Der „9.000.000 € von Bill Gates“ Scam

Heute bekam ich eine E Mail, in der ich, nach der ich 9 Millionen Euro von Bill Gates bekommen soll. Nun gibt es wahrscheinlich Leute, die würden an meiner Stelle jubelnd aufschreien: 9 Millionen Euro! Das ist natürlich ein Betrugsversuch. Hier ist zunächst einmal der ganze Text: 
„Sehr geehrte/r Begünstigte/r,
Sie wurden ausgewählt, um im Rahmen einer globalen Initiative zur Unterstützung einflussreicher Einzelpersonen und Anliegen 9.000.000 € zu erhalten. Diese Förderung würdigt Ihr Potenzial, Innovation, Gerechtigkeit und langfristigen gesellschaftlichen Mehrwert zu fördern. Unser Team wird sich in Kürze mit Ihnen in Verbindung setzen, um die Überweisung und die Berichterstattung zu vereinbaren.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen,
Bill Gates
Wohltätige Unterstützung
Lynanne Lewis vvv“

Zunächst weißt der Scammer noch nicht einmal, wen er da anschreibt „geehrte/r Begünstigte/r“. Der Inhalt ist in schlechtem Deutsch aus dem Englischen (?) übersetzt worden. Sowohl Bill Gates wie auch Lynanne Lewis gibt es als Personen im realen Leben. Weshalb sollte Bill Gates 9.000.000 € einfach so loswerden wollen? Die Post kommt von jemandem, die sich Filya Zherbrovska nennt. Auch dieser Name läßt sich in der Chefetage eines ukrainischen Pharma-Unternehmens finden. Würde sich diese Person aber mit einer Email-Adresse unter dem Namen „afrocandy“ melden? Man benötigt also keine Zeit, um hier einen Betrugsversuch auszumachen.

Ich frage mich nun, warum jemand so einen leicht zu durchschauenden Betrugsversuch durchführt? Ich bin der Überzeugung, daß es einen einfachen Grund gibt. Die Scammer sind nicht an Menschen interessiert, die über diese Email nachdenken. Sie suchen ihre Opfer unter gierigen und eher wenig intellektuell begabten Zeitgenossen. Die Rattenfänger sind nicht nur in der Politik unterwegs.

.

Scam: Giveaway-Programm der Bundesregierung für 2024

Es scheint Menschen zu geben, die meinen, wenn jemand sagt, man könne 30.000€ aus einem Giveaway Programm der Bundesregierung für 2024 erhalten, dann würde das stimmen, aber das stimmt natürlich nicht. Solch ein Programm gibt es überhaupt nicht und selbst die Bundesregierung hat davor schon vor Jahren gewarnt [1]. Aber wie ist es dazu gekommen, daß ich jetzt darüber berichte.

Solche Dinge passieren mir auf Facebook, auf Twitter bzw. X ist mir so etwas noch nie passiert. Auf Facebook kommen aus dem Nichts Freundschafts-Anfragen. Vor zwei Wochen war eine etwas jüngere Frau, die mir Sex anbot, aber dahinter verbargen sich Scammer in Nigeria, die ich mit dem Stoppcode „Alaye“ zum Aufgeben bewegen konnte. Und jetzt kam eine Frau  mittleren Alters, die mich auf Deutsch ansprach, angeblich aus Bremerhaven. Ich war gespannt, sonst hätte ich das mir diese Freundschaftsanfrage gar nicht zugelassen, was sie nun anbieten wollte, denn ich war zuvor eher auf Englisch kontaktiert worden.
Wie läuft das also ab? Es ist zunächst einmal völlig überraschend, wenn jemand nicht aus einem der Kreise kommt, für die bereits  Freundschaften bestehen. Da sollte man hellhörig werden und normalerweise diese überhaupt nicht zulassen. Dann tut sich einige Tage nichts. Plötzlich kommt ein vorsichtiges Hallo, wie geht es denn? Und es wird noch einige Fragen geben, die völlig harmlos sind. Aber schon da merkt man, daß etwas nicht stimmt. Wie auch in diesem Fall. In diese Konversationen wird dann häufig zwischen Sie und Du gewechselt, weil es aus einer anderen Sprache übersetzt wurde oder es kommt etwas, daß schlimmer ist als AfD-Deutsch, hier ein Beispiel: „Alles, was du tun müssen, ist, den Agenten über den Link, den ich jetzt an du weiterleite, ...“.

Gehen wir noch mal zum Anfang zurück, also der Account war von einer Sonja Stefan [2]. Und der Account, das muss ich zugeben, war auch ganz gut gemacht, denn obwohl er nur seit Anfang Dezember besteht, war er mit Inhalt gefüllt, aber wenn man sich das genau anschaut, dann waren das Inhalte, die völlig belanglos sind. Das fällt beim schnellen Durchscrollen kaum auf und läßt den Account harmlos erscheinen. Ich habe aus der Bibel zitiert und die Ehrungen des gerade verstorbenen Helmut Schlesinger gesendet, aber das hat man nicht verstanden, denn dann wurde inadäquat geantwortet. Schließlich kommt es zu dem Hinweis das Giveaway Programm der Bundesregierung. Doch davor hat die Bundesregierung in den vergangenen Jahren bereits gewarnt. Der ganze Zweck dieser Übung ist, an Daten zu kommen, mit denen die Täter zum Beispiel ein Konto leerräumen können. Und wenn man etwa den Link, der einem dann gesendet wird, anklickt dann ist die Gefahr groß, dass dies auch passiert. Deshalb Mein Rat: Auf keinen  unbekannten Link klicken. Die Links von der Bundesregierung sollte man  sich einmal näher anzuschauen, denn dort sind Warnhinweise, die nicht nur die nicht nur gegen diesen Scam sondern auch Phishing oder Smishing richten.  Hinter die Anmerkungen setze ich noch den gesamten Text des Messenger Dialogs, den ich kopiert habe und da kann man sehen, daß ich schon früh das Stoppwort benutzt hatte, aber die Gangster sind nicht drauf eingegangen und haben brav weiter gemacht.


