Monday, October 13, 2008
New Type of Scam from Nigeria
Here's a new type of scam that I came across yesterday. I received an email from what looked like an artist that I listed in an art directory that I look after. I was suspicious immediately, but they did a lot of things right, which could have fooled those that are new to the internet (or much more trusting of people than I am).
The artist (Linda Blondheim) was using a Hotmail email address, which was hacked and stolen by scammers in Nigeria. The scammers then set out to scam her friends and contacts using her Hotmail email address, asking for money as she was stranded in Africa and needed $2300 to get back home.
It's easily one of the cleverest scams I have received from the idiots. I was familiar with the name of the artist and they were using her real email address, but the mention of "Nigeria" and "Money" in the same email gave the scammers away. Legitimate businesses in Nigeria (if there is such a thing) must have a lot of problems dealing with international clients/customers as these scammers have given the whole country such a bad name worldwide. I know it's wrong to generalise, but I wouldn't deal with anyone from Nigeria as I don't trust them.. and for good reason.
Here's the email that I received..
Subject: Reply Soon...From Linda
How are you doing today? I am sorry i didn't inform you about my traveling to Africa for a program called "Empowering Youth to Fight Racism, HIV/AIDS, Poverty and Lack of Education, the program is taking place in three major countries in Africa which is Ghana , South Africa and Nigeria . It as been a very sad and bad moment for me, the present condition that i found myself is very hard for me to explain.
I am really stranded in Nigeria because I forgot my little bag in the Taxi where my money, passport, documents and other valuable things were kept on my way to the Hotel am staying, I am facing a hard time here because i have no money on me. I am owing an hotel bill of $1050 and they want me to pay the bill before checking out,Else they will have to seize my bag and hand me over to the Hotel Management.
I need this help from you urgently to help me get back home, I need you to help me with the hotel bill and i will also need $1250 to feed and help myself back home so please can you help me with a sum of $2300 to sort out my problems here? I need this help so much and on time because i am in a terrible and tight situation here, I don't even have money to feed myself for a day which means i have been starving so please understand how urgent i need your help.
I am sending you this e-mail from the city Library and I only have 30 min, I will appreciate what so ever you can afford to send me for now and I promise to pay back your money as soon as i return home so please let me know on time so that i can forward you the details you need to transfer the money through Money Gram or Western Union.Hope to hear from you.love,Linda
Advantages to Visiting Linda Blondheim's Studio
Patron Club members receive excellent pricing on in studio and web site purchases.
Gift wrapping and gift cards are complimentary to patrons.
Delivery of larger paintings to Lake City, Gainesville, and Ocala areas free of charge.
Studio gift certificates for new patron referrals.
Commissions welcomed.
Enjoy a cup of coffee and visit with a professional established painter just minutes from Gainesville.
Email: lindablondheim12@hotmail.com
Web site: www.lindablondheim.com
Blog: http://lindablondheimartnotes.blogspot.com/
Note: The email above was Linda Blondheim's real email address used for this scam, but she has since changed it. See her website or blog above for her new contact information.
>> Art Scams, List of Thieves ¶ 10:17 PM
Here's a new type of scam that I came across yesterday. I received an email from what looked like an artist that I listed in an art directory that I look after. I was suspicious immediately, but they did a lot of things right, which could have fooled those that are new to the internet (or much more trusting of people than I am).The artist (Linda Blondheim) was using a Hotmail email address, which was hacked and stolen by scammers in Nigeria. The scammers then set out to scam her friends and contacts using her Hotmail email address, asking for money as she was stranded in Africa and needed $2300 to get back home.
It's easily one of the cleverest scams I have received from the idiots. I was familiar with the name of the artist and they were using her real email address, but the mention of "Nigeria" and "Money" in the same email gave the scammers away. Legitimate businesses in Nigeria (if there is such a thing) must have a lot of problems dealing with international clients/customers as these scammers have given the whole country such a bad name worldwide. I know it's wrong to generalise, but I wouldn't deal with anyone from Nigeria as I don't trust them.. and for good reason.
Here's the email that I received..
