Post by EXO on Jul 26, 2011 11:01:49 GMT 8
I don't normally bother with passing along scam alerts, but this is an exception, because two of our board membership have received a letter from a third member, as follows:
This is a variation of the "Bad Situation" Scam, and indicates that an urban vermin has attained access, at minimum, to the address book of our member's computer - possibly even to his Hotmail password.
I note in particular the misspelling of the phrase "mo ney transfer" so as to prevent the message from being caught in advanced scam filters which look for telltale words.
If you are feeling mischievous, you can reply, “Ok – Do you want me to call the hotel and pay on your behalf? Use your passport to establish a Promissory Note. I can also go online and advance your flight to return you tonight. You know my telephone number, call me reverse charge.” It doesn't matter how you play it, as you won't be hurting our member, who most definitely is NOT in London waiting expectantly outside a Western Union Office.
Be on your guard!
I NEED YOUR HELP URGENTLY
How are you doing? Hope you are keeping fine. I am presently in United Kingdom for a seminar which just ended and i am having some difficulties that i need your help to resolve. Somehow, i have misplaced the bag containing my credit card and all my money, due to this mishap i am unable to pay my hotel bill and the hotel management has threatened to take legal action or better still forcefully eject me out of the hotel if i fail to pay tomorrow. That is the more reason why i am writing to ask for an urgent loan of $2,650 from you to sort-out the bill and help me get back home.
Please i was told western union is the best way to send me money because it fast and easier to receive the money in time. Though i have been to the embassy and Police, but they are not responding to the matter effectively, i will appreciate any amount you can send now if you can't afford all and i promise to refund you as soon as i am back home.
Kindly let me know if you can be of help so that i can send you the details you will use to send the money to me here through Western Union mo ney transfer.
Thanks
(name of member deleted by me)
This is a variation of the "Bad Situation" Scam, and indicates that an urban vermin has attained access, at minimum, to the address book of our member's computer - possibly even to his Hotmail password.
I note in particular the misspelling of the phrase "mo ney transfer" so as to prevent the message from being caught in advanced scam filters which look for telltale words.
If you are feeling mischievous, you can reply, “Ok – Do you want me to call the hotel and pay on your behalf? Use your passport to establish a Promissory Note. I can also go online and advance your flight to return you tonight. You know my telephone number, call me reverse charge.” It doesn't matter how you play it, as you won't be hurting our member, who most definitely is NOT in London waiting expectantly outside a Western Union Office.
Be on your guard!