Comments on: Latest Facebook Scam: Phishers Hit Up “Friends” for Cash http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/01/20/latest-facebook-scam-phishers-hit-up-friends-for-cash/ Startup and Technology News Fri, 27 Nov 2009 03:10:16 -0800 hourly 1 By: BillPedersen http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/01/20/latest-facebook-scam-phishers-hit-up-friends-for-cash/comment-page-3/#comment-3115719 BillPedersen Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:30:58 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=38594#comment-3115719 I was hit this morning. Still centered on London, UK. The issue seems to be that these folks have found a way to get into FB accounts. It is not the issue that they are sent your existing password or maybe not even that the password is complex, mine was 10 characters long and not common. They have some other way of getting in. They want to change your email so they control the account longer. FB has not yet changed it nor sent them a copy of your current PW it has happened in some other way. Yes, the best way to combat this, from the prospective of the people being asked for the money is to be cautious and skeptical. We had this stunt pulled on us via telephone with regards to some people we bought a property from some years ago. The information did not quite jibe and so we asked more questions. We figured out it was a scam but we could not get anyone to work with us to try and trap the perpetrators. Anyway now I get to pry my account, which has now been disabled, back from FB and this hacker! KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN!!! ASK QUESTIONS!!! I was hit this morning. Still centered on London, UK. The issue seems to be that these folks have found a way to get into FB accounts. It is not the issue that they are sent your existing password or maybe not even that the password is complex, mine was 10 characters long and not common. They have some other way of getting in.

They want to change your email so they control the account longer. FB has not yet changed it nor sent them a copy of your current PW it has happened in some other way.

Yes, the best way to combat this, from the prospective of the people being asked for the money is to be cautious and skeptical. We had this stunt pulled on us via telephone with regards to some people we bought a property from some years ago. The information did not quite jibe and so we asked more questions. We figured out it was a scam but we could not get anyone to work with us to try and trap the perpetrators.

Anyway now I get to pry my account, which has now been disabled, back from FB and this hacker!

KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN!!! ASK QUESTIONS!!!

]]> By: Golf Games http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/01/20/latest-facebook-scam-phishers-hit-up-friends-for-cash/comment-page-3/#comment-3106872 Golf Games Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:46:46 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=38594#comment-3106872 This is increasing now days and we must be careful. This is increasing now days and we must be careful.

]]> By: Tech Reviews http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/01/20/latest-facebook-scam-phishers-hit-up-friends-for-cash/comment-page-2/#comment-3106865 Tech Reviews Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:43:27 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=38594#comment-3106865 Specially with the bad economy people will do anything now days. You just need to be on top of things and login daily to keep things save on facebook and hope no one tried to hack your account. Specially with the bad economy people will do anything now days. You just need to be on top of things and login daily to keep things save on facebook and hope no one tried to hack your account.

]]> By: Facebook Chat Scam Involves Friend Saying He's Been Mugged In London, Asking You To Wire Money Via Western Union | Popehat http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/01/20/latest-facebook-scam-phishers-hit-up-friends-for-cash/comment-page-2/#comment-3090242 Facebook Chat Scam Involves Friend Saying He's Been Mugged In London, Asking You To Wire Money Via Western Union | Popehat Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:25:09 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=38594#comment-3090242 [...] not-too-smart-to-begin-with mind, alarm bells ring. A quick Google seems in order. Oh look, it’s a new scam. I email the link to the fellow who has taken over my friend’s Facebook account. Then the [...] [...] not-too-smart-to-begin-with mind, alarm bells ring. A quick Google seems in order. Oh look, it’s a new scam. I email the link to the fellow who has taken over my friend’s Facebook account. Then the [...]

]]> By: (in)complete with nigerian scammers « all look no leap http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/01/20/latest-facebook-scam-phishers-hit-up-friends-for-cash/comment-page-2/#comment-3081165 (in)complete with nigerian scammers « all look no leap Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:23:53 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=38594#comment-3081165 [...] facebook chat.  Back in the day, we spoke maybe a total of zero times so I thought he was one of these scam people.  Is it bad that I was hoping he was?  Because then I could be all, “This one time, some [...] [...] facebook chat.  Back in the day, we spoke maybe a total of zero times so I thought he was one of these scam people.  Is it bad that I was hoping he was?  Because then I could be all, “This one time, some [...]

