Web of Lies

by Beth Ann Bovino

[For information about 3QD and what we are all about, click here, or here for our main page. Also, after appearing on 3QD, this story was picked up by several news organzations, and even the FBI commented on it. For example, see this from the front page of the NY Daily News.]

A man called the other night and asked to speak with Beth Ann Bovino. Not interested in a conversation about the midterm elections or whether I need a new phone service, I considered “She’s not home”. Instead, I asked "whom may I say is calling?" He said his name (correctly, I had caller ID). He then ran into a series of statements about me: that I live at 304 West XXth Street (I do) and that I have a one bedroom with a fireplace (yes again). He asked if I am renting my place (I’m not). That’s when he told me that someone had placed an ad on Craig’s List in my name.

According to the ad, I live on the 5th floor of an elevator building (an upgrade from my 5th floor walkup). It comes at the low monthly rent of $1500 including utilities. (Later I found out they also had it listed at times for $1190 and $1100.) It has a deli, a grocery store, and a laundry room. I have a washer/dryer in my apartment, so maybe they could have charged more.

I had it delisted from Craig’s list, but decided to apply. I know from experience it’s a pretty nice place, and even at $1500 it’s a steal. I applied to the ad’s email [email protected]. Ann Bovino (she said “Beth Ann Bovino is my full name.”) got back to me. She wrote “I have available the apartment but now I'm in Fremont - CA. This is the reason that I want to rent it. To start this deal you have to send me 1 month in advance and I will ship you the keys overnight. You can move in the apt in the same day when you receive the keys.”

She included pictures of "my" home: http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/annbovino. [All photos here are taken from this site.] Aside from the picture of my building, the rest are fiction. The bathroom fixtures received a lot of attention. The tub made it in over half the photos, while the modern faucet got a close up. However, I already have furniture and since there wouldn’t be any moving costs, I asked for a discount if the place comes unfurnished. I also asked if there was anyone else at the building who could show me the apartment? A super or someone else?

Ann Bovino wrote: “I understand your position but the keys are with me and the only option is to ship you the keys. I have an idea for this deal. First you have to send me money on your friend or relative name via MoneyGram because I want to be sure that you are a serious person and you really want to rent my apt. In the same day I will ship you the keys via UPS and after you will see the apt and you make a decision you have to resend the funds on my name for pick up the money.” She generously offered to support all MoneyGram fees. She also cut the rental price to $1400, unfurnished.

I responded that I was concerned about sending money without talking to someone over the phone. The same “I understand your position” piece was sent in reply, but it added “PS. I would love to speak with you by phone but I can't because I'm a deaf-mute person and I am teaching in CA for a deaf-mute school.”

So there it is. I’m a deaf-mute person who moved to Fremont, California to teach deaf-mute children. I understand other people’s positions and will even bend on the price. I may even be able to pro-rate the agreement (though that was unclear). While this was entertaining, my real self got concerned. Ann Bovino reposted the apartment rental. A number of people came by to check out this dream apartment. I let them know just that. It was a dream. And a fraud. I called 311 to find out how to stop this. 311 didn’t have the facts to help much. Though they were supportive, they sent me to the N.Y. State Attorney Local Office, who sent me to Consumer Affairs, who told me, for some unexplained reason, to contact my local post office. However, an intensive internet search gave me some information to act, or at least know what I was up against.

I found out that this kind of fraud is a variation of the “Four-One-Nine” (419) or “Advanced Fee Fraud,” which has been around since the early 1980's and that we have all seen. Emails sent with the SUBJECT: URGENT!!! in the header undoubtedly lead into this kind of fraud. It was dubbed "419 Fraud” after the relevant section of the Criminal Code of Nigeria. Usually it operates as follows: the target receives an unsolicited fax, email, or letter, usually from Nigeria or another African nation (though not always), and contains either a money laundering or other illegal proposal. Or you may receive a Legal and Legitimate business proposal. Variations of Advance Fee Fraud seem endless. At some point, the victim is always asked to pay an Advance Fee upfront.

There are a number of web sites that look into this. One particularly interesting and very funny site is http://www.scamorama.com. Together with the book, scam-o-rama, it is designed specifically for scam busters (or those that support their cause). On their site they ask the question: “Can a scammer pretending to be an orphan from a Sierra Leone mining town find happiness scamming people? Well yeah, if he gets away with it.”

Their research, on an admittedly small data set, suggests disturbing trends: Travel and banking in West Africa are fatal to imaginary people. Airplane crashes have the most fatalities overall, while the Sagbama Express is most dangerous road. They write “the ‘bank customers’- all foreigners (European, Asian, Arab, American) - have died, usually in ghastly (air, motor) accidents. The banks may exist. The victims' names may belong to real people who probably want them back. (I do.) Some names belonged to real people whose tragic deaths were lifted from obituaries. Some victims have died multiple times, not learning from previous experience. Some died from combinations of natural disaster.”

The book and the web site detail the '419' advance fee fraud scam and the damage it does (hundreds of millions of dollars yearly). They also document the people who try to get back at them. On one side are the scammers, those who commit the fraud. Then there are the ‘scambaiters’- those who write back to lead the scammers on with stories and waste their time. There is one scambaiter who actually got money FROM the scammer (about $3). It inspired my game.

It has now been over three weeks since I first heard that my name has been used. Given the stats, my name has now likely been involved in a few more devastating accidents/illnesses/natural disasters. I could suffer still more virtual tragic ends if I do nothing. I contacted the local police department with no luck. However, one web site finally offered a chance to redeem my name. The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) http://www.ic3.gov/faq/ is co-sponsored by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C).

The IC3's mission is to serve as a vehicle to receive, develop, and refer criminal complaints regarding the rapidly expanding arena of cyber crime. The IC3 aims to give the victims of cyber crime an easy-to-use reporting mechanism. The web site receives thousands of complaints each month. The complaints filed are all processed and may be referred to the appropriate law enforcement or regulatory agencies for possible investigation. Ultimately, however, investigation and prosecution are at the discretion of the receiving agencies.

If you’re a victim, keep any evidence you may have relating to your complaint, such as payment receipts, mail receipts, a printed copy of a website, or copies of emails. Keep phone numbers or addresses of anyone connected, either the culprit or other targets. You may be requested to provide them for investigative purposes. While it seems farfetched, there have been arrests. Most recently, the FBI and Spanish police have arrested 310 people in Malaga, Spain in connection with a €100m bogus (email) lottery scam run by Nigerian gangs. The gang also offered rewards for those willing to stash money taken out of Iraq by the family of Saddam Hussein or money found after the 9/11 attacks. It was the biggest 419 bust in history, and may result in drastic reductions of scam mails.

The scammer posted my apartment again. I remain a Californian deaf-mute. As of this date, my horrible airplane or automobile death has not been announced.

Beth Ann Bovino is a new columnist at 3 Quarks Daily. She will be added to our About Us page presently.

Comments

[Abbas Raza]

Beth Ann,

What immediately pops into my mind when I read this is those ads on TV about ID theft where an actor lip syncs to a completely incongruous voice (belonging to the stealer of his/her identity), watching which one has the "couldn't happen to me" feeling. Well, I guess it can! Pretty scary stuff!

Welcome to 3QD, and good going!

[aguy109]

Beth, its great to see you triumph over such disabilities!!!
Seriously, though, it amazes me to see whow people are always falling for the most ridiculous cons and scams. Is it simply that there are just a whole lot of really dumb people out there, or is there some kind of G-Spot of the mind that con artists, magicians and politicians just know to touch to make our intelligence melt away and our purse strings spring open?

[Ram Manikkalingam]

Beth Anne,
your apartment really is a great deal. is it still available? Great piece.

[Thud]

Quite a story!

The US Postal Inspectors occasionally get involved in fraud cases, especially if the US Mail is involved; that might be why 311 suggested you contact them. I suspect in this case they would have sent you to the FBI or US Secret Service.

[kraig]

You should call or email aol.com and have them investigate also because they are hosting the photos. Also, find the IP address in the headers of the scammers email and do a traceroute to find out where they are and call the local law enforcement. I got burned on a yahoo auction and I managed to find the identiy of the person this way and now she's sitting in jail.

[paul]

I would be interested in seeing the apartment, it sounds like a great place.

[notaguy109]

aguy109,

Read over what you just wrote. Now read over the article. If you had read the Craigslist ad -- would you have thought it a scam? Ah -- you say, when you email the person and hears that she's a "deaf mute" then you'd know it was a scam. But that's not the question, you emailed the person, and thus you were already "fooled." Do you think the Craigslist ad was all that "ridiculous"? Try to be a little less full of yourself in the future and try to imagine that if there are a "lot of" dumb people out there, perhaps you are one of them.

[anon]

You need to check your credit reports and insure they aren't impersonating you in other ways. They know your name, and street address, what other info do they know that you don't know they know. You know.

[Lincoln]

Ugh, where to begin. First off, I'm a relay operator, which means I have to make phone calls for deaf people all day, but then I also have to make phone calls for people using the ip relay system. That's where my headache starts. I can't tell you how many times I've had to say "oh, well, I can't call you on a regular phone because I'm deaf and/or mute and you should just send me a bunch of money and I won't steal from you, I promise." It's so gosh dern frustrating because there's actually nothing I can do to stop the phone call (unless I want to get fired) and I just have to keep the call going as long as both parties are still on the phone. Unless it meets certain criteria, the call must go on. And don't get me started on the stupid prank calls. I hate my job.

[Nick]

A great site for scam-baiting is: http://www.419eater.com/

The guy has managed to get real money from some of them.

[The One and Only Ridor]

FYI, I'm Deaf. I had been to California School for the Deaf in Fremont. Nobody there identified themselves as "deaf-mute". In fact, that term is very offensive to many of us.

It is obvious that a hearing person impersonated as Deaf person, trying to con others using the "deaf-mute" status. Effectively making us look bad or worse.

It is shame, though, but there are many hearing people taking advantage and abusing Deaf people's reputations to make money.

I will bet $1 that this person is hearing, not Deaf. So keep in mind that it is your kind that did this, not us. :-)

Cheers,

R-

[David Lo Pan]

Deaf/mute people can still use a TTY or "relay" service to communicate with other hearing/speaking deaf/mute people.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relay_Service

See what happens if you request the use of such a service, might be good for a further laugh.

[N-Word]

Just tragic.

[Jim]

Hey R-

I don't think anyone reading this story actually believed that the scammer is really either deaf or mute.

No one is blaming deaf-mute people in general.

[David]

The reason the post office could be involved is this: if you mail money to the person supposedly renting your apartment it is mail fraud on their part when they accept the payment.

Clearly they are selling something to you via the post they have no intention (or ability in this case) of delivering.

So by all means if the post office in her neighborhood wants to have someone arrested for mail fraud go ahead and send the faux you a registered or certified letter (gotta have a paper trail) for some amount you agree to ahead of time.

[harry]

R (Ridor) "I will bet $1 that this person is hearing, not Deaf. So keep in mind that it is your kind that did this, not us. :-)"

"Your Kind"? That's great.

[Jay Tee]

To R:
We all know that deaf-mute people are dishonest.

[Michael Skelton]

Also see http://4wisemonkeys.com/dc-phone/scam/ - Thanks to the efforts of some friends and I we managed to shut down a phone scam in Australia with the help of the media!

[AlphaPapa]

Beth Ann,

If you're single, how about splitting the rent with me?

[Bulbboy]

Another great scambaiter site is EbolaMonkeyman.

[sean]

Hey there--

Great story. Since I live near Fremont and am going there in the next couple of days, I'd love to visit this particular deaf-mute school. :> You can offer this person the chance to see me? Although I suspect blindness may soon enter the equation....

[Anonymous]

I got an email from them and reported them to that ic3 link that you gave- I got to it from the FBI site...

I'm worried they're somehow going to use my name and info that they got off my email! :(

[T]

Why don't you email Bizzaro-Beth back and say that for some reason (bank problem, money-wiring problem, et cetera) you can only send money in increments of $1000, so in order for you to pay "she" would have to send you $600 first, and then you could send her 2 grand? Of course, it wouldn't work, but it'd be funny to see "her" response.

[deafmute]

yo,

1500 for an apt? that's insane. you need to move out of the bay area.

by the way, i'm typing this with my chin. i'm a deaf-mute-fingerless blogger who has an apt in vancouver for you, if you're interested.

[Oh No]

The FBI will not help out. They have a minimum financial loss limit. (Something like $50,000 or so I think.)

[aguy109]

notaguy
I did say "Magicians and politicians just know to touch to make OUR intelligence melt away " The word 'our' is admitting that I'm one of the patsies. I once bought a washing machine which was supposed to work without electricity, just because the girl who demonstrated in the store was very pretty. I got neither her phone number nor cleaner clothes! When I read the story, sending money to someone I've never seen for an appartment I've never visited seems way out, but if I was the person about to be conned, the con man might know exactly the right pitch to fool me. Clearly, the 'deaf-mute' ploy is an attempt to get at the 'mark' by arousing his sense of pity or social conscience.

