FACEBOOK INTERNATIONAL EMBEZZLEMENT SCAM

Just two days ago one Facebook user had a close call with an individual calling herself Dorthey Caldwell Black.

“This woman/man looks on Facebook for people who have recently passed away, hacks their account, then contacts you through that persons Identity and informs you that they have won one hundred thousand dollars and says your name is also on the list of winners,” says Hanson, one of the most recent victims. “This woman posing as your friend assures you that she got her money the following day after contacting this woman. This provides the victim with assurance the Scam is for real.

Then when you contact Black she assures you that you are a winner indeed then sends you two certificates, one that affirms you’re on the winners list, and another certificate of winnings. Then she tells you to wire her three hundred and seventy-five dollars through Western Union, to a Frances Salmons in Dayton Virginia. She says the fee you are paying is for UPS to deliver your money and to process your winnings.”

“I was so excited,” says Hanson, who has been trying to raise money for the last month on Facebook for her upcoming Cancer surgery for medications not covered. “The timing was perfect. I was in need, and she had the answer! I tired to wire the funds through online banking and an error occurred. Then she sent me the address of the Western Union office on Durham Street. I called a taxi and went to send it, but the office had closed 10 minutes early saving my making a terrible mistake!”

During the conversation online Hanson said this person also told her that Amazon Gift Cards and iTunes Cards were also acceptable ways to pay, when she got back from the Western Union office.

“That’s when I knew for sure this was a Scam! The CRA Scam also asks for Amazon Gift Cards and iTunes Cards over the phone. If anyone contacts you online or over the phone and demands money now, or asks for your personal information, DO NOT PROVIDE IT! It is a SCAM! Even if online or the phone and you’re uncertain about who’s calling and if it is a scam or not, do a google search while speaking to the person, there may be already a warning online.”

Jennifer Leach, Assistant Director, Division of Consumer and Business Education says, “Here are three things that can help you avoid scammers who try to call you:

Hang up on robocalls. If you pick up the phone and hear a recorded sales pitch, hang up and report it to the FTC. These calls are illegal. And plentiful. Don’t press 1, 2 or any number to get off a list or speak to a person. That just means you’ll get even more calls.
Don’t trust your caller ID. Scammers can make caller ID look like anyone is calling: the IRS, a business or government office…even your own phone number. If they tell you to pay money for any reason, or ask for your financial account numbers, hang up. If you think the caller might be legitimate, call back to a number you know is genuine – not the number the caller gave you.
Talk to someone. Before you give up money or information, talk to someone you trust. Scammers want you to make decisions in a hurry. Slow down, check out the story, search online – or just tell a friend. We find that people who talk to someone – anyone – are much less likely to fall for a scam

This woman on Facebook is running an International Embezzlement Scam. Facebook took down her page, but she’ll soon find another person to hack and be doing it all over again.

Hanson says, “I immediately called the Sudbury OPP and the Ontario Anti-Fraud Unit, the FBI Bureau of Investigation Internet Crime Investigation Unit, as well as the Dayton Virginia Police department have all been informed of this Scam.