Best Regards,Please be sure to let us know if you obtain any reliable information that you would like to have taken into consideration.As you may not be aware, the database for aa419.org is not reliable. It is editable by the public and there is no individual or entity that accepts legal or financial liability for the content of same."Mr Stevenson,Thank you for your report.
Abuse Department
Staminus Communications"
The site in question is panwestafricasec.net
A Security, Logistics & Consultancy company, based in six countries, the UK, Ghana, Sierra Leone, DR Congo, Cameroon and Namibia. So you'd think it would be easy to ascertain that this company exists beyond it's website. Well, I tried.
First stop Companies House in the UK, as it's Headquarters are there.
No such company found. As the site doesn't list a Company Registration number, that can't be checked either, but if it's trading under another name it's possible that I may have missed it somehow. Anyway it's bound to be found at the contact address listed on site, under some name isn't it?
Well, would you believe that the contact address listed for this companies headquarters turns out to be the address for the DR Congo Embassy? A headquarters that's supposed to be responsible for over 10,900 staff and billions in trade is operating out of an Embassy in London? They can't afford their own building after being in business for over 150 years?
Or even afford a landline in the Embassy apparently, as they provide a mobile telephone number to call. They even provide a different, but dead, domain for you to email them on.
Domain Name:TPS-INC.ORGwhose registrant used the email address 'info@standard-chart.com' to register that site.
Domain Status: clientTransferProhibited -- http://www.icann.org/epp#clientTransferProhibited
Domain Status: pendingDelete -- http://www.icann.org/epp#pendingDelete
Domain Status: serverHold -- http://www.icann.org/epp#serverHold
Queried whois.internic.net with "dom standard-chart.com"...Oh look, a suspicious looking email address that doesn't exist, a whois error which probably got tps-inc.org suspended.
No match for domain "STANDARD-CHART.COM". >>> Last update of whois database: Thu, 23 Apr 2015 21:42:01 GMT <<<
But the problem was that I referenced the Artists Against 419 database, apparently. Ok, but that's not the only reference I used.
What I received back was beyond all expectation.Kind regards Mr Stevenson""Dear Staminus,The AA419 db may have a few false entries from time to time, because we are only human. The db itself is not editable by the public, there are only a few who can make entries into the database, although anyone can put forward a website for consideration for entry, dependant on evidence. In this case I also provided other links to other sources that you may consider more reliable such as Companies House in the UK for you to double check the accuracy of my claims. Please reread the entirety of my last email and check the other sources I provided then make a decision.
As to the rest of your citations.I understand that it is a valuable tool for you. But you are not risking your home, car and future income. You are simply filing (virtually anonymous) complaints. There is no liability or accountability for your end.If a resource is not reliable, then it can not be used to make a decision."Mr Stevenson,That is sufficient for us to not be able to use it as a legal resource for the purpose of making legal decisions which could result in our being sued and taken to court.
"The AA419 db may have a few false entries from time to time, because we are only human."
1) "Site claims to be a courier company in the UK, but is not registered with Companies Houses."
You have not proven it is not registered. You have proven it is not registered under that specific name. Will you put up a $1Million liability bond and guarantee that it is not registered under any other name or spelling?
Furthermore, the point is academic. Can you direct my attention to a clause in our TOS/AUP that requires a downstream customer to register their website with "Companies House" ?
2) "UK contact address listed on site is for the DRC Congo Embassy" So, did you contact the Embassy? Is there an applicable law against a website using their Embassy as a contact address? Again, which part of our TOS is being violated in this example?
3) "Site claims to be a courier company located in the UK, Sierra Leone, Namibia, Ghana, DRC Congo and Cameroon, yet the registrant lists an address in Nigeria."
Your point is what, exactly?
Which relevant law is being violated?
Which portion of our tos is being violated?
Having reviewed your report, as you requested, it appears that you have provided a list of trivia and circumstantial evidence.
Let's review:
You sent an untraceable email from email from a gmail account.
You referenced a database that you subsequently admitted is unreliable.
You sign your emails "Mr Stevenson" in atypical business format, and you fail to provide any additional contact information that would identify you as an actual person.
Using the same criteria you used, it is reasonable to conclude that your report is fraudulent.
