Romania
Here you find the largest structure of organized cybercrime in Europe.
The gangs that have specilaized in vehicle scams are coming mostly from the Wallachian area with the capital Ramnicu Valcea and the city Dragasani but they also reside in Bucharest and other cities like Sibiu and Konstanta.
Out of Romania an enormously efficient structurized " company" with thousands of "employees" is organizing the daily online-scamming. Communication between the single levels of the operational structure is almost entirely via Internet Relay Chat or IRC. But also the cellphone networks are very popular for transferring crucial data like stolen creditcard numbers or money transaction numbers.
At the top of the pyramid are anonymous bosses who may be honorable citizens with successful business fronts such as real estate or internet service provider.
Managers in the mid-level organize false passports and travel arrangements into the foreign countries. The structure is comparable to any big international corporation because the members are spread worldwide.
IT-experts, hired at the romanian universities, supply them with the technical know how of the internet and how to use stolen creditcard numbers to buy webspace, to set up spoof and phishing sites or how to set up fake banks, shops, insurances, trading companies, escrow and shipping companies and how to hack and crack into webservers to steal data and information. Others are setting up fake offers on the many web portals for vehicle trading every night when the employees of those services have gone home. In fact you find most of the scam offers after 9 o clock in the evening and throughout the whole night. Usually most of them are deleted in the late morning hours when the employees of the web portals have done their daily cleanup.
The lower department consists of hundreds of jobless underdogs, paid 100.-€uro per month which sit in the dark cybercafes of small cities like Dragasani 8-12 hours daily and fire off prefabricated emails at the command of their superiors to the many "clients" or future victims which respond to the fake offers on mobile.de, Autoscout24, eBay or Motorscout.com. Since they dont speak english, they can only reply with their bot mails to lure the future victims to the fake escrow and shipping sites and pressure the victims to finally make the advance payments to the last in the chain:
The Arrows or money pick-up gangs.
These small groups are distributed worldwide, in Western Europe preferrably in Italy, England and Spain but also in all other countries from Greece up to Scandinavia. There are Arrows in Asia, Australia, USA, Canada, Brazil, northern Africa and the Arabian states. They are supplied with falsified documents to open bank accounts and to pick up cash at Western Union or MoneyGram offices from the hundreds of daily victims of their various scam operations.
The most common type of fraud uses fake shipping and escrow websites. As soon as somebody demonstrates interest via email, he receives one of the typical bot mails in english.
Below are some examples:
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2001 AUDI A3 1.9 TDI - - -Price 2900 Euro
Hello,
I am writing you regarding the: 2001 AUDI A3 1.9 TDI , EUR 2900
I hoppe that you understand english and I want in a few words to explain you my situation:
the car was owned by my brother and now two weeks ago he died. He doesn't have a family in Kirchheimbolanden/Germany. The car is originally from Germany and the car is registered in Germany. I must tell you that I live in Uk and i take the car from Germany in UK with me. The vehicle is in good condition, has no technical damage at all, no scratches or dents, no hidden defects, no smoking. It's fun and robust to drive. Technical inspection and emissions test is passed and stamped as well.
This is my last price and the car it's not in leasing so you have to pay only this price and nothing more. I have all the papers of the car and the service book as well. Everything is OK with the car.
If you are interested please write me an e-mail.
Thank's
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Then:
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i need your full name and address to sen dyou the car...if you are interested pease send me this information and you will be contacted by the shipping company with the shipping and payment information
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Then:
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Dear Sir,
I must use this company because i told you i have with the a contract and if i want to drop out this contract i must pay to company 50 euro/day, all the time that my car was stay in them custody.
The company is EDS World Wide ( www.eds-delivery.com ) .Their e-mail: eds@europe.com , you can contact them and talk with them if you want . They have a payment method, after the shipping will be started and gives you the tracking number, you must complete payment. After you receive and inspect the car for 3 days(in this days you can go with the car to policy or mechanic to check it), and eventualy buy it , they will give me the payment.
If you agree please reply me soon and send me all the shipping details (your name and address) and after that you will be contacted be the shipping company and they will tell you all the shipping details.
I will wait your fast answer
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notice the terrible english !!
Fraud Escrow Site
Hello,
Thank you for your interest in purchasing my car. I have worked in Germany for 3 months and I've purchased the car there. My company wanted me back home, so currently I'm in United Kingdom.I've bring it home with me but I sell it because the car's steering wheel is on the left side, and so it's difficult driving it around the United Kingdom. The vehicle is in good condition, has no technical damage at all, no scratches or dents, no hidden defects, no smoking,remaining warranty available. It's fun and robust to drive. Technical inspection and emissions testing is passed and stamped as well. It has title of ownership cleared of any obligations or fees and comes with all the documents you need to register it. The price I am looking for my car is EUR 7000 including the shipping costs,insurance and handling.
