End Fatigue

How NOT to Help for the Holidays

Here is a new e-mail scam that is very effective and looks real. It is a plea for help which comes from the e-mail address of someone you know, as the scammers have hijacked the address. Don't get taken in by it.

In this scam, the scammers take over an e-mail address and send the letter below to its address list. Therefore it comes from your friends e-mail address, and if you respond, they will answer from your friends e-mail address reassuring you the problem is real. They can also read the other e-mails your friend sent and know their writing style. If you think it's real, have your friend CALL you (and try calling them). Having 30 of your friends be out $3000 and thinking you owe it to them is no fun. Then there's the ethical puzzle — If they break into your e-mail and rob your friends, who's responsible to take the loss???

Here's the scam e-mail:

Hi,

I am sorry I didn't inform you about my traveling to Africa for a program called Empowering Youth to Fight Racism, HIV/AIDS, Poverty and Lack of Education. The program is taking place in four major countries in Africa which are BURKINAFASO, GUINEA BISSAU , SOMALIA and NIGERIA. It has been a very sad and bad moment for me as I am really stranded here in Nigeria because I forgot my little bag containing my money, documents and other valuable things in a taxi on my way to the Hotel where I am presently lodged. I am facing a really hard time here because I have no money on me. I am owning a hotel bill of $1,250 which i need to pay ASAP and additional $1500 for feeding and my flight ticket back home. Please I need you to help me with a sum of $2,750 to sort out my problems here. I am uncomfortable here without daily meals.

I am sending you this e-mail from the Hotel Manager's computer. I will appreciate your effort and I promise to pay back your money as soon as I return home.

(Your friends name and address)