Another twist on the scam (false checks from Eastbiz Corporation)
Posted: February 11th, 2010 | Author: John | Filed under: Other | 8 Comments »Yesterday I wrote about a scam when someone sent hundreds of false checks written from our company (Eastbiz Corporation) bank account without us knowing anything. We are getting phone calls and more information from victims.
We are learning that scammers are using several ways how to get victims involved. Victims replied to ads with job offers. They applied for short term loans and were told to accept bigger amount with explanation they will get lower payments. They are always asked to send some money back by Western Union to scammers.
BTW: The info in the letters is the address of the scammer. This is where the money are supposed to go. I just hope police or someone will give them visit soon!
Here is another twist of this scam:
EVALUATION INSTRUCTIONS
Dear Survey Agent,
You will be evaluating the Wal-mart store and Western union outlet in your City. The Payment sent to you ($3,300) covers all expenditures including evaluation, shopping, transport and your compensation which is $200.00 for this survey.
You are to purchase Goods of your Choice for your own Use at the Wal-mart store in your City which you are evaluating, spending not more than a $50.00 and deduct an extra $25.00 for transportation cost.
Also as regards Western union, we will be using our company feed-back mechanism; therefore you will be sending funds through Western union outlet in your City to our receiving agent.
You will take a total of $3025 to the Western union outlet you are evaluating; you will have to deduct the western union transfer charges from the $3025 you are sending out and not from your share.
Please send all Western union transactions to the details below to our agent.
Name-Steven Luckett
Address- 4041 Malcom road
City- Norcross
State- Georgia
zipcode- 30093
Below are details you need to send once funds have been transferred to the Agent’s Name and Address which is above:
– Sender’s Full Name and Address.
- Secret question and answer (if any)
- Western union transfer charges
- Actual Amount sent
- MTCN
After Evaluation, ensure that you send back (via Email) Western union MTCN [10 digits] and Wal-mart reports as it is required for Company feedback purposes on service delivery.
EXPENDITURE BREAKDOWN:-
Compensation ………………………..$200.00
Wal-mart…………………………….. . $50.00
Transportation ……………………… $25.00
Please remember what we are really after are the lines of question stated below, those are guidelines that you will lookout for during your visits to Wal-Mart and Western union.
GUIDELINES:-
-How long it took you to get services.
-Ambiance/Outlook of the Shop/Outlet
-Smartness of the attendant
-Customer service professionalism
-Reactions when under pressure
-Information that you think would be helpful
-Your comments and impressions.
-Your personal opinion
We are counting on you and we expect a detailed report. Please get back to us if
You have something’s to know about your Evaluation.
Thank you.
Hiring Manager
Frank James.
Email of the scammer: evaluationteam09@rogers.com
From: Frank JamesSent: Thursday, February 11, 2010 10:39 AMSubject: FIRST SURVEY / EVALUATION INSTRUCTIONS ATTACHED!(SECRET SHOPPER)Dear Tracie Miller,Please note that your package for Evaluation has been sent out via USPS,and it should have been delivered to you or it will surely get to you todayor tommorowYou are to start your survey immediately you receive the package from USPS, the package contains the payment which is for your evaluation and the payment you will use to carry out your evaluation at the Western Union and Wal-mart store.More details has been attached to this email below as the Evaluation Instruction and will also be sent to you in the next email you will get, which will let you know more on how you will proceed in doing your survey.Please make sure that you have highlighted the Wal-mart and Western Union outlets in your area. You will be evaluating both Services between 24 hours after you have received the package from USPS and the first three people to give their reports before 24 hours is going to get a free bonus.Ensure that you confirm via Email to us when you receive the package and that you understand how to proceed with it .***I look forward to read an email from you soon as possible to confirm you got this update .Thanks,Frank James.
Be aware. These are scams! Don’t fall for it.
John, I am a police officer with a college in Fort Worth, Texas, which was affected by checks issued by the same scammer. We filed a complaint with the FBI since the e-mails and checks crossed multiple state, and in one case country, borders. We were directed to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) where we filed a complaint. The FBI advised that they typically would not take on an internet scam case until the aggregated amounts topped $200,000.00. If they were to receive your complaint with your total check amounts and suspect along with ours, we might have enough combined to start an investigation. Good luck!
We called FBI and told us that it has to be over $100,000. We are documenting all people who called us. We are getting copies of checks and information. We are close to $100,000. If there is someone we should contact please let us know. Maybe it helps if we all talk to the same person.
