COUNTERFEIT CHECK SCAMS
The Internal Audit Investigative Group is urging citizens to be vigilant when receiving unexpected mailings or other forms of solicitations that inform them that they are recipients of a sum of money, especially if the correspondence is from a foreign country. It has come to the attention of the Internal Audit Investigative Group that individuals are receiving unsolicited mailings containing realistic looking checks. New variations of fake check scams constantly pop up, but in each case they give you a realistic-looking check or money order and ask you to either send cash in return or to contact an “agent” to collect the remainder of your winnings. They send you a check or money order as an "advance" on the Millions that you're going to receive from a sweepstakes, lottery, or inheritance. In the event you are sent one of these counterfeit notifications: Do not send any money. Do not supply any personal information such as bank accounts, credit cards, or social security numbers. It is recommended that you contact your local police department if you receive one of these fraudulent notifications.
Click to see examples of fraudulent checks. [Example 1], [Example 2], [Example 3], [Example 4], [Example 5]
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ADVANCE FEE SCAM
AIG has received information about an ongoing Advance Fee scam in the United States. Classified advertisements have been appearing in newspapers as well as on the internet encouraging people who are undergoing financial problems to apply for a guaranteed loan. The advertisement is currently utilizing a toll free “888” number. When this number is called the caller may be connected to an answering machine or speak to a person alleging to be a loan officer. The caller is informed that in order to have the loan approved, an advance fee, to secure the loan, must be sent.
In order to receive the loan the customer is told that they would have to send an advance payment, via Western Union, to a processing office in Canada. AIG has no connection to this purported loan program. A second phone number that was revealed while investigating this matter had an area code of “416” which is the area code for Ontario, Canada. It must be noted that several toll-free numbers, (area codes 800; 877, and 859) have been utilized in the past and both male and female characters have perpetrated this crime.
The common link involved in these scams is the “wiring of money” to Canada. Currently, the AIG Internal Audit Investigative Group (IAIG) is investigating this matter in conjunction with various law enforcement agencies. The public is being made aware that AIG does not request an advance fee in order to secure a loan and the loan program described above has no connection to AIG or any AIG company. If you or someone you know are requested to send a payment, in order to secure a loan, immediately terminate contact with the party involved.
The public can also contact the AIG Internal Audit Investigative Group at 32 Old Slip – 28th Floor, New York, NY 10005, contact by phone at 877-638-4244, or by e-mail at aig.iaig@aig.com.
Click to see an example of advance – fee scam. [Example 1], [Example 2], [Example 3]
My Free Travel – Shoppers Rebate Program
AIG has received information about an ongoing Advance Fee scam in the United States. Advertisements have been appearing in various retail stores across the country encouraging people to enroll in a “shoppers rebate program”. The advertisement is currently utilizing the name “My Free Travel”, a division of Hort Financial. Consumers are provided with enrollment paperwork which must be submitted with a fee of $9.95. The consumer is led to believe that this program is insured by National Union Fire Insurance Company, an entity of AIG.
The AIG Internal Audit Investigative Group (IAIG) is investigating this matter in conjunction with various law enforcement agencies. The public is being made aware that AIG nor any of its entities are affiliated with the above described “shoppers rebate program”.
The public can also contact the AIG Internal Audit Investigative Group at 32 Old Slip – 28th Floor, New York, NY 10005, contact by phone at 877-638-4244, or by e-mail at aig.iaig@aig.com.
Click to see an example of Shoppers Rebate scam. [Example 1]
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LOTTO SCAM
AIG has received information about a fraudulent email notifying the recipient they are the winner of an AIG lottery drawing for $1,550,000. The email, sent from aiguk@irr.ir, requests the recipient to send personal information including name, address, date of birth, occupation, bank name, bank address and a copy of an identifying document to universalcourieragency@hotmail.com. The recipient is also asked to provide a £150 payment for insurance prior to the mailing of their winnings.
Please be advised that these emails and websites are not affiliated with any AIG company. The AIG Internal Audit Investigative Group is investigating this matter. If you receive this email please forward the message to the AIG Internal Audit Investigative group at aig.iaig@aig.com.
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MORTGAGE LOAN SCAM
American International Group, Inc. (AIG, Inc.) has received information about an alleged loan services provider, Mortgage Loan/T.R.I.S Group. Loan applications are purportedly processed through a representative, Mary Campbell, who instructs borrowers to wire fees for an “AIG Life Insurance” policy to secure the loan. Individuals are requested to wire the funds via Western Union to a location in Canada. These loan transactions never materialize and the victims may end up losing their money and/or identity.
Please be advised that AIG has no affiliation with Mortgage Loan/T.R.I.S Group or Mary Campbell and you should not provide your account numbers or wire payments to either. The AIG Internal Audit Investigative Group is investigating this matter.
