We would like to alert XLA (formerly ACCA) members that, over the past year, Internet fraud affecting our industry has risen dramatically, with various cloned and bogus websites being used to defraud consumers. Scam artists are cloning transportation companies’ websites and creating a domain name that uses a variant of the legal company’s name. The criminals advertise through various websites, such as eBay, and "sell" merchandise at unbelievable discounts. The victim jumps at the price and orders the merchandise. Purchasers are then directed to send money via Western Union to a specified location, often in the United Kingdom. If the "customer" balks at sending the money without any evidence that the merchandise has been shipped, he is issued a "tracking" number and directed to the bogus or cloned website. When the "customer" enters the "tracking number," the website usually will show an "out for delivery" scan. In most cases, this pacifies the person, who then forwards the money. While the scam is not 100% effective, it seems to work quite frequently. (Websites and email addresses are usually obtained through Yahoo or Hotmail, and are regularly closed down, but then open a short time later under another name.)
Some XLA members regularly receive customer complaints from those who have fallen prey to these scams. XLA members are advised to refer these complaints to the Internet Fraud Complaint Center at www.ifccfbi.gov or via eBay’s Security and Resolution Center at www.ebay.com. Please also notify XLA headquarters of any problems you are experiencing in this regard. Call 703.998.7121 or email XLA Executive Director Sue Presti at spresti@expressassociation.org. ■
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