For instance, if you are looking for a job you are more vulnerable to a work-at-home scam.
These are not hardened criminals.
Frank, good to see you once again.
[00:00:28] Frank Abagnale: Good to see you, Will.
Will they call you?
[00:00:55] Frank Abagnale: They don’t make phone calls.
[00:01:12] Will Johnson: Or you’ll get arrested.
[00:01:22] Will Johnson: Don’t wire money to the IRS.
[00:01:24] Frank Abagnale: Exactly.
[00:01:26] Will Johnson: All right, Frank.
I want to introduce our listeners to 20-year-old Jaesh Dubay.
He’s lived in Mumbai, India, all his life.
[00:02:07] Jaesh: There was a thing, a big (inaudible) door.
If you want to enter the room, uh it’s crucial that you have your thumb.
So after thumbing the door, the door will immediately open.
[00:02:25] Will Johnson: AARP Fraud expert Doug Schadel describes the scam as massive.
Um, they were robo dialing 100,000 Americans a day.
So it was definitely a huge operation.
I’ve got to be honest.
It’s a little bit unusual.
Doug got a sense of why Jaesh took the job in the first place.
That’s like 20 times more than they could make anywhere else.
[00:04:09] Will Johnson: Jaesh worked the night shift, 6:30 to 4:30 in the morning.
At first, he was nervous, but over time he grew more comfortable talking to Americans.
[00:04:23] MUSIC SEGUE
[00:04:25] Jaesh: So we worked (inaudible) together.
Why is their tax not paid?
You get them scared.
Um, and so that’s what they do.
They were always more likely not to hang up.
If I’m alone, I don’t have anyone besides me, I’ll definitely pay.
If your friends, chances are very low, okay, you are alone, fine.
This IRS thing?"
That’s something that over time he learned to disguise more and more.
We’re used to legitimate companies using foreign call centers, so why not the IRS?
[00:08:21] Will Johnson: Once he had someone on the phone, Jaesh stuck to the script.
Now the one, one thing is left.
What you have to buy is iTunes card, yeah, you have to buy iTunes card, right?
[00:08:57] Will Johnson: And his instructions went beyond just what to do and where to go.
He gave victims tips on how to appear and how to act.
He will actually ask you, why do you want $3,000 of iTunes card?
And you have to keep a smile on your face.
Now how to do the payment, right, and they used to do all of these things.
Now one iTune card, one iTune card be loaded with $500.
Now I will just take the 16-digits of (inaudible) of each card.
His job was complete as soon as he had those numbers.
You, you talk about what you saw and who were the leaders?
Uh, and then you’ll get a lighter sentence.
[00:14:18] Will Johnson: That motivation seems clear with Jaesh.
He quit the job and blew the whistle on the scam before law enforcement moved in.
I mean they had people crying on the phone.
So he’s went full cycle.
I cannot even tell anybody where do I work, where do I work.
All but 70 were released, the senior management if you will.
Other call centers were raided.
Hang up, stop, and verify.
It just won’t happen.
[00:17:16] Doug Schadel: A pleasure, Will.
[00:17:18] Will Johnson: All right, Frank.
Over the righthand corner is it says, “Postage and Fees paid by United States government.”
It’s a very official business.
You open it up, there’s a letterhead of the IRS.
So it looks very legitimate.
Somebody answers and says, “Internal Revenue Service.”
I got this letter.
I was asked to speak to Agent So and So.
I’ll connect you.
[00:19:00] Frank Abagnale: Exactly.
[00:19:00] Will Johnson: Stop and verify.
[00:19:01] Frank Abagnale: And that’s what it’s crucial that you do.
They think they’re doing something that’s legitimate.
We’re joined by Jen Beam.
She manages the Fraud Watch data pipe Facebook page.
Jen, how are you?
[00:20:25] Jen Beam: Hi, Will, I’m great.
[00:20:26] Will Johnson: I’m good.
Uh, it’s always good to check in with you and see what’s going on out there.
You know, a lot of people like to do online shopping, right Jen?
[00:20:34] Jen Beam: As so I.
[00:20:35] Will Johnson: And it’s a, it’s a fun way to shop.
Can you tell us about uh one that happened earlier this year, right?
[00:20:47] Jen Beam: Absolutely.
[00:20:56] Will Johnson: A little outfit out of the Northwest.
[00:20:58] Jen Beam: Just a little outfit, yes.
So obviously that’s big money.
[00:22:14] Jen Beam: Precisely.
Always go to the main uh, website address.
[00:22:30] Will Johnson: Got it.
Thanks again, Jen.
[00:22:32] Jen Beam: My pleasure.
Thank you, Will.
[00:22:33] Will Johnson: Jen Beam is with the Fraud Watch web link Facebook page.
For AARP - The Perfect Scam, I’m Will Johnson.
