This money mule scam targets Australians, and is thus almost guaranteed to involve receipt of stolen money via direct funds transfer, and laundering via Western Union. It has all the hallmarks of the chain of scams most recently operating under the name "EU All Sales Team". These Scammers Have Developed a Curious Habit of Capitalising nearly Every Word.
I've seen quite a few of these already, with a number of Gmail contact addresses. The "from" addresses are always random and irrelevant, but the Gmail contact addresses (in the message body) have been specifically created for the scam. Addresses seen so far are as follows.
tk.receivepackage@gmail.com
tradekey.src@gmail.com
subdepartment.tradekey@gmail.com
offers.tradekey@gmail.com
department3.tradekey@gmail.com
I've seen quite a few of these already, with a number of Gmail contact addresses. The "from" addresses are always random and irrelevant, but the Gmail contact addresses (in the message body) have been specifically created for the scam. Addresses seen so far are as follows.
tk.receivepackage@gmail.com
tradekey.src@gmail.com
subdepartment.tradekey@gmail.com
offers.tradekey@gmail.com
department3.tradekey@gmail.com
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: [redacted (false, random)]
Date: 2008/10/20 UTC
Subject: Looking for Second Job or Extra Income? Read.
To: [redacted (privacy)]
Greetings to Everyone! You Have a Lifetime Opportunity to Start making up to 1200 AUD per Week, Getting Paid Daily!
Successful company from Greece - TradeKey Community Works (TCW), Offers an Outstanding Job Position!
Please Take Couple Minutes to Discover This Amazing Opportunity That Will Change Your Life.
You, as an Australian Are Being Offered an Outstanding Job Position Called "Fund Operator"!
With Having Absolutely No Education and No Past Experience You Are able to Make up to 1200 AUD Weekly!
Here are Few Requirements Before You Apply:
1. This Offer is for Australians Only.
2. You Have to Have 2-3 hours of spare Time Monday-Friday.
3. You Have to be Enthusiastic About It and Be Able to Provide Us With Best Service.
4. No Past Experience Required/ No School Degree Required!
5. Be Able to Check E-mail 4-5 Times a Day and Stay in Touch With us Throughout the Day if Possible!
Company Itself is Based in Greece, although TradeKey is a Worldwide Corporation that Distributes Businesses All Over the World and We Represent
our Greece Location, Fairly Young, but Successful Organization. With the Help of Google Advertisements it Was
Possible to Deliver This Message to You! Nowadays Internet Makes it Possible for Us to Interact on a Whole New Level.
Full Information About Position Will be Given in Full Package that You Can Request by E-mail, See Below How to Request Full Package.
Some References about Position:
John Richardson states in "In Touch Weekly" magazine: "..TCW brings outstanding opportunity to Australia.."
Melissa Gorden states in "Forbes" magazine: "..With Internet, Anything Is Possible These Days..", talking about our job position.
Richard Gretski states in "Cosmopolitan" magazine: "..Single Moms and Students Can make Money Too..", talking about simplicity and reliability of position.
You Will be able to Start Working with Us within 24 hours After You Apply and be able to Start Making Money Immediately! Anybody can Do It, so Don't Hesitate
and Feel Free to Request Full Information, as It will Change Your Life, you will not Have to Worry About Finances Anymore!
If You'd like to Obtain More Information,
Please Request Full Information Package by Sending E-mail to: tk.receivepackage@gmail.com
with subject "Full Package". We Hope You Enjoy This Opportunity!
Sincerely,
TCW Team.
From: [redacted (false, random)]
Date: 2008/10/20 UTC
Subject: Looking for Second Job or Extra Income? Read.
To: [redacted (privacy)]
Greetings to Everyone! You Have a Lifetime Opportunity to Start making up to 1200 AUD per Week, Getting Paid Daily!
Successful company from Greece - TradeKey Community Works (TCW), Offers an Outstanding Job Position!
Please Take Couple Minutes to Discover This Amazing Opportunity That Will Change Your Life.
You, as an Australian Are Being Offered an Outstanding Job Position Called "Fund Operator"!
With Having Absolutely No Education and No Past Experience You Are able to Make up to 1200 AUD Weekly!
Here are Few Requirements Before You Apply:
1. This Offer is for Australians Only.
2. You Have to Have 2-3 hours of spare Time Monday-Friday.
3. You Have to be Enthusiastic About It and Be Able to Provide Us With Best Service.
4. No Past Experience Required/ No School Degree Required!
5. Be Able to Check E-mail 4-5 Times a Day and Stay in Touch With us Throughout the Day if Possible!
Company Itself is Based in Greece, although TradeKey is a Worldwide Corporation that Distributes Businesses All Over the World and We Represent
our Greece Location, Fairly Young, but Successful Organization. With the Help of Google Advertisements it Was
Possible to Deliver This Message to You! Nowadays Internet Makes it Possible for Us to Interact on a Whole New Level.
