SCAM???????

[IanB]

Just got this as an email
Why did dick and red ros finish up in the phillipines?


"I really hope you get this fast. I could not inform anyone about our trip, because it was impromptu. we had to be in Philippines for a program. The program was successful, but our journey has turned sour. we misplaced our wallet and cell phone on our way back to the hotel we lodge in after we went for sight seeing. The wallet contained all the valuables we had. Now, our passport is in custody of the hotel management pending when we make payment.

I am sorry if i am inconveniencing you, but i have only very few people to run to now. i will be indeed very grateful if i can get a loan of 2,000USD from you. this will enable me sort our hotel bills and get my sorry self back home. I will really appreciate whatever you can afford in assisting me with. I promise to refund it in full as soon as I return.."



Says his sorry self, what's Ros going to do, stay and check out The Imelda Marcos shoe collection. And when did an Aussie ever have a "cell" phone.
Tried Dicks number got zilch will try for Ros.
but then again they are in the top of Oz at present (hopefully) and probably not getting great reception. (Unless they are in the Philipines.
Their Blog says they were in Broome last sunday night.
Anyone else get this?

[Streak]

yep it is a scam, have already messaged them and let them know their email has been compromised when i get it this morning 

[Brock]

It is a scam, for sure. Perhaps you can pass on the email to the Police some how, they might have similar scams they could be investigating.

[bluehonda]

I've come across this email hi-jack style scam before and it came through either a gmail or hotmail account.

[JuST Peter]

Yep, just got it this morning - I suspected it to be a scam too. There were too many oddities about it.
The reply to address was <dick.bushell@outlook.com> which may have lead straight back to the scammer.

[saaz]

An old fashioned scam that one.  The email address it supposedly came from has probably been spoofed.  Once someone gets an email address from somewhere (as my work email was public used to get a few of these) they hide behind it.

[STeveo]

I had one yesterday saying my PayPal account had been 'restricted'?? and to log in to access. No way Pepe'. I later went to Paypal through the correct channel and not a problem. Gotta be careful, there is always someone trying to get at you.   

 

[bluehonda]

You really need to check even mildly sus emails with google
We regularly get a request from "Westpac" about our account and even though the site looks official we don't have a Westpac account.
Get similar from ANZ but when we have checked with them it's a phishing type scam.
Get requests from DHL re shipping invoice asking us to check details of goods being held or enroute when we don't anything due.
I google  similar to "DHL scam" or "Westpac scam" and find out if it's legit or not.

Be aware

[Dick B "Yewie"]

Thanks for putting this up Ian. I can assure you we are definitely not in the Philippines and are not in any sort of trouble. We are in fact having a ball. We are well into our roundoz tour (12,400 kms to date) and are at Darwin at the moment. My email was hacked by someone in Nigeria. They then sent out the bogus email from my account to all my 350 or so contacts. They not only hacked into my Gmail account but also deleted all my emails and contacts. What a drama!!. Even though I recovered the account (not the lost contacts and emails unfortunately) I just don't trust it anymore as it could be compromised so have set up a new email address. I have put my new email in my profile on the forum so if you have my old address and would like to know the new one send me a PM.
The lesson learnt applies to anyone who has a web based email account (ie Gmail, Hotmail, MSN or any of these) make sure you have a strong password (ie random characters comprising a mix of upper case and lower case plus numerals and symbols). The other thing to watch is some of them have recovery security questions for when you have forgotten your password. Mine was my father's middle name and I think they may have been able to find this out through some Genealogy website and hack in this way.
No doubt they will be trawling though all my emails looking for some information they could use to help steal my identity so this is another lesson. Don't email personal details to anyone.
For anyone interested in our travels you can check us out on our Blog www.bushellsbikebashes.com
Cheers
Dick B and Ros

[Sabie]

No, I've never got that one Ian, I did get one to say that I'd won the Nokia raffle...trouble is I have a HTC.... So how's that work???

Scam of course, they wanted me to send them something, can't quite remember what it was...

[Biggles]

No, I've never got that one Ian, I did get one to say that I'd won the Nokia raffle...trouble is I have a HTC.... So how's that work???

Scam of course, they wanted me to send them something, can't quite remember what it was...

Money, Sabie.  You remember that stuff?