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Brazil gang leader dresses up as teenage daughter in jail-break attempt


EBHRo0uXoAA4cgp.jpg

It's his right to self identify as a 1 year old girl!
 
Surprised I hadn't heard of this before, had a bit of a google just in case it was a UL, seems to be verified to have happened in a number of locations with pics.

Bike thieves are using gaffer tape to cover up that bike racks are completely sawn through and making it easy to steal whatever is locked to them

Cycling Weekly

Cyclists were warned not to secure their bicycles to fixtures which have gaffer tape wrapped around them after the new trick came to light.

One cyclist, who did not wish to be named, said: “It looks like they are sawing a bit through and then coming back to do a bit more, probably because they don’t want to be seen doing it so have to cut through the racks bit by bit.”

Cambridge News
 
As the rightful High King of Ireland I am prepared to Knight people for a consideration.

Mair Smyth claimed to be descendant of Irish royalty when she scammed Johnathan Walton

Mair Smyth is currently serving jail time for scamming TV producer Johnathan Walton, among others, out of nearly $100,000.

In a piece for HuffPost, Walton, who is a reality television producer based in Los Angeles, shared the wild encounter he had with Smyth and how he eventually got her put behind bars. ...

He describes how intricately Smyth fabricated her lie: “Mair brought me Irish tea and pastries and regaled me with stories of how when she was a young girl, her grandmother, who was supposedly in the Irish Republican Army, would bring her to the top of a bridge and teach Mair how to hurl Molotov cocktails down on British soldiers. I was captivated and horrified. But her stories about her family were all lies too.” ...

https://www.irishcentral.com/news/m...019-08-20&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=Mailjet
 
Just got home and found a letter from an employee of Citi Bank Texas, saying that a distant relative of mine died in 2008 with no heirs and, if I agree to split the money ($5,300,000) with him 60/40, the fortune can be mine!

Woo-hoo! I'm handing in my notice in the morning!
 
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Fraud on a grand scale

Crackdown demanded after British company linked to global web of firms for fraudsters

Senior politicians and transparency campaigners have called for a clampdown on the regulation of company formation agents after an investigation of a British family-owned business. Leaked documents revealed that a web of businesses, banks and tax havens used by international crime gangs and fraudsters had been created by Formations House. The investigation also found links to scams worth more than £300 million.

The investigation by an international consortium, including The Times and Finance Uncovered, and co-ordinated by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, has shone a spotlight on the loopholes and weaknesses in the regulations of company formation agencies and led to concerns that it is damaging Britain’s reputation for corporate governance.

Formations House, a London-based company that establishes and helps to manage companies, is authorised by the official Companies House registry to submit electronic incorporations and is also regulated by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). An inspection by HMRC in 2016 found that Formations House was failing to comply with money laundering regulations.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/...-global-web-of-firms-for-fraudsters-2gnbzn32m
 
Someone conned this Colorado town's bureaucracy into paying out over a million dollars of bridge construction funds to an alternative account that was drained (overseas) as soon as the money arrived. :doh:
Town of Erie scammed out of more than $1 million in bridge project

Erie officials announced the town was recently a victim of financial fraud after sending just over $1.01 million to an unknown person claiming to be a construction company the town had hired to build Erie Parkway bridge.

On Monday, Erie Town Administrator Malcolm Fleming sent out an email blast stating the town sent money to a person who requested a change in form of payment for the construction work on Erie Parkway Bridge, but was unaware the person was not working for SEMA Construction, Inc., the primary contractor for Erie Parkway Bridge.

On Oct. 21, an unknown suspect completed an electric form on the town’s website requesting a change in how SEMA would receive payments for its work.

“Specifically, the change was to receive payments via electronic funds transfer rather than by check,” according to Fleming’s email blast. “Although town staff checked some of the information on the form for accuracy, they did not verify the authenticity of the submission with SEMA Construction; they accepted the form and updated the payment method.”

On Oct. 25, the town processed two payments to SEMA for the work, totaling more than $1.01 million.

