Woman Loses $4K to Scammer Posing as Friend on Facebook
Jayne Scherrman, of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, was the unfortunate victim of a scam that turned her compassion and trust into a $4,000 profit, the AP reports. A still unknown crook hacked the Facebook account of Jayne's friend Grace Parry and began to send Jayne messages, purporting to be Grace and claiming that she and her husband had been detained in London and were in need of money.Jayne figured if the couple could reach her only by Facebook, then they were in dire straits, indeed, and quickly wired $600 as per the scammer's instructions. As is common in these kinds of schemes, subsequent messages were sent requesting additional funds. In this case, the huckster blamed the exchange rate when explaining the discrepancy between the funds needed and the amount initially requested.
All in all, Jayne eventually sent $4,000 via Western Union to the impostor before realizing that she had fallen victim to a scam. On August 26th, she alerted the authorities.
We've seen this tactic before and there are keys to avoiding a snakey scammers:
- First and foremost, never wire any money without speaking directly (on the phone, not via e-mail or Facebook) to any friend who requests your help financially.
- If you believe there is a plausible reason this friend cannot reach you by phone, don't be afraid to ask them to confirm their identity. Ask questions that only they would be able to answer. Don't ask about birthdays or hometowns, facts that could be readily ascertainable online, but instead about where the two of you first met, first boyfriends, or high school mascots.
- If you know or suspect a friend's account has been hacked, try to alert that person directly. Then, warn all of your mutual friends, and finally contact the site's administrators regarding your suspicions. Both your friend and shared pals will be thankful.
In 2000, a photo of a giant cat named Snowball was forwarded around the Internet and posted on many Web sites. The accompanying story was that a man had an 87-pound cat that was born to a mother that lived near a nuclear lab. The story spread so far that it was discussed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Good Morning America. Unfortunately, it was just computer-manipulated image made by Cordell Hauglie, the man in the picture, yet people still haven't realized that you can't believe everything you see on the Web.
Top 8 Online Hoaxes
Everything Must Go
A farmer's house was cleaned out out after Craigslist ads said that all his possessions were being offered up for free. The man lost thousands of dollars worth of his stuff, and, unfortunately, this isn't the only incident of its kind. Last year, a woman's niece posted a similar ad, which led to people stripping everything from the aunt's empty apartment, including light fixtures. And recently, someone tried the same thing on a Massachusetts family, but they happened to be home when the gatherers arrived.
Photoshopping Dupes America
In 2000, a photo of a giant cat named Snowball was forwarded around the Internet and posted on many Web sites. The accompanying story was that a man had an 87-pound cat that was born to a mother that lived near a nuclear lab. The story spread so far that it was discussed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Good Morning America. Unfortunately, it was just computer-manipulated image made by Cordell Hauglie, the man in the picture, yet people still haven't realized that you can't believe everything you see on the Web.
Stick To Match.com, People!
Getting sexy messages from somebody you don't know should set off some warning bells, but apparently there will always be people, mostly men, who believe they're about to score big. There are loads of tales like this, including a man who showed up naked at a house in New Zealand after misleading text messages and a Saudi Arabian who was robbed by teenagers when he showed up for a good time. Seriously, if it's too good to be true, it probably is.
Still Too Good to Be True
What's better than meeting someone online for love? Getting paid to do it, which is how an Australian farmer found himself kidnapped in . Several men pretended to be a woman, enticing Des Gregor, 53, to come to to get married and receive $85,000 in gold as dowry. When he got there, he was taken hostage and threatened with having his limbs hacked off unless he paid them the same amount. Fortunately, police duped the kidnappers and Gregor was safe. Gregor learned his lesson, apparently – "Just be careful - make sure you check everything out 100 per cent," he said.
Watch Out For Those Cameras
With the amount of people embarrassed or worse by leaked photos and videos of bad behavior online, it's no wonder that they'd be used for blackmail. This is exactly what happened to a 75-year-old Amish widower after he slept with a prostitute. The woman and her boyfriend extorted $67,000 from the man, saying there was a camera installed in his bedroom and that photos of the trysts would go online. Fortunately, the pair and two accomplices were arrested. So much for the Amish being behind in technology.