Links und Anmerkungen:
[1] Hier zwei der Warnungen der Bundesregierung:
https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/service/archiv/bsi-warnung-paket-sms-1888810
https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/aktuelles/phishing-mail-betrug-2043820
[2] Sonja Stefan https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570456260775  
Einer der besseren Fake-Accounts, schon mit etwas nichtssagendem Inhalt befüllt. Hier zum Vergleich ein Profil, das wahrschein nicht mehr benutzt wird, aber nicht gelöscht wurde, da ging es um goße Mengen an Bargeld, das in Paketen von FedEx geliefert werden sollte: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087598905520

Der Text aus dem Messenger:
Sonja Stefan
Ihr seid auf Facebook befreundet
Neues Facebook-Konto
Wohnt in Bremen-Hemelingen, Bremen, Germany
Gestern um 16:29
Do, 16:29
Sonja
Sonja Stefan
Hallo Wir wünschen Ihnen frohe Weihnachten
Gestern um 20:18
Do, 20:18
Du hast Folgendes gesendet:
Alle meine Persönlichkeiten (außer Hildegunst, der ist Apoplektiker) wünschen ebenfall Frohe Weihnachten in Vergangenheit, Gegenwart und Zukunft!
Gestern um 20:34
Do, 20:34
Sonja
Sonja Stefan
Vielen Dank für deine Wünsche. Woher kommst du?
Gestern um 23:56
Do, 23:56
Du hast Folgendes gesendet:
Woher kommen wir? Wohin gehen wir? Das sind wirklich die großen Fragen des Lebens, auf die niemand die Antwort weiß. Weißt du, woher du kommst?
Heute um 08:31
08:31
Sonja
Sonja Stefan
Ich bin aus Bremen und du
Heute um 09:19
09:19
Du hast Folgendes gesendet:
Ich komme aus Köln
Sonja
Sonja Stefan
Ok, schön, dich hier auf Facebook zu treffen
Heute um 09:53
09:53
Du hast Folgendes gesendet:
Und wenn du von dort weitergehst und du zur Terebinthe Tabor kommst, werden dich dort drei Männer treffen, die zu Gott nach Bethel hinaufgehen. Einer trägt drei Böckchen und einer drei Brote, und einer trägt einen Schlauch mit Wein. // Warum trägt der letzte nur einen Schlauch und nicht drei? Vielleicht wegen der 0,3 Promille?
Heute um 10:13
10:13
Sonja
Sonja Stefan
Ich verstehe nicht
Du hast Folgendes gesendet:
Wenn du das nicht verstehst, dann vielleicht das:
Du hast Folgendes gesendet:
ALAYE!
Gesendet
Nee
Gestern um 12:31
Fr, 12:31
Sonja hat dir geantwortet
Sonja Stefan
Ich bin selbstständig
Gestern um 12:46
Fr, 12:46
Du hast Folgendes gesendet:
So so
Sonja
Sonja Stefan
Und du
Gestern um 16:32
Fr, 16:32
Du hast Folgendes gesendet:
Ebenso
Sonja
Sonja Stefan
Aber haben Sie schon von den aktuellen Nachrichten gehört?
Gestern um 17:51
Fr, 17:51
Du hast Folgendes gesendet:
Da sagen Sie was! Helmut Schlesinger ist tot. Der Mann hatte immerhin:
Verdienstorden der Bundesrepublik Deutschland
Bundesverdienstkreuz (1970)
Großes Bundesverdienstkreuz (1977) mit Stern (1984) und Schulterband (1991)
Großkreuz des Verdienstordens der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (1993)
Ludwig-Erhard-Preis für Wirtschaftspublizistik (1981)
Ehrendoktorwürde der Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main (1981)
Ehrendoktorwürde der Georg-August-Universität Göttingen (1981)
Hessischer Verdienstorden (1990)
Königlicher Nordstern-Orden Kommandeurkreuz I. Klasse (1991)
Honorarprofessor der Deutschen Universität für Verwaltungswissenschaften
Bernhard-Harms-Medaille des Instituts für Weltwirtschaft Kiel (1992)[5]
Raiffeisen-Schulze-Delitzsch-Medaille in Gold (1993)
Großes Silbernes Ehrenzeichen der Republik Österreich (1993)
Großkreuz des Verdienstordens des Großherzogtums Luxemburg (1993)
Mittelkreuz des Verdienstordens der Republik Ungarn (1993)
Ehrendoktorwürde der Universität St. Gallen (1993)
Alexander-Rüstow-Plakette der Aktionsgemeinschaft Soziale Marktwirtschaft (1994)
Hohe Auszeichnungen des Staates Indonesien (1999)
Öffentliche Ehrung zum „goldenen“ Doktorjubiläum an der Universität Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (2001)
Großkreuz des Verdienstordens der Italienischen Republik (2006)
Gestern um 21:00
Fr, 21:00
Sonja
Nicht das
Sonja
Sonja Stefan
Es dreht sich alles um die jährliches Giveaway-Programm der Bundesregierung für 2024, das noch läuft, davon haben du noch nichts gehört
Sonja
Sonja Stefan
Sie helfen denen, die Hilfe beim Bezahlen ihrer Rechnungen, beim Schulbesuch, bei Gehörlosen, Behinderten, Männern und Frauen im Ruhestand, bei Geschäftsleuten und bei jedem persönlichen Gebrauch benötigen. Ich habe 30.000 € aus dem Programm erhalten. Wussten du wie man sich für das Programm bewirbt?
Gestern um 22:20
Fr, 22:20
Du hast Folgendes gesendet:
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😎 - Fill out the form:
Du hast Folgendes gesendet:
YOUR FULL  NAME........
FULL ADDRESS......
MALE/FEMALE ...........
AGE.....
A CLEAR PICTURE OF YOU…… .
MARRIED/SINGLE.....
TEXT PHONE NUMBER.......
E-MAIL........
OCCUPATION..........
MONTHLY INCOME.....
Sonja
Sonja Stefan
Ich verstehe nicht, was du meinst
Du hast Folgendes gesendet:
Also wie geht das mit dem Giveaway-Programm der Bundesregierung für 2024,?
Gestern um 22:58
Fr, 22:58
Sonja
Alles, was du tun müssen, ist, den Agenten über den Link, den ich jetzt an du weiterleite, zu kontaktieren und sich ebenfalls zu bewerben
Sonja
https://wa.me/49015*********
Share on WhatsApp
Sonja
Sonja Stefan
Klicken Sie jetzt auf den Link und senden Sie ihnen eine Nachricht, dass ein Begünstigter Ihnen davon erzählt hat und Sie bereit sind, sich zu bewerben
Heute um 08:40
08:40
Du hast Folgendes gesendet:
Sie müssen mich für wahnsinnig bescheuert halten.
Vor 3 Min. gesendet

Scammer „Agent Ben Thompson“

 

I have been in contact with a scammer, who calls himself „Agent BenThompson“ or about four months now.

