From: rob.koster@fatcacomplianceinstitute.com [mailto:rob.koster@ fatcacomplianceinstitute.com]
Sent: Wednesday, August 05, 2015 8:33 AM
To: redacted
Subject: FATCA Compliance - [redacted]
Importance: HighDear Participants,We are pleased to announce you that FATCA Compliance Institute is conducting a 2 day practical seminar on FATCA Compliance.This seminar is going to be repeated and held thrice:[redacted]The seminar is open to all the Banking & Financial Professionals. The seminar particulars are attached with this mail.Last date for enrolling your participation is [redacted], 2015.Please contact for assistance.Truly,Rob KosterSeminar SecretaryWebsite: www.fatcacompliance.orgTel:+31-800-020-0534(+1-312-625-0112(All Other Countries)Netherlands and Other EU Countries)
FAX:+31-800-020-0534
And also..
From: alfred@pacibankers.com [mailto:alfred@pacibankers.com]
Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2015 11:50 AM
Subject: Asset Management Auditing and Internal Accounting Controls - [redacted]
Importance: HighAsset Management Auditing and Internal Accounting Controls - 2 Day ProgramDear DelegatePacific Standards (www.pacificstandards.com) would like to invite representatives from your organization to attend the above mentioned program scheduled for 2015. We are limiting the number of participants for each cluster to 20, as the courses are designed to be interactive and to encourage discussion and the exchange of ideas.Program Dates: Cluster I – February 25 - 26, 2015Cluster II – March 9 - 10, 2015 Cluster III - March 18 - 19, 2015 Cluster IV- April 6 - 7, 2015 Cluster V- April 15 - 16, 2015 Venue: {redacted}We invite you to nominate individuals from your respective organization. It is also important to stress that all available slots will be filled on a first come first serve basis. Please advise your colleagues to attend and take advantage of this valuable and pivotal workshop.(Please see the attached brochure for complete course coverage).Early Registration Deadline is February 15, 2015Last Date of Registration is February 17, 2015Looking forward for an early reply.Thanks & Regards,AlfredPacific StandardsMarketing ManagerEmail id: Alfred@pacibankers.comWebsite: http://www.pacificstandards.Contact Number: +91-8801-990-204com/
Emails are sent from 159.253.145.90 (Softlayer, Netherlands). The registrant details look like this on most of the domains:
Registry Registrant ID:The emails specifically target the finance sector with what appear to be relevant seminars and services, however once payment has been received there is reportedly no further communication and no seminars.
Registrant Name: Ravindhar V
Registrant Organization:
Registrant Street: office:7, sushant lok , sushant estate
Registrant City: gugaon
Registrant State/Province: Haryana
Registrant Postal Code: 122002
Registrant Country: India
Registrant Phone: +91.9999960651
Registrant Phone Ext:
Registrant Fax:
Registrant Fax Ext:
Registrant Email: vravindhar@yahoo.com
Registry Admin ID:
There are a large number of related sites, some using several different domains. There are virtually zero references to these "organisations" on Google, and a close examination of the sites shows several red flags.
Pacific Standards
Claiming to be in Singapore, but boasting an Indian phone number of +91-8801990204, this outfit claims to be part of "Grenoble Learning". Neither Pacific Standards nor Grenoble Learning actually appear to exist.Domains used:
pacificstandards.com
pacibankers.com
pacific-compliance.com
pacificstan.cc
pacificstan.com
pacificstandards.org
Brown & Co
This claims to be based as 12 Flemington Street, Glasgow but quotes a US contact number of 1-800-BRO-CORP / 1-800-246-8115. There are many, many companies in the UK with the name "Brown & Co", but where you would expect to see number 12 on that street.. there appears to be a car park.Domains used:
beta-essentials.me
browncorpuk.org
browncorp.co
betaeventhub.org
betaeventhub.org
betaessentials.in
FATCA Compliance Institute
A quick Google search for "FATCA Compliance Institute" reveals exactly zero reliable references to this important-looking organisation, boasting contact details in both India and The Netherlands.15-66 plot 101 Prabhu Nagar
Poranki 521137.
Tel:+31-800-020-0534(Netherlands and Other EU Countries)
FAX:+31-800-020-0534 (ONLY EU)
FAX: +31-20-524-1592 (ALL COUNTRIES)
USA Tel: +1-312-625-0112 (All other Countries)
Email: director@fatcacompliance.cc
Corporate Office:
Keizersgracht 209
1006 DT Amsterdam
The Netherlands
The Netherlands Toll-Free:
Tel:+31-800-020-0534
FAX:+31-800-020-0534
USA Tel: +1-312-625-0112 (All other Countries)
Email: director@fatcacompliance.cc
Domains used:
fatcacomplianceinstitute.org
fatcacomplianceinstitute.com
fatcacompliance.cc
fatcacompliance.net
fatcacompliance.org
Rightman Group
The web site here looks very slick. But if you Google for snippets of somewhat ungrammatical text (such as "But, one things remains unchanged – our dedication to doing the best work in the world.") you will find that there are hundreds of sites using the exact same template. Rightman Group has the following contact details listed:Rightman Group
United States
199 Scott Street
Suite 810
Buffalo, NY 14204
+1-716-217-2817
USA call charges apply.
