Steps to take if you have been ripped-off by a copy-cat government website

hpuse

RichardD1970 wrote: »

Daughter asked me to check out about getting her a provisional driving licence.

Thought these ads had been banned and a team of engineers were working around the clock to stop these companies?

On a side note, why do I even have ads? I have Ad Blocker Plus installed!? :mad:

"These ads" are a very subjective term.... May be passport renewal keyword has a total keyword block.

Pollycat

hpuse
let me offer my help:

These are extracts from your link:

This is how the scheme usually happens: victims use a search engine to search for government services such as obtaining an Employer Identification Number (EIN) or replacement social security card. The fraudulent criminal websites are the first to appear in search results, prompting the victims to click on the fraudulent government services website. The victim completes the required fraudulently posted forms for the government service they need. The victim submits the form online, believing they are providing their PII to government agencies such as the Internal Revenue Service, Social Security Administration, or similar agency based on the service they need. Once the forms are completed and submitted, the fraudulent website usually requires a fee to complete the service requested. The fees typically range from $29 to $199 based on the government service requested.

The above is pretty much the same as is happening with these companies here in the UK.
Agreed?

However, it goes on to say:

Once the fees are paid the victim is notified they need to send their birth certificate, driver’s license, employee badge, or other personal items to a specified address. The victim is then told to wait a few days to several weeks for processing. By the time the victim realizes it is a scam, they may have had extra charges billed to their credit/debit card, had a third-party designee added to their EIN card, and never received the service(s) or documents requested. Additionally, all of their PII data has been compromised by the criminals running the websites and can be used for any number of illicit purposes. The potential harm gets worse for those who send their birth certificate or other government-issued identification to the perpetrator.

I don't believe the companies in the UK ask for these documents and I don't believe they do as these US companies are doing i.e. using documents and financial details for "illicit purposes".

However, please do correct me if I'm wrong on that.

The UK companies charge a fee for something that is free or charge a fee on top of what the Government charges.

So, I can see why the FBI refer to these people as 'criminals' but I disagree with your statement here:

hpuse wrote: »

Whilst some people here like to call them 'service providers'
Law enforcement folks in uncle Sam's land call them criminals.

because you're comparing apples and pears.

And that, hpuse, is what people have been trying to get you to understand ever since you posted the link to FBI on 12/4/2015.

hpuse

Pollycat wrote: »

hpuse

I don't believe the companies in the UK ask for these documents and I don't believe they do as these US companies are doing i.e. using documents and financial details for "illicit purposes".

However, please do correct me if I'm wrong on that.

The UK companies charge a fee for something that is free or charge a fee on top of what the Government charges.

Pollycat here is the topic for you to read - answers you queries above.

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-2963777/Four-court-fraud-charges-alleged-copycat-Government-websites.html

On the above news articl - stress is on the word, "fraud", it may seem like an innocent fraud to majority of the folks religiously defending their trade-believes and posts for over a year, but for someone who has lost money and goverment - it does not..

That is the reason why such companies are not a part of google anymore where millions search the web the very minute and second of the day. Over.

fermi

Pollycat

hpuse wrote: »

Pollycat here is the topic for you to read - answers you queries above.

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-2963777/Four-court-fraud-charges-alleged-copycat-Government-websites.html

On the above news articl - stress is on the word, "fraud", it may seem like an innocent fraud to majority of the folks religiously defending their trade-believes and posts for over a year, but for someone who has lost money and goverment - it does not..

That is the reason why such companies are not a part of google anymore where millions search the web the very minute and second of the day. Over.

I've read the article.

Nowhere does it say that the people involved have asked for documents such as these:
birth certificate, driver’s license, employee badge, or other personal items to a specified address
which is what these people in the US are doing.

The article is dated 22/2/2015 and says these 4 were to appear at York Crown Court 'next month'.

From Fermi's link (which doesn't work) it seems these were found guilty.
It might have been helpful if hpuse had provided a link to the actual verdict.

Valli

I think it's time this thread was moved to a more appropriate part of the Forum. It's not a vent, a praise or a warning but a discussion, in the main, as to the 'status' of these sites and their operators. Nor does it offer sound advice as to how those who have been duped could get their money back.
It is continually 'muddied' by the OP bringing in irrelevant comparisons and an outright refusal to acknowledge the laws of the UK in respect of these sites and their legal status.

Pollycat

I agree, Valli.
I posted this a few days ago:

Pollycat wrote: »

I thought the whole point of this thread was to inform people of what:

Steps to take if you have been ripped-off by a copycat government website

I also think it's pointless posting links to the FBI and discussing terminology used in the USA.

MothballsWallet

I'm surprised this thread's still going - I thought it would have died a death by now.

But, nope, it seems to be building to a critical mass of derp.

(Thanks to Richard "The !!!!!!" Coughlan for introducing me to that last word!)

hpuse

Valli, Pollcat, MBW et all

This core matter of this thread is always about copycat website looting customers fraudulently - be it US or USA.

If posters had legal trade-believes or ethical allegiance to such trades in operation - may be its time for them rethink their stance and believes?

OR, there is still an option for you to report this thread to MSE team (has been attempted numerous times before). May be with the help of another 'poll' (just giving you some ideas for strategising )
Lastly, exercise your right to remain silent - it will die off, eventually, just as copycat websites.

bod1467

hpuse wrote: »

If posters had legal trade-believes or ethical allegiance to such trades in operation - may be its time for them rethink their stance and believes?

Can someone translate that to English please?