First he wanted some information on myself, but the answer had been No. After to weeks silence he contacted me again. In one of my answers I've written: DID SUZI QUATRO SING SCAM THE SCAM? From the conversation one could see, he isn't a native English speaker. He wanted a clear picture of myself and after I've sent the picture above (which I took in Jordania) he kept silent for six weeks.

He still wanted information, so I asked instead: TELL ME HOW MUCH MONEY. He insisted on information first. I played broken record and after a while he repled: SIR I THINK IT'S WAS $50,000 JUST FILL THE FORM'S AND SEND TO US NOW. I aswered: YOU THINK? - MAKE SURE.

Then I asked him:
AREN'T YOU AGENT MICHAEL DONALD?
AREN'T YOU AGENT JAMES DONALD?
AREN'T YOU AGENT LARRY SMITH?
AREN'T YOU AGENT FRANK SMITH?
AREN'T YOU AGENT WILLIAM JAMES?
AREN'T YOU AGENT JAMES SMITH?
AREN'T YOU AGENT WILLIAM MARK?
Agent Ben Thompson:
SIR WE'RE TRUST PERSON AND FAIRING GOD
And:
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GRANT ORGANIZE THIS PROGRAM TO HELP PEOPLES OUT OF INCONVENIENCE AND LACK OF POVERTY IN THE SOCIETY
I asked:
OTHER QUESTION: IF I HAVE "LACK OF POVERTY", WHY WOULD I NEED MONEY?
Later he has sent this message:
SIR WE YOU COMPLETE THE FORM'S AND AND LET US PROCEED ON
to which I answered:
MAYBE IF YOU CORRECT THE (AT LEAST) THREE MISTAKES IN YOUR MESSAGE
He then wanted me to „calm my grant“ - I guess it's claim.

Another two weeks of silence until he contacted me again. But then I asked him to fill out the form he had sent to previously:
YOUR FULL  NAME........
FULL ADDRESS......
MALE/FEMALE ...........
AGE.....
A CLEAR PICTURE OF YOU…… .
MARRIED/SINGLE.....
TEXT PHONE NUMBER.......
E-MAIL........
OCCUPATION..........
MONTHLY INCOME.....
And only after this he has sent a final:
ALAYE

Alaye is a word in Yoruba, a language spoken in Nigeria. I had long suspected that „Agent Ben Thompson“ sits in Nigeria. The word means powerful person, also tout, hoodlum, but in our context its a codeword used by scammers to say: I know, you're a scammer, too. So the two won't waste their time on each other.
Do I want further contact with Scammer Agent Ben Thomson? Rárá, ẹ sé. [No, thanks.]

PS. Maybe I'll greet the next scammer with:
Ẹk'áàárọ̀ [Good morning].
Ẹ kú irọ̀lẹ́ [Good evening].
Ó dàárọ̀ [Good night].

.

ARE YOU READY TO GET YOUR $22,000,000.00 CASH BOX DELIVERED DEAR WINNER? - Another Scam Attempt.

Actually I have been approached by a scammer on facebook [1]. He calls himself AGENT JAMES MIKE and asked me: „ARE YOU READY TO GET YOUR $22,000,000.00 CASH BOX DELIVERED DEAR WINNER.........?“ New is that he didn't use an intermediary. But he used a fake ID, easy to see as he used part of the picture of US Congressman Mike Bost as seen on Wikipedia [2]. This picture had also been used posing as Agent Frank Royal [3].

Now I should pay $200 and then get $22,000,000.00. Which government would send $22,000,000.00 to a private person in a foreign country? And then this fee. This is to hook you to the scammer. There will be more fees because your parcel with the $22,000,000.00 is held back somewhere and someone has to be bribed. You guessed it right, you pay and get nothing.

I will take back my „friendship“ that was required. If you are approached by Agent James Mike ore any other agent be careful. Good information on Government Grat Scams is here: [4]. The whole conversation is below, me answers are green, his are red.

PS. Last night while watching the Perseids (meteor shower) I thought, how much would $22,000,000.00 weigh and could this "$22,000,000.00 CASH BOX" be "DELIVERED". I've just checked it [5]. US$22,000,000.00 weigh 220 kg (485 US pounds) and the volume is 2.2 m³ (77.7 ft³). Often these agents/scammers show parcels of FedEX or parcels being delivered [6]. This would be impossible as FedEX restricts parcels to 150 lbs (68kg).


Links and Annotations:
[1] https://www.facebook.com/agentjamesmikefederalgovernmentprivategrant Let's see how long it stays.
[2] https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mike_Bost_official_photo.jpg
[3] https://www.facebook.com/deliveryagentfedex?locale=zh_CN
[4]Good information on Government Grat Scams https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/government-grant-scams
[5] https://www.finanzen.net/nachricht/devisen/scheine-muenzen-so-viel-wiegen-1-million-euro-franken-und-us-dollar-11272768
[6] https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552396844656

19:53
My conversation on Facebook with „AGENT JAMES MIKE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PRIVATE GRANT“
HELLO

ARE YOU READY TO GET YOUR $22,000,000.00 CASH BOX DELIVERED DEAR WINNER.........?

Why am I a winner?

