Please read this!

[Ansett]

This forum contains articles on a few of the more commonly used scammer names and storylines. We will be adding to this, as the scammers often change their methods.

Please check the list below and see if your scammer or storyline is listed - you can click on the name and it will take you to the article we have on them.

However, please remember, this list is by no means complete.

We are happy to answer your questions on any scam letters you may receive in our "Scam or Not? Ask Our Advice Here (http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=67)" forum.

Common names used in scams -

Maryam (Mariam) Abacha (http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=258)
Professor Charles S Soludo (http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=259)
Yukos Oil (http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=260)
Wang Qin (http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=261)
Cheng Pui (http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=263)
Jamie Oliver (http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=264)
Luisa Estrada (http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=265)
Susan Shabangu (http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=266)
Usman Bello (http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=267)
Central Bank Of Nigeria (http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=424)
PayPal (http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=427)
Suha Arafat (http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=408)
Mrs. Guéï or Guei (http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=412)
Imelda Marcos (http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=413)
Mrs Savimbi (http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=414)
Mrs Sese-Seko (http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=416)
Kofi Annan (http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=450)

Storylines -

Money Recovery Scams (http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=262)
Charity Scams (http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=368)
Your Compensation (http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=911)

Bank names the scammers use -

ANZ Bank (http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=398)
Bank Of America (http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=426)
BankWest (http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=428)
Barclays Bank (http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=400)
BMO Bank Of Montreal (http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=430)
Central Bank Of Nigeria (http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=424)
Citibank (http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=425)
Commonwealth Bank Of Australia (http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=396)
HSBC Bank (http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=399)
National Australia Bank (http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=395)
PayPal (http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=427)
Royal Bank Of Canada (http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=431)
Scotiabank (http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=429)
TD Waterhouse (http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=432)
The South African Reserve Bank (http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/showthread.php?p=3380)
US Bank (http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=448)
Wells Fargo (http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=449)
Westpac Banking Corporation (http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=397)

If your scammer or storyline is not listed above, let us know, and perhaps an article on your scammer will be written.

[Ansett]

Further to the above, this from Nyla, one of our Victim Support team members -

Common types of 419 scams or stories include:

The disbursement of money from wills to you.

* A request for help with investing in your country.

* Transfer of funds to you from the accounts of deceased customers or over-invoiced contracts.

* Offers for business partnerships from people who seem to be uncertain what your business is.

* Opening of non-resident bank accounts for "refugees" or "bank/governmental employees" who are "not allowed" to have such accounts.

* Clandestine smuggling of money / jewels on behalf of "political
refugees".

* Existence of a trunk-box of defaced "currency". The scammer will claim that he/she can restore the currency by a secret process or chemical which you must pay for.

* Notification that you have won a lottery or other prize.

* Fake cheque fraud, particularly where you are asked to reimburse the sender for overpayment of goods purchased by cheque. Other scammers claim to have a "financier" who will bankroll the fees for one of the above transactions, and ask that you cash the "loan" and send payment. Be aware that YOU are responsible for repayment of funds to the bank when the payment is found to be fraudulent. In some cases, victims have even been prosecuted for passing forged checks.

*Job offers to "processing payments" for a company for a commission, which turn out to be fake cheques. Always be wary of anyone who wants you to transfer some portion of a check elsewhere soon after you cash it. Also, be wary of companies that offer you a job and claim they need you to pay fees for visas or other papers. Also, be cautious about supposed employers who contact you online and ask for bank account information to pay you through Electronic Funds Transfer. They may simply want bank account information in order to steal directly from your account or to "launder" money through your account.

In essence, anyone who contacts you with an offer to make money should raise some suspicion. Especially large amounts of "easy" money. If you receive suspicious emails, and are unsure if they are potential scams, you can ask about them through our contact form, or post them in our
Fraud Emails, Faxes or Telephone Calls (http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=5) forum