Castellum Group Fraud
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This fraudster should not be confused with any other company that may have the same or a similar name. The website graphics and the evidence below clearly identify this criminal alone and no other company whatsoever.
Castellum Group Screenshot - 24th-Oct-2009
Castellum Group Screenshot - 24th-Oct-2009

Castellum Group is a fake website that has been set up very recently for criminal purposes. They have no listed contact or location details on their website, they have no internet presence and their website domain was recently registered for the usual 'criminal's domain' minimum period of only one year. They are offering a clear money laundering 'job' "Receiving payments from customers" which is being spamvertised. They are hosted on the same Chinese IP as the CurrencySource stolen identity scammer.
Evidence of Criminal Fraud:

i) Their domain castellumgroup.com was only registered with the unresponsive registrar of many of the criminal domains on this website, ALANTRON BLTD. on 16-jun-2009 for the usual 'criminal's domain' minimum period of only one year. Clear indication of a fraudulent domain.

ii)
A Google search for "Castellum Group" shows that this particular company has no internet presence whatsoever - ignoring the criminal's own website, of course and not to be confused by the number of other genuine companies with the same or similar name.

iii) The company has no contact or telephone details on its website, so not only is it impossible to contact them, it is also not possible to know even what country they are supposed to be in, but they use an unresponsive Turkish registrar commonly used by criminal fraudsters and a Chinese host.

iv) In the spam below, they purport to be located in 'Macclesfield' (UK), however there is no company by the name of Castellum Group listed in the UK Companies House. Clear evidence of a fake company.


v) The Spam:

From: Castellum Group <odeliahoptonfmt0@hotmail.com>
Date: 2009/10/17
Subject: Employment opportunity.

Dear xxxxxx

“The Castellum Group” is glad to announce an opening for the position of a customer relations manager in Macclesfield.

Our company specializes in providing all types of protection for the business and transactions done through the word wide web. “The Castelum Group” is continuously growing and improving its globally offered services, and we are looking for the new, talented, and responsible staff. This is your chance to join a huge team of specialists and to get an interesting and rewarding job.
Our research department has considered all available methods of the financial assets transfer from our clients to us, as well as the need for the direct interaction with the clients, and concluded that the most effective approach would be finding a representative in each particular country. This would allow us to considerably reduce the cost and significantly increase the convenience of the services provided to our customers.
You will not have to pay the any tax or postal expenses.  All these costs will be covered by “The Castellum Group”.
There are several suggestions and requirements for a successful candidate. The main one is the responsibility and reliability of such individual. We also welcome great people skills, and the ability to foster relationships with the clients - a charismatic person will have an advantage in the interview process. An ability to troubleshoot and resolve issues on the spot would be very useful.
An absolute must is having at least a twice a day access to the internet for communication with our managers and the use of the online office.

If you are interested in this job opening, please send your resume in the DOC or rich text format to our email castellumgr@gmail.com .

vi) A response to the above spam elicits the following 'Job Description':

Castellum Group
Job Description Form
Castellum Logo

Division/Department

Customer Care

Location

225 W 34th St # 2, New York, NY 10122

Job Title

Customer Manager

Reports to

Garth K. Brockman

Title

Supervisor / Manager

 

Level/Grade

High school or College diploma

Type of position:

   Full-time

x Part-time

Contractor / Commissioned Employee

   Intern

Hours:

flextime / week

 

Compensation:

5% from transaction (An average of $ 600 a week)

 

Today we seek for employees for our company to improve the quality of service and to speed up the processing of orders. It is not important where did you work before or where are you working now, but if you have combination possibility, you are sociable, responsible and self-exacting, you have a magnificent opportunity to become our employee and to receive high income. Today we make special demands to our employees as you are the persons who represent image of the company.

 

General Description

1.     Receive payments from our customers* in your area (The payment from our customers for services provided under the contract. Cause we work all over the world, the customers much easier to transfer money to our managers who are in the same state/region. You'll receive transfers from $ 1,000 to $ 10,000. An average of 2-3 transfers a week.)

2.     Create reports for each transaction

3.     Follow the instructions from Supervisor / Manager

 

* All customers pass the verification control, we care of yours security.