]]> By: Ann http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/01/20/latest-facebook-scam-phishers-hit-up-friends-for-cash/comment-page-2/#comment-3075547 Ann Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:16:17 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=38594#comment-3075547 What amazes me most, is not that this happens. This kind - and others - of scam has been happening even before internet in many different ways. So I am not surprised. I am, however, surprised at the amount of people that actually fall for it. We;re not talking about giving a few words of comfort, we're talking about sending money or personal information that no friend will ask for specially an online friend. People are putting too much into online friendships, sure they exist, but people have to be careful. We're all friends in social sites, but we're also all strangers specially if we don't know the people personally and just met them online. Yes, it surprises me. What amazes me most, is not that this happens. This kind – and others – of scam has been happening even before internet in many different ways. So I am not surprised. I am, however, surprised at the amount of people that actually fall for it. We;re not talking about giving a few words of comfort, we’re talking about sending money or personal information that no friend will ask for specially an online friend. People are putting too much into online friendships, sure they exist, but people have to be careful. We’re all friends in social sites, but we’re also all strangers specially if we don’t know the people personally and just met them online. Yes, it surprises me.

]]> By: Ann http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/01/20/latest-facebook-scam-phishers-hit-up-friends-for-cash/comment-page-1/#comment-3075542 Ann Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:09:39 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=38594#comment-3075542 SMS verification is a pain and not even reliable, every spammer and crook in town have one ( 2, 10 ...) celphones and can verify. SMS verification will hit the regular people negatively - yes some people don't have cell phones, and some don't want to give their number - and allow the spammers and crooks to continue as always. SMS verification is a pain and not even reliable, every spammer and crook in town have one ( 2, 10 …) celphones and can verify. SMS verification will hit the regular people negatively – yes some people don’t have cell phones, and some don’t want to give their number – and allow the spammers and crooks to continue as always.

]]> By: Maryland Business» Blog Archive » Phished on Facebook http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/01/20/latest-facebook-scam-phishers-hit-up-friends-for-cash/comment-page-2/#comment-3062746 Maryland Business» Blog Archive » Phished on Facebook Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:27:13 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=38594#comment-3062746 [...] Evidently, this scam has been around for a while. While I was chatting with my “friend,” I googled “facebook” “chat” and “scam” and this was the first result. [...] [...] Evidently, this scam has been around for a while. While I was chatting with my “friend,” I googled “facebook” “chat” and “scam” and this was the first result. [...]

]]> By: Heron http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/01/20/latest-facebook-scam-phishers-hit-up-friends-for-cash/comment-page-2/#comment-3056898 Heron Mon, 26 Oct 2009 03:21:39 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=38594#comment-3056898 A friend got a telephone call from an Emergency Room in a London hospital saying that her two friends were in an accident and they needed money wired to them. She doubled checked and found that her FB friends were still at home. She lives in Finland and they live in Canada. But that would be a very convincing scam to actually get a phone call from a person who sounded like a doctor so be VERY aware! A friend got a telephone call from an Emergency Room in a London hospital saying that her two friends were in an accident and they needed money wired to them. She doubled checked and found that her FB friends were still at home. She lives in Finland and they live in Canada.

But that would be a very convincing scam to actually get a phone call from a person who sounded like a doctor so be VERY aware!

]]> By: AVG Blogs | Roger Thompson http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/01/20/latest-facebook-scam-phishers-hit-up-friends-for-cash/comment-page-2/#comment-3014999 AVG Blogs | Roger Thompson Thu, 01 Oct 2009 09:22:42 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=38594#comment-3014999 <strong>Automated Facebook Attack underway...</strong> Today our LinkScanner users started detecting rogue spyware attacks that seemed to be originating from Facebook. The first profile that we looked at looked like this… I wonder what happens if we view her video? We're seeing rather a lot of these, all ... Automated Facebook Attack underway…

Today our LinkScanner users started detecting rogue spyware attacks that seemed to be originating from Facebook. The first profile that we looked at looked like this… I wonder what happens if we view her video? We’re seeing rather a lot of these, all …

]]> By: RSS agregator » Blog Archive » Strong facebook scam… http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/01/20/latest-facebook-scam-phishers-hit-up-friends-for-cash/comment-page-2/#comment-3002272 RSS agregator » Blog Archive » Strong facebook scam… Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:02:58 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=38594#comment-3002272 [...] http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/01/20…ends-for-cash/ [...] [...] http://www.tech...;ends-for-cash/ [...]

