Author: Olly

  • Fake Web Design Reviews Sites & Misleading Regulatory Bodies

    When looking for a web design company, most people will start with a web search for something like “website designers”, “web design reviews” or “good web design companies” and a from that some of those people will end up on review websites looking at customer feedback – as what could be a better opinion of a company than one from a person who had previously used them?

    Being in the industry myself I keep my eyes and ears firmly planted to the ground, and I often stumble upon things that seem all too dodgy to ignore. Here are two of those things in more detail.

    1) IWDRO – Internet and Website Development Regulatory Office
    (www.IWDRO.org)

    One day at work I came across the IWDRO and initially thought it could be something to be associated with to add some trust to our brand in the face of so much competition, so I contacted them.

    iwdro

    As soon as I got the email I was stunned. It just so happened at the same time we were looking at the IWDRO we were also fishing for quotes from rival companies to see where we compared and one of those companies was The Smart Marketing and Media Group, and this was the lady I had been speaking to;

    smart

    Was this some crazy coincidence?

    I looked into each company individually and found a guy with a fair few directorships under his belt;

    smart_busted

    Well gawd dammit.

    So a guy that runs multiple design and development companies owns his own “Regulatory Office” for web design?

    Ok, so its not a scam but I couldn’t help feeling a bit put off by these findings.

    EDIT: It’s worth noting at this point that personally I do not believe that there is anything dodgy about the IWDRO in itself, but I cannot help feel that a privately owned, profit making company calling itself a “Regulatory Office” is a bit of a blag.

    2) Review Site & Web Design Review
    (www.Review-Site.co.uk // www.WebDesignReview.co.uk)

    Nope, I didn’t miss some of the names off. These are the names of (drumroll) some review websites for web design companies, but not all web design companies – just ones that fit a certain criteria.

    Surely that criteria is whether or not those companies are good value for money, customer service and excellent technical ability?

    Unfortunately not. The criteria seems to be that the companies listed need to be owned by the person that also happens to own all the review websites, our old mate Simon Macbeth. It seems he’s not content with screwing with peoples lives and ripping his housemates off – he also wants to lie to potential customers and pretend he runs a highly recommended professional web agency. From what i’ve heard he’s far from professional.

    Anyway, here’s some evidence to back up my claims.

    His main company 1-to-1 Web Design has these on the sidebar of every page;

    These link to the Review-Site.co.uk page for 1-to-1 Web Design and the homepage of WebDesignReview.co.uk, both of which are owned by Simon;

    He also owns about 50% of the companies on the “Leaderboard” on WebDesignReview.co.uk. Its a virtual web of BS and to the unsuspecting eye it’s all quite believable.

    Really dodgy stuff all round and It’s certainly made me think about online reviews and testimonials on websites. I’ve found the best way to truly gauge a company’s worth is to ASK the people that they have done work for, and speak or message them directly. They normally don’t mind regardless of their experience as they will either want to sing their praises or slag them off – either way you hear straight from the horses mouth and can make your own mind up based on that.

    And if you didn’t fancy contacting someone directly then use a service like FreeIndex, Reevoo, Review Centre or Trustpilot. Don’t just believe something you read because it has some stars next to it 🙂

    Stay safe!

    –> Meet Simon Macbeth 🙂 <–

  • The Maxwells Fund – SCAM Email using Richard and Angela Maxwell Lottery Winners

    This was actually stuck in a mail queue on one of our servers – It’s essentially an advance fee scam just like the normal “Send me your bank detail…” emails that we all get bombarded with.

    However, this one has had a degree of common sense applied to it and will probably trick far more people that the normal “angle” used for these kind of scams. Let’s get into it…

    Date: 
    Sun, 07 Jun 2015 14:22:25 +0300
    From: 
    "The Maxwells Fund" <r.maxwell67@gmail.com>
    To: 
    You <r.maxwell67@gmail.com>
    Subject: 
    A Congratulatory Letter From Lincolnshire EuroMillions Jackpot Winners

    Ok, so straight away we see GMAIL – not the normal email platform used by scammers. We also see “Lincolnshire” which is just down the road, and then “EuroMillions”  which is actually what the lottery is called here, meaning we have a few pointers here that would, before I even opened the email, potentially win my trust over.

    Dear Award Recipient,

    This email correspondence is from Richard & Angela Maxwell. We are both 67, from Coningsby in Lincolnshire and one of Britain’s biggest ever National Lottery winners of £53million EuroMillions jackpot.

    This all adds up. Names, locations and amount of winnings. Google it!