 

work experience requirements

1.      Team work

2.      Basic knowledge of MS Office

3.      Accuracy

4.      Problem solving skills

5.      Top notch communication and writing skills

6.      Drive to be the best

Additional requirements

1.     An absolute must have at least a twice a day access to the internet for communication with managers and the use of the online office

2.     Must have a cellular phone for urgent tasks


vii) The 'general description' of the role is a crystal clear money laundering mule function that will lose you a lot of money, get your account and your assets frozen and earn you a visit from the police - don't be tempted - it is clear evidence of criminal fraud.

viii) No legitimate company is going to advertise for this sort of illegal part time, 'work from home' money transfer position among the untrained, inexperienced and uncertified general population overseas. It clearly defines the 'company' as bogus and criminal.

ix) In the above job description they claim the following location details:

225 W 34th St # 2, New York, NY 10122

• - A Google search for the address "
225 W 34th St # 2, New York, NY" returns no results.
• - A Google Maps Business search for the address "225 W 34th St, New York, NY" shows no business by the name of Castellum Group at the street address.

x) A check of the New York State business Entity Register shows that there is no business of the name Castellum Group registered in New York State - irrefutable evidence of a fake company. Check for yourself.

xi) Last but not least, here's their fake contract for good measure:

CASTELLUM GROUP                                                                                     Castellum logo
       Employment Agreement


BETWEEN:                          [EMPLOYEE’S NAME] (hereinafter called "Employee"), an individual with his main address at:
                                         [FULL ADDRESS]


AND:                                  Castellum Group, LLC (hereinafter called "Company"), a corporation organized and existing under
                                         the laws with its head office located at:
                                         225 W 34th St # 2, New York, NY 10122

RECITALS
Employee is willing to be employed by employer, and employer is willing to employ employee, on the terms, covenants, and conditions set forth in this Agreement:

1. Employment
1.1.     For good consideration, the Company employees the Employee on the following terms and conditions stated in this Agreement. Employee will devote full time, attention, and energies to the business of the Company and will receive compensation for his services.
1.2.    The set of complicated operations stated in the EXHIBIT A as a professional activity of Employee is the service performed by corporation. EXHIBIT A is essential part of this Agreement and contains principles and values regulating relationships between corporation and Employee. EXHIBIT A contains duties of the Employee, term of employment and compensation of employee.

2. Generalities
2.1.    Any modification of this Agreement or additional obligation assumed by either party in connection with this Agreement shall be binding only if evidenced in writing signed by each party or an authorized representative of each party.
2.2.    Employee renders services in accordance with EXHIBIT A in order to gain maximum profit. EXHIBIT A is signed by both parties along with signing the following agreement.
2.3.     This agreement cancels all previous negotiations, Agreements and bindings.

3. Reimbursement of expenses
3.1.    All taxes and charges paid by Employee under the following Agreement, are Reimbursed by the Company within 10 (ten) days term.
3.2.    Employee must provide scanned copies of checks or other confirmation of expenses.

4. Compulsory financial statements
4.1.    Employee is obliged to report results of his work every month. By Company’s request Employee must prepare report for a certain period. The results should be sent via confidential report on a special Company’s blank

5. Confidentiality
5.1    Any information under this Agreement is confidential and shall not be disclosed to a third party only if evidenced in writing and signed by the Company
5.2.    Employee shall inform and the Company about any recommendations and suggestions that will be of a benefit for the Company and can be used by the Company while and after termination of this Agreement.
5.3.    Employee shall not at any time or in any manner, disclose to any person information about accounts, operations and key elements of corporation for third parties only if evidenced in writing and signed by the corporation.

6. Rights and obligations
6.1.    Both parties bear responsibility for violation or failure to execute obligations under this Agreement.
6.2.    Both parties bear responsibility for disclosure any confidential information under this Agreement.

7. Term of Employment
7.1.    The term of this Agreement shall be a period of 6 months from the date it is signed.
7.2.    This Agreement can be terminated by mutual agreement of Parties.
7.3.    This Agreement can be terminated by the corporation’s initiative, providing a written notice for the other Party.

8. Taxes and payments
3.1.    Company shall pay Employee’s taxes, raised as a result of work.
3.2.    Company does not pay for your vacation, medication expenses or welfare.

9. Accommodation of disputes
9.1.    Disputes should be accommodated by negotiation of the Parties.
9.2.    In the event of inability to come to consensus, Parties arbitrate to the Employee’s domiciliary court.

10. Notifications
10.1.    Written or sent via e-mail/fax notifications are admitted as valid.

11. Signatures

EMPLOYEE                                                         COMPANY


_________________                                   Castellum sig.

Authorized Signature                                      Authorized Signature

_________________                                   Arthur S. Hicks, Director               
Print Name and Title                                       Print Name and TitleCastellum seal

  
EXHIBIT A

CUSTOMER MANAGER
Duties and work conditions

1. Duties:
1.1.    Company assigns Employee to perform the following tasks:
- Receive payments from our customers in your area (The payment from our customers for services provided under the contract. Cause we work all over the world, the customers much easier to transfer money to our managers who are in the same state/region. You'll receive transfers from $ 1,000 to $ 10,000. An average of 2-3 transfers a week.)
- Create reports for each transaction
- Follow the instructions from Supervisor / Manager

2. Term of Employment:
2.1.    The term of EXHIBIT A shall be a period of 6 months from the date it is signed.

3. Payment:
3.1.    Performing his assigned duties Employee receives 5% from amount of received transaction (An average of $ 600 a week).
3.2.    Company pays for all your expenses with money transfer systems.
3.3.     Compensation is paid to the Employee immediately with every transaction.