According to town staff, the payments were sent to an account that was not authorized by SEMA.

“Once the payments were in that account, the perpetrators of this fraud sent the money via wire transfer out of the country,” the email blast reads. ...

According to town staff, there is no evidence that any town employee engaged in any criminal activity, or had any criminal intent. ...

Fleming said the staff member who accepted the form and updated the payment information did not follow previously issued guidelines for verifying the authenticity of the requested change.

“The person voluntarily resigned as a result of this incident,” Fleming said. ...
FULL STORY: https://www.denverpost.com/2019/12/...medium=website&utm_content=link&ICID=ref_fark
 
I wonder if this scam has ever been used in RoI/UK.

Corpses are being rented out from South African mortuaries to gangs who are claiming multiple payouts on life and funeral policies in a ruthless scam that costs insurers millions each year.

One syndicate is alleged to have paid for about a dozen people to be murdered after taking out funeral plans in their names, the Insurance Crime Bureau said. Bodies are moved from one mortuary to another and are often disfigured to disguise their identity.

“A body can be used on numerous occasions — four times is not unusual,” Garth de Klerk, head of the bureau, said. “The modus operandi is becoming increasingly brazen and the gangs are highly organised.”

Scamming syndicates often recruit a mortuary official to identify a corpse that will not be missed, a doctor to sign a death certificate and even a police officer to collaborate, the bureau says.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six...angs-rent-corpses-to-trick-insurers-39q6q3qws
 
A pretty good con.

Israeli police have arrested three men accused of scamming €8 million (£6.8 million) from a businessman by impersonating the French foreign minister.

The suspects, said to be French-Israelis, reportedly created a replica of Jean-Yves Le Drian's Paris office in Israel to conduct Skype calls.

They allegedly told targets that the money was needed for secret operations and to pay ransom money for hostages in Syria and Mali.

All three men deny any involvement.

The suspects, aged between 37 and 47, are accused of attempting to scam business owners and directors of large companies on the French stock market, telling their marks that the transactions had to be kept secret.

Only one person approached by the group handed over cash, according to Israeli media reports.

According to the reports, the conmen built a replica of Mr Le Drian's French foreign ministry office at a location in Israel, including matching furniture, a portrait of French president Emmanuel Macron and a French flag in the background.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-47741880

The trial begins.

Seven alleged fraudsters are going on trial in Paris accused of impersonating a French minister to trick wealthy victims out of more than €50m (£42m).

Investigators say the scam involved a fake Jean-Yves Le Drian - now French foreign minister - requesting funds by phone and Skype for a "secret mission". The alleged masterminds are two Franco-Israelis: Gilbert Chikli, 54, and Anthony Lasarevitsch, 35. Ismaili Muslim leader the Aga Khan and a Turkish tycoon were allegedly conned.

At the time Mr Le Drian was defence minister and not especially well known internationally - a fact that apparently made the fake more believable. The money was often said to be for ransom payments to hostage-takers, or anti-terror operations. In meetings arranged on Skype, one of the the fraudsters wore a custom-made Le Drian mask and sat in a facsimile of Le Drian's ministerial office, complete with flags and a portrait of then-President François Hollande.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51370900
 
Quite a fraud. Only £1.2m has been recovered.

A man has been jailed after he admitted conspiring to money launder nearly £6m.

Michael Kinane, 41, of Porthmadog, Gwynedd, was caught following a joint FBI and British police inquiry, Operation Blue Coastal. Kinane infiltrated the email systems of a London-based pharmaceutical investment company, requesting payments. At Caernarfon Crown Court, Kinane was sentenced to seven years and eight months in prison. He had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to money launder and three counts of fraud.

The targeted company was working with a US investor when fake emails were sent to staff, requesting money for legitimate work, to be paid into new accounts - one of which was Kinane's.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-51366040
 
Woman pretends to be pregnant to fool couples wanting to adopt that she has a baby for them:
News story

A bit more complicated than it sounds, she's hoaxed "hundreds" of couples on social media, but it's because she's mentally ill, and either refuses or cannot afford treatment. She was on TV in the US this week, but no progress was made.
 
