Is it is scam
 

I received an email today supposedly from a local Councillor.
The email said the councillor had been mugged in Madrid and lost her money and cards, she wanted me to mail money to her.
The bank is sending her new card but it will take a few days so she wants me to use Western Union.
Why she picked on me I don't know.
I wonder if this is a scam and someone has got hold of the Councillors details.
I don't know the lady personally but checked on the Council web site and the email address she used is correct.
I know people can get hold of others details to try to obtain money but it does sound as though she is in difficulties.

Has anybody else received a similar email and do they know the lady in question.

Re: Is it is scam
 

If you think it's a scam it probably is. Surely this lady would have a relative she could ask rather than a stranger, anyway the British Embassy would lend money in an emergency. Also western union is a bit of a give away. Usually used in Nigerian scams.
If you have the lady's details why don't you contact her directly, I'm sure she'd want to know about this.

JB

Re: Is it is scam
 

I have already done that jelly baby but if she is unaware of the email and is on holiday maybe someone has managed to use her details. I have not had a reply yet but certainly won't be going to a Western Union office to send money to a stranger.

I have a few emails in the past asking for my details so they can be used to deposit large sums of money into my account (or take it away) but this one is giving a genuine email address which is the one for the Councillor.

I hope she is not in financial difficulties in a Madrid.

Re: Is it is scam
 

I have been in contact with Hyndburn Council and they assure me that the Councillor, Joan Smith, is alive and well and is in Accrington and not Madrid.
It seems that someone has hacked into her computer and sent the email to everybody in her contacts list.

All is well.

Re: Is it is scam
 

Glad yeh didn't fall fer it mate, Just ask yerself this- Why would anyone who has been robbed, ask someone they didn't know fer money?:confused: The person robbed has relatives, n by nature of her job,plenty she does know, simple as.;) A phone call to one of these would suffice, they would know her voice, I was robbed in Spain 5/6 yrs ago n the police were very helpful, allowed me to make a call.

Re: Is it is scam
 

I got one too, Gremlin, just hope nobody was caught out by this.. :mad:

Re: Is it is scam
 

Thanks for starting this thread. As Katex knows I am the councillor who as a result of having my email address hacked, quite unwittingly sent the emails . The first I knew about it was at 9 o'clock when I got a phone call to tell that they had received the email. Google blocked my account and it has taken most of the morning to get my account reinstated but I have lost all the emails I had stored in the folders I had created.
I sincerely apologise to everyone who received the email and hope that no one had been caught out by this.

Re: Is it is scam
 

I've also had a request which I thought strange as it was asking me to contact Joan directly.

Not a very clever scam, sounds more like someone mischief making to me.....

Re: Is it is scam
 

Its not a very clever scam Ken as you say, what you mean by mischief I'm not too sure, these people who try these scams will try anything, we had the emails from banks which seems to have died out as I haven't had any for over 12 months, but as was stated these things usually start out in Africa by unscrupulous con men, who DO catch some people out, but this one doesn't even look a bit feasible, they must be getting very desperate

Re: Is it is scam
 

I was asked to contact Joan via her email address which was the one she has on the Hyndburn Council web site.
As you say Ken, more like mischief or someone who has a grudge against her politics.

Glad it is sorted anyway.

Re: Is it is scam
 

I don't agree. I think this is purely fraud and they have probably sent out 1,000's like this in the hope of extracting money from some kind, vulnerable person.

On tracking this E-mail, there is a warning on the first IP address that it is being used for fraud purposes and not to trust it, and already being used on Amazon for fraudulent purposes. Showing as Warrington, but this won't mean much.

Poor Claytonender ... you have nothing to apologise for although it can be embarrassing as if you are responsible or summat...it was not your fault. Your contact was pretty quick in letting you know though. I received mine at 8.56. a.m. .... you were onto it at 9.00 a.m., so, hopefully no harm done. :thumbsup:

Re: Is it is scam
 

You've no need to apologise. It could happen to anyone.

I never give money to beggars.

Though I've posted you a box of pies, to keep you going, until you get back to Britain.

:hothothot:D:hothothot

Re: Is it is scam
 

Brilliant ..... :rofl38:

Re: Is it is scam
 

Agree think Kens being a bit naive to think its just mischief.

Re: Is it is scam
 

I reckon this is a serious scam, imagine if you got this sort of mail from a close friend?.:eek:

Re: Is it is scam
 

I recived this e-mail today
now i must admit to knowing this lady as she has done a lot for me over the last 2 years
but even so read the e-mail and check the language used i dont think if it was genuine it would read like it does.

Hi, Hope you get this on time, Things actually got out of control
on my trip to Madrid Spain. I was mugged, all my belongings
including mobile phones and credit cards were all stolen. Its a terrible
experience for me. I need your help flying back home as we am trying
to raise some money.
Am Cash Strapped at the moment. I've made contact with my bank but
the best they can do is to mail me a new card which will take days to
arrive here and it's a waste of time. I need you to lend me money,
will pay back once I get this over with.

Western Union Transfer is the fastest option to wire funds to me.
Let me know if you need my details(Full names/location) to effect a transfer.
You can reach me via email as i have lost my mobile phone.

I wait for your response.

Thanks,

(They are still waiting:p)

Re: Is it is scam
 

very naive even for a politician

Re: Is it is scam
 

One has to wonder just where these people will try next, having read that Email mick, it wouldn't seem feasible from a family member or a close friend, I would have thought the first thing somebody in that position would have phoned not send that email

Re: Is it is scam
 

Agree with Mancie and jaysay, this is a serious matter.

How anyone receiving the above could think it was genuine is beyond me. The language just does not read correctly, even for a HBC councillor! :rolleyes:

Sent I would say by someone whose first language is not English, like most of these, and as soon as Western Union is mentioned alarm bells should start to ring...

I get several scam emails each day, never so far purporting to be from someone I know... but yesterday I had one from Yasser Arafat's missus and I've had them from Gaddafi's family (not) :eek:

Re: Is it is scam
 

Ya susie, when anybody uses that statement send money by Western Union, should be enough really and a friend doesn't write letters like that

Re: Is it is scam
 

Relatives of mine (who live in Kent ) received a similar plea 8 or 9 months ago - allegedly from a close friend of theirs (who just happened to be globe trotting at the time !).

Fortunately they immediately suspected a scam, knowing that their friend would have contacted his bank for assistance, and/or had he needed any help or advice from them, he would have done so in person via reverse charge 'phone call.

If kids can hack into MI 5 computers and the White House etc. how come the powers that be don't get these types of criminals pronto ?
They are the scum of the earth exploiting vunerable people.
Not everybody is well enough or intelligent enough or quick witted enough to see through these scams - and I don't mean that unkindly or in a patronising way.

Re: Is it is scam
 

If anyone needs any money or gets stuck abroad then contact me i'm gonna have loads of money soon. A long lost relative of mine died in Nigeria recently and left me £650000000 GBP. Once I've raised about £10000 to send to this kind lawyer in Nigeria via western something or other to cover admin costs, and given him my bank account no. and pin no. he promises he will transfer the lot into my bank account.

CANT WAIT..planning my notice speech as I type.....LOL

Phil

Re: Is it is scam
 

Only one? ive had loads of long lost relatives who croaked in nigeria, left me millions, but as i don't need it, I aint bothered.:D:D

Re: Is it is scam
 

You do get some classics.. had one from some artist selling his paintings in the USA and wanted to avoid tax.. all I had to do was give my bank details and I would get 20% of his earnings..all good fun.