    Your email is among the email addresses that have been selected by a Yahoo! powered email newsletter software operated by British freelance tech experts upon our request to benefit from our ongoing email donation project, part of programmes to mark our massive EuroMillions win. My wife and I have decided to donate £31 Million Pounds each to the already selected eight(8) email address owners, claimable by the original registrant/owner of the selected email. Find more information about our win below;

    https://www.national-lottery.co.uk/life-changing/winner-euromillions-maxwell

    This part if fairly sketchy. The bit about “British freelance tech experts” is a bit lame. Also, “Yahoo! powered email newsletter software” what the deuce does that mean?!

    However, the Maxwells are lovely people, HAVE given some of the money to charitable causes and do come across as the kind of people that would do this kind of thing for real. These scammers have really picked a good subject to base their scam on!

    Please send Name, Address, & Tel for payment processing by our bank. We look forward to your reply.

    Richard & Angela Maxwell.

    Fishing for info, but not the important stuff yet. No doubt there will be an application fee, or they would claim you need to pay the tax on it first or something.

    This wasnt my email but I faked that It had come to me so I can reply… I’ll post my findings 🙂

  • Simon Macbeth Followup – Round 2!

    –> Meet Simon Macbeth 🙂 <–

    I get a fair few emails relating to scams and scammers (I do invite them though so this isnt a complaint) and quite recently i’ve once again been receiving a fair few Simon Macbeth related emails, comments and activity.

    The “Simon Macbeth Exposed” website had once again been taken down.

    I sent some emails out, and It turns out that the lowlife has had Dan remove the website once again cos our mate Simon doesn’t like people knowing the truth about him. How would he carry on making money by stealing it from hard working people if his cover is blown?

    I have also been forwarded an email from another upset customer of his pikey “1-to-1 web design” company, their relationship had broken down and one of the forwarded messages contained the FTP and email setup information –  he had created the main FTP password to be (and lets pretend the company is called Jims Baloons) JimsBaloonsAreCrap – Really? How old are you, Simon?

    This poor company have also had £100’s taken from their bank for no apparent reason – and like with almost every other nasty situation relating to this assclown, he had some clause or contract small print to throw back in their faces and “legally” justify his actions. I know we should always ensure we read contracts before signing them but then there is also a responsibility on the person creating the contract and also the person making it official, to ensure that its fair and cannot be easily exploited.

    As with many conflicts in life, we have the benefit in that we have strength in numbers. He is just one ma… err.. pers…. errr… he is just one “thing”. If you are a victim of Simon Macbeth from Leeds or you are a disgruntled/angry customer of 1 to 1 Web Design in Leeds then please post your feelings and experiences in the comments below and help us dominate Google to hopefully keep other people safe.

    Ooooo he’s not gonna like this…

    simon-macbeth-1-to-1-web-design-scammer

    Pfftt haha 🙂

    –> Meet Simon Macbeth 🙂 <–

  • BARR. CHUKWU – SCAM – chukwuikenga@ email SCAM – Round 2!

    Ok… so my last post about this I finished by saying that I had simply emailed a vague reply – they did get back to me but they just forwarded the same email they had sent before… So…. I just filled out the form with some fake info and awaited a reply… They didn’t take long to get back to me once again!

    from: CBN CBN <cbntrustedbank2014@cbntrustedbank.net.tf>
    reply-to: cbntrustedbank2014@cbntrustedbank.net.tf

    C.B.NLASCO . COMPANY

    CBN LASCO FINANCE Tower,
    Plot 785, Herbert Macaulay Way
    Central Business District
    Plot 1A Alhaji bello St. Ikeja
    Lagos-Nigeria)
    Email:cbntrustedbank2014@cbntrustedbank.net.tf Reg: No, 5362888910

    INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE SECURITY COMPANY

    Attention: Mr. Moonbean

    Hehe.. 🙂 thats obviously not my name!

    See attachment for copy of official documents, The two documents is your copies, and you must keep it very confidential to avoid criminal activities, any third party lay hand or set eyes on this two documents can automatically lay claim on the fund and it is possible for him/she to divert it into another account, exposing the documents to any body is at your own risk.

    This needs no explanation, just reading it surely sets alarm bells off? 🙂

    The two documents is the bank official documents to the fund and it is your power to protect your fund in case if any question by your government, be advised to keep it save because it is your back up documents, other documents has been forwarded to remittance department, your government is now fully aware of your transaction and all departments has signed the approval.

    Just buzzwords and phrases to try and get across some feeling of trust and authenticity to whoever is reading it. Also written awfully.

    With reference to the above subject, I wish to congratulate you and also notify you that after careful secularization and verifications of your files, your fund has finally been approved for payment, the payment slip will be sending to you as soon as the transfer is completed.

    Haha, what? Secularizations and verifications?

