RIP-OFF: Independent Committee of Eminent Persons (ICEP)

Have you heard the phrase "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is”? There is a scam floating around on the Internet that certainly qualifies. It claims that the strangely titled (and fictitious) "Independent Committee of Eminent Persons" has found millions of dollars that you can claim.

The scam e-mail is humorous. Here are some of the claims:

The continuing efforts of the Independent Committee of Eminent Persons (ICEP) have since resulted in the discovery of additional dormant accounts - 54,000 in December,1999.

A dormant account of ORDNER ADELE with a credit balance of 45,000,000 US dollar plus accumulated interest was discovered by me.

Being a top executive at ICEP, I have all secret details and necessary contacts for claim of the funds without any hitch.

THERE IS NO RISK INVOLVED.

That last sentence is really bogus. Anyone who is unfortunate enough to believe these claims has to supply his or her personal bank account so that "the funds may be deposited to your account." However, when that information is supplied, the scam operator is also able to drain all the money from your account.

I'll let you guess what happens next.

The e-mail you received came from a forged return address. Near the end of the message is a different e-mail address for you to contact. In the multiple copies that I received, the contact e-mail addresses varied, but all ended in "@front.ru." The letters "ru" shows that the e-mail address is in Russia, which has few laws and almost no enforcement of these scams.

If you or anyone you know receives one of these solicitations, I strongly urge you to click on DELETE. And never, ever disclose your bank account information to anyone who approaches you, either in person, by phone, or online.

Comments

[Dino (All Dino, All the Time)]

Dick,

I'm disappointed that you didn't give us contact information for the ICEP. I know I'd like to get a piece of that $45 million. But you probably saved that info for your Plus Edition subscribers.

[Margie Fuller]

I have gotten a lot of these. A related scam is a notice, supposedly from a bank wanting you to update or verify your account information. Again hit delete. or call the bank via telephone to notify them. They may have you forward the e-mail to a special address in hopes that they can trace the perpetrators. What is funny is when it comes from a bank you never even heard of!

[Mary]

As to Margie's comment. Yes I have been receiving these update requests from CitiBank. I have NEVER had an account with Citi Bank. Also there are the ones where I have been approved for a mortgage loan of $50 000 to repay $225 per month.

[Adil]

Adams Peter wrote:From The Desk of Independent Committee of
Eminent Persons (ICEP), Switzerland.
E mail: adams-01@5fm.za.com

The Claims Resolution Tribunal (CRT) handles processing of
all claims on accounts due non-Swiss citizens. I discovered
a dormant account of Late Mr. John Adele with a credit
balance of 50,000,000
US dollar plus accumulated interest. The beneficiary was
murdered during the holocaust era, leaving no WILL and no
possible records for trace of heirs. The Claims Resolution
Tribunal (CRT) has been
mandated to report all unclaimed funds for permanent
closure of accounts and transfer of existing credit Balance
into the treasury of Switzerland government as provided by
the law for
management of assets of deceased beneficiaries who died
interstate (living no wills).

[Rolland]

A bit late for a comment, but the scam just reached me. It is not humorous at all : ICEP has existed and has really investigated dormant Jewish bank accounts in Switzerland in 1999, it was headed by Paul Volcker. This scam is pure antisemitism, it says "guys, there is still money left from those rich Jews the nazis killed, you can get some !" So if anyone fell into that trap, who will shed a tear about them being ripped off ?? Not me !!

[Mr. Arguelles]

i don't understand why people do not believe in things that seem too good to be true. this is the only difference between Bill Gates and the rest of the people of the world. I have personally dealt with many ICEP lawyers and I have benefited from them. that's all.

"Cynicism is the only difference between a rich and a poor man." --Anonymous
"You are blessed Thomas because you have seen and believe; happy are those who have not seen yet still believe." --(you-know-who)
"It is so funny that many Christians believe that they can command the "mountain to throw itself upon the sea" when they don't even believe that they can bend a spoon." --my paranormalist friend

[withheld]

I am so sick of these people who think that they know about alleged scams. They are much worse than the number of real "scams", and, yes, of course there are real scams.