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SWEEPSTAKES MAIL FRAUD WARNING
AIG has received information about a new sweepstakes mail fraud scam in the U.S. The cover letter uses the name "Reader's Digest". The letter is titiled "FROM: THE DESK OF MANAGING DIRECTOR OF PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT “WITHOUT PREJUDICE” and in the reference section notifies recipients that they have been selected as a winner in the Reader Digest "SWEEPSTAKES DRAW". The winning prize indicated in letters that we have seen to date is either $127,092, or $81,976. Enclosed with the letter is a check for one of either $2,967, or $3,812 "to help you cover any charges that may be required before you receive your funds". The check also indicates that the payor is "AIG Annuity Insurance Company".
The letter also contains a phone number. When recipients called the number, they spoke with individuals who identified themselves as AIG representatives. The representatives instructed the recipients to cash the check they received and deliver that cash to a courier. According to the instructions, the courier would then deliver to them the larger "prize" check indicated in the letter. This transaction does not happen. Currently, the AIG Internal Audit Investigative Group (IAIG) is investigating this mail fraud in conjunction with various AIG entities.
All recipients are being asked to send the original cover letter, check and envelope to IAIG in New York at the following address: AIG Internal Audit Investigative Group (IAIG), 32 Old Slip - 28th Floor - New York, NY 10005. Recipients can also contact IAIG by phone or email (877-638-4244, aig.iaig@aig.com).
The check received by the "sweepstakes" recipients is not a valid AIG check and we instruct all recipients not to attempt to cash or deposit this check. Neither AIG nor any of its subsidiary companies sponsors or supports any lottery, sweepstakes or prize contest that resembles the letter referred to above.
Click to see examples of the "Reader's Digest" fraud scam. [Example 1], [Example2].
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SURVEY SCAM
AIG has received information about a fraudulent email claiming to be a survey. This email originates from the address "survey@aigt.com" and asks the viewer to click on a link to complete a survey and receive $100. When the link in the email is clicked, the viewer is sent to a new website and asked to input a credit card number.
The AIG Internal Audit Investigative Group is investigating this matter. Please be advised that these emails and websites are not affiliated with any AIG company, and you should not provide your credit card number to any website mentioned in this or similar emails.
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EMPLOYMENT SCAM
An Internet website http://www.aig-inc.info is misusing the AIG Trademark and is falsely advertising employment opportunities as part of a phishing scam. The scam falsely uses Careerbuilder.com to notify job seekers of opportunities with their company and misleads job seekers into giving up their PayPal account e-mail and the last four digits of their Social Security number, among other things. The victims may end up losing their money and/or identity. The public is being made aware that neither American International Group, Inc. (AIG, Inc.) nor CareerBuilder has any affiliation with this website.
If you or someone you know has been approached by this company, do not provide any personal information, contact the AIG Internal Audit Investigative Group at 32 Old Slip - 28th floor, New York, NY 10005, or at aig.iaig@aig.com.
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IDENTITY THEFT SERVICE SCAM
AIG has received information about an ongoing Identity Theft Service scam in the United States. Consumers have had funds taken out of their banking accounts by a group named Data Safe Solutions which claims to be a provider of identity theft remediation services. Consumers have reported being charged by this group without their authorization. The group is purporting to have a relationship with the AIG Identity Theft & Fraud Group, but this is not true. Consumers should contact their financial institution immediately if they are contacted by this group or if they notice a deduction to their bank accounts of $299 or $399 or other amounts that they did not authorize.
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LIFE POLICY SCAM
AIG has received information about an ongoing scam that is currently occurring throughout the United States and United Kingdom. People have been emailed by an individual using the name Christina Kang and the email address aig.insuranceco@live.com. There is no Christina Kang affiliated with AIG. The scam involves the promise of a six million dollar life insurance payout for Capt. Hatem Roushdy. According to the email the recipient has been named the beneficiary for Roushdy’s death benefit. In order to collect this death benefit the recipient must send a copy of either a passport or drivers license along with the “AIG Live Insurance Certificate” to an address in Melville, New York or to the email address, aig.insuranceco@live.com. If the recipient does not possess this certificate they are instructed to contact the same address to obtain a “Certificate of Vital Records”. The recipient is then instructed to contact the paying bank to facilitate payment of the funds. The account contact at the bank is listed as Clara Mitchell with an email address of clara.boaon-line.ny@live.com.
Currently the AIG Internal Audit Investigative Group is investigating this matter in conjunction with authorities. The public is being made aware that this message is not factual and documents should not be sent to the addresses provided.
If you or someone you know has received this email, do not send any documentation or communicate with the sender or any addresses listed. Contact the AIG Internal Audit Investigative Group at 32 Old Slip – 28th floor, New York, NY 10005, telephone number 646-857-0421, or by e-mail at aig.iaig@aig.com.
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SURETY BOND SCAM
AIG has received information about an ongoing scam that is currently ongoing in the United Kingdom and Colombia, South America. People have been contacted by an individual posing as Miles Bailey, from CitiWealth Group. There are two instances to date. In both situations paperwork was forwarded by the individual, Miles Bailey. The scam involved an alleged buyout of Quest Oil. Shareholders were contacted and offered a selling price of twenty-two dollars per share. Paperwork from CitiWealth management explains that in order for the transfer of stock to take place, a Surety Bond, written by AIG, is required.
