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Attorney
General Alert Web Page |
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Attorney General Bill McCollum has a web page with current alerts.
Please click on the above link to see his list. |
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Snopes
advises True for credit card scam by telemarketers. |
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ATM Trick to take your debit card |
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Click on this link to
take you to Snopes. Be aware that this scam is more than five
years old and that most ATMs are able to foil this scam now. |
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Plea for Trusteeship |
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2/19/2008
Ken & Serena Quattara
Rue d canal zone 4,
Marcory - Abidjan
Good day,
I am Ken Quattara and my sister Serena Quattara
residing in Abidjan-Cote d’ Ivoire with my sister, my father was one of the
top officer with the rebel in the Northern part of the country,and he was
killed during the war.
Since after the politcal problem is over, we are
maintaining a low profile until we are issued with a Government attestation
and passport, for now we are not permitted to travel out of our zone or
operate an account or engage in any form of gainful employment until we
received our attestation.
It is with much pleasure that we are contacting you
because of the confidentiality involved in this transaction, our father
deposited a sealed box in a Security Company containing US$9,000,000 US
dollars but declared as antiquity and personal effect to the management of
Security & finance company, now we are asking for your assistance to help us
in cliaming the sealed box from the company by fronting you as the
co-beneficiary of this sealed box.
We are ready to give 30% of the total fund to you
for your assistance.
We will be most pleased if you will get back to us
soonest, so that we will provide in Confidence and all transparency with all
details.
God bless you and have a nice day.
Ken & Serena Quattara.
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FRAUD WARNING re: BANK OF AMERICA
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August 2, 2007 |
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The Bank of America has issued a FRAUD warning not
to respond to the
following email. It is not an authorized Bank of
America notice or
email. They are in the process of shutting down
the website. The
following email was received by a DFS
employee
in our Miami office yesterday 7/26/07. Should you
receive this email or
any similar type of email, the Bank has set-up a
special address to report all
suspicious
emails.
Please send them to:
Abuse@bankofamerica.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~
EMAIL E X A M P L E:
From: b a n k o f a m e r i c a
Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2007 10:43
AM
To:
Subject: BankofAmerica Unauthorized Account(s)
Access (Secure Code:
UB05-C0B1-A-1)
Your Confirm Your Identity is Blocked
Online
Banking:
25/7/2007 Due to the number of incorrect login
attempts, your Bank of
America Online Banking Account has been locked for
your security on
25/7/2007. You must reset your Passcode before you
can enter Online
Banking.
You can reset your Passcode by going to Bank of
America is proud to
announce about their new updated secure system. We
updated our new SSL
servers to give our customers a better, fast and
secure online banking
service Click
Here
Thank you for your patience as we work together to
protect your account.
Sincerely,
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CONSUMER ALERT:
CFO SINK WARNS OF BOGUS LOTTERY, CHECK SCAM |
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July 17, 2007 |
| Phony
check looks like State of
Florida warrant and bears CFO’s
name |
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Published Wednesday, July 18,
2007 |
TALLAHASSEE—Florida
Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink is
warning consumers to be on the
lookout for a bogus lottery contest
scam that includes a letter
indicating the recipient has won
money from the “North American Prize
Pool” along with a check that
appears to be a State of Florida
warrant and contains the CFO’s name
and signature—but it is all bogus,
warned CFO Sink.
“So far we have no information
that anyone has cashed the check or
been financially harmed, but these
vultures are playing a numbers
game,” said CFO Sink, who oversees
the Department. “They are sending
out hundreds of bogus letters and
checks hoping that if only one
percent of the recipients respond
they will be able to make some easy
money.”
The bogus checks have been traced
so far to Washington, California,
Hawaii, Pennsylvania and Florida.
The letter indicates it comes
from the “Lottery, Resources
Management & Payment Verification
Center” and provides a British
Columbia address. The last
sentence of the letter advises
consumers against sharing the
information with others: “Please
note that in accordance with our
company’s policy … and safety
reasons, we strongly advice [sic]
that you keep your winnings and
claim number confidential and
personal.”
The letter claims the recipient
has won $100,000, provides a claim
number and directs the recipient to
contact Jean Gorden at
1-416-854-2096. The letter states
that the enclosed check for $3,850
is intended to cover non-residence
taxes, but upon calling the phone
number provided in the letter, the
recipient is directed to cash the
check and use the cash to buy a
MoneyGram to send to an address in
Toronto, Ontario. Each of the
checks included in the letters
contain the same warrant number,
7714957150. Canadian officials have
been advised of the scam.