WE SAW YOUR NAME ON OUR DATABASE VERIFICATION SYSTEM, SO ARE YOU READY TO RECEIVE YOUR PACKAGE BEFORE WE PROCEED ON YOUR DELIVERY SCHEDULE DETAILS.......

But I did not take part in any lottery.

THIS IS REAL AND LEGITIMATE, IT'S FREE MONEY GIVEN BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO HELP PEOPLE MAINTAIN THEIR STANDARD OF LIVING OR TO START A BUSINESS OR WHATEVER YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN DO AND IT WILL FAVOUR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, BESIDE YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY IT BACK AFTER GETTING YOUR WINNING MONEY PACKAGE.

Which government sends $22,000,000.00 to a private person in a foreign country?

LIKE I TOLD YOU EARLIER, THIS IS REAL AND LEGIT AND YOU JUST HAVE TO PAY $200 FOR THE DELIVERY FEE ONLY.

ARE YOU READY TO APPLY NOW SO THAT WILL CAN PROCEED ON YOUR DELIVERY SCHEDULE DETAILS.....?

Excuse me, I haven't told you yet that you're a scammer.

REALLY

Yes, you use a photograph of Representative Mike Bost, which is available on Wikipedia.

THIS IS REAL AND LEGIT.

Ha ha ha!

I'M NOT FORCING YOU TO APPLY FOR IT OKAY.

And you or someone else used it as Agent FRank Royal https://www.facebook.com/deliveryagentfedex?locale=zh_CN
Agent Frank Royal

YOU HAVE TO BE HONEST WITH ME
TELL ME THAT YOU'RE A SCAMMER

THIS IS REAL AND LEGIT, BUT THIS AGENT FRANK ROYAL IS A SCAM AND YOU HAVE TO BE AWARE OF A SCAM.

Already giving up?

you bet i am and I'm going to publish this conversation -
THIS IS REAL AND LEGIT

YOU HAVE TO BE AWARE OF SCAM BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAS BEEN USING OUR INFORMATION TO SCAM PEOPLE, BUT BY THE GRACE OF GOD ALL OF THEM WILL BE GET ARRESTED.

Yes, you're right, it would excellent if all of the scammer get arrested, but I doubt that they'll catch you. But at least I can warn others.

Actually this is a helpful page:
https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/government-grant-scams

I call it checkmate!
 

.

Scammer Attorney DonKiss – a Rerun

“It ain't over 'til it's over,” said Yogi Berra and I should have remembered this word. I thought the scamming attempt by „Attorney DonKiss“ had been terminated about two months ago. I have written about the attempt and published it on my blog [1]. I told him that I think that he's a scammer and I even sent him he link to my blog [2].

Yesterday he was back again:
Attorney DonKiss: Hello
Attorney DonKiss: Please let us know when you're ready to receive your grant money, okay?
I: Well yes?
Attorney DonKiss: You just need to be honest with me and once you're honest I'm assurring you that you'll get your grant money today
Attorney DonKiss: Are you ready to receive your grant money ??
I: I'm honest with you, always have been. I think you're a scammer.
Attorney DonKiss: Don't think this is a scam or whatever , this is real and we are already trying all our possible best to help you deliver your money soon and early as this payment has been make and confirm okay.
I: A real scam!
Attorney DonKiss:  – he sent some pictures of people getting packages –
Attorney DonKiss: This is one of our beneficiary customer that just received their grant money and I hope you understand that I'm genuine in my approach and not attempting to scam or deceive you in any way. When you're ready to receive your grant package, please feel free to text me, and I'll arrange for it to be delivered to your doorstep.
Attorney DonKiss: All you need to pay is $100, and no other payments or fees will be required. Just make the $100 payment, and you will receive your grant money delivered to your doorstep.
I: See, I told you it's a scam. You won't even get a dime.
Attorney DonKiss: No
Attorney DonKiss: This is real and legitimate okay
I: No money from me to you.
Attorney DonKiss: We are ready to deliver your grant package to your doorstep, are you ready to make the payment of $100 rn so we can process.
I: Hey, you must be desperate!😁
Attorney DonKiss: What do you mean by that ?
Attorney DonKiss: It's well
I: You didn't even check:
I: https://rheumatologe.blogspot.com/2024/06/scammer-attorney-donkiss.html Scammer Attorney Donkiss
Attorney DonKiss: No, I didn't
I: You should have long ago!

The pivotal aspect lies in the $100 payment. Once this payment is made, there will come more and more requests and as you don't want to loose money you keep on paying.

Are you surprised tht people act this way? I am not! People want to be winner, even if they didn't take part in a lottery. The idea that you receive a package of US-$ bills seems as strange as believing in Santa Claus bringing gifts. It is the same as the cargo cults of Melanesia. Two years ago the John Frum Movement had its 65th Anniversary [3]. John Frum is a messianic figure, who is said to emerge from a crater, bring cargo and and lead his followers into a happy future. Who was John Frum? Maybe it has been a serviceman by the name of John Broom or John from (America). After the 2nd World War “followers of John Frum built symbolic landing strips to encourage American airplanes to land and bring them 'cargo'”. There are more cargo cults in Melanesia, but the John Frum movement is best known [4].

No agency or charitable organization will send packages of money. But maybe you have to learn it the hard way [5].


Links and Annotations:
[1] Scammer Attorney Donkiss https://rheumatologe.blogspot.com/2024/06/scammer-attorney-donkiss.html
[2] Here's the end of the dialogue:
17.06.2024, 19:45
Attorney DonKiss: Hello ?
I: Hello Scammer, I'm surprised you're back again.
You might be interested in: https://rheumatologe.blogspot.com/2024/06/scammer-attorney-donkiss.html
Scammer Attorney Donkiss
Attorney DonKiss:  – silence –
[3] John Frum Movement – 65th Anniversary https://rheumatologe.blogspot.com/2022/02/john-frum-movement-65th-anniversary.html
[4] I've already used this in: https://rheumatologe.blogspot.com/2023/11/scammer-agent-john-smith-or-william.html  
[5] One may eveb quote from the bible: “...; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.“ New American Standard Bible, Matthew 25:29b

.