High Salary, Low Discretion
Seeing a job posting that promises thousands of dollars for at-home work will most likely get a lot of applicants and a lot of non-believers. Still, almost 80 people, including lawyers, were allegedly hired to work for a financial company doing research and all sorts of projects for $14,000 a month. They had conference calls, corporate e-mail addresses, contracts, and direct deposit forms, but after they didn't get paid for a few weeks, they realized it was all fake. There was no such company, the owner disappeared, and nobody knows what happened. So beware – if that job listing sounds amazing, do your research before you end up duped.
Scamming the Scammers
You've probably heard about or even received an e-mail about getting funds from or another African country if you send them a small sum. This is called 419 fraud, and rather than sit idly by, Michael Berry founded 419eater.com as a way to get revenge. The site encouraged people to bait the scammers, often to get the Nigerians to take pictures holding up offensive signs in English. Some users were successful in getting cash sent to them, although this was discouraged. Either way, it's good to know that anyone can be had, even the perpetrators.
Times Gets Owned in Joke Article
The phenomenon of Rickrolling has become so popular that even the New York Times covered it. Unfortunately for that respected paper, the coverage of the story found it getting getting duped by a Youtube video made by a student at Eastern Washington University . The article talked about a video that showed the student interrupting a timeout at a women's basketball game and somehow playing the song over the PA system. Unfortunately, this never happened and the video was a fake. So, an article on a prank ends up getting pranked too. Is there no end to this madness?
_thumbnail.jpg "Vintage Keyboards")
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Hope said 4:18PM on 9-04-2009
As the saying goes, stupid is as stupid does. I am sorry but I have no sympathy, whatsoever, for this stupid person. How many times do people need to be told not to wire anything to anyone at any time by Western Union ???????????????
Reply
mstone22 said 9:55AM on 9-08-2009
Sorry, but I agree with Hope. Wake up, people. These scams aren't new, they've been around for years. "Jayne figured if the couple could reach her only by Facebook, then they were in dire straits, indeed,"... can anyone tell me what possible situation could exist where the only way a friend could reach another was by facebook? Jayne Scherrman, if you're reading this, I have some swamp land in Florida that you can have for next to nothing. Also, I hold the deed to the Brooklyn Bridge and you can have it for a song. And for free you get a big, fat "DUH!!!!!" Give me a break!!!!
harlspoon said 11:26AM on 9-08-2009
Seriously, does she not know who her friends are on facebook? And why was she the only friend this "Grace" could contact and the only one who seemed to know of this London hostage situation?
valerie said 1:13PM on 9-08-2009
Thank you,i was about to say the very same thing and you took the words right out of my mouth,there are to many stupid people walking around with book brain but no COMMON sense.
In this day and age,how can you not just pick up a phone and talk to your friend personally???
There are so many different ways to call anyone in any part of the world now,so don't blame F/B or any other medium for your stupidity people!!! like we say in Trinidad "USE THE BRAIN GOD GAVE YOU"
Marie said 10:09PM on 9-08-2009
Not sure if it was the same scammer, but I got the exact same request from someone saying they were my cousin and they had gotten mugged in London and needed money wired, etc etc. The person had hacked into my cousin's Facebook account and attempted the scam on several on her friends list. No one bit.
I remarked that it wass funny she was in London as I had just been at her house for a picnic a few days before (true!!). How could they explain? Plus her hubby is ill, and cannot travel. Person left pretty quick whe they realized I wa not biting.
LuLu said 6:43AM on 9-08-2009
Are people this stupid? Really :(
Reply
phil said 10:39AM on 9-08-2009
"..are people this stupid, really?" Yes. There will always be those that take from those that are uninformed, ill educated, gullible, or just plain stupid. This woman just got a $4000 life lesson that will be remembered long after her college courses were forgotten.
juliedennis2 said 7:03AM on 9-08-2009
I was scammed in '07, and it was a frightening experience. I know what it is to be a trusting person. We are taught to help those in need and that God rewards those who follow his lead. Scammers take this and turn it into something to profit from. Taking the trust we have and leaving us questioning everyone and everything.
