virus-based scam

[gusl]

Some scammers have hijacked my aunt F's email account and have been sending emails using her name (with a slight misspelling), saying she was robbed and stranded in London. For a couple of minutes, I was worried about her. I wonder if it's a virus, or simply some database with names and email addresses...

Sorry I didn't inform you about my travel to London for a Program, am presently in UK , I am stranded here because I was robbed in my hotel where I lodged. I would like you to assist me urgently with a soft loan of $2600 to sort-out my hotel bills and get myself back home. I will appreciate whatever you can afford.

Kindly look for any Western Union Money Transfer outlet and send me the money with this information’s below please.

Name/ [INFECTED PERSON'S NAME]
Address: [SOME NUMBER] Kensington High St
Zip code:
State: London
Country: England

Please email me the Western Union Money Transfer details as soon as you send the money. I will pay you back as soon as i am back . I wait to read from you soon, You can call me through this number. Hotel Manager;s phone number +447031959403
Regards,
[INFECTED PERSON'S NAME]

I wonder who picks up if you call the number... and is UK police getting involved? Is an address enough information for a Western Union transfer?

I replied to the message, and the bot replied back, quoting what I wrote, and saying:

Please help me out i need your help at this time ok

Since I use GMail, I doubt I can be infected, but OTOH the bad guys now know my name and email address... but they probably already did.

Comments

[altamira16.livejournal.com]

That happened to someone I knew on Facebook too, and I was like WTF we are not that close so I am not sending you money sorry.

[gustavolacerda.livejournal.com]

the bot posted the message on Facebook? Facebook virus?

[altamira16.livejournal.com]

I think the bot was using the Facebook instant message client.

[qatar.livejournal.com]

Western Union doesn't even need an address, just a name and city. (We don't have addresses in Qatar!)

[gustavolacerda.livejournal.com]

So they had some woman whose name is only 1 letter away from my aunt's?

[qatar.livejournal.com]

Or someone who can make fake IDs. :-)

[easwaran.livejournal.com]

You should make sure all your other relatives that might be in her e-mail list know that this is a scam, and not really her!

[gustavolacerda.livejournal.com]

that's the first thing I did, of course.

[stepleton.livejournal.com]

Heh... that phone number is for a cell phone.