The "Help I'm Stuck in London" email scam

[falafel]

I got another one of these emails yesterday. For anyone of you that haven't seen this scam yet, it basically goes like this. You get an email from a friend of yours and it usually comes from his or her actual email address. It says something about being on a short "holiday" in London. Here's the text of the one I received:

I'm writing this with tears in my eyes,I came down to London England for a short vacation and i was mugged at gun point last night,all cash,credit cards and cell were stolen off,It was so scary just happy I still have my life and passport.

I've been to the embassy and the Police here thank God they are really helping with a return flight and our fight leaves in few hours from now,but we are only having problems settling our hotel bills before leaving

The hotel manager won't let us leave until we settle the hotel bills.You can speak with him through this number +447024098964 his name is Larry.am so freaked out at the moment

I need you to loan me $1,650Usd to settle the hotel bills and also get a cab to the airport....I'll def refund it back to you as so as i get back home tomorrow..

Get back to me so I can tell you how to get the money to me here

Warm Regards.

I don't know who is actually fooled by these emails, but they are a lot of fun. I did not respond to the email itself, but composed a new message to my friend at the same email, laughing about his horrible "experience" and that the same thing happened to my BIL (someone hacked his email too). I got a reply back from the hackers saying "thanks for responding, please send money fast" etc.

Anyway, I've been stringing them along for the last 2 days. This morning it got a couple of more emails from them, asking me what is taking so long and telling me that they are "really freaking out!" I told them I'd get to a Western Union, but in the mean time he should just enjoy London because it one of the best cities in the world. I wouldn't mind being stuck there for a whole month!

[Uncle Ted]

I'm writing this with tears in my eyes,I came down to London England for a short vacation and i was mugged at gun point last night,all cash,credit cards and cell were stolen off,It was so scary just happy I still have my life and passport.

[...]

Silly... they don't have gun related crimes in England anymore with their tough gun laws.

[Uncle Ted]

Anyway, I've been stringing them along for the last 2 days. This morning it got a couple of more emails from them, asking me what is taking so long and telling me that they are "really freaking out!" I told them I'd get to a Western Union, but in the mean time he should just enjoy London because it one of the best cities in the world. I wouldn't mind being stuck there for a whole month!

Tell them you wired the money to a friend of yours in London. Give them the address of the local police department.

[falafel]

Tell them you wired the money to a friend of yours in London. Give them the address of the local police department.

Heh. That would be funny. Here's my email string:

Okay, I'll hit another Western Union to see if they let me do it. But I have to go to Jacob's baseball practice first and then we're going to Sports Authority to buy him a protective cup. I also told him if he got a hit I'd buy him a milkshake, so I've got to do that first too because he got his first hit in his game on Saturday! It was so exciting, you would have loved it. Will you be able to make it to his next game? You said you would make it to one of them and he's starting to ask about it before each one.

Oh, by the way, don't forget to get me some of those short bread cookies from the duty free shop! I LOVE those things!

Cheers!

okay......Please be fast with it becos my flight leaves in few hours from now.....as soon as you are done with the transfer kindly get back to me with the western union confirmation number

Tell Jacob that I promise to make it to his game.....as soon as I get back home I'll come check on him

I owe you alot when I get back home

Okay, Matthew, the money is on its way! Here's to your safe return! I also put a little extra in there for you so you can buy me some short bread cookies. Also, if you can, get me one of those thick scottish sweaters that are made from that crazy wool they have over there. Thanks.

Dear customer,

Thank you for using the Western Union Money Transfer®.

Your money transfer has been authorized and is now available for pick up by the receiver.

Transfers to certain destinations may be subject to further delay or additional restrictions.

TRANSACTION DETAILS:

Your Money Transfer Control Number [MTCN] is: 162975226

Please use this number for any inquiries.

Date of Order: Fri, 4 March 2011 08:444:18
Amount Sent: $1800.00

[Uncle Ted]

Here's my email string:

LOL.

[Eddie]

I have an aunt and uncle who were on a mission to the temple in Finland. While they were there when the temple was shut down for cleaning, they would travel a little around europe.

Strange coincidence, but during one shutdown they took a trip to England - and during the week they were there we all got one of these London scam emails.

It was a relatively new scam, so one of their kids called them to make sure they were OK and then emailed everyone to disregard the scam email.

Funny how it worked out at the time.

I can't imagine how this thing works. I mean, how many friends do you have that are traveling in London at any given time? Seems miniscule. And if they are assuming that this might be a friend you don't stay in touch with enough to know if they are in London or not - takes guts to ask for that much cash from someone you rarely communicate with.

[falafel]

They're getting restless.

Hi

am just coming back from WU,was told by the lady that there was no record of the money you sent,what is really going on?i will appreciate you get back to me with the scan receipt you are been giving at western union so i can get the right info there.

i wait to read from you

Matthew

[wuapinmon]

They're getting restless.

See if you can find out which WU office he went to. You could actually turn him in then becos he's stupid.

[falafel]

See if you can find out which WU office he went to. You could actually turn him in then becos he's stupid.

Turn him in to who?

And why would I turn him in? He's my dear friend and he needs my help.

[falafel]

Now I feel badly, knowing how freaked out he is.

AM FREAKED OUT

HI

i tried going back to the western union store as is not far from the hotel,was told there was no record of the money you sent,i will appreciate you contact western union to know what is going on as am freaked out at the moment,please get back to me asap.

i wait to read from you

Matthew

[TripletDaddy]

Advise him to not return to the hotel the next time he leaves to go to Western Union. Kind of like the Dine and Dash episode from Silver Spoons.

[falafel]

Advise him to not return to the hotel the next time he leaves to go to Western Union. Kind of like the Dine and Dash episode from Silver Spoons.

That's a good point. I thought the hotel manager wouldn't let him out! Sounds like he's home free now. The embassy has already arranged for his ticket home.

[Moliere]

Now I feel badly, knowing how freaked out he is.

Tell him your account is out of money because you used it all to help a Nigerian prince defect to the US.....but you should be able to help him in a couple days when you get reimbursed 1,000 fold for helping the prince.

[falafel]

Tell him your account is out of money because you used it all to help a Nigerian prince defect to the US.....but you should be able to help him in a couple days when you get reimbursed 1,000 fold for helping the prince.

lol.

[falafel]

Listen, I have a better idea. You said the embassy already got you a ticket. Now that you're out of the hotel, don't go back! Just make a run for the airport and get the hell out of that country! I'll save the $1800 I wired and you and I can go on a trip to Sedona or maybe wine country. I've been so stressed out at work lately and Jeff has really been riding my ass. What I think the both of us really need after this ordeal is just a quiet week together, away from all the noise and work and everything.

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