Scammer Attorney Donkiss

Lately I had a contact with a scammer or maybe a phisher, who calls himself Attorney Donkiss. I had been contacted by someone with a name closely to some I know from a haiku circle on Facebook, but the name had been slightly misspelled. As I wanted the contact to a scammer, so I've let it play.

Then I got my new friends message:
I’m doing pretty great, everything is going on well with me also trying to be safe and going away from social activities, have you also benefit from the CAP program yet?
I answered:
I don't wear caps, makes one look like this convicted Trump.
And got this answer:
Good morning!! Don’t tell me you haven’t heard about the ongoing Christian Against Poverty (CAP) program given out to all citizens who need assistance paying for bills.buying a home.starting a Business. going to school. even helping the Old. Retired and Disable Ones. it’s not a loan so you don’t have to pay it back are you aware about this?

Let's stop for a moment:
The program is called Christian Against Poverty (CAP). I've googled it and there an organization called Christians Against Poverty (CAP) that warns against online imposters, already in 2019 [1]. „We are Christians (with an S) Against Poverty. If it reads Christian Against Poverty – fake!“  That was easy!

Then the new FB friend continued:
CAP , was created to help all countries who are suffering from Financial Hardship get Resources, Discounts, Employment, Financial Aid, Coupons,  Even I saw your name on the list and the program is very helpful, I already checked into it and i got the sum of $30,000 from them when i applied for the program. Have you heard of Agent Attorney Donkiss ?

Of course I hadn't, but I searched on Facebook and found an account with the name of „Attorney Donkiss“. A bleak account with 7 followers [2] and a picture of a US general. On Wikipedia you can find the picture connected to Maj. Gen. Steven A. Cray [3]. The picture has been shot by Tech. Sgt. Sarah Mattison and is public domain [4].
The FB friend called him Agent Attorney Donkiss, they usually are called agent. Now we have a Christian organization, which is acting world wide and is presented by an attorney, which has the picture of a US general on his account. Does this make you suspicious? If not, you might be prone to scams or phishing attacks.

The FB friend messaged again:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555597865790
Attorney DonKiss
Here's the Attorney Donkiss agent Facebook page just click on the link and give them a text that you want to apply for the ongoing cap program and also tell them my name as referral ok

But this in another account of the scammer. I deliberately used the one, I've found myself.

Then I got a reply by Attorney DonKiss, who only writes in capital letters:
GREETINGS SIR. THIS IS AGENT ATTORNEY DONKISS FROM THE CAP FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GRANT...WHAT IS YOUR FULL NAME AND WHO REFFERED YOU TO US?
Again we have agent and the CAP changed from a private christian organization to a federal government organization, which in my case would grant money, which has not to be paid back in a foreign, developed country (Germany).

In the following conversation he explained:
CAP MEANS CHRISTIANS AGAINST PROVERT AND THIS PROGRAM BELONGS TO FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?
I don't think that the omission of the Y in POVERTY is a typo.

He went on:
FIRSTLY I WILL HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO YOU WHAT THE PROGRAM IS ALL ABOUT.
And:
THIS IS REAL, LEGAL AND LEGIT SET UP BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WITH THE HELP AND SUPPORT OF THE WORLD BANK TO HELP THE PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY.
Now, it's the World Bank giving the money.

Later:
THAT'S ONE OF OUR BENEFICIARY THAT JUST GOT HER MONEY DELIVERED TO HER AND SHE WAS THANKING US WE ARE LEGIT, ONCE YOU'RE HONEST YOU'LL GET YOUR GRANT MONEY DELIVERED TO YOU SIR
Who is the beneficiary? But it still is a grant.

A little later:
YOU JUST NEED TO BE HONEST WITH ME AND ONCE YOU'RE HONEST I'M ASSURRING YOU THAT YOU'LL GET YOUR CAP WINNING MONEY
The spammer requests honesty! And the grant is changed into CAP winning money like in a lottery.
He clarified, that I don't have to pay taxes and don't have to pay back the grant by „A CHRISTIAN AGAINST PROVERT FOUNDATION ISSUING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN GRADIENT GRANT MONEY TO VARIETY OF GROUPS EACH YEAR.“ I leave out the lengthy passage.

YOU'LL HAVE TO FILL OUT SOME INFORMATION SO WE CAN [???]
FULL NAME.........................
ADDRESS.......................
STATE...........................
AGE............................
HEARING/DEAF............
OCCUPATION.........
INCOME.......................
DO YOU OWN A HOUSE/RENT....
FED-EX............................
DO YOU WANT CASH OR CHECK...................................
A PICTURE OF YOUR ID FRONT AND BACK PICTURE?.....................
This looked much the same like by a scammer, which contacted me last year.

I'm quite surprised that these scammers succeed and make a living by these scams. As he or they posed as a Christian organization, let's make it clear avarice is a sin, but so is fraud. Avarice in this context means you loose money instead of gaining money. Fraud means, if you're caught you go to jail – rightfully!


Links and Annotations:
[1] https://premierchristian.news/en/news/article/christians-against-poverty-warns-against-online-imposters
[2] https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559339076217 Let's see, how this account stays online.
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_A._Cray
[4] Maj. Gen. Steven A. Cray, Adjutant General of the State of Vermont. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Sarah Mattison), Date 8 July 2016, 07:25:53  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_A._Cray#/media/File:Steven_A._Cray_(3).jpg

.

Scammer Agent John Smith – another Round

You might remember, that I had been contacted by a scammer, who called himself Agent John Smith [1]. Now, here he comes again.

AGENT JOHN SMITH
HELLO DEAR WINNER HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY?
My answer:
Great!

AGENT JOHN SMITH
ARE YOU READY TO CLAIM YOUR WINNING MONEY?
My answer:
Yeah!

