today urged consumers to beware of phishing schemes aimed at
stealing their identities. And,
for the first time, phishing appeared on the top Internet and telemarketing
scams lists gathered by the National Consumers League in 2004. Sullivan and Kenneth W. ALCOTT
faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years and a $1 million fine on each
count of bank fraud and a maximum term of 5 years' imprisonment and a $250,000
fine for the Travel Act violation.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U." Miskell, an
FBI Supervisory Special Agent, is being recognized for his work combating
online fraud originating from Nigeria and Ghana that affected U.ic3.S. To become a member of MRC contact:
info@MerchantRiskCouncil.

truthful fraudulent

Additionally , while on pretrial release for the bank fraud charges, ALCOTT
engaged in a scheme to extort $150 ,000 from a doctor in California.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation .

"Dale Miskell's work established a model of collaboration between the
retail industry and law enforcement," said Tracy Brown, Co-Chairman of the
MRC and Director of Information Security for American Eagle Outfitters.gov/ or
http://merchantriskcouncil. Postal Inspectors to help catch and prosecute cyber
criminals.

deposited pretends

org.
NCL runs the National Fraud Information Center, which was created in 1992,
and the Internet Fraud Watch, which was created in 1996, operating in tandem
with the NFIC.5 million from South Shore Savings Bank on behalf of his
business, ARK Associates, Inc.
Included in the false financial information ALCOTT submitted to South
Shore was a supposedly "audit quality" financial statement for ARK Associates
for the year-ended December 31, 2002. Pirozzolo in
Sullivan's Economic Crimes Unit.
The Merchant Risk Council (MRC) today named
Dale Miskell the "MRC Law Enforcement Officer of the Year.5 million in fraudulent
cashier's checks, and making 17 arrests.

fooled lexicology

1 consumer complaint in 2004. Law enforcement agencies might also contact you if you've
been the victim of fraud.
For more information, visit http://www.m.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the
trademarks of their respective owners.

District Judge Patti B.S.

About the MRC

The Merchant Risk Council consists of 7,500 merchants , vendors, financial
institutions and law enforcement agencies.

siphoning scammers

Phishing is a high-tech twist on the all-too-common crime of identity
theft, where spam or pop-up messages are used to deceive recipients into
releasing personal or financial information into the hands of criminals.

* Don't click on a link in an e-mail message that asks for your personal
information. Use a search
engine to find the official Web site. The U. retailers and law enforcement authorities in
West Africa, Miskell cracked an international reshipping scam, seizing $1
million in fraudulently obtained merchandise and $2.
"As cooperation between merchants and law enforcement increases, it will
become easier to combat international online fraud."

Miskell was sent to Nigeria and Ghana by the Internet Crime Complaint
center (IC3), an organization formed by the FBI and the National White
Collar Crime Center to fight international online fraud.org.

nigerian testifying

About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in
software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their
full potential. d/b/a Accounting Recruiters International , by
submitting false financial information to South Shore purporting to show that
ARK Associates was a profitable business. The audit opinion was
a fabrication.S.

solicitations testifying

, Lydia Parnes,
acting director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, Susan Grant,
director of the National Consumers League 's National Fraud Information Center
and Internet Fraud Watch program, and Jacqueline Beauchere and Aaron Kornblum
of Microsoft urged Internet users to exercise the same caution when doing
business online as they would in the physical world and called for increased
consumer awareness of phishing . But if you're contacted out of the blue and asked for your
personal information, it's a warning sign that something is "phishy. To check whether the message is
really from the company or agency, call it directly or go to the
company's Web site. in the United
States and/or other countries.
United States Attorney Michael J.S.

PRESS RELEASE Merchant Risk Council Names Dale Miskell 'MRC Law Enforcement Officer of the Year'

Grant Ashley, Executive Assistant Director of the FBI, will keynote the
event.

solicitation abacha

Fraud
reports from consumers are sent within minutes to over 200 appropriate law
enforcement agencies, including the Federal Trade Commission and state
attorneys general.

law enforcement officer to ever testify in a
Nigerian court.