But there are also genuine calls out there, I have come across one, and have read in an editorial by the editor of a prominent American finance periodical magazine that this writer has benefitted in millions of dollars each time from a number of such communications.

People should be very careful.

But I am so sick of reading wuch comments without references given. Who does the author above think he is? God?

I could just go and write the same emotive opinion, about any such purported enterprise without any experience, but without giving references, I would be being more harmful than if I were to say nothing.

What authoritative agency is the writer of the article on this page?

[Chris Dunham]

>What authoritative agency is the writer of the article on this page?

He's a person with common sense, and thus completely qualified to recognize this as a scam.

BTW, if you really need a reference, here's one:
http://www.crt-ii.org/index_en.phtm

It's the homepage of the Claims Resolution Tribunal, and explicitly warns of a fraudulent e-mail "being circulated from a person who describes himself as an ICEP executive or member."

Of course, if you feel the sender of this e-mail has been wrongly accused, feel free to sign over your bank account and first-born child to the Russian mafia.

[J.B]

what id like to know having just received one of these emails is (a) how the hell can anyone remove monies from your account with just your name, address, account number and sort code ? arent there many other security checks one has to go through with the the bank ? i know how difficult it is sometimes for me to get my own money from my account when i dont have necessary ID! ...and (b) surely its easy to double confirm with the bank that any monies have cleared and test it has by drawing out some cash ??

[Dick Eastman]

---> how the hell can anyone remove monies from your account with just your name, address, account number and sort code ?

Actually, that is rather easy to do and it happens tens of thousands of times per day (legitimately) with many "pay your bills automatically" or "pay your bills online" programs. The problem arises when someone does it for non-legitimate purposes. You can read more at:
http://eogn.typepad.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2005/06/anyone_can_take.html

beware of the following e-mail!
From "joseph C. Blank
incomming e-mail address is
joseblankcza@yahoo.co.uk

First off let me point out that this guy uses the last name of an actual Jewish account holder that was persecuted by the Nazi. then he's stupid enough to give you the actual web site were you can see what he did.
There are similarities in this e-mail that match other scam e-mails about ICEP monies. This guy claims he's a Legal consultant/broker based in South Africa. The site he gives to check out is an actual website but if you look at the site and read it he proves for you what a scam he is. He goes on about the 45million saying he was confided in to find a foriegn partner that will in putting the funds in to the banking system and invest, you know the deal. Any way, He makes sure he mentions his contacts with (CRT) Claim Resolution Tribunal then how he also made contacts with (DAR) Dormant Account Recovery in the United Kingdom then he goes on and on. He's offering you 20% of the funds after the transaction is complete (you know why after) he goes on to say there is no risk and all is legal he again gives you his e-mail and a fax number
+27-11-5076847 after you contact him he will give you more info . He's out to rob you so don't be fooled!

[Garnet]

I just received the email which Dick Eastmen just commented on. I'm very disturbed by this because in it he states he received my email from an onlne business advertisement...funny thing is I don;t have anythign of the sort...really rather strange. Anyway I liek to mess with scammers so I emailed him back, I'm going to drag him along until he finally decides that I am just wasting his time...

it is sometimes entertaining to see what these people to do to get your money. I even had one scammer (a microsoft email lottery scam) send me a certified check for $4k to "pay the fees needed to get my winnings sent via courier" he instricted me to cash the check then write a check to him for the same amount and send it to him...hmm well I took the check to the bank and reported that it might be fishy. They verified that the check itself was genuine but when they checked the funds it would indeed have bounced if I had tried to cash it. so I wish all of you to beware of this as well. if anyone sends you acheck in the mail be very careful, their are fraudulent checks and there are genuine checks but even the genuine ones can bounce if the payor stops payment before you get it.

[David C. Galloway]

I just received an E-mail from someone who represents himself as Eli Kaufmann of the ICEP. I knew that there was something suspicious about this offer and so I did some checking. There is an Eli Kaufmann who operates a business in California and even has a website, but I doubt very seriously that this is the same person. Thank you very much for alerting me to this scam. I think that this is a very sick scheme to try to obtain the money left in bank accounts by Jews who were killed by the Nazis during WWII.

