Zurich based share scammers

[carpii]

This was originally sent to the site admin of this site.
Its since transpired that, even if the escrow sites are not fraudulent, the company selling the shares are. Beware!

These scum use very high pressure sales tactics, and have been operating since at least 2005

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Hi, sorry if this is a bit of a long email. I have a few escrow sites which (although I cant prove), Im almost sure are fraudulent.

A bit of background... I was contacted by a firm called Thompson Miller Group, regarding IPO shares at a cut down price. Im not usually one to get drawn into these conversations, but I couldnt find anything on the net to suggest its a scam.

To cut a long story short, I eventually agreed over the phone that I would buy a small amount of shares, and payment would be made via a 'reputable' escrow service.

The documents came through today and straight away I was suspicious of the escrow service. I have spent the morning looking into it (Im a software engineer so am fairly techie when it comes to the net).

To complete the deal, they want me to wire money to an escrow service at http://AllCapitalServices.com

This domain has expired many times, and was registered most recently on February 19th. Not what youd expect from a reputable escrow company

Interestingly, Ive also traced this site to be associated with two other escrow sites.

http://portsmouthescrowservice.com
and
http://stradfordescrowservice.com

All use the same template and so theres no doubt these are all run by the same Roy Lerman (assuming the whois isnt faked).

Since I dont intend to proceed with the trade (I suppose Im one of the lucky ones, since Ive not lost any money yet), Ive no way to prove these are fraudulent, but it seems to be they most likely are. Perhaps you could alert other users by adding them as 'under investigation'?

There is an interesting thread from 2004, on motleyfool...
http://boards.fool.co.uk/Message.asp?mi ... mendations

This details a "Omega Financial Services LLC" who is based at a different address, but at the exact same zip code as the three escrow agents Im reporting (New Jersey, 08857).

I hope you find this interesting. Your database didnt help me on this occassion, but I think your website is great and want to support what youre doing. Ill be making a small paypal donation shortly

Thanks
Paul

[carpii]

Paul,

Thank you for you comments (and donation).

I have looked at all three sites you have mentioned
http://AllCapitalServices.com
http://portsmouthescrowservice.com
http://stradfordescrowservice.com
and have also found
http://www.piedmontinvestments.net/

I believe http://www.piedmontinvestments.net/ is a legitimate one and that Roy Lerman does actually own that one whereas the 3 you have presented I do believe to be fake, (but lack any real proof as well).

I will post the information up on the forum at http://forum.escrow-fraud.com for the user base to make a decision about them and then we will see.

Thanks again for your donation and pointing these sites out. Feel free to come and visit our site and spread the word as well. Fraud hurts everyone.

Escrow-Fraud.com Admin.

[carpii]

Hi, thanks for the reply.

Whilst Im a little dubious whether any of the escrow sites run by that guy are legitimate, its possible that they are.
I suspect perhaps after one or two trades, they would have increased the minimum trade and thats definitely the point they would have used a fraud escrow.

Its since transpired that Thompson Miller Group were previously known as Thompson Hill Group (also based in Zurich).
These people scammed some poor soul out of £110,000
http://www.vcresearch.info/open/forums. ... orumId=100

Ill post my findings to the forum, so that they at least hopefully get found by people googling for any sort of Thompson Group

Thanks