]]> By: DBG http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/01/20/latest-facebook-scam-phishers-hit-up-friends-for-cash/comment-page-2/#comment-3001474 DBG Thu, 24 Sep 2009 03:09:49 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=38594#comment-3001474 Same thing. Someone opened and e mail account at sify.com (some indian news web) sent a message to FB to change my e mail. I think FB let them change it before they confrimed with me. I got the e mail from FB asking me that if I had changed my e mail and if not to cancel it. In the 1.5 hrs that I was not aware of this e mail, they got into chat and did the same London story. My friend was sending the money with western union when she saw my update on the wall saying my account was hacked and stopped the transmission and just lost the processing fee. One question FB did not answer me is why they let my e mail be changed before they get my confrimation. Asked them three times - no answer to this one. Also, when someone says forgot PW do they get an automatic reply with the PW in their e mail without the security question form FB? If this is the case hey then we all are welcoming the cybercriminals. I also send a message to sify.com saying that that e mail was fake and should be terminated. Three times - no reply again. Any other place I can report them? And if these all are happening in LOndon how come they cannot be caught? Since I had FB the only application I loaded was Farmville. I never load applications too. Thx. Same thing. Someone opened and e mail account at sify.com (some indian news web) sent a message to FB to change my e mail. I think FB let them change it before they confrimed with me. I got the e mail from FB asking me that if I had changed my e mail and if not to cancel it. In the 1.5 hrs that I was not aware of this e mail, they got into chat and did the same London story. My friend was sending the money with western union when she saw my update on the wall saying my account was hacked and stopped the transmission and just lost the processing fee. One question FB did not answer me is why they let my e mail be changed before they get my confrimation. Asked them three times – no answer to this one. Also, when someone says forgot PW do they get an automatic reply with the PW in their e mail without the security question form FB? If this is the case hey then we all are welcoming the cybercriminals. I also send a message to sify.com saying that that e mail was fake and should be terminated. Three times – no reply again. Any other place I can report them? And if these all are happening in LOndon how come they cannot be caught? Since I had FB the only application I loaded was Farmville. I never load applications too. Thx.

]]> By: leslie lea http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/01/20/latest-facebook-scam-phishers-hit-up-friends-for-cash/comment-page-2/#comment-2999088 leslie lea Wed, 23 Sep 2009 01:35:14 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=38594#comment-2999088 Just happened to me today and I nearly sent the money but felt something was amiss. So why are all transmissions being sent to London? And how would the scammer get the money without proper ID? Just happened to me today and I nearly sent the money but felt something was amiss. So why are all transmissions being sent to London? And how would the scammer get the money without proper ID?

]]> By: evertestmuse http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/01/20/latest-facebook-scam-phishers-hit-up-friends-for-cash/comment-page-2/#comment-2979719 evertestmuse Sat, 12 Sep 2009 17:46:46 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=38594#comment-2979719 My roomate just came out into the kitchen saying she was feeling sketched out by this conversation she was having. I type "facebook scam" into to google and *poof*. "hey look, I just found the story you got pitched". My roomate just came out into the kitchen saying she was feeling sketched out by this conversation she was having. I type “facebook scam” into to google and *poof*. “hey look, I just found the story you got pitched”.

]]> By: Amy http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/01/20/latest-facebook-scam-phishers-hit-up-friends-for-cash/comment-page-1/#comment-2978361 Amy Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:15:36 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=38594#comment-2978361 I was just hacked into and I'm curious how others handled it. Did you create a new account? I was just hacked into and I’m curious how others handled it. Did you create a new account?

]]> By: Q http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/01/20/latest-facebook-scam-phishers-hit-up-friends-for-cash/comment-page-2/#comment-2976683 Q Thu, 10 Sep 2009 22:08:30 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=38594#comment-2976683 The scammer tried this scam on me TODAY, and I was on my way to the bank when I called another friend to verify that our other friend was abroad, and found that she was not. Where can we report this?? Facebook "report scam" has not gotten back to me? The scammer tried this scam on me TODAY, and I was on my way to the bank when I called another friend to verify that our other friend was abroad, and found that she was not. Where can we report this?? Facebook “report scam” has not gotten back to me?

