On Friday, April 16, 2010 I received the following email with the subject being “urgent please!” ostensibly from Don Rust:
| Hope you are doing well? I am writing to ask you to please loan me some money.I’m in UK right now for a program.Unfortunately someone made away with my luggage at the hotel I checked in. I need you to assist me with $2,550 to settle my bills. Please kindly send it through Western Union with the details below. Receiver: Donald Rust Address: 46 Kempshott Road, London, SW16 5LQ Please remember to send me MTCN for easy pick-up. I will check my e-mail much later. Respectfully, Don |
I was puzzled and perplexed when I read it. I looked at the sending email address which was Don’s correct email address. I attempted to phone Don at home to inquire about him, but the line was busy. I doubted it was authentic, besides I didn’t have $2,550 to send anyway. Further, I don’t know what MTCN means.
So I ignored it.
Then, today, April 18, 2010 I received the following email from Don:
On Friday afternoon our computer was hacked and our entire email contact list was exported and emails, which I’m sure you received, were sent to people on the list as far away as Russia. I’m trying to work around this problem with AT&T plus Facebook. My Facebook account is now blocked because of the email “money scam” problem and I’m waiting for Monday to attempt resolution of that issue.
Would you be kind enough to put information on your blog telling anyone who may have received these money scam emails the information I’ve provided regarding the email theft.
Your help will be greatly appreciated.
A few weeks ago I had received another fake email presumably from Oscar Reconco. That email stated Oscar was in Africa and needed money urgently. I doubted its authenticity and ignored it.
I have no idea as to who or how their email address lists were hacked. It is somewhat curious that both Oscar and Don reside here in Pahrump.
Be that as it may this blog post is in response to Don’s request. Sorry he is having to deal with such a problem and I hope he gets it ironed out.
Related posts:
