Australia releases new edition of book of scams; simple explanations of common frauds

Australia releases new edition of book of scams; simple explanations of common frauds

Maryland: Police arrest man who told victim that needed to provide gold to protect savings; not clear how he was caught or exactly what scam was involved; county says a dozen people have recently lost money in gold in scams

Kansas: Bank CEO who looted bank of $47.1 million as crypto romance victim gets nearly 25 years prison; bank failed
 
Canada: Ottawa police warn of uptick in scams claiming to be from victim services; tell people they are ID theft victims and must transfer all their money to a “safe” account
 
There are no “Safe” Accounts:  A wide variety of scams, particularly those that impersonate law enforcement and banks, are claiming that your money is at risk of being stolen by bad actors or seized by a government and that you need to transfer your money to an account where it will be protected.  There is no such thing! Please warn people that anyone that wants you to turn over your money is a CROOK.

            Hot and windy August

Fraud Studies: Here are links to the studies I’ve written for the Better Business Bureau: puppy fraud, romance fraud; BEC fraud, sweepstakes/lottery fraud,  tech support fraud, romance fraud money mules, crooked movers, government imposters, online vehicle sale scams, rental fraud, gift cards,  free trial offer frauds,  job scams,  online shopping fraud,  fake check fraud and crypto scams
 
Fraud News Around the world
Philadelphia: Montreal man gets ten years prison for telemarketing operation that claimed to be selling fraud protection and discount drug services and debited bank accounts of victims; took in at least $7 million; claimed affiliations with banks, insurance companies, governments
Singapore: In joint Interpol, Singapore and Hong Kong effort, 8 arrested for laundering money from tech support fraud
Australia releases new edition of book of scams; simple explanations of common frauds
Virginia: Jury convicts man of stealing mail from boxes as well as from a truck
Tennessee: Missouri woman arrested for attempted theft of Graceland; falsely claimed it was Nigerian scammers
Singapore: Police freeze 300 bank accounts on suspicion of being used by money mules; $1.8 million seized
Spain takes down fake pet scam network, arrest 7
Humor 

• Mayor of small Georgia town indicted for leaving a bottle of gin in the ditch for prison work crew
• Woman tries to run over boyfriend while they were on their way to couples therapy
• Man who pulled gun after Burger King employee wouldn’t take payment in drugs gets 143 years in prison

FTC and CFPB

• FTC and Arizona AG sue car dealership over undisclosed add on fees and for discriminating against Spanish-speakers
• CFPB settles with Fay Servicing; claims violated earlier order, foreclosed on homes illegally; to pay $5 million

Artificial Intelligence and deep fake fraud

• San Francisco sues 16 web sites that turn photos of real women into nudes; used for extortion, bullying

Virus Benefit Theft 

• Atlanta: Trucker gets 2.5 years from PPP fraud; got $564,000
• Boston: Nigerian man arrested for ID theft to steal unemployment benefits; got $ 10 million
• Virgin Islands: Man charged with PPP fraud
• North Carolina: Two receive prison sentences of 15 and 12 months for PPP fraud; last of group of 20
• Boston: Man gets time served for PPP fraud

IRS and tax fraud

• Atlanta: Man indicted for stolen identity refund fraud as well as PPP fraud
• UK police issue urgent warning over sharp spike in letters and emails claiming to be from the HMRC tax authorities

Ransomware and data breaches

• Hits City of Flint, Michigan

ATM Skimming

• Pennsylvania: Florida man arrested for skimming gas pumps
• UK: Three men (Romanians?) convicted of ATM skimming; caught with skimming equipment

Romance Fraud and Sextortion 

• Philippines: Two Nigerian men arrested for romance fraud
• India: Six Chinese men arrested for romance fraud