Since I started working in the security industry I have trained those around me to be wary of unusual looking emails – even those coming from friends. So I felt glad when a friend (‘trained†by me) forwarded this email which she recognized as a scam.
It’s the usual “traveler stuck in some foreign country who needs moneyâ€. The setting this time is the Philippines and the “poor guy†is stuck at the hotel since the manager will not let him leave (!).
Here’s the email text:
“I Hope you get this on time, I made a trip to Manila(Philippines) and had my bag stolen from me with my passport and personal effects therein. The embassy has just issued me a temporary passport but I have to pay for a ticket and settle my hotel bills with the Manager.
I have made contact with my bank but it would take me 3-5 working days to access funds in my account, the bad news is my flight will be leaving very soon but i am having problems settling the hotel bills and the hotel manager won’t let me leave until i settle the bills, I need your help/LOAN financially and I promise to make the refund once i get back home, you are my last resort and hope, Please let me know if i can count on you and i need you to keep checking your email because it’s the only way i can reach you.â€
Maybe you’ve seen many examples of these emails – feel free to comment and let us know what countries you’ve seen people “stuck†in. And spread the word – as shown by this example we can all help educate the people around us so that scams like these become less successful.