In the midst of the economic spiral, SCAMMERS have become more and more creative. Some scammers have increased their territories, targeted better established businesses, and taken on a variety of industries. You would think that the investigative industry would be on the scammer's DO NOT EMAIL list. JP Investigative Group, Inc. found that scammers are desperate and greedy. We received a check in the amount of $2,750.50 by UPS next day air from Live Design, 1742 Creekside Drive, Sugar Land, TX, 77478. The phone number listed was 281-499-712, registered to Ralph Turner, Missouri City, TX, 77477. JPI received an email from a Daryl Rodwell, subject: PAYMENT DELIVERED and the email instructed the owner to have the check cashed at his local bank, deduct the cost of the item the scammer was going to purchase from the owner, and have the excess funds wired to the scammer's mover via money gram transfer at any Wal-Mart store. He listed his mover's information as: George Marsh, Boston, MA, 02131. The scammer also stated to deduct the money gram money transfer charges from the excess funds and $50 for the owner's gas used for running around during the transaction. The scammer demanded that this transaction be taken care of that day so the mover could pick up the funds before the scammer's arrival from Hawaii. The JPI staff couldn't believe that an investigative firm would receive such an email. After JP Investigative Group investigated the check, we found it to be fraudulent. The name on the check belonged to an Attorney in Fort Lauderdale, FL and he informed our investigative team on the case that the account had been closed. The Attorney advised that it was his eighth call that day regarding the check scam. This scammer had been very busy spending money on sending out UPS next day air packages to at least seven other potential victims. We contacted Regions Bank and they confirmed again that the check was fraudulent. In addition, we notified Craigslist because this email scam was received as a result of a posting to sale an item on Craigslist. You would think that the scammer saw the email address listed on Craigslist as info@jpinvestigations.com. If you take away info@, and type in jpinvestigations.com; you will discover that it belongs to a private investigative firm.
The newest scam that has targeted JP Investigative Group is the receipt of the 2009 Best of Charlotte Award. I’m not sure if we can call this a scam because some people might not mind paying for the cost of their awards. The US Commerce Association (USCA) emailed us a SECOND NOTICE that we should log onto their website and enter our award code RVCG-BDRK. The email displays what our award would look like which is a nice glass award with Best of Charlotte 2009 Jp Investigative Group Inc Private Investigators printed on it. We entered the code and a link appeared showing us a nice black lacquer finish, beveled edge, gold aluminum metal 2009 Award Plaque and a hand-polished optical crystal, faceted beveled edge 2009 Crystal Award priced at $79.99, $179.99 or $199.99 for both. We suggest that you travel to your local trophy store and buy them cheaper. Also, they told us that the press release publicizing the selection of JPI has been posted on their website. Since no one knows about USCA, who would find out about the press release? We suggest that you go online and send out a free press release tooting your own horn about your achievements and any upcoming events that you are excited about and add it to your own website. Take the money that you saved and invest in a press release to be advertised in your local newspaper to generate publicity.
Other scams:
*Million dollar transfer to our bank account from foreign heirs of estates.
*Investment Banker in need of a beneficiary for a deposit. He needs to find a reliable partner in our country who can assist him to withdraw millions of dollars from a suspense account without a beneficiary. He needed our bank account information to make this scam work. Please do not provide any bank account information via the internet.
*Who’s Who Award (a scam targeting business owners and high school students). This scam is a fraudulent biographical directory. Some individuals have created Who's Who scams that involve the selling of "memberships" in Who's Who directories that are created online and through instant publishing services. These are essentially thinly veiled scams designed to get individuals to pay for their awards, thus, becoming a simple form of vanity publishing. "Who would be so foolish as to pay for inclusion in a Who's Who book that no one reads?" Ben Rothke reports at http://www.csoonline.com/article/498903/What_s_What_with_the_Who_s_Who_
*Bank of America Email Scam: You have 1 new message from Bank of America. Dear customer, we regret to inform you that your Bank of America Online Account has been temporarily suspended. Your account has been suspended after too many failed login attempts have been made. This is most likely an attempt to gain unauthorized access to your account and/or personal information. To resolve this problem we have attached a form to this email. Please download the form, open it and follow the instructions on your screen. Bank of America, Member FDIC ©2009 Bank of America Corporation. All Rights Reserved. You have received this form because your Bank of America Online Account has been suspended for security reasons. To restore your account please fill in the form below and click "Submit". THE FORM REQUESTS PRIVATE INFORMATION THAT GIVES THE SCAMMER YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION TO GAIN ACCESS TO YOUR ACCOUNT. BANK OF AMERICA WOULD NEVER SEND YOU SUCH A REQUEST BY EMAIL. CALL YOUR BANK AND REPORT IT IMMEDIATELY.
