Your Friend didn't get Mugged in London

I suspect that no one reading this website is foolish enough to fall for this scam, but I thought I'd share my experience with it anyway.

It starts with an email from someone you know:

Hello,

I'm sorry for this odd request because it might get to you too urgent but it's due to the situation of things right now.

I'm stuck in London, England right now, I came down here for a short vacation then i was robbed, worse of it is that bags, cash and cards and my cell phone were stolen at GUN POINT, it's such a crazy experience for me, I need help flying back home, the authorities are not being 100% supportive but the good thing is i still have my passport and return ticket but currently having troubles paying off the hotel bills and also getting a cab to take me to the airport.

Please i need you to loan me some money, will refund you as soon as i'm back home, i promise.All i need is ($900 USD) but dont know how much you would be able to spare..we will be waiting to hear back from you on how you can get the fund to me please

Thank You
--
Anna Cockerham (name changed)

Cloudjackers Ltd | C.D.S.C Engineers

The first time I got one, I wrote back inquisitively:

Hi Anna,
Sorry about that! We can do it.
How do you want the money sent?

-Marvin Frankson

and got a quick reply:

Hey babe,

Don't send any money!!! My gmail and facebook have been hacked any conversations that have taken place in the last 8 hours have not been me!!!

Anna Cockerham

 

 

The second time it happened, just yesterday, the message was very similar, although I don't recognise Theodore's name.

Hi there,

How are you? we made a trip to London (United Kingdom) unannounced a few days back for a short vacation, unfortunately we got robbed at gunpoint last night! All cash, credit card and phone were stolen, we're screwed up in another country, stranded in London, fortunately our passport was back in the hotel room. It was a bitter experience and I was hurt on my right hand, but I would be fine. I send you this message cos I do not want anyone to panic, we want you to keep it that way for now! Our flight leaves in few hours time, But we're having trouble sorting the hotel bills, this is painful as we do not have enough to get us home. Please I want you to lend me a sum of $2,000, but would appreciate whatever you can spare!!..just to clear our hotel bills and get the next plane home.. Can you spare that much? we would have your money refunded immediately on our return.

Kindly help me send the money via Western Union Money Transfer to my name and hotel address below.

Theodore Sawchuck
10 Beaufort Gardens London SW3 1PT
United Kingdom

Get back to me with the details as soon as you are done wiring the money..Will really appreciate your support and guidance. Sorry for the inconvenience that I might cause.

With Love and Respect:
Ted

Again I wrote back, eager to help:

Oh no!
The guys at Western Union said I need a phone number to transfer the money. Do you have one you can use?

-Miles

 

This time, they wrote back with a new name:

Oh dear, Glad to hear back from you, thank you so much, It has really been embarrassing for me. $2,000 will cover all my expenses, I promise to refund it to you as soon as I arrive home. You can wire it to my name and hotel address here from any western union outlet around. Here are the details you need to get it to me -

Mary Hayes
272, Coriander Avenue, Docklands, E14 2AA ,
London United Kingdom
+44 702 402 8619

The hotel accepts cash payment only...It is with profound sense of sadness i wrote that email to you. I don't know how you will find this but you just have to forgive me for not telling you before leaving...

As soon as you are done sending the money, please get back to me with the payment details...The hotel's telephone lines have been disconnected due to some technical problems, I hope things work out with it soon. I have access to only emails for now...

Await your response as i have missed my flight, but rescheduled it

Ted...

I'll follow up & try to get Ted/Mary home, but in the meantime, be on the lookout for this type of scam. Be particularly wary of Western Union transfers, because only a photo ID is needed to pick up the money, and the recipient can pick it up from any location without leaving any trail whatsoever.

The Oatmeal Markup | Antiques Roadshow - The Ultimate "Neat Stuff" Show | Iphone vs. Kia | Let us Dilute that For You | Razor and Blades Business Model | Short-Circuiting the Facebook Tease Video Link | Other Websites Besides Healthcare.org which are Broken | Visualizing the Price of a Television | Personal account of working for commision at Banker's Life Insurance | The Three Problems with Child Car Seats | How Much Time is Really Left in the Basketball Game? | Who Uses Their Turn Signal? | Other Web Problems not related to Healthcare.org | The Cross-Section of a Couch | Comparing the Price of Used Car to the Price of a New Car | Rental Car Keys are Horrible | The Actual Amount of Time it Takes | Incorrect Shelf Prices at Walmart | Two Prices for Auto Body Repair | Roadside Sobriety Test | Cash in your Pennies | Get it Together Walmart | Price Increases at Fast Food Restaurants | Yard Sale is Shoe Store Scam | Disaster Casualties Visualization Tool | Walmart vs Target: 2013 | The 146 Drugs in Walmart's $4 Prescription Drug Plan | Email Concealer Codes | accumulating credit card debt | Selling a Structured Settlement | The Torn-up Credit Card Application ! Kirby Vacuum Cleaners | | Home | Contact Rob | How Much is Inside | Pranks | Incredible Stuff | Science Club

April 21, 2010.  

  • Photographic Height/Weight Chart
  • The Weight of Clothing
  • The Television Commercial Database
  • Terms and Conditions  Copyright 2010 Cockeyed.com