The Department’s Bureau of Fiscal
Integrity is looking into the
matter. Anyone who receives one of
these letters is asked to call the
Department’s Consumer Helpline at
1-800-342-2762.
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National Foundation
of America |
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April 13, 2007 |
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Here is information Seniors Vs.
Crime received from DCF of Florida.
National Foundation of America is
offering a type of Charitable Gift Annuity by convincing consumers to sign
over their existing annuities or possibly life insurance with cash value.
Shortly thereafter, the insurance company receives a surrender request from
the new owner, the Foundation. In exchange, the Foundation promises to pay
the donor a stream of tax free installments which the IRS apparently says is
not legal. The Foundation also is not recognized by the IRS as a charitable
organization - 501(c) (3) ... National Foundation of America is not
approved in Florida to offer Charitable Gift Annuities. Several other states
have identified victims.
The Foundation lists their business
address in Franklin, TN.
Further research reveals the following about
National Foundation of
America:
The mailing address of National
Foundation of America is the home address of the President, Richard K. Olive
and his wife, Susan L. Olive, at
1308 Buckingham
Circle, Franklin, TN 37064.
National Foundation of America has
been ordered to cease and desist
transacting insurance business in Washington without a license.
http://www.insurance.wa.gov/oicfiles/orders/2006orders/D06-245.pdf
Here is more from the Florida Office of
Insurance Regulation
-NEWS FROM THE FLORIDA OFFICE OF INSURANCE
REGULATION-
For Immediate
Release:
Contact: Bob
Lotane or Jonathon Kees
850/ 413-2515
- CONSUMER ALERT -
FLORIDIANS ALERTED TO BEWARE OF UNAUTHORIZED LIFE
INSURANCE AND ANNUITY
ENTITY
TALLAHASSEE (04/13/2007) – Florida Insurance
Commissioner
Kevin McCarty today issued an alert to Floridians to
beware of an unauthorized entity that is marketing a Charitable Gift Annuity
to Florida consumers by convincing them to replace their existing annuities
or cash value life insurance policies. The entity, National Foundation of
America (NFOA), is a registered corporation in the state of Tennessee but
not in Florida. Richard K. Olive is listed as the President and Executive
Director of NFOA and Susan L. Olive is the listed as the Secretary.
McCarty said some consumers may have already entered
into contracts based on five complaints against the subject of the
investigation documenting a total of $160,000 of transferable contract value
funds.
Additionally, there are eight complaints from Florida
consumers whose potential economic harm has not been determined. Agents and
investigators from both the Office of Insurance Regulation and the
Department of Financial Services' Bureau of Agent and Agency Services are
cooperating in the investigation.
"The investigation against this entity is continuing
and we are trying to unscramble the puzzle and determine the full extent of
their activities," said McCarty. "Floridians need to be made aware of the
potential economic danger of dealing with this entity."
The investigation of NFOA has revealed that policy
values in an existing life insurance policy or annuity contract are utilized
to purchase an insurance policy or annuity contract from NFOA. Potential
victims are induced to lapse, forfeit, surrender, terminate, borrow on, or
convert existing insurance policy or annuity contract values to purchase a
replacement policy or annuity contract from NFOA. Legitimate donor or
charitable gift annuities/policies transfer or designate some financial
benefit to a designated charity, organization or institution.
Floridians should never buy products from
unregistered insurance or financial companies nor should they deal with
agents, brokers or representatives who are not licensed. To check on the
license status of a company or agent, consumers should visit
www.fldfs.com, and click on Verify
Before You Buy, or call the Department of Financial Services’ Helpline at
1-800-342-2762.
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Nigerian Scam |
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Nigerian Lottery Scam back ( from FOX news) |
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FOX has a good article about the return of the Nigerian Lottery Scam |
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Homeowner Alert 11/2/2006 |
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Checking Account Query to Your Home Phone |
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We always
like to get alerts from our Senior Sleuth members. We like to repost alerts
from other sources too, but our members are golden. We really appreciate
that you would note something suspicious and share that with your friends.
Here is
one from a Senior Sleuth in Middledberg. We dropped the last name.
I'm
Karen, a currently inactive SvC member in Middleburg.
Just to
let y'all know, I got a phone call yesterday which was probably a scam
attempt.
A woman
said she represented some travel company I had never heard of and never done
business with; unfortunately I don't remember the exact name she used. She
gave this information, by the way, only after I asked her to identify
herself. Then she said some baloney about needing to talk to me about my
checking account. That raised a big red flag, and I decided to take an
offensive position: "What the ---- are you doing nosing around in my
checking account?" The woman hung up, figuring correctly that I'm not a
good mark.
