India who went to home to collect gold from scam victim after scam claiming paypal account had been charged; scam got $1 million from victim
Australia sets up public/private task force to deal with job scams
Member of Crips gang gets nearly five years prison for shooting and unemployment fraud
Miami: Fraudster arrested for grandparent fraud; hired Lyft driver to collect victim funds; scammer ID’ed by camera in Lyft vehicle
Sixth Nigerian man sentenced in inheritance fraud case; gets 85 months prison
Tampa: Nigerian man gets more than 12 years prison for buying log in credentials on the dark web and then stealing money from financial accounts; $2 million in losses
Japan: 90 arrested in raid on call center doing fraudulent binary investment scam
New Jersey: Two men from the Dominican Republic extradited to NJ; among 16 indicted for huge grandparent fraud
Illinois: Man gets probation for online pet fraud in state case
India busts call center; arrests seven, in tech support scam that was calling Australia
New York: Man from India gets seven years prison for tech support fraud from India that used pop-ups; headed gang; got $6 million
Humor FTC and CFPBVirus Benefit Theft Kidnapping and forced to scamBusiness Email compromise fraud Ransomware and data breachesBitcoin and cryptocurrency  ATM SkimmingRomance Fraud and Sextortion