Category: Con Men

HELP. SOMEONE STOLE MY IDENTITY!!!

4/12/2022

From 2018 - 2020 there were 1.66 million cases of identity fraud reported to authorities. Who knows how many went unreported because the victim was too ashamed or embarrassed to admit they had been a victim of identity fraud. What can the average person do to keep their identities from being stolen? Here's a couple of ideas that we recommend to clients as well as friends and family:

Initiate a freeze on your credit. It's very easy to do and makes it much more of a challenge for a cybercriminal to steal your identity. Each of the three main credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion have information on their main website page that explains how you can place a freeze on your credit. Make sure to place a freeze on your kid's accounts as well as cybercriminals know those accounts are very rarely reviewed by the owners or their parents.

Place fraud alerts on your credit accounts. Anyone can place a fraud alert with the three aforementioned credit bureaus. You only have to place the alert with one of the three and then that credit bureau will instruct the other two to do the same. This will require a business to verify your identity before opening a new line of credit in your name.

Enroll in two-factor authentication. We know this can be a pain, but it's something you should enable on all your accounts when it's presented as an option. With this option, you'll have to enter your credentials and then follow up with a code, usually, that's texted or emailed to your known telephone number or email address.

Review your accounts closely. Even with all of the above in place, you should monitor your credit reports and account statements closely. Don't just throw those unopened statements in a drawer thinking everything is fine and be sure to review your credit reports at least once a year, I recommend quarterly, to make sure nothing is amiss.

With a little precaution you can help ensure that you don't become a victim of identity theft. If you feel like you may have become a victim of identify theft, please give one of our Colorado-based private investigators a call for a free, no-obligation consultation.

Lee Walters
President
EXCALIBUR - Private Investigation

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PART VI: REAL ESTATE SCAMS

3/11/2022

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Real estate scams investigated by Colorado Springs private investigator

In our newest post on scams, some sobering statistics from the FBI in regards to real estate fraud:

Total financial loss in 2020: $213,196,082

Total United States victims in 2020: 13,638

Yes, you're reading those numbers right. Over $213 million lost to real estate scams in 2020 alone with over 13,500 victims. What type of real estate scams are the most prevalent?

Loan flipping: it's a predatory practice that happens when a lender
convinces a homeowner to repeatedly refinance their mortgage, accruing high
fees and points with each refinance.

Escrow wire fraud: where scammers, many times in other countries, infiltrate a legitimate real estate transaction and cause monies to be wired to accounts they control as if they are the closing company when, in fact, they aren't. Victims have reported that everything looks real, has the right names, numbers, addresses, etc, yet the account number for the wire transfer has been changed. Most victims never receive the lost funds back so this is one everyone should be aware of.

Escrow wire fraud investigated by private investigators in Colorado Springs, Colorado

SerRental scams: in this scam the conman places a rental listing on various real estate rental websites and takes a deposit for either a vacation or long-term rental for housing. There's been many cases where the renter shows up thinking they have this nice place to stay, only to learn that the occupants/owners have no idea what they are talking about.

Moving scams: moving scams are also classified as real estate scams and they take many forms. We've seen so-called moving companies hold a truckload of household goods hostage for additional payments over and above what their "estimate" was. Make sure you use a well-known, stable company with a track record whenever moving from point A to B, even if it may cost you a little more than the ad on Craiglist you saw.

Homebuyers and real estate agents should be especially diligent. Keep
personal information secure, use licensed lenders and realtors for all
transactions, never pay upfront fees for home services, and educate yourself
on how to spot a scam. Be aware of anyone pressuring you to make quick
decisions, and be wary of improper documentation and requests for wire
transfers of large sums of money.

Never resist the temptation to not follow up when you have a funny feeling about something or when any large sums of money are involved. Check and double-check and get on the phone to verify everything or, better yet, go in person to make sure you don't become the victim of one of these real estate scams.

Lee Walters
EXCALIBUR Private Investigation
719.208.4088
Serving all of Colorado and beyond

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BOA fraud right here in the Springs!

2/23/2022

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Fraud Investigation Bank of America Colorado Springs Investigator

It's almost like scammers read our last post about the Zelle and Wells Fargo scam, but didn't believe anyone read it. Including us! Our lead investigator received this text first thing this morning about their Bank of America debit card, they actually don't have one, and the fraud that had occurred along with the "restriction" that has been placed on their card. Two things to note on this text message: 1. It came from 804-215-6923 which a quick Google search showed that the scammer didn't even bother to spoof the number to make it look like it came from Bank of America even though it's most likely not the true number this text came from. Lazy scammer!!! 2. The number the recipient is supposed to call is also not a Bank of America number. I'm guessing this is a scammer who's just starting out as those are two things that could easily be made to look like BofA was calling.

Don't fall for this scam. If you have, or any other scam, please give us a call to see how we can assist.

EXCALIBUR Private Investigation
719.208.4088
Serving all of Colorado and beyond

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!!!!!SCAM ALERT!!!!!