[Jerry]

I actually met 419 scammers in person a couple of years ago. They were suppose to be investors, and after flying to Paris to meet with them, they tried a 419 deal. I told them that they better not have brought me on a 5000 mile journey to hear that rubbish because that was not the deal we had already laid out. So then, get this, they tried to get me to help them launder millions of counterfeit Euros.

I contacted the Department of Justice, InterPol, several other agencies. Not a single one so much as looked into the matter or bothered to reply. Good luck getting anything done about this situation.

[Malcolm Lambe]

Oh man...I wish somebody would do that to me so that I'd have a great story to tell for the next ten years. There again...

[Gerben]

Ah yes, sounds familiar. Had the same about a year ago...

Wish I had picked it up this way, instead of reacting in a furious way...

[Tenant]

Dear Beth,

Just wanted to say Thanks for making this leasing process such a dream! To be honest, I was a little wary of dealing with someone from craigslist because I hear there are alot of shady people there. I always trust my instincts and could tell just from your first email and your work teaching other deaf-mutes that you are good people. The quickness with which you cashed my deposit check only cemented in my mind that you were ready to do this deal right now. I hope you didn't mind that I included the 1st months rent as well. I figured you would see that I was also serious. Oh and thanks for fedexing the keys so quickly. They should be here tomorrow, but I haven't had a chance to track the package yet LOL! I won't actually get a chance to get over to the apt until next week because I'll be out of town. But it will be nice to know that my new place is waiting when i get back. I'm so excited, thanks again. I'll be in touch next week to let you know how it went.

[Tenant]

Hi Beth, it's me again and I just went to the fedex website and I must have written the tracking number down wrong because there isn't a package with that number. I'm sure that in all the excitement I just goofed it LOL! So anyways, if it isn't too much bother, could you please email the number again? Oh and i see aol hasn't changed a bit. I tried to email you but it got sent back. I used to have aol too and i hated it. I'll try again in a little while.

Sorry for the bother.

[citygent]

Greetings and salutations,

I am contact you because very great situation arise in my country introduction myself am Mustaffah Dhomp and I am deaf/mute and have result of recent accident small apartment to rent out. I would have in my country but I must use forayn bank account to put into money $30,000,000,000. I contact you because you are very honest and good person. Address of apartment is 1600 Pensilvania Avenue and I send you keys but you will have to shout very loud. All I need to complete is bank account details your and small deposit and I send you keys in the post.

Maybe.

[Vasi]

The US Postal Service has been making inroads on raising awareness of internet fraud, wire fraud and mail fraud. Raising awareness is really the only effective preventative tool. They offer FREE DVDs outlining in a CSI/Law & Order minidrama style, things to look for and questions to ask. I recommend them for any consumer who wants to be more tuned in to what the criminals know.

[Beth Ann]

Thanks to everyone for responding. Thanks, also, to those who added to the list of resources needed to fight these crooks. I don't expect that my complaint will be resolved. But keeping a paper trail may strengthen a case against them, on the off-chance they screw up a later sceme.
Kraig, great to hear you were able to snag someone who tried to defraud you in a Yahoo auction. It's nice to know the law is putting some of them in jail. I will contact aol and look for the IP address.

[schmeckendeugler]

since they said "In the same day", I would suspect they do not speak english as 1st language. (My wife is an immigrant and used to make this grammatical error).

It can be damn near impossible to track down their IP, if they're using a web-based AOL e-mail account. You'd have to contact AOL and have them review their IP logs and see where the connection came from... all depends on how many layers they are hiding themselves behind.

Gosh, could being dishonest be so easy? I wonder if they actually got any $$ off anybody.

[Jack]

No offense to people who are deaf and mute or any other disabled people. But why oh why is any term 99% of the world knows offensive? You are differently abled or a small person or some other nonsense. A stewardess is a stewardess and a midget is a midget. Get over yourself. *flame on*

As for the Spanish prisoner, I know someone who responded to the real estate scheme as a possible renter, and he wasn't fooled beyond the first email. I wouldn’t worry about people showing up with bum keys trying to move in. However you should make sure the rest of you hasn't been stolen. Do a credit check on yourself at least.

[Lex]

Sorry to hear you've become a victim of identity theft.

A good site for more info about 416 scams is http://www.419eater.com/

A great scambaiter story on there is the one about John Boko "The Incredible Shrinking Artwork"
http://www.419eater.com/html/john_boko.htm

[Sean]

Hi Beth,

First off, I have heard of the post office being very interested in prosecuting fraud. That's probably why you were referred to the post office. If you can get this person to mail something incriminating, or accept something incriminating, that may be just the ticket.

If you let this go on, you may eventually find yourself the target of whoever is dumb enough to get fooled, and your problems will escalate.

1) a news organization may be willing to help you catch this person for the story value -- it would make a great story on internet fraud.

2) You should be persistent with the police department, and go down there in person and call them until they investigate and arrest this person just to get you off their backs.

3) Moneygram may be willing to help, as they do not want themselves associated with fraud either. They will be very familiar with the laws that are involved, and will know who will be willing to investigate this kind of thing.

4) Banks may be able to offer advice or other help because they deal with fraud all the time. They also will be familiar with the laws and who will help prosecute.

Keep trying until you get someone who deals with fraud all the time and is pissed off about the people who got victimized, and is motivated enough to help.

This is "identity theft" because you will be stuck with all the problems that result -- the victims have your name and address and if they are dumb enough to fall for it, they may be dumb enough to blame you.

I have read many stories of people catching the people attempting to defraud them -- you can do it too if you are persistent enough. If this person is able to steal your identity and get away with it once, they may go for more and you may end up with far more to clean up later if you ignore this.

The president started a task force on Identity Theft -- this is the web site:
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/taskforce.htm

You can get this person, but you need to be willing to push hard to do it. If you don't care about your own fate, think of the person who who finally gets taken -- it will likely be their last bit of money.

[Beth Ann]

Thanks for your suggestion, T. I was trying to pull more than the $3 cash that one scambaiter was able to squeeze from them and was looking for suggestions. Maybe if I had this posted early I could have used yours, about only sending money in increments of $1000. Would have been fun to try.
By the way, I learned about scamorama long before this happened. The writers had a reading (more like a performance) at Sonny's Bar in Red Hook, Brooklyn, hosted by a friend of mine. If you live in the New York area (or are passing through) and enjoy readings, stop by Sonny's the first Sunday of every month. A nice crowd with good performances.
And if anyone's interested, I'm renting out Sonny's Bar for a small monthly fee of $1600...

[Beth Ann]

Thanks for the detailed information, Sean. I have been concerned that someone will lose money to these people, and that my credit may also be damaged. I have been delisting any new posting that pops up. They keep changing it slightly so they're hard to catch. The crooks have offered a way to give would-be renters and supposedly 'safe' way to send the money to under their friend's name. Im sure they have some way to cash the moneygram with some false ID. I havent contacted Moneygram, but will do so.

[Damien]

This wouldn't be the Beth that did some work for a system called MIS at an engineering firm in NJ would it? I read the summary of this on digg and noticed the name and thought to myself, no way could this be the one and same person I inherited my workload from ;) .. Sorry to hear about the attempt at scamming your name but like others have said keep up with going after them and you should have some resolution.

[The One and Only Ridor]

Jack: Because "deaf-mute" has been associated with "deaf and dumb" which plagued thousands of Deaf individuals who felt that the terms restricted their abilities to live their own lives.

It is like the "n-word". Dig it?

Harry, it is true -- I regard hearing people as YOUR kind -- you started wars, you started many things that not Deaf person would have done. We created better things in life -- Thomas Edison is deaf, Beethoven is deaf and Vincent Cerf is deaf.

What did you do? Invented guns and nuclear weapons? So much for your KIND.

:-)

Cheers,

R-

[MrPeach]

Perhaps you should have strung her along a little more - you know, for our entertainment. ^_^

Tell her "I went by and there is someone living in that apartment pretending to be you!"

Such fun.

[Vez]

Jay Tee - thanks for showing your ignorance.

[Blue]

Please, please, before you attempt to reverse scam, log onto the forums at 419eater and ask for advice - scammers can be extremely dangerous and you can be traced via an IP address and other info, its very easy - a lot of scammers also have contacts in western countries, and its likely that they will know someone who is near to you. Please, please don't enter into scambaiting unless you know what you are doing and you are absolutely certain that you are untraceable. People have been killed, kidnapped and beaten up by 419 scammers before now, its not worth risking your safety.

[Margaret Chaney]

Hi,

My friend heard your story on 1010 WINS this morning, and immediately called me! In November/December last year (2006), I was in contact with this woman (or man), and she said word for word the same things to me that she (or he) said to you. I have email documentation of it all. I didn't send the money, of course, because it was way too sketchy..but, I did try to find other postings and flag them. She (he) changes the email address everytime. If you need any help or evidence from me as a witness in the future, please do not hesitiate to ask.

Margaret Chaney

[11222_res]

Get Craigslist involved. Now. They made all sorts of noises over the past two years about the horrible state of the NYC rental market, Craig came from SF to meet with the Real Estate Board of New York, etc. They swore up and down that they were going to start charging to weed out the scam artists, etc.

If you go onto Craigslist nyc and post in the abuse/help section, someone will see it and get in touch.

[edEx]

I had something similar happen to me about 3 years ago. I contacted the Secret Service and FBI field offices here and New York and within a day I had detectives and agents hunting the IP addresses of the perps in question.

I also spoke on the phone with Craig from craigslist and he was amazingly helpful.

Good luck to you...

_E

[Beth Ann]

I'd like to report that, thanks to Abbas and the three quarks audiance, this situation has received allot of attention by the press. It is getting covered in both local and national news to help warn people looking for a place to live in NY. Regulatory agencies may also be more active in their search. Many thanks for your help!

[Scott Bradley]

Actually Ridor is the only Deaf Mute I know. Dumb & Deaf too. SSDI bum who can't get a job because he manages to personally offend every single person he comes across.

[Jake]

Some of these posts are funnier than the article (which is great). Some of you people are so mentally retarded I feel like you must be doing your posts with the help of a care attendant.

[Gally88]

I hope, with some trepidation, that folks will see that both Ridor and scott are only representative of themselves, and not the Deaf community as a whole. And, of course, that everyone knows that the scammer is clearly NOT Deaf.
Thanks for the Blog. Hope there is no "other shoe" that will drop. Hope this is the extent of your identity theft. Will you follow up please?

[Same scam ocurring again]

This same scam is occurring right now on CraigsList New York City. Here's the add I received...

> Karen Hultz wrote:
> Hello,
> My name is Karen Hultz I have the two bedroom
> apartment in Manhattan for rent. Rent is 700
> USD/month. I had the apartment with my husband
> because
> he was from the States and last year because we had
> a
> car accident my husband died. I also lost my hearing
> in the accident. Now I live in Munchen Germany. The
> apartment is very big and nice and it is in a nice
> area of Manhattan. I have received another offers
> today about 50 proposals and I want you to know that
> I
> only let the apartment if you pay in advance the
> rent
> for three months.
> Thank you
>

[MZT]

SSOA, i was scammed by this same person! maybe if we put our information together, we can help catch him/her... i will be contacting u and beth via email with more info on this. here is the initial email i received after inquiring-- it is almost the same, word for word...even the names rhyme...ha!

"Hello,
My name is Hellena Schultz I have the apartment in New
York (Manhattan) for rent. The rent is 700 USD per
month. I had the apartment with my husband because he
was from USA and last year he died in a car accident
that we had . I also lost my hearing in the accident.
Now I live in Munchen Germany. The apartment is very
big and it is in a nice area of Manhattan. I have
received another offers today about 50 proposals and I
want yo to know that I only let the apartment if you
pay in advance the rent for three months.
Thank you"

[MZT]

beth, an additional note-

i received pictures of the inside of the supposed apartment via email, and there were several photos focusing on the modern bathroom fixtures as well. aside from the craigslist posting and the deafness, this is another interesting similarity... could they be from the same person?(i checked the photos posted under your name on aol... they are not the same, but there are 15 of them, and 14 photos were sent to me...)

[Mouse]

Karen Hultz strikes again. Same story. Dead husband, hearing loss, pay upfront. We should send her a virus. Her email address is [email protected].

[James]

What a story. I'd be surprised but I've read about this and variations on this scam before. I feel for anyone that becomes a victim of this sort of fraud. I've wondered what happens when someone falls for this scam. Do they become angry at the real tenant thinking they were in on the scam. Wouldn't that be a bunch of fun.

Thank goodness someone gave you the heads up about what was happening so that you could investigate on your own. I'd rather know about what was going on than be surprised by people show up at my door to move in!

I recommend this article on Craigslist scams for anyone wanting to find out more. Craigslist also has some very useful information for its users.

[In need of a place!]