Full Information About Position Will be Given in Full Package that You Can Request by E-mail, See Below How to Request Full Package.
Some References about Position:
John Richardson states in "In Touch Weekly" magazine: "..TCW brings outstanding opportunity to Australia.."
Melissa Gorden states in "Forbes" magazine: "..With Internet, Anything Is Possible These Days..", talking about our job position.
Richard Gretski states in "Cosmopolitan" magazine: "..Single Moms and Students Can make Money Too..", talking about simplicity and reliability of position.
You Will be able to Start Working with Us within 24 hours After You Apply and be able to Start Making Money Immediately! Anybody can Do It, so Don't Hesitate
and Feel Free to Request Full Information, as It will Change Your Life, you will not Have to Worry About Finances Anymore!
If You'd like to Obtain More Information,
Please Request Full Information Package by Sending E-mail to: tk.receivepackage@gmail.com
with subject "Full Package". We Hope You Enjoy This Opportunity!
Sincerely,
TCW Team.
4 comments:
Here is another of Tradekey email addresses
tradekey.offer@gmail.com
Greetings to Everyone! You Have a Lifetime Opportunity to Start making up to 1200 AUD per Week, Getting Paid Daily!
Successful company from Greece - TradeKey Community Works (TCW), Offers an Outstanding Job Position!
Please Take Couple Minutes to Discover This Amazing Opportunity That Will Change Your Life.
You, as an Australian Are Being Offered an Outstanding Job Position Called "Fund Operator"!
With Having Absolutely No Education and No Past Experience You Are able to Make up to 1200 AUD Weekly!
Here are Few Requirements Before You Apply:
1. This Offer is for Australians Only.
2. You Have to Have 2-3 hours of spare Time Monday-Friday.
3. You Have to be Enthusiastic About It and Be Able to Provide Us With Best Service.
4. No Past Experience Required/ No School Degree Required!
5. Be Able to Check E-mail 4-5 Times a Day and Stay in Touch With us Throughout the Day if Possible!
Company Itself is Based in Greece, although TradeKey is a Worldwide Corporation that Distributes Businesses All Over the World and We Represent our Greece Location, Fairly Young, but Successful Organization. With the Help of Google Advertisements it Was Possible to Deliver This Message to You! Nowadays Internet Makes it Possible for Us to Interact on a Whole New Level.
Full Information About Position Will be Given in Full Package that You Can Request by E-mail, See Below How to Request Full Package.
Some References about Position:
John Richardson states in "In Touch Weekly" magazine: "..TCW brings outstanding opportunity to Australia.."
Melissa Gorden states in "Forbes" magazine: "..With Internet, Anything Is Possible These Days..", talking about our job position.
Richard Gretski states in "Cosmopolitan" magazine: "..Single Moms and Students Can make Money Too..", talking about simplicity and reliability of position.
You Will be able to Start Working with Us within 24 hours After You Apply and be able to Start Making Money Immediately! Anybody can Do It, so Don't Hesitate and Feel Free to Request Full Information, as It will Change Your Life, you will not Have to Worry About Finances Anymore!
If You'd like to Obtain More Information, Please Request Full Information Package by Sending E-mail to: tradekey.offer@gmail.com
with subject "Full Package". We Hope You Enjoy This Opportunity!
Received this 22.10.08
Sincerely,
TCW Team.
A correspondent reports that he has been going through the motions with this scam, and provides his correspondence for our interest. As I reported originally, this is a money mule scam in which the scammers perform direct transfers of stolen money into the "employee" bank account, and ask for that money to be withdrawn and wired to them via Western Union (minus a cut).
Here's the additional information they supply about the job if you make an inquiry.
----------
From: TradeKey Community Works (TCW) Steven Rogers Financial Advisor/Manager Assistant <tradekey.maincontact@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Oct 21, 2008 at 12:11 PM
To: [redacted]
Thank you for your interest in this position, offered to you by TradeKey Community Works (TCW located in Greece).
You have the chance to start making up to $1200+ AUD a week, guaranteed. There is no start up fee. Position is very easy and very convenient to handle.
This is a new generation job position called Fund Operator, practiced by a number of international companies including ourselves.
Job Description:
Due to a taxation loophole between Australia and Greece, your role will be a payment handler for our company. You will not have to deal with any products,
all communication is done via internet, you will not have to go anywhere, you will not have to receive any contract, nothing like that, this is a part time position.
Everything is simplified and ready to use for you.
You get paid 10% of each transaction you receive and handle. Because you are an individual, we only have to pay 2% tax for every sale that we make through you
(as the payment handler, in other words sub distributor), rather than having to pay a higher rate as a company.
Thus it is more beneficial for us to handle our business this way with your help, through you.
Here is an example of what is involved. (You will receive instructions at every stage, from steps 1-5).
e.g.:
1. You receive $2800 AUD from us into your nominated bank account.
2. You go to the bank and withdraw 90%, and leave 10% for yourself.
3. You go to Western Union (any post office) and send 90% of the amount to one of our agents. Note that Western Union fee comes out of 90%! You
don't spend your 10% to pay for any fees.