I will wait for your reply
Der Interessent bezieht sich auf folgendes Inserat:
AUDI A3 2.0 TDI Sportback DPF Attracti, Kombi / Van, 08/2006
Schwarz, 14000 km, EUR 7000,-
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Fraud Escrow Site
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Dear Sir
I am located in Glasgow, Scotland.
I have used the car in germany (It still has german papers) but here the cars have
the steering wheel On the right side so i can not use it anymore!
I would like to use a shipping company for this deal, the process is very easy and I have just bought a
2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee and this is why i know how it works.
This company will handle the delivery of the car and also they will handle all the registration papers. If
we will use it you will have 5 days for testing the car before deciding to buy it. They will also give me
the payment after you will decide to keep the car.
I will pay delivery! The delivery time will be arround 3-4 days and the car will be delivered at your home
address. In this time you will receive the tracking number of the transaction so you can use it to check
the status on the company website.
Please e-mail me with your decision and also your full
name and address!!
MERCEDES SLK 07/2001 Silbermetallic/23000 km/ €URO 11.000.-
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If you answer you usually get this reply:
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Volkswagen Passat Kombi 08/2004 / 36000km 7400.- EURO
Hello, I am the second owner but I only have it for 3 months
The car is in United Kingdom, registered in Germany with german documents. If you would like to see it,
I will ship you the car and I will give you 5 days to inspect it.
The shipping will only take 3 days.
We will use a shipping company that also works as an escrow service.
In United Kingdom this shipping company is very popular and
trustable: Auto Trans Europe. The web site is http://www.ate-limited.com .
I will pay for all charges. As soon as I will send the car, they will email you all
the info regarding the shipping status: delivery time, arrival
time, tracking # to verify on their web site, reference# so you can pick up the car.
They will deliver it to your door step. After you will receive all shipping info,
you must send a deposit of 20% from the
total amount to one of their agents. You must have the money. They will
email you the payment info once with the shipping info.
After you receive
the car you will have 5 days to inspect it and decide if you want to buy it.
If you change your mind the car will be shipped back on my expense
and you will receive the 20% advance no questions asked. If you will keep
it you will pay the rest of the money to the company and they will give them to me.
If you agree, please send me your full name and address, so I can start the delivery.
Regards,
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or
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FORD Fiesta 1.4 TDCI Ghia, 4/5-Türer, 04/2005 Rot, 58300 km, EUR 4200
Hello,
Thank you for contacted me and sorry for the late answer.My name is Danny and i am located in England..I have bought the car from Germany,the car have still german plate on the car with German papers.The car is in perfect condition,it was never been involved in an accident or something like that.I am the only ovner of this car.The engine works perfectly, it has the technical book and all papers.The car it's european, german made and the steering wheel is on the left side.Now if you are interested of it let me know how do you want to recive the car. My phone number is +44 7031 959829
You have 3 options to buy this car :
1.We can meat in Germany and make the deal there but i want and available warranty that i come at the right person and we can make a deal there
2. I can send you the car with a shipping company that will bring you the car in your home address in maximum 2-3 bussines days.The shipping taxes i will pay for it so all you have to pay is the car price and nothing more.We will use
AutoScout24.de for this so we can have a safe deal and your money and my car can be safe.
3) You can come and pick up the car from U.K.
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If you havent realized youre being scammed you might receive this :
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Hello, I've made the delivery
The car is now in their custody.They gave me this tracking number for you : 3BD51903XX
You can verify it online on the website at www.ate-limited.com
You should receive an email with all the details from them
Now it's your turn to make the down payment so they can ship the car
Please reply
Regards,
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Next you receive an email from one of their fake shipping/escrow sites which claims the car is already packed and ready for shipment and one should now proceed with the advance payment to the "agent" of the "company". Here a screenshot of such a site:
These very professionally made sites even have functioning tracking scripts to con you into believeing a parcel with your car is really in transit:
www.ate-limited.com:
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Welcome to Auto Trans Europe (ATE).Our company reduces risks associated with Internet transactions by acting as a licensed, trusted, neutral third party for on line transactions. The Seller leaves the car into ATE custody. The car will remain in ATE custody until the Buyer provides the payment of 20% from the total amount to ATE. The payment must be made through a Money Transfer Service on the name of our Payment Agent. Once the funds are verified by ATE, the car will be delivered to the Buyer. Once the Buyer receives the car and try it for 5 days, the payment will be released to the Seller only if the Buyer is completely satisfied with the car. If the Buyer will not be satisfied with the car, ATE will deliver the car back to the Seller at the Seller's expense.
Please verify the status of your transaction using the tracking number provided bellow:
Details for tracking number: 3BD51903XX (eligible for the Third Party Buyer Protection Program)
Vehicle Details
Make: FORD Date sent: 2007-02-22
Model: Focus C-Max 1.6 TDCi DPF Ghia Status of inspection: Good
Year: 2005 Declared value: EUR 5650
Mileage: 34600 km Downpayment: EUR 1130
Origin Destination
Sender: fiktiver Name Receiver: Hier komm dann Ihr Name & Adresse
Address: 9 Smith Square Address: ...
