Bulletin: FL000099

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Bulletin: FL000099

Bulletin Document
V 1
Date: August 12, 2002
To: All Issuing Offices in Florida
RE: Possible Internet Fraud

Dear Associates:

There is another possible fraud being promoted in the Internet, about which we wish to caution you.

The e-mail in question is received unsolicited from Osas Omo, who identifies himself as Credit Officer of Trust Financial Company in the Republic of Benin, which is in Africa. In the text of the e-mail he discusses circumstances whereby a gentleman named John Creek was killed on a plane crash. Creek had made a deposit in their bank, Trust Financial Company, in the amount of $32,000,000. The Company specified that Mr. Creek does not have any wife or children that is known to them.

The e-mail goes on to describe that Omo and some of his colleagues seek permission to have the recipient act as next of kin, so that the funds may be transferred into your account as the beneficiary. This clearly suggests a fraud.

The transaction is assured as being 100% risk free but then goes on to mention that the money will be transferred into your account. This is the Key. In our previous experience with similar circumstances circulating on the Internet or by direct mail, the real purpose is to obtain from you wire transfer details of your escrow account so they can wire out funds from your escrow account, and the deposit will never be seen.

If an opportunity seems to be to good to be true, it probably is.

THIS BULLETIN IS FURNISHED TO INFORM YOU OF CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS. AS A REMINDER, YOU ARE CHARGED WITH KNOWLEDGE OF THE CONTENT ON VIRTUAL UNDERWRITER  AS IT EXISTS FROM TIME TO TIME AS IT APPLIES TO YOU, AS WELL AS ANY OTHER INSTRUCTIONS. OUR UNDERWRITING AGREEMENTS DO NOT AUTHORIZE OUR ISSUING AGENTS TO ENGAGE IN SETTLEMENTS OR CLOSINGS ON BEHALF OF STEWART TITLE GUARANTY COMPANY. THIS BULLETIN IS NOT INTENDED TO DIRECT YOUR ESCROW OR SETTLEMENT PRACTICES OR TO CHANGE PROVISIONS OF APPLICABLE UNDERWRITING AGREEMENTS. CONFIDENTIAL, PROPRIETARY, OR NONPUBLIC PERSONAL INFORMATION SHOULD NEVER BE SHARED OR DISSEMINATED EXCEPT AS ALLOWED BY LAW. IF APPLICABLE STATE LAW OR REGULATION IMPOSES ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS, YOU SHOULD CONTINUE TO COMPLY WITH THOSE REQUIREMENTS.


References

Bulletins Replaced:
  • None
Related Bulletins:
  • None
Underwriting Manual:
  • None
Exceptions Manual:
  • None
Forms:
  • None