]]> By: Fred http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/01/20/latest-facebook-scam-phishers-hit-up-friends-for-cash/comment-page-1/#comment-2962201 Fred Wed, 02 Sep 2009 06:54:03 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=38594#comment-2962201 U are an idiot...its your country that will be NUKED and everybody will find peace...go to hell sucker U are an idiot…its your country that will be NUKED and everybody will find peace…go to hell sucker

]]> By: Dre http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/01/20/latest-facebook-scam-phishers-hit-up-friends-for-cash/comment-page-2/#comment-2950014 Dre Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:03:17 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=38594#comment-2950014 Same thing happened today with an old co-worker of mine. The scammer IM me, and another old co-worker of their's (that I work with again at a new location and we sit next to each other). I had already heard about this scam a week ago, so I decided to play along with it, and got the "Western Union" address from them, told them it would take me about 2 hours, meanwhile we reported it to the FBI as well as facebook. Here's the Western Union addy they used as well: 6 Kentish Town Road, London, NW5 2AA.United Kingdom Same thing happened today with an old co-worker of mine. The scammer IM me, and another old co-worker of their’s (that I work with again at a new location and we sit next to each other). I had already heard about this scam a week ago, so I decided to play along with it, and got the “Western Union” address from them, told them it would take me about 2 hours, meanwhile we reported it to the FBI as well as facebook.

Here’s the Western Union addy they used as well:
6 Kentish Town Road, London, NW5 2AA.United Kingdom

]]> By: <fb:name linked="false" useyou="false" uid="1524282874">Keith Vreeland</fb:name> http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/01/20/latest-facebook-scam-phishers-hit-up-friends-for-cash/comment-page-2/#comment-2945627 Keith Vreeland Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:57:01 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=38594#comment-2945627 I am confirming now, but guarantee the same thing just happened to me ... mugged in London, lost everything and need money to pay hotel bill. I am confirming now, but guarantee the same thing just happened to me … mugged in London, lost everything and need money to pay hotel bill.

]]> By: Jesse Gardner http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/01/20/latest-facebook-scam-phishers-hit-up-friends-for-cash/comment-page-1/#comment-2932756 Jesse Gardner Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:14:54 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=38594#comment-2932756 Yeah, in fact, the hacker I encountered attempted to convince me by sending me a message via a gmail account that was one letter off his actual email. Sneaky! Yeah, in fact, the hacker I encountered attempted to convince me by sending me a message via a gmail account that was one letter off his actual email. Sneaky!

]]> By: Jesse Gardner http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/01/20/latest-facebook-scam-phishers-hit-up-friends-for-cash/comment-page-2/#comment-2932749 Jesse Gardner Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:10:12 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=38594#comment-2932749 Wow! I just came across the exact same scam just yesterday where a friend was supposedly hurt badly. Fortunately I managed to document the whole process including the full chat transcripts with our friend the hacker... scared the crap out of him! http://blog.plasticmind.com/social-networking/facebook-chat-hacker/ Wow! I just came across the exact same scam just yesterday where a friend was supposedly hurt badly. Fortunately I managed to document the whole process including the full chat transcripts with our friend the hacker… scared the crap out of him!

http://blog.pla...ok-chat-hacker/

]]> By: lisa http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/01/20/latest-facebook-scam-phishers-hit-up-friends-for-cash/comment-page-2/#comment-2913125 lisa Mon, 10 Aug 2009 04:00:31 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=38594#comment-2913125 This happened to me this weekend! Most of my friends saw through it, but a guy in once knew TEN years ago and recently re connected with, actually SENT 1000.00 dollars!!! I am soo pissed! This happened to me this weekend! Most of my friends saw through it, but a guy in once knew TEN years ago and recently re connected with, actually SENT 1000.00 dollars!!! I am soo pissed!

