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E-mail Scam Target the Elderly in Northern Michigan

The Petoskey, Michigan, US-located Michigan State Police Petoskey Post has warned that one fresh fake e-mail and phone campaign is going on inside Northern Michigan that's aiming to attack senior residents. Petoskeynews.com reported this on January 26, 2011.

Says Sergeant Brett Gooding, about 36 residents have lodged a complaint of the campaign at his post. Petoskeynews.com reported this.

The Sergeant further stated that in one case, an elderly woman from Petoskey complained that she'd lately got an electronic mail apparently from one old buddy of her school telling her of a vacation in England which the friend and family was enjoying when thieves robbed them near. Subsequently the friend requested the woman to wire some money at a UK address so they could pay their hotel bills.

Narrated Sgt. Gooding that the woman almost decided for wiring $1,000 towards helping her "friend" but something stopped her short. There was misspelling in the name of the friend.

Gooding advised recipients to disconnect the phone-line as also discard the e-mail. According to him, one must check again-and-again the entire details prior to dispatching money anywhere alternatively sharing any private information.

Worryingly, it isn't just Petoskey Post that's getting complaints from people about the said malicious campaign. The Hawaii-located Big Police Island is also alerting of a same type of e-mail scam, which's targeting the Big Island's seniors.

States Police that a hacker infiltrated the electronic mail account of a National Veterans Network member and allegedly dispatched e-mails to other Big Island residents. These other recipients were those thinking about attending one ceremony for the Congressional Medal of Honor to give recognition to the vets of the 100th-442nd Regimental Combat Team. The message stated the writer was traveling inside London when she was mugged off her bag, consequently, she required cash for clearing her bills. Recipients of this message mustn't send any reply, Police urges. Hawaiinewsnow.com reported this on January 27, 2011.

Overall, Police recommend recipients of the above two fraudulent e-mails to remain further vigilant of any similar e-mail. And lest a compromise of anyone's account occurs, that person should create a fresh e-mail id.

Related article: E-Crime Reporting Format To Be Launched in July

» SPAMfighter News - 2/2/2011

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