At first glance this looks dodgy as - but I suspect it is for real

How are you doing?hope all is well, I"m sorry that i didn't inform you about my traveling to England for a Seminar.I need a favor from you as soon as you receive this e-mail because i misplaced my wallet on my way to the hotel where my money is and other valuable things were kept, i will like you to assist me with a loan urgently. I will be needing the sum of $2,500 to sort-out my hotel bills and get myself back home.I will appreciate whatever you can afford to help me with, i'll pay you back as soon as i return. Kindly let me know if you can be of help? so that i can send you the details.
Your reply will be greatly appreciated

Vincent


Vincent is a friend of about 5 years' standing. He lives in Madang in New Guinea, and doesn't earn a great deal (doctors there are not paid very much). I have stayed with him, and he has visited me here - ie he is definitely a real person. We also have friends in common, and I am working with a colleague of his, here in Tasmania.

I met him when I was doing some foreign aid work in New Guinea - ie not a set-up

This email came from his usual email address, and came to both my old and my new email addresses.

If this email is genuine, I would willingly help my friend. I may never be repaid my money (because he doesn't have much) but I consider that the price of friendship.

I replied saying he could call me reverse charges, and gave him my number - or to give me details of how I could contact him. I do not know if he has a mobile phone, but I strongly doubt it.

Assuming I get to talk to him, I will know it is him. I am not stupid enough to send any money unless I can confirm that it is him.

Having said all that, any email asking for money looks incredibly suss. I just cannot conceive how anyone other than him could have sent it. More to the point, by replying to this email and giving my phone number, have I created a problem for myself if it is bogus?

Am keen for your thoughts

Yes, it seems to be the same as a common scam where they send the same email to everyone in someone's contact list, hoping that someone will respond. A lot of people would as they would want to help a friend in need.

You are right in asking him to contact you. Unless you speak to him, you don't know who it is.

Email is a strange thing in that you can make it look like it came from almost anyone, and it is hard to actually see where it really came from. It is trivial to make an email look like it has come from someone it hasn't.

I would strongly recommend that unless you speak to your friend, that it is actually a scam.

If it looks like a duck ,its a duck

Dont lend him any money.

If you speak to him tell him to change his email password.

Thanks all - especially Stribo. Nothing like an identically worded email to give it away.

WINDY MILLER said...

think of the money you have just saved...

reward yourself with a new board and paddle

i always say for female friends, a friend in need is a friend indeed, in your case with balls like that your the friend in need of a chick indeed.

Had the same email come through from an associate. Was actually talking to him on phone when the email landed in the inbox.