    By the power entrusted to me as the Chairman, Federal Ministry of finance(FMF) board of directors of the Central Bank of Nigeria In Conjunction with office of the presidency, attached documents is gotten from legal departments, verification and auditing committee.

    Its gotten from them.

    I am obliged to release your fund upon the fulfillment of the following obligations. the Federal government has calculated the total task and you are to pay amount of 900.00, Transfer charge which is 0.1% in the amount of 67.00 , TOTAL COST 980.00 (Nine hundred and Sixty Seven pounds only) Once we confirm the payment, the sum of US$6,700,000.00 (SIX MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATE DOLLARS ONLY) will be transferred and credited into your account within 24hours as instructed by the board of directors.

    Hehe, notice the typo? They’ve obviously put their scam prices up and forgot to fully edit this template. Dumbasses.

    To proceed and complete the transaction, the payment of 967.00 are required by the management to be made to our customer care dept through any fast line money transfer such as WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER, MONEY GRAM MONEY TRANSFER ETC.

    To our cashier information as following.

    CASHIER NAME: IKEM EMEKA
    ADDRESS: LAGOS-NIGERIA
    QUESTION: GOOD
    ANSWER: WORK
    AMOUNT: 967 pounds (Nine hundred and Sixty Seven pounds only)

    Be advised to scan copy of the payment slip for our confirmation to receive the payment and proceed with the transaction.

    MOTTO: ACTION SPEAK LOUDER THAN VOICE.

    Your Quick comply over this matter is highly required

    Sign ………..
    Management

    So there we have it. A longgggg drawn out conversation and now they want my money so they can give me more money – this is essentially how all these 419 scams work. I do find it interesting that some of them are prepared to put so much work into a scam – I guess they are the more successful ones despite all their flaws as I have seen some just go straight in for the kill!

    Anyway, I obviously wasnt going to send them any money – and figured they would be pretty horned up about this thinking they are probably going to get paid… It was time to step things up a bit 🙂

    Hello,

    Can you send some photo id so that I can verify your identity then we can proceed.

    Thanks

    Ive only ever got past this stage once before – they usually bomb out as they twig its someone baiting them…

    Oh wait…

    from: CBN CBN <cbntrustedbank2014@cbntrustedbank.net.tf>
    reply-to: cbntrustedbank2014@cbntrustedbank.net.tf

    HERE IS COPY OF MY ID CARD, YOUR DIRECT PHONE IS ALSO NEED FOR EASILY COMMUNICATION, KINDLY BE INFORMED TO SEND THE PAYMENT DETAILS TO ENABLE US RECEIVE THE AMOUNT AND PROCEED WITH CREDITING YOUR ACCOUNT.

    ID CARD KENNETH

    Bwhaha

    I sent this back;

    Hello, would I be able to speak with someone on the phone to confirm a few details before I send the payment?

    I’m going to send the money tomorrow evening gmt so need to speak to someone before then.

    Thank you so much for this opportunity.

    These guys really must think i’m good for the money as they were almost replying in realtime.

    from: CBN CBN <cbntrustedbank2014@cbntrustedbank.net.tf>
    reply-to: cbntrustedbank2014@cbntrustedbank.net.tf

    C.B.NLASCO . COMPANY

    CBN LASCO FINANCE Tower,
    Plot 785, Herbert Macaulay Way
    Central Business District
    Plot 1A Alhaji bello St. Ikeja
    Lagos-Nigeria)
    Email:cbntrustedbank2014@cbntrustedbank.net.tf Reg: No, 5362888910

    INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE SECURITY COMPANY

    Attention: Mr. Moonbean

    Yes, you can call the manager on +234 7066477689 or give your number to call you.

    To proceed and complete the transaction, the payment of 967.00 are required by the management to be made to our customer care dept through any fast line money transfer such as WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER, MONEY GRAM MONEY TRANSFER ETC.

    To our cashier information as following.

    CASHIER NAME: IKEM EMEKA
    ADDRESS: LAGOS-NIGERIA
    QUESTION: GOOD
    ANSWER: WORK
    AMOUNT: 967 pounds (Nine hundred and Sixty Seven pounds only)

    Be advised to scan copy of the payment slip for our confirmation to receive the payment and proceed with the transaction.

    MOTTO: ACTION SPEAK LOUDER THAN VOICE.