Same Scam...almost fell for it ;o(

Hello,
Please escuse my late reply but I couldn't respond
earlier.
My name is Karen Hultz I have the two bedroom
apartment in New York for rent. The rent is $700
/month and it doesn't include the utilities. I am the
owner of the apartment ,I had the apartment with my
husband because he was an american citizen and last
year because we had a car accident my husband died and
I also lost my hearing in the accident. Now I live in
Munchen Germany. The apartment is very big and nice
and it is in a nice area of Manhattan on the
intersaction of w 56 street at 8th Ave. I have
received many proposals today for my apartment , if
you wish to rent the apartment you must cover three
months the first three months will be payed at the
begining of the contract and you will begin to pay the
rent normaly from the 4th month of your staying.
Thank you

The apartment is like in the pictures, furnished with
new furniture and because it is new I have to ask you
to take good care of it if you will rent my apartment.
I own the apartment and I rent it because I don't like
to be empty because a ghouse need its cleaning and
fresh air. The minimum rent contract is for one year
no less.
Utilities are about $70/month, there is no parking
space available with the rent.
The apartment has two bedrooms and a living room, it
is very spacious and sunny .
If you wish to bring your furniture you will have to
tell me so I will find a place to storage mine.
Because my hearing problems from the accident I have
to go weekly to a clinic here in Munchen for treatment
so I won't have much time to spend in USA .
Because of that and also due the fact that it is a
long distance between countries it is hard for me to
decide from the offers that I have received and I also
can't come for every offer that I receive.
I will perform a background check on you as tenant
and if you will be approved as good tenant you will
need to deposit the three month rent into escrow
service after you will be approved.
This way I will also be asured that you have the money
to pay me in advance and also that will not loose my
time and that I will not make the trip for nothing.
This way I will also reserve the apartment for you and
refuse other offers.
The deposit will remain into the service escrow till
we will make the contract. Once the service will
confirm that you have the deposit I will buy my plane
tickets and we will arrange a meeting. After we will
meet and show you the apartment we will make the rent
contract to one lawyer office (we both find an office
where we will make the contract).
Send me your full name and full address so I will
forward your details to do a background check on you
as tenant and for the escrow transaction.

[Sarah]

Karen Hultz got me yesterday. After I wired $2,100 to a Yahoo real estate agent to hold in escrow she said that she was backing out of the arrangement because she had to go to the hospital for two weeks. What should I do?

[victor]

hey- check it out! Karen has changed her name to Clarice!

Received today:
Hello,
Please escuse my late reply but I couldn't respond
earlier.
My name is Clarice Hult .The apratment has two
bedrooms. The rent is $700 /month and it doesn't
include the utilities. I am the owner of the apartment
,I had the apartment with my husband because he was an
american citizen and last year because we had a car
accident my husband died and  I also lost my hearing
in the accident. Now I live in Munchen Germany. The
apartment is very big and nice and it is in a nice
area of Manhattan on the intersaction of  w 56 street
at 8th Ave. I have received many proposals today for
my apartment , if you wish to rent the apartment you
must cover three months the first three months will be
payed at the begining of the contract and you will
begin to pay the rent normaly from the 4th month of
your staying.
Thank you

[victor]

just a side note, the email from clarice also had several photos of the apartment with modern fixtures. that was the first thing that struck me as odd- the appliances looked really strange, just not typically american and definitely not like appliances you would see in a ny apt. also there seemed to be a plug on the wall that looked like the wrong voltage and the bathroom just seemed odd- can't explain it.

[Andrew Kent]

I know for sure that they track your IP and that they take revange if you try to bust them.
One frind of mine got his house on fire because of this blogs because he posted a scam and I don't know how they traced his address and whe he was not home they burned down his place.
I belive that they have connections here in US and they can harm you.

[katie]

hi beth! i was just randomly googling my mom's old last name (bovino) to look up family history and i found this site. maybe you're related to me? lol who knows. anyway sry to hear about your story. i don't really get it but yeah lol.

~ katie ~

[Russell]

Is it really likely that anyone would rent an apartment without an opportunity to look it over?
Would anyone who owned an apartment rent it out to someone they have never met?
If you are not physically available you can always hire an agent to do the letting and management.
This is the low end of the scam market in my view.

[M]

Hey just almost got fooled by you! The deaf-mute thing made me google your name and I was just laughing at myself...the other thing was the fact that the building windows did not match the windows of the apartment pictures.

[tanya]

hey Ann,
I just got an email advertising your apt. i actually responded before googling you. THANKs for saving me the trouble. is there any way to get these guys??
best,
an almost victim

[JS]

She's now Klarice Krieg:

Hello,
Please escuse my late reply but I couldn't respond
earlier.
My name is Klarice Krieg .The apratment has two
bedrooms. The rent is $700 /month and it doesn't
include the utilities. I am the owner of the apartment
,I had the apartment with my husband because he was an
american citizen and last year because we had a car
accident my husband died and  I also lost my hearing
in the accident. Now I live in Munchen Germany. The
apartment is very big and nice and it is in a nice
area of Manhattan on the intersaction of  w 56 street
at 8th Ave. I have received many proposals today for
my apartment , if you wish to rent the apartment you
must cover three months the first three months will be
payed at the begining of the contract and you will
begin to pay the rent normaly from the 4th month of
your staying.
Thank you

[John Deverell]

It seemed too good to be true, and it was.

Ryerson students Daniella Constanzo and Vanessa Neshevich were trying to find downtown digs for the coming academic session.

One offering on the student housing Web site leaped out: a large one-bedroom apartment in a luxury building near Dundas St. W. and University Ave. for just $900 a month.

Amazed and thrilled, the young Oshawa duo enlisted parental guides and rushed late one evening to rendezvous with "Robert Reid" at 120 St. Patrick St. in the Village by the Grange. Reid welcomed them to apartment 1402 and showed it, drawing attention to the ensuitelaundry, the air conditioning, the cable hookup, and touting the building's swimming pool, billiard nook and exercise room. He chatted cleverly about the history of the development and its retail shops, and asked for a one-month deposit.

Constanzo and Neshevich returned a couple of days later, certified cheques in hand. In the interim Reid, as they asked, had faxed a document from the Ontario Ministry of Consumer and Business Services that seemed to confirm his ownership of condo 1402. Reid chatted easily as the young women measured the apartment windows for curtains, warned about the dangers of the nearby park, and offered to throw in the couch if they didn't mind its slight stains.

"It was such a great place, such a low price, such a great deal. It seemed like a miracle," recalls Neshevich.

Unfortunately, it was a swindle. The dream exploded last Friday when, as Constanzo tried to arrange telephone service, Bell Canada warned her there were already two applications pending for the same address.

The Oshawa women subsequently learned the condo had been sold effective Sept. 1 and neither buyer nor seller was named Reid.

Dave Arnold of Del Property Management, which looks after the development, has a theory for how the man gained entry to the condo unit. He speculates that "Reid" broke into a lockbox used by real estate agents to get the key. He said a police investigator from 52 Division has taken custody of video surveillance tapes from the condo complex. Police did not return The Star's calls.

"Reid was, as it turns out, such an animal," says an indignant Neshevich. She has been working this summer with both Big Brothers of Whitby and the Shrimp Cocktail restaurant to finance her studies. "He wasted our time and stole our money. We want him caught."

Alyssa Nguyen of London, Ont., who similarly lost $1,000, said she's "a bit disappointed" in herself for being taken in but wonders how to avoid it. "I saw 30 places, but only three were reasonably priced," she said. "To get a good deal you have to sign right on the spot."

Nguyen is moving to Toronto after being given a promotion by a large telecom employer, and this week managed to find an acceptable apartment with near Yonge St. and Eglinton Ave. for $1,050 a month. After talking to The Star, she was going to call Constanzo to let her know about another vacancy in the building.

[Melinda G]

Thank you for your email.

Please note that we are not looking for work that has already been completed. If you require a donations/scholarship payment then you need to create a new piece of work to submit to us.

Before we proceed, let me introduce myself and tell you about my company. You may already have this information but I shall repeat it to you just in case not:

My name is Derek Trotter and I am the director of Trotter Fine Arts Dealer and Art Scholarships. We are dealers in fine art and ethnic art from all over the world and we supply many business and private customers we are a multimillion dollar company. We also offer scholarship donations to aid up and coming new artists who may otherwise not have the financial means to be able to produce or improve their work. Our scholarship payments range from between $25,000 and $150,000 depending on the potential of the artist.

The way our programme works is that we seek out new or up and coming artists all over the world who may not otherwise be financially able to promote or sell their work and then we help them to realise their full potential. We aid them by presenting them with a scholarship payment ranging from $25,000 to $150,000 which again is entirely dependent on their potential, but the minimum payment we award any artist willing to supply work for us is $25,000. Presently we are seeking artists who specialise in wooden sculptures.

HOW OUR DONATION/SCHOLARSHIP PROCEDURE WORKS:

1. Before we could make any kind of monetary payment to any artist we would of course require proof of your abilities. We do not ask artists to send in prepared samples of their work because of course there is no way for our foundation to know if the carving is indeed the artists own work, therefore we would require you to provide a brand new sample for us to evaluate your abilities.

2. My company will submit to you (by email attachment) a sample photograph or photographs. This may be of a person, a animal, a building or other such item. You would then be required to carve a representation of the image we send to you. Once your have completed the work it is to be sent to us for evaluation and then a donation amount would be awarded according to your skill or potential. Our donation payments range from between a minimum of $25,000 up to $150,000.

3. On receipt of a satisfactory piece of artwork my four board members will then gauge the quality and therefore the size of the donation/scholarship amount to send to you. The payment is sent by whatever means suits you best and is made within 24 hours of receiving your work.

IMPORTANT: The artwork will have to be shipped to us for evaluation. Please note that no payments whatsoever can be given in advance of receiving the artwork. It is very important that you understand this completely. Your shipping charges WILL be refunded in full however they will only be refunded once we receive the sample.

I hope that is clear to you, and if you are in agreement to the terms above please let me know as soon as possible and I will arrange for a sample picture to be sent to you by email attachment.

Kind regards,

Derek Trotter - Director
Trotters Fine Arts

[Mark Bolton]

After a week of hair-raising upset, I finally managed to save myself a lot of grief and trouble, but the nerves will take a bit of time to recover. Underneath this letter, you will read the entire story.

Fortunately two very honest attorneys, one of them a neighbor who did not charge and my regular attorney, have saved the day. The entire thing was embarrassing to even get involved. I never purchased a lottery ticket, because I don't trust any sort of gamble. But suddenly the mail, below, appeared.

Upon the advice of an attorney here, I contacted the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Tel Aviv. They immediately phoned me and advised me that this is a terrible scam.

Early next week I will be getting the proper information to report this to the Dutch Police and take it from there. My attorney in Saint Paul, MN also checked and came up with the 'scam' answer. This could have cost me $1,800 USD -- which doesn't come easy to a 73 year old widow, living on Social Security.

Something must be done about this. I have been on the computer for about 14 years, and on the Internet for 6 years, so am quite literate and carefully. My favorite button is "delete" when these things come in, however, this one I opened up. My plan is to follow through all the way and do all I can to help stop this terrible crime. This is worse than viruses and victimizing elderly people is a horrible crime.

Yours truly,
Ruth Krammer

From: EL GORDO SWEEPSTAKES [email protected]
Sent: September 02, 2001
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!!

EL GORDO NETHERLANDS SWEEPSTAKES LOTTERY, n.l,
BURDENSTRAAT 21B,
2053 DS AMSTERDAM,
THE NETHERLANDS.
TEL/ FAX: 31 617730370

FROM: THE DESK OF THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS / PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT,
REF: EGS/2551256003/03
BATCH: 14/0017/IPD

ATTENTION: RE / AWARD NOTIFICATION; FINAL NOTICE

We are pleased to inform you of the announcement today, 2ND SEPTEMBER, of winners of the EL GORDO NETHERLANDS SWEEPSTAKE LOTTERY / INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS held on 16TH AUGUST 2001.

Your company, attached to ticket number 025-1146-1992-750, with serial number 2113-05 drew the lucky numbers 13-15-22-37-39-43, and consequently won the lottery in the 3rd category.

You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of US$1,200,000.00 in cash credited to file REF NO. EGS/2551256003/03. This is from total prize money of US$20,400,000.00 shared among the seventeen international winners in this category.

All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn form 25,000 names from Australia, New Zealand, America, Europe and North America as part our International Promotions Program, which is conducted annually.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Your fund is now deposited with a Finance and Security House insured in your name. Due to the mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep this award strictly from public notice until your claim has been processed and your money remitted to your account. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming or unscrupulous acts by participants of this program.

We hope with a part of you prize, you will participate in our end of year high stakes US$1.3 billion International Lottery.

To begin your claim, please contact your claim agent;

DANNY TAYLOR, FOREIGN SERVICE MANAGER,
GLOBAL CROSSING,
AMSTERDAM, n.l
TEL: 31 619676795
FAX: 31 619690723
EMAIL: [email protected]

For due processing and remittance of your prize money to a designated account of your choice.

Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than 15TH SEPTEMBER 2001. After this date, all funds will be returned as unclaimed.

NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in every one of your correspondences with your agent. Furthermore, should there be any change of your address, do inform your claims agent as soon as possible.

Congratulations again from all our staff and thank you for being part of our promotions program.

Sincerely,

THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER,

EL GORDO NETHERLANDS SWEEPSTAKES LOTTERY, n.l.

N.B. Any breach of confidentiality on the part of the winners will result to disqualification.

Dear Mr. Taylor,

I just received this in my email and am absolutely shocked. Is this true? I tried phoning and keep getting a wrong number. I can be reached at ***, any time.

Please call me as soon as possible to confirm this information. I will then take care of the rest. I am awaiting your response. In the meantime I will continue to try and reach you from my telephone.

Sincerely yours,
Ruth Krammer

FROM: THE DESK OF THE FOREIGN SERVICE MANAGER,
GLOBAL CROSSING.
REF: GC/71740023/FSD
DATE: 4TH SEPTEMBER 2001

DEAR SIR,

CONGRATULATIONS.

WE ARE IN RECEIPT OF YOUR CLAIMS FILE, WITH REFERENCE NUMBER REF:
EGS/2551256003/03 AND BATCH NO: 14/0017/IPD.

BE INFORMED THAT WE HAVE IN OUR POSSESSION INSTRUMENTS OF PAYMENT FOR THE SUM OF US$1,200,000.00 TO YOU.

PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR ACCOUNTS COORDINATES SO THAT WE CAN IMMEDIATELY EFFECT TRANSFER TO YOUR ACCOUNT.

YOU ARE TO PROVIDE TO THIS OFFICE EVIDENCE OF PAYMENT FOR THE SUM OF USD$1, 850.00 (ONE THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED AND FIFTY UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY), OR IT'S EQUIVALENT IN YOUR LOCAL CURRENCY, PAID VIA WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER TO:

NAME OF RECEIVER: MR. PETER HOPKINS
ADDRESS OF RECEIVER: AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS.

A COPY OF THE WESTERN UNION TRANSACTION RECEIPT SHOULD BE SENT TO MY FAX NUMBER 31 61 9690723.

THIS PAYMENT IS TO COVER HANDLING AND OPENING OF ACCOUNT CHARGES. NOTE THAT EL-GORDO SWEEPSTAKES HAS INSTRUCTED US THAT THIS AMOUNT SHOULD NOT BE DEDUCTED FROM YOUR WINNINGS, AS THEY INSIST THAT YOUR PRIZE MONEY BE TRANSFERRED TO YOU IN FULL.

ALSO SEND YOUR COMPLETE CONTACT INFORMATION. THIS SHOULD INCLUDE YOUR NAME, TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS, YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS AND YOUR MAILING ADDRESS. A CERTIFICATE OF PRIZE CLAIM WILL TO BE SENT TO YOU BY MAIL.

NOTE THAT THE FUNDS WILL BE TRANSFERRED LESS THAN 24 HRS AFTER THE RECEIPT OF THE ABOVE REQUIREMENTS.

YOU CAN REACH ME ON MY PERSONAL SATELLITE PHONE NUMBER: 873 762 357 297 TWENTY-FOUR HOURS OF THE DAY.

I SHALL BE AWAITING YOUR RESPONSE. TRULY YOURS,

MR. DANNY TAYLOR.

Spanish Inquisition

In this classic advance fee fraud one viewer asks why his winnings haven't arrived yet from the European Lotto Commission. The letter he received is accessible by the link below.

Spanish Lotto Notification

My Name is Marcelino Nieto. I received this letter in the mail and when I called the number on the document regarding my winnings I talked to a Mr. DeMartinez of Perpectual Global Security S.S. ( not Perpetual )

He told me to fax him a copy of my I.D. and bank account number. When I faxed the account number I only gave him the account number for depositing only. I did not give him the route number to take out of account.

He called me to tell me I needed to send a check in the amount of $1,702.00 in the name of Roberto Gomez. He called me back a couple days later and said he talked to his boss and his boss said I could send 55% of the $1702.00 and a letter saying when they transfer the money into my account I will send the rest of the money in full.

They say that my program number is insured with Perpectual Global Security S.A. for claim and presentation of my personal identity before claim is facilitated to the destination of my choice. The amount of my winnings is $214,501.00.

I am trying to locate Mr. Antonio J. Ednaz of the European Lotto Commission Spanish Head Office C.P 28090 Madrid, Spain to find out why I have to pay this amount when it is already insured. Can you please contact them and find out what is going on and why? The number is 011 34 620 05 785 for Mr. Ednaz.

Thank you for your time,
Marcelino Nieto 27 Aug 2001

27 Nov 2001

Thank you so much for your site. I too received a letter exactly like Marcelino Nieto, right to Mr. D. Martinez's name and number. It is very disappointing, but you have saved me money and heartache.

Thank you. Jill Wallace in Maine.

Search Engine Saves Another

I was doing research after I received a letter from the International Lotto Commission stating that I had won a lump sum of money and your site came up. To my surprise the company was listed on your site as a fraud.

I had contacted the lottery commission that sent the letter and the lady there seemed really nice. She said that I had won this money but since they had been unable to contact me the money was transferred into an account in my name with the Perpectual Global Security Company with a Mr. D. Martinez handling my account.

I contacted him and he said he would have to prove my identity and match the information received from me with the lottery commission. Once they verified the information then he would fax me the form needed to transfer monies into my bank account. He has not asked for any monies yet.

What should I do when he contacts me. I just don't know what to think. I had convinced myself that this was for real.

Cathy Wells 03/04/02

El Gordo Spanish Sweepstake Lottery Company SA
C/Carraca No 23 Piso 4-b
08905 Madrid Spain
Telefax: 0034 667 060 715

From the desk of the vice-president (Luis Fernandez)
International Promotions/Prize award dept
Ref No: EGSSLC/25789543276/MAR/02
Batch No: 167/00039/IPD?MAR?02
Prize Claim Track No: 64903451054

... Lump sum payout of US$435,810.00 in cash to each individually, shared among the thirty one international winners in this category of total pool cash prize of US7,368,770.00...

... need to submit the 'Payment Processing Form' and fax to the claims agent/representative - Mr. Juan Lucas, foreign operations manager of Santa Lucia Seguridad SA Fax# 0034 605 182 475, 0034 652 323 781, Tel# 0034 659 756 006.

Sent in by Chan Beng 05/15/02

Kramer, Krammer, Coincidence?

Kim Meredith sent this along 11/14/01 with her thanks after almost sending along the requested funds. Finding this site saved her some heartache and some cash.

Subject : CONGRATULATION!!!!

OY KEIKKAUS NETHERLANDS SWEEPSTAKES LOTTERY, n.l,
BURDENSTRAAT 21B,
2053 DS AMSTERDAM,
THE NETHERLANDS.
FAX: 31 617730370

FROM: THE DESK OF THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT,
REF: OKL/2551256003/07 BATCH: 14/0017/IPD

ATTENTION: RE/ AWARD NOTIFICATION; FINAL NOTICE

We are pleased to inform you of the announcement today, 15TH NOVEMBER 2001 of winners of the OY KEIKKAUS NETHERLANDS SWEEPSTAKE LOTTERY/ INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS held on 1ST NOVEMBER 2001.

Your company, attached to ticket number 025-1146-1992-750, with serial number 2113-05 drew the lucky numbers 13-15-22-37-39-43, and consequently won the lottery in the 3rd category.

You have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout of US$1,200,000.00 in cash credited to file REF NO. OKL/2551256003/07. This is from total prize money of US$20,400,000.00 shared among the seventeen international winners in this category. All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn form 25,000 names from Australia, New Zealand, America, Europe and Asia as part our International Promotions Program, which is conducted monthly.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Your fund is now deposited with a Finance and Security House insured in your name. Due to the mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep this award strictly from public notice until your claim has been processed and your money remitted to your account. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming or unscrupulous acts by participants of this program.

We hope with a part of your prize, you will participate in our end of year high stakes US$1.3 billion International Lottery.

To begin your claim, please contact your claim agent; DANNY TAYLOR, FOREIGN SERVICE MANAGER, GLOBAL CROSSING, AMSTERDAM, n.l TEL: 31 619676795 EMAIL: [email protected]

For due processing and remittance of your prize money to a designated account of your choice.

Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than 20TH NOVEMBER. After this date, all funds will be returned as unclaimed.

NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in every one of your correspondences with your agent. Furthermore, should there be any change of your address, do inform your claims agent as soon as possible.

Congratulations again from all our staff and thank you for being part of our promotions program.

Sincerely,

Patrick Kramer

THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
OY KEIKKAUS NETHERLANDS SWEEPSTAKES LOTTERY, n.l.

N.B. Any breach of confidentiality on the part of the winners will result to disqualification.

2nd Email:

Global Crossing
21B Eggerstraat NN102
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
(31) 619-676-798

FROM: THE DESK OF THE FOREIGN SERVICE MANAGER
GLOBAL CROSSING
REF: GC/71740023/FSD
2001

ATTN: KIM MEREDITH

CONGRATULATIONS.

WE ARE IN RECEIPT OF YOUR CLAIMS FILE, WITH REFERENCE NUMBER REF: OYL/2551256003/07 AND BATCH NO: 14/0017/IPD.

BE INFORMED THAT WE HAVE IN OUR POSSESSION INSTRUMENTS OF PAYMENT OF THE SUM OF US $ 1, 200,000,00 TO YOU.

PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR ACCOUNTS COORDINATES SO THAT WE CAN IMMEDIATELY EFFECT TRANSFER TO YOUR ACCOUNT.

YOU ARE TO PROVIDE TO THIS OFFICE EVIDENCE OF PAYMENT FOR THE SUM OF USD $1,850,00 (ONE THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED AND FIFTY UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY), OR IT'S EQUIVALENT IN YOUR LOCAL CURRENCY, PAID VIA WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER TO:

NAME OF RECEIVER: MR. PETER HOPKINS
ADDRESS OF RECEIVER: AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS.

A COPY OF THE WESTERN UNION TRANSACTION RECEIPT SHOULD BE SENT AS AN ATTACHMENT TO THIS BOX.

THIS PAYMENT IS TO COVER HANDLING AND OPENING OF ACCOUNT CHARGES. NOTE THAT OY KEIKKAUS LOTTERY HAS INSTRUCTED US THAT THIS AMOUNT SHOULD NOT BE DEDUCTED FROM YOUR WINNINGS, AS THEY INSIST THAT YOUR PRIZE MONEY BE TRANSFERRED TO YOU IN FULL.

YOU ALSO HAVE THE OPTION OF COMING DOWN TO OUR OFFICE HERE IN AMSTERDAM WHERE OUR PROTOCOL OFFICER WOULD MEET YOU ON ARRIVAL. IF YOU WANT THIS OPTION, YOU WOULD BE REQUIRED TO COME WITH $6,500.00 OR ITS EQUIVALENT AS CHARGES FOR SERVICES RENDERED. YOU WOULD BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A PHOTOCOPY OF YOUR TRAVELING ITINERARY A WEEK BEFORE NOW SO ALL NECESSARY ARRANGEMENTS WOULD BE MADE.

ALSO SEND YOUR COMPLETE CONTACT INFORMATION. THIS SHOULD INCLUDE YOUR NAME, TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS AND YOUR MAILING ADDRESS.

A CERTIFICATE OF PRIZE CLAIM WILL BE SENT TO YOU BY MAIL.

NOTE THAT THE FUNDS WILL BE TRANSFERRED LESS THAN 24HRS AFTER THE RECEIPT OF THE ABOVE REQUIREMENTS.

I TRULY YOURS,

DANNY TAYLOR.

Those Lucky Numbers Keep Coming Up

Sent in by Carolyn & Arthur Pillans 03/02/02

OYKEIKKAUS SWEEPSTAKES, n.l,
BURDENSTRAAT 21B,
2053 DS AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS.

PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT,
REF: OYL/2551256003/05 BATCH: 14/0017/IPD

...We are pleased to inform you... OYKEIKKAUS NETHERLANDS SWEEPSTAKES LOTTERY/ INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS... held on 1st March 2002... ticket number 025-1146-1992-750, with serial number 2113-05 drew the lucky numbers 13-15-22-37-39-43... file REF NO. OYL/2551256003/05.

... selected through a computer ballot system...International Promotions Program... Finance and Security House insured in your name.

... contact your claim agent; DANNY TAYLOR, FOREIGN SERVICE MANAGER, GLOBAL CROSSING, AMSTERDAM, n.l TEL: 88216 2277 1902 FAX: 31 619690723 E-MAIL: [email protected] ...

N.B. Any breach of the deadline date on the part of the winners will result to disqualification.

Sent in by Susmita Sengupta 03/02/02

The Global Crossing Amsterdam, The Netherlands ( GCNL ) Confirmation of Claims Form they send which asks for your basic identification and bank account number states only certified winners of the DeLotto Sweepstakes Lottery are eligible to complete this form.

