Showing posts with label advance fee fraud. Show all posts
Showing posts with label advance fee fraud. Show all posts
May 7, 2008
Nigeria Scams & Background Checks

  • 5/07/2008
Nigeria fraud increases demand for investigation

Since the emergence of the classic Nigeria 419 scam, the mother of many modern advance fee fraud methods, many people simply assume that anything pertaining to Nigeria is fraudulent. This might be the safest way of operating, but for some, it just isn't realistic. International relationships in Nigeria are rising.

Lagos is the former capital of Nigeria, and it is one of the fastest growing cities in the world with a current population of 8 million people.

International business is a way of life here. Business partners and associates exist in Europe, Middle East, Asia and North America. Doing business here often means opportunity and profits. With this potential reward, however, comes significant risk.

Businesses aren't alone in this increasingly risky playing field. Similar to a small business in New York or Paris having to verify it's business relationship in Lagos, many individuals are finding personal relationships in Nigeria. Whether its romance or a new supplier, a Nigeria background check is critical.

Many people think the scams, such as advance fee fraud, simply aren't going to happen to them. Unfortunately, as the world has grown wise to Nigeria's scams, the Nigeria fraudsters have grown surprisingly sophisticated. Business scammers now have the industry know how, and they use the lingo. They have resumes and references. Beautiful women (including white women) in Lagos definitely exist, but the number of men portraying to be these women is staggering. Here too, the players are professional. They carry on phone conversatons, send email, provide visa and passport copies, and more. This is the new Nigeria 419.

How does one entering into a business or personal relationship in Nigeria find out the truth? We strongly recommend a professional background check, preferably a firm based outside of Nigeria but with local investigators who understand the local customs, people and market. Wymoo is currently the industry leader for Nigeria scam checks. According to Vice President, David Wilkerson, businesses and individuals have to "enter into relationships with insurance given the amount of fraud here, and a professional background check is prudent policy."

All the Best,

Simon Birch
© 2006-2009 S. Birch
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May 6, 2008
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  • 5/06/2008
Background checks: The Supply and Demand

Rising Demand
More people around the global are accessing the Internet, and the global population itself exploding exponentially, the world is making a fast transition to online. Businesses around the world now make their hiring decisions based on candidates they find on the Internet. New websites for match making or online dating are popping up daily. These days, it's not uncommon to find a business partner or even find a spouse on the Internet. In this brave new world, come some sizeable risks.

Knowing the Truth
Exactly how does an individual in Paris verify a boyfriend's story who lives in Brazil? Or how does a small business in the United States verify a new supplier located in Singapore? And when looking for romance, just how do we know if he or she is really who he or she claims to be? These questions are becoming more common and so is the demand for background checks. The following section summarizes some of the options.

Options Available
Services offered for background checks vary greatly. Some websites offer simple searches for public records, while others combine public records searches with actual investigation. We prefer the latter, as real investigation has real results in most cases. Among the top 3 players in the United States are Kroll, Owens Online and Wymoo International. Wymoo has been expanding its market share by concentrating on customer service and custom investigations. All 3 companys have a strong global presence, while Wymoo offers personalized service, surveillance, local investigators and complete narrative reporting. For the Philippines, contact Wymoo's affiliate, Philippine PI.

Knowing the Prices
Average background checks can cost between $200 and $800, depending on the country of origin and the information needs of the customer. An average background investigation to verify a small business or foreign romance usually ranges between $400 and $600, again depending on the country and specific need for information. Always shop around for service quotes.

Is it really worth having your international romance, or foreign business partner verified? Absolutely. This is the age of identity theft, relationship scams, advance fee fraud, and these scams are on the rise. Think of a background check investigation as an insurance policy. One can cross his fingers and hope for the best. We recommend contracting a professional global background check service, and sleeping well at night knowing the truth.

All the Best,

Simon Birch
© 2006-2009 S. Birch
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February 14, 2008
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  • 2/14/2008
Investigations and Philippine Relationships

The Philippines is a beautiful country with no shortage of good, honest people. Beyond the beautiful beaches and resort hotels, however, there is widespread poverty and corruption. The Philippines is a place increasingly fraudulent when it comes to relationships, and relationship scammers have now created a million dollar industry, targeting Western victims.

Internet dating websites have brought together many Western men and Filipinas. Many Philippine relationships begun over the Internet have even blossomed into successful marriages. Due to the high occurance of relationship fraud and dating scams, verifying your potential spouse is more important than ever. In short, a Philippine background check is prudent.

Suveillance services and background checks available in the Philippines can be fraudulent themselves. When choosing a background check or investigative firm, we highly recommend choosing a foreign company with a Philippine presence, such as Wymoo International or Philippine PI. Foriegn firms such as these can provide you with American or European style management and customer service, quality that simply hasn't arrived yet in the local Philippine market. The costs and turnaround times are often competitive or even better.

Getting a background check prior to engaging in a serious relationship in the Philippines is essential. Many Filipinas marry strictly for immigration purposes, while others have no intention to marry. They seek to slowly drain their mate financially. An average background check service in the Philippines can run between $400 and $600 USD. Simply hoping for the best can be far more costly, not to mention all the heartache...

All the Best,

S. Birch
© 2006-2009 S. Birch

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January 27, 2008
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  • 1/27/2008
Knowing the Risks and the Warning Signs

Online or Internet dating has brought many people together and created a whole new platform for meeting someone special. It's cheap, there's no noisy bars to deal with, and one can pursue the search, worldwide, from the comfort of his or her home. Yes, online dating is wonderful. While this new and increasingly common form of dating offers many benefits, there are also many dangers, including but limited to, identity theft, financial loss, and of course, heartache. This article discusses some of the risks of Internet dating, and how to recognize the warning signs.

