Interlink Express escrow fraud

[ham123]

(Moderator's note: I've removed the picture of the passport to prevent further mis-use of it.)

This is the scheme:

- Fraudster places ad in a free ad space, offering a high-value electronic equipment for sale.
- In my case it was advertised in kijiji (dot) ch
- Ad looks good, but price offered is too good to be true (less than half of current market price)
- Upon my reply to the ad, fraudster replies by email:

I can ship at your address via Interlink Express. No extra cost for that.
You will also be able to check it before because I offer you three days to inspect it and to decide.
If you agree to buy it please reply me awith your full name and shipping address.

Sender's email address: friedrick.james@gmail.com
Upon my request, fraudster sends his full address:

James Friedrick
North Deeside Road 12
Banchory
Kincardineshire
AB31 5YR
United Kingdom

Unfortunately, I didn't find any reference to this name and address in any phone or address directory. Also Google maps did not find this street address in Banchory.
He even encloses a picture of his passport. See attachment 1
When asked about how to proceed with the payment, the answer is that the shipping agent, Interlink Express, would handle the transaction, in a form of escrow service. Three documents were provided:

• Bill of Lading (suggesting that the ordered item was already deposited with the shipping agent) -see atachment 2
• Invoice - see attachment 3
• Explanation of the alleged escrow service

The fraudster requests a payment to the following bank account:

Code: Select all

Address: Roebuck Lane / Smethwick
City/State: West Midlands
Post Code: B66 1BN
Country: United Kingdom
Account Name: International Interlink Express
IBAN: GB23 BARC 2072 9150 5627 18
Swift: BARCGB22
Bank name: Barclays

The IBAN is a valid number, and the address suggests that this account belongs to Interlink Express, llc, however the account name is suspicious. Interestingly, the return path of the email (which was hidden in the email code) points to
interlinkexpresss@gmail.com. A trusted company would certainly not use a gmail account...
Unfortunately (for the fraudster), the company Interlink Express is not listed in the mandatory directory of escrow service providers.
In a brief email exchange, the real company Interlink Express confirmed that they do not provide such a service and the whole transaction is a scam.

[Timbo1993]

Hi,
Me happens the same. I have buy rims for a top price by the same supplier. It also has the same Bill of Lading number.
How have you further gone forward?
Have you got your money back?

[marian0102]

Dear friend,

Contact the police as soon as possible and maybe you will get your money back if its not too late!Call Western Union if you had send the funds using their company or your bank if you had send the funds to a so called escrow bank account!

[marian0102]

Dear friend,

PLEASE READ!

International escrow services approved by eBay

For international transactions, eBay has approved the following escrow services:

www.eBay.au users: Escrow.com

www.eBay.it and www.eBay.es users: Escrow Europa (was,please check)

www.eBay.de users: iloxx Safe Trade

Copied from http://pages.ebay.com/help/pay/escrow.html.

Don't hesitate to contact me before buying or renting online,i can help without any costs.

Please post the emails received,website where the ad was posted,this way people will avoid losing their hard worked money.

I hope you won't lose your money.

Glad i could help!

[xyz]

I get very similar information, I think its the same person or people behind the scam. Here are a few details that if anyone received should not transfer funds to.

He calls himself Adam Wildman - adam99wildman@gmail.com
It was for 3D printer advertised from this link. Looks like he took it down - http://dallas.shoppok.com/cl/a,49,71111 ... style-.htm

Account Holder: Interlink Direct Ltd.
Bank Name: TSB Bank
Account Number: 00729068
Sort Code: 77-69-20
IBAN : GB22 TSBS 7769 2000 7290 68
BIC (Swift Code): TSBSGB21385
Bank Address: 71 Abington Street, Northampton
Northamptonshire, NN1 2AN
United Kingdom

Account Holder: Interlink Direct Ltd.
28 Commercial Way
Park Royal, NW10 7XF
London, United Kingdom

The guy that is supposedly going to do the delivery. That number belongs to a Lyca mobile so its very hard to trace who its registered to.
Philip Gorelick
Escrow Agent & Assistant Manager
Interlink Direct Escrow Department
6970 Roebuck Lane, Smethwick
West Midlands B66 1BN
United Kingdom
Phone Number: +447438579616

[xyz]

This is mostly what they will say in there email to trick you into making look like a going to be a real transaction for the delivery.

1. I go to a local Interlink Direct office and deliver the package to you.
2. They inspect the package content (they check if it works, they check to make sure it's not stolen).
3. They will send you an invoice by email with all transaction details (details on product inspection, delivery name and address, payment options).
4. You have 2-3 days to make the payment for the escrow transaction to them (By one of the payment methods accepted by them).
5. Once your payment is confirmed by them, the package is delivered to you.
6. You will receive it within 5 working days. You will have 10 working days to inspect and test the product to make sure it is exactly as I told you.
7. After the Inspection period of 10 working days you need to confirm to Interlink Direct your decision (if you want to buy it or not).
8. If you decide to buy it, they will transfer me the funds.
9. If you decide not to buy it (if it is not as I told you, if it is damaged, if it is not working properly) they will deliver it back to me on my cost and will send you the money back.

[tbarnabas]

Hi,

I wanted to buy a Scandalli Super VI accordion. The scenario was exactly same.
I am a software engineer. I put some content into my website and I sent the link for him to check the reeds of accordion. I successfully captured the IP address of his internet provider.
Unfortunately I haven't captured his GPS location as longitude and latitude coordinates. He didn't clicked the allow use location button .. , I couldn't force the allowing ..

The IP address was

Address: 46.31.82.209
*******************

I checked it with an online location finder
http://www.infosniper.net/index.php?ip_ ... om_level=7

It is an address from Bournemouth, United Kingdom.

I don't know what the next step is ..

[tbarnabas]

It was the accordion

http://australia.backpage.com/musician/ ... =accordion

[tbarnabas]

the correct address
http://australia.backpage.com/MusicEqui ... 00/4935951

[tbarnabas]

He calls himself Adam Geier, adam90geier@gmail.com