[email protected] [email protected]
OYKEIKKAUS LOTTERY

FROM: THE DESK OF THE FOREIGN SERVICE MANAGER
GLOBAL CROSSING
REF: GC/71740023/FSD 2002

WE ARE IN RECEIPT OF YOUR CLAIMS FORM, WITH REFERENCE NUMBER REF: OYL/2551256003/05 AND BATCH NO: 14/0017/IPD. PLEASE BE INFORMED THAT WE HAVE IN OUR POSSESSION INSTRUMENTS OF PAYMENT OF THE SUM OF US $1,200,000,00 TO YOU.

PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR ACCOUNTS COORDINATES SO THAT WE CAN IMMEDIATELY EFFECT TRANSFER OF YOUR WINNINGS TO YOUR ACCOUNT. YOU ARE TO PROVIDE TO THIS OFFICE EVIDENCE OF PAYMENT FOR THE SUM OF USD $2,150.00 (TWO THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY), OR IT'S EQUIVALENT IN YOUR LOCAL CURRENCY, PAID VIA WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER TO:

NAME OF RECEIVER: MR. JAMES SMITH
ADDRESS OF RECEIVER: GLOBAL CROSSING NL 21B EGGERSRAAT, NN102,
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS.

A COPY OF THE WESTERN UNION TRANSACTION RECEIPT SHOULD BE SENT TO OUR FAX NUMBER 31 619690723 OR AS AN ATTACHMENT TO THIS BOX. THIS PAYMENT IS TO COVER HANDLING AND OPENING OF ACCOUNT CHARGES. NOTE THAT OUR CLIENTS HAVE INSTRUCTED US THAT THIS AMOUNT SHOULD NOT BE DEDUCTED FROM YOUR WINNINGS, AS THEY INSIST THAT YOUR PRIZE MONEY BE TRANSFERRED TO YOU IN FULL.

A CERTIFICATE OF PRIZE CLAIM WILL BE SENT TO YOU BY MAIL. NOTE THAT THE FUNDS WILL BE TRANSFERRED LESS THAN 24HRS AFTER THE RECEIPT OF THE ABOVE REQUIREMENTS.

I CAN BE REACHED ON MY SATELLITE PHONE NUMBER 24HRS OF THE DAY IN CASE YOU HAVE ANY QUERIES. 88216 2277 1902 I SHALL BE AWAITING YOUR RESPONSE.

TRULY YOURS,
DANNY TAYLOR.

Losers Still Outnumber Winners

Dr. John W. Stewart Jr. sent along this variation sent to him in Brady, Texas on 11/20/01.

LOTTERY N.L.
BURDENSTRAAT 21B
1053 DS AMSTERDAM,
THE NETHERLAND Sel
Tel :+31-623-945-321 Fax: +31-619-544-720

FROM: THE DESK OF MANAGING DIRECTOR
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION/PRIZE AWARD DEPT.

REF: EGS/2311786008/01 BATCH: 14/001/IPD

RE: WINNING NOTIFICATION FINAL NOTICE

We are pleased to inform you of the release today the 3rd November 2001, of the EL GORDO NETHERLANDS SWEEPSTAKE LOTTERY/INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS held on the 24th of October 2001.

Your Company Email address attached to ticket number 205-11465886-629 with serial number 3772-99 drew the lucky numbers 7-14-17-23-31-44. which consequently won the lottery in the 2nd category.

You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of US$1,000,000.00 in cash credited to file Ref No EGS/2311786008/01.

This is from a total cash prize of US$10million share among the Ten international lucky winners in this category.

CONGRATULATIONS.

Your funds is now deposited with our Security Department to your name, due to the mixed up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep this winning a top secret from the public notice until your claims has been processed and your money remitted to your account as this is a part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming or unwarranted taking advantage of this programme by participants.

All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from the 50,000 Company Email address, names and fax numbers from all over the world as part of our international promotions programme, which we conduct every year. We hope with a part of your winning, you will take part in our end of year stake US$50million international lottery.

To begin your claim, please contact your claim agent, Mr. Van Dalen, Foreign Service Manager GLOBAL CROSSING, AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS. Tel: +31-6122-489-64 for processing and remittance of your cash to a designated account of your choice.

Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than November 30th 2001, after this date all funds will be returned as unclaimed.

NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in every correspondence with your agent. Furthermore, should there be any change of your address, do inform your claim agent as soon as possible. Anybody under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified.

Congratulations once again from all members of our staff and thank you for being part of our promotional programme.

Sincerely,

MR. MATTEW O. PETE

Marianne Molgard sent this along 02/19/02

THE STAR JOHANNESBURG SWEEPSTAKES LOTTERY,
BURDENSTRAAT 21B,
1685 JOHANNESBURG
SOUTH AFRICA.
"Star Joburg"

THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT,
REF: OKL/2551256003/07
BATCH: 14/0017/IPD
AWARD NOTIFICATION ; FINAL NOTICE

...announcement... winners of the THE STAR JOHANNESBURG SWEEPSTAKE LOTTERY/ INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS...

...You were attached to ticket number 025-1146-1992-750, with serial number 2113-05 and your ticket number drew the lucky numbers 13-15-22-37-39-43, and consequently won the lottery in the 3rd category.

...file REF NO. OKL/2551256003/07... International Promotions Program ...deposited with a Finance and Security House ... International Lottery.

contact your claim agent;
DANNY TAYLOR,
FOREIGN SERVICE MANAGER,
GLOBAL CROSSING,
SOUTH AFRICA,
TEL/FAX: +27-827-650-290
EMAIL: [email protected]

Jane Le Roux (Mrs)
THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
THE STAR JOHANNESBURG SWEEPSTAKES LOTTERY.
N.B. Any breach of confidentiality on the part of the winners will result to disqualification.

Sent in by Nick Clark 03/02/02

GLOBAL CROSSING
CONFIRMATION OF CLAIMS
THE DESK OF THE FOREIGN SERVICE MANAGER

YOU HAVE BEEN SELECTED AS ONE THE WINNERS OF THE DELOTTO SWEEPSTAKES LOTTERY. AS ONE OF THE WINNERS IN THE CATEGORY 3, YOU ARE ENTITLED TO A LUMP SUM OF US$1,200,000.00, PAYABLE TO YOUR NOMINATED ACCOUNT.

... MY PERSONAL TELEPHONE NO: + 88216 2277 1092...

YOURS TRULY,
MR. DANNY TAYLOR.

THE NETHERLANDS.
TEL/ FAX: 31 617730370
THE DESK OF THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT,
REF: DLS/0811250352/02
BATCH: C/0218/IPD

DELOTTO NETHERLANDS SWEEPSTAKE LOTTERY/ INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS

...Your company, attached to ticket number 025-1146-1992-750, with serial number 2113-05 drew the lucky numbers 13-15-22-37-39-43, and ... cash credited to file REF NO. DLS/0811250352/02... drawn form 25,000 names... International Promotions Program...

ALGEMENE LOTERIJ N.L
BURDENSTRAAT 22
1053 DS ROTTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS
TEL; +31 623 150 923; FAX;+31 619 142 022.

REF: EGS/2311786008/01 BATCH:14/011/IPD

... We are pleased to inform you of the release today the 5th of November 2001,of the Algemene Loterij (Lottery) n.l. International programs...

Your company email address attached to ticket number 205-11465886-629 with serial number 3772-99 drew lucky numbers 7-14-17-23-31-44 which consequently won the lottery in the 2nd category.

... approved for a lump sum payout of $1,000,000.00 in cash credited to file Ref. No ALN/2311786008/01. ... $10 million share among Ten international lucky winners... deposited with our Security Department in your name, due to mix up... keep this winning a secret from public notice... security protocol to avoid double claiming... selected through a computer ballot system... take part in our end of year stake...

... contact your claims agent Mr. Anthony Person, foreign service manager, All Round Securities, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Tel:+31 612 501 854 for processing and remittance...

Mrs. Clara Koan

Espania Scam 'Ya

INTL. LOTTO COMMISSION
C/ ALAMEDA DE AZHARA N 8 - Planta 2H 28007
MADRID - SPAIN
TEL: +011 34 677 744 445
PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT
REF N : EG/3880786091/01 BATCH: 340/1608/RDL

Dear (anonymus),

RE: AWARD NOTIFICATION FINAL NOTICE

This is to inform you on the long awaited results of El Gordo d la Primitiva program held on the 12th of June 2001. Due to some mixed up numbers...

... your number have been approved for a lump sum payout of US$348,301.16... in cash credited to file ref N EG/39880044135/01. Congradulations!!!... keep this award top secret from public notice until your claim has been confirmed... your funds have been deposited with Perpetual Security Company S.A...

To begin your claim, please contact Mr. Francisco Mayer, manager of Perpetual Security Company S.A. at +011 34 636 387 754

Mr. Fernando Raul Control Manager
Mrs. V. Domingues Managing Directress

My husband called Mr. Fransisco Mayer manager of Perpetual Security Company S.A. and he asked for my husband's drivers license to prove that he was actually the right person in the letter.

I am concerned now, after seeing your site, that they could misuse the info that was sent. I want to protect my husband's identity. What should we do?

Tamara Lee 02/15/02

International Promotion/Prize Award Dept.
Ref:HWS/200118308/02. Batch:18/203/JJS.

Dear Lucky winner!

We are pleased to inform you of the release... the ROYAL NETHERLANDS SWEEPSTAKE LOTTERY/INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMME...

Your name is attached to the ticket numbers 564-75600545-188 with serial number 5388/01 drew the lucky numbers 3-11-27-30-34... therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of US$1million in cash credited to file HWS/2001183808/01... from a total cash prize of us$15million share the ten international lucky winners in this category.

CONGRATULATIONS. Your funds is now deposited with our security department... due to the mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep this winning from the public notice until your claims has been processed and your prize money remitted to your account. This is a part of our security measures to avoid bogus claims exploitation by participants.

... selected through a computer ballot system drawn from... all over the world as part of our international promotions program, which we conduct annually. We hope you will take part in our end of year stake of US$50million international lottery.

In respect to your claim, please contact your Payment Officer, Mr. Albert Heijn, Foreign Service Manager (ROYAL NETHERLANDS) Tel+31-641-639-230,Fax+31-617-676-181. ... after this date all outstanding payments will be returned as unclaimed.

CONGRATUTIONS, Once again from all members of our staff...

Yours sincerely, Dr. Kijk Hassen.

Sent in by Rick Kirk 05/11/02

You site saved me from losing US$2420 to the scammers who sent me this e-mail. They asked me to send payment through www.moneygram.com money transfer.

Thank you very much.
Raghu, Singapore

GOLDEN LOTTO,
10 SUNSET AVE. ILLOVO, 2154
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA.
TEL/FAX: 27 827 031891

FROM: THE DESK OF THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT,
REF: GLS/5181/7390007/177 BATCH: 2101/99/LPP

ATTENTION: RE/ AWARD NOTIFICATION; FINAL NOTICE

We are pleased to inform you of the announcement today, 29TH APRIL 2002, of winners of the GOLDEN LOTTO/ INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS.

Your company, attached to ticket number 025-1146-1992-750, with serial number 2113-05 drew the lucky numbers 4, 24, 27, 35, 37, 44, 48.

You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of US$1,200,000.00 in cash credited to file REF NO. GLS/5181/7390007/177. All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 25,000 names from Middle East, Asia, Africa, Canada, Europe, USA and North America as part our International Promotions Program.

CONGRATULATIONS!

... deposited with a Finance and Security House... mix up of some numbers and names... keep this award strictly from public notice... participate in our end of year high stakes US$1.3 billion International Lottery.

To begin your claim, please contact your claim agent;
PETER SEEDORF,
FOREIGN SERVICE MANAGER,
GLOBAL CROSSING,
JOHANNESBURG, S.A
TEL: 27 724 188794 FAX: 27 827 068095
EMAIL: [email protected]

... after this date, all funds will be returned as unclaimed.

... avoid unnecessary delays and complications...quote your reference and batch numbers...

Congratulations again from all our staff and thank you for being part of our promotions program.

Sincerely,
FRANK COLLINS
THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
GOLDEN LOTTO.

N.B. Any breach of confidentiality on the part of the winners will result to disqualification. Please do not reply to this mail. Contact your claim agent.

GOLDEN LOTTO,
10 SUNSET AVE. ILLOVO, 2154
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA.
TEL/FAX: 27 827 031891

JOSEPH MAKONI,
FOREIGN SERVICE MANAGER,
GLOBAL CROSSING,
JOHANNESBURG, S.A
Tel +27-73-220-8992 Fax +27-722-941-347
EMAIL:[email protected]

... We are in receipt of your claims file, with reference Number REF: GLS/5181/7390007/77 and BATCH NO: 2101/14/LPP.

Be informed that we have in our possession instruments of payment for the sum of US$1,200,000.00 to you...

You will also be required to pay a fee of USD $2,720.00 (TWO THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND TWENTY UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY) or it’s equivalent in your local currency.