    Your Quick comply over this matter is highly required

    Sign ………..
    Management

    At this point I had lots on at work, and busy at home too – so didn’t get chance to reply for a few days. They started to get a bit shirty! :O 🙂

    from: CBN CBN <cbntrustedbank2014@cbntrustedbank.net.tf>
    reply-to: cbntrustedbank2014@cbntrustedbank.net.tf

    C.B.NLASCO . COMPANY

    CBN LASCO FINANCE Tower,
    Plot 785, Herbert Macaulay Way
    Central Business District
    Plot 1A Alhaji bello St. Ikeja
    Lagos-Nigeria)
    Email:cbntrustedbank2014@cbntrustedbank.net.tf                                           Reg: No, 5362888910

    INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE SECURITY COMPANY

    Attention:  Mr. Moonbean

    Regarding to the payment approval and it’s documents sent to you two days ago, your email response stated that you will take care of the demanded fee by yesterday, but now there is no response from you, my direct phone number was sent to you early yesterday, there is no means we can call you because you did not include yours phone number in the email.

    For this reason we demanded urgent response from you regarding the release of your fund, Thanks.

    MOTTO: ACTION SPEAK LOUDER THAN VOICE.

    Your Quick comply over this matter is highly required

    Sign ………..
    Management

    I didn’t call them – instead I sent an email expressing my concerns and also trying to take the baiting a biiiit further. I’ve never managed to get one to send me a pic with a sign in but i’ve often tried 🙂

    Hello,

    Thanks for the ID.

    Ive thought about this and im really worried that this might be a scam.

    Before I send the money can you send me a pic of you that isnt ID? So that I can ensure it is your ID and not one that you have found from someone else? Maybe hold something relevant in the photo so that I can be double safe?

    Thank you for this opportunity – I cannot wait to spend the money. I really hope this is real as I will be sending you my last bit of money to get the ball rolling. If this isnt real I cannot afford food and rent so will be homeless so bless you and hope this is a real arrangement.

    God bless you my child.

    Dropping in you’re religious always makes them believe you more – and also I always like to portray an image of someone giving their last penny to see if any morals kick in. To be fair one or two of them have gone totally quiet once you drop in a few hurdles. I guess that’s something?

    These guys are not some of the nice(r) ones though – they replied with this;

    from: CBN CBN <cbntrustedbank2014@cbntrustedbank.net.tf>
    reply-to: cbntrustedbank2014@cbntrustedbank.net.tf

    I NEED YOUR PHONE NUMBER

    That all got a bit informal very quickly?! I thought i’d try once more;

    No you need to prove your identity first, please send a photo of you holding a sign with my name on it.

    That’s the only way I’ll send the money

    They simply sent the same “I NEED YOUR PHONE NUMBER” email again… three times! Then this beauty arrived;

    from: CBN CBN <cbntrustedbank2014@cbntrustedbank.net.tf>
    reply-to: cbntrustedbank2014@cbntrustedbank.net.tf

    HOW MANY REQUEST HAVE YOU MADE?

    AT FIRST YOU NEED TO TALK TO SOME ONE,

    SECOND YOU NEED MY ID

    THIRD YOU NEED MY PIC HOLDING A SIGN WITH YOUR NAME ON IT?

    IS LIKE YOU THINK WE ARE HERE TO PLAY OR INTEREST IN STUPIDITY.

    BE REST ASSURED THAT THIS WILL BE MY LAST COMMUNICATION WITH YOU AND THEY PAYMENT MUST BE CANCEL

    Ahahaha, it humours me greatly to know this Nigerian scammer was probably bashing his keyboard and calling me every name under the sun!

    I ignored it… So he sent another!

    from: CBN CBN <cbntrustedbank2014@cbntrustedbank.net.tf>
    reply-to: cbntrustedbank2014@cbntrustedbank.net.tf

    THIS YOUR LAST EMAIL IS PLACED ON SUSPECT, AND YOU MAY NOT BE THE ORIGINAL BENEFICIARY TO THE SAID FUND.

    SAYING IN YOUR EMAIL THAT IS THE ONLY WAY YOU WILL SEND THE MONEY.

    ARE YOU GIVEN A CONDITION?  WHO IS INTERESTED IN YOU SENDING THE MONEY OR WHAT BENEFIT OF MINE IN THERE?.

    WE HAVE GENTLY ADDRESSED YOU BUT I CAN SEE YOU LOST YOUR SENSES

    Brilliant. Some lame attempt at scaring me into doing what they say or i’ll miss my chance of all the monies. It wouldn’t have even been convincing if it had actually been written in English.

    I figured it was a good time to let him know a few things;

    Haha you idiot. Do you really think I believed you?

    I’ve been baiting you this whole time! I run a website that exposes morons like you and shows the world the devious tricks and lies you will pull to get money from hard working westerners.

    Well this is a big F YOU from me and anyone else that you’ve emailed, and thanks for the ride!

    Hahahaha you thought you were getting paid hahahahaha

    Needless to say, he hasn’t replied.

    I know we’ve all got to feed our families, but there are always ways of doing it without taking the food off other people’s plates.