[mohammad]

well gents the reason I here is that I just recieved one of the same. here it is.
From The Desk of Sir (Dr.) Vincent Schmidt
Independent Committee of
Eminent Persons (ICEP), Switzerland.
E mail: vincent.schmidt@yahoo.co.uk

Urgent investment funds available for overseas wire transfer, please respond if you have the capacity to manage, supervise and superintend the investment of this fund in your country.

Your assistance, role and participation shall attract a commission of 20% of entire funds wired for this project.

I expect your letter of interest at your earliest convenience.


With sincerest regards,

Sir (Dr.) Vincent Schmidt
DIRECTOR: AUDIT DEPARTMENT

[Wellena Seamon]

I recieved the same type of scam but instead of the email address ending in @ru it was @aol.com and @hotmail.com so either they have gotten access into the US email system. I didn't think this funny but i am a smart person to know my genelogy. No one in my family is of jewish decent or holocaust victim. HAha

[yousafali]

respected sir
is ut true tail that iscp is give the fund
to no.civilition of swiss bank.
kindly iform me
with great wishes
ali

[Bill]

Well they are still doing it but have new bogus email addresses
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mr. Avaraham Burg."
Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2008 12:52 PM
Subject: Greeting!

> Tel +41 - 788159153
> Fax +41 - 212776331
>
> Hello,
>
> My name is Mr. Avaraham Burg, a member of Independent Committee of Eminent Persons (ICEP), Switzerland. ICEP is charged with the responsibility of finding bank accounts in Switzerland belonging
>
> to non-Swiss indigenes [sic], which have remained dormant since World War II. It may interest you to know that in July of 1997, the Swiss Banker's Association published a list of dormant accounts originally opened by non-Swiss citizens. These accounts had been dormant since the end of World War II (May 9, 1945). Most belonged to Holocaust victims. The continuing efforts of the Independent Committee of Eminent Persons (ICEP) have since resulted in the discovery of additional dormant accounts 54,000 in December 1999. The published lists contain all types of dormant accounts, including
>
> interest-bearing savings accounts, securities accounts, safe-deposit boxes, custody accounts, and non interest-bearing transaction accounts. Numbered accounts are also included. Interest is paid on
>
> accounts that were interest bearing when established.
>
> The Claims Resolution Tribunal (CRT) handles processing of all claims on accounts due non-Swiss citizens. I discovered a dormant account of ORDNER ANDELE with a credit balance of
>
> US$35,000,000.00 US dollar plus accumulated interest. The beneficiary was murdered during the holocaust era, leaving no WILL and no possible records for trace of heirs. The Claims Resolution
>
> Tribunal has been mandated to report all unclaimed funds for permanent closure of accounts and transfer of existing credit balance into the treasury of Switzerland government as provided by the law for
>
> management of assets of deceased beneficiaries who died interstate (living no wills) [sic].
>
> Being a top executive at ICEP, I have all secret details and necessary contacts for claim of the funds without any hitch. The funds will be banked in the Cayman Island, being a tax free, safe haven for funds
>
> and we can share the funds and use in investment of our choice. Due to the sensitive nature of my job, I need a foreigner to HELP claim the funds. All that is required is for you to provide me with your details
>
> for processing of the necessary legal and administrative claim documents for transfer of the funds in your name.
>
> Kindly provide me with your full name, address, and telephone/fax. I will pay all required fees to ensure that the fund is transferred to a secure, numbered account in your name in the Cayman Island, of which
>
> you will be capable of accessing the funds gradually and transferring to your country and other banks of choice in the world. My share will be 60 percent and your share is 40 percent of the total amount.
>
> THERE IS NO RISK INVOLVED.
>
> I am at your disposition to entertain any question(s) from you in respect of this transaction, so, contact me immediately through my e-mail or the above telephone and fax numbers for further information on
>
> the requirements and procedure.
>
> Please, note that this DEAL needs utmost confidentiality.
>
> Yours faithfully,
>
> Mr. Avaraham Burg.