Beware 'friends' pleading for cash

[MNeagle]

Social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace have become hugely popular by helping people stay connected all over the world at any time of the day or night.

So it was only a matter of time before crooks and scam artists found a way to use social networking in their efforts to separate you from your hard-earned money.

Consider this warning from the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3):

The IC3 continues to receive reports that people's e-mail or social networking accounts are being hacked and used in a social engineering scam to swindle consumers out of thousands of dollars.

According to the FBI, hackers infiltrate your social networking page, claim to be you, and write desperate appeals for money to your contacts and friends. They say they are victims who were robbed while traveling abroad and they insist they need money immediately because they are stranded without cash, credit cards, a cell phone or a passport.

Some scammers claim they have only a few days to pay their hotel bill, or they will be put on the street. They promise to pay their "friends" back when they return home.

The FBI says that people receiving such appeals may be tempted to help because they appear to be from a friend in urgent need. But before you head to Western Union or Money Gram, you should always verify the information. One way to verify is to insist on talking to the friend before sending help. If they cannot find a way to communicate by phone, be very wary.

"It happens all over the place, including here," said Special Agent E.K. Wilson of the FBI's Minneapolis office. "It's becoming much more common."

If you've already been a victim of this type of scam -- or any other cyber crime -- report it to the IC3 website at www.IC3.gov.

The IC3's database links complaints for possible prosecution. The FBI also uses it to identify emerging trends and patterns in cyber-crime.

http://www.startribune.com/local/98458429.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD 3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUss

[EE_]

Ya can't blame them for trying...It's not as bad as the government just taking your money and spending on themselves and their own interests.
If a friend needs money and trys to obtain it from you via the internet, they are not a friend. A simple phone call would clear things up.
Everyone knows scams are rampant and anyone that calls/writes you for money is 99.999% probably a scam.
Ever have the "Police Athletic League" or "Firefighters Association" call you for money? SCAM!

Why doesn't the FBI go after the real dirty filthy scum bags that are stealing your money, the US government!

[sirgonzo420]

Why doesn't the FBI go after the real dirty filthy scum bags that are stealing your money, the US government!


I think it has to do with that whole "biting the hand that feeds you" thing.

[EE_]

I remember years ago when employers just about forced you to donate to the "United Way", and then we found out how much the CEO's were knocking down in this "non-profit" organization.
It's a shame really...

[Book]

A simple phone call would clear things up.



I'll repay that $100 real soon EE. My cell phone got stolen by one of the Emergency Room nurses during my open heart surgery operation last week.

;D

[Ponce]

About lending money to "friends"........two years ago one friend asked me for a loan of $20,000 to buy a house and I told him that the time was not right because he was going to loose many of his customers (he owns an Italian restaurant), I told him to was and that he would be able for half the price........he got the money elsewhere.

Now his customers are down by 1/3 and now he is just, his words, existing and holding a tiger by the tail.

We are still "friends" and he told me that I was right.........price of his home down 15%.

[zap]

I don't lend any money to friends or family, (period) and I've told them that, If I want to give them some money I will. but I don't lend any.

[the riot act]

I'll repay that $100 real soon EE. My cell phone got stolen by one of the Emergency Room nurses during my open heart surgery operation last week.

;D


You got a PayPal button, or a Tip Jar, Book?

Always willing to tip a fruit head.

[Book]

You got a PayPal button, or a Tip Jar, Book?



Thanks, but I was just joking.

:)

[Johnny Ringo]

Yeah, you really have to be careful these days and know who you're dealing with. Luckily, I'm too smart to fall for those scams. However, this does remind me of something that happened to me recently.

A really hot babe "friended" me on FaceBook a couple of months ago - I know she's hot because she emailed me her picture, and it's the same one on her FaceBook page. Anyway, last week she said she needed $5000 fast because her little brother was in a coma from a car accident and she needed money up front for his surgery. Since she just lost her job (she's in the entertainment industry), and their parents were killed by the Russian Mafia a few years ago (a case of mistaken identity, she told me), she didn't have anyone else to turn to. Since I have her picture and have chatted with her on FaceBook for two whole months, I knew she was legit so I wired her the money. She promised she'd pay me back.

