New Scam

[DTCwordfan]

Ok - maybe I should have posted in Finance but there is a wider audience here. And yes I accidentally put it in "Suggestions" so apologies for that.

Received this e-mail this lunch time - quite convincing and subtle, it is (hence a reason for a wider warning)- except that I would have known if he was over here and (ii) airlines will cover lost tickets if stolen and reported to the police...never mind credit card replacements and AMEX cover you on a stolen card inside a day (had experience of that in Vancouver).

"Just hoping this email reaches you well, I'm sorry for this emergency and for not informing you about my urgent trip to London- United Kingdom but I just have to let you know my present predicament. Everything was fine until I was attacked on my way back to the hotel, I wasn't hurt but I lost my money, bank cards, mobile phone and my bag in the course of this attack. immediately contacted my bank in order to block my cards and also made a report at the nearest police station. I've been to the embassy and they are helping me with my documentation so i can fly out but I'm urgently in need of some money to pay for my hotel bills and my flight ticket home, will definitely REFUND as soon as back home .

Kindly let me know if you would be able to help me out so I can forward you the details required for a wire transfer.

Waiting to hear back from you..

Thank You.
Billy.."


I e-mailed my mate and some friends and he has just come back to say, yes, his account has been compromised (a Yahoo one). It could deceive though.....

[mccfluff]

ive had loads of these, i ignore them. anyone who knows me, knows i'm perma skint so wouldn't be able to help them out anyway....

[Hopkirk]

Billy really is in trouble, but I can get the money to him quickly if you give it to me.

[DTCwordfan]

Got a box of Monopoly notes here......

[chrissa1]

Are you saying someone knows the name of one of your friends or loved ones?

[humbersloop]

I think it's done the rounds once before dt

[humbersloop]

^^ no chrissa, address books get hacked and it comes from genuine accounts

[Mick-Talbot]

Just hoping this email reaches you well,


Can you receive a poorly email?

[DTCwordfan]

and an "additional" give-away, Mick. Haven't seen it before, sloopy, but like all these things, it's not a bad thing to be reminded.....just keeps us on our toes.

[humbersloop]

I remembered reading an article by someone who's account was accessed though don't hold your breath; it happened to some friends who were on a cruise last year. They put it down to an internet cafe

[abstibus]

It was considerate of the scammer to say London - United Kingdom. I suppose he could have been in one of the many Londons: Finland or South Africa or Wisconsin or California or more.

[DTCwordfan]

Billy is American, so that's a fairly common trait - however, the Billy I know wouldn't have said that.

[hetherington]

yes my husband has received one of those purporting to be from a friend whose email had been hacked

[Dee Sa]

I got similar from good friend who resides in Dubai but does travel a lot, rang his wife and she assured me he was there with her, why would he remember my e mail I thought & contact me ? unfortunately about three friends fell for it, its a bit old hat now.

[squarebear]

Humbersloop is spot on. ISTRONGLY recommend that nobody checks their email or puts in any sort of personal details in a public;y accessed computer such as in a library or internet cafe. I once went in an internet cafe and the first thing I did was click the back button, this took me back to the last person's email account. I had a sneak peak and found all sorts of banking passwords, outstanding debts, their home address and the email addresses of many of their friends.

Naturally, I didn't nothing with the information but people more unscrupulous than me could have had a field day with that info.

[Dee Sa]

squareb thats scary.