On Tue, 12 Oct 2010 09:54 +0100, "normankings norman" <nn527349@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I am . Norman Kings and the resident doctor for South-side Consultancy
> here in the UK.We are delighted to book for a group of 6 guests.could please check your availability calender and inform me as when you have availability for 6 consecutive days from Nov, 2010.
> We will like to book for ten (6) consecutive days for 6 guests/divers.Kindly note that we are flexible on our dates and do inform us when you will have availability.
> Also our mode of payment is 100% payment via visa/master credit card.
> I shall be waiting for your prompt response.
>

These guys seem to be getting better at this is anyone familiar with what the sting is?

There will be a mixup with a money order and you will be asked to wire transfer an amount of money back to a third party. I just string em along to see how good the forged docs are...it can be fun.

It's been tried on us as well. "We will overpay you by credit card and please send a cheque to our agent..."

I get one of those a week. I have had them come in sounding totally legit until a couple emails back forth reveal the makings of a scam. They generally will want to pay 100% by credit card up front. They plan on over paying (using stolen card numbers) and then want a check sent back to them. They are usually from the UK, say they have clients and only have some weird general email account.

I spend a lot of time everyday answering legit emails inquiring about diving and reservations. When i find myself spending time reading these i get angry and wish i knew how to send them a good virus or a bad virus rather.

I had a down-on-his-luck student actually sell his car this way, only using a "cashier's" check made out for more than the purchase amount. I tried to warn him. But.........

I get a lot of these too. Read carefully. A lot of them never refer to Belize or in my case Caye Caulker, and use the words "coming to your country" and for a big conference. Two big clues there. Legit emails always include the name of my property in the text and Caye Caulker. The phishing emails are usually loaded with bad grammar and spelling errors too.

We played one along all the way one time....instead of paying by credit card, they wanted to send a certified check....for something over $20,000.00 USD. When we received the check I immediately called the bank they were written on and of course, found out the check was a forgery, which we already suspected. At least I ended up with an email address and a mailing address to give to the bank when I called.

good for u shuffles !!!i recall about 3 years ago going to my local walmart...normally i pay in cash, but found myself a few dollars short...used my visa debit card to pick up the slack...6 bucks....went on my online banking account, which i do every day, and found that there was a debit on my bank account...after contacting the bank and involving the police, i found that someone from nicarauga used my card to purchase stereo equipment..over $600.00.i check my online banking every day, instead of statement to statement...lots of people could avoid charges by doing this...

That's why you should always use your debit card like a credit card. That way you don't give out your pin.

It's almost always obvious for us as we're a house and they ask for single rooms and it's for a business trip or conference. They're very rarely well written and the context is always the same. Once you receive a few they're easily spotted. The biggest give away is the To email addresses. If my email address isn't in the To box I junk it. They send them to mass addresses and always send them in a blind group so you can't click the Group name and see the actual email address or if not a group name it will just be their email address.

PS It's not Phishing - just as a warning for the innocent. Thats where a fake web site, usually linked from a fake email, is made to look exactly the same as a legit site you use for eg your online Banking. Then when you log in it will fail but they then have your log in details and access to your account. Never click a link from an email to your Bank or any financial site, always go to it from your favourites or type in the address. Or if you do click links look at the web site address at the top of the screen to ensure you are at your banks site.

I got a good one this morning and am playing it out with him to see what the sting will be.

Any secure internet connection - ie any page where you are accessing your bank accounts, or payment pages for on-line purchases start with https://

Please note the "s"

At least that is what I always look for.

The scams are often called 419 scams in reference to the Nigerian penal code that covers this.

There are entire websites dedicated to messing with the perpetrators of this scam and my favorite is

http://www.419eater.com/

If you have plenty of time, read the forums as the stories are very funny

Also some have mentioned they plan to play along. There is a section with some hints here and please make sure you read the warning. Make sure you don't use your real address

http://www.419eater.com/html/baiting.htm

sjc

On Tue, 26 Oct 2010 02:54 -0500, "Eng John Paradis"
<johnparadis89@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Hello,
>> My name is Eng John Paradis I want to know if there is any availability
> for 10 students to come for Diving Courses (Open Walter courses ) .
>> If there is availability , kindly let me know about the dates,quotes
>> They are looking forward to arrival by 2nd week of December 2010,
>> Arrival date :10th of December to 20th of December.
>> The students are all beginner's that why the needed (dive Courses)
> Arrange a package for beginner's.
>> you can write me to my direct email
> (johnparadis89@yahoo.com)
>> Mod of payment:visa ,master
>> Regards
> Eng John Paradis