Members of the press contact Susan Henson, Public Relations, Experian at
714 830 5129, a board member of MRC.org.

deposited 419

"In little over a year
it's become one of the top scams reported to our National Fraud Information
Center and Internet Fraud Watch program.S.S. This
makes him the first U. For more information on safeguarding
against reshipping and other online scams, please refer to
http: //www.

scam phony

Federal Trade Commission (FTC), National Consumers League and
Microsoft Corp.C."
"Phishing is more than a dirty trick played on unsuspecting consumers --
it's a serious identity theft problem ," said Grant."
"The Internet has revolutionized the way we communicate, transact business
and educate ourselves," said Aaron Kornblum, Internet Safety Enforcement
attorney at Microsoft. Microsoft provides consumers with
the information and technology that will help protect all of us from this
pervasive and destructive threat, and has filed legal action today against
some of these individuals .S. Following the
instructions, you enter your personal information on the Web site -- and
into the hands of identity thieves. The Board of Directors consists of 15 leading e-commerce
retailers , solution providers and financial institutions including
Amazon.

nigerian solicitations

"We must work together to stop these con artists from
misusing the Internet as a tool for fraud. It's hard to tell whether something is legitimate
by looking at an e-mail or a Web site, or talking to someone on the
phone. But usually they only ask if you made particular
transactions; they don't request your account number or other personal
information.fraud. Kaiser, Special
Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in New England,
announced that MICHAEL ALCOTT, age 43, of Scituate, Massachusetts pleaded
guilty before U.
At yesterday's hearing, the prosecutor told the Court that, had the case
proceeded to trial, the evidence would have proven that ALCOTT obtained a line
of credit of $2. According to information provided at that hearing on May 9, 2005,
not only was ALCOTT not terminally ill, as the letter stated, but ALCOTT was
not suffering from cancer at all.S.org.

scammer mugu

Appearing at the National Press Club in Washington, D.

* If someone contacts you and says you've been a victim of fraud, verify
the person's identity before you provide any personal information. To be on the safe side, ask for the person's
name, the name of the agency or company, the telephone number, and the
address. Consumers from across the United States and Canada can call
(800) 876-7060, Monday through Friday, 9 a. to 5 p.
Also , in or about June 2003, ALCOTT submitted the same fraudulent
"audited" financial statement to Boston Private Bank + Trust Company in an
attempt to secure a $3.
On May 9, 2005, ALCOTT was taken into custody for violating his pretrial
release conditions after it was learned that ALCOTT had submitted to the court
a fabricated letter from a Massachusetts General Hospital doctor stating that
ALCOTT had terminal cancer. To complete the operation, Miskell
traveled to West Africa four times in the last two years.

lexicology solicitation

"
Most legitimate companies and agencies don't operate that way. At the time South Shore discovered the
fraud, ARK Associates had an outstanding balance owed on the line of credit of
$2. Unknown to the victim, the merchandise has been
purchased using stolen credit cards. Its members share the common
goal of protecting and encouraging the thriving online commerce industry by
establishing best practices for cyber-fraud prevention.merchantriskcouncil.

deposited siphoning

Our mission is to protect and promote social and
economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad.
Attorney would like to extend special thanks to the San Diego field office of
the Federal Bureau of Investigation which investigated the extortion scheme.

polite scammers

For more information visit http://www . ARK Associates ceased operations in July 2003.

The IC3 and MRC regularly alert consumers of scams such as reshipping and
advise on ways to avoid being duped.com, InterActiveCorp Travel, Orbitz , Inc. To learn more about the Merchant Risk
Council and other consumer cyber-fraud resources, go to
www.

nigerian bribes

If you don't have the telephone number, get it from
the phone book, the Internet or directory assistance. BOSTON, A Scituate man pleaded guilty late
yesterday in federal court to charges of bank fraud and extortion. goods to
foreign countries.

polite deposited

The company is filing the lawsuits today in the U.
District Court for the Western District of Washington in Seattle against John
Doe defendants.5 million line of credit.
Judge Saris scheduled sentencing for October 21, 2005 at 2:00 pm. Reshipping scams victimize
American consumers by deceptively "employing" them to ship U . The arrests were made between April and May of 2004.com, Best Buy, ClearCommerce, CompUSA, CyberSource , Discover
Network, Experian, hpshopping.

