Addressing consumer fraud around the world. The Baker Fraud Report focuses on mass marketing fraud – where victims never meet the fraudster in person but communicate over the phone, though the mail, or on the internet.
WSJ: T-Mobile hacker that stole data on 10 million talks to the Journal
BBB Studies. Here are links to some of the study topics: puppy fraud, tech support fraud, romance fraud money mules, apartment rental, crooked movers, government imposters, online vehicle sale scams, rental fraud and gift cards.
Good news on bogus debt collectors: Efforts to fight bogus debt collectors, who often try to collect debts that consumers never owed, have dropped dramatically from 484,220 in 2018, 134,320 in 2019, to 120,190 in 2020. This was once the top source of fraud complaints to the FTC. So what happened? Was it the result of enforcement? Let me know what happened.
Review and Recommendation: Darkest Hour. How in a disastrous situation and against the appeals of the British elite to capitulate, Winston Churchill consulted the regular people of Britain, found them willing to fight on, and saved the British (and much of the French) army at Dunkirk. Very well done. A best actor Oscar for Gary Oldham. BBB Studies. Here are links to some of the study topics: puppy fraud, tech support fraud, romance fraud money mules, apartment rental, crooked movers, government imposters, online vehicle sale scams, rental fraud and gift cards
Full report here
BBB Studies. Here are links to some of the study topics: puppy fraud, tech support fraud, romance fraud money mules, apartment rental, crooked movers, government imposters, online vehicle sale scams, rental fraud and gift cards.
AARP releases “Consumer fraud in America: The Black Experience”
The fastest growth in fraud is among those under 21 says new study
Tip of the week: An alert reader reports that Marriott Reward points are being stolen and used. This may be due to a series of data breaches the company experienced. So this is a reminder to check your reward point accounts and frequent flyer miles from time to time so make sure someone hasn’t been stealing the awards you’ve earned.
UK fraud reporting system Action Fraud to be replaced; scams account for 42% of all crimes
Solar Winds hackers got into email systems of federal prosecutors
Spanish-speakers most likely victims of grandparent scams says AARP
Top Stories
Six Nigerians on FBI Most wanted list
In depth article on unemployment benefit theft in the U.S.
Why people can’t cut their losses; the sunk cost fallacy
Review and recommendation: High Noon, for which Gary Cooper won the best actor Oscar. Excellent, and not a shoot ‘em up. An honorable man faced with a town that won’t help. Named one of the 25 best films ever made.
BBB Studies. Here are links to some of the study topics: puppy fraud, tech support fraud, romance fraud money mules, apartment rental, crooked movers, government imposters, online vehicle sale scams, rental fraud and gift cards.
Top Stories
23% of those in the US say they lost money to a phone scam in the last year
Fraud text messages supposedly from State agencies. I’m in Illinois, and now get one of these almost every day, as do my neighbors. Is it just the Land of Lincoln? I’ve not seen much on this topic, but it seems to be growing incredibly fast.
News Nigeria: How Ray Hushpuppi became wealthy as a social influencer and how he laundered BEC funds
Singapore investigating 334 as money mules for BEC, romance, tech support and other scams
New FTC Chair Lina Khan names Chopra advisors Sam Levine acting head of consumer protection; Holly Vedova acting head of Bureau of Competition, and Erie Meyer as Chief Technologist Dems now have 3-2 majority
Chinese propaganda app being used by romance scammers there; government censors reports on problem
New Google Pay app now lets people send money to India and Singapore through Western Union. Are scammers close behind?
New fraud trend to watch out for: The US government is now paying for the funeral expenses of those who died from the virus. Not surprisingly, sources tell the Fraud Report that crooks are now applying for this money online and stealing funds. And if the crooks are not in the U.S. they doubtless need mules to first collect the money.