]]> By: Maria http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/01/20/latest-facebook-scam-phishers-hit-up-friends-for-cash/comment-page-2/#comment-2879908 Maria Sun, 26 Jul 2009 16:34:52 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=38594#comment-2879908 I just had the exact same thing happen to me. As soon as the scammer couldn't answer my questions they logged off and "defriended" me. Here is the transcript: Carolyn Hi there How are you doing ? 8:03am Maria Carolyn!!! How are you??? I am doing fine, although it is too damn hot in AZ!! 8:04am Carolyn I'm not too good I'm in some kind of deep shit. 8:04am Maria Really???? what's going on? How can I help? 8:05am Carolyn I'm stranded in London because i got robbed at a park in Kentish town 8:05am Maria seriously??? 8:06am Carolyn it was a brutal experience all cash i had on me were stolen and my credit card was collected too now i'm left with no money here.I need help out of here. 8:06am Maria Oh my Gosh!!! Do you have a cell phone that works in Europe? 8:07am Carolyn the mugger's collected it I need your help? 8:08am Maria Where are you staying? Give me your phone number where I can call you? 8:08am Carolyn I'm in a public library 8:09am Maria I don't have a credit card right now... so I don't know how to send you money. What is Susan's phone number? 8:10am Maria ...or your Mom's? I will call them. 8:10am Carolyn no what you need is my name and present location and you get it wired to me here can you do that for me ? 8:11am Maria at the library? Can you tell me the name of the place that we worked together? 8:11am Carolyn You can have it done online (www.westernunion.com) or you can go to any nearest bank or amazon booklet... 8:12am Maria Carolyn??? 8:12am Carolyn are you on the site ? 8:13am Maria Answer my question... what is the name of the place that we worked together. 8:13am Carolyn are you trying to verify me ? 8:13am Maria yes!!! 8:14am Carolyn also if i wasn't myself i won't ask you to wire the money to my name as you and i know that i will need some identity to verify myself to the bank here before they can give out the funds to me and thank God i still have my passport with me 8:15am Maria Carolyn, if this is really you. answer the question, please!!! 8:15am Carolyn I'm freaked out here school 8:16am Maria I don't believe this is you. I am calling the police--and tracking this transmission. 8:16am Carolyn got it ? 8:18am Carolyn is offline. I just had the exact same thing happen to me. As soon as the scammer couldn’t answer my questions they logged off and “defriended” me. Here is the transcript:
Carolyn
Hi there
How are you doing ?
8:03am
Maria
Carolyn!!! How are you???
I am doing fine, although it is too damn hot in AZ!!
8:04am
Carolyn
I’m not too good
I’m in some kind of deep shit.
8:04am
Maria
Really???? what’s going on?
How can I help?
8:05am
Carolyn
I’m stranded in London because i got robbed at a park in Kentish town
8:05am
Maria
seriously???
8:06am
Carolyn
it was a brutal experience
all cash i had on me were stolen and my credit card was collected too now i’m left with no money here.I need help out of here.
8:06am
Maria
Oh my Gosh!!!
Do you have a cell phone that works in Europe?
8:07am
Carolyn
the mugger’s collected it
I need your help?
8:08am
Maria
Where are you staying? Give me your phone number where I can call you?
8:08am
Carolyn
I’m in a public library
8:09am
Maria
I don’t have a credit card right now… so I don’t know how to send you money.
What is Susan’s phone number?
8:10am
Maria
…or your Mom’s? I will call them.
8:10am
Carolyn
no
what you need is my name and present location and you get it wired to me here
can you do that for me ?
8:11am
Maria
at the library? Can you tell me the name of the place that we worked together?
8:11am
Carolyn
You can have it done online (www.westernunion.com) or you can go to any nearest bank or amazon booklet…
8:12am
Maria
Carolyn???
8:12am
Carolyn
are you on the site ?
8:13am
Maria
Answer my question… what is the name of the place that we worked together.
8:13am
Carolyn
are you trying to verify me ?
8:13am
Maria
yes!!!
8:14am
Carolyn
also if i wasn’t myself i won’t ask you to wire the money to my name as you and i know that i will need some identity to verify myself to the bank here before they can give out the funds to me and thank God i still have my passport with me
8:15am
Maria

Carolyn, if this is really you. answer the question, please!!!
8:15am
Carolyn
I’m freaked out here
school
8:16am
Maria

I don’t believe this is you. I am calling the police–and tracking this transmission.
8:16am
Carolyn
got it ?
8:18am
Carolyn is offline.

]]> By: Hackers are Everywhere | Masterful Marketing http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/01/20/latest-facebook-scam-phishers-hit-up-friends-for-cash/comment-page-2/#comment-2867830 Hackers are Everywhere | Masterful Marketing Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:07:54 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=38594#comment-2867830 [...] scam was written up in Techcrunch in January and is still being used to con people into wiring [...] [...] scam was written up in Techcrunch in January and is still being used to con people into wiring [...]

]]> By: Five Tips for Digital Decision Making http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/01/20/latest-facebook-scam-phishers-hit-up-friends-for-cash/comment-page-2/#comment-2863485 Five Tips for Digital Decision Making Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:05:12 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=38594#comment-2863485 [...] any of you have been contacted by a Facebook friend who is purportedly stuck in Europe, penniless and in dire need of a wire transfer to enable his or [...] [...] any of you have been contacted by a Facebook friend who is purportedly stuck in Europe, penniless and in dire need of a wire transfer to enable his or [...]

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