Thursday, February 6, 2014

Wisconsin man loses $150,000 in international bitcoin scam

An Eau Claire man has reported losing more than $150,000 in an international Internet scam using a different kind of money. Jamie Russell, a 34-year-old software engineer who lives in Eau Claire, first invested in bitcoin -- digital currency exchanged through a peer-to-peer network -- in August 2012. He purchased hundreds of bitcoins in their infancy for $5 per coin. Since then the currency has increased in value to more than $800 apiece. Concerned about the security of his digital bitcoins, Russell agreed to digitally submit 201.7 bitcoins to a man in the United Kingdom for 190 physical bitcoins, or tokens with a bitcoin digital key hidden behind a tamper-proof strip. (Russell actually has some of the physical currency, which he keeps in a safe place outside his home.)

Between Dec. 9 and 11, Russell transmitted digital bitcoins worth $151,275 to the digital wallet of a man who identified himself as David Williamson, according to an Eau Claire police report. The men met through the website bitcointalk.org and had been in contact for more than a year, and Russell came to trust Williamson.

Williamson provided Russell with two shipping tracking numbers and indicated the physical coins were en route to his home in Eau Claire. But they never arrived, prompting Russell to contact Williamson, who provided excuses and eventually cut off all communication. Russell, who had completed a number of bitcoin transactions -- but none with Williamson -- prior to this with no problems, posted the information online on bitcointalk.org and subsequently learned that as many as a dozen other users also had been defrauded by Williamson.

"I guess criminals flock to places that are fairly new," said Russell, noting Williamson had attempted to get him to exchange even more of his digital bitcoins for the physical tokens. "It's very unfortunate."

Russell reported the fraud to UK officials, who told him he also needed to file a complaint with local police. He then reported the scam to an Eau Claire police officer on Dec. 29.

"It was pretty devastating to have this happen," said Russell, who remains a proponent of the bitcoin. "It still makes me sick to say the amount of money that was lost."

Even with the theft, Russell, who got into bitcoins as a high-risk, speculative investment, said he's still money ahead of where he was before he invested in the virtual money. Still, he's not taking the loss lightly.

"My mistake was paying money (in the form of the digital bitcoins) first, which exposed me to more risk," he said.

Before sending money in any form to someone or some business overseas, Eau Claire police Lt. Derek Thomas advises people to research the intended recipient.

"These people overseas try to develop a rapport with people in the U.S., ... and once they get the money, they run," Thomas said. And "when a crime occurs overseas, it's very difficult for us to follow up."

Russell, who reads bitcoin articles daily, makes no apologies for his actions.

"Everything I've done in the bitcoin realm has been with my eyes wide-open," he said.

Even though Williamson lives in another country, Russell remains "expectant that he is going to be prosecuted," he said. However, "I'm not expectant that I'm going to get any money out of him."

© Christena T. O'Brien

Andrew Walker - Re-Cordial...

Hi,

Compliment of the day!

I know this proposal will come to you as a surprise especially when you do not know the writer, considering the huge sum of money involved which could make any apprehensive.
Let me start by introducing myself to you, I am Andrew Walker, I am a public relations officer in my Bank. Where am presently working in Europe I am seeking your consent to present you as a trustee.

This business is strictly legitimate; if this proposal satisfies you, please respond to me. For more details, and do include your private Telephone number. Hoping to hear from you soonest and to establish a long lasting mutual beneficial business relationship.

Regards,
Andrew Walker

Catherine Onyemam - Get back to me immediately for more details

Dear Sir/Madam,

I hereby humbly and most respectfully write to inform you of a cool deal at stake right now in Nigeria. I am Ms. Collette D'jallen, an attorney at law and also the representing lawyer to late Peter Waxtan whose aircraft (flight 9J-992) crashed in Lagos, Nigeria on the 3rd of June, 2012. I have been battling with the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as the Management of the Dana Airlines over the compensation of my late client until recently, they've just finally approved it but the issue remains that I have to present to them the details of the beneficiary of the compensation who's going to stand out as the next of kin to late Peter Waxtan. The compensation in question is worth $3.1million (3 million,one hundred thousand US Dollars only). Check out all these sites for more verification of my proposals to you now:

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/lagos-plane-crash-pilot-american-130633125.html,
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2154776/Pictured-American-mother-children-killed-Nigerian-plane-crash-revealed-American
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/06/04/world/africa/nigeria-plane-crash/index.html?iref=mpstoryview
http://www.freep.com/article/20120604/NEWS07/120604050/Nigeria-plane-crash-death-Dana-Air

I want to know if you are interested to do this with me for I have every power within my reach to assist you with every required documents to make you the next of kin to the late Peter Waxtan. We do not have much time to waste to be able to get this done. Put this into consideration that the money must be shared by two of us equally ( 50 ) as soon as we have the fund transferred under your care......agreed or not?

I'd be very grateful if this email meets your favourable consideration but remember to include the following details of yours ( your full names, residential/office address(es), your home, office or cell number(s), a copy of your international passport or national identity card or that of your driver's licence) to be able to start working on the payment on your names by the Nigerian government. Kindly get back to me if found interesting or ignore if not found interesting.

Thanks.

