Is it just me, or is everyone getting an unprecedented amount of spam lately? And some of it's a little scary. I LOVE comments. But lately, I'm finding quite a few messages in what looks like Arabic and Asian script, which I initially rejected simply because I doubt any of my readers would understand them. And there was the lurking suspicion the translations might be alarming. If I published it, would I be calling for jihad? Do you know how hard it is to find oriental translators in Mexico?
And even though I have a fairly strict filter on my email, I've been getting more spam there than usual. Of course, the tired old pitches from banks in Nigeria, and letters expressed in overly formal (using Mr. or Mrs. before their names) or affectionate terms ("My dear friend," from someone whose name I don't recognize, for instance).
But today I was especially jolted when I got this email, sent to my business address. I've received one very much like it before, so I didn't take it seriously. But the last name of the sender is very unusual, and it's the name of one of our oldest business clients. She's one person I would probably be moved to help out. All I'd have to do is call her at her store, and clear this up, but I started wondering if I'm being hacked! The client's name doesn't appear in our publication, only in our database. Was it just a lucky guess, or are the bad guys escalating their strategies? Yikes! I'm starting to get nostalgic for the olden days when all I got was ads promising to enhance body parts I don't have.
Hi, Its me Niki , I really don't mean to inconvenience you right now, I made a little trip to UK and I misplaced my passport and credit cards, please I know this may sound odd, but it all happened very fast. I need to get a new passport, and get on the next available flight home. I've been to the US embassy, they're willing to help, but I'm out of cash and I have minimum access from here. Can you loan me some money and I'll be willing to repay you as soon as I get home. Please reply as soon as you get this message, so I can forward the details as to where to send the funds, you can try reaching me on this number for now, ---------------, I also have an ID to pick the funds up if sent via western union
i will be waiting for responses
10 comments:
Yes, it's a scam. I've seen many other reports of this. Just call your friend, using a known number, and you're likely to find that she is at home, or somewhere logical, but not where this note says she is.
Judie Ashford
Wow, that is pretty good! Better than the one I got last week from CIA director Leon Panetta asking me to send some money in order to get over a million dollars.
These things must work otherwise they would not still be doing them! I do have to admit, yours would warrant a lot of attention especially since it includes the name of a friend, and you would have a difficult time verifying it. It will probably work better than the Nigerian ones.....these guys are getting more creative and believable.
Thanks for the heads up!
I´ve been noticing a lot more spam in just the past month on my blog. Before, I got almost nothing. For years. However, I am particularly fond of those coming from Nigel or Basil in Nigeria.
Regarding the one you include here: A pure scam, my dear, quite clearly. Zap it.
I've received almost identical emails, as have lots of my friends. Just delete. It feels creepy to get this kind of stuff - like a burglar has been in your house.
That sounds like a scam that went on a year or so ago with members of a Yahoo Group. Maybe MazInfo
They thought someone was collecting emails from the list and sending out similar requests for help
I agree with Felipe, trash it. If Niki is such a good friend she probably has your phone number and can call you.
I get the African Minister's wife emailing me from time to time to wish me blessings and ask for an offering with 6 figures and insuring that she'll pay me back 10 fold. But anyone who knows me, knows that I work for a school district (and not as a teacher) and school districts don't pay their help very well.
Amigos - I probably wasn't clear in my post that I didn't for a moment believe the email was for real. I had seen that particular pitch before under another name, for one thing. However, the fact that they used that particular name sent up a red flag because the only place that name is linked with mine is in my business database. My client doesn't even email me. So while I certainly wasn't going to bail out ol' Niki, I would like to know how s(he) got that name.
I get stuff like that all the time.
My name is Sir Prince Abduluhamianjiscammalot,
I am a runaway prince from the Southern Cape of Eguary Coast of Rupala. I have to hide about 50 kabillion rupletinos (translating to 23.35 millions of US dollares. I can wirre to your bank account. Please Help me to security an bank accountyour name attached....I
One scammer emailed my GF and offered her a job as a nanny, wanted to direct deposit in advance $428 to into her bank account. So they needed her bank info. I said What!!!!!!!!!!!
Looked it up, sure enough it's a hiring scam... people are out of the country, but want to secure your position, need to wire money... palease...
They hacked your friend's computer, got your contact and email you.
Don't they know we have no money over here? We're the relatives of all the tired and the poor the Statue of Liberty was talking about.... and we're still tired and poor.
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