This payment is to cover handling charges. Note that your total prize claim of USD1,200,000.00 has been insured to the real value and as such cannot be deducted from.

Sent in by Gatot Santoso, an Indonesian in Qatar 08/13/02

WERKEN BIJ DE LOTTO,
WERKEN BIJ DELOTTO
41132, NL-1007 DB AMSTERDAM,
THE NETHERLANDS.

FROM: THE DESK OF THE DIRECTOR PROMOTIONS,

INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT,
REF: WBL/67-AO91657984

AWARD NOTIFICATION; FINAL NOTICE

We are pleased to inform you of the announcement today, 1ST JUNE 2002, of winners of the WERKEN BIJ DE LOTTO / INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS held on 31ST MAY 2002.

Your company, attached to ticket number 013-2316-2002-477, with serial number A025-09 drew the lucky numbers 37-13-34-85-56-42, and consequently won in category C...

... To begin your claim, please contact your claims officer immediately:

JANSEN DAVIS
FOREIGN SERVICE MANAGER,
EUROLITE BV,
TEL: 31 205241592 FAX: 31 205241597
FAX:31-205-241510 PHONE:31-205-241590
EMAIL: [email protected]

Fred Osbon - Aria Investments Limited
Andrew Vangen - Deven B.V.

... Sincerely,

THE DIRECTOR PROMOTIONS,
WERKEN BIJ DE LOTTO. ( werkenbij@ )
www.werken-bij-delotto.net
www.eurolitebv.net
www.euro-securities.gq.nu/
www.werken-bij-delotto.net.futuresite.register.com

Note: This bogus site has some impressive pictures purporting to be the selection staff when in fact it is a stock photo of some trading floor. It is hosted by a cheap web hosting service by register.com..

WE ARE IN RECEIPT OF YOUR CLAIMS FILE, WITH REFERENCE NUMBER REF WBL/67-AO91657984

BE INFORMED THAT WE HAVE IN OUR POSSESSION INSTRUMENTS OF PAYMENT FOR THE SUM OF US$1,500,000.00 TO YOU...

YOU WILL ALSO BE REQUIRED TO PAY A FEE OF USD2, 950.00 (TWO THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED AND FIFTY UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY), OR IT'S EQUIVALENT IN YOUR LOCAL CURRENCY.

THIS PAYMENT IS TO COVER TRANSFER CHARGES, INSURANCE OF VITAL DOCUMENTS LIKE PRIZE CLAIMS CERTIFICATE, RECEIPT OF TRANSFER OF YOUR FUNDS TO YOUR ACCOUNT VIA COURIER SERVICE HANDLING AND OPENING OF ACCOUNT CHARGES. NOTE THAT YOUR TOTAL PRIZE CLAIM OF USD1, 500,000.00 HAS BEEN INSURED TO THE REAL VALUE AND AS SUCH CANNOT BE DEDUCTED FROM. THIS IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 44 SUBSECTIONS 144 OF THE NETHERLANDS LOTTERY COMMISSIONS GAMING REGULATIONS AS AMENDED IN THE 1996 CONSTITUTION. THIS IS TO PROTECT CLIENTS (WINNERS) AND TO AVOID MISAPPROPRIATION OF FUNDS.

A CERTIFICATE OF PRIZE CLAIM AND SOME VITAL DOCUMENT WILL BE SENT TO YOU VIA COURIER SERVICE IMMEDIATELY TRANSFER OF YOUR FUNDS IS EFFECTED.

NOTE THAT THE FUNDS WILL BE TRANSFERRED WITHIN 24HRS AFTER THE RECEIPT OF ALL THE REQUIREMENTS...

Jansen Davis
Foreign Services Manager
Eurolite BV
Weesperzijde613
1052 Al Amsterdam
Netherlands
[email protected]
Tel:+ (31) 205241592
Fax:+ (31) 205241597

YOU WILL ALSO BE REQUIRED TO PAY A FEE OF E 2, 950.00 (TWO THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED AND FIFTY EURO ONLY),

Official Guarantee with Netherlands Department of Justice Seal ( Word format )

IF YOU ARE QUESTIONING OUR AUTHENTICITY, THAT IS ACCEPTABLE, HOWEVER YOU MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT THIS PROMOTION EXPIRES ON THE 7TH OF JUNE, 2002.

WE ARE IN RECEIPT OF YOUR FILLED FORM HOWEVER YOU HAVE TO MAKE IMMEDIATE ARRANGEMENT FOR THE PAYMENT OF THE FEE VIA WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER WITH THE DETAILS OF OUR ACCOUNT OFFICER BELOW

GRAHAM PETER
EUROLITE B.V.

AND SEND THE RECEIPT OF PAYMENT VIA FAX OR AS AN EMAIL ATTACHMENT SO THE WE CAN EFFECT THE PAYMENT OF YOUR FUNDS IMMEDIATELY

Sent in by Alain Favret, Switzerland 06/04/02

WE ARE IN RECEIPT OF YOUR FILLED FORM HOWEVER YOU HAVE TO MAKE IMMEDIATE ARRAGEMENT FOR THE PAYMENT OF THE FEE VIA WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER WITH THE DETAILS OF OUR ACCOUNT OFFICER BELOW

NAME OF RECIEVER: JAMES SIMTH
ADDRESS OF RECIEVER: EUROLITE B.V.
WEESPERZIJDE 613
1052 AL AMSTERDAM
THE NETHERLANDS

DELOTTO U.K SWEEPSTAKES LOTTERY,
20 WEST QUARRY DRIVE
LONDON, UB4 90A
U.K.
TEL/ FAX: +442079002425

FROM: THE DESK OF THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT,
REF: EGS/2551256003/04
BATCH: 14/0017/IPD

RE/ AWARD NOTIFICATION; FINAL NOTICE

We are pleased to inform you of the announcement today, 7TH AUGUST 2002, of winners of the DELOTTO U.K. SWEEPSTAKE LOTTERY/ INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS held on 10TH JUNE 2002 as part of our mid- year bonanza.

Your company, attached to ticket number 025-1146-1992-750, with serial number 2113-05 drew the lucky numbers 13-15-22-37-39-43, and consequently won the lottery in the 3rd category...

CONGRATULATIONS!

... To begin your claim, please contact your claim agent;
MICHEAL CHURCHGATE, ( Michael Churchgate )
FOREIGN SERVICE MANAGER,
GLOBAL CROSSING,
LONDON,
TEL: +8821646685846 (SATELITE PHONE) FAX: +442079002425 EMAIL:
[email protected]

Sent in by Bernard Oh from Singapore 08/08/02

THOMPSON SELLECK, FOREIGN SERVICES MANAGER,
FINANCIAL TRUST GROUP INC, LONDON,
TEL/ FAX: +448701303245,+448701303584. EMAIL: [email protected]

... YOU WILL ALSO BE REQUIRED TO PAY A FEE OF USD2,650.00 (TWO THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED AND FIFTY UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY), OR IT'S EQUIVALENT IN YOUR LOCAL CURRENCY...

... A CERTIFICATE OF PRIZE CLAIM WILL BE SENT TO YOU VIA COURIER SERVICE IMMEDIATELY TRANSFER OF YOUR FUNDS IS EFFECTED...

VISIT THE COMPANY'S WEBSITE WWW.FINIANCIALTRUSTGROUP.ORG TO READ THE TERMS AND CONDITION OF GENERAL BUSINESS..

Sent in by Gilbert 10/15/02

WELTLOTTO-FIRMA WORLDLOTTO
41132, NL-1007 DB
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS.

WELT LOTTO - FIRMA WORLD LOTTO / INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS

There are 22 winners in this Lotto with reference numbers below
Winners in category A

Reference numbers

FQT96532
FQR34761

These winners are entitled to $4.5m for further instructions check How to claim prize.
Winners in category B

Reference Numbers

AYT774521DA
AAT753212DE
AWT821873DF
AST341739DS
AZT104532DT
ART751243DR

These winners are entitled to $2.5m for further instructions check How to claim prize.
Winners in category C

Reference Numbers

WFL/67-BO11748322
WFL/67-A782881207
WFL/67-AO91657984
WFL/67-B773524441
WFL/67-A077364112
WFL/67-B931062538
WFL/67-C612737100
WFL/67-C033721192
WFL/67-C337209635
WFL/67-A075328127
WFL/67-A639213801
WFL/67-B291237183
WFL/67-B572392379
WFL/67-B892173021

These winners are entitled to $1.5m for further instructions check How to claim prize.

JANSEN ANDERMANN,
FOREIGN SERVICE MANAGER,
EUROSECURITIES BV,
FAX : 31 205248320
EMAIL : [email protected]

www.euro-securities.gq.nu

THE DIRECTOR PROMOTIONS,
WELT LOTTO FIRMA BV.
www.weltlottofirma.s5.com

WELTLOTTO-FIRMA LTD.
www.welt-lottofirma.s5.com

www.weltlotto-firma.itgo.com

To collect your claim, please contact your claims officer immediately:

JOHN BISHOP,
FOREIGN SERVICE MANAGER,
EUROSECURITIES BV,

FAX : 31 205241212
EMAIL : [email protected]
WEB URL : http://www.euro-securities.gq.nu

THE DIRECTOR PROMOTIONS,
WELT LOTTO FIRMA BV.
www.lotto.s5.com

Sent in by Robert Taylor 10/17/02

Some Insight from the Netherlands

1. The phone numbers used by the scam artists are real, and never seem to be disconnected by the local telecom operator (KPN Telecom). Apparently, the Nigerian mafia has found a safe haven in Amsterdam. Usually they take mobile phone numbers (starting with +31 6), but these guys manage to keep on using *real* phone numbers (20 is the area code for Amsterdam).

2. The companies "Eurolite BV" and "Werken Bij De Lotto" (translates as "Work At The Lottery" - can you imagine a lottery by *that* name???) are of course fake. They are registered and hosted by Exodus Communications, who does not take action against such activities.

3. Jansen is a Dutch surname, but Davis isn't a first name, so they have once again chosen a bogus person. I have seen they once had a certain "Albert Heijn" named as contact person which is actually the name of a Dutch supermarket chain.

Keep up the good work, Les, your website has proven valuable to many people who were about to be scammed!

Robert Brink 10/01/02

GOLDEN SUMMER LOTTO
245 Doug Barnard Parkway
Augusta, GA 30930
USA.

REF: BGL/5181/19730077/02 BATCH: 2101/14/LPP

ATTENTION: RE/ AWARD NOTIFICATION; FINAL NOTICE

We are pleased to inform you of the announcement today, 20TH
Oct 2002, of winners of the BigChurch GOLDEN LOTTO SWEEPSTAKE
LOTTERY/INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS...

... To begin your claim, please contact your claim agent;

MR. RONALD SMITH,
FOREIGN SERVICE MANAGER,
CAPETOWN 4608
SOUTH AFRICA
Tel: +27 725 233 301
Fax: +27 725 233 302
EMAIL: [email protected]

Sent in by John Stephens 10/21/02

I was the victim of the WeltLotto-Firma scam. My number is on your site and is WFL/67-AO9165798.

As a person that trusts people easily, it was a shock to get into the middle of all of this. I have phoned and send faxes and flew to Amsterdam only to return empty-handed.

This morning the guys still had the guts to tell me that they are going to send the money back to the WELTLOTTO FIRMA by Monday morning unless I can get a payment via Western Union to them.

I contacted my Bank Manager and they found your site. At last some light in the dark tunnel. I have informed Interpol of this as I should have from the beginning.

H. J. Snyman, West Africa 10/23/02

THE INTERNATIONAL LOTTO UK
PO BOX 1011
LIVERPOOL, L70 1NL
UNITED KINGDOM.

... CONGRATULATIONS! Your fund is now deposited with EQUITY INVESTMENT LIMITED, a security, House insured in your name...

... To begin your claim, please contact your claims agent;

MR. MICHAEL MASON
EQUITY INVESTMENT LIMITED, LONDON,
TEL/FAX:+447092013604 SATELLITE PHONE: +8821646685846.
EMAIL: [email protected]

Sincerely,

SHIRLEY JENSEN.
THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
INTERNATIONAL LOTTO uk.

sent in by Martin Gold, Australia, 05/11/03

E.A.A.S Lottery Headquarters:
Customer Service
580 N. Tenth Street
Sacramento, CA 85914

Euro - Afro American Sweepstake Lottery
an Affiliate of Foundmoney International
Arena Complex Km 18 Route de Rufisque
I.P.P Award Dept.
Dakar, Senegal.

Ref: EAASL/941OYI/02
Batch: 12/25/DC34
Date: 02-11-15

To file for your claim, please contact our fiduciary agent:
Dr. Felix Fisher
Foundmoney Int.
Tel: +31-627-431-470
Fax: +-31-641-744-645

Sincerely,
Ms. Peggy Williams
Dakar, Senegal Zonal Coordinator.

