Urgent Email Message from "Carol X"

"URGENT" EMAIL I RECEIVED TODAY FROM SOMEONE CALLING THEMSELVES "CAROL X"...

419 Scammer with his ill-gotten gains.

I regularly receive a LOT of emails from all over the world every day. Sorting out the spam, fake watches, prescription drug ads, fake lotteries, 419 scams (advanced fee fraud) etc., can be a real chore. MailWasher usually takes care of 90% of it, but every now and then I get an email that can appear very legitimate from someone in my address book, FaceBook Friends, Twitter, MySpace, and a score of my other "Social Network Accounts" that almost fooled even me. Unfortunately not everyone that uses the net have the knowledge that I do about all kinds of internet scams/frauds like this one. That's one of the reasons I teach computer safety classes at the local Elder College to teach people, especially Seniors, how to recognize internet spam/frauds when you see it.

Today I got a very legitimate sounding email on a deviation of one of the oldest scams ever. A variant of the "Spanish Prisoner" fraud that I have been seeing more of recently, and the perpetrators are getting smarter by the day. Below is the text of a very convincing email I got this morning appearing to be from someone I know from my social Network Contacts. I've left out her last name "to protect the innocent".

Sent: Mon 01/08/2011 6:43 AM
From: cxxxx@gmail.com
Subject: I need you urgent reply .. X

HI Gord,

I'm sure you are okay. Apology for contacting you in this manner. Sorry I didn't inform you about my trip to Greece. It was an urgent seminar trip. I'm stranded and in serious mess here in Athens, Greece. It is not easy to be stranded abroad. I was attacked on my way to the hotel I lodged, Though I wasn't hurt because I complied immediately to their demand, but my mobile phone and luggage were stolen. My Credit Cards and some other vital documents were inside my luggage. I have contacted my credit card company to blocked all my cards. I have also been to the embassy to report the case. The embassy promised to take the necessary measures between now and 30days. I am sending you this e-mail from the city Library (and I only have 15mins in every 2hours to access my email from here), Aside these, I need to sort out some vital issues including my bills.

I need your financial assistance urgently. I would like you to assist me with €2,450 Euro ($3,600 USD). I promise to refund you with upon my arrival back home. If you can't be able to send me the whole amount. Please, send any amount you can afford. I am in urgent need of Money to sort out some important things including the hotel bills. Kindly send me the money using western union money transfer. Find a nearest outlet and complete the transfer with my name and address below.

DETAILS NEEDED FOR THE MONEY TRANSFER..

Name: Carol X
Address: Kolokotroni 57 10560 Athens, Greece

Kindly get back to me with the Scan copy of the transfer Receipt so I can get all the details needed to receive the money. or you can email me with the transfer details such as the money transfer control number (MTCN), Sender's Full Details and the exact payout amount according to the receipt. and also get back to me with you account details so i can refund the money immediately I get back home

Your reply will be appreciated. Many thanks in advance,

Carol X
XX Apex Drive, XXX, XX.
X2X 1X2
(555)555-0555

NOTES & TIP-OFFS:

	scammers usually have spelling & grammatical errors in the messages.
	their emails are meant to "scare you into action".
	their emails always portray a sense of urgency.
	Virtually any email chain letter you receive (ie: any message forwarded multiple times before it got to you) is more likely to be false than true. You should automatically be sceptical of chain letters and NEVER forward them to your other contacts.
	Hoaxers usually try every means available to make their lies believable.
	Be especially wary of health-related claims & rumours.
	ALWAYS THINK before responding to any suspicious email. IF IT SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE IT ALWAYS IS!
	Research emails that you may think are true before acting on them. The finest source for spotting all kinds of internet scams, frauds and a host of other frauds, urban legends is Sopes.com. A good place to learn the truth. You can also search Google to research your concerns.

If you still have questions or concerns, you can get FREE help and guidance directly from me at http:/help.askgordroutley.com.

Just fill out a new "free trouble ticket" and you'll hear back from me within 24-48 hours with my opinion/answer.

Stay safe out there - Gord.

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