Unfortunately, I do not have a name of a contact there. We are close to $90,000.00 in checks.
IN RESPONSE TO HELP OFFER!!! (PLEASE FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS IN EMAIL)
From: clara stevens
SCAMMER who contacted me!
Hello Daniel,
I hope you are having a good weekend
Please follow instructions below
I have a confirmation that the check of $2,800 should be reaching you
within the next 24 hrs by FEDEX, Tracking Number: 793305625636
On receipt of the check you are to cash it at your bank ,deduct your
$500 as agreed earlier ($150) for Western union Charges then you would
be sending the rest of the cash($2,150) to a clergy house in Nocross,
Georgia through WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER
Here is the info of the Reverend.
NAME :Steven Luckett
CITY : Norcross
STATE: Georgia
ZIP CODE : 30093
Please ensure you get this done ASAP the funds would be needed to
take care of displaced Haiti children
After you must have completed the transfer you are to get back to me
with the MTCN number as provided by western union.
I would be waiting by my computer to hear from you.
Kindly get back to me ASAP
Thanks,
Clara Stevens.
Frank James, Hiring Manager sent me all those letters above. I felt this was to good to be true. After looking into it I am glad I followed my instincts. What should I do with this check when I receive it? Take it to the police or USPS? Or just toss it?
I just got more correspondence from a "Antonio Ferguson" with the same email above regarding the Walmart & Western Union "Mystery Shopping Assignment." Funny thing is the cash that was to be sent via Western Union was addressed to a "Richard Stone"
I received a cheque in my name for $1,650 I think.. If you guys want me to email this info to William, please get in touch with me.. Willing to help put these thieves in their place!
All the best!
Sam
I’ve received multiple emails from “Frank James” at evaluationteams@rogers.com including this latest message. I did not provide my home address and the UPS tracking number is not valid anyway.
Dear Survey Agent,
Please note that your package for Evaluation has been sent out via USPS
scheduled to be delivered to you today or Tommorow.
USPS Tracking # : 9405 5036 9930 0186 1648 30
You start your survey immediately you receive the package from the
USPS, the package contains the payment which is for your evaluation and
the payment you will use to carry out your evaluation at the Western
Union and Wal-mart store.
More details has been attached to this email as the Evaluation
Instruction Letter which will let you know more on how you will
proceed in doing your survey .
Please make sure that you have highlighted the Wal-mart and Western
Union outlets in your area. You will be evaluating both Services
between 24 to 48 hours after you have received the package from USPS,
if you can’t get funds instantly at your Bank, you can deposit it and
withdraw the funds from your account the next day to complete the
assignment. The first three people to give there report between 24 to
48 hours is going to get a free bonus.
Ensure that you confirm via Email to us when you receive the package
and that you understand how to proceed with it .
***I look forward to read an email from you soon as possible to
confirm you got this update .
Thanks,
Frank James.
I’m receiving multiple email from different scammers regarding my computer repairs service craiglist.org posting. This is one of them:
1rst email:
Hello are you capable of repairing computer in volumes? Let me know.
Regards,
Meredith
2nd:
Thanks for getting back to me and i have 7 pentium IV dell laptops .Below are the things needed to be done on each of the laptops.
1 Format Hard Drive
2 Install Win Xp with Service Pack 2
3 Microsoft Office Package
4 AVG Virus Software (Free Lifetime Updates)
5 Adobe Acrobat
6 Laptop Cleaning of the keyboard, screen and other case.
7 Diagnostics of the entire system after to check hard, cdrom, floppy, etc.
Get back to me with your total cost for the services of 7 units.
I await your urgent response.
Best regards,
Meredith
3rd:
Thanks for getting back to me and i will like to let you know that i have all the softwares you will need fro installation,so let me know if you can reduce the price for me so that we can proceed immediately
It seems to be real right?
4th:
Thanks for the reply.I am okay with the price i have all the necessary software needed for the service installations…. I will instruct my secretary to prepare a Certified check for you on your name and address.So all i need from you is your full name and address and your phone # so as to prepare the check and shipping of the laptops to your address.I have a reliable shipper that will pickup the laptops when you are done with it.I am looking forward to hearing from you,so we can have payment and shipping asap.
Regards
Meredith
5th:
Hello,
Kindly update me and let me know if you have recieved the check and also the check is coming FEDEX courier servive,i have been notified that it has been delivered
In this final email I already replied and told him/her that I already knew it was a scam.
Hope this is helpful for anyone.