The leading host nation for this form of fraud at present is Nigeria.

polite scammer

Don't Let April 1 Be April 'Phools' Day: Federal Trade Commission National Consumers League and Microsoft Warn Internet Users of Phishing Scams

S. It may take you to a phony Web site that looks just like
the Web site of the real company or government agency. Saris to a four -count Superseding
Information charging him with one count of bank fraud, two counts of making
false statements in connection with loan applications, and one count of
violating of the Travel Act arising from ALCOTT's scheme to extort a doctor in
California while ALCOTT was on pretrial release for the bank fraud charges. In addition, the
MRC works with federal and local law enforcement agencies such as the
Federal Bureau of Investigation, Secret Service, the U.

The scheme usually works as follows:

* An individual or company receives a letter or fax from an alleged 'official' representing a foreign government or agency;

* An offer is made to transfer millions of dollars in 'over invoiced contract' funds into your personal bank account;

* You are encouraged to travel overseas to complete the transaction;

* You are requested to provide blank company letterhead forms, banking account information, telephone/fax numbers;
You receive numerous documents with official looking stamps , seals and logo testifying to the authenticity of the proposal;

* Eventually you must provide up-front or advance fees for various taxes, attorney fees, transaction fees or bribes.

siphoning scams

"
Kornblum announced that Microsoft is filing 117 lawsuits against alleged
phishers as part of its commitment to protecting consumers against phishing
and other cybercrime.org.

Founder and President of Defunct Employment Placement Firm Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud and Extortion Schemes Reports U.S. Attorney

When South Shore contacted the accounting firm to discuss the
audit opinion, the accounting firm informed South Shore that no one named
David Kane worked at the firm and that the firm had not performed an audit of
ARK Associates' financial statements. Attorney Jack W.
merchants and consumers. and
Zale Corp.

solicitation scams

Microsoft Announces Filing of 117 Lawsuits Against Phishing Site Operators

WASHINGTON, In sharp contrast to the harmless
pranks that will be played on April Fools' Day, deceptive phishing schemes are
no laughing matter. The
FTC reports that identity theft was the No.
Legitimate credit card issuers and other companies may contact you if
there is an unusual pattern indicating that someone else might be using
one of your accounts. EST, or fill out the
online form to file a complaint.

Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corp. The letter, which ALCOTT had submitted during a
hearing on April 28, 2005 at which his release conditions were being modified
because of other violations, was discovered by the government to be
fabricated.S Department of
Justice and the U.com, American Eagle Outfitters, American Express , Apple Computer,
Barnes & Noble.

truitt fooled

To strike a blow against criminals who prey on Internet
users , the U.
"Computer users can stop phishers by not responding to an e-mail or pop-up
that asks for personal information," said Lydia Parnes of the FTC's Bureau of
Consumer Protection. "Just delete it. NCL staff provides advice and tips on how to
spot possible telemarketing or Internet fraud and how to report it. ALCOTT had himself been a
client of the escort.

The Award, given for the first time this year, recognizes the outstanding
work of one law enforcement official who helps track down and prosecute
online criminals, and educates online retailers on how to collaborate with
law enforcement. Miskell will be given the award at the annual MRC
conference titled, "Combating Online Fraud" on March 9 - 11 in Las Vegas,
NV.S. On Miskells's
latest trip to Nigeria, he assisted in the successful prosecutions of those
previously arrested by providing testimony in the Nigerian courts.

pretends truitt

ALCOTT
threatened to disclose the doctor's relationship with a woman who worked as an
"escort" unless the doctor paid ALCOTT $150,000.

fraudulent scam

Internet users should follow these simple steps to avoid phishing scams:

* Be suspicious if someone contacts you unexpectedly and asks for your
personal information. Then get the main number (see tip above) and call to find out
if the person is legitimate.

About The National Consumer League
The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America's pioneer
consumer organization.m. The MRC provided
information on fraudulent and suspicious transactions to the IC3 that
helped Miskell locate the criminals.

testifying solicitation

nclnet.

invoiced scam

Through today's sweep of John Doe lawsuits, Microsoft's legal team hopes
to establish connections between phishing scams worldwide and uncover the
largest-volume operators.

The financial statement was accompanied
by an audit opinion on the letterhead of a certified public accounting firm
and bearing the signature of a person, "David Kane," represented on the letter
to be a "Partner-Audit Manager" of the accounting firm.496 million.

By collaborating with U.