Scam E-mail Victimizes Willoughby Man

A man from 'Beautiful Lake County' (Ohio)-based Willoughby, aged 51, is the most recent individual towards getting victimized with a scam e-mail, published newsnet5.com dated January 9, 2012.

Actually, according to the man, he received an e-mail, which apparently his friend sent and who he knew was preparing for a visit to Wales. The friend wrote that his bag had been robbed, as also his passport, credit card and everything else, therefore required money to fly back home, the man narrated. Newsnet5.com published this.

The gentleman, sympathetic to his friend's condition reportedly, wired $2,500 to certain UK address.

Subsequently, another e-mail came requesting more funds. Feeling somewhat suspicious, the man contacted his friend.

But according to him, the friend was at his residence only.

Security researchers understand that online-intruders compromised the friend's identifying credentials, set up one bogus e-mail id through which they dispatched the message to each and every friend of his asking for money.

Thus, Lt. Tom Trem of Willoughby Police called upon all Internauts to conduct their research as in the above kind of situation if they wire the money it may well get lost without any possibility of them retrieving it. Newsnet5.com published this.

Unfortunately, the scam that struck the Willoughby man is called the "stranded traveler's scam," one popular version of "advance fee fraud," which depends on exploiting kind-natured people eager for helping someone close, the researchers remark.

They describe the mode-of-operation of the scam: the victim like the Willoughby individual receives an e-mail that has his friend's e-mail id in the sender's field indicating that the friend is stuck abroad, with passport and money bag stolen. Therefore if the e-mail receiver could wire him money immediately, requests the e-mail writer. Now, suppose the e-mail receiver becomes convinced, he may wire the money devoid of realizing the trick. However, once the wire-transfer particulars land up with the scammer, the crook could visit any Western Union office and obtain the cash.

Hence, for remaining safe from this type of e-mail fraud, the researchers suggest Internet-users for contacting their friend over phone/e-mail and put a query that solely their true pal would know.

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» SPAMfighter News - 1/17/2012