New 419 - Olympics

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Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 3:52 pm

This caught me off guard, but I am not surprised it is happening.

From http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080529/od_nm/olympics_scams_odd_dc;_ylt=AtnpcY0V7pKv6xULxfxB8jys0NUE

Quote:

BEIJING (Reuters) - Tricksters are setting up fake Olympic ticket websites, selling Olympic bonds that do not exist and running fraudulent Olympic-linked competitions, state media said Thursday, warning people not to be taken in.

There were eight common Olympic-themed frauds, the official Xinhua news agency said.

In one, text massages are sent out claming the recipient has won a prize from the Beijing Games organizers, but then the person is told they have to pay tax upfront to get the prize, Xinhua said.

In another, people are told that a warehouse containing Olympic medals caught fire and several medals are missing, but that the government was offering rewards for their return, though the report did not explain exactly how the fraud was carried out.

A third involves the setting up of a fake Olympic ticket website which offers to sell unclaimed pre-booked or reserved tickets, and a fourth offers to sell special Olympic bonds or financial funds.

"They spin a web of lies to tempt and deceive people, and carry out their frauds by taking advantage of victims' desire for a small gain," Xinhua said.

Police are warning people to be cautious and not to let their guard down, the report added.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Nick Macfie)

Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 6:27 pm

It seems that where there is something that people want, scammers will jump at the opportunity to lure people in with greed -- even the Olympics.

From reading only the title, I originally thought that this was a reference to a new kind of contest, where you had to have your lads compete in a triathlon of baiting activities or something (safari, monument construction, body modification) where they would be scored by their performance in each event.

Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 6:48 pm

Scammer are known to use any kind of acutal issue to scam, because victims are familiar with it so for the lads it´s easier to "sell" their story.

Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 7:00 pm

Especially with the Olympics, where it's something that people may not be familiar with, but want to do.

"Oh no, you don't buy tickets for Olympics through a central office -- that would be way too complicated. The Olympics allocates a certain number of tickets to each private dealer, and through our contacts, we were able to allocate a large number of very valuable tickets to sell. Up until last week they were being held in reserve by foreign diplomats that canceled at the last minute. They are now available, and so that's why we're the only people around who haven't sold out of tickets yet. We can offer them to you at rock bottom prices if you send us the money first, because we have some dire circumstances and need to sell them ASAP."

How many average Joe's would know how the Olympics sell tickets? With something that's as popular (yet unfamiliar) as the Olympics, these scammers can have a field day feeding stories to people who don't have any basis on which to doubt them.

Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 7:18 pm

I started a thread a month or two ago about the same thing... what themes scammers will latch on to. I did a South Africa World Cup 2010 bait not long ago...
In the thread, someone was betting it wouldn't be long before we saw Beijing Olyimpics lotto scams. And in fact, we had London 2012 scams within days.

Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 7:39 pm

I am very interested in buying tickets, anyone has a lad selling them?

Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 12:34 pm

maybe we should have our very own baiting Olympics this August...

Not quite a Newb Joined: 22 May 2008 Posts: 42

Would it be possible to bait a load of lads in to taking part in an Internet Olympics? They have to record themselves doing various strange sporting activities and competing, in time for the real Olympics. If just one person took part, convincing others that it was real would be simple, just show them the current champion of that event. There could of course be massive cash prizes for the winners. Feel free to ignore this post as a stupid idea, I just couldn't help thinking it after seeing the thread title.

Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 4:39 pm

^An ASEM to a load of lads "Dear xxx, you have been elected to represent your country blah blah, expenses for travelling up front" etc?

I wonder if it would work?

Is that the sort of thing you are thinking of?

Not quite a Newb Joined: 22 May 2008 Posts: 42

Yeah basically. I'm new to this and am only on my first bait, so I'm not experienced enough to have really considered the details to be honest. I just thought it would be funny if it worked, and quite a seasonal event. Would be funny to set up a scammer Olympics website when there are "winners" or something to see if some money could be raised from it to support this site. I'm just throwing idea's around I have no possible way to actually do anything with, or understand the feasibility of though.