City: London City: ...
State: London State: -
Zip: SW1P 3JR Zip: ...
Country: United Kingdom Country: Slovakia
Status
The vehicle is: In Custody
The 3RD Party transactions 5 easy steps:
Step 1: Buyer and Seller Agree to Terms
Both parties agree to terms of the transaction, which includes a description of the vehicle and the sale price.The vehicle is placed in our custody by the Seller.
Step 2: Buyer Sends Payment to our Agent
The Buyer submits the payment selecting wire transfer.Our agency verify the payment.
Processing time for the payment is 24 hours.
Step 3: We ship the vehicle to the Buyer after the Seller has paid all the taxes.
Step 4: Buyer receives the vehicle.
The Buyer has 5 days for inspecting the vehicle and the option to accept or to reject.
Step 5 : If the Buyer is not satisfied, he must notify our agency of company problems with the vehicle before the end of the inspection period. A solution to most problems can usually be negotiated between the Buyer and the Seller. If this is not possible, the Buyer must return the vehicle to the Seller (at Seller`s cost) using the method in which the vehicle was shipped to the Buyer and the 20% advance is returned to the Buyer.
The payment of 20% (EUR 1130) from the total amount must be made to our Payment Agent:
First name : Andrew
Last name : Preston
Address: 16 Ebury Street
City: London
Zip: SW1W 0LU
Country : United Kingdom
Note: The payment must be made using Western Union Money Transfer. Please click here to find a Western Union Agency near you. You can send the equivalent of your local currency or GBP or EUR
Through this e-mail we have the pleasure to inform you that the vehicle has been left in our custody. The shipping fee was paid by the Seller.
The Payment Information about the Western Union Money Transfer must be sent to us for verification.
The Payment Information that you need to send to us are: Money Transfer Control Number and Sender's full name and address and telephone number.
The Seller is unable to receive any information regarding the payment data.
This action is restricted by a mutual agreement between the Seller and Auto Trans Europe.
Please send us the payment information or any other questions at this email address
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Of course they also have bank accounts at their disposal here one such example :
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Hallo,
Ich habe es gemacht! ich habe angefangen die Lieferung.
Der Traktor wird zu Ihnen in 72 Stunden ankommen.
Sie können die Lieferung online auf dieser Website prüfen:
http://www.globalups.net/tracking.php
Dies ist der nummer. lieferung : YD9450SS226XXX
Leisten Sie bitte Zahlung an das folgende Konto :
KONTO INHABER: PLATON MARIAN
ANSCHRIFT: SZABO ILONKA U.15
ORT: BUDAPEST
LAND: HUNGARY
BANK NAME: HVB BANK HUNGARY
ANSCHRIFT: THOKOLY UT.4
ORT: BUDAPEST
LAND: HUNGARY
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The extremely well organized scam which is almost always across a border so that no victim pays to the same country where he resides, makes investigation in Europe extremely slow. Usually a minimum of 3 countries are involved: Romania, the victims resident country and the country where the money is picked up.
A successful prosecution is mostly impossible. Even if an Arrow ( Money pick up agent) is arrested during pick up the laws in many European countries make sure that he can not be held in prison for more than 48 hours mainly because the victims complaint is not reaching the officials in the other country in time.
Please visit these sites and inform yourself about the various other scams the cybercrime gangs are committing: : http://aa419.org and have a look at the many fake escrow and shipping website designs here : http://escrow-fraud.com/images/sites/
Also please have a look at: http://db.aa419.org/fakebankslist.php where you can find the daily new listings of fraud sites.
Some more examples of fraud escrow sites:
Check out how they say " Working with" and then cite the websites they use mostly for their nightly scamming activities
Honest scammers !
Here some more of their classic designs:
and of course they came and visited my site :
Every day I get visits from Romania now as if they want to see if I have news for them. They change designs of their fraud sites and set up 40-50 new sites every day, so here an update of the new/old designs:
Today I found this exceptional example of a scam shipping-escrow site I have to share with you because its rather funny:
aa419.org is listing around 20 NEW sites daily ! They are entered into the database and killed. EVERY DAY we find around 20 new ones !
This has been going on for years with no end in sight because the gangs have earned hundreds of millions of €uros and more with this scam! A new law called § 161 was passed in 2003 that forces the victims to file a signed complaint and send it by regular mail to Romania. Hardly and of the victims sign this complaint form, resulting in new victims daily loosing their money believing in the fairy-tale that everything is cheaper on the internet !
The complaints that victims file in their home country are seemingly NOT passed to Romanian Law Enforcement because each case is seen as a singular case and closed for lack of evidence.