Mississippi Business Journal » scams

PSC warns of increase in caller ID ‘spoofing’

For the MBJ — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 18:43:11 +0000

JACKSON — The Mississippi Public Service Commission reports it has seen an increase in “spoofing” telephone calls throughout Mississippi. Caller ID spoofing is the practice of causing the telephone network to display a number on the recipient’s caller ID display, which is not that of the actual caller. Residents will see a number on their [...]

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Beef plant conspirator awarded reduced sentence

Associated Press — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 20:08:54 +0000

OAKLAND — A federal judge has reduced the sentence of a key figure in the Mississippi beef plant scandal. Richard Hall, of Clarksville, Tenn., was sentenced in 2006 to eight years in prison for his role in the failure of the plant. The beef plant, backed by the Mississippi Legislature and two state agencies, ran [...]

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Feinberg: Possible bogus oil spill claims top 7,000

Associated Press — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 15:46:26 +0000

GULF COAST — The $20-billion fund responsible for compensating victims of BP’s Gulf of Mexico oil spill has received more than 7,000 potentially fraudulent claims, many of which have been referred to the Justice Department for criminal investigations, the fund’s administrator told a Senate panel yesterday. Attorney Kenneth Feinberg, who is overseeing the Gulf Coast [...]

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Sentencing delayed in case involving Saints

Associated Press — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 12:55:02 +0000

NEW ORLEANS — Sentencing is being delayed until April 6 for the head of a defunct movie studio who pleaded guilty to selling $1.9 million in nonexistent tax credits to members of the New Orleans Saints. On May 13, Wayne Read pleaded guilty to interstate transportation of stolen funds and wire fraud. He once ran [...]

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Louisiana man accused of bilking investors

Associated Press — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 12:58:56 +0000

MONROE, La. — A Monroe, La., man is accused of scamming nearly $1.2 million from at least 181 investors in eight states, including Mississippi. A grand jury in Monroe charged Silas J. Mayeux, 57, Dec. 9 with racketeering, felony theft and two securities laws violations, said Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell. Mayeux allegedly used more [...]

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SBA warns of uptick in loan scams

Wally Northway — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 11:27:38 +0000

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is warning small businesses to use caution if they are contacted by firms offering to help them apply for funds available through SBA programs. SBA and SBA’s Office of the Inspector General (SBA OIG) have received several complaints from small businesses about abusive marketing practices, scams and [...]

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FTC: Beware of drywall scams

Wally Northway — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:46:21 +0000

WASHINGTON — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns consumers to be skeptical of anyone trying to sell test kits, inspections or quick fixes for problems caused by imported drywall that has turned out to be contaminated. Some owners of homes that were built between 2003 and 2008 using imported drywall have reported a sulfur smell [...]

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BBB warns of new scam

Wally Northway — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:07:12 +0000

JACKSON — The Better Business Bureau Mississippi (BBB Mississippi) warns consumers that scam artists, claiming to represent a federal agency, are telling them that they have been selected to receive government grants, often ranging from $10,000-30,000. “The scammers are saying that processing fees, ranging from $250-500, must be paid to receive the grant money,” said [...]

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AGO, FBI issue scam alert for Mississippians

MBJ Newswires — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 05:01:45 +0000

JACKSON — Attorney General Jim Hood and special agent in charge Frederick T. Brink of the FBI’s Jackson Division are joining together and issuing a consumer alert regarding the numerous, ever-evolving scams that are victimizing citizens of Mississippi. Brink said, “The FBI receives calls daily from individuals who have either been approached by or have [...]

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FTC going after ‘stimulus’ scams

Wally Northway — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:22:27 +0000

WASHINGTON — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) testified before the U.S. Senate today on the agency’s campaign to crack down on scammers who are trying to take advantage of the economic downturn to push a variety of scams, such as phony job-placement and debt-reduction services, get-rich-quick schemes, and bogus government grants. David Vladeck, director of [...]

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