AGENT JOHN SMITH
Full name........
Address......
Male/Female ...........
Age.....
Married/Single.....
Text or Phone Number.......
E-mail........
Date of birth  .
Amount you earn per week and month...
Hearing or Deaf.......
Do you Own a house or Rent Appt........
Do you want cash or check?
My answer:
Check! [2]

AGENT JOHN SMITH
FULL NAME...
My answer:
Lothar Kirsch

AGENT JOHN SMITH
ADDRESS...
My answer:
Poste Restante
Heidelbergerstr. 31
51065 Koeln
Germany

AGENT JOHN SMITH
MALE/FEMALE
My answer:
male

AGENT JOHN SMITH
AGE...
My answer:
69

AGENT JOHN SMITH
My answer:
No comment!

AGENT JOHN SMITH
TEXT OR PHONE NUMBER...
My answer:
No phone.

AGENT JOHN SMITH
E-MAIL...
My answer:
You can't mail a cheque to an email-account.

AGENT JOHN SMITH
DATE OF BIRTH....
My answer:
Why do you show a picture of Ronald Reagan on your FB account (October 25, 1987)? [3]

AGENT JOHN SMITH
AMOUNT YOU EARN PER WEEK AND MONTH.......
My answer:
Private information, not to be disclosed publicly.

AGENT JOHN SMITH
HEARING OR DEAF......
My answer:
I'm deaf to such requests.
And:
https://www.facebook.com/AgentthomasWilliam1/  
https://www.facebook.com/p/Lotto-agent-100069901831305/
https://www.facebook.com/agent.david.mark.510/  
https://www.facebook.com/p/AGENT-James-Smith-100070915178004/
https://www.facebook.com/p/Agent-Richard-moore-100064621726289/

AGENT JOHN SMITH
WHO IS THIS AGENT CAN YOU SEND ME THERE ADDRESS WILL ARE FIND ALL THIS SCAM WILL ARE GOING TO AREST HIM WITH FIB AND YOU DONT LET ANY SCAM AGENT TO SCAM YOU COLLECT MONEY
My answer:
Good answer, scammer! But not good enough, these FB accounts are older than your current account.

Since then no answer, but he didn't erase his accounts, which Dwight Reddick, who was scamming in German [4] did.

On a second look – does the scammer know English above 1st grade primary school? I guess that sadly no one will arrest him and I'll make sure that no scam agent will get my money.


Links and Annotations:
[1] Scammer Agent John Smith or William James –  https://rheumatologe.blogspot.com/2023/11/scammer-agent-john-smith-or-william.html
[2] As in Check mate!
[3] Alamys description of the picture: „Jan. 11, 2010 - Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America - United States President Ronald Reagan meets with top advisors in the Residence on Sunday, October 25, 1987, to be updated on the recent meetings in Moscow. Seated from left, are: Frank Carlucci; President Reagan; Secretary of State George Shultz; Lieutenant General Colin Powell, Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs; Chief of Staff Howard Baker; and Deputy Chief of Staff Ken Duberstein..Mandatory Credit: Mary Anne Fackelman-Miner - White House via CNP (Credit Image: © Mary Anne Fackelman-Min“
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-jan-11-2010-washington-district-of-columbia-united-states-of-america-95733687.html Please compare with the account „Agent John Smith“ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553591950249  
[4] Dwight Reddick und Agentin Susan Desmond – Spammer, Scammer (Betrüger) und Phisher https://rheumatologe.blogspot.com/2024/01/dwight-reddick-und-agentin-susan.html

.

Scammer Agent John Smith or William James

I wanted to illustrate this blog post with two screenshots of the Facebook accounts, but cannot do so, because the scammer obviously violated copyrights. Here is what I wanted to write in the text beneath the pictures:

William James [1]:
Have a closer look: the grant comes from the US Department of Education and is addressed to St. Mary's University, not a grant to an individual by an individual; more on William James in the text.

Agent John Smith [2]:
You may oversee the watermark of the company Alamy on the picture of a meeting.

 
I have been contacted by a scammer, who called himself Agent John Smith or William James (on the account he had written William james). John Smith or John Doe, what does it matter? Agent Smith in the movie Matrix has no given name by the way.

I thought a friend from the USA was contacting me on June the 7th this year, but as it turned out it was a fake account on her name. We know each other since the 1970ies and I visited her in the US a while ago; as I can't travel easily to the US anymore because I visited Iran. Normally we use snail mail or email or sometimes the FB messenger. After the „Hello how are you doing ??“ came a „Good to hear back from you,i'm doing pretty good and so happy now because life has really changed for better,not sure if you have heard about the great news about me yet?“ on the 8th of June. And: „I just got money from the (SCF)Strengthening Communities Fund,just wondering if you have heard about them yet??“ Finally: I applied before getting the money, I was told I'm eligible to receive the bonus money,I got $250.000 delivered to me through the Fedex agent after contacting them for my claiming.but anyway I think you should contact the agent and ask if you are eligible to apply for the program did you know how to do that ??“ Followed by a link [1]. I told her that I didn't need such a grant, because I was sure that this is a scam. Then on the 17th of November I got a „Happy thansgiveng?“ from her, which made me wonder as Thanksgiving is much earlier in Germany and has not the same importance that it has in the US, moreover we never exchanged Thanksgiving greetings during the past 40 years, but I answered: „Oh, yes, but our thanksgiving is earlier in the year, 1st of October. The big family reunion and festivity is Christmas here.“ The next day she came back to the topic of the grant and sent another link [2]. I replied with some background check on one of the scammer's pictures [3] - you can see that Edward Biały of  Veniseptico Polska has the picture as William James. I contacted the scammer and he replied: „Congratulation on your grant as our verification team alerts that your data verification process was successful“; seriously? How could I be on the list of potential beneficiaries? He had anotherlist, a list of data, he wanted to collect:
„Full name........
Address......
Male/Female ...........
Age.....
Married/Single.....
Text or Phone Number.......
E-mail........
Date of birth  .
Amount you earn per week and month...
Hearing or Deaf.......
Do you Own a house or Rent Appt........
Do you want cash or check?“
Of course, I didn't answer this, so he came back with:
„WHY DO YOU IGORNING ME....“
By the time I had already sent an email to my friend and then found out that the scammer had opened a second accound on her name with which he contactted me.
I answered with: „Are you sure you need to know the color of my grandfather's wooden leg?“ After this message he didn't answer.

