The Emporia Police Department has received several reports from local residents regarding an e-mail scam.
The e-mails come from people they know saying that the individuals had been mugged or robbed and ask for money to be wired.
The scam is an old one that resurfaces during holidays and vacation times. Recently several social media acounts have been hacked and friends lists used to send out blanket e-mails.
The Emporia Police Department recommends that social media users use caution about storing personal information online. They advise against posting information about location or travel or use the check-in feature on Facebook.
Never send or wire money to anyone or any location without first verifying with the individual that they were the person that requested Examples may be found at www.hoax-slayer.com/stranded-scam.shtml.
jasper007 (anonymous) says...
I was a "potential" victim of this scam. I have friends out-of-state and received an e-mail that they had been mugged in a foreign country and requested funds to return home. I was frantic!
Did some checking with other aquaintences, who also received same e-mail to discover these friends account had been hacked. The messages came from exact e-mail address as the person who "owned" the account.
Turned out to be a scam, a very cruel scam. I was ready to do what I could to help these people out until I was advised of the scam. Just shows you really have to be careful on the Internet.....
November 7, 2011 at 11:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tourguide (anonymous) says...
Yes this happened to me 2mon. ago. I recv'd an E Mail from my agent saying she had been robbed in the UK. She needed $3K to come home. This spread all over the Ozarks among her clients. Plz. ALL BEWARE never send help till U hear their voice. then ask questions !!!
November 7, 2011 at noon ( permalink | suggest removal )
ZaneRokklyn (anonymous) says...
From the headline I thought the article was going to say the Internet itself is a scam.
November 8, 2011 at 9:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )