The problem of the Internet becoming as a tool for malware authors, spammers, and phishers could not be denied. As social networking gains more popularity cases of email scam, Internet fraud, identity theft and a lot more are getting prevalent. I got even a surprising email this morning from a friend who asked a huge sum of money for being stuck in Wales, UK.

How’s that possible, when she’s in Canada? So, definitely some scrupulous people hacked her yahoo web mail account and sent the message to extort money. The full content of the scam email is as follows:

Hello,
How is work with you over there,I am in hurry writing this mail to you.I am so sorry for not informing you about my urgent trip.I am in some terrible situation and I’m really going to need your urgent help. Please I had traveled to Wales, UK,Yesterday for a
New Nanny job i got, Unfortunately for me all my money ,diaries and my return ticket was stolen at gun point On my way back to the hotel where i lodged , I am so confused right now, I don’t know what to do or where to go,I didn’t bring my phone here even if you dial it will only be ringing with no responds and i don’t have any contact off hand, so i have access to only emails, i don’t want to make a big scene of this incident, cos its embarrassing enough ,i will like you to make this private for now cos i never told anyone i will be coming here and at the same time i don’t want to get everyone at home panicking.

Please i want you to lend me a sum £1,360 Pound today, just to clear my Hotel bills and get back home, I shall have your money reimbursed immediately on my return home . Please Write me so i can let you know how to send it. I’ll be waiting on you at this Library for your mail because this is where i got chance to use free computer.

Sincerely Your’s

The email was sent to all in the yahoo contact address of her email account. We should be wary and vigilant of this kind of email. Many unknowing people have been victims of identity theft and scammers. What we need to do is check on those suspicious email on scamdex.com or hoax-slayer.com.  A simple Internet search will surely reveal the scam nature of the email. The website above could hopefully help us spot scam and hoax email to prevent us from being victims.