Baton Rouge, LA -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/23/2011 -- "This type of a scam is a survey scam, through which users are lured to complete a survey, in return for which they are promised an exclusive video or footage. Completion of the surveys puts some money in the scammer's pockets, while users completing the surveys are never shown the promised videos or footage," says Websense.

In the online world, one person's loss may well be another's gain. Scams on social networking sites like Facebook buttress this view. News of the tragic Norway events last week, and the untimely death of five-time Grammy award winner Amy Winehouse, who was found dead in London on July 23, are cases in point.

Scams taking advantage of the tragic Norway attacks surfaced within days of the attack. However, Facebook has cleaned out these instances, notes Websense Security Labs. A new social media fraud—'look at footage of Amy Winehouse just moments after her death'—is going strong on Facebook.

"This type of a scam is a survey scam, through which users are lured to complete a survey, in return for which they are promised an exclusive video or footage. Completion of the surveys puts some money in the scammer's pockets, while users completing the surveys are never shown the promised videos or footage," says Websense.

Security firm Symantec confirms the trend. It has observed spammers trying to capitalise on related news headlines by sending out malicious threats less than a day after the news was released, according to a post on its official blog. Attacks in Portuguese use similar spam techniques. All samples are sent from randomised individual email accounts with various subject lines related to the celebrity's death in an attempt to lure interested readers to open a malicious URL. Immediately after the link is clicked, a pop-up window asks users to download a file that is loosely disguised as an image or a video file (anything other than an executable file).

The file is given a name that is related to the celebrity, and isn't an image or video file, but a malicious binary. Symantec has detected the threats in these samples as Infostealer.Bancos. Symantec cautions recipients to be wary of emails that come from an unexpected source, especially emails related to Winehouse's death.

"Most of these apps would automatically post messages on the victim's wall and on his friends' walls in order to trick as many people as possible into clicking (and inadvertently spreading it on). Attention-grabbing messages, combined with platform-specific actions, which have turned into genuine online reflexes (from a mere click, to a tag and, more recently, the creation of an event), make for the perfect scam," George Petre of BitDefender, a software security solutions provider, writes on an official blog.

The security solutions provider has even launched a free social media security app, Safego, which allows users to prevent tagjacking and eventjacking scams and keep their social network accounts safe. Using in-the-cloud scanning, Bitdefender Safego protects users' social network accounts from all social scams, spam, malware and private data exposure.

Cybercriminals have exploited the popularity of social networking sites this year, with new scams emerging every month. Likejacking was another such recent social-media based attack that spread on Facebook. It appears along with the 'Like' function on the social media site, which account holders could use to create lists of objects they like. "Clicking on an attractive link, the users end up on a page which includes JavaScript; a click anywhere on the page activates the 'Like' function, sending a link to the page to everyone in the user's friend list. This means the number of visits to the site would snowball, and cybercriminals were paid for the increase in traffic by a certain advertising company," explain Kaspersky experts.

Kaspersky Lab, in its report on information security threats in the second quarter of 2010, claims the company's products blocked more than 540 million attempts to infect computers around the world. "The countries most targeted were China (17.09 per cent of all attacks), Russia (11.36 per cent), India (9.30 per cent), the US (5.96 per cent) and Vietnam (5.44 per cent)," according to Kaspersky Labs.

Experts believe as social media sites are being accessed over mobile devices—industry reports suggest close to 40 per cent mobile users use social networking apps on their handsets—more scams would emerge. Venkatasubrahmanyam Krishnapur, senior director of engineering (consumer), McAfee, says, "Users should exercise extreme caution when it comes to clicking on links that are sent even by 'trusted' friends through e-mails or on social networks. The 'Like' feature on Facebook has been used to propagate imitations of Google+ invitations which are actually bad links. This is usually in the form of short URLs that are potentially links to malware sites that the user is unable to spot."

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/breaking-news-is-nowraging-scamfacebook/443984/

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-104723.htm

The San Bernardino County case against Darcey Greenfield involves three alleged victims, but there are numerous others, including fellow L.A. cops.

Baton Rouge, LA -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/05/2011 -- A recently resigned Los Angeles police detective, who enticed fellow cops and others to invest millions of dollars with her, has been arrested and charged with theft and securities fraud.

Darcey Greenfield, 39, surrendered Wednesday to investigators from the San Bernardino County district attorney's real estate fraud unit after an arrest warrant was issued late last week, authorities said. Greenfield faces 10 felony charges, including the sale of false investment securities, the sale of securities without a license and grand theft.

Greenfield pleaded not guilty to the charges Thursday, said Vance Welch, the deputy district attorney in charge of the real estate fraud unit. Her bail has been set at just over $1 million and she remains in custody at a detention center in Rancho Cucamonga, he said. Her attorney could not be reached.

The fact that Greenfield was an LAPD cop heightened the importance of the case, Welch added. "We have to show that we are willing to hammer our own, or no one has any faith in the system," he said.

Greenfield and her real estate dealings were the subject of a Times article last year.

Shortly after joining the LAPD in 1994, Greenfield told The Times in an interview last year, she began investing in real estate. Those early purchases and sales of properties were personal deals, but soon evolved into a side business that involved soliciting investments from others. She made grandiose claims, telling investors they would receive double-digit returns within months, according to authorities and documents obtained by the Times.

The charges filed by San Bernardino County prosecutors stem from investments totaling $265,000 that Greenfield collected in 2008 from a husband and wife and another man who lived in that county, according to court filings.

Greenfield is accused of violating state laws that establish the terms under which people can sell securities, such as real estate.

One of the charges alleges that she illegally assured the investors that she would sell a piece of her own property to reimburse them if their deals went sour. Prosecutors also allege that Greenfield lied to the investors when she told them the properties in which she was investing their money were secured by official deeds of trust.

Shaw Capital Management Scam Info: Ex-LAPD detective charged in alleged real estate scam
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/may/13/local/la-me-lapd-scam-arrest-20110513

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-99123.htm

Baton Rouge, LA -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/30/2011 -- Shaw Capital Management Scam Info: Milos Forman To Tackle First Financial World Scam Artist In 'Ponzi's Scheme'

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/2011/04/27/milos_forman_to_tackle_first_financial_world_scam_artist_in_ponzis_scheme/

It's been quite a while since we last heard from legendary director Milos Forman. His last effort was the not-so-well received "Goya's Ghosts" way back in 2006 but it looks like the man behind "One Flew Over's The Cuckoo's Next," "Loves Of A Blonde," and "Amadeus" isn't done yet and pushing eighty years old, he's still looking to make another run behind the camera, with an interesting take on the financial crisis dramas that seems to be pouring out of Hollywood.

Variety reports that Forman is in talks to chronicle the original scumbag con artist, Charles Ponzi, whose name now describes the shell game played by folks like Bernie Madoff. The film will be based on Mitchell Zuckoff's book "Ponzi's Scheme: The True Story of a Financial Legend" with a script penned by Christopher Weekes. If that name doesn't ring a bell, perhaps you'll recall his Black List winning Jim Henson biopic script "Muppet Man;" it's a wildly ambitious script that sidesteps the notions of the genre by adding hallucinations and dream sequences featuring the Muppet characters, suggesting a sideways goal of making a new Muppet movie by inserting them into the moribund celebrity biopic genre. But as much as we'd love to see it, that project is currently on hold.

Anyway, back to "Ponzi's Scheme"—this film will tell the story of the original Italian immigrant who came to America in 1903 looking for his piece of the American dream and quickly developed one shady get-rich-quick scheme after another, eventually developing the method of using new investors to pay off old investors that has become synonymous with large scale fraud. As is usually the case, his misdeeds eventually caught up with him.

Sounds like a great take on the whole financial world issue that is at least coming from a different angle from the rest of the productions out there. What better way to get to the heart of the matter than to go back to where it all started. No word yet on when this might start but we hope it all comes together. Check out the Amazon description of the book below:

Before Charles Ponzi (1882a€"1949) sailed from Italy to the shores of America in 1903, his father assured him that the streets were really paved with gold - and that Ponzi would be able to get a piece. As journalist Zuckoff observes in this engaging and fast-paced biography, Ponzi learned as soon as he disembarked that though the streets were often cobblestone, he could still make a fortune in a culture caught in the throes of the Gilded Age. Zuckoff deftly chronicles Ponzi's mercurial rise and fall as he conjured up one get-rich-quick scheme after another. Charming, gregarious and popular, Ponzi devised and carried out the scheme that carries his name in 1920 in the open (and with a brief period of approval from Boston's newspapers and financial sector). Many investors did indeed double their investments, as Ponzi would use money of new investors to pay old investors, and Ponzi himself became a millionaire. Eventually, Zuckoff shows, the Boston Post uncovered this "robbing Peter to pay Paul" system (as it was then known), and Ponzi's life unraveled.

Zuckoff provides not only a definitive portrait of Ponzi's life but also insights into immigrant life and the social world of early 20th-century Boston.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-98450.htm

Baton Rouge, LA -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/06/2011 -- Edgartown police have traced a cyberspace trail through more than a dozen states in pursuit of a craigslist scam artist who cons people into sending money to Martha's Vineyard to buy a nonexistent all-terrain vehicle.

This week, they turned to their own high-tech tools, surveillance video, and their own new crime-fighting website, to track down the Internet thief.

Officer Michael Gazaille first began investigating the scam in December, when Brian Cullen called the Edgartown Police Department from Oregon, Wisconsin.

Mr. Cullen saw an advertisement posted on craigslist, the wildly popular online aggregation of free classified ads offering everything imaginable for sale from locations around the world. The ad offered a Polaris four-wheel, all-terrain vehicle (ATV) for sale. The price was $2,920.

The seller directed Mr. Cullen to an eBay web page where the well-known online auction market arranges escrow service for people buying and selling items at a distance. The escrow service holds the money, until the buyer gets the merchandise and approves the sale. Then the service releases the money to the seller.

Except, it wasn't really an eBay web page. It was a spoof, intended to look like a page on the eBay site, although Officer Gazaille said there were some fairly obvious clues that something was amiss.

Mr. Cullen filled in all the information required by the fake web page. The seller instructed him to wire the $2,920 price to Martha's Vineyard, by Western Union's money transfer service.

He did. Big mistake.

Someone picked up the money at the Stop & Shop grocery store in Edgartown, which offers Western Union money transfer service. The suspect listed an Oak Bluffs address on the form. Asked for the required identification, he showed the clerk an Illinois driver's license issued to Luri Kankadze. Police could not find anyone by that name in any local records. He is not at the address he listed.

Police assume that the I.D. was also a fake.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-86416.htm

Baton Rouge, LA -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/29/2011 -- With the tax season upon us, it's a time many scammers look to take advantage of tax payers by getting their hands on personal information. Attorney General Mike DeWine is warning Ohioans of a new electronic scam.

The Ohio Attorney General wants people to watch out for emails and letters that claim to be from the IRS, but are actually scams created to capture personal information. Jennifer Stocker, owner of the Ohio Tax Lady tax preparation company, says the IRS will never email you directly unless you have contacted them via email.

"If you ever receive an email from any government agency that you did not contact and give them your email address, don't respond to it. Contact your tax professional," Stocker said.

According to a release issued by DeWine, one Franklin County resident received an email that appeared to be from the IRS indicating the consumer was late submitting his W-2 form. The email instructed him to click on a link to send the updated form. Luckily, the consumer recognized that the email was a scam. Another man from Cuyahoga County reported receiving a phony 1099 form, stating he had won $61,000.

"There are some people out there that like to take advantage of people, like to steal from people, and unfortunately with modern technology, it makes it easier," Stocker explained. "You definitely want to keep your information in a locked filing cabinet. You want to make sure you do not give out your social security number to anyone. When picking up your tax return from a tax place, you should always have your driver's license. And if your tax preparer is not asking for that driver's license, there should be concern there."

http://www.wytv.com/content/news/local/story/AG-Warns-of-Internet-Tax-Scam/OYQn4dolF0KGUn_P9kwxQw.cspx

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-85472.htm

Burlington, VT -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/29/2011 -- An international scam using social media sites like Facebook and Skype used the likeness of Vermont National Guard General Michael Dubie to steal money from victims around the world.

Dubie learned of the scam after his staffers found fake social media accounts using pictures of the General. The Guard says the criminals lured women in foreign countries into wiring thousands of dollars, thinking they were donating to help the Vermont National Guard.

"It's pretty discouraging," said Dubie Tuesday in his Colchester office. "I think it's even more troubling that they're exploiting myself and other members of the military."

According to chat transcripts between the scammers and the victims, the fake General Dubie would flirt with foreign women to build a relationship and then ask them for money. One woman in Toronto was fooled and wired $3,000 to the criminals.

Click the video above to see some of the chat logs
"The best word to use is flirting with these women," said Lt. Dyana Allen, who has been tracking the scam. "They're trying to build their trust, it's a typical identity scam."

The Guard has already removed many fake Facebook accounts but they keep popping back up. They've also created a real account for General Dubie which they hope will stop people from communicating with fake ones.

The FBI has started an investigation after learning that similar scams are happening to high ranking members of the military across the country.

"We have found out that there are a number of other senior officers around the country who have had this same thing happen," Dubie said.

http://www.wptz.com/r/26881374/detail.html
Maj. Gen. Michael Dubie Has Identity Stolen
By Randy Gyllenhaal
Reporter

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-85473.htm

Shaw Capital Awarded Construction Management Contract for Clean Fuel Project at Marathon Illinois Refinery – Good Warning!

Baton Rouge, LA -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/25/2011 -- The Shaw Group Inc. (NYSE: SHAW) today announced it has been awarded a capital contract from Marathon Oil Corporation (NYSE: MRO) to provide construction management services for a benzene reduction project at its refinery in Robinson, Ill. Services include management of site construction activities such as contractor selection, safety warning, materials management and project controls. The construction is expected to be completed before the mandated date for reduction of benzene content in gasoline to meet new EPA standards.

The award follows Shaw's earlier project management, engineering and procurement services work for the feasibility and definition phases of the project.

"Shaw has extensive refinery expertise and a strong reputation for helping customers meet clean fuels regulations at their plants," said Lou Pucher, president of Shaw's Energy & Chemicals Group. "We place a priority on understanding key environmental and economic drivers and working closely with our customers to ensure success."

Most recently, Shaw management completed engineering and procurement services for another benzene reduction capital project at Marathon's Catlettsburg, Ky., refinery and a 70,000 barrel per day heavy gas oil hydrocracker unit and 47,000 barrel per day kerosene hydrotreater unit at Marathon's Garyville, La., refinery as part of that plant's recent major expansion project. Last year, Shaw was awarded a maintenance, capital construction, turnaround support and specialty services contract for Marathon's Texas Refining Division.

The undisclosed value of the new contract will be included in Shaw's Energy & Chemicals segment's backlog of unfilled orders in the third quarter of fiscal year 2010.

About The Shaw Group Inc
The Shaw Group Inc. (NYSE:SHAW) is a leading global provider of engineering, construction, technology, fabrication, remediation and support services for clients in the energy, chemicals, environmental, infrastructure and emergency response industries. A Fortune 500 company with fiscal year 2009 annual revenues of $7.3 billion, Shaw has approximately 28,000 employees around the world and is the power sector industry leader according to Engineering News-Record's list of Top 500 Design Firms. For more information, please visit Shaw's website at http://www.shawgrp.com.

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for certain forward-looking statements. The statements contained herein that are not historical facts (including without limitation statements to the effect that the Company or its management "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "plans" or other similar expressions) and statements related to revenues, earnings, backlog or other financial information or results are forward-looking statements based on the Company's current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on the Company.

There can be no assurance that future developments affecting the Company will be those anticipated by the Company. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) and assumptions and are subject to change based upon various factors. Should one or more of such risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. A description of some of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements can be found in the Company's reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Form 10-K and Form 10-Q reports, and on the Company's website under the heading "Forward-Looking Statements." These documents are also available from the Securities and Exchange Commission or from the Investor Relations department of Shaw.

For more information on the company and announcements it makes from time to time on a regional basis, visit our website at http://www.shawgrp.com.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-84707.htm

Eastern time (4 p.m. Central time) to discuss the company's financial results for the first quarter fiscal year 2011.

Baton Rouge, LA -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/25/2011 -- The Shaw Group Inc. (NYSE: SHAW) today announced it will hold a conference call Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011, at 5 p.m. Eastern time (4 p.m. Central time) to discuss the company's financial results for the first quarter fiscal year 2011. Shaw will release the financial results one hour before the call at approximately 4 p.m. Eastern time that same day. A slide presentation will be posted on the Investor Relations page of Shaw's website at http://www.shawgrp.com at that same time.

Interested parties may dial 1-800-471-6718 to listen to the conference call live or access a live audio webcast of the call on the Investor Relations page of Shaw's website at http://www.shawgrp.com.

A replay of the conference call will be available after the call by telephone, as well as on the company's website. To listen to the replay by telephone, dial 1-888-843-7419 and use pass code 28680770#.

The Shaw Group Inc. (NYSE:SHAW) is a leading global provider of engineering, construction, technology, fabrication, remediation and support services for clients in the energy, chemicals, environmental, infrastructure and emergency response industries. A Fortune 500 company with fiscal year 2010 annual revenues of $7 billion, Shaw has approximately 27,000 employees around the world and is the power sector industry leader according to Engineering News-Record's list of Top 500 Design Firms. For more information, please visit Shaw's website at http://www.shawgrp.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements and information about our current and future prospects, operations and financial results, which are based on currently available information. Actual future results and financial performance could vary significantly from those anticipated in such statements.

Among the factors that could cause future events or transactions to differ from those we expect are those risks discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2010, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended November 30, 2009, February 28, 2010, and May 31, 2010, and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Please read our "Risk Factors" and other cautionary statements contained in these filings. Our current expectations may not be realized as a result of, among other things:

* Changes in our clients' financial conditions, including their capital spending;
* Our ability to obtain new contracts and meet our performance obligations;
* Client contract cancellations or modifications to contract scope;
* Worsening global economic conditions;
* Changes to the regulatory environment;
* Failure to achieve projected backlog.

As a result of these risks and others, actual results could vary significantly from those anticipated in this presentation, and our financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, the occurrence of certain events, or otherwise.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-84710.htm