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Attempts to Scam Charities: WANDSWORTH WELCARE Foundation (W.W.F)

Scam Money Transfers to Charities
Example -
WANDSWORTH WELCARE Foundation (W.W.F)
"Mrs. Sarah Williams", "wandsworthwelcare@live.co.uk"

Have you received an email from "Mrs. Sarah Williams" of "WANDSWORTH WELCARE Foundation (W.W.F)", claiming that

"The WANDSWORTH WELCARE Foundation (W.W.F), would like to notify your charity home, that you have been chosen by the Board of Trustees as one of the Charity home recipients of 10% funds received from our donors this month worldwide,"

Enclosed was a check and a list of names of other charities.

Just when you think you've seen how low scammers will stoop, this comes along.  This scammer is attempting to steal money from a real Charity, by claiming to be a charity that wants to make a donation!

The check will be a counterfeit, using stolen account numbers (so your bank won't be able to tell that it is fake, only after it clears the Federal reserve system) which will bounce days or weeks after you deposit it. You could be liable for criminal charges (fraud, passing bad checks, etc.) if you try to cash it.

In the meantime, you'll be told to send some of the money from the check to the other charities via Western Union.  Of course, no real charity uses Western Union; they all have their own bank accounts. Instead of a charity collecting the money at Western Union, the scammer will.

The scammer shows up at the Western Union office, presents some fake ID and collects the money; then Poof!  He's gone, along with the money.  And you (or your charity) now owes your bank every penny of the bad check.

You can check the name of the issuing bank on the check with the names of banks that have reported stolen checks (https://www.consumerfraudreporting.org/stolenchecks.htm ) and you can call the bank to

  • verify that the account number on the check is legitimate and
  • matches the name on the check and
  • has sufficient funds.

You can go to this website (https://www.consumerfraudreporting.org/cfr.php?PAGGE=/CharityScams_WandsworthWelcare.php&NAME=&URL=https://routingtool.com/ ) and verify the routing number on the check and get the bank's phone number, then call the bank to verify that the account is real and the check is real.

If you don't cash the check and ignore the scammer, don't reply to him or provide him and personal information, you should be fine.

If have already given the scammer sensitive personal identity or financial information, like social security numbers, bank account details, etc. and you believe you may have fallen victim to this type of scam and wish to report it, please file a complaint with the U.S. government Internet Fraud Complaints Center and make a report with your local police.

Here is a summary of this type of fraud, from the

Click here for a step-by-step description of how the scammers work their scams: https://www.consumerfraudreporting.org/anatomy_of_a_scam.php

If you would like a step by step explanation of how this type of "Advance Fee Fraud" works, click here!


Example chain of Emails between the scammer and a Potential Victim

First, here is the email to CFR from the potential victim, describing the scam.  Too protect the real charity, we'll call the potential victim "Ralph Nader at ABC Charity":

The charities are fake - or they are the names of real charities, but the scammer goes to the Western Union office and collects the money.

What is different about this one is that they ask us to divide the money and sent to other charities, not them. I don't see where they make any money. it is odd. here is the text of several of our email exchanges. A US cashiers check did arrive with and english postage stamp.  I look forward to hearing from you.


First Scam email from "WANDSWORTH WELCARE Foundation (W.W.F)":

-----Original Message-----

From: Sarah Williams [mailto: wandsworthwelcare@live.co.uk ]

Sent: Monday, March 10, 2008 12:12 PM

Subject: Donations

WANDSWOTH WELCARE

The Welcare Centre,

79, Trinity Rd,

London, SW17 7SQ

United Kingdom

Attn;

The WANDSWORTH WELCARE Foundation (W.W.F), would like to notify your charity home, that you have been chosen by the Board of Trustees as one of the Charity home recipients of 10% funds received from our donors this month worldwide, In connection with constant expansion of our international activities, for use to aid the underprivileged in your territory/charity home.

The W.W.F Social Service & Welfare Organizations was created and registered in United Kingdom since 1998, with entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner's historic gifts from organizations and private persons from the various countries worldwide to support W.W.F causes and activities. You are required to kindly reply this notification with the full name and address of who your cash donation check will be made out to.

