Beware Of These Cons

Just the other day, I received an email from my friend from the Philippines, who begged me for assistance from Spain.

The warning lights came on one by one. In the first paragraph, she told me she's in Madrid for a program. She went on to explain, “I have misplace my wallet on my way to hotel where my money and valuable things were keep.” Then she wrote, “I want you to assist me (she doesn't sound so demanding, huh!) with a loan of 2700 Erous (notice the spelling and the grammar, hahaha!). I will appreciate whatever you can afford to assist me with. Please send the money to the following information.”

Now, you ask me, are you not going to help your friend in dire need? Of course I will. The problem is I just talked to my friend that day I got her email. She was in Manila that day. I know her to be very proficient in English both written and oral.

You’ve probably received a scam letter like this before. Many people have. And some of them, God knows how, fall for it. It makes me wonder how is it that people can succumb to this pathetic con? Are these con guys trying to portray my friend, who has a degree in Economics and Masters in Business Management from Asian Institute of Management as so distraught that she wrote awefully? 

Last month, I received this email:

Dear Esteemed Winner,

Congratulations, you have won 2,000,000.00 (TWO MILLION BRITISH POUNDS) from MEGA MILLIONS LOTTERY PROGRAM as one of the 10 top lucky winners for the month of July, 2011.

THESE ARE YOUR WINNING INFORMATION'S:

Batch Number  089/75588

Winning Numbers 05,17,25,34,37

Reference Number MM/5464542

Payment No. MM 0348

To begin your claims, kindly contact our Overseas Payment Officer, Dr. Ahmed Majid with below details.

******************************************

Dr. Ahmed Majid  (Overseas Payment Officer)

Email:    mmclaims2010@gmail.com

*******************************************

I was told, “Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our Afro representative office in (South Africa) as indicated in your electronic play coupon.” Later references were made to “our Africa agent.”

I didn't really pay so much attention to this stuff because I knew right away that this is a scam. But after getting email from my friend in need I really got agitated. It is so frustrating and annoying isn't it?

Anyone who fails to note the nearly illiterate writing and falls victim to this scam or similar ones will mostly become their victim. I feel sorry for those victims and what they have to go through to learn lessons.

As I have said in the past, Technology have brought so much comfort and convenience to this generation. But we also have to be very careful and vigilant for those people who will use it to steal our money, privacy and sometimes our lives.