Just to
let you know that there's a gal out there fishing for sensitive information
under the guise of some bogus travel company. Don't know if this actually
helps or not. Her call left no record in my cell phone's call log; I
suspect she was using a throwaway cell phone. It sounded like she was using
one of those "push to talk" phones, like a Nextel. If such a call does show
up on our monthly statement, I'll let you know.
Karen
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Consumer Alert:
09/26/2006
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BOGUS LETTER TOUTS NON-EXISTENT PRIZE AND
A WORTHLESS CHECK
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CONTACT:
Tami Torres or Nina Banister, Department of Financial Services
(850) 413-2842
*CONSUMER ALERT* September 26, 2006
TALLAHASSEE—Tom Gallagher, Florida’s chief financial officer, today warned
Floridians to be on the lookout for a bogus letter telling them they’ve
won a contest and urging them to send a check to collect the prize.
Florida is among several states whose residents have been targeted by this
scheme in recent weeks.
The letter is on forged MAG Mutual Insurance Company stationery and
implies the recipient has won $250,000 in a contest. The letter includes
a worthless check for about $2,900 to cover “administrative payment and
clearance fees” and asks the recipient to deposit the check and then write
one of their own for the costs of receiving the non-existent prize.
“We are working with company representatives and other states' law
enforcement agencies to track down the perpetrators of this scam,” said
Gallagher, who oversees the Department of Financial Services’ Division of
Insurance Fraud, which was initially alerted to the scam in recent days.
“We will not tolerate anyone trying to steal our citizens’ hard-earned
money.”
The scam perpetrators seek to receive and cash the recipient’s check
before they or their bank realizes the check sent with the letter is
worthless. So far, only one Floridian has reported receiving the
letter. Anyone who gets one of the letters is urged to call the
department’s Fraud Fighters’ hotline at 1-800-378-0445.
Gallagher said this is an advance fee scheme that occurs when the victim
pays money to someone promising something of greater value – such as a
loan, contract, investment, or gift – and then receives nothing in
return.
Gallagher, who also oversees the Bureau of Unclaimed Property, said these
schemes may also tout found money or property and ask the consumer to
forward a finder’s fee; however, too often the “finder” never has the
intention or the ability to help the victim.
Florida’s unclaimed property laws prohibit the solicitation or acceptance
of a fee in advance for notifying or assisting someone with a claim for
unclaimed property. Only registered locators can lawfully solicit and
receive a fee, and then, can only do so after a claim is approved and
paid.
Gallagher offered the following tips on how to avoid such a scam:
• If the offer of an "opportunity" appears too good to be true, it
probably is.
• Know with whom you are dealing. If you have not heard of a person or
company with whom you intend to do business, learn more about them.
Depending on the amount of money that you intend to spend, you may want to
visit the business location, check with the Better Business Bureau or
consult with your bank, an attorney, or the police.
• Make sure you fully understand any business agreement that you enter
into. If the terms are complex, have them reviewed by a competent
attorney.
• Be wary of businesses that operate out of post office boxes or mail
drops and do not have a street address; be wary of dealing with persons
who do not have direct telephone lines and who are never "in" when you
call but return your call later.
• Be wary of business deals that require you to sign nondisclosure or
noncircumvention agreements that are designed to prevent you from
independently verifying the identification of the people with whom you
would do business. Con artists often use noncircumvention agreements to
threaten their victims with civil suits if they report their losses to law
enforcement.
“We urge anyone who may have information about this scheme to call our
hotline and report it,” Gallagher said. “These schemes often prey on
those who can least afford it.”
The Department of Financial Services, Division of Insurance Fraud,
investigates various forms of fraud in insurance, including health, life,
auto, property and workers' compensation insurance. The Fraud Fighters
Hotline is 1-800-378-0445. Complaints may also be made via the
department’s web site at www.fldfs.com.
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Scam Alert
Sent: Friday, September 22, 2006
3:24 PM
Subject: senior scam
An older gentleman called the Dept of Health, stated that someone from our
department had called him offering free/reduced meds and a health card for
these. They wanted his ss# and date of birth, he did not give that info, could
not get info regarding a contact he could call back, not did any number come
up on his caller i.d.
We are NOT calling people
and offering health cards or free or reduced meds. (We do have a free/reduced
med program for our clients and are working with you all on a prescription
drug program for all Brevardians, but are not soliciting the community). If
there is any way you can get the word out about this senior scam, I would
appreciate it.
Olga Emgushov, MD, MPH
Director of Epidemiology
Florida Department of Health
Brevard County Health Department
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