Credit Fraud – Classmates.com rebranded MyLife.com Scam Email

An Internet scam formerly known as Classmates.com has been rebranded MyLife.com and continues to defraud people who respond to its spam solicitations, a class action claims in Federal Court. Victims who respond to a message that “someone is looking for you,” are offered a “trial subscription” for $5, but are billed $60 or more, billed again monthly, billed again for canceling, and have their computers’ address books electronically pilfered for more victims, according to the complaint.

The class claims CEO Jeffrey Tinsley, who calls himself a “serial internet entrepreneur … has been running essentially the same spam-and-scam operations since at least 2002, when he founded the company under the name Reunion.com. The company later operated using the names Wink.com and Classmates.com, before taking on its latest alias, MyLife.com, in February 2009. False solicitations that ‘someone’ is looks for you have been the core of the business plan for these entities for some time.”

Credit Fraud – Credit card fraud claims from customers of local banking institutions

Bay County sheriff’s investigators on Monday reported a string of credit card fraud claims from customers of local banking institutions. Customers with Visa cards from Innovations Federal Credit Union and Tyndall Federal Credit Union are finding fraudulent charges that started the day before Christmas, BCSO investigator Albert Willis said.

“It happens every now and again,” Willis said. “It was most likely a computer hacker that got into a server.”

Willis said the failure happened at the merchant level, which is the point where credit cards are swiped or numbers written down.

“We haven’t had anything compromised,” said Greg Wheeler, vice president of marketing for Tyndall Federal Credit Union. “You sometimes have folks that will write down the numbers on cards and sell them overseas or use them online. It looks like a localized problem with someone working in the community and writing down numbers.”

Banking and law enforcement officials both pointed out that the credit card numbers could have been obtained at any time and likely were used during the holiday season to try to go largely unnoticed.

Individuals “may have taken the card number six months ago,” Wheeler said. “No systems have been compromised, and no data has been compromised. This happens every so often; we are probably seeing a spike now because the holiday season.”

MORE >>>> http://www.waltonsun.com/news/credit-89601-newsherald-panama-city.html

Credit Fraud – iWorks Inc. to scam consumers through fraudulent credit card charges

The Federal Trade Commission is accusing a Utah pilot and philanthropist of using his companies to scam consumers out of millions of dollars through fraudulent credit card charges.

iWorks Inc. owner Jeremy Johnson of St. George and nine others were named in a civil complaint filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court in Las Vegas.

Federal investigators say Johnson’s company lured consumers into product memberships for government grants and other moneymaking programs, then charged credit or debit cards for ongoing services.

Investigators say hundreds sought to have the charges reversed, landing Johnson in hot water with credit card companies.

To get around the problem, investigators say Johnson and others formed more than 50 shell companies to expand their merchant accounts.

Credit Fraud – CityTime Fraud Scheme

That federal prosecutors charged consultants of CityTime, the city’s payroll timekeeping program, in an $80 million fraud scheme is but the latest problems with this broken system.

CityTime was created as a way for the city to streamline timekeeping of all city employees and to fight corruption and waste within city government. Instead, it has functioned much to the opposite effect.

Prosecutors charge that consultants tasked with managing CityTime had manipulated the system in order to funnel money to themselves, and to give hugely expensive projects to companies and businesses they controlled.

MORE >>>> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/16/citytime-fraud-prosecutor_n_797581.html

Credit Fraud – Texas Credit Card Fraud Ring Busted – ACCESS DEVICE FRAUD

The results of this investigation show that beginning on or about March 1, 2010 until August 18, 2010:

Nathan Paul Michael - W/M, DOB 02-07-1980, Age 30, 13596 Melody Lane, Malakoff Tx.
Christopher Scott Michael – W/M, DOB 05-26-1986 Age 24, Same Address as above
Elizabeth Anne Pickrell – W/F, DOB 07-13-1986 Age 24, 1860 Van Zandt CR 4810
Chandler, Texas.
Corey Lee Davis – W/M, DOB 04-29-1971 Age 39, 13981 Melody Lane, Malakoff Tx.

committed ACCESS DEVICE FRAUD in Henderson and Smith Counties. They obtained goods and services by using fraudulently obtained credit card account numbers to produce counterfeit cards. Victim account numbers were fraudulently obtained from internet sources or from access devices without knowledge or consent of the account holders. This is Identity Theft.

Elizabeth Pickrell while employed at Chicken Express fraudulently obtained hundreds of victims’ card account numbers with an access device, located on Old Jacksonville Hwy. This was perpetrated without the knowledge of the account holder or her former employers. Approximately 500 accounts were compromised in Tyler alone by Pickrell.

These individual cardholders also represent several Tyler area Banks that would incur loss due to the theft and fraud on the accounts. Nathan and Christopher Michael obtained the stolen card numbers and used them to manufacture counterfeit cards for use at (victim) merchant locations. Corey Davis used or facilitated the use of fraudulent cards provided by Nathan and Christopher Michael at the various merchant victims. Property including cash value cards was fraudulently purchased. The (victim) merchants were located throughout East Texas and the D/FW Metro-Plex area.

On August 18, 2010, a search warrant served at the Michael residence, 13956 Melody Lane in the Log Cabin Community, Malakoff, Henderson County, Texas, resulted in the seizure of computers, counterfeit card making equipment, hundreds of counterfeit cards, as well as recovered property, cash value cards, cash from criminal proceeds and drugs. Forensic inspection of the equipment revealed that over 6,500 victim entries were fraudulently obtained by the Michael brothers, either by access device or internet sources.

