Online Fraudster Preying on Nurses Finally Faces Detention

Agents from Philippines' NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) detained Wilfredo Isaac, an authorized nurse, who had used the Internet to deceive several nurses hunting for jobs into sending money to get jobs in London that actually did not exist.

The fraudster's method of operation was simple, said NBI officials. Isaac lured prospective nurses by phishing e-mails that invited applications for jobs in foreign countries. Phishing, according to NBI, is practiced by electronic mail or IM (Instant Messaging) that usually appear legitimate, as reported by Inquirer on April 25, 2009.

Reportedly, the fraudulent e-mails that Isaac sent instructed prospective victims to participate in a British Language seminar that was sponsored by authorized organizations. This participation, claimed the e-mails, was necessary for the recruitment, and accordingly they asked for £2,500-£6,000 as seminar fees that were required to be wired electronically through the Internet.

Explaining how money transfer took place, the NBI says that the cash is passed from one registrant to another registrant till it finally lands up with the last registrant who would take out the sum at the accredited outlets of the criminals, as reported by gmanews.tv on April 25, 2009.

Head of NBI AFCCD (Anti-Fraud and Computer Crimes Division), Philippines, Vicente de Guzman III, stated that the huge sum of money that Isaac withdrew electronically aroused the ISP's suspicion that prompted it to seek help from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLaC) of Philippines, as reported by Inquirer on April 25, 2009.

Eventually, Isaac was caught and detained during operations conducted on FB Harrison Street in Manila, Philippines on April 24, 2009 when he tried to claim the money that a victim had sent. Presently, Isaac is charged with falsification, using fake names and violating the Anti-Money Laundering Act. He is detained at the NBI prison for trial.

Meanwhile, commenting on the incident, the Internet security specialists stated that cyber criminals were found to be employing increasingly sophisticated ideas and techniques to deceive innocent people into giving off their money. Thus, users need to have knowledge of phishing while replying to e-mails that offer jobs so that they could avoid getting ensnared by phishing frauds.

Related article: Online Card Fraud Shows Greater Tendency Than Chip and Pin

» SPAMfighter News - 5/4/2009