4. Signatures

EMPLOYEE                                                                   COMPANY


_________________                                    
castellum sig
Authorized Signature                                           Authorized Signature

_________________                                           Arthur S. Hicks, Director               
Print Name and Title                                              Print Name and TitleCastellum Seal


The above evidence clearly demonstrates beyond any doubt that the Castellum Group website is a fake website that has been set up very recently using stolen content by money laundering criminals purely for the purpose of spamvertising an illegal money laundering 'mule' job. If you are an abuse team that has received an abuse report regarding these fraudsters, please consider immediate termination of their services in view of the absolutely undeniable evidence of criminal activity - please don't delay - these criminals will not respond to any communication from you, (all their whois data is false), but will simply take advantage of any attempt at communication as a delaying tactic to allow them time to carry on their criminal activity and prepare their next network.

Website Domains

castellumgroup.com

Registrar

ALANTRON BLTD. (16-jun-2009)
Host

China Unicom Shandong province network

IP Address

61.156.242.119


Active
Suspended/Disabled
Parked

Domain Whois Data:
Domain Name: castellumgroup.com

Registrar:     ALANTRON BLTD.
Status:        ok
Dates:         Created 16-jun-2009   Updated 06-oct-2009  Expires 16-jun-2010
DNS Servers:   NS1.CASTELLUMGROUP.COM  NS2.CASTELLUMGROUP.COM 

Arastirilan alan adi: castellumgroup.com 
    Ad / Name      Pyotr Anisimov
    Adres    ul. P.Germana d.18 kv.19 Sankt-Peterburg Sankt-Peterburg 198205
    Tel    +7.8123342003
    Faks    +7.8123342003
    E-posta   **@cheapmail.ru
    Guncelleme / Updated 

        Ad    gizli
        Ad / Name      Pyotr Anisimov
        Adres ul. P.Germana d.18 kv.19 Sankt-Peterburg Sankt-Peterburg 198205
        Tel   +7.8123342003
        Faks     +7.8123342003
        E-posta   **@cheapmail.ru
        Guncelleme / Updated   

        Ad    gizli
        Ad / Name     Pyotr Anisimov
        Adres ul. P.Germana d.18 kv.19 Sankt-Peterburg Sankt-Peterburg 198205
        Tel   +7.8123342003
        Faks     +7.8123342003
        E-posta   **@cheapmail.ru
        Guncelleme / Updated

Alan Adi Sunucusu1 / DNS1       ns1.castellumgroup.com
Alan Adi Sunucusu1 IP / DNS1 IP 61.156.242.119
Alan Adi Sunucusu2 / DNS2       ns2.castellumgroup.com
Alan Adi Sunucusu2 IP / DNS2 IP 61.156.242.119
Son Guncelleme/ Last Updated         
Kayit Tarihi / Registration Date    2009-06-16
SKT / Exp. Date                2010-06-16
Statu                    Aktif

DNS Lookup: castellumgroup.com A record
Searching for castellumgroup.com A record at i.root-servers.net [192.36.148.17]: Got referral to F.GTLD-SERVERS.NET. (zone: com.)
Searching for castellumgroup.com A record at F.GTLD-SERVERS.NET. [192.35.51.30]: Got referral to ns1.castellumgroup.com. (zone: castellumgroup.com.)
Searching for castellumgroup.com A record at ns1.castellumgroup.com. [61.156.242.119]: Reports castellumgroup.com.
Response:
DomainTypeClassTTLAnswer
castellumgroup.com.AIN1440061.156.242.119
castellumgroup.com.NSIN14400ns2.chang3.com.
castellumgroup.com.NSIN14400ns1.chang3.com.

Looking up at the 2 castellumgroup.com. parent servers:

ServerResponse
ns2.castellumgroup.com [61.156.242.119]61.156.242.119
ns1.castellumgroup.com [61.156.242.119]61.156.242.119

The host for this criminal fraudster is China Unicom Shandong province network on IP address 61.156.242.119. This IP is also hosting the CurrencySource stolen identity fraudster.

***Latest News*** Webpage set up 24-Oct-2009