I hope her brother's doing okay, but I fear the worst since I haven't heard from her since I wired the money. She's probably spending all her time at the hospital with him. She's a real saint....

[zap]

;)

[Ironfield]

An interesting take on the standard “Nigerian scams” just highlights the pitfalls of people and these social networking sites who have added “friends” that they really know nothing about. Honestly of the hundreds of “friends” I’ve seen on my sister’s account I can honestly say she only has about 9 true friends. The rest I would term acquaintances.

As for actually lending money to friends and family? No just don’t do it, It ruins the relationships. Gifting them the money with no expectation of ever seeing a cent of it back again is a different story though.

-Ironfield

[Johnny Ringo]

An interesting take on the standard “Nigerian scams” just highlights the pitfalls of people and these social networking sites who have added “friends” that they really know nothing about. Honestly of the hundreds of “friends” I’ve seen on my sister’s account I can honestly say she only has about 9 true friends. The rest I would term acquaintances.

As for actually lending money to friends and family? No just don’t do it, It ruins the relationships. Gifting them the money with no expectation of ever seeing a cent of it back again is a different story though.

-Ironfield



Homerun on both points. My daughter had one of her friends over yesterday - they both just graduated high school, and we've known the family since the girls were in first grade. The parents think they're keeping a tight leash on her - still no driver's license (parents don't want to pay the insurance - can't blame them), but the girl mentioned how she has had a "pen pal" on Facebook for two years. My wife asked if she'd ever met this pen pal in person - the answer was "no."

On the second point, my Dad came to visit me several years ago when I was in the Air Force. He saw me working on my PC in "Quicken," and since affordable PCs were relatively new, he had lots of questions.

Apparently he noticed some of my account balances, because about a month later he hit me up for a loan - not for himself and my mother, but for my brother and his white trash wife (now ex-wife). To say I felt obligated would be an understatement, and I resented the hell out of it. That burned me even more than my brother not being able to pay me back. Thankfully, that didn't permanently ruin the family relationship, but it sure strained it for a few years.

To put this thread back on track, I'm sure all this social networking, along with the current economic climate, has greatly increased legitimate requests for loans/assistance as well as the scam attempts.

[StackerKen]

I'll repay that $100 real soon EE. My cell phone got stolen by one of the Emergency Room nurses during my open heart surgery operation last week.

;D


You got a PayPal button, or a Tip Jar, Book?

Always willing to tip a fruit head.




http://www.jamesmolina.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/donate_button.gif
;D

[Sparky]

This isn't about social networks. It's about naive idiots. Anyone who would accept an financial appeal from a "friend" through Facebook without some other form of personal contact deserves to be scammed.

Each successive generation seems to be more willing to be trusting of communication and exchanges through electronic media. If they have to learn a lesson the hard way, so be it. But don't blame the social network.

[Johnny Ringo]

This isn't about social networks. It's about naive idiots. Anyone who would accept an financial appeal from a "friend" through Facebook without some other form of personal contact deserves to be scammed.

Each successive generation seems to be more willing to be trusting of communication and exchanges through electronic media. If they have to learn a lesson the hard way, so be it. But don't blame the social network.


I agree. I've read that on the internet somewhere, so it must be true! ;D

[Ponce]

Well, I did give $140,000 to my attorney to invest back in 98 for a hell of a good interest......he's in trouble now so that I told him to forget about the principal and just to pay me the interest for the next three years........already got my money back anyway.

[1970 silver art]

I just say "no" to all pleas for cash from anywhere on the internet. It's not worth it IMO.

[undgrd]

You've probably seen this but...

The Internet VS Real Life...may not be work safe without headphones

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRnoUNwFOkE

[the riot act]

You got a PayPal button, or a Tip Jar, Book?



Thanks, but I was just joking.

:)


Yeah so was I. ;-)