Sincerely Yours,
Attorney, Catherine Onyemam
Email: catherinegirly@gmail.com

Office of the US Ambassador

US AMBASSADOR TO NIGERIA
11 GARKI ROAD ABUJA
ABUJA, NIGERIA

Attn: Beneficiary ,

I SHALL BE COMING TO YOUR COUNTRY WITH THE COURIER AGENT FOR AN OFFICIAL MEETING ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND I WILL BE BRINGING WITH YOUR FUNDS OF $5 MILLION DOLLARS ALONG WITH ME BUT THIS TIME I WILL NOT GO THROUGH CUSTOMS BECAUSE AS AN AMBASSADOR TO NIGERIA, I AM A US GOVERNMENT AGENT AND I HAVE THE VETO POWER TO GO THROUGH CUSTOMS. AS SOON AS I AM THROUGH WITH THE MEETING I SHALL THEN PROCEED TO YOUR ADDRESS. (SEND YOUR CELL PHONE NUMBER AND THE ADDRESS WHERE YOU WANT ME TO BRING THE PACKAGE). YOU ARE A VERY LUCKY PERSON BECAUSE I SHALL BE BRINGING IT MYSELF AND THERE IS NOTHING ANYONE CAN DO ABOUT IT. YOUR PACKAGE($5MILLION DOLLARS ONLY) MUST BE REGISTERED AS AN AMBASSADORIAL PACKAGE FOR ME TO DEFEAT ALL ODDS AND THE COST OF REGISTERING IT IS $225.THE FEE MUST BE PAID IN THE NEXT 50 HOURS VIA WESTERN UNION SO THAT ALL NECESSARY ARRANGEMENT CAN BE MADE BEFORE TIME WILL BE AGAINST US.

SEND THE FEE VIA MONEY GRAM OR WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER

RECEIVER'S NAME: PETER BIOSE
ADDRESS: LAGOS-NIGERIA
TEXT QUESTION: IN GOD?
ANSWER: WE TRUST
AMOUNT $225 DOLLARS

AS SOON AS YOU SEND THE FEE MAKE SURE YOU SEND ME THE PAYMENT INFORMATION. MY FLIGHT THIS WEEK FRIDAY AND I EXPECT YOU TO COMPLY BEFORE THEN SO THAT THE DELIVERY CAN BE COMPLETED. IF YOU DO NOT COMPLY, THEN IT WILL NOT BE MY FAULT IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE YOUR PACKAGE.

REGARDS,
US AMBASSADOR JAMES F. ENTWISTLE

MICHEAL UBAH


Atten Beneficiary

We have concluded to effect your payment of $5.5Million, through western union, but the maximum amount you will be receiving each day starting from tomorrow is $5000. daily until the funds is completely transfered.

Kindly Contact Western union Agent:

Mr.Frank Onueze
TEL: (+229) 98-502-266
E-mail: (u.western30@yahoo.it)

Though, Micheal Ubah sent $5000 in your name today so contact Mr.Frank Onueze and tell him to give you the Mtcn, sender name and question/answer to pick the $5000 Pls let me know as soon as you received all your funds 5.5Million, be inform that you are to pay the sum of $68 to the agent before you can pick up.

YOUR FULL NAME
THE NAME OF YOUR COUNTRY
YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER
YOUR DRIVING LICENSE

Thank you.
Mr Micheal Ubah.

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

FORCE HEAD QUARTERS - A REPORT ON YOUR DEALING WITH IMPOSTORS VIA THE INTERNET.

FORCE HEAD QUARTERS
FRAUD COMPENSATION UNIT,
IN AFFILIATION WITH CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
LOUIS EDET HOUSE
SHEHU SHAGARI WAY
P.M.B 266
ABUJA, NIGERIA
EMAIL : [ thenigerian_policeforce@rocketmail.com]

MOTTO : TO SERVE AND PROTECT WITH INTEGRITY
FROM THE DESK OF INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

Attn: Honorable Beneficiary,

A REPORT ON YOUR DEALING WITH IMPOSTORS VIA THE INTERNET.

On behalf of the NIGERIAN POLICE FORCE, i MR MOHAMMED ABUBAKAR (Inspector General of Police) to the Nigerian Government wishes to pass this message across to you. The in Affiliation with CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA have agreed to compensate all scammed victims from any part of the world with the average sum of USD$8 Million for self support depending on the amount lost in the act

This is regarding the draws organized lately to help individuals whom have lost their earnings in this act. And to build mutual relationship with foreigner, countries and organizations to prevent this act of extorting money from you using the names of cream of the Nigerian society.

I apologize on behalf of the NIGERIAN POLICE FORCE for any delay you might have encountered in receiving your fund in the past, am very sorry for any inconvenience that these might have caused you and i want to use these medium to assure you that your fund will be released to you along with the fund that you lost to those hoodlums.

The Embassy and that of the Western Union Office made me to understand that you have been very co-operative, they forwarded to me the-mails that you sent to them today and i must tell you at this point that you should have reported the issue to the Nigeria police before you started sending money to Nigeria. We are on top of the situation and i know that those involved in this act will be brought to justice for given this great country a bad influence all over the world, Your funds will be released to you via the Central bank of Nigeria under the governorship of Prof Sanusi Lamido Sanusi who is the present governor of the C.B.N.

As soon as you have established contact with me and that all you told us is real and confirmed, i will send you is protocol so you can contact him and deal with him directly under the watching eyes of the Nigeria police, the F.B.I and the E.F.C.C without any upfront fees.

Please get back to me with the bellow personal information for verification records update and references:

Full Name.............................................. .......
Country of Origin............................................ .
Country of residence......................................... .
Age .................................................. ........
Occupation........................................ ............
Marital Status............................................ ....
Present contact address.......................................
Direct Telephone number.......................................
Scanned copy of international passport........................
Scanned copy of drivers license...............................
Scanned copy of work Id.....................................

As soon as i receive these information from you, you will be directed to the C.B.N governor for the release of your compensation fund of $8 Million (USD). will be released to you as soon as we make our verification that you are whom you say you are and that the information which you gave us about being scammed is correct. Call me as soon as you get this e-mail for confirmation of e-mail. Remain blessed in Jesus name.

Making the world a better place!
Signed and endorsed.

Regards,
MR MOHAMMED ABUBAKAR
INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE.

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