Reply
TWalls619 said 7:22AM on 9-08-2009
This actually happened to me a few weeks ago. I didn't give any information as far as an account goes. I knew my friend well enough to know that 1. She was not in the UK and 2. That if your claming you lost ALL your money and were mugged but still were able to get on a computer then it is most likely a scam! I feel bad for the person that it happened to but use common sense! If its a person you have not spoken with in however long then just sign off, and if its a person whos number you have call them before going on with the convo.
Reply
Nancy said 4:37PM on 9-08-2009
I hope your friend changed her password!
lhgraphics said 7:47AM on 9-08-2009
What? they never heard of calling collect?
Reply
jbjg24m said 7:49AM on 9-08-2009
why didn't she first call her friend to check thiis out ? simple as that ! idiot !
Reply
Karen said 8:46AM on 9-08-2009
While I do understand she could have thought her friend really was in trouble, wouldn't it have put up red flags that the only way they were trying to get in touch with her was over facebook? If they were being held, don't they get one phone call?
Reply
juliedennis2 said 8:48AM on 9-08-2009
I was scammed in '07, and it was a frightening experience. I know what it is to be a trusting person. We are taught to help those in need and that God rewards those who follow his lead. Scammers take this and turn it into something to profit from. Taking the trust we have and leaving us questioning everyone and everything.
Reply
Cindrad said 8:47AM on 9-08-2009
Anyone cam be a scammer and a fraud. Even someone you've been in a realationship fpr a long time. After they get what they want they have no more use for you anymore. It can ruin your life ane take away and sence of pride and well being. People like that can take all your love, devotion and hard work and just use it and when they have depleted you of all well being, money and resorces then they are done with you, It happens all the time. I'M still getting over the despection and disregard for other's lives or feelings and that is what makes them cabable of doing this sort of things. Even if they proffess to be in love you just to get what they want. It sure does hurt bu, makes a person all the wiser.
But still it hurs and takes asway you trust in anyone. It's sad.
Reply
kellymry said 8:48AM on 9-08-2009
Sounds like these other folks are scamming us too! Surveys, ebay, etc...... ebay does not hire people on the internet. Just had a segment on Good Morning America about this scam........
Reply
ANNAMARIE said 8:51AM on 9-08-2009
yes,people are this stupid.i get between 50-100 emails everyday in mailbox and i know they are all scams. several times ive replied back telling them i know its a scam, and guess what? it is returned to me as an invalad address. that tells you a lot! so everyone BEWARE OF THEM ALL!
Reply
Cindy Lou said 2:00PM on 9-08-2009
Better yet dont even open those emails. Your gonna get a virus doing that. If I dont recognize the sender I dont open them. Just like the dumb people that are putting links on here to go into. They could be a virus.
ambee67 said 8:56AM on 9-08-2009
You would be amazed at how easily a scammer can convince you to send them money. People have weak moments, even YOU. Its easy to sit back and read this article and say how stupid someone is, until its happening to YOU. Say a kid runs up to you on the street crying someone is trying to hurt them and trying to take shelter in your car...you're immediatly going to try to help that child. You turn your back to see who's after the child and the kid snatches your PURSE and runs the oppostie direction...come on, it happens all the time. HUMANS have this built in thing called care, compassion and love for one another. Unfortunately it often blurs our radar for detecting the bad in people at times. You really should stop and think about the lady who was scammed...1, its bad enough she fell for it, 2, its even worse it worked and now she's out 4K in this economy, then 3, her fellow AMERICANS are bashing her stupidity online? Come on people, try to show her that there is still some good in this place we all call home. Honestly I think FACEBOOK is to blame! That stupid networking site is just a trap for good honest people to get hurt and scammed, don't take the IQ test on there, its the worst trick in the book!
Reply
paul said 1:06PM on 9-08-2009
Wow. It's Facebook's fault? You must be a real joy to live with. It's probably McDonald's fault that you're fat. And maybe it's Bush's fault that you bought more house than you can afford. And it's the people who put up all those cell phone towers that are killing our kids as they text each other at 65 mph.
How about taking some responsibility for something?