Best Regards,
Abuse Department
Yes, being able to provide evidence that your customer who gives you money may actually be up to no good, and trying to show you why, makes me the bad guy here. Certainly not your paying customer who is trying to defraud the public.Staminus Communications"
"Dear Staminus,
"That is sufficient for us to not be able to use it as a legal resource for the purpose of making legal decisions which could result in our being sued and taken to court.
If a resource is not reliable, then it can not be used to make a decision."By your logic that would then render every database in the world useless. Human error always creeps in, mistakes are always made.
"But you are not risking your home, car and future income. You are simply filing (virtually anonymous) complaints. There is no liability or accountability for your end."True. The only thing the Artists have is our reputation, and that many registrars and hosting companies are wiling to listen, work with us and act on our reports is a comment on our reputation. That you choose not to is unfortunate.
"You have not proven it is not registered. You have proven it is not registered under that specific name. Will you put up a $1Million liability bond and guarantee that it is not registered under any other name or spelling? "
Really? Another database that may also have errors? I'm surprised the British Government hasn't done away with it, let alone rely on it for official Company registration certification.From http://www.panwestafricasec.net/index.php?_page=aboutus
"As the industry leader in risk management and secure logistics, PWASC has safeguarded valuables since 1859. With 150 years of experience, PWASC offers the utmost quality of service and sets the market standard."For a 150 year old company that claims to be in the UK not to be registered with Company House under their trading name is downright suspicious don't you think?
"Furthermore, the point is academic. Can you direct my attention to a clause in our TOS/AUP that requires a downstream customer to register their website with "Companies House" ?"
No, I can't seem to find your TOS beyond DMCA requirements. Can you please provide a link for me? I would at least like to try.
But I can point to https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ attachment_data/file/418559/ GP2_Life_of_a_Company_Part_1_ v4_4-ver0.3.pdf
"GP2 March 2015 Version 4.4
Companies Act 2006
Page 4 of 56
Introduction
This guide tells you about the documents that a company must deliver every year to Companies House - even if the company is dormant – see chapter 9. If you don’t comply, there could be serious consequences. The Registrar might assume that the company is no longer carrying on business or in operation and take steps to strike it from the register. If the Registrar strikes a company off the register, it ceases to exist and its assets become Crown property. However where a company is in operation, the company's officers could be prosecuted because they are personally responsible for ensuring that they submit company information on time. Failing to do so is a criminal offence. In addition, there is an automatic civil penalty for submitting accounts late. The requirement to file annual documents applies to all companies, including small companies such as flat management companies"
As this company doesn't seem to have provided 150 years worth of returns to Companies House, they are breaking UK law. Is that against your TOS? Or perhaps that is why they claim they are operating out of a foreign embassy in the UK. If I did contact the DRC Congo embassy, do you think they'd be able to put me in contact with this company? Or think I was playing a prank? Do you know of any companies that have offices inside an embassy?
"Site claims to be a courier company located in the UK, Sierra Leone, Namibia, Ghana, DRC Congo and Cameroon, yet the registrant lists an address in Nigeria."
Your point is what, exactly?
Which relevant law is being violated?Which portion of our tos is being violated?
My point being that a supposed 150 year old company with no branches in Nigeria is unlikely to have hired someone in Nigeria build their official website. Again I would actually like to read your TOS, but I couldn't find it on your website.
"You sent an untraceable email from email from a gmail account."
Yes. So what? Gmail is a popular email provider.
"You referenced a database that you subsequently admitted is unreliable."
All databases can be considered inherently unreliable due to human error.
You sign your emails "Mr Stevenson" in atypical business format, and you fail to provide any additional contact information that would identify you as an actual person.
Does it really matter who I am? I am not the one trying to defraud the public like your customer is trying to.
"Using the same criteria you used, it is reasonable to conclude that your report is fraudulent."
I am trying to provide you with evidence. I can only ask you to investigate because there are serious doubts this is a legitimate website. Would you employ their services?I'm patiently awaiting Staminus' next response.Regards Rob "
Please understand that I am not a victim of this internet fraud. I am a concerned individual who is trying to keep innocent victims from falling prey to this fraud. Whether you investigate this matter and take proper action or not is ultimately up to you (as it should be). Just know that when victims are defrauded by a domain you have been made aware of, you are partially responsible by doing nothing to investigate other than writing unprofessional snide comments rather than look into the matter.
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