The  „Happy thansgiveng?“, a „What did he said?“ are unlike my friend, who taught at a university. And of course the „igorning“ is also a hint to the language level of the scammer.

Interesting is also that the scammer used two different accounts for the same scam -  William James and Agent John Smith. Would this not be enough to know that it's a scam?

What might be the purpose of this scam? I don't think it's phishing as the data on „Amount you earn per week and month... / Hearing or Deaf....... / Do you Own a house or Rent Appt........“ is more likely used to categorize victims. I didn't play it further as I'm not a scam hunter. My educated guess is, that the scammer will ask for money to get the package with your zillion US$ across an obstacle – I would be a perfect victim as he could tell that he needs the money to bribe someone at customs.

It would be easy to think that people fall into this trap because of greed. Money for nothing, special offers, tricks etc. always are intended to get to your money. I've written last year about 65th Anniversary of the John Frum Movement [4]. Ever since studying social anthropology I've been interested in the John Frum movement, a cargo cult of Melanesia, specific to Tanna, an Island of Vanuatu. Who was John Frum? Maybe it has been a serviceman by the name of John Broom or John from (America); the Wikipedia article lists some possible origins for the name of the movement [5]. After the 2nd World War “followers of John Frum built symbolic landing strips to encourage American airplanes to land and bring them 'cargo'”. There are more cargo cults in Melanesia, but the John Frum movement is best known.

Agent John Smith is delivering cargo (a package of dollar bills) by FedEx as shown on pictures of the accounts. So the motives might be similar. Maybe there is a yearning for salvation [6] and the modern god is mammon. As we wouldn't accuse kids of greed when they expect gifts from Santa Claus, we should be lenient with victims of such scams but we should prosecute the scammers.

Links and Annotations:
[1] https://www.facebook.com/William-James-116565854374078/ William James
[2] https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553591950249  Agent John Smith
[3] Please check: https://medicaltri.com/fr/veniseptico/ Veniseptico - Directement du fabricant en promotion or  https://lopermedia.com/poland/veniseptico-co-to-jest-komentarze-cena/ Veniseptico Polska, co to jest, komentarze, cena – Jeszcze 6 miesięcy temu nosiła wyłącznie długie spodnie. Dziś zachwyca gładkimi nogami bez żylaków!
[4] https://rheumatologe.blogspot.com/2022/02/john-frum-movement-65th-anniversary.html
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Frum
[6] There is much more in cargo cults than I could sketch here, but you could refer to: Lindstrom, Lamont. (2018) 2023. “Cargo cults”. In The Open Encyclopedia of Anthropology, edited by Felix Stein. Facsimile of the first edition in The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Anthropology. Online: http://doi.org/10.29164/18cargo  
 

 

.

Scam von Lex R. – der sich als Manager der Chrispton petroleum company (CPC) ausgibt

Heute meldete sich Lex R. [Name geändert] von der Email-Adresse alexanderxxx@hotmail.com [Adresse angepasst] mit folgendem Text:

Schöne Grüße,

Chrispton petroleum company (CPC) Die Vereinigten Staaten suchen einen Partner, as a coordinator in Europe and Asien. As a Vermittler, zwischen unserem Unternehmen and the Endabnehmer von Mineralölprodukten in Diesen Regionen fungieren und mit Kunden darüber tradeshow für uns Bitte turn Sie sich an uns, um Information Information zu Ihrem Interesse zu erhalten.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

Lex R.

(Managing director, Petroleum Sales Department)

Die Chrispton Petroleum Company gibt es wirklich. Und es gibt auch einen Managing Director Lex R. [Name geändert]. Aber mal ehrlich, wenn er einen Geschäftspartner suchen würde, hätte er sich dann an einen Arzt gewendet? Und würde er in schlechtem Deutsch schreiben, wo doch gute Übersetzungsprogramme existieren? Und seine Email-Adresse wäre auch nicht bei Hotmail sondern bei www.chrisptonpetroleum.com, oder nicht?

„Die Vereinigten Staaten suchen einen Partner“ schreibt Lex R. Also bitte – wenn die USA einen Partner wie mich suchen, dann sollte sich schon Präsident Trump (Potus) bei mir melden.

Pete Seeger sang in dem Lied (nach der Bibel) „Turn Turn Turn“: „To everything (turn, turn, turn) / There is a season (turn, turn, turn)” [Für jedes Ding (turn, turn, turn) / Gibt e seine Zeit (turn, turn, turn)] und: “A time to build up, a time to break down” [„Eine Zeit zum Aufbau, eine Zeit für den Abriss]. Er hat die Zeile vergessen: “A time to receive emails, a time to delete emails” [„Eine Zeit, um E-Mails zu erhalten, eine Zeit, um E-Mails zu löschen“].

Und das werde ich jetzt machen – die Email von Lex R. löschen. Und wenn auch Sie solche Scams erhalten – nicht antworten sondern löschen, und zwar sofort!

.

New way of an old scam on LinkedIn

Today I've been contacted on LinkedIn and received a scam note:

Hello kirsch, Greetings to you. My name is Mr. [name] Haddad. I am a Bank Officer in Al Khan (Sharjah), United Arab Emirates. I am writing you in regards to an opportunity in my bank which will be of an immense benefit to both of us. It is about your last name which is the reason I contacted you. I know you would like me to explain in detail my purpose for contacting you here on LinkedIn but this is not something I can share with you on a platform like LinkedIn. I want you to write me through my email address:Hadda[name]@gmail.com I will reply you with details as soon as I receive your mail so you can tell me your mind after going through my letter. I look forward with eager anticipation of hearing from you. God bless. Regards, Haddad.

I must have been very unobservant to allow this individual on LinkedIn. To those, who aren't familiar with this kind of scam: if I'll give my email address to him, I'll receive an email tellling me, because I have the same name as a client I can get hold of the account of dead client and we devide the 14.5 zillion US$.

Please, if you receive such a mail, LinkedIn note, or fax (I did so these days - the Spanish scam), just don't answer it.