Subject: Reply Soon...From Linda
How are you doing today? I am sorry i didn't inform you about my traveling to Africa for a program called "Empowering Youth to Fight Racism, HIV/AIDS, Poverty and Lack of Education, the program is taking place in three major countries in Africa which is Ghana , South Africa and Nigeria . It as been a very sad and bad moment for me, the present condition that i found myself is very hard for me to explain.
I am really stranded in Nigeria because I forgot my little bag in the Taxi where my money, passport, documents and other valuable things were kept on my way to the Hotel am staying, I am facing a hard time here because i have no money on me. I am owing an hotel bill of $1050 and they want me to pay the bill before checking out,Else they will have to seize my bag and hand me over to the Hotel Management.
I need this help from you urgently to help me get back home, I need you to help me with the hotel bill and i will also need $1250 to feed and help myself back home so please can you help me with a sum of $2300 to sort out my problems here? I need this help so much and on time because i am in a terrible and tight situation here, I don't even have money to feed myself for a day which means i have been starving so please understand how urgent i need your help.
I am sending you this e-mail from the city Library and I only have 30 min, I will appreciate what so ever you can afford to send me for now and I promise to pay back your money as soon as i return home so please let me know on time so that i can forward you the details you need to transfer the money through Money Gram or Western Union.Hope to hear from you.love,Linda
Advantages to Visiting Linda Blondheim's Studio
Patron Club members receive excellent pricing on in studio and web site purchases.
Gift wrapping and gift cards are complimentary to patrons.
Delivery of larger paintings to Lake City, Gainesville, and Ocala areas free of charge.
Studio gift certificates for new patron referrals.
Commissions welcomed.
Enjoy a cup of coffee and visit with a professional established painter just minutes from Gainesville.
Email: lindablondheim12@hotmail.com
Web site: www.lindablondheim.com
Blog: http://lindablondheimartnotes.blogspot.com/
Note: The email above was Linda Blondheim's real email address used for this scam, but she has since changed it. See her website or blog above for her new contact information.
>> Art Scams, List of Thieves ¶ 10:17 PM
I have received this exact same email from a woman who belonged to the same 'Health support group' as myself, it went to everyone in the group. Fortunately the moderators were on to it quickly, but it really plays on your natural instinct which is to help someone out of a 'jam'. A nastily clever scam, thanks for bringing it to our attention :)
This is the reason I'm dubious of selling cheap laptops to Nigerian schools, and I shall remain dubious until the Nigerian government clamps down on scammers. Why should the West help train the next generation of scammers?
If you search for the two main banks in Nigeria, you'll find lots of entries warning you about scams. It's not the fault of the banks, but the scammers who use them to channel funds.
My main e-mail address has also been hacked, so I occasionally receive offers of Viagra from myself! I know how the bastards got my address, and as Nikki has pointed out, it was done via a social networking group. I was invited to join Hi5. (That's where I met Jafabrit in an artists group.) I didn't like the site and didn't visit it unless I received an e-mail. The scammers send you an e-mail with a photo of an attractive young woman who wants to be your friend. It seems churlish to reject her; but as soon as you've replied accepting her offer of friendship the scammers have your e-mail address and your list of contacts at Hi5. (Sorry if I've sent you any Viagra offers, Jafabrit!)
Tip: check your social networking sites at the McAfee site advisor:
http://www.siteadvisor.com/
That gave me my first warning about Hi5. If you join as an advisor, you can post your complaints about dodgy websites. Worth doing.
A few days ago I received my first phishing scam from .kr, which I assume is korea (north or south). It bore the Abbey logo and wanted to check my details - usual stuff -, but I do have an Abbey account.
Tip: right click on the apparently genuine link it offers you, copy shortcut and paste it into Notepad. Then you'll see the real link hidden under the false link. That's how I know the real link was to .kr. I'm damned sure Abbey's head office isn't in korea!
If you search for the two main banks in Nigeria, you'll find lots of entries warning you about scams. It's not the fault of the banks, but the scammers who use them to channel funds.
My main e-mail address has also been hacked, so I occasionally receive offers of Viagra from myself! I know how the bastards got my address, and as Nikki has pointed out, it was done via a social networking group. I was invited to join Hi5. (That's where I met Jafabrit in an artists group.) I didn't like the site and didn't visit it unless I received an e-mail. The scammers send you an e-mail with a photo of an attractive young woman who wants to be your friend. It seems churlish to reject her; but as soon as you've replied accepting her offer of friendship the scammers have your e-mail address and your list of contacts at Hi5. (Sorry if I've sent you any Viagra offers, Jafabrit!)
