Earthquake scammer also targets farmers
Released 25 Feb 2011
Federated Farmers is warning members to avoid replying to emails from internet earthquake scammer "James McCoy" and not to hand out credit card details.
The email has targeted people through the work wanted section of the Federation's www.ruraljobs.co.nz website.
It offers work so long as they provide passport photos and credit card details, which should be a big warning as www.ruraljobs.co.nz is a free service to employees.
There are at least two people who have contacted Federated Farmers after replying to email job offers from a "James McCoy" also known as "Marcus".
The correspondence between one job seeker and McCoy included a British telephone number. When Federated Farmers staff called it, the responder seemed to have a New Zealand accent before hanging up.
We believe it is the same James McCoy who posed as "Donate4CharityNZ", using a legitimate UK-based charity's organisation name and website address to try and scam people following the earthquake on Tuesday.
The bogus email address is j.coy1717@gmail.com. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs says people should be wary of unsolicited emails from generic email addresses, such as gmail.com or hotmail.com, with poor grammar and spelling and any asking for personal details such as credit card numbers.
If you have had any contact with a James or Marcus McCoy who is asking for credit card details, passport photos or donations please contact the Ministry's Scamwatch service and then delete the email.
If anyone knows who this person may be, can they please contact the Federation so we can inform the authorities.
