How to Stop Scammers from Impersonating My Wife in Job Scams

My wife's identity on the web is being impersonated by scammers doing the Administrative Ad / Craig's List scam:
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=3942&start=45

This started last year, originating from Craig's List ads that we placed for real estate listings. We got so many callers who think that the job they are offered is real. They are the victims but my wife is a victim too since it is her online identity that is being impersonated.

I can find nothing on how to fight this aspect of being victimized. Those who fall for the scam and cashed a counterfeit checks are victims and most if not all of the threads are on helping those victims.

The question is how do I stop these scammers from using my wife's name in these scams?

The scam has started up again in the last few weeks. This time, they originate from CareerBuilders and not, it seems, from Craig's List. They are nationwide since the calls and emails we get ranged from NY, FL, Texas and many other places.

It has gotten even more insidious since we also own a domain for our business. The scammers have gone to the extent of registering an almost identical domain with one more letter. They registered that domain via DomainsByProxy.com which masks their identity. I have written to DomainsByProxy.com asking them to cease and desist that domain and to turn the scammer to the authorities. I have not heard back from that place.

So, what can I do to stop this? It is really haunting my wife and it seems there is nothing we can do to stop this campaign of insults.

Please help / advice. What do other identity theft victims of this kind do?

Thanks,


WeMustOvercome

Welcome wemustovercome,

I'm sorry you and your wife have had to deal with this situation. It is certainly true that you are victims as well. We have had a few members here in the same situation as your wife, though as you said, the majority of information here relates to those being targeted with the scams themselves.

Unfortunately, the scammers are in another country, hiding behind a fake identity (obviously), and using completely phony information. They are out of reach of local law enforcement, which means local police cannot be of any help. International investigations are costly and full of red tape, and require cooperation by other governments, not always easy--which is why the agencies who can investigate will rarely do more than log the crime if it involves a loss of less than 6 figures. Obviously this makes for an extremely frustrating situation.

So, knowing that law enforcement is not really a viable option, what can you do?

-For starters, if you haven't already, place a warning on your own website, clearly indicating that your company name is being fraudulently used, and that positions being offered are not real. You can further state (assuming it is true, which I expect is the case) that your company does NOT hire employees online or by email.
-If the scam going around using your company is not posted, please post it, with a reminder that the company name and woman's name are stolen. This seems counter-intuitive to some people--but what it does is ensures that people searching for information are learning quickly that there is no connection to the scam, reducing (wish I could say it would eliminate, but probably not) the unwanted contact by phone, email, etc.
-For the fake website(s)--we have volunteers here who specialize in getting fake websites taken down, and have helped people in your situation before. They have a lot of experience in identifying and compiling the evidence needed to get action taken, and many (though I won't say all) hosts have enough experience with them that they will respond quickly to their reports.

If you have the emails from the scammers, post them here (with headers) or I can ask a site killer to provide an email address where you can forward them instead.

dotti,

thanks for your response. very helpful.

question.........what is our liability for damages done due to these scams when my wife's name is used? i can hardly find any information on this subject.

i will post the ads, emails, and headers later on.

thanks,

WeMustOvercome

Hello wemustovercome,
I just sent you a pm.

Mike & Dotti,

Below is an email forwarded to my wife from an applicant responding to a scam admin asst job. We do not have the original headers since the scam emails we get are the ones forwarded to us.

Notice, scammer had registered a domain that is nearly identical to our business domain:

Real Domain: BayEstateHomes.com
Scammer Domain: BaysEstateHomes.com

Scammer had also created many email addresses that resembles my wife's name. For instance, in the body of the scammer email is this address: [email protected]

Of course, the email address using the illegitimate domain ([email protected]) is the one of most concern.

----------------
Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:53:02 +0100
Subject: Re: CareerBuilder Job Application :CB033492 Receptionist /
Administrative Assistants
From: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>

Dear Applicant,

Thanks for your response. Unfortunately the post you applied for has been
taken but I have a position which may interest you.

I need a personal assistant and I will deeply appreciate all
effort to help me monitor and keep up to date with all my activities. I
often get my hands occupied since I work with many companies within and
outside USA so it is very important for me to have a worthy assistant who
can monitor and keep me up to date with my activities. As my assistant your
task will include: making travel arrangements, running personal errands,
check processing, filing documents, quality communication etiquette skills,
good organizational skills, good sense of humour required and ability to
handle highly sensitive and classified information perform duties with
accuracy and quality.

Compensation: $700 weekly.

My name is Daphne Lau; I am a Realtor also Financial Advisor at
BayEstateHomes.com.

Specialties

Professional Realty and Financial planning services for families that wish
to secure quality property in top performing school districts.
We assist with corporate relocations.
Professional Realty and Risk Management services for businesses that wish
to establish a base in the state.

I travel allot, Am currently in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirate for some
property Inspection to be back in the state in few weeks ,So I need
assistant to handle affairs for me on the home front when I am away on
business which is usually quite often. This position is home-based and
flexible you can be in any location, working with me is basically about
instructions and following them. I need someone who can be able to reply to
emails in a timely manner.

