| sp;ADVISORY ALERTS
December 11, 2007 – BEWARE OF BOGUS BILLINGS IN THE MAIL. Correspondence in the form of an official billing statement is being received by private citizens and businesses indicating that a certain amount is due for website listing services. Such services have never been used or ordered by the recipient. Apparently, the sender is betting that you will make payment for such services without noticing, on the back of the correspondence, the statement “This is not a bill. This is a solicitation. You are under no obligation to pay the amount stated above unless you accept this offer.”
September 7, 2007 – DO NOT respond to emails from marketing@yahoo.com, announcing that your Yahoo Sponsored account will be terminated unless you respond with your user name and password. This is NOT an official email from Yahoo! If you receive such email forward the email to Yahoo at phisting@cc.yahoo-inc.com. Such email is a criminal activity attempting to fraudulently acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details, by masquerading as a trustworthy entity.
NEWS RELEASE
UNITED STATES POSTAL INSPECTION SERVICE
http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors
For further information call:
Inspection Service fraud hotline at 1-800-372-8347
Don't let the lure of a quick buck cost you big bucks.
Foreign scams target U.S. residents with counterfeit postal money orders
BOGUS EMAIL
April 4, 2007 – Beware of bogus emails that look like they’re from the IRS. Don’t be fooled. The IRS does not send unsolicited email. If you get a questionable email claiming it came from the IRS, relay it to phishing@irs.gov or call 800-366-4484.
Oct. 25, 2006 $100,000 Bar-Code Scam: Retail store thieves, using portable computer scanners, scanned the bar-codes on inexpensive items. Later having printed the scanned bar-codes they returned to the retail establishments and pasted the fakes onto expensive high-end merchandise. Cahiers dutifully rang up the wrong prices. (Wall Street Journal)
January 2006 – YP.COM YELLOW PAGES – Do not endorse and deposit the banking checks being mailed to potential advertisers; unless you carefully read the fine-print above the endorsement line on the back of the check. The fine-print reads in part “…by depositing this check into my business account and by doing so I agree to pay $27.50 per month for this advertisement.” …
Note: This is typical of the recent rash of such sales gimmicks
* July 2005
According to recent media reports, e-mail "phishing" attacks are on the increase. Phishing is the act of sending an e-mail falsely claiming to be an established business in an attempt to trick the reader into surrendering private information that can be used for identity theft. We want to share what we know and what you should do to protect yourself.
Commonly, the e-mail will say that the company needs to verify information about you to update your account or improve its Web site security. To protect yourself against phishing scams:
- NEVER give your password to anyone.
- NEVER provide personal information, such as bank account or Social Security Number, in response to e-mails requesting this information.
- Avoid clicking through links in e-mails asking for personal information.
- If you think the e-mail might be genuine, call the company using a telephone number that you know to be genuine, and ask them about it.
* January 31, 2005 - ALERT - PAY PAL - BOGUS EMAIL requesting that you update your account. DO NOT RESPOND. Bogus emails are addressed to "Dear valued PayPal Customer." The email is signed "PayPal Update Team." PayPal will never send you an email with this salutation or signature. Contact PayPal direct by forwarding to PayPal address spoof@paypal.com
* October 2004 - Be alert for bogus e-mail purporting to be from SUNTRUST BANK Security Department. DO NOT react to this e-mail it is an identity theft scam. SunTrust Bank reports that they are aware of this bogus e-mail. (You may call SunTrust Bank to report receipt of such e-mail. 800-786-8787.)
BEWARE OF SCAMS!
Among the most current hottest scams are the following:
PRIME BANK NOTES
VIATICAL SETTLEMENTS
PROMISSORY NOTES
ATM & PAY-PHONE CONTRACTS
July 2004
* Wall Street Journal March 8, 2004 (page one) Smith & Wesson Chairman, James Joseph Minder, found to have criminal record as notorious felon known as the "Shotgun Bandit" in Michigan year ago. Once upon a time he was a serial armed robber. Chairman resigns.
** December 2003 - Beware of checks arriving in mail from various businesses. If you endorse such checks you may have signed up for a loan or subscribed to a publication or otherwise commited you to an unwanted contract. Always read the "fine-print."
** July 6, 2003 - South Florida Sun-Sentinel [page 1]: "INVESTORS LOSE ALMOST $1 BILLION IN FIVE YEARS" Special report details investment schemes defrauding investors. Offenders when caught often suffer little punishment, then move on to set up a new scam. Schemes include "boiler rooms" and "bucket shops" pitching false stock offerings, bogus dividend offerings, non-existent company investments, and a host of other scams. Investigate BEFORE you invest. The Pelican Group stands ready to assist you.
, December 9, 2002 - Accounts Payable Departments - Beware of solicitations via USPS mail designed to appear as authentic payment due statements from the Internet Corporation Listing Service (ICLS.NET). These solicitations contain all the usual information normally found on billing statements such as an account number, amount $23.50, and an amount paid caption. The solicitations are accompanied by an addressed return envelope. A reading of the "fine print" reveals information that "this is not a bill, invoice or statement of account."