Phishing in the Name of the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) with a Fake Form W-8BEN

Yesterday I received a suspicious email by the IRS (Internal Revenue Service). Could well have been that the IRS contacted me. I had published an article earlier this year and cashed a check for this recently. But would they contact me by email? Where did they get my email address? “… to protect your exemption from tax on your account and other financial benefit in rectifying your exemption status” I read in the email, and: “Therefore, you are to authenticate the following by completing W-8BEN FORM, and return to us as soon as possible via fax number enclosed on W-8BEN FORM.” So there is an appeal to my greed and an instigation to fill out the form quickly, which means without thinking about it. I opened the attached form, which is a hazard, but as it’s a PDF, I thought I could take the risk. The fake W-8BEN was titled: „Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for United States Tax Withholding”, it omitted: “and Reporting (Individuals)“. That did it! I was in alert mode. The form looked official, but had a fax number at the bottom! The form asked for my mother’s maiden name, no actually one wanted to know my mother’s median name – actually she doesn’t have so many names that I could run a statistical analysis on her names. And I should send a copy of my international passport. Dear me, are people so starry-eyed?

I opened the page of the IRS: www.irs.gov, which was actually mentioned in the email. You can find information on phishing, but you have to look for it – and it’s worth the time. The phishers rely on that you don’t take this time. Under “Fake Form W-8BEN Used in IRS Tax Scams” you find: “However, fraudsters typically target non-residents of the U.S. and use the W-8BEN format to acquire personal details such as,

mother's maiden name,

    - passport number,

    - date of birth,

    - PIN numbers and passcodes.

The legitimate IRS Form W-8BEN, does not ask for any of that information.”

Good to know.

My advice? Before filling out any form and faxing it somewhere into the world, boot up you brain!

Phishing

Ich bekam dieser Tage diese verdächtige Mail:

Samstag April 26 2014,

Sehr geehrter Kunde,

uns bei der Schweizer Sparkasse liegt die Sicherheit und Integrität unserer Konten sehr am Herzen.

Leider wurde diese Sicherheit in den letzten Wochen stark gefährdet. Viele unserer Kunden sind Opfer von Cyberkriminellen und Hackern geworden.

Um dieses Problem so schnell und effizient wie möglich zu beseitigen, haben wir eine

neue Sicherheits-Software entwickelt, die unseren Online-Konten mehr

Sicherheit gibt und unsere Kunden vor solchen Übergriffen beim Online-Banking schützt.

Gerade arbeiten wir daran, diese Software auf den Online-Konten aller Kunden zu installieren.

Bitte klicken Sie zur Verifizierung auf folgenden [Link entfernt]

Wir bedanken uns für Ihre Mitarbeit

Mit freundlichen Grüßen,

Ihr Sparkasse-Kundenservice

Sparkasse Erlangen

©Sparkasse Erlangen 1998-2014. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.

Die Stadt- und Kreissparkasse Erlangen antwortete mir sofort:

Sehr geehrter Herr Dr. Kirsch,

bei dieser Nachricht handelt es sich um eine betrügerische Phishing-Mail. Wir sind eine Bayerische Sparkasse und sind nicht in der Schweiz ansässig.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

gez. (bekannt)

Stadt- und Kreissparkasse Erlangen

Wahrscheinlich sind noch mehr dieser Mails unterwegs, auch zu anderen Geldinstituten. 

Wichtig:

Löschen, nicht antworten!

Fake homepages on fad diets / Falsche Internetseiten zu Diäten

I’ve found fake homepages on fad diets. The page suggests independent information, but what you get is an advertisement.

Here are two, on in English and on in German.

Under the title “The Garcinia Cambogia Diet Exposed: Miracle Diet or Scam?” you don’t find an exposure, but someone is telling you that she tried the diet and succeeded. Link: http://lifestylesidea.com/diet/?=853

Under the German tile you find the same procedure: “Vita Ketone Diätrezept offengelegt: Wundermittel oder Abzocke?” It’s a different product, but you find nearly the same text. Link: http://gewichtsverlust-nachrichten.de/

At week four of the “test” you find on the first page (Julia): “After the fourth week, my final results were shocking.” On the German page you find at week four (also Julia, but a different picture): “Nach der vierten Woche waren meine Endergebnisse schockierend!” Well that’s the same text translated into German.

What do we get out of this? When it comes to diets, be very careful on the internet. Ask yourself, if you are getting information or if you are under attack by an advertisement.

Falsche Internetseiten zu Diäten

Ich habe falsche Internetseiten zu Diäten gefunden. Die Seite sieht nach unabhängigen Informationen aus, aber was man bekommt, ist Reklame.

Hier sind zwei davon, in Englisch und in Deutsch.

Unter dem Titel "Die Garcinia Cambogia Diät bloßgestellt: Wunder-Diät oder Betrug?" („The Garcinia Cambogia Diet Exposed: Miracle Diet or Scam?“) eine Bloßstellung findet man nicht, aber jemand sagt, dass sie die Diät versucht und es gelungen ist. Link: http://lifestylesidea.com/diet/?=853

Unter den deutschen Seite finden Sie das gleiche Verfahren: "Vita Keton Diätrezept Offengelegt: Wundermittel Oder Abzocke?" Es ist ein anderes Produkt, aber Sie finden fast den gleichen Text. Link: http://gewichtsverlust-nachrichten.de/

In Woche 4 des "Tests" findet man auf der ersten Seite (Julia): "Nach der vierten Woche meine endgültige Ergebnisse waren schockierend." (“After the fourth week, my final results were shocking.”) Auf der deutschen Seite findet man unter Woche vier (auch Julia, aber ein anderes Bild): "Nach der vierten Woche Waren Meine Endergebnisse schockierend!" Nun, das ist der gleiche Text ins Deutsche übersetzt.

Was können wir dem entnehmen? Wenn es um Ernährung geht, seien Sie sehr vorsichtig im Internet. Fragen Sie sich, wenn Sie Informationen erhalten oder ob man Sie mit Werbung attackiert.