Suspect web scheme complains of fraud

By JUHA SAARINEN

Cashevolution, a scheme offering "financial freedom" via the internet, was hit last week by large-scale credit card fraud.

As reported in the Herald a week ago, Auckland-based Cashevolution is listed on the Ministry of Consumer Affairs' Scam Watch website and has been warned by the Commerce Commision that it may be an illegal pyramid selling scheme.

But in an ironic twist, Cashevolution systems administrator Barry Murphy posted a message on Thursday to the New Zealand Network Operators' Group (NZNOG) mailing list, asking for help in tracing a credit card fraudster.

The NZOG mailing list is normally frequented by internet service provider and telco staff, discussing operation issues concerning New Zealand and Asia-Pacific networks.

Murphy said the person "has used over 200 credit card numbers and many have been successful".

He says the fraudster connected from systems in Mexico and used a Yahoo email account with the credit card numbers on the Cashevolution website.

But the request for help did not exactly fall on sympathetic ears. Some mailing list members were openly hostile to Murphy.

One list subscriber wrote: "Let me put it in simple terms. Many of the people on this list have to do a significant amount of extra work to try and combat spamming rip-off artists. As such, you will find very little sympathy and certainly very little help from this group."

The New Zealand Bankers' Organisation advises merchants who suspect credit card fraud to immediately contact the issuing banks and the police.

It says that going through the fraudster's internet provider would not be much help.