The W.W.F builds and implements public-private partnerships to address the world's most pressing problems, and broadens support for the W.W.F through advocacy and public outreach.

The Wandsworth Welcare Foundation is a public charity and recipient's homes are selected without any criteria. Have a nice day and God bless.

Best regards

Mrs. Sarah Williams

Donations Co-ordinator,

Wandsworth Welcare

The Welcare Centre,

79, Trinity Rd,

London, SW17 7SQ

United Kingdom

(c) 2008 WWF, All Rights Reserved


Email from the potential victim (Ralph Nader at ABC Charity)

Subject: RE: Donations

Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2008 13:13:17 -0500

From: Ralph Nader
ABC Charity

To: wandsworthwelcare@live.co.uk

Hi Sarah:

My apologies for my short response last week. It was a busy day. But I set you email aside for a more considered response.

First, thank you very much.

Can you tell me more?

How much will the donation be? Will it be in Euros and drawn on a UK bank?

Who should receive our thank you letter?

How did you learn of Wildlife Forever?

Will there be opportunities for future donations?

I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you.

Ralph Nader
ABC Charity


Scam email from "WANDSWORTH WELCARE Foundation (W.W.F)":

From: Wandsworth Welcare [mailto:wandsworthwelcare@live.co.uk]

Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2008 10:55 AM

To: Ralph Nader
ABC Charity

Subject: RE: Donations

Hi,

You will be receiving your donation in US dollars, which our donor has already paid out a check to your name. 

Ten percent of the recent cash donation of $6500 goes to your charity, while other charity homes get their donations from the same sum.

your letter should be to Wandsworth Welcare, and we hope to raise more donations from other regular donors.

Your organisation was chosen last two months during our executive members, social service and charity tour to USA. Please kindly get back to me as soon as you receive this check. Thanks and God bless.

Best regards

Mrs. Sarah Williams

Donations Co-ordinator,

Wandsworth Welcare

The Welcare Centre,

79, Trinity Rd,

London, SW17 7SQ

United Kingdom


Email from the potential victim (Ralph Nader at ABC Charity)

Subject: RE: Donations

Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2008 10:55:56 -0500

From: Ralph Nader
ABC Charity

To: wandsworthwelcare@live.co.uk

Hi Sarah:

Wow! Thank you. This is so very kind and generous.

As it turns out, the mail came just a few minutes ago and the cashiers check for $6500 arrived. It is made out to me. I will sign over to Wildlife Forever.

Do you know how the executive members discovered Wildlife Forever?

Thank you again for this generous donation. It will be put to good use.

Ralph Nader
ABC Charity


Scam email from "WANDSWORTH WELCARE Foundation (W.W.F)":

From: Wandsworth Welcare [mailto:wandsworthwelcare@live.co.uk]

Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2008 12:46 PM

To: Ralph Nader
ABC Charity

Subject: RE: Donations

Hi Ralph,

Thank you for your notification and we do appreciate your happy expression. Please note, as I mentioned earlier, ten percent ($650) of this donation is for wildlife forever. while other charity homes worldwide benefit from this same sum($6500). please do cash the check and let other charity homes receive theirs as soon as possible, after deducting $650 for wildlife forever. We always want many charity homes to get percentage of donations. Thanks again for your notification, remain blessed. I hope to send you the W.W.F. executive member's tour magazine to u.s.a and how wildlife was chosen.

Best regards

Mrs. Sarah Williams

Donations Co-ordinator,

Wandsworth Welcare

The Welcare Centre,

79, Trinity Rd,

London, SW17 7SQ

United Kingdom


Email from the potential victim (Ralph Nader at ABC Charity)

Hi Sarah:

I don't understand.

You want us to select 9 other charities and give them each $650?

I guess charities in the UK have a much more relaxed legal system to follow. But your request begs many questions.

How will you know that we have distributed the money to an eligible charity?

How will you know that we distributed the money at all?

Why wouldn't WWF distribute the money to the individual charities rather than using Wildlife Forever as a go between?

I'm sorry for all the questions but perhaps you can understand our concerns. The envelope was sent from the UK with a cashiers check from the US and no cover letter. Plus it was made out to me personally which was a bit of a shock.

Ralph Nader
ABC Charity


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