The Perfect Photo

Anyone can be beautiful on the Internet. Knowing whether or not his or her photo is the real thing is just the beginning in the long list of questions that arise when dating online. The truth is, there's just no way to know. If the photo appears that it has been taken from a magazine, well, it probably has. Follow your instincts as well. Ask yourself if the personality matches the photo. Does this person seem sincere? Have you talked to this person enough on the phone, and if you have, does the voice match the photo? Confirming identity when dating online is difficult.

The Potential Dangers

As the number of honest individuals dating online rises, so too is the number of scammers and criminals. Match making websites are booming and new ones are popping up each month. Internet relationships are especially open to manipulation and fraud. Scammers are increasingly sophisticated in their techniques, and it doesn't take a fool to be a victim. One warning sign is always the same, the advance fee or request for financial assistance. Be very skeptical of anyone overseas who claims to have been in an emergency and who requires financial assistance. If you decide to give the person the benefit of the doubt and continue in the relationship, at the very least, get a dating background check.

Seeking Verification

Depending on the nature of the relationship, and where the subject resides, different services are available to confirm his or her story. Wymoo International covers over 100 countries with background checks and surveillance, and the firm offers peice of mind for those relationships begun on sites such as Match.com. For relationships in the Philippines, such as those started on Cebuanas.com or Filipinaheart.com, we recommend Philippine PI, a U.S. based firm that specializes in Philippine background checks and surveillance. This group has offices in major cities such as Manila and Cebu. The costs of the services depend on the investigation and the specific needs of the client. For most cases, turnaround times are usually one week or less.

All the Best,

S. Birch
© 2006-2008 S. Birch
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January 18, 2008
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  • 1/18/2008
Internet dating scams and how to stay safe

Access to the Internet and the sharp global rise in online dating sites have created new opportunites and new threats. Industry leaders such as Match.com, eHarmony, Yahoo Personals and Cherry Blossoms were among the first to establish the market for online dating. Since then, new websites are popping up on a weekly basis, and relationship scams are on the rise.

The Red Flags

Contrary to popular belief, it doesn't take a dope to fall victim to online dating scams. Criminals searching the match-making sites are increasingly professional and sophisticated in their tactics. Scammers first contact their victims via email, then by telephone - they may even send flowers and carry on a relationship for months. Their pictures are beautiful, their personality so perfect. Then, the "emergency" happens. The young man or woman has been in a terrible accident, and yes, he or she needs money. More scammers are taking the time to build the trust level, once that trust is established, the victim is sold and the money lost.

Countries of Concern

The major countries in the world for relationship fraud are those in West Africa, the former Soviet Union block nations, and the Philippines. However, due to increasing technology being used by the scammers, as well as globalization, criminals now work from just about every nation on the globe. Easy access to technology has made this possible. These days, a scam can originate from England or the U.S. just as easily as from Nigeria.

Staying Safe Online

First, remember no site is immune. Match.com and the many others are all affected by persons seeking to commit relationship fraud. Know that scams and relationship fraud can come from any country in the world. Be wary of anyone who falls in love too fast or sudden emergencies and request for financial assistance. Be very careful about revealing personal information, and anyone (even Mr. or Ms. Perfect) who requests such information.

Verification Services

Because of the dangers of meeting someone special via the Internet, we always advise consumers to get a background check to confirm the person's identity. If the relationship is getting serious, we recommend verifying the person's story with a professional background check firm such as Wymoo or Philippine PI (for the Philippines). This kind of service is always confidential and can give you the piece of mind you're looking for. At the very least, the service can help you make an informed decision.

All the Best,

S. Birch

© 2006-2008 S. Birch
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January 16, 2008
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  • 1/16/2008
Recognizing The Signs of Fraud

Financial scams have been on the rise around the world, and unfortunately, have been rising in sophistication. Fraud was introduced to the Internet most notably by the Nigeria 411 scams, i.e. advance fee fraud. That was then, this is now.

Scammers today are using worldwide access to the Internet to their advantage. Accounts such as webhosting a new website, bank and credit accounts can now be easily opened on the Internet, from any location. Having some false identification gives the scammer the upper hand here, as he has essentially created an alias with little, if any, traceable information.

The False Website Approach

Many financial scams are taking the form of the classic advance fee fraud, but with a higher level of sophistication and tactics. Websites are often created with templates or a design is stolen from another reputable and legal investment company. Once the site is complete, the criminal has created what appears to be a legitimate website and company. The headquarters for these fictitious firms are often located in the United States, so the website claims. These sites are mearly a tool for fraud.

How to distinguish a real investment website from a fraudulent one? Search Google and Yahoo for the company to determine if there are other sites referencing the firm. Check the site itself to see if the firm has contact information. A website without an address or phone number is a red flag for potential fraud or scam. Search phone directories for the firm's telephone number. Lastly, check with the SEC's website for signs on how to recognize these investment scams, and to verify registration of the firm.

Knowing the Signs of Fraud

Although the level of sophistication in these scams continues to rise, an educated consumer can know the difference. Scammers today always contact their victims with an offer - the potential victim has been selected. The firm representative may speak perfect English, and even understand investments and asset management. He may even request you submit an IRS form and other documents. Bottom line, this person will request personal data and/or payment promptly and without ever meeting you. Be skeptical and ask for the firms' references and SEC filing.

Getting Verification

If you've searched the Internet for references, checked local phone listings, maybe even contacted the SEC for verification, and spoke with company representatives and claimed references - and you're still not sure? Contact a professional investigation company, like Wymoo International or Philippine PI for help. Get the facts on who your dealing with - then decide.

All the Best,

S. Birch

© 2006-2008 S. Birch
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