What helps if you suspect Fraud from Overseas?

We received the following comment over the weekend on our Second Post about The Feed The Children Banner Scam and Fake Company Fraud from Ghana. I am curious to see if anyone else has advice for what to do if you suspect you have already been the victim of fraud?

Let us know if the comments and lets see if we can help each other out.

--Michael

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pmmb has left a new comment on the post "Another Banner Scam Email from Ghana - "God is Gre...":

Is there anyone who can help me? My husband has sent $115,000.00 or more to a Ghanan guy - to his bank in New Jersey! It's for a computer contract from 21 months back. My husband thinks the guy is legitimate??!!! I can't believe it - how naive do people come? Any advice? I wanted to stay married, but it is hard based on my husband doing this all behind my back and now thinking it is legitimate.

"Printing Of Canvas" Email Scam from nickjns73@gmail.com

We usually do not get too many art printing scams or giclee printing scams but we just received one tonight.

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from: nickjns73 -- nickjns73@gmail.com
to: company01@sympatico.ca
date: Sun, Feb 8, 2009 at 8:13 PM
subject: Printing Of Canvas
signed-by gmail.com

February 8th, 2009 8:13 PM (2 hours ago)

Hello
Attached is my art-work for this project. However i want the canvas photo printed with the following specs,

1. Measures 8x10
2. Provide quote on 1000 and 2000 Copies
4. Do u accept credit card.

note:
IF YOU PRINT ANYTHING APART FROM THIS LET ME KNOW
God Bless you - please quote according

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The Comic Sans was preserved from the original email for the true scam feeling. This scammer didn't even bother to send it to the right email (we were on the BCC list, along with I'm sure a whole lot of other printing companies). There was no attachment to the email. We have also never heard from this person before.

This e-mail does not even deserve a reply.

Stay Safe,

Michael

Another Banner Scam Email from Ghana - "God is Great"

Some people obviously don't read my blog. I am blocking all traffic from the Nigeria and Ghana IP blocks the coming days (the printing business is not typically economical to outsource from overseas). Below is another scam message I received from Rev Daniel Larry. At least this time what they are requesting printed on the banner is spelled correctly (not much else is).

From: Rev Daniel Larry Reply-To: revdaniel_larry@yahoo.com Subject: Banner Order Good morning !My name is Rev Daniel Larry.i am intrested in some " banners" to purchase and i believe you do carry some instock for sale.I will appreciate if u get back to me with the cost for the following sizes 30 inch by 20 inch .I need 2 colours wich is white as the text colour, black as the backgroud and print"God Is Great" on the banners.the banners should be 1 sided card. I will appreciate if u get back to me with the total cost of 100.00 quantity and what do you accpet as a payment.Wish u all best in business and hope to hear from u soon . Best regards....... Rev Daniel Larry

After my first quote of $10,000 USD he wrote back the following: (notice they have changed to flyers from banners)

Hello Michael,
Thanks for your mail back and i appreciate it,I want you to
contact Dalex Shipping Logistic's and mail them the sizes and weight of the products so that you can get the shipping cost for me.I will be donating the flyers to a
Orpahanage in Ghana and the delivery Address is

Osu Kid's Home
440 Airport 100 Rd
Osu, Accra
Ghana,00233

Contact person for the shipping company is Brad Miller and their email address is dalexsh@gmail.com When you get the quote i want you give me the total cost of both the products
and freight cost so that i can pay with my Mastercard and you front the funds to the shipping company cos i will busy with a Church Conference which just came Asap..Get back to me with the prices so that i will give arrange my Credit Card for the payment
of the Products and the Freight Cost..Thank You

In Him,
Rev.Daniel

--Michael

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

UPDATE 01/23/09:

If you are worried that you may have received a fraudulent request or a scam email, read the follow up article I wrote on Signs to look for to prevent Fraud on International Orders and Other Redflags

At http://digitalprinter.blogspot.com/2008/08/international-fraud-signs-and-order.html

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

“Feed the Children” Banner Printing Scam - Part 1

PART 1

Warning and information on the West Africa (Ghana, Nigeria) "Food for Children" Banner Printing Scam. Beware of this if you are a sign shop, copy shop, or printing company.

This is a scam originating out of Ghana (West Africa) regarding an overseas organization needing banners. Variations of the scam involve wanting custom printed glass sheets, signs, vinyl banners, or other typical sign shop product.

