Deceptive emails
From the publisher…
As I was about to write this week’s opinion piece, I was very excited to share with you my thoughts on the week. I attended the BIG Awards on Friday and was motivated immensely by the spirit of commerce that enveloped the room. I conducted a fascinating interview with comedian Paul Mooney.
And, the creator of Funk music George Clinton is town for a show which I can’t wait to see it. But just as I sat down and began this column, I received an email that warranted my immediate attention.
Here is the actual email:
“I am in hurry writing this mail to you,I am sorry for not informing you about
my trip.I am in some terrible situation and I’m really going to need your urgent
help. I had traveled to Nigeria yesterday to visit a new Researchers’ Complex in
Nigeria, Unfortunately for me all my money ,diaries and my return ticket was
stolen at the hotel where i lodged, I am so confused right now, I don’t know
what to do or where to go,I didn’t bring my phone here and the hotel telephone
line’s was burnt during the robbery incident,so i have access to only emails.I
am full of panic now,the police only asked me to write a statement about the
incident and directed me to the embassy,i have spoken to the embassy here but
they are not responding to the matter effectively,Please i want you to lend me a
sum £2500 today, just to clear my Hotel bills and get the next plane home, I
shall have your money reimbursed immediately on my return.I want you to send it
via western union outlet or money gram so i can receive it with my passport.
I’ll pay back as soon as i return. I’ll be pleased to hear from you soon
regarding my request.”
As you can see, this required my assistance. Apparently someone whom I did not know was having a difficult time in a strange far away land. I needed to wire her money to help with her desperate circumstances.
It seem to appeal to my most fundamental emotions, fear and abandonment. What would I do if I were stranded with no money and no means to get home, very scary. Not to mention that this was an intelligent young woman in crisis. It was someone’s daughter or sister. If I don’t come to her aid, then who will?
The finally I realized that THIS WAS A SCAM! Just like all the rest. The nerve of this person to send an email to trusting people all over the world and blatantly as for money and a very substantial sum of money at that. Somewhere out there somebody is going to believe this bull story and at least start the process of sending money.
Please use this story to spread the word to people you know that might be novices with email or the Internet. The web is a place for all sorts of predators. They want it all from victims, sex and money.
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