Strange emails from Bernice

[Magda Hassan]

Some members may be getting an email purportedly from Bernice. It is not from Bernice. She is well and at home in Canada, not destitute in Spain and needing a Western Union money transfer from you so she can pay her hotel bill. Her email account has been hacked into and they are using her address book to send fake emails from Bernice to her contacts which may include some members here. Please disregard the emails and do not send any money as it will not get to Bernice but to some scammer. Bernice is in contact with her email server.

[Charles Drago]

Thanks, Magda.

We were hit with this scam once before, if memory serves.

[Bernice Moore]

If you get any emails from me, today especially from some jerk asking for money,they are not from moi, this has already happened, but they were wise and contacted me here, i will let you know if and when this is corrected, this is such a lovely world that of research ain't it, now beware of your own...best b

this is what was received by magda, hope that's ok to mention your name, thanks again, i had already contacted my server but i did not, know to the extent whomever will try to take this, so watch your mail, save any i would think if you get one, it may help the server in tracking them, thanks best b..

Here is the text of the email:

I'm Sorry I didn't inform you about my trip to Spain for a program,I am presently in Madrid Spain,something extremely awful happened to me,I was mugged at gun point on my way to the Hotel by some Hoodlums and they made away with my Bag and other valuables. Presently my things are been held down by the hotel management due to my inability to pay the hotel bills which I currently owe,they even had to restrict my access to the hotel facilitates until outstanding bills are cleared and i don't have any money on me again,i had to walk down to the city library in order to send you this email.I have spoken to the embassy here but they are not responding effectively to the matter.

This is really shameful,I need you to help me with a loan of 2,600 Euro to pay my hotel bills and get my self back home.I will reimburse you soon as I get back Home, with all the interest.I will appreciate whatever you can assist me with. Let me know Immediately

Bernice

damn foolishness.

[Dawn Meredith]

Many of us here got the same email. Hopefully the perp can be id'd.

Best,

Dawn

[Peter Lemkin]

If you get any emails from me, today especially from some jerk asking for money,they are not from moi, this has already happened, but they were wise and contacted me here, i will let you know if and when this is corrected, this is such a lovely world that of research ain't it, now beware of your own...best b

this is what was received by magda, hope that's ok to mention your name, thanks again, i had already contacted my server but i did not, know to the extent whomever will try to take this, so watch your mail, save any i would think if you get one, it may help the server in tracking them, thanks best b..

Here is the text of the email:

I'm Sorry I didn't inform you about my trip to Spain for a program,I am presently in Madrid Spain,something extremely awful happened to me,I was mugged at gun point on my way to the Hotel by some Hoodlums and they made away with my Bag and other valuables. Presently my things are been held down by the hotel management due to my inability to pay the hotel bills which I currently owe,they even had to restrict my access to the hotel facilitates until outstanding bills are cleared and i don't have any money on me again,i had to walk down to the city library in order to send you this email.I have spoken to the embassy here but they are not responding effectively to the matter.

This is really shameful,I need you to help me with a loan of 2,600 Euro to pay my hotel bills and get my self back home.I will reimburse you soon as I get back Home, with all the interest.I will appreciate whatever you can assist me with. Let me know Immediately

Bernice

damn foolishness.

I got it and responded [that I didn't even have that kind of money]...but they wrote back any amount would do....so that wasn't you? CAn you use your email account or is it under their control? Contact the RCMP and Interpol immediately to have them track this down! The Nigerian Scam scaled - down and up front and personal!:thumbsdown: It likely went a used EVERY address in your addressbook, so quick find a program that can send a REAL message to ALL in your addressbook! I'd also do a malware and virus scan. It may lie dormant and try another message to all.

[Bernice Moore]

Many of us here got the same email. Hopefully the perp can be id'd.

Best,

Dawn

hi all is secured now, they do not know if they can trace but he thought there was a good possibility...thanks, the sun is warm in spain, but we have lotsa snow, anyone for sking, conestoga is open...still damn foolishness..to anyone who knows me...thanks again magda very much appreciated...best all b..

[Peter Presland]

The location of the IP address that originated the email is Nigeria. So no surprises there. It was sent by logging on to the Yahoo WebMail service, probably by using regular ID and Password illegally obtained somehow.

City of 82.128.73.13:
Lagos
Lagos
Nigeria (NG)

Lat: 6.4531
Long: 3.3958

A reverse IP search produces no domain name for the sending machine
An Mx seach produces no mail server for that IP address.

IOW - it has the hallmarks of professional Nigeria based scammers. They
must somehow have gotten hold of Bernice's email access credentials

[Peter Lemkin]

I don't think this is so much a scammer and someone who is looking to hurt politically progressive people. The BIG forums have a zillion more members with more money and are not very progressive. I take it as a political action, as much as a money scam.

[Peter Lemkin]

Is there someone VERY computer saavy or a white hacker who can help Bernice. She lost not only all addresses in her address book, but the 'beasts' doesn't allow new entries - all old erased. Worst of all, it also deleted some of her important messages, including from a deceased loved one. I told her to run an anti-virus and anti-malware scan, but she needs more help, even IF that eliminates the 'beast''!

[Peter Presland]

I don't think this is so much a scammer and someone who is looking to hurt politically progressive people. The BIG forums have a zillion more members with more money and are not very progressive. I take it as a political action, as much as a money scam.

Peter - See my post here