This is very interesting...


A DIY machine for separating two ply toil roll into single ply.

It strikes me as belonging to the same family of scams as coin clippers and other frauds.
 
How much money does it take to buy the equipment?
If you can sell the toilet paper at inflated rates on eBay during the covid crisis, maybe you could make a profit. Something to do while on lock down I guess.
I notice the DIYer ditched the gloves. They didn't look like they were real latex anyway.
A very amusing video, and one that makes you appreciate the QC department of toilet paper manufacturers.
Thanks for posting it, Ascalon!
 
Delivery service shenanigans

A pizza restaurant in the US finds that delivery app DoorDash are selling his pizzas for $16 whilst paying him the full price of $24. He hadn't asked to be put on the app.

He orders 10 pizzas via the app & has them delivered to his friend. He pays $160 & is paid $240 by DoorDash.

He then decides to push it even further & maximise his profit by delivering pizza bases with no topping to his friend.

"I was genuinely curious if DoorDash would catch on - but they didn't," wrote Mr Roy.

But Mr Roy said: "We found out afterward that was all the result of a 'demand test' by DoorDash.

"They have a test period where they scrape the restaurant's website and don't charge any fees to anyone, so they can ideally go to the restaurant with positive order data to then get the restaurant signed on to the platform.

"Third-party delivery platforms, as they've been built, just seem like the wrong model, but instead of testing, failing, and evolving, they've been subsidised into market dominance.

"You have insanely large pools of capital creating an incredibly inefficient money-losing business model."

DoorDash is backed by investment giant Softbank, which this week posted a record-breaking loss of nearly $13bn.

Defending the loss, chief executive Masayoshi Son reportedly compared himself to Jesus.
 
DoorDash is backed by investment giant Softbank, which this week posted a record-breaking loss of nearly $13bn. Defending the loss, chief executive Masayoshi Son reportedly compared himself to Jesus.
This guy has the makings of a president.
 
a USB key that "provides protection for your home and family, thanks to the wearable holographic nano-layer catalyser, which can be worn or placed near to a smartphone or any other electrical, radiation or EMF [electromagnetic field] emitting device".

"Through a process of quantum oscillation, the 5GBioShield USB key balances and re-harmonises the disturbing frequencies arising from the electric fog induced by devices, such as laptops, cordless phones, wi-fi, tablets, et cetera,"

Each of these USB keys costs £339.60 including VAT, though there is a special offer of three for £958.80.

But, at first sight, it seems to be just that - a USB key, with just 128MB of storage.

"So what's different between it and a virtually identical 'crystal' USB key available from various suppliers in Shenzhen, China, for around £5 per key?" asks Ken Munro, whose company, Pen Test Partners, specialises in taking apart consumer electronic products to spot security vulnerabilities.

And the answer appears to be a circular sticker.


https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52810220
 
Ha! No sticker's gonna protect you from the 5G Death Ray. I mean, come on.
 
Not had a Nigerian scam for a while, Su got this today. It's a more elaborate story than usual and it's supposed to be the US ambassador compensating you for being scammed. Unfortunately her shift key stuck.

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR TO NIGERIA,
Plot 1075 Diplomatic Drive,
Central District Area, Abuja.

ATTENTION BENEFICIARY:

WITHOUT MINCING WORDS, I AM CONVINCED 100% THAT YOU HAVE HAD BITTER
EXPERIENCE WITH VARIOUS SCAMMERS 'CLAIMING TO BE HIGH GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS BANKS AND THEREBY DEFRAUDING YOU OF YOUR HARD-EARNED MONEY
THE ACTIVITIES OF THESE SCAMMERS HAS CHANGED YOUR PERSPECTIVE ABOUT
CONDUCTING BUSINESS ON THE INTERNET AND YOU NOW BELIEVED THERE IS NO
GENUINE BUSINESS THAT CAN BE CONDUCTED ON THE INTERNET. WELL I AM
AMERICAN AND THE INTERNET WAS CREATED BY AMERICANS FOR THE PURPOSE OF
CREATING; AWARENESS FOR YOUR PRODUCTS/ SERVICES AND CONDUCTING GENUINE
BUSINESS WITH EASE. I AM FULLY COMMITTED TO DELIVER THE DIPLOMATIC
CONSIGNMENT TO YOU.I AM A FULL CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES BUT I WAS
ON A MISSION HERE IN NIGERIA AS A DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATIVES TO
NIGERIA.