John,
have them look at the blog below . ELearning is what the world is doing
about getting certified and they would have so much more fun and save
some money if they did it first.
What hotel are you staying at?
Elbert
Hello,
Thanks for your Response.Actually we want you to book them in any hotel near your company.4double rooms.10th of November is the date.Actually we need to book for (PADI Open Water Certification Course)for 7people in 4days we wanna spend our vacation with your company.Kindly arrange a nice package and get us the total cost for everything including tax..
The students are 7people(we split the group)
4 days including diving, theory and final test. The costs including all dives, own diving book and tables, rental equipment, theory lessons, final test and of course the Padi license.
Here are the name and ages of the students
Margie Jump : 27yrs
Ruonda page : 29yrs
Michelle Y Washington: 26yrs
Peggy L Keel: 27yrs
Rolando Atiga : 25yrs
John A Paradis: 28yrs
Deborah J. Hess : 28yrs
Get us the total cost for everything Including tax.
John
John,
The deluxe dive package with a double occupancy in 'Cabannas North' a very nice resort close by in the Quexalcote Reserve beach front.
Includes certification for open water , all included, arriving the 10th Nov. Depart 20th all taxes and transfers Total $1600. per person.
Your total bill for 7 people would be $11,200. usd.
Greetings ,
We acknowledge the receipt of your response. I wish to inform you that the group have approved your price quotation so Above all, the price quotation is well accepted by us and as such, we would want to make a prepayment with credit card so $6,200 will be Deposit with my credit card to enable you hold the dive course for us
Moreover,we also made an arrangement with a Language translator who will take care of transporting the group that will be coming with a flight and he will take charge of other logistics matters also like procurement of travel documents and accommodation,so for
confidentiality,I have decided that only you will have to handle my credit card information.
Summarily,I would send to you my Sponsor credit card information as soon as I hear back from you. Once you receive the credit card, this is exactly what you are required to do;
1. Charge a total of $16,200 from My account.
2... Deduct $6,200 been the Deposit cost of your services
3....Then you will send the balance of $10,000 to the Language translator whose.. information will be forwarded to you the balance will be paid to you on the day of arrival or anytime you need it once this arrangement is confirmed..
Finally,confirm this arrangement and provide me with your..
(1) Your company full name/address
(2) Name of the Manager/Owner
(3) company telephone and fax numbers
N.B: all charges from the card will be charged in my account.and the balance of $5,000 will be made on arrival or 1 week before arrival
Regards
Eng John

Heh heh...go for it Elbert!

oh rats ya got me, Elbert!

(just kidding, go for it!!!!)

Don't you just love the way he uses 7 "ladies" between the ages of 25 & 29 as a enticement!

well, 5 of them anyway........but who's counting?

Elbert - you should ask him (for his protection from international fraud ) to provide you a copy of the front and back of his card - scanned and emailed or faxed to you. I do that all the time. It's interesting the comments which come back (most quietly disappear bnck under the rocks).

This site is good too: http://www.ebolamonkeyman.com/
I had to purchase a new keyboard after spilling a cup of coffee on my old one due to uncontrollable laughing.

John,
The 6,200. usd deposit will be enough . please use the form below for your credit card payment.
https://secure.nameservers.com/scubalessonsbelize.com/form.html
Thanks again fo the entertainment
Elbert
Elbert,
Yes i know that the total amount for your services is $11,200 but we want to make a part payment to hold the booking.I am at the oil rig right now ..Also i need a confirmation about My language translator who will take care of our fight ticket ,logistic and traveling documents.Confirm to me that you understand what i explained to you on email that once you make the charges from My credit card and the money clears in your account ,Also you will charge the total of $16,200 through My credit card account ,Then deduct $6,200 as your part payment to hold the booking.The send $10,000 to My language translator so that he can commence on those arrange such as our flight ticket ,logistic and traveling documents..We requested your company full name ,Address and Your Cell phone number for My office record and documentation.the balance of $5,000 will be made on arrival or 1 week before arrival.
I am waiting for your Response
John

John,
That wont be a problem.
However we must have a deposit before anything can go on our calender.
Please be reminded no one is on our calender that has not left a
deposit at :
https://secure.nameservers.com/scubalessonsbelize.com/form.html

I just received a letter from the US Department of Justice concerning this 'Black Market Travel'. They have filed charges of 'Computer Crime' against about a dozen people for doing this exact thing and they assure me they are doing everything they can to protect me. I feel so much safer now.

The danger , other than the obvious, is them getting in your email and going through the sent and saved messages that might contain credit card numbers.
I don't store those, clean out my sent box and change my passwords regularly.

Thank you Elbert.

Is it actually better to book over the phone instead of givng those account numbers in emails? Not every business person is as careful as Elbert is.

I won't give my credit card number in an email, or if I must, will break it up over two emails, or at the very least, break it up within the body of the one email. My plan is that way, phishing tools won't recognize it as a credit card number.

Don't know if giving it over the phone is a good plan either, but heck, we have to commit with our credit card, so sometimes, we just have to give it over.

Better to FAX the credit card authorization, no?

When you discover E-fax you'll throw your old fax machine out the window.