The proposed deal requires the seller of the stock to pay the Surety Bond in order for the sale of the stock to be completed. A form containing the AIG logo in the upper right hand corner regarding the Surety Bond and the refunding of the money to purchase this bond is forwarded to the customer. The address listed on the form is “Regional Office, Mailing Address, American International Companies, 80 Pine Street, New York, NY 10005. It has Ms. Julie Larisson, Administration Manager, listed at the end of the letter. There is no Ms. Julie Larisson or no entity of American International Companies affiliated with AIG.
Furthermore instructions to wire money to a Hellenic Bank in Cyprus is included. Currently the AIG Internal Audit Investigative Group is working in conjunction with law enforcement to identify and apprehend the subjects responsible for this fraud. The public is being made aware that AIG does not have an entity listed as American International Companies.
If you or someone you know has been approached by this individual, do not forward any money, contact the AIG Internal Audit Investigative Group at 32 Old Slip – 28th floor, New York, NY 10005, telephone number 646-857-0421, or by e-mail at aig.iaig@aig.com.
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COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE SCAM
AIG has received information about an ongoing Commercial Mortgage scam in the United States. Persons and/or Business Groups have been contacted by an individual posing as Chris Conlin, Senior Lending Officer, AIG Real Estate Holdings, LLC. There are three instances to date. In all three situations paperwork was forwarded by the individual, Chris Conlin. The AIG logo is on the letterhead for the documents. The details of the loan are fully explained, which leads one to believe that the individual that is performing this con is familiar with the mortgage industry. Instructions are given to wire a sum of money, to a Bank of America checking account, in New York.
This transaction is referred to as the "Commitment Fee". A short time after the money is wired; the "Borrower" receives a letter explaining why the loan can not be processed. Currently the AIG Internal Audit Investigative Group is working in conjunction with law enforcement to identify and apprehend the subjects responsible for this fraud. The public is being made aware that AIG does not have an entity listed as AIG Real Estate Holdings, LLC.
If you or someone you know has been approached by this individual, do not forward any money, contact the AIG Internal Audit Investigative Group at 32 Old Slip - 28th floor, New York, NY 10005, telephone number 646-857-0421, or by e-mail at aig.iaig@aig.com.
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SWEEPSTAKES MAIL FRAUD WARNING
AIG has received information about a new sweepstakes mail fraud scam in the U.S. The cover letter uses the name "American International South Insurance Company". The letter indicates "AWARD WINNING NOTIFICATION" in the reference section and notifies recipients that they have been selected as a winner in the "North America Prize Pool". The winning prize indicated in letters that we have seen to date is either $46,500, $68,000 or $250,000. Enclosed with the letter is a check for one of either $2,860, $2,982, or $3,175 "which covers both the administrative payment and clearance fees for your winnings". The check also indicates that the payor is "American International South Insurance Company".
The letter also contains a phone number. When recipients called the number, they spoke with individuals who identified themselves as American International South Insurance Company representatives. The representatives instructed the recipients to cash the check they received and deliver that cash to a courier. According to the instructions, the courier would then deliver to them the larger "prize" check indicated in the letter. This transaction does not happen. Currently, the AIG Internal Audit Investigative Group (IAIG) is investigating this mail fraud in conjunction with various AIG entities.
All recipients are being asked to send the original cover letter, check and envelope to IAIG in New York at the following address: AIG Internal Audit Investigative Group (IAIG), 32 Old Slip - 28th Floor - New York, NY 10005. Recipients can also contact IAIG by phone or email (877-638-4244, aig.iaig@aig.com).
The check received by the "sweepstakes" recipients is not a valid AIG check and we instruct all recipients not to attempt to cash or deposit this check. Neither AIG nor any of its subsidiary companies sponsors or supports any lottery, sweepstakes or prize contest that resembles the letter referred to above.
Click to see examples of a sweepstakes claim fraud scam. [Example 1], [Example 2].
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ADVISORY INFORMATION IN THE EVENT OF SUSPICIOUS FRAUDULENT ACTIVITIES
American International Group, Inc. (AIG) is proud of its reputation and record as world leaders in insurance and financial services, with operations in more than 130 countries and jurisdictions. AIG takes very seriously any reports of suspicious or fraudulent activities, including reports of Internet fraud or identity theft involving the unauthorized use of AIG’s name. AIG cautions its investors that persons not affiliated with AIG may approach you, pretending to act on behalf of AIG.
How to Protect Yourself
Fraudsters often create a sense of urgency to provoke you to take action immediately. First, consider carefully whether AIG would have sent you the request. Second, ask questions -- if you are in doubt as to whether communications with a person purporting to act on behalf of AIG are legitimate, do not respond to it. In any cases of uncertainty, a safe alternative is to contact AIG directly as listed below. If a questionable communication is via e-mail offering a link asking you to provide personal information on a Web page, do not click on the link, even if it may appear genuine.
Who to Contact to Report Suspicious Activities
If you receive an e-mail or any communication that you believe to be suspicious and connected to fraudulent activities, immediately forward it to AIG’s Corporate Compliance Group: corporatelegalcompliance@aig.com. Please do not remove the original subject line, or change the e-mail in any way when you forward it to us. If we find it to be fraudulent, we will take appropriate action.