HENCE, I AM MAKING EVERY EFFORTS TO ENSURE THAT NO CITIZEN OF THE
UNITED STATES IS CHEATED BY NIGERIA/BENIN REPUBLIC. THEREFORE, I NEED
YOUR UTMOST SUPPORT AND UNDERSTANDING TO ACTUALIZE THIS DREAM. I ALSO
WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT I DO TRUST YOU AND I EXPECT YOU TO SHOW ME
THE SAME TRUST AND RESPECT IN RETURN SINCE TRUST IS A 2-WAY STREET. ON
THE OTHER HAND, TRUST IS A RELATIONSHIP OF RELIANCE. TRUST ALSO MEANS
BEING ABLE TO PREDICT WHAT OTHER PEOPLE WILL DO AND WHAT SITUATIONS
WILL OCCUR. I WILL BE COMING TO YOUR COUNTRY FOR AN OFFICIAL MEETING
BY THE END OF EVERY MONTH AND I WILL BE BRINGING YOUR FUNDS OF $40m
ALONG WITH ME BUT THIS TIME I WILL NOT GO THROUGH CUSTOMS BECAUSE AS
AN AMBASSADOR TO NIGERIA, I AM A US GOVERNMENT AGENT AND I HAVE THE
VETO POWER TO GO THROUGH CUSTOMS. AS SOON AS I AM THROUGH WITH THE
MEETING I SHALL THEN PROCEED TO YOUR ADDRESS. (SEND YOUR CELL PHONE
NUMBER AND THE ADDRESS WHERE YOU WANT ME TO BRING THE PACKAGE).

YOU HAVE REALLY PAID SO MUCH IN THIS DELIVERY THAT MAKES ME WONDER.
YOU ARE A VERY LUCKY PERSON BECAUSE I SHALL BE BRINGING IT MYSELF AND
THERE IS NOTHING ANYONE CAN DO ABOUT IT. CLICK HERE
(https://ng.XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX)
Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard | U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Nigeria
Mary Beth Leonard United States Ambassador to Nigeria. Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard is the U.S. Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Ambassador Leonard is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor.
ng.usembassy.gov
) YOUR
PACKAGE($40m) MUST BE REGISTERED AS AN AMBASSADOR PACKAGE FOR ME TO
DEFEAT ALL ODDS AND THE COST OF REGISTERING IT IS $540.THE FEE MUST BE
PAID IN THE NEXT 50 HOURS VIA WESTERN UNION SO THAT ALL NECESSARY
ARRANGEMENT CAN BE MADE BEFORE TIME WILL BE AGAINST US. CONTACT MY
SECRETARY IMMEDIATELY FOR THE REGISTERING FEE WHICH IS $540 ONLY.

Bank Name: TD Bank
Account Name: Gloria Morgan
Account Type: Checking
Account Number: 4362684437
Routing No: 026013673
Bank Address: 188-10 Hillside Ave

AS SOON AS YOU SEND THE FEE MAKE SURE YOU SEND ME THE PAYMENT
INFORMATION. MY FLIGHT IS THURSDAY AND I EXPECT YOU TO COMPLY BEFORE
THEN SO THAT THE DELIVERY CAN BE COMPLETED. IF YOU DO NOT COMPLY, THEN
IT WILL NOT BE MY FAULT IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE YOUR PACKAGE.

THANK YOU.

Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard

UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR TO NIGERIA
 
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