*Paypal Email Scam: Resolution Center, your account access has been limited.
We have reason to believe that your account was accessed by a third party.
We have limited access to sensitive PayPal account features in case your account has been accessed by an unauthorized third party. We understand that having limited access can be an inconvenience, but protecting your account is our primary concern. This has been done due to several failed log-in attempts. We've limited access to your account temporarily. We'll review the limitation once you respond with the information we've requested. THE FORM REQUESTS PRIVATE INFORMATION THAT GIVES THE SCAMMER YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION TO GAIN ACCESS TO YOUR ACCOUNT. PAYPAL WOULD NEVER SEND YOU SUCH A REQUEST BY EMAIL. REPORT IT TO PAYPAL IMMEDIATELY.
We see that the scammers are not smart people at all so don’t let them out smart you and take your money. Here are a list of Do’s and Don’ts from JP Investigative Group:
1) Do your homework and use the internet as your search tool to research the information being emailed to you; look for typos in the email.
2) Don’t cash checks from unknown senders.
3) Don’t give out your personal information via the telephone or internet.
4) Don’t buy items from the internet unless you know the source of the seller; no telephone number is a “red flag”. Use reverse lookup on www.yellowpages.com as a research tool. We have more sophisticated measures by which we do our research as private investigators but you should utilize the free resources before paying a private investigator to investigate your claim. It is expensive to trace scammers to try and get your money back so please do your research BEFORE you spend your hard earned money.
5) Do be cautious of get rich quick scams. If it sounds too good to be true, use your gut feelings or instinct as a caution.
6) Do train your children and teens about scams because they are targeted with the promise of free video games, trips, and tickets. Scammers know that children and teens have access to cash and many of them have debit cards that make it easier for scammers to entice young victims.
7) Don’t pay for awards and recognitions if you own a business. These awards are earned and given to you for free by your Chamber of Commerce, Trade Associations, Business Organizations, or Better Business Bureaus.
8) Don’t be a victim of Travel Fraud. Check out the agency selling the trip with the Better Business Bureau before booking your trip.
9) Don’t be afraid to ask more questions and tell the caller that you will call them back after checking with the Better Business Bureau for more information.
10) Do check the Better Business Bureau and find out more information about the company before you do business with that firm.
11) Do get telephone numbers and if the caller states that he/she does not have a phone number where they can be reached because they have such a large company; please decline their offer and hang up the phone.
12) Don’t believe that someone will transfer millions of dollars into your bank account if you submit your bank account information to them. This is a dream and it will not happen.
13) Don’t believe sympathetic stories when they are requesting you to give money to an unknown charitable organization or individual.
14) Don’t pay taxes on money that you have won from Canada or any other place when the source is not a state lottery whereby you can visit the location to participate.
15) Don’t pay a company to work for them. Please be cautious of any employment opportunity that asks for money to pay for books, supplies, materials, upfront fees, instructions, training, etc.
16) Don’t pay for materials offering “how to get free government grant money” because these resources are on the internet and free of charge. WARNING: There is a lot of leg-work involved. If you become frustrated; don’t give up, stay persistent, and your hard work will pay off. Beware of consultants and companies that solicit you to become their client to help you obtain government funding. Again, do your research and ask for references.
17) Do your homework if you are adopting a child. Adoption scams have become more prevalent and very expensive if you are a victim. Utilize the internet for resources, ask for references, and contact your state agencies for any complaints against a specific agency.
18) Do your research on current scams on web sites such as ScamBusters, scamfreezone, www.ripoffreport.com, or contact the National Fraud Information Center.
