As long as you are online, your computer or phones or other devices you use are vulnerable to online scammers who send phishing emails seeking ransom. In PNG, not only ransom emails are on the rise but there are fake calls, text messages, Facebook chats, social media inboxes. Many Papua New
Guinean are blindly falling prey to these scammers. Below are few examples for scamming which are common in PNG.
- Scam Emails
- fake ransom emails
- fake Text Messages and phone calls
- fake social media chats and inboxes
Let us see each of this in detail
- Scam Emails
You will be shocked or sometimes exciting (if do not know what scam is) about a new email you just received about a fortune of millions of dollars. But remember! nothing is free in this world but someone just emailed you promising to transfer millions into your bank account. Think twice, strings are attached to such emails and you need to do more research before responding to it. Emails that scammers send in most cases contain the following
- Someone is in his/her sick bed who is dying and needs to transfer millions of dollars into your account as donations but inorder to transfer the funds, you need to pay a bank transfer fees first.
- A world renown company [they will name the company] wants to transfer you this amount[amount will be given] into your bank account but you need to pay bank clearance fees.
- a briefcase / boxes containing valuables[item inside will be stated] has arrived at the airport or customs office under your name and you needs to pay custom fees to clear it. or someone will drop off but you need to transfer clearance fees.
- I will make you millionaire overnight, dont waste your time. Join this program. examples are aimglobal, roma, H Hip , hoprocket etc.
- You have won promotion with this company[company name will be given] and won this amount of money[money amount given] but you need to pay transfer bank clearance fees.
Usually, the scammer will dwell on your vulnerability and tries to get money out from you. They are known for convincing those vulnerable people once contact is established by exchanging emails. In the next moment, they will shut you out and the promises never eventuate and you feel deceived and fooled. Many Papua New Guineans have fallen prey to such emails and have lost hundreds of kina or if not thousands.
Ransom Emails
Ransom Emails alert you that scammers have hacked you system and have accesses to your computer, email accounts, credit cards, browsing histories, nude photos etc. They will demand money to be send to them before they will destroy those information about you.
Below is a typical ransom email
"
Sender : cialismed5528@montereybay.net , edlt3713@lists.ou.edu
Hey!
Unfortunately, I have some bad news for you.
Several months ago, I got access to the device you are using to browse the internet.
Since that time, I have been monitoring your internet activity.
Being a regular visitor of adult websites, I can confirm that it is you who is responsible for this.
To keep it simple, the websites you visited provided me with access to your data.
I’ve uploaded a Trojan horse on the driver basis that updates its signature several times per day, to make it impossible for antivirus to detect it. Additionally, it gives me access to your camera and microphone.
Moreover, I have backed-up all the data, including photos, social media, chats and contacts.
Just recently, I came up with an awesome idea to create the video where you cum in one part of the screen, while the video was simultaneously playing on another screen. That was fun!
Rest assured that I can easily send this video to all your contacts with a few clicks, and I assume that you would like to prevent this scenario.
With that in mind, here is my proposal:
Transfer the amount equivalent to 1400 USD to my Bitcoin wallet, and I will forget about the entire thing. I will also delete all data and videos permanently.
In my opinion, this is a somewhat modest price for my work.
You can figure out how to purchase Bitcoins using search engines like Google or Bing, seeing that it’s not very difficult.
My Bitcoin wallet (BTC): 18k4HBCtT6iYSY21y6cXy585zyLvSq7oSV
You have 48 hours to reply and you should also bear the following in mind:
It makes no sense to reply me - the address has been generated automatically.
It makes no sense to complain either, since the letter along with my Bitcoin wallet cannot be tracked.
Everything has been orchestrated precisely.
If I ever detect that you mentioned anything about this letter to anyone - the video will be immediately shared, and your contacts will be the first to receive it. Following that, the video will be posted on the web!
P.S. The time will start once you open this letter. (This program has a built-in timer).
Good luck and take it easy! It was just bad luck, next time please be careful. ''
Note: Sometimes, they will photoshop your social media photos with nude photos and send you a sample. If you do not pay them, they will promise to publish it online.
Appeal : These are fake and you must not respond to their demand.
Fake Phone Calls and Text Message Scams
Many Papua New Guineans have complained that they have received fake text messages and phones calls from people representing well known companies in PNG. Many have fallen victim to such scam.
One scam text message received by the writer of this article stated that.
Sender: +675 79861391
Congratulation!
Your mobile number has won K90, 000 cash from Trukai.
To claim, call 79861391
www.trukai.com.pg
t&c apply
The above text message was later followed up by a phone call, but this writer blasted the scammer and told him to stop.
On top of that, many fake calls and text messages have affected many people in this country.
One young lady just completed Grade 10 in the Highlands of PNG but lured by fake text messages and phone calls to Port Moresby testified how f&$*cked up live when she arrived in Port Moresby.
Rachael (pen name for now) was in grade 10 and attending high school in one of the province in the highlands. One evening she got a text message written in perfect english that someone introduced himself to her. The text message was about luxury life in Port Moresby. A K5 phone credit was forwarded to her phone afterwards. A communication was established and she was getting calls and text messages from the unknown guy. One time, she claims, she got a handsome guy's photo through WhatApp which labelled 'this is me'' and also photos of Taxis and Buses he claims he owned them in the city. The guy promised to take her to Port Moresby where she will manage his business and also continue her Grade 11 in the city.
After completing her grade 10, she ended up in Port Poresby all paid by the guy. A taxi cab was arranged for her pickup at the airport where she met a 1 meter tall 50 -60 year old man on the crews side of the cab. She asked, where the guy who was supposed to pick her up and she even showed the photo of the guy to the old man. There was complete silence in the cab and the driver realizing what was happening but never said a thing and drove away...she eventually ended up in the old man's settlement house where she could hardly see the taxi cabs, the buses and the business he had. ..Later she was rescued by her relatives.
- Fake social media chats and inboxes
Fake social media communication has also affected many lives. Usually, many people in developed countries who heavily rely on the internet and social media have fallen victims of social media scams. Papua New Guineans are facing the same problem. Social media fake chats you can easily get include.
- promises of love- I will marry you, send some money for organizing VISA and travel tickets.
- promised of making you millionaire overnight and join this group.
In Summary, you should avoid the following
- Circulation letters requesting you to facilitate transfers of millions of dollars from overseas governments into your personal bank account.
- Electronic mails claiming that you have won millions of dollars from lottery.
- Mobile phone messages claiming that you have won prizes from promotional activities.
- Promises for online transfers to your account conditional on you providing details of your bank account and payments of fees upfront to the promoter.
- Individuals/entities collecting money with promise to pay high interest rates.
- Letters using official letterheads and forged signature of Bank of Papua New Guinea Governor, the Director General of the National Intelligence Office and heads of Government Departments claiming to transfer funds to your account conditional on payment of fees upfront.
- Use of marketing networks to promote discounts for services like hotels, airfares and hire cars for members after they pay member fees.
- Use of marketing networks or multi-level marketing schemes offering commissions to members to sign up new members.
What must you do, if you get emails, phone calls or text messages promising you fortune?
- First, do facts check on the sender
- Determine the content of the text messages for authenticity
- Determine the purpose of the message or calls.
- Ask around and get opinion from other people.
- Do not reply and pay any money until and unless you are sure of what you are doing.
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