7 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
7 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Who would I report this online scam to?

by winebuddy
5 replies
Getting emails that seem to reinforce each other and the site looks legitimate:

-----Original Message-----
From: AtLast Fulfillment [mailto:tracking@atlastfulfillment.com]
Sent: Friday, September 18, 2009 9:04 AM
To: oiewuriwueriuwoeiruwoei (changed)
Subject: [!! SPAM] Order Shipment Notification

Order ID: 62719

A package from eCommerce Solutions INC was shipped on 9/15/2009 via UPS Mail
Innovations to the following address:

BOB SMITH
1100 EAST PARK DR, SUITE 104
BIRMINGHAM, AL 35235

The package's Delivery Confirmation ID is 9102901002011604862336

To check the delivery status of your package at any time please visit the
UPS Mail Innovations web-site: http://www.ups-mi.net/packageID/
(Please note that it may take UPS Mail Innovations up to 24 hours to update
initial shipment status.)


Thank you for your order.

From: YouthRes-V [mailto:no-reply@youthresv.com]
Sent: Friday, September 18, 2009 9:04 AM
To: lksdjjf;lsakdfkj
Subject: [!! SPAM] Order Shipment Notification



Order ID: 300022107
A package from YouthRes-V was shipped on 9/15/2009 via UPS Mail Innovations to the following address:
BOB SMITH
1100 EAST PARK DR, SUITE 104
BIRMINGHAM, AL 35235
The package's Delivery Confirmation ID is 9102901002011604855888
To check the delivery status of your package at any time please visit the UPS Mail Innovations web-site: Package ID Search
(Please note that it may take UPS Mail Innovations up to 24 hours to update initial shipment status.)
Thank you,
YouthRes-V Shipping Department

************************************************** *********************
NOTE: This message has been automatically sent from an unmonitored email address. If you reply to this message, your email will not be received or seen.

************************************************** *********************

Obviously the site is not a UPS site and the tracking numbers do not work in UPS's site. But if you go to the fake ups site and call the support number, they tell you that YES - your package is on the way!

So whats the scam? I didn't order anything.

And what is their angle? How are they going to make money with this?

And besides UPS, who else do I report it to? Is anyone else getting these?
#online #report #scam
  • Profile picture of the author Steve Diamond
    I'm inclined to believe that ups-mi.net is a legitimate tracking site for a collaboration between UPS and the USPS. The Whois for that domain shows it uses nameservers at ups.com, so that's a pretty strong indication.

    I think it's likely to be an affiliate CPA scam. That type of product pays a very high affiliate commission (typically $35 or so) for an initial order that frequently bills the customer only a few dollars for shipping and handling up front. Then they bill for the entire price of the product after 14 or 30 days, plus they enroll you in an autoship program and bill you every month after that.

    For the scam, an affiliate would buy a prepaid Visa debit card in a very small amount, just enough to cover the initial shipping charge. Then they would order the product in your name. They basically don't care what happens after that because they get their $35 commission and they've only spent $5 or so.

    I think you actually will receive the product. At that point you should contact the merchant immediately, tell them to cancel any ongoing billing arrangement, and ask them how to return the product.

    As for reporting the scam, you may have to find out what affiliate network or networks are handling CPA offers for that merchant. Then contact each network with detailed order info for your product. They'll be able to find the order, deny the commission to the affiliate, and ban them from the network.

    HTH.

    Steve
    Signature
    Mindfulness training & coaching online
    Reduce stress | Stay focused | Keep positive and balanced
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1195506].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author winebuddy
    Thanks Steve - that is enlightening and very informative.

    There is no one by that name at the address mentioned, and there could be no recurring commissions paid because they have no CC number or name. They will pay the affiliate anyway?

    What a SCAM
    Signature
    "Knowledge is NOT power... ACTION on Knowledge is power"
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1195524].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Steve Diamond
      The merchant will pay the affiliate based on the initial order because they've calculated that the lifetime value of an average customer is much higher than the commission. It doesn't matter whether any particular customer cancels before they get into the recurring billing. The commission is paid anyway.

      Unless, that is, someone informs the merchant and/or the affiliate network that this particular order is fraudulent. In that case the affiliate will get no commission and will get banned. (I left that out of my initial response. You can probably take care of it just by telling the merchant. Let them deal with the affiliate network. They will. They certainly don't want to pay affiliate commissions to criminal affiliates for fictional customers.)

      Steve
      Signature
      Mindfulness training & coaching online
      Reduce stress | Stay focused | Keep positive and balanced
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1195548].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Steven Carl Kelly
    UPS-MI is UPS Mail Innovations. You can read about it here:

    UPS Mail Innovations | Streamline, optimize, and synchronize your mail processes
    Signature
    Read this SURPRISING REPORT Before You Buy ANY WSO! Click Here
    FREE REPORT: Split Test Your Landing Pages the Easy Way
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1195559].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author winebuddy
    Reported to the vendor - done deal. Thanks Steve.
    Signature
    "Knowledge is NOT power... ACTION on Knowledge is power"
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1195566].message }}

Trending Topics