Tip: check your social networking sites at the McAfee site advisor:
http://www.siteadvisor.com/
That gave me my first warning about Hi5. If you join as an advisor, you can post your complaints about dodgy websites. Worth doing.
A few days ago I received my first phishing scam from .kr, which I assume is korea (north or south). It bore the Abbey logo and wanted to check my details - usual stuff -, but I do have an Abbey account.
Tip: right click on the apparently genuine link it offers you, copy shortcut and paste it into Notepad. Then you'll see the real link hidden under the false link. That's how I know the real link was to .kr. I'm damned sure Abbey's head office isn't in korea!
ah Ha, so it was you coxsoft lol!
Joking aside, linda must have been horrified.
the social network Hi5 must have been a while ago Coxsoft, I don't even remember it. Clever trickery, yikes.
Joking aside, linda must have been horrified.
the social network Hi5 must have been a while ago Coxsoft, I don't even remember it. Clever trickery, yikes.
I'm happy to let them have laptops in Nigeria Ian, just take the bloody Internet off them!!!..lol
And yeah I contacted Linda and she wasn't too impressed with what they are doing with her email. She has a notice up on her website and blog warning people that she's not stranded in Africa and doesnt need money sent to her.
And yeah I contacted Linda and she wasn't too impressed with what they are doing with her email. She has a notice up on her website and blog warning people that she's not stranded in Africa and doesnt need money sent to her.
awful!
I guess any one in real distress would go to their embassy first!
But I could see how this could catch someone off guard....
I guess any one in real distress would go to their embassy first!
But I could see how this could catch someone off guard....
Help! I am stranded in LA, send money quick so I can get to a South Seas island and drinks with lil umbrellas!
(wonder how many would send a lump of coal)
(wonder how many would send a lump of coal)
# posted by 
: 2:18 PM
: 2:18 PM
So that last guy wasnt a joke, he was a scammer you deleted? Or, I guess he was a joke. Have fun, off on my third anniversary of wedded bliss, a movable feast of continuous honeymoon. Wine country of Paso Robles, will drink to your health Dion. And Arts rennaisance. Rebirth.
ACDE!
ACDE!
# posted by : 6:47 PM
: 6:47 PM
If it was a joke, I dodnt get it. I went to his site and all I saw was ads and begging for money, so I only hung around for about 2 seconds.
I thought he was trying to be funny, but after visiting his site I thought he might have been serious.
I dont think much about the comments that I delete though or I would spend all day on them. So I probably do delete some ligitimate comments, but that's life ;-)
A link to a crappy site increases the chances of the comment being deleted by about 98% though.
Enjoy the trip.. and wine.. and the celebration of three years!
I thought he was trying to be funny, but after visiting his site I thought he might have been serious.
I dont think much about the comments that I delete though or I would spend all day on them. So I probably do delete some ligitimate comments, but that's life ;-)
A link to a crappy site increases the chances of the comment being deleted by about 98% though.
Enjoy the trip.. and wine.. and the celebration of three years!
Hi,
This is the real Linda Blondheim. I was HORRIFIED that these scammers stole my hotmail address list and hacked into the account. Be assured that I would never ask anyone over the Internet to send me money. I had to change my email to another address and lost my entire address book at hotmail. I'm so sorry if anyone was inconvenienced by these scammers, trying to destroy my reputation.
Sincrely,
Linda Blondheim- NEVER been to Africa!!
This is the real Linda Blondheim. I was HORRIFIED that these scammers stole my hotmail address list and hacked into the account. Be assured that I would never ask anyone over the Internet to send me money. I had to change my email to another address and lost my entire address book at hotmail. I'm so sorry if anyone was inconvenienced by these scammers, trying to destroy my reputation.
Sincrely,
Linda Blondheim- NEVER been to Africa!!
I wouldnt take it personally Linda. Theyre just scammers doing what scammers do.. they don't care about whos reputation theyre destroying, theyre just thinking of the money.
Hopefully nobody fell for the scam.
Dion
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Hopefully nobody fell for the scam.
Dion
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