19) Do sign up to be notified of new scams and review current scams at the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s website: http://www.fbi.gov/cyberinvest/escams.htm.
20) Do report internet scams to the FBI at http://www.ic3.gov/complaint/default.aspx
21) Do visit the Federal Trade Commission’s website at http://www2.ftc.gov/index.shtml to learn more about how to protect yourself from fraud, scams, and illegal practices against you as a consumer.
When all else fails, contact JP Investigative Group, Inc. for assistance at 1-877-990-2111. This is a fee based service.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Til Death Do Them Part: What's Your Opinion?
Source: Lucas L. Johnson Ii, Associated Press Writer
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Former NFL star Steve McNair was shot dead in his sleep last week by a 20-year-old girlfriend distraught about mounting financial problems and her belief that he was seeing someone else, police said Wednesday. Sahel Kazemi "was spinning out of control" when she shot McNair four times as he dozed on a sofa early Saturday, then turned the gun on herself, Police Chief Ronal Serpas said.
Interviews with friends revealed that she was making payments on two cars, her rent was doubling and she suspected the married McNair was having a second affair with another young woman. She told a friend on Friday that "My life is a ball of s--- and I should end it," Serpas said. Police earlier had labeled McNair's death a homicide, but waited for further tests and the revelations about Kazemi's personal problems before concluding that she pulled the trigger of a 9 mm semiautomatic pistol in a condominium McNair rented with a friend.
McNair, 36, a quarterback for the Tennessee Titans most of his career, met Kazemi six months ago at a sports cafe where she was a waitress and his family often ate. She seemed happy and eager to build a life with him, but something went wrong. "We do know that she was clearly sending a message during the last five to seven days of her life that things were going bad quickly," Serpas said, though there was no indication she told anyone she planned to harm McNair.
Serpas said detectives learned that Kazemi recently found out about another young woman she thought McNair was romantically involved with and had even followed that woman home, though she did not confront her.
Serpas said police believe McNair was asleep when he was killed because there were no defensive wounds. After shooting McNair in the head, Kazemi apparently shot him twice in the chest before shooting him again in the head.
Before shooting herself, she sat next to his body and "tried to stage it so she would fall in his lap," Serpas said. She did, but her body slid to the floor and ended up at McNair's feet. The gun was found underneath her.
Kazemi's family told reporters that the woman was so confident McNair was divorcing his wife of 12 years that she was preparing to sell her furniture and move in with him. But associate Mike Mu, who has worked with McNair's charitable association for years, said earlier Wednesday that McNair's wife, Mechelle McNair, "didn't know who this girl is." No records of divorce proceedings have surfaced. The McNairs have four children.
Two days before the shooting, police stopped Kazemi driving a Cadillac Escalade sport utility vehicle that McNair had given her for her birthday in May. According to an arrest affidavit, Kazemi had bloodshot eyes and alcohol on her breath. She refused a breath test and told an officer "she was not drunk, she was high." She was charged with DUI. McNair was with her but not charged. He later made her bail. Police are awaiting toxicology reports on both bodies.
Serpas said that even though both her name and McNair's were on the Cadillac's title, she was apparently responsible for making payments. She was also making payments on another car after she couldn't sell it.
Kazemi had no history of violence, but "on the last several days of her life it's obvious that she made some very poor decisions," Serpas said.
Mechelle McNair has not spoken publicly since the shooting. Bishop Joseph W. Walker III of Mount Zion Baptist Church, which the McNairs have attended since moving to Nashville in 1997, said Wednesday that she is doing as well as can be expected. "Her faith is what's sustaining her now," he said. "We haven't talked about the circumstances of his death. She is processing it in a private way. It's obviously devastating on so many levels."
A memorial service is set for Thursday night in Nashville, with the funeral Saturday in his native Mississippi.
The four-time Pro Bowl quarterback was being remembered Wednesday at the stadium where he played much of his career. The Tennessee Titans opened LP Field for fans to watch video highlights of McNair's 13-year NFL career and look at photos of the quarterback. There was also a book for them to write messages that will be given to the family.
McNair was known as "Air McNair" for his passing prowess at Alcorn State in Mississippi. In 2000, he helped lead the Titans to the Super Bowl, where they ended up a yard short of a touchdown on the last play of the game when they trailed by seven points. He spent the last two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens before retiring from the NFL last year.
___
Associated Press Writers Travis Loller, Joe Edwards, Kristin M. Hall and Teresa M. Walker contributed to this report.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Former NFL star Steve McNair was shot dead in his sleep last week by a 20-year-old girlfriend distraught about mounting financial problems and her belief that he was seeing someone else, police said Wednesday. Sahel Kazemi "was spinning out of control" when she shot McNair four times as he dozed on a sofa early Saturday, then turned the gun on herself, Police Chief Ronal Serpas said.
Interviews with friends revealed that she was making payments on two cars, her rent was doubling and she suspected the married McNair was having a second affair with another young woman. She told a friend on Friday that "My life is a ball of s--- and I should end it," Serpas said. Police earlier had labeled McNair's death a homicide, but waited for further tests and the revelations about Kazemi's personal problems before concluding that she pulled the trigger of a 9 mm semiautomatic pistol in a condominium McNair rented with a friend.
McNair, 36, a quarterback for the Tennessee Titans most of his career, met Kazemi six months ago at a sports cafe where she was a waitress and his family often ate. She seemed happy and eager to build a life with him, but something went wrong. "We do know that she was clearly sending a message during the last five to seven days of her life that things were going bad quickly," Serpas said, though there was no indication she told anyone she planned to harm McNair.
Serpas said detectives learned that Kazemi recently found out about another young woman she thought McNair was romantically involved with and had even followed that woman home, though she did not confront her.
Serpas said police believe McNair was asleep when he was killed because there were no defensive wounds. After shooting McNair in the head, Kazemi apparently shot him twice in the chest before shooting him again in the head.
Before shooting herself, she sat next to his body and "tried to stage it so she would fall in his lap," Serpas said. She did, but her body slid to the floor and ended up at McNair's feet. The gun was found underneath her.
Kazemi's family told reporters that the woman was so confident McNair was divorcing his wife of 12 years that she was preparing to sell her furniture and move in with him. But associate Mike Mu, who has worked with McNair's charitable association for years, said earlier Wednesday that McNair's wife, Mechelle McNair, "didn't know who this girl is." No records of divorce proceedings have surfaced. The McNairs have four children.
Two days before the shooting, police stopped Kazemi driving a Cadillac Escalade sport utility vehicle that McNair had given her for her birthday in May. According to an arrest affidavit, Kazemi had bloodshot eyes and alcohol on her breath. She refused a breath test and told an officer "she was not drunk, she was high." She was charged with DUI. McNair was with her but not charged. He later made her bail. Police are awaiting toxicology reports on both bodies.
Serpas said that even though both her name and McNair's were on the Cadillac's title, she was apparently responsible for making payments. She was also making payments on another car after she couldn't sell it.
Kazemi had no history of violence, but "on the last several days of her life it's obvious that she made some very poor decisions," Serpas said.
Mechelle McNair has not spoken publicly since the shooting. Bishop Joseph W. Walker III of Mount Zion Baptist Church, which the McNairs have attended since moving to Nashville in 1997, said Wednesday that she is doing as well as can be expected. "Her faith is what's sustaining her now," he said. "We haven't talked about the circumstances of his death. She is processing it in a private way. It's obviously devastating on so many levels."
A memorial service is set for Thursday night in Nashville, with the funeral Saturday in his native Mississippi.
The four-time Pro Bowl quarterback was being remembered Wednesday at the stadium where he played much of his career. The Tennessee Titans opened LP Field for fans to watch video highlights of McNair's 13-year NFL career and look at photos of the quarterback. There was also a book for them to write messages that will be given to the family.
McNair was known as "Air McNair" for his passing prowess at Alcorn State in Mississippi. In 2000, he helped lead the Titans to the Super Bowl, where they ended up a yard short of a touchdown on the last play of the game when they trailed by seven points. He spent the last two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens before retiring from the NFL last year.
___
Associated Press Writers Travis Loller, Joe Edwards, Kristin M. Hall and Teresa M. Walker contributed to this report.
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