2/20/2022

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Bank Scams investigated by Colorado Springs Private Investigator

The Zelle text scam has reared its ugly head again! First it was Bank of America customers, now Wells Fargo customers are being targeted. If you receive this text, or something similar purportedly from your bank, delete and block the number immediately. THIS IS NOTHING BUT A SCAM!!! How does it work? Like this:

The mark, or victim, receives the text, or something very similar, from what looks like their bank. As soon as they reply NO they get a call on their cell phone. The victim is told by the "bank employee" that someone is withdrawing money from their account and that they need to go into their Zelle account and replace the number listed with their first name. The caller ID even shows the call is coming from Wells Fargo Fraud Protection or something else that looks official and like it's from the bank. The scammers are then able to withdraw as much money as the account contains as they have the keys to the castle namely the name listed as a Zelle recipient.

How is the scammer able to be successful with this scam? First they play on people's fear of having their money stolen and the texts play on that fact. Second when the call comes in from "the bank" the scammers use a spoofing service that will display whatever the scammer wants it to display. Private investigators and law enforcement use these type of services quite often and they cost next to nothing to use. In some instances an astute victim has even Googled the person who claims to be from the bank and discovered that the name matches. All the con has done is a similar search themselves and knows to use a real bank employee's name when calling the victim.

Unfortunately if you are the victim of this scam your chances of recovering the money are almost zero. The banks have no requirement to return stolen funds from scams like these so you must be aware that you're going to be out the money if you do.

Our Colorado Springs professional investigators have years of experience working all types of cons/scams. If you suspect someone is trying to con or scam you, please, please, give us a call before you move forward. A conversation doesn't cost a thing and we're more than happy to provide our opinion based on over thirty years of experience. Stay safe.

EXCALIBUR Private Investigation
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Serving all of Colorado and beyond

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THE EMOTIONAL CON

2/3/2022

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Colorado Springs Dating Sites Investigator

In an exceptionally well done documentary now playing on Netflix, The Tinder Swindler, perfectly illustrates the lengths a person will go to con someone out of their money using a dating site, this time Tinder, but which we've seen on almost all of the mainstream, and some not so mainstream, dating sites.

Some of the takeaways from this documentary and proven out by all of the social media/dating site investigations we've conducted, is how the con man, or woman, sets the hook. In this case, Simon Leviev, not his actual name, claimed to be the son of a wealthy, Israeli diamond dealer. In order to set the hook with his first victim, he met her at the Four Seasons, initially, then that very same day invited her to fly with him on a private jet to a business meeting. Little did she know that all of this was being paid for by another woman who knew nothing about this new woman. Leviev waited eight months, which is not unusual when a big con is in play, to actually ask the young woman for money, ostensibly a loan. Cecile Fjellhoy, the first victim, thought she was in love, Leviev had played The Emotional Con exquisitely, and gladly gave him the money. When it was all said and done, she was out over $200,000. Leviev operated what was a ponzi scheme, a scheme were the con man takes money from one person and provides it to another. We usually see ponzi schemes involving investments, but he used it to convince his next mark that they were meant for each other and that he was a rich, billionaire businessman.

We won't provide any more details in case you end up watching this, but it is truly a cautionary tale and happens more than anyone ever thinks.

Concerned that the person you met on an online dating site or other social media may be pulling, or trying to pull, a con on you? Give us a call. We'll find out in no time if they are legitimate or not.

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THE PUPPET MASTER on Netflix

1/20/2022

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Private Investigators and Netflix and Colorado Springs

In a rare chance to watch something on Netflix, or any other streaming service for that matter, I had a chance to view The Puppet Master which is a fascinating look at a true conman in England who plied his wares for many years through his master manipulation of a variety of people, primarily women but several men as well. (SPOILER ALERT UPCOMING)

Going by the name of Rob and David, to name just a few, Robert Hendy-Freegard masqueraded as an MI-5 Agent for years conning his victims, and their parents, out of their life savings in many instances. After being tried and convicted in 2005 to life in prison, he was released in 2009 after his kidnapping charges were overturned. I highly recommend it as it shows how the police were mostly powerless to stop him for quite some time as most of his victims were willing victims although the argument could be made they were brainwashed, willing victims.

This limited series also shows how professional private investigators can fill the void when the police can't, or are unwilling, to look into this type of crime.

If you suspect someone isn't who they say they are, possibly has a shady background, or just gives you a bad feeling, call us at EXCALIBUR Legal Support - Private Investigation for a free consultation and we'll discuss options that you may want to explore. Located in Colorado Springs, but our cases take us all over the country and we're here to help you no matter where you may live.

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HELP. SOMEONE STOLE MY IDENTITY!!!

PART VI: REAL ESTATE SCAMS

BOA fraud right here in the Springs!

!!!!!SCAM ALERT!!!!!

THE EMOTIONAL CON

THE PUPPET MASTER on Netflix

Colorado Private Investigator Blog

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