SUNCOASTLOTTO .ORG,
BATTERY BEACH ROAD ,
DURBAN , KWAZULU NATAL , SOUTH AFRICA

To begin your claim, please contact your claim agent;

CLAIMS DEPARTMENT,
FOREIGN SERVICE MANAGER,
SUNCOASTLOTTO .ORG,
JOHANNESBURG
TEL: +27-82-7198810
EMAIL: [email protected]

For due processing and remittance of your prize money to a designated account of your choice. Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than Two Weeks after notice. After this date, all funds will be returned as unclaimed.

RITA NKOSI
THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER

Barrister Frank Brodie, Brown Brodie Attorneys - Advice Form (Word doc)
Sigele Dlamini, Foreign Service Manager - ABSA

sent in by Michelle Ledesma, Philippines 05/16/03

GOLDEN LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL
E-mail: [email protected]
Weteringschans 56-3A,
Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Ref. Number: 87K4/336/T0714/003
Batch Number: 468911521-Bc87

... Lottery Winners International ...

Advocate David and Associates
Tel:+31612450444
E-mail: [email protected]
Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Mr. Eddie Heijn
Lottery Coordinator

Sent in by Marcus Hilary, UK 05/17/03

CONTINENTAL LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL

[email protected]
[email protected]

... Lottery Winners International...

...We hope with part of your winning you will take part in our end of year 50 million Euro international lottery...

To file for your claim, please contact our fiducially agent MR. JAMES DANIEL of the,
EQUITY TRUST CONSULTANCY
TEL:+31-630-681-936 FAX:+31-645-586-737

Mrs. Susan De Boer
Lottery Coordinator. 05/28/03

With reference to your email message, we write to clarify and explain our modes of service that we render to our client on lottery related issues: -

First and foremost, our ultimate concern is to ensure that winner get this winning prize by sending via fax Claim Form which must be completely fill and fax back to us for verification from Continental lottery international.

Secondly, when the winner has been truly confirmed to win, it is then we can send/fax the Payment Scheme that have to be filled and returned via fax with a processing fee of 339.00 Euros only.

That is what we charge as handling and processing of your winning prize. We don't accept cheque as some client has always betrayed the trust. Note: -we are not after the processing fee now, as our service is to serve you better. Our concern is to confirm the authenticity of your data/information.

However our advices is that you should fill correctly Claimer Application Form which we sent as attachment and send to us via fax or as email attachment to enable us verify your winning.

We await your prompt respond, while we remain with.

Best regards.

James Daniel.

Sent in by Jannie van Vuuren, South Africa 06/09/03

OY KEIKKAUS SWITZERLAND SWEEPSTAKES LOTTERY.
4 RUE RICHARD
1416 GENEVA 2
SWITZERLAND.

To begin your claim, please contact your claim agent;

STEV BENSON :FOREIGN SERVICE MANAGER,
LA CHAUX-DE-FONDS, SWITZERLAND [email protected]

sent in by Asante Riverwind 05/26/03

SUN RISE SWEEPSTAKE LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL

.. All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from over 20,000 company and 30,000,000 individual email addresses and names from all over the world. This promotional program takes place every three year...

...This lottery was promoted and sponsored by eminent personalities like Mr. Bill Gates and the Sultan of Brunei. We hope with part of your winning you will take part in our next year USD50 million international lottery.

To file for your claim, please contact our fiducial agent MR. SMITH WESLEY AND ASSOCIATES NETHERLANDS....

MR. HARRY JONES Lottery Coordinator ( Sunrise )

Sent in by Paul & Nid Schevenels, 05/21/03

ATTN:,

WE ARE IN RECEIPT OF YOUR CLAIMS FILE, WITH REFERENCE NUMBER REF:EKS255125600304 WHICH WAS SENT TO THIS OFFICE FROM DE LOTTO NETHERLANDS, YOUR AWARDING LOTTO FIRM FOR DUE PROCESSING.

BE INFORMED THAT WE HAVE IN OUR POSSESSION INSTRUMENTS OF PAYMENT FOR
THE SUM OF US$1.2Million (ONE MILLION TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) TO YOU. PLEASE FILL OUT THE ATTACHED FORM CAREFULLY AND SEND BACK EITHER BY FAX:+447092013604 OR BY EMAIL ATTACHMENT.

YOU WILL ALSO BE REQUIRED TO PAY A FEE OF EURO 5,968.6 OR IT'S EQUIVALENT IN YOUR LOCAL CURRENCY. THIS PAYMENT IS TO COVER TRANSFER AND HANDLING CHARGES. NOTE THAT YOUR TOTAL PRIZE CLAIM OF US$1.2Million (ONE MILLION TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) HAS BEEN INSURED TO THE REAL VALUE AND AS SUCH CANNOT BE DEDUCTED FROM.

THIS IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 44 SUBSECTIONS 144 OF THE NETHERLANDS LOTTO COMMISSIONS GAMING REGULATIONS AS AMENDED IN THE 1996 CONSTITUTION. THIS IS TO PROTECT OUR CLIENTS AND TO AVOID MISAPPROPRIATION OF FUNDS. A CERTIFICATE OF PRIZE CLAIM WILL BE SENT TO YOU VIA COURIER SERVICE IMMEDIATELY TRANSFER OF YOUR FUNDS IS EFFECTED.

NOTE THAT THE FUNDS WILL BE TRANSFERRED WITHIN 48HRS UPON THE COMPLETION OF THE DUE VERIFICATION PROCESS. THE RECEIPT OF ALL THE REQUIREMENTS LISTED THEREIN VIZ: FILLED VERIFICATION FORM AND PROCESSING CHARGES WILL ENABLE THIS OFFICE THE CONFIDENCE TO PROCEED IN PROCESSING YOURS CLAIMS. YOU CAN REACH ME ON TEL/FAX:+447092013604 WITHIN OFFICE HOURS.

YOU CAN REACH ME DIRECTLY ON MY PERSONAL SATELLITE PHONE NUMBER:+8821646685846.
SINCERELY,

MR. MICHAEL MASON.
ACCOUNT DIRECTOR,
EQUITY INVESTMENT LIMITED 6/13/03

www.equityinvestment.org.uk

Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION !!

Diamond Email Lottery Promotions
Rotterdam, Netherlands

GOVERNMENT ACCREDITED LICENSED LOTTERY PROMOTERS.

...pleased to inform you of the result of the Webmasters Global Email Lottery programs...

... ask that you keep your winning information confidential...

...please contact our FIDUCIAL AGENT... Steve Louis of Diamond Security and Bonds...

Mrs. Megan Van Lorch.
Diamond Email Lottery Promotion
Games / Lottery Coordinator.

Australian Lottery Scam Using Counterfeit Checks

04/08/04 - New Britain, Connecticut - The police department’s detective bureau is continuing to investigate the mail fraud scheme a city woman reported to officers Monday.

Detective Harold Gannon, police spokesman, said the woman reportedly received a letter of notification March 8 from an organization that referred to itself as OZ lotto, DCT, Inc., allegedly based in Brisbane, Australia.

According to the letter, the woman won $405,501.14 from a $15 million pool called the Ausie 6/45. Gannon said a check for $2,500 was also enclosed with the letter and that the woman was instructed to use the money to pay for legal fees associated with receiving her prize.

According to Gannon, the letter stated that the woman should contact the organization’s North American Agency prize claim section prior to cashing the check.

After contacting the phone number that was given, the alleged victim was reportedly told to send the unused funds, totaling $2,100, to a Western Union in Canada.

Gannon said the woman notified police of the incident after learning the check she received from the group had bounced.

The phone number provided in the letter was found to be connected to an automated voice mail service.

The prize notification letter also requested that the winner "keep this award a top secret from the public notice until all participants have been confirmed and prizes remitted ..to avoid double claiming or unwarranted taking advantage of the situation by participants."

By Megan Clair - The Herald

International Lottery Scam Victims

By ROBERT SMITH

06/07/04 - At least two Bahrain residents are known to have fallen for an international lottery scam, which informs people by e-mail that they have won a lump sum of $500,000 (BD189,000).

One of them was conned into parting with BD3,500 with the promise of landing the huge cash payout, according to a Dutch Consular Agency spokesman.

He said another had to be talked out of boarding a plane to The Netherlands on the day of his flight to collect the "prize".

"I had one gent who came to me who sent them a total of BD3,500," the spokesman told the GDN.

"Finally he came to the consulate and asked if it was legitimate.

"Luckily, we do get people phoning before they send money to ask if they should do it.

"I stopped one guy who was going to travel to Holland to hand over the money - he was flying that night.

"I managed to persuade him not to go, but it was very difficult to talk him out of it.

"He could not believe it was all fake."

The Dutch Consular Agency yesterday sent out an alert to stop more people falling for the scam, which appears to originate in The Netherlands.

The e-mails have been sent by a group calling themselves Mega Lottery International.

They inform people that they have won the cash prize after their e-mail address - attached to a winning ticket number - was drawn in a competition called Lottery Winners International.

Recipients are told their e-mail address has been selected out of 200 million company e-mail addresses and 300m individual e-mail addresses.

However, they are urged to keep the information "very confidential" until they receive their prize - due to a supposed mix up of some numbers and names.

Upon replying to the e-mail, "winners" are then contacted again - this time by an organisation which goes under the name of Standard Trust Agency, in Amsterdam.

They are asked to transfer a "processing fee" of 495 euros (BD231.700) to a cashier named Robison Williams before they can claim their $500,000 jackpot.

This is supposedly to cover "handling and filing" charges.

Recipients are also asked to forward personal details, such as telephone number fax numbers.

But once they have been duped into transferring the 495 euros, unsuspecting victims are then asked to transfer another 2,650 euros (BD1,240) to Robison Williams - supposedly for insurance and tax purposes.

However, they are then contacted again and told the 2,650 euros only covers insurance - that they need to send another 2,650 euros for tax purposes within two hours.

That is a total of 5,300 euros (BD2,480), in addition to the 495 euros for "handling and filing".

"This is pretty much how it goes on," said the spokesman, who compared the con to infamous Nigerian letter scams.

"They are all the same scams, but they just appear in a different form.

"They start off asking for small amounts and it does not appear serious, but it adds up."

In this case, the people behind the con are based in The Netherlands and use false stationery and certificates in their correspondence.

However, the phone numbers they give in their e-mails are for mobiles.

The Dutch Consular Agency spokesman said more people may have fallen for the scam - both in Bahrain and around the world.

However, he said some may be too embarrassed to come forward if they have already lost money.

The advice to people who do receive unsolicited e-mails offering vast sums of money in exchange for handing over cash, or other personal information such as account details, is to delete them immediately and not reply.

An investigation is now underway in The Netherlands to track down the culprits behind this particular scam.

But the spokesman said it was possible that the individuals behind the fraud may escape prosecution - even if they are tracked down.

"There is a central point in Holland that we can notify and it is being investigated," he said.

"But one of the problems is that what these people are doing is not strictly illegal.

"Legally, their correspondence is well worded.

"It is also difficult to catch these people because their address is fake and they use mobile phones.

"But if they catch them, they have trouble obtaining a conviction."

Gulf Daily News

[It happend to me]

Please, please don't enter into scambaiting unless you know what you are doing and you are absolutely certain that you are untraceable. People have been killed, kidnapped and beaten up by 419 scammers before now, its not worth risking your safety.

[Brigitte]

Klarice tried to scam me but I have lived in NYC for 6 years and know the rent sounded too good to be true should I keep up the charade with this crook?

[Becky Doung]

Hello,Angel Alicea lived in Queens but wanted to live closer to his job in Brooklyn. Seeking a one-bedroom apartment for up to $450 a month, he went to an apartment-listing company and paid $185 to be a ''member for six months,'' he said yesterday.

He was to get a weekly list of apartments meeting his requirements. But the apartments on the lists he got were either more expensive than $450 or turned out to be already leased, he said. The listing company then agreed to call him with apartments that suited his needs, but it never did, he said, and he got a runaround when he called.

Mr. Alicea, 48, told his story yesterday at a news conference at which state officials said they had brought criminal or civil charges of fraud against 21 unlicensed apartment listing firms in New York City and Nassau County. The officials said that the civil suit had been filed in State Supreme Court in Manhattan against the company Mr. Alicea had dealt with, Brooklyn Rental Locators; eight other companies; and the man who ran all nine, Richard Wilson of 105th Avenue in Queens Village.

The officials, Attorney General Eliot L. Spitzer and Secretary of State Randy A. Daniels, said that customers of Mr. Wilson's companies had never received listings or had gotten unsuitable or unavailable ones.

Mr. Wilson's lawyer, Charles Hochbaum, said: ''I don't think there's any fraud here. He doesn't promise them apartments. He promises them a listing of active apartments and that's what he gives them.'' Mr. Wilson is serving a state prison term for mortgage fraud in an unrelated case, Mr. Hochbaum said.

In the criminal case, four people were arrested yesterday on charges that they operated 12 unlicensed companies that the officials said were even more blatantly fraudulent. None of the apartments on the lists those companies provided ever existed, Mr. Spitzer said.

