Cybercrime Frontline Blog

[#1]

This past week, I attended a law enforcement conference in California where I had the chance to meet with many different police groups.  During my time in California, I met a police officer from a small city who described a unique and aggressive strategy his department has taken against cybercrime.  Many times I hear local police or prosecutors express frustration that they cannot effectively fight cybercrime at the local level.  The police officer I met has solved many of these problems and his success should be a model worth copying not only in the United States but globally.

The police officer I spoke with has taken the approach that an arrest is not a sufficient response to cybercrime, the cybercriminal should really pay---literally.  His department is partnering with U.S. federal law enforcement to enforce financial forfeiture laws against criminals who commit cybercrimes.  A cybercriminal, if caught, not only risks jail time, but the criminal may be forced to forfeit large sums of income or assets.  The local police then use these funds to pay for their investigation costs and to upgrade their equipment.  One large case, even helped fund salaries for additional officers.  This approach provides two very good results.  It provides a strong financial deterrent against cybercrime and it also helps police cover the costs for their investigations.   The police officer I spoke with noted that thanks to seized funds from cybercriminals, his local department has great technical resources and even helped fund training for federal cybercrime investigators.  So what are the results of this approach?  Based on the people I spoke with this effort resulted in a happy prosecuting attorney, skilled police with great resources, and a town where cybercrime definitely does not pay.    

Cybercriminals paying for police training and technology.  A success story  that truly highlights the power of smart local police work.

[#2]

I receive mail with content:

Your registered name gheorghe foroiu ( gheorghe.foroiu@jimbolia.ro ) is included to show this message originated from U.S. Department of State. U.S. Department of State notifies gheorghe foroiu of being selected as a winner of the Diversity Visa program.

Dear gheorghe foroiu , You are one of the 50,000 winners selected by the computer random draw from the 12.1 million entries registered in the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program . The Diversity Immigrant Visa program is a United States congressionally-mandated lottery program for receiving a United States Permanent Resident Card. It is also known as the Green Card Lottery.


Winner Details

Acceptance Date:	Friday 16th of September 2011 07:10:29 PM
Winner Name:	gheorghe foroiu
Country of Birth:	Romania
Phone Number:	40-256-361433

Diversity Visa Details
With the Diversity Visa (also known as Green Card) you will enjoy all the advantages and benefits of a U.S. permanent resident, including health and education benefits, and employment opportunities along with guidance in your new country, orientation sessions and programs to integrate into mainstream American society. Once received you can use it at any time you want to move in the United States or just travel. The visa must be renewed after 10 years.

U.S. Government helps you with the accommodation and offers you Health Insurance (Freedom HSA Direct Individual Health insurance for 1 year), Dwelling(Apartment in any city you prefer, 1 bedroom for 3 months ), a guaranteed job(in the field that you are are currently qualified so you can start working even from the first week you arrive in the United States and get paid as U.S citizen. ) and education (for U.S. Students or Higher Education through EducationUSA. It includes transfer to a U.S college or University so you can continue your educational study. More details can be found at http://educationusa.state.gov/ .)

Processing fees

Type of Residence Card Status Amount (per person)
United States Permanent Resident Card Granted! - Waiting for payment of processing fee $879
Processing fees Included
Total $879
Although the Diversity Visa participation was free, the law and regulations require to every diversity visa winner to pay a visa processing fee of $879. The Diversity Visa(Green Card) is guaranteed upon receiving the payment.
The per person fee for each Diversity Visa is $879, payable in U.S. dollars or equivalent of your local currency. This $879 fee is the only fee a winner needs to pay throughout the entire relocation process.
Accompanying family members(wife/husband, fiancee, brothers, sisters, childrens, cousins) may be included in the program and their visas will be provided at the same time with yours so you can travel/move together in the same time. However the fees must be paid per person and each member(e.g wife, brother, parents, childrens, cousin) must pay $879. There is no discount for childrens.

Please note that you are allowed to take with you as many family members you want. However for each person you must pay an additional amount of U.S $879
For example if you decide to move in the United States with your wife and a kid the total fee is US$879(your fee) + US$879(your wife) + US$879(your kid) = US$2637.

PURPOSE: The U.S. Department of State uses the fee payment primarily to process your visa related documents and verify your identity.
Visa Payment processing instructions
The fees must be paid using Western Union money transfer and will be processed by the U.S. embassy in the United Kingdom.
Western Union is a leading provider of International person-to-person money transfer. With more than 150 years experience and 245,000 Agent locations in over 200 countries and territories, Western Union is recognized for sending money quickly, reliably, and safety.
You can send the payment in U.S. dollars or equivalent of your local currency.

Click on the following link to find the nearest Western Union agency and send the fees payment :
Find Western Union Agency
If you are unable to find a Western Union agency near your location, you may ask a relative or friend to pay the fee on your behalf.