Oct. 21, 2002 (Wall Street Journal) - Headline "Bausch & Lomb Now Says CEO Has No M. B. A." It is also alleged that Bausch & Lomb’s proxy statement was inaccurate in saying he was a director of "First USA," which is a unit of Bank One. In fact he wasn’t. Yet another example of a major corporation embarrassed by failing to properly verify the background of corporate officials. Contact The Pelican Group - we provide reliable professional background investigations at very reasonable cost
* September 2002 - ALERT: IDENTITY THEFT SCHEME USING FICTITIOUS BANK CORRESPONDENCE. CONSUMERS RECEIVE NOTIFICATION FROM BANK INDICATING A NEED TO UPDATE RECORDS AND REQUEST THAT AN ENCLOSED BOGUS IRS FORM NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED AND RETURNED VIA FAX. THE BOGUS IRS FORM BEING USED IS LABELED EITHER "W-9095" OR "W-8888." IF YOU RECEIVE SUCH FRAUDULENT LETTER AND FORM, REPORT IT IMMEDIATELY TO THE TREASURY INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR TAX ADMINISTRATION AT 800-366-4484.
* August 3, 2002 (Bloomberg) - SEC files complaint in federal court alleging that investors, including Golden Heritage (a family investment body controlled by a member of the Coors brewing company), were swindled out of $52 million in an “prime bank” scheme. The scheme is a common fraud whereby investors are tricked into thinking their money will be placed safe and well regulated institutions. The investors were promised a 100 percent weekly return. {Investigate before you invest. The Pelican Group is ready to assist you.)
* July 19, 2002 - [Sun Sentinel / page 1] - Florida Condominium owners are required to pay for a condominium owner who for years has refused to pay maintenance fees and make mortgage payments. The long-term scheme continues whereby the owner continually avoids liens and foreclosures by continually declaring bankruptcy since no law prevents repeated bankruptcy filings. Moreover, the other owners may never collect, regardless of the outcome, because Florida state condo law requires lenders (mortgage holders) to pay the condo association only six months of back maintenance.
>> Don't let this happen at your condominium! We can help. -- The Pelican Group provides superior condominium background screening of prospective tenants. Our screening reports are designed to assist condominium associations detect and prevent such abuses. <<
* June 8,2002 - [All Media]- Private Investigators uncover missed evidence following massive crime scene search by Police in Chandra Levy case.
* May 2002 - [Washington Post] During past 3 years, 78 National Football League players have been conned out of $42 million by financial advisers with checkered backgrounds. Nine of 10 people with brokers or financial advisers have never checked the backgound of their financial professionals. ~~ The Pelican Group stands ready help you protect your assets.
* May 2002 - [All Media] NIGERIA - beware of all transactions and business dealings. Ultimate caution advised.
* January 23, 2002 - [Wall Street Journal] - Investigation launched... Lehman Brothers broker alleged to have cheated investors out of tens of millions of dollars over a 15-year period.
* January 2002 - [All Media] - Enron Corporation collapses - massive fraud alleged ~ Protect your assets...investigate before investing!
* November 28, 2001 - Wall Street Journal (Front Page) - Headline - "Missing Governor, Mexico Calls On A U.S. Private Eye" Governments turn to Private Investigation agencies when all else fails.
* Alert - The Pelican Group provides ongoing risk and liability protection to major corporations and other clients. We have recently uncovered a "Wanted Felon" and a convicted "Child Molester" employed in sensitive positions in corporate environments. We strongly recommend you contact us PRIOR to hiring employees or entering into other business relationships. Prevent costly liability and negative publicity.
* September 11, 2001 DAY OF INFAMY - Sadly, need we stress further the absolute requirement for due diligence / background investigations? (We stand ready to help you.)
* September 6, 2001 - Wall Street Journal (B-8) / McDonald's Corp. & Simon Worldwide Inc. - Game Scheme... victimized in $13 million scheme... "...should have hired a bonded private investigator..." The Pelican Group can help you mitigate your fraud exposure.
* July 31, 2001 - Wall Street Journal,B-1 - Job prospect's work history...Chicago embezzlement $262,000...law suits...hot issue... CEO of large international corporation hid work history background leading to corporate bankruptcy. Contact us before hiring.
* June 17, 2001 - SEC points up need for Background Checks. At least 132 investors were defrauded out of $2.5 million. Contact us BEFORE you invest. (Sun-Sentinel, South Florida)
* June 17, 2001 - FBI and Justice Department reveal that investment victims lost $117 million. Contact us BEFORE you invest. (See media reports)
* March 29, 2000 - 90 intenational corporations swindled out of $120 billion over 3 years, until one corporation hired a Private Investigative Agency to investigate. Again, another reason to contact The Pelican Group BEFORE entering into business relationships. (See Wall Street Journal - page 1 - March 29, 2000)
* On December 26, 2000, an employee of a Boston area hi-tech consulting company shot and killed seven fellow employees (see media reports). Can your company withstand this type of tragedy and potential liability? The Pelican Group specializes in pre-employment screening.
* Consult with us first! Investors cheated out of $95 million in a scheme promising to triple their money in one year. (Associated Press / Pensacola, Florida - 7/8/2000)
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