- To Apply

Kindly fill in the needed information below

Full Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip Code:
Residential Phone Number:
Present Job:
Mobile Phone:

Kindly send your details to [email protected] <mailto:
[email protected]>

This is only an introductory e-mail, as time goes on we should be able to
arrange a proper meeting upon my arrival. I do have a number of things you
could help me with this week if you will be available for me. This can act
as a good start to our working relationship.

Note: This position is home base office work you can be in any location
and work with me from your home and does not require you travelling out of
town.
Hope to hear from you again.
Sincerely,
Daphne Lau

On Thu, Oct 11, 2012 at 6:11 PM,

You have received an application to your job posted on CareerBuilder. You
can respond to this candidate by replying to this email. Your Reference ID
for this job is CB033492.

Job Information
---------------
Job Title: Receptionist / Administrative Assistants
Location: US-GA-Atlanta
Job Details:
http://www.CareerBuilder.com/Jobseeker/ ... d=3DJ3G1H=
N72K1X43BQS331<
http://www.careerbuilder.com/Jobseeker/ ... d=3DJ3G1H=
N72K1X43BQS331
>

From another person inquiring about the fake job:

________________________________

Daphne,

So are you telling me the following email did NOT come from you?

"Hello,****
****
Your first assignment has been sent via Post office, Payment has been
issued in favour of your name and sent to the address you provided and will
be delivered to you between Thursday Oct 25TH and Monday oct 29th .****
****
****
However, I am donating the balance to the orphans I contacted the Foster
Home and I was given the list of the items to be bought but the items are
much and will cost allot to get them shipped, so we have reached an
agreement, They will be getting the items themselves . Please deposit the
Check for $4800 into your Bank Account when you receive it next week, As
soon as the Check clear your bank, Deduct your first week Pay of $700 and
have the funds sent via MoneyGram money transfer to the 2 Foster Home.****
Here is the Foster Home MoneyGram information to send the funds****
****
MoneyGram Receiver Name****
****
(1)****
****
RECEIVER'S NAME: Michelle Hoyle****
Amount: $2050 minus transfer fees =****
****
ADDRESS: 121 P. Burgos Drive, Rizal Park****
STATE: Manila****
ZIP CODE: 1004****
COUNTRY: Philippines****
****
****
(2nd) foster Home Information:****
RECEIVER'S NAME: Emanuel King****
Amount: $2050 minus transfer fees =****
ADDRESS: 121 Gorordo Ave.****
STATE: Manila****
COUNTRY : Philippines****
ZIP CODE : 1004****
****
I am aware that you would be charged to have the money sent through
MoneyGram, kindly deduct MoneyGram charges from the money you are sending.
After sending it through MoneyGram, a number will be given to you called
Reference number Reference number send the Reference number to me through
my email. Kindly confirm you receive this message.****
Daphne Lau"

________________________________

This is the email I rec'd this evening, and your telling me NONE of it is
true? That you are NOT looking for a Personal Assistant?

Thank you,

Please ask the people who forward you the scam emails to forward them with headers intact, and also to forward their email to the scammer to which the scammer replied, also with headers intact. It's an email-only domain, and the headers are necessary to prove that the domain is being used for scam.

The domain is listed in the fake site forum, which is the first step in getting it killed.

Dotti,

Thanks for the suggestions.

Here is what I have posted on the landing page of our real website: http://www.BayEstateHomes.com

If you are here to explore my Real Estate Services in the Bay Area, my Team & I welcome the opportunity to help you & your family.
Please continue to the "Sold Listings" tab on the left to see how many families we have helped to own homes in the Bay Area!

ALERT ALERT ALERT

If you arrive at this page to investigate whether an offered Administrative Assistant job is real, know that there is no such job.
Please be aware that my identity is being impersonated by scammers on the web.
The job ploy is part of a scam that is widely used by internet scammers.
They are maliciously using my name (Daphne Lau), referring to my legitimate web domains (MSJRealty.com & BayEstateHomes.com), and using fraudulent email addresses in their scam.
Know that BaysEstateHomes.com is a fraudulent domain newly registered by the scammers. That domain is illegitimate. We are working with authorities to close it down.

We are NOT hiring anybody.

Please do not call me nor email me on this scam since we have been deluged with people from across the country.

More background information on these scams can be found here:
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=3942&start=45




Thanks again,


WeMustOvercome
Bay Area, CA USA

See
* http://www.siteadvisor.com/sites/bayses ... om/msgpage
* http://www.mywot.com/en/scorecard/baysestatehomes.com

GoDaddy has been requested to invoke its terms of service, since these people have indulged in fraud and identity theft. GoDaddy has an excellent reputation, and does not get involved in aiding and abetting crime.

Thank you wemustovercome. I wish you well as I am sure we all do and appreciate the links to SW. This can only help to make life a harder job for these criminals.