The organization, claiming to be a charity based in Europe, contacts your company via email (usually to info@yourcompany.com or web form) requesting a quote for around 50 items to be printed. This is the first part of the scam. What they want printed is typically simple, such as “Feed the Children” or “Food Needed for Child” in blue text on a white background. This seems to be legitimate up to this point, as most people would have no use for “Feed the Children” banners, and the whole charity aspect gives them some credibility. You should simply ignore these requests, as it is NOT cost efficient to ship such banners overseas (regardless of the value of the dollar).

If you reply to the RFP, or their request for quote, the scammer will send you a very kind email accepting the bid and requesting payment information. This is the second part of this scam. The scammer will ask if you can please take their Visa, MasterCard, or other credit card as payment, regardless of whether or not your quote clearly contains information on your payment policy. This is another red flag.

Banner Printing Scam Part 1
Banner Printing Scam Part 2
Banner Printing Scam Part 3

“Feed the Children” Banner Printing Scam - Part 2

PART 2

Warning and information on the West Africa (Ghana, Nigeria) "Food for Children" Banner Printing Scam. Beware of this if you are a sign shop, copy shop, or printing company.

If you let them know you will accept credit cards, the scammer will write back to request a shipping quote from their preferred shipping company (a fake shipping company), telling the fake shipper the number of packages, their weight, and your location. This is the third part of the scam. The scammers will tell you that this (fake) shipping company will make sure they don’t pay any taxes or import fees on the product, and / or is the only shipping company that can locate their church / compound / refugee camp. This is another blatant red flag, as it is highly unlikely that only one company in the whole world has figured out the horribly complex international shipping and tariff situation from your country to theirs.

When you contact this shipping company, they will reply with a quote and also offer services such as crating and packaging the shipment. Once you reply to the original scammer what their total price of product plus shipping is, the scammer will email you their credit card information. They will send their name, billing address, 16 digit card number, expiration date, and CVV but no other supporting documentation (red flag). The scammer will also instruct you to charge the entire amount to their card and send them an invoice or receipt when you have done this. Usually, if you process the compromised or stolen credit card the scammers gave you it will be approved by the AVS system. This is the fourth part of the scam. Once you have charged the card, the scammer will coerce you to proceed with the shipment as soon as possible, citing some rush or critical date.

Banner Printing Scam Part 1
Banner Printing Scam Part 2
Banner Printing Scam Part 3

“Feed the Children” Banner Printing Scam - Part 3

PART 3

Warning and information on the West Africa (Ghana, Nigeria) "Food for Children" Banner Printing Scam. Beware of this if you are a sign shop, copy shop, or printing company.

The fake shipping company will tell you that you must pay them for the shipment before they will schedule delivery. This is the fifth part of the scam. The fake shipper will tell you that they only accept credit cards for domestic shipments, and for international shipments you must prepay with a wire transfer (red flag). They will recommend you bring cash to Western Union and to email them the confirmation number from the wire transfer so they can schedule a pickup. If you contact the original scammer and ask to use another shipping company, they will insist they use their fake shipping company or cancel their order entirely. What is a better policy in dealing with international transactions is that both the buyer and the seller request quotes from their preferred shipping agents.

Once you have irrevocably transferred thousands of dollars overseas to their fake shipper, you will most likely never hear from anyone involved up to this point again. When the owner of the credit card receives the bill in 15-30 days they will dispute the charge with their credit card company and most likely win. This is the sixth step of the scam. This is typically were the scam ends, with you losing the money wired for shipping plus your time and cost of producing the products. If you find yourself with 50 “Feed the Children” banners, go ahead and contact your favorite charity and donate them, please.

OVERVIEW AND REVIEW OF
THE FEED THE CHILDREN BANNER SCAM

1. You Receive email from overseas requesting price on ~50 items valued around $3,000
2. Scammer asks if you will take their Credit Card as payment
3. You contact fake shipping company requesting a shipping quote and they send you a shipping cost. You send total to original scammer.
4. Scammer emails their Credit Card info and you approve their card for total amount
5. You wire the shipping money overseas via Western Union and never hear from either of the two parties involved again
6. The true owner of credit card disputes their charge (See #4), they win, and that money is automatically deducted from your account

Banner Printing Scam Part 1
Banner Printing Scam Part 2
Banner Printing Scam Part 3