In the last post, I showed an email from a scammer that had hijacked a friends Yahoo! account. Apparently, they also were able to get her Facebook account as well. Here is the Facebook messaging conversation we had.

Scammer (posing as my friend): It’s me jonathan, please let me know if you can be of help

Me: Where were you this weekend?

Scammer (posing as my friend): i was in Knoxville. i need a loan jonathan.

Scammer (posing as my friend): send me an email ok have to leave facebook now

Me: I know this isn’t Kari. Piss off. I am on the phone with her right now. We are notifying Facebook.

Scammer (posing as my friend): what it’s me

I should have asked the moron what part of Nigeria they were from. Notice the poor grammar on the part of the scammer. That is a hallmark of scammers, as English is usually their second (or third…or fourth) language. Be on the look out for crap like this. Don’t rush to help a friend until you confirm it’s actually your friend.

I’ve come across an interesting scam. An email purporting to be from a friend of mine claims that she’s in Essex, UK. She’s lost her money, and desperately needs my help because the hotel is holding her passport hostage. Here is the email in question:

Hope you get this on time ? Sorry I didn’t inform you about my trip in the UK for a program, I’m presently in ESSEX and am having some difficulties here because i misplaced my wallet on my way to the hotel where my money and other valuable things were kept. presently my passport and my things are been held down by the hotel management pending when i make payment. I will like you to assist me with a loan of ($ 1,826) to sort-out my hotel bills and to get myself back home. I will appreciate whatever you can afford to assist me with, I’ll Refund the money back to you as soon as i return,let me know if you can be of any help? ASAP. I dont have a phone where i can be reached. pls let me know immediately. Thanks

Perhaps the author should have studied their English more while attending Scammer University. Be on the lookout for similar emails from your friends.