He said that when customers, who paid about $175 for the lists, called numbers that were supposedly for landlords, ''they were actually calling a phone answering machine set up by the group,'' and an employee would return the call, posing as the building owner's representative. The caller would ask for income and employment information, but ''the consumer would then hear nothing further,'' Mr. Spitzer said.

Mr. Daniels said that before dealing with any listing company, people should call (212) 417-5800 to check whether the company is licensed.

Mr. Alicea had not called. ''I took a chance and found out it was a scam,'' he said.

Coloradans are rightly concerned that foreclosures are at an all-time high. In fact, on a per capita basis, our state has the highest foreclosure rate in the nation. But as we confront this problem and consider what we can do about it, it is important to provide some context.

Home ownership is the American dream, and in the past 50 years that dream has been realized to a remarkable degree. In 1960, approximately 40 percent of adult Americans owned their residences. Today, almost 70 percent of Americans own their homes.

Very simply, this is because credit is now much easier to get. Colorado's lenders offer mortgages to people who would never have qualified two decades ago. Two in five Colorado home loans are considered high cost (also known as sub-prime) and we shouldn't be entirely surprised by the result. Prime, fixed-rate mortgages have a foreclosure rate of about 2.5 percent, fairly consistent with historical trends. But for sub-prime loans, the foreclosure rate is about 8 percent. That's the cause of our historically high rate of foreclosures.

In the aftermath of Sept. 11, interest rates plummeted. Many people got themselves into variable rate mortgages, attracted by the low initial rates, only to see their monthly payments double and sometimes triple in the last few years after rates began to rise again. Add in factors like job loss, divorce and other financial crises, and the sum is a lot of foreclosures. Because those factors are all still in play, eliminating mortgage fraud will not eliminate foreclosures.

But mortgage and foreclosure fraud is a serious problem. We made some progress last year, and we will continue to address fraud this year. High- risk, high-cost mortgage products combine with bewildered, inexperienced homebuyers to create our high foreclosure rates. But highly deceptive advertising and fraudulent practices also have lured customers into loans they cannot possibly repay.

That's why I worked with the legislature last year to pass a Foreclosure Fraud Prevention Act and a measure requiring mortgage broker registration. I'm pushing for legislation this year dealing with unscrupulous mortgage professionals and appraisal fraud. But this is a complex problem needing a multifaceted approach, so I suggest we consider the following measures:

We need a higher level of financial literacy for consumers, and the entire mortgage process needs to be simplified. In a typical mortgage transaction, the consumer is expected to review and sign up to 80 documents. Even educated consumers can be confused by the vast array of options and the maze of financial jargon and legalese.

We need to do a better job of discouraging deceptive and misleading advertising. Too many consumers are hooked by deceptive ads with low "teaser" rates that hide the true cost of the loans.

While easier credit has made growth in home ownership possible, certain aspects invite fraud, including so-called "stated income" loans. These are high-cost loans that don't require the borrower to prove actual income or credit worthiness. On a national level, we should consider substantive loan underwriting standards that would ensure borrowers can afford the eventual and predictable costs of adjustable rate mortgages.

Finally, consider this: If you call a securities broker and ask him to invest $10,000 for you, or an agent to purchase life insurance, each has a legal duty to only recommend products that are suitable for you. Currently, mortgage professionals, who are involved in the largest and most complex investment most people ever make, have no such obligation. We should begin a discussion with the brokerage industry as to whether that should continue to be the case.

The bottom line is this: There is no question that we need to pass carefully crafted laws and better enforce existing laws to deter those who fraudulently exploit homebuyers. But until there are some fundamental changes in how the home-buying market operates, high foreclosure rates will remain the status quo.

New York Investor Pleads Guilty to Three Felony Charges in Mortgage Fraud Scheme
Glenn T. Suddaby, United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York, John F. Pikus, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Ruth Ritzema, Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in Buffalo, announced that

Aaron R. Dare, 37, Albany, New York, pled guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of causing false statements to be made to obtain loans insured by the HUD, both in connection with a scheme to obtain financing for the purchase of the three multi-family residential housing projects in Albany and Schenectady, New York. Dare also pled guilty to a separate charge of conspiring with another person to commit wire fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud private mortgage lenders involving false statements made to obtain loans for the purchase of various residential properties located in and about the City of Albany, New York.

According to the Plea Agreement, in support of his guilty pleas to Counts One and Two of the Information, Dare admitted in substance as follows:

From in or about late 2000 through in or about August 2002, he participated in a scheme to defraud in connection with his acquisition of the Hinckel Brewery Apartments, a multi-family residential housing project located at 201 Park Avenue, Albany, New York, the Olde Franklin School Apartments, a multi-family residential housing project located at 1675 Avenue B, Schenectady, New York and the Historic Pastures Village Apartments, a multi-family residential housing project consisting of approximately 39 residential buildings located in the Historic Pastures area of Albany, New York.

As part of this scheme, Dare provided false information to the private mortgage lender, AMI Capital, Inc. of Bethesda, Maryland, and the HUD, which insured the loans, regarding his experience and qualifications, and the identity, experience and qualifications of his purported investors. Promissory notes in the amounts of $1.8 million and $700,000 were prepared and executed between Dare‘s company, Emerge Real Properties, LLC, and entities affiliated with the seller, which falsely made it appear to AMI and HUD that Dare and/or Emerge had approximately $2.5 million in equity and credit to apply toward the purchase of the properties when, in fact, the promissory notes were false and fraudulent and Dare and his companies did not have such equity and credit to apply toward the purchase of the properties. As part of the scheme, an additional promissory note was prepared and executed, which was not provided to AMI or HUD, and which effectively cancelled out the purported equity reflected in the false and fraudulent $1.8 million promissory note.

As a further part of the scheme, the stated purchase price of the properties was inflated from approximately $6 million to approximately $8.5 million to take into account the bogus promissory notes. Also, notwithstanding the existence of a significant financial relationship between Dare and the owner of the properties, Identity of Interest Disclosure Statements were prepared and executed that, in substance, represented to AMI and HUD that there was no identity of interest between the entities that were identified as the borrower and the seller of the properties.

After reviewing extensive documentation provided by Dare and others, and in reliance on the false statements and documents admitted by Dare as part of his plea today, AMI made HUD-insured loans in the total amount of $7,577,400 to Dare‘s company for the purchase of the three residential housing projects, with a total stated purchase price of approximately $8.5 million. In execution of this scheme, on or about August 29, 2002, Dare knowingly caused to be transmitted from AMI’s warehouse vendor, a wire transfer of funds in the amount of $3,678,866.42 for the purchase of the Historic Pastures Village Apartments. Shortly after the closing on the third loan in August 2002, all three loans went into delinquent status and, eventually, defaulted. Pursuant to the terms of the loan agreements, HUD foreclosed on the properties and, following the sale thereof, suffered a total loss of approximately $1,952,200.

In support of his guilty plea to the separate conspiracy charge contained Count Three of the Information, Dare admitted in substance as follows:

From in or about December 2003 through in or about December 2005, he conspired to use interstate wire communications in execution of a scheme and artifice to defraud. As part of this scheme, Dare‘s conspirator would and did locate borrowers to obtain mortgages for the purchase of various residential properties in and about the City of Albany, New York. Thereafter, Dare would and did prepare loan applications for the borrowers, which applications sometimes falsely represented that the borrowers had access to capital, usually through a bank account. In these applications, Dare also would and did falsely state and inflate the income of borrowers who he did not believe would otherwise qualify for financing. As part of this scheme, Dare‘s conspirator would and did obtain cashier’s checks in the names of borrowers as purported proof of their access to capital when, in truth and fact, this was not the borrowers’ capital and the checks were retained after the closings by Dare‘s conspirator. Dare and his conspirator would utilize inflated property values in obtaining financing, in order that the borrowers could obtain the properties without putting money down, and Dare and his conspirator could profit from the additional proceeds from the fraudulently obtained mortgages.

In furtherance of the scheme set forth in Count Three, Dare submitted or caused to be submitted approximately thirty-one (31) Uniform Residential Loan Applications containing false information regarding the income and/or assets of the borrowers, by facsimile and/or electronic mail from within the State and Northern District of New York to lenders in other states, including approximately seventeen (17) fraudulent applications submitted to BNC Mortgage and approximately seven (7) fraudulent applications submitted to Freemont Investment and Loan, both located the State of California. During the same period, Dare‘s conspirator obtained and retained cashier’s checks in the names of the borrowers as purported proof of their access to capital, in furtherance of the scheme as set forth above.

Dare faces a total sentence on all three counts of up to twenty-seven (27) years imprisonment, a fine of up to $750,000 or twice the gain to him or loss to the victims, or both, a period of up to eight years supervised release to follow any term of imprisonment, and mandatory restitution. Sentencing in the case was set for Tuesday, March 6, 2007, at 10:30 a.m. in Albany, New York.

Police say so far 30 people have filed complaints after being swindled out of damage deposits and rent.
Many were students who were promised suites in a south side complex, only to find the rooms were already occupied.

Police expect to hear from more victims next month.

"Certainly when September 1st comes around there will likely be a few unsuspecting victims that come into Edmonton, fully expecting to have an apartment suite," say Dean Parthenis, Police spokesperson.

"Unfortunately they're likely be in for quite a shock when they do get here."

Parthenis estimates up to 100 victims may have been conned in this scam.

Between $15,000. and $20,000 in cash deposits is already missing.

A Cambridge District Court judge scheduled a compliance and elections date yesterday in the case of a former Harvard Extension School student accused of running a real estate scam, moving the case closer to trial.

Twenty-three-year-old Linda Vaghar, who is accused of defrauding more than a dozen people out of tens of thousands of dollars, is currently charged with at least 11 counts of larceny over $250, each of which comes with a maximum prison sentence of five years.

The judge scheduled Vaghar’s next appearance in court for May 26. Vaghar was also arraigned yesterday for one new count of larceny in her second pre-trial hearing.

In her last appearance in court, Vaghar had intended to change her plea to guilty as part of an agreement reached with the Middlesex District Attorney’s office that would have enabled her to avoid jail time. But Cambridge District Court Judge Severlin Singelton rejected the plea, instead saying that he wanted to impose a minimum of 60 days of jail time.

Vaghar’s alleged scam involved listing her Cambridge apartment for rent on Craigslist.org, convincing interested renters to pay her the first and last month’s rent, and then at the last minute making up sob stories—such as the death or sickness of one of her parents—to back out of the deal. The scam left victims struggling for months with a trail of excuses and bad checks in an effort to recover their money.

—Staff writer Reed B. Rayman can be reached at [email protected].

August 31, 2001 - Jason Golbey thought everything was secured. Early in August the third-year University of Alberta law student saw an ad for an apartment near campus and, from his home in Vancouver, asked friends to scope it out for him. They did, everything looked okay, and they paid a $500 damage deposit.

Of course, Golbey didn't get the apartment. Earlier this week it was revealed he and at least 30 others were victims of a scam plotted by a family of three corrupt apartment managers who took damage deposits from as many prospective tenants as possible and fled. As the majority of the victims were U of A students, their troubles are compounded by the time pressure of trying to find a place to live before the fall semester begins next week.

"The worst part is not having a place to live. Once I find a place to live then I'll worry about trying to get the money back," said Golbey, who was out Thursday looking for apartments near the U of A. "We've been through everywhere from Boonie Doon to Southgate, and there's nothing available."

Darlene Lipinski, senior housing manager for the U of A Housing and Food Services, said all accommodations offered by the U of A are full. "Lister Hall has been booked since April and May, and everything else was gone by July. We have waiting lists now," she said.

Tyler Botten, director of the U of A Students' Union (SU) information and housing registries, said activity has been "normal" in his office. "Things are actually calming down, most people have found places to live by now."

For those still looking though, Botten invites them to visit his office in the basement of the Students' Union Building. "We don't actively find places for students--we're just a middle man--but we do post advertisements of places that renters send to us...I think there will be places for everyone to live, but it'll be hard to find places that are adequate and affordable, and that depends on each individual student and their budget."

Rachel de Leon, emergency aid advisor at the SU Student Financial Assistance and Information Centre (SFAIC), said that by Thursday she had heard from at least seven students who lost money in the scam. "We're trying to meet with each of the students on an individual basis and help them get through this stressful time," de Leon said.

"Students can come to us for short-term, interest-free emergency student loans to help them get through a shortfall. We can also advise them on how to appeal an original student loan, and there are opportunities for supplementary bursaries for students who have exhausted all other funding options," de Leon added.

Another funding option is the SU Access Fund, which Access Fund Administrator Aleem Rajani described as "a last resort bursary program for students in need--we are students helping students."

SU President Chris Samuels said the SU also offers the food bank service and counselling services for all U of A students, including, of course, those stung in the apartment swindle. "Beginning school is tough as it is. [The apartment scam] is a horrible situation, and we send our sympathy to the victims and their families. We know students are some of the most financially vulnerable members of society, and we want to do anything we can to help them, so we strongly urge these students to come and see us."