4. You send us an email with a report of the transaction.
5. As soon as we receive the report, you are given your next transaction the very next day!
Outcome: You earned 10% from $2800 AUD, which is $280 AUD, and that was just one transaction. Not bad at all, right?
F.A.Q.:
1. Do I pay any tax?
This is not your income and the bank is aware of this, because we pay a fee to every Bank institution and it covers taxes for these transfers. And
it is one of the huge advantages of this position. All taxes for these transfers will be automatically dismissed for you.
2. Is there a contract I need to sign?
No, for your convenience this is a part-time position, and all you have to do is give us two days' notice if you wish to cease employment with us.
3. How many transactions a day can I make, and how often?
One transaction a day, five times a week, Monday- Friday. It could be four times a week, depending on your bank schedule. If your bank is closed on
Fridays, then you loose one day, one less transaction a week basically.
4. What products do you sell and what is the average amount I will work with?
We are big on electronics and computer sales, heating and air conditioning supplies, but we also can help any other company make a sale, so it can
involve auto parts, housing equipment, beauty supplies (such as tanning beds), and other quantities in big products.
5. How long will I be able to work for you?
You can depend on this opportunity until at least 7 June, 2010. We will have other opportunities available by that time, so you will be able to
continue on working with us.
6. Is this legal?
This activity is 100%, absolutely legal by any means - and all the laws. If it wasn't - we simply wouldn't offer this great opportunity.
7. Is this difficult?
The work is not complicated at all. Anyone can try it out, and help is always available from one of our representatives.
If you wish to work for us, and join our team, simply reply back with the following information, and one of our representatives will be in touch with
you shortly.
INFORMATION REQUIRED:
1. Your First name:
2. Your Surname (last name):
3. Your Address:
4. City/town:
5. Postcode:
6. Country: Australia
7. Your Mobile phone:
8. Your Home/landline phone no:
9. Name of your bank:
a) BSB number:
b) Account number: (numbers only)
10. Your email address: (to contact you best)
AFTER YOU SUBMIT YOUR INFORMATION - ONE OF OUR REPRESENTATIVES WILL CONTACT YOU BACK BY E-MAIL WITHIN 24 HOURS.... BEST WISHES AND WELCOME TO OUR TEAM!!
Sincerely,
TCW Team.
Here's some more information from my correspondent, whois using the pseudonym "Alan". Note that this includes Western Union payment instructions, which is always interesting. It tells us that the cash is going to Odessa, Ukraine. The actual recipient is probably just another hired mule, not the scammer himself, but it's still interesting to follow the money.
----------
From: TradeKey Community Works (TCW) Steven Rogers Financial Advisor/Manager Assistant <tradekey.maincontact@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Nov 4, 2008 at 8:16 PM
To: [redacted]
Dear Alan, instructions ready for transaction #1.
Let us know if you need any help if you do not understand how to complete this, but everything
should be simple, try not to complicate it, it really is not difficult at all.
*(just a note)Please make sure to spell every letter correctly of receiver's name when sending money via Western Union by instructions.
ATTENTION : MONEY WILL ARRIVE INTO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT TOMORROW MORNING, COMPLETE TRANSACTION AS SOON AS BANK OPENS.
Always reply to confirm you have received and understood instructions.
Amount sent into your bank account: 2300 AUD.
Description/reference: HOUSE ACCOUNT. Sent from: [REDACTED]. (use all this information if needed for any records).
Amount you earned(10%): 230 AUD.
Amount you send back via Western Union(90%): 2070 AUD - (Western Union fee).
Send 90% to:
First name: OLGA
Last name: PETROVA
Country: Ukraine
City: Odessa
Address: Greet Str. 12
Zip Code: 33502
For example, if Western Union fee will be 100 AUD, then you will send 1970 AUD.
MAKE SURE WESTERN UNION CLERK SPELLS EVERY LETTER CORRECT. (It has been a common problem lately).
That's all you will need to use Western Union. They will not even require address of the person, but we gave it to you just in case. All you need
is Name, Country and City.
All Western Union transactions are done from a branch, you cannot use online services due to limits.
Western Union branch can be found at any Post Office, and 50% of Banks. Western Union fee comes out of 90%, you do not spend your own money.
After 90% sent, submit report form to receive another transaction.
Report form:
Receiver's Full Name(Name You are Sending Money To):
Sender's full name(Your Full Name as Will Be Printed on Receipt):
Sender's City(Your City):
Money Transfer Control Number(Will Be Shown On Receipt):
Transfer charge(Will Be Shown On Receipt):
Actual transfer amount(Will Be Shown On Receipt):
Best Regards,
TradeKey.
Well these are clearly spam as TradeKey won't offer you such kind of emails and also via GMAIL :)
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