Further Indictments are pending in this conspiracy investigation. Anyone with information regarding his location should contact Tyler-Smith County Crime Stoppers, Tyler Police Department, United States Secret Service or the United States Marshall’s Service.

Credit Fraud – Watch Your Credit Card At Restaurants

A U.S. Secret Service investigation has revealed a string of credit card thefts in Washington, D.C. area restaurants. Waiters at local eateries reportedly stole credit card numbers and used the data to ring up luxurious purchase at elite retailers like Gucci and Barney’s of New York.

In one case, Secret Service investigators arrested Nicole Ward, a waitress at the Cheesecake Factory, on charges of stealing $117,000 from restaurant customers in 2008 and 2009. The Secret Service alleges that Ward was working on behalf of a larger criminal organization that specialized in credit card fraud. The syndicate reportedly paid Ward $40 per stolen card, for a total of about $5,000, the Secret Service said.

Ward’s method was both effective and frightening – especially to any credit card holder. When a diner paid his or her tab with plastic, Ward and two accomplices used electronic ‘skimming’ devices allegedly provided by the credit card fraud outfit that could read and download key credit card data. The syndicate reportedly took the card data and slapped the numbers on fraudulent credit cards and used them to rack up tens of thousands of dollars in bogus purchases.

Credit Card Fraud – Prince George RCMP looking for 2 female suspects using forged credit cards

Both credit card fraud suspects are described as females about 20 years old. One is Caucasian with long blong hair and thin braids and appears to be pregnant. The second female has a darker complexion, short, black hair, and a thin build. RCMP ask anyone with information about these suspects to contact 250-561-3300.

Between Dec. 4 and 6, the two women used a forged Sears Mastercard and a President’s Choice card in several Prince George retail outlets. The suspects ask that the cards’ numbers be entered manually, explaining that the magnetic strip doesn’t work. When cashiers become suspect, the two suspects grab the card and flee.

Both suspects are described as females about 20 years old. One is Caucasian with long blong hair and thin braids and appears to be pregnant. The second female has a darker complexion, short, black hair, and a thin build.

Fraud Report – Tips for Holiday Season to Prevent Fraud

Holiday Season Fraud Prevention Tip1: Monitor purchase activity: Remember to review your account activity regularly, especially when you’re busy shopping for the holidays. Enroll in mobile banking so you can view a snapshot of your accounts while on the go and monitor your purchase activity online from home. Also sign up for transaction alerts for your checking account, debit card, and credit card to receive text or e-mail notification about account activity.

Holiday Season Fraud Prevention Tip1: Don’t over-share on social websites: During this holiday season, when using the internet for keeping in touch with friends and family as well as for making purchases, remember not to “over-share.” While social media websites may encourage you to share private information, avoid sharing full birthdates, place of birth, pet’s name, children’s names, or names of schools attended, especially if this information is used as a clue to account passwords or security questions. Never share your mother’s maiden name, Social Security number, bank account numbers, or usernames and passwords for any account including e-mail accounts. You’ll also want to keep your phone number and home address private. All this information could be collected and used by fraudsters to attempt illegal activity in your name.

Holiday Season Fraud Prevention Tip1: Be careful what you disclose: Be wary of special holiday offers or requests for personal or financial information via e-mail, text message, phone, or web site for interactions you didn’t initiate. If you’re suspicious about a request for your information, verify that the request is legitimate by calling the number on the company’s website or billing statement.

Holiday Season Fraud Prevention Tip1: Protect your computers from malware with regular anti-virus updates: Updating anti-virus software on your computer is the first step toward protecting yourself. Remember not to download suspicious attachments or plug-ins. When making purchases, be sure the website address starts with “https.” The “s” helps ensure that your information will be passed along in a secure manner.

Take the paperless route with online banking: The 2010 Identity Fraud Survey Report from Javelin Strategy & Research showed that some fraudsters continue to access personal and financial information the old-fashioned way–by stealing bank or credit card statements from the mailbox. Reduce your risk of stolen mail by retrieving mail promptly and switching to online statements.

Investment Fraud – Twin River Lending Group : Advance Fee Loan Scam

Twin River Lending Group in Rhode Island advertises fraud that it will give consumers loans regardless of their credit history. They require an upfront fee of $100. Complaints have been flooding in to BBB from consumers who say that they paid the fee, but never received their loan.

When a local TV station tried to get in touch with them, the phone number was out of service and the address listed for the company did not exist. Don’t get scammed by a company like this! Paying a fee, especially by wire transfer, in advance for a service that has not yet been performed is not recommended. Once the fee has been wire transferred, it is almost impossible to track.

Fraud Report – Credit card fraud in Benton – paying your bill with your credit card

A federal alert had been put out for local authorities to be on the lookout for 4 people from Michigan, wanted for using counterfeit credit cards. Finally, the group was arrested at the Benton Wal-Mart.

The suspected counterfeit credit card ring consisted of Alfred Horn, Ramone Cherry, and two women. All 4 are wanted on similar charges out Jonesboro, the two women are already in jail there, their names are not being released. Ramone Cherry and Alfred Horn are in the Saline County Jail until authorities take them back to Jonesboro.

The Secret Service tells Fox 16 that credit card fraud like the one this group was perpetrating could happen to anyone. When you pay your bill with your credit card, someone can run your card through a little device called a skimmer. The skimmer collects your card’s information which the crook can then transfer to a “dummy card,” if effect making a copy of your credit card.