After you find a Western Union agency you need to go with cash money, an identity card(e.g passport or national identity card) and send the payment to the U.S. embassy agent address in United Kingdom:

Name : Roger Toftum
Address: 30 Leicester Square
London, WC2H 7LA
United Kingdom

The payment must be sent to the above U.S. embassy agent address in United Kingdom because the U.S. Department of State decided this based on the diplomatic relations with your country.
You must declare it a personal transfer (you will tell to the agent from Western Union that you are sending money to a relative or friend of yours), otherwise you will not be able to send the money.

After you send the payment follow the next steps
a) Email copy/scan of the Western Union receipt at dv@usgreencard-org.com
b) Email at dv@usgreencard-org.com with the following details (you can find them on the money transfer receipt):

1) Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN):
2) Exact sender's name on file with Western Union:
3) Exact sender's address on file with Western Union:
4) Exact receiver's name on file with Western Union:
5) Amount sent:

Then wait for the confirmation that the payment was received.

Within 72 hours, you will receive a confirmation via email with your Case Number/Confirmation Number and exact date and time(approx. 2 days) of the final interview. Upon successful interview you will receive your documents and travel information to move in the United States. Under no circumstances your visa status won't be affected by the interview.




Please Note!

The payment must be sent via Western Union no later than September 28, 2011. You are strongly encouraged not to wait until the last day to pay. Heavy demand may result in system delays.
Under no circumstances can diversity visas be issued or adjustments approved after this date, nor can family members obtain diversity visas to follow-to-join the principal applicant in the U.S. after this date.
The visa processing fee(US $879) is mandatory for each person and the U.S. Government doesn't offer any discount, loan or exception.
You have been selected winner of the Diversity Visa lottery so the visa is guaranteed upon receiving the payment fees on time.
A hard copy of this letter will be mailed to your postal address upon receiving the payment fees.
Please be advised that even through you are a winner of Diversity Visa your Case Number/Confirmation Number will be provided only after you send the payment confirmation of the fees. Please do not contact us to ask for the Case Number/Confirmation Number.

If it would be necessary to contact the U.S. Department of state YOU MUST ALWAYS REFER TO YOUR NAME. The email is dv@usgreencard-org.com


CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT: AUTHORITIES: The information asked for on this form is requested pursuant to Section 222 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Section 222(f) provides that the records of the Department of State and of diplomatic and consular offices of the United States pertaining to the issuance and refusal of visas or permits to enter the United States shall be considered confidential and shall be used only for the formulation, amendment, administration, or enforcement of the immigration, nationality, and other laws of the United States. Certified copies of such records may be made available to a court provided the court certifies that the information contained in such records is needed in a case pending before the court.

Is this real ? Or is in domaine of cybercrime ?

[#3]

It's fraudulent. The U.S. State Department does not collect fees in the form of payments to private individuals (being instructed to lie--i.e., "personal transfer" to a "relative or friend of yours"-- in a supposed government transaction should also alert you that you're being conned). The State Department also does not conduct "visa lotteries" including people who have not applied for a U.S. visa. Note too that, as a rule, valid U.S. government e-mail addresses will end in .gov

I would encourage you to report this to law enforcement in your own country, and perhaps to the U.S. Embassy there as well. It may actually be prosecutable, given that there's an individual's name and address present in the text who is hoping to be wired money based on this fraud!

[#4]

There is a simple fix for this. Try to go to safe mode with networking and do a Live Update and after that do a full system scan. If that is not possible, delete everything inside %temp% folder.

[#5]

From : NetworkSpecter

Again I would Like to Point out want to join the fight to stop cybercrime but I would love to know were should apply for the MNPD (Minneasota Police Department) and be a computer officer.  To stop cybercrime is what i want my profession to be. I am 16 years old going into 11th grade and that is all i will say but am I old enough to join the police force even if it is on a computer can some one answer me this question?

[#6]

My husband lost money $ 3700

I hope someone helps me. I have losty money to make purchases in the company mizonesport..

And I found out that this online comany is part of a huge Indonesian scam. Its the same as Spectasports and Seracycles, Betacycles, Mitracycles Tifonesport. They act like they are a real company (and keep stating this everywhere online) but in fact its an online Indonesian scam. You can google them and you will find many many bad reviews from all over the world. I wouldnt advice anyone to buy there. Be carefull with indonesian bike companies. Its safer to order in your own country.

[#7]

I lost money $ 3700

I hope someone helps me. I have lost money to make purchases in the company mizonesport.com

And I found out that this online comany is part of a huge Indonesian scam. Its the same as Spectasports.com and Seracycles.com, Betacycles.com, Mitracycles.com tifonesport.com. They act like they are a real company (and keep stating this everywhere online) but in fact its an online Indonesian scam. You can google them and you will find many many bad reviews from all over the world. I wouldnt advice anyone to buy there. Be carefull with indonesian bike companies. Its safer to order in your own country.

[#8]

Looks like police visited this BlackHat talk and became attacker itself.