November 13, 2009 - Scam Alert: Two New Scams targeting Movers
The Illinois Movers’ and Warehousemen’s’ Association brings two scams to your attention. In this excerpt from the first one, the perpetrator outlines a financial shell game in an e-mail, in which the target is the loser:
“… I have problem with my Landlord and that was why i had to move out and am still owing a month rent of $1670 to pay the owner of the house and she insisted that until the rent is paid before she will allow me to pack all my belongings in his house. you will be assisting me to send the $1670 to her via western union transfer and i will sending you my credit card to run the whole amount and also send you my land lord personal details to send the funds via western union …”
Another IMAWA member reports he recently received an operator-assisted phone call from a “customer” who wanted to give him a credit card number to complete a move to storage in Florida. No questions were asked about what the price would be for this type of move, the customer wouldn’t give his name, and he called on two different phone lines. Best advice? Hang up!
February 18, 2009 - FMCSA Warning: Fraudulent Letters
More fraudulent letters to U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) contractors and potential contractors purporting to be issued by DOT are making the rounds. These fraudulent letters appear to be on DOT letterhead and ask that you register by submitting your company’s financial information on a release form entitled, “Authorization to release financial information”. Please be aware that DOT does not require any financial information to be submitted in order to be eligible for procurement. Following is a list of the most recent fraudulent letters which have been faxed:
· January 28, 2008, signed by "Julie P. Weynel"
· February 7, March 3, March 31, 2008, signed by "Bradley K. Wash"
· April 1, 2008, signed by "Bradley K. Wash"
· April 28, 2008, signed by "Bradley K. Wash"
· June 3, 2008, signed by "Robert Dal"
· June 4, 2008, signed by "James Buchanan"
· September 5, 2008, signed by "David Jacobson"
· October 20, 2008, signed by "Jennifer Donaldson"
· December 8, 2008, signed by "Jennifer Stewart"
· December 19, 2008, signed by "Jeffrey Steinberg"
· January 27, 2009, signed by "John Steinberg"
· February 17, 2009, signed by "Joshua Greenberg"
All letters were signed as the “Senior Procurement Officer”. Please DO NOT complete the release form attached to the letter and DO NOT fax any information to the number cited in the letter. Click here for an example of the latest letters being sent out to contracting personnel. FMCSA advises that one van line agent, who respond to a request like this then received a call from the bank about a wire transfer to Moscow for $36,000. Members should also advise their banks that all wire transfers need to be verified with the company.
For more information, contact DOT’s Office of the Inspector General Hotline at (800) 424-9071, your FMCSA Field Office, or the agency’s security office at (202) 366-5373.
