I received an email from a long-time reader named Mike who occasionally communicates with me. He wrote:
"Sorry to bother, do you’ve a free moment over email? I'm unable to speak over the phone due to a serious throat pain caused by laryngitis. Hope this finds you well. - Mike"
I replied, "Sure, what's up?"
His prompt answer: "Thanks for the response, I need to get an (APPLE GIFT CARD) for my friend's daughter who is diagnosed with stage 4 mesothelioma cancer, it's her birthday but I can't do this now because I'm currently out of town, And I tried purchasing it online but unfortunately, I got no luck on that, wondering if you could help me purchase the gift card at any nearest store around you or purchase it online? I'll reimburse you, let me know if you can handle this. Await your earliest response. - Mike"
Bwahahahahahahahaha.
No.
https://www.google.com/search?q=monty+python+spam&rlz=1C1GCEA_enUS918US918&oq=monty+python+&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqCggHEAAYsQMYgAQyBwgAEAAYjwIyCggBEC4YsQMYgAQyDwgCEC4YFBiHAhixAxiABDINCAMQABiDARixAxiABDIKCAQQABixAxiABDIHCAUQABiABDIKCAYQLhixAxiABDIKCAcQABixAxiABDIHCAgQABiPAtIBCTc4NzBqMGoxNagCALACAA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:3b24fbed,vid:anwy2MPT5RE,st:0
ReplyDelete...I couldn't resist...
What's really sad is that enough people actually fall for this to make it lucrative enough for spammers to continue trying. Oh. Excuse me, I just got an email from a Nigerian Prince who needs my help....
ReplyDeleteThank you, I needed that laugh.
ReplyDeleteWhen my husband was in college after retiring from the Marine Corps, we were "starving students" with five children and limited income. One day I got an email from a dear friend in our church congregation begging my for help because she and her husband were stranded somewhere while traveling and had been robbed, etc. I couldn't understand why she emailed me and not one of her many children and grandchildren. So I called her home to see if this email was real because I didn't know she'd left the country. She answered the phone! I explained the email and she realized that she'd been hacked. She apologized and we had a good laugh about her asking me for help.
ReplyDeleteBe suspicious and vigilant!
So, this probably was not your friend, Mike.
ReplyDeleteI keep getting stuff like that thru friends on facebook accounts that are not them, of course i don't use facebook, but I still get the requests anyway, the first time i got a notice it was from a daughter of my godmother, so I looked at it and quickly found out it was NOT her and just a scammer. NOW sometimes I wish I had learned more about computers so I could hack a hacker and destroy them, LOL
ReplyDeleteThis “scam” hit us a year or so ago and came after our property management company email was hacked and looked somewhat real. The property management company has numerous places that they rent, mostly to retired folks (and a lot of widows). As soon as I opened it and saw it for what it was I sent a text message to the gal whose name was on it rather than call or email. She immediately sent out an email to everyone on her mailing list warming them about it, but not before one or two ladies bought the Amazon gift card for her niece. The PM gal was so upset that someone would do that and I agree. (But the ending to your post with Bwahahahahha did make me chuckle.)
ReplyDeleteI hope to add a little bit of extra advice re this SPAM business as it relates to being spammed via your phone. The majority of people will hit the button to put them on the "DO NOT CALL" list.
ReplyDeletePlease do NOT hit any buttons, particularly the button for the "DO NOT CALL" list.
Simply do nothing and quickly hang up your phone.
Pushing a button proves to them that there is a live person on the other end and the phone calls will never stop!