Continuing our conversation with “Fred” the scambaiter. If you missed part one, it’s HERE.

WB: You mentioned mules, what did you mean?

Fred: A mule is someone who is (often unknowingly) laundering money for criminals. In many cases they’ve answered an advertisement for a work-at-home job that involves receiving cashier’s checks or bank transfers and then sending the money along to someone else, keeping some of it for themselves. It’s often described as a sales transaction where the seller (our scammer) needs someone to receive payments from a buyer (our victim) because of some sort of customs/taxes/whatever. So here’s how it works:
– The victim sends the fee he’s supposed to pay to get his big bucks to the mule via bank transfer (the scammer describes this receiving person as an agent or attorney).
– The mule wires the money to the scammer via western union, keeping a service fee for himself.
So what’s happened is that the victim has sent the money via a traceable process (the bank) and the mule has been paid to send the money to the scammer via an untraceable process (western union). At no point has the scammer exposed himself to any risk and the mule has now laundered the money and can go to jail. We do our best to identify and warn these folks, but it’s tough. They’re getting free money and not realizing that they’re breaking the law.

WB: This all sounds fairly sophisticated.

Fred: It can be, especially once a victim is well and truly hooked. They can even receive a fake ATM card that’s supposed to give them access to their new riches via an online bank account, also fake. The fake bank will ask for all sorts of fees and, in some cases, actually get access to the victim’s bank account and drain it.

WB: So what can we do?

Fred: There are several things that anyone who uses the internet can do. First, realize that if it sounds too good to be true, it isn’t true. There are no legitimate entities that will contact you with money you never heard about and fees needed to receive it. Second, educate your friends and family about 419 scams. Retired people on a fixed income are the easiest prey so talk to your parents/grandparents. Have them check out ScamWarners, a site maintained by scambaiters to expose the bad guys and do our best to educate people. And last but not least, watch those social media and dating sites, they’re the new playground for scam artists. Friend requests from people you never met (I got three the first day when I created an account recently, all from Benin), dating conversations that get lovey-dovey right away, they’re just trolling. Once they get you into a conversation there will be a desperate need for money from you at some point. Sick mother, escape from a terrible situation, plane tickets to come see you (the new love of their life), you name it. Be particularly diligent with family members who spend a lot of time online, especially if they’re on the lonely side. They’re often looking for a friend…and this is not the kind they need. And no, there’s nothing to “win $300,000” on Facebook that you magically won.

WB: Fred, thanks for all of this great information and best of luck with your efforts. You’re attacking an amazing mountain of internet crime. Any final thoughts?

Fred: You bet. Notice that I didn’t mention any scambaiting sites. Yes, they’re easy to find, but remember that we’re working together and sharing stories and strategies…and when the lads find out they’ve been had, the language can get mighty salty. Explore at your own risk! And finally, don’t get the idea that these are just poor unfortunates out there trying to make a living. They don’t care about anything but money and will say anything to get it. It’s nothing new to have a lad encourage a retiree to send every penny they have, knowing that the poor victim will be homeless as a result, because they “promise” the millions will arrive. I’ve even had a scammer encourage a teenage girl to steal from her parents…and worse. These are criminals.

WB: Thanks again Fred and keep fighting the good fight!

So there you have it gang, I hope that you learned something important and I encourage you to share this. Y’all be safe out there.

Next week, back to the singing!