---------
Dreikönigstrasse 30
Zürich, Switzerland
----------
+41-43-508-1974
The New York State Division of Corporations has no such company as "Rightman Group" listed.
Domains used:
rightmangroup.com
rightman.eu
rightman.cc
rightmangroup.net
rightmangroup.org
Swiss Dossier
I can only imagine that the name "Swiss Dossier" came about through an error in autotranslation. It lists several addresses:info@swissdossier.com(General)
offices@swissdossier.com(Training Programs)
Tel: +1-786-235-8424(USA)
Our Global offices are located at:
19th Floor, Prudential Towers(North Side)
Office no: 1901
Chulia Street
Singapore
Aeschenvorstadt, 405
Basel,
Switzerland
79 Thornall Street,
6th Floor, Edison, NJ 08837.
New Jersy
USA
70 Sheppard Avenue, Suite 301,
North York, Ontario M2N 3A4,
Canada
A Google search for "swissdossier.com" comes up with no independent and reliable references to this so-called company.
Domains used:
swissdossier.com
swissdossier.cc
swissdossier.com.co
Treasury Management Institute
According to Companies House in the UK, there is no company in the UK with the name "Treasury Management Institute". The contact details indicate that this is perhaps the workplace of John or Jane Doe:
Email :There are no independent references to this organisation existing in Bristol.
jdoe@treasurymanagementinstitute.com
jdoe@treasurymanagementinstitute.cc
Addresses:
01, Temple Quay, Temple Back East, Bristol, BS1 6DZ, UK
SWConsulting Group, Sec 42 Gurgaon, India(Institute operates under the licence of SWConsulting Group)
Domains used:
treasurymanagementinstitute.com
treasurymanagementinstitute.cc
treasurymanagementinstitute.org
Financial Models India
Sharing the same contact details as some of these other highly questionable sites, and hosted on the same infrastructure, Financial Models India would appear to fail the Duck Test.79 Thornall Street,
6th Floor, Edison, NJ 08837,
New Jersy,
USA
19th Floor,
Prudential Towers (North Side),
Office no: 1901,
Chulia Street, Singapore
Aeschenvorstadt, 405,
Basel, Switzerland
70 Sheppard Avenue,
Suite 301, North York,
Ontario M2N 3A4,
Canada
DLF Square M Block,
Jacaranda Marg DLF City, Phase II,
Gurgaon 122002, INDIA
Domains used:
financialmodelsindia.com
financialmodels.co.in
fmtsglobal.com
unitedcapital-financialmodels.com
unitedcapitalglobal.com
Virat World Wide
This appears to be the firm or individual behind these sites. The "About Us" page says:Ravindhar.V - Managing DirectorI'm guessing the the "V" stands for "Virat", making him "Ravindhar Virat". The contact details list an address in the... errr. UNITED KIGDOM.
Mr. Ravindhar is an able administrator and change master. He has rich experience in thearea of Financial Information Technology(FIT). He has developed financial software products and Information Technology management solutions for financial institutions and banks in more than a fifty countries and for top global Banks and companies. His qualification is Master of Finance and Accounting with a track of computer applications in Finance and Accounting(MFA). Mr.Ravindhar comes from Business Family of Poranki Sugars and his family is a legacy of entrepreneurs based in India. Group is widely respected by the industry.
Global SupportThis address is actually a hotel. The +91 telephone number is a number in India, not the UK.
+919-618-921-876
customersupport@virat.consulting
120, CENTRAL STREET
CLERKENWELL
LONDON
UNITED KIGDOM
Domains used:
virat.consulting
virat-transitionalhunts.biz
virat-th.co.in
Other domains
The other domains (mostly now defunct or with no content) also appear to belong to the same operator:financialmodelsglobal.net
fortunicia-munich.org
europiafintech.com
europiafintech.net
fisher-n-moreglobal.com
fishernmore-global.org
fmg-singapore.org
intrinsic-pulse.com
intrinsic-pulse.asia
baselknowledge.net
clarklc.com
luthanskane.in
panarab-consulting.in
porankisugars.org
profectuspartners-singapore.com
proximitycorp.org
rfb-research.net
sino-overseasholdings.org
stermarc-worldwide.com
vertasbar.net
If you have any experiences with any of these "companies", feel free to leave a comment.