The site is actually a phishing site and a replica of a telecommunication carrier’s site. They request your log-in credentials and the last four digits of your Social Security number. Once you enter your information, you are redirected to the your carrier’s actual website. The scammer then makes changes to your account.

Always be cautious of unsolicited telephone calls, e-mails and text messages, especially those promising some type of compensation for supplying account information. If you receive such an offer, verify it with the business associated with your account before supplying any information. Use the information supplied on your account statement to contact the business. If you think you’ve been the victim of a scam, contact the IC3.

Read the full announcement from the FBI and IC3.

Here’s the full review from the San Francisco Book Review for “License to Lie” from their May 2013 digital magazine.

License to Lie By Terry Ambrose
(Dark Oak Mysteries), $15.95, 260 pages, Format: Trade Star Rating: 5 out of 5

What happens when a con artist’s and a criminologist’s paths cross? Readers find out by meeting Roxy Tanner and Skip Cosgrove. Reading a book told from two different points of view is many times a challenge to readers, with writing skill determining the success or failure of this approach. In License to Lie Ambrose excels in his writing from the point of view of each of the two main characters. Readers know which character is sharing, with no ambiguity, as each chapter begins alternately titled with a quote from the character that begins “She said,” or “He said.” While Roxy and Skip share the story as they see it, there is no confusion in the story’s facts. This reviewer read each of the brief sixty-one chapters with no distraction or bewilderment, pulled into the fast-paced compelling story. Best of all, this reviewer was kept guessing as to what would happen next in a well-written logical plot full of surprises. The first ten chapters alternately give individual current time introductions to the two main characters, with just the right amount of back story to give readers insight into them, and reason to want to know more about them. Chapter eleven gives the first indication of their lives overlapping, with chapter twelve the place of face-to-face interaction. With well-defined characterizations, the author gives readers witness to believable people for whom they care about. With realistic dialogue, the author lets readers hear the story unfold in the characters’ conversations, while seeing the story and feelings from both characters’ point of view. The author writes a thriller that instead of gore, utilizes intellect and emotion, in an action packed story line to propel readers to an unexpected, but very satisfying, conclusion. On all levels License to Lie justifiably earned this five star rating!

Because we had a number of authors, we had virtually every mystery sub-genre covered. We had a great couple of days, had lots of fun, met a bunch of people, and sold books. The weather in LA was nearly perfect, so, as they say, a great time was had by all!

“The author writes a thriller that instead of gore, utilizes intellect and emotion, in an action packed story line to propel readers to an unexpected, but very satisfying, conclusion. On all levels License to Lie justifiably earned this five star rating!” —San Francisco Book Review (1776 Productions)

A presentation given by Assistant United States Attorney John Cowles on Mar. 14, 2012 to a conference in Kansas City described how the scam works. “The scheme starts with theft of mail from mailboxes at business parks. Incoming and outgoing checks are stolen for the purpose of obtaining the bank routing information and the authorized signatures on the business accounts.”

On Apr. 4, in an interview on KLKN-TV in Lincoln after police arrested Andrews, Officer Katie Flood said, “We learned that men had come into LIncoln and offered the transients lodging in a hotel and fast food meals.” The scam relies on transient men to cash checks. The men are offered a portion of the check as well as fast food if they participate. After the arrest of the three transients who had cashed the checks, police discovered a rental car that had been used by the man who had recruited them. When police processed the car, they found a fingerprint belonging to Derrick Andrews in the car.

Police arrested Andrews during a traffic stop. He was positively identified by the transients involved and video surveillance confirmed his involvement.

The IRS (irs.gov) recently released what it calls the “Dirty Dozen” for tax scams in 2013. Among those scams is one in which flyers or advertisements for free money from the IRS prompt taxpayers to file a tax return with little or no documentation. Apparently, these flyers have been appearing in community churches around the country. According to the IRS, “These schemes promise refunds to people who have little or no income and normally don’t have a tax filing requirement – and are also often spread by word of mouth as unsuspecting and well-intentioned people tell their friends and relatives.”

Scammers also use the promise of non-existent Social Security refunds or rebates to reel in their victims. And, if being taken in by a someone who gets you to file false tax information isn’t enough, if you do this intentionally, you could also be fined by the IRS.

I’ve received two of these emails this week and, while I knew the emails were a scam, got curious. What did all those French words mean? Something about a contest and $1,000? Fortunately, I have a friend, Mary Jane Roe (www.roezes.com), who writes mystery-adventure novels set in France. To cut right to the chase, she speaks the lingo and was happy to translate for me.

Dear Desjardins client,

This message has been sent to you automatically by your Desjardins fund.

You have won the prize of the week.

Your prize is $1000.

You need to enter your information below in order to receive your prize.

Your prize will then be deposited directly into your Desjardins account within 4 to 6 weeks.

How cool would that be? Automatically winning a thousand bucks